WNBA video games, scores: High performers Thursday together with in Sky vs Mercury

After a month-long Olympic break, WNBA play lastly resumed on Thursday night time. Satirically, the identical gamers who’ve represented USA Basketball these previous few weeks in Paris led method of their groups’ wins — no relaxation, no drawback.

Within the triple-header, the Liberty got here away with a 35-point win over the Sparks, the Mercury with a 20-point win over the Sky, and the Lynx with a 9-point win over the Mystics.

Apparently sufficient, it was 5 members from the U.S. ladies’s Olympic basketball staff who dominated the WNBA final night time. Listed here are Thursday’s high 5 performers, ranked from superb to ridiculously good.

5. Sabrina Ionescu, New Liberty

Sabrina Ionescu had one other stellar outing for the Liberty, posting 18 factors on 6-13 taking pictures, 6 assists and 4 rebounds in a win over the Sparks. She completed the sport with a plus-minus of +25 in simply 23 minutes, serving to the Liberty get out to a 19-point first quarter lead and by no means trying again.

Ionescu is within the midst of a profession season, averaging 19.8 factors and 6.1 assists per recreation — each profession highs. After a number of weeks of serving because the youngest member on Staff USA in Paris, Ionescu helped the Liberty enhance to a league-best 22-4 document.

4. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx

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Napheesa Collier is again and it seems like she she by no means left. Collier suffered a foot harm towards the Solar on July 4th and didn’t play once more till All-Star Weekend. The Lynx went 3-2 with out her pre-Olympics, and it was evident simply how important she was to their play on each sounds of the ball. However, Collier seemed good all through her Paris tenure — averaging 6.7 factors and 6.5 rebounds — and didn’t miss a beat in her first recreation again with the Lynx in over a month.

Collier completed with 17 factors, 12 rebounds, and a couple of steals, serving to the Lynx to a 79-68 win over the Mystics. The Lynx improved to 18-8 on the season.

After the sport, Collier credited the staff’s unwavering connectivity: “We’re so sturdy, and our chemistry is so good. We imagine in one another a lot – it doesn’t matter if we’re up or down. We keep collectively.”

3. Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty

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Keep in mind when Breanna Stewart was in a taking pictures hunch? That now looks like a distant reminiscence. Stewart went 0-14 from downtown in 4 video games with the Liberty in July, however seems to have discovered her rhythm after a superb Paris Olympic match through which she averaged 16.3 factors on 56.7% taking pictures.

Stewie dominated within the Liberty’s 103-68 win over the Sparks, ending with 27 factors in simply 20 minutes of play. Her offensive efficiency was as environment friendly as they arrive — she hit 10-15 pictures and made 3-4 from three-point vary.

After the sport, Stewart credited her Liberty teammates for serving to make the re-acclimation again to the WNBA simpler.

“This staff enjoys being round one another,” she mentioned. “Now we have a chemistry and a camaraderie.”

2) Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury

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In Paris, Brittney Griner took a backseat position as A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart dominated the frontcourt.

However again in a Mercury jersey, Griner seemed to have reverted to her former unstoppable self. The Sky had no reply for the 6’ 9 heart, who loved certainly one of her finest performances of the 2024 season. Griner dominated the paint, ending the sport with 23 factors on 10-12 taking pictures, to associate with 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 blocks.

After the 85-65 win, Griner mentioned she loved the uncommon alternative to match up towards a participant almost her peak: Sky rookie Kamilla Cardoso stands at 6’ 7.

“I all the time like going up towards individuals my measurement,” Griner mentioned. “I seemed ahead to it tonight. I used to be proud of it — I simply form of learn it.”

The 33-year previous mentioned she felt recent regardless of not having a lot of a break — Staff USA competed within the gold medal recreation on Sunday, however Griner solely averaged 14.3 minutes per recreation all through the match.

“I form of really feel rested, truthfully,” she mentioned.

1) Kahleah Copper, Phoenix Mercury

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Kahleah Copper – who spent seven seasons with the Sky and led the staff to a championship in 2021 – confirmed out in her first recreation again at Wintrust Enviornment. She exploded for 29 factors on 12-19 taking pictures, serving to the Mercury defeat the Sky.

“Everyone knows what she will be able to do,” Brittney Griner mentioned of Copper. “We’ve been on the opposite finish of it on this area. I’m simply comfortable I get to see it from the aspect of being her teammate now.”

Copper was matter-of-fact when requested postgame if that is the form of efficiency she hoped to have towards her former staff.

“Sure,” she mentioned with a smile. “Environment friendly, you win — I like that.”