The 144 is closer to becoming the 156. 
With the first league expansion since the Atlanta Dream 2008, the Golden State Valkyries made their selection of 11 players during the Expansion Draft on Dec. 6 to start forming their inaugural roster. And if there’s one takeaway from that selection process, the Valkyries had one type of player in mind when drafting: competitors. 
You heard that word from Golden State head coach Natalie Nakase throughout the evening, before, during, and after the announcement process, which aired for 30 minutes on ESPN on Friday night. Nakase had “competitor” at the top of her list when making selections for the team alongside general manager Ohemaa Nyanin, and it showed in how the roster actually shaped out. 
The initial 11-player list (the team chose not to make a selection from the Seattle Storm) features plenty of bigs—six are forwards and centers known most for their physical defense and rebounding skills. 
That part of the roster includes Temi Fagbenle from the Indiana Fever, Kayla Thornton from the New York Liberty, Stephanie Talbot from the Los Angeles Sparks, Cecilia Zandalisini from the Minnesota Lynx, Iliana Rupert from the Atlanta Dream, by way of the Çukurova Basketbol of the Turkish Super League, Monique Billings from the Phoenix Mercury, and María Conde from the Chicago Sky, by way of the USK Praha in the Czech League. 
The guards the team selected – Julie Vanloo from the Washington Mystics, Veronica Burton from the Connecticut Sun, Kate Martin from the Las Vegas Aces, and Carla Leite from the Dallas Wings, by way of the Villeneuve d&#8217;Ascq in the Ligue Féminine de Basketball – round out the shooting, speed, and playmaking on the potential final Golden State roster.
Some of the biggest names to stand out from the process were Fagbenle, Thornton, and Martin. Given that Fagbenle and Thornton were such key pieces of their previous team, the Valkyries were fortunate to land these gritty, defensive-minded players. With Fagbenle and Thornton, the Valkyries are banking on their collective experience in the WNBA and professional basketball overseas—13 years in the W alone have been played between those two players. 
For Martin, who averaged 11.5 minutes per game with the Aces in 2024, Nakase and Nyanin wanted to bring in someone Nakase was familiar with as a hard worker as Nakase coached Kate in Las Vegas this past season.
“I’m excited with Kate [Martin]. I grew a very close relationship when I was there with the Aces. She’s a very genuine person, but she’s also a culture changer. She really pours herself into her work and into her passion the way she plays,” said Nakase to reporters after the draft selections were publicized. 
Another aspect of the draft that has stood out so far was the sheer number of international players selected by Nakase, Nyanin, and the rest of Golden State’s brain trust. 
Of the 11 players selected &#8211; no one was chosen from the Seattle Storm &#8211; seven have experience playing for a team in their respective country or were drafted directly from international teams. Fagbenle (Great Britain), Carla Leite (France), Talbot (Australia), Zandalisini (Turkey and Italy), Rupert (France), Vanloo (Belgium), and Conde (Spain) make up the heavily international inaugural team. 
When asked if that was intentional, Nakase said it wasn’t until she started to get down on paper what players she wanted to see picked during the process that “half of them are not from the States,” but she added “that wasn’t my mindset. It was building the best team that I wanted to build.”
On the business end of that, though, comes the question mark that hangs over so many international picks—who will actually come over to play for the team? Nyanin told reporters about the uncertainty that her job in the coming months will include trying to pitch international players the chance to play in the Bay Area and getting to know the organization before making a big decision on their commitment headed into next summer. 
“I just wanted to make sure that they understand who I am, what we’re trying to build, who coach Natalie Nakase is, what she’s trying to build on the court, and then explain to them the Bay. I mean, I didn’t know anything about the Bay before I moved out here, having lived in five different countries, most of the time not being given the opportunity to make that choice; I always made the best of it,” said Nyanin of her thoughts on conversations with those players. 
With the goal of a championship in mind, this inaugural roster also included several WNBA champions—a part of the intentionality behind Nakase and Nyanin’s draft strategy of trying to pick winners and competitors. 
Thornton is the most recent victor amongst the group, having just won a championship with the New York Liberty in 2024. In addition to Thornton, the roster sports three other league champions—Fagbenle, Rupert, and Zandalisini. Veterans abound on this roster. However, the championship experience from Thornton, Rupert, Zandalisini, and Fagbenle can help make the transition smoother for the Valkyries as they ramp into competition on May 16 against the Los Angeles Sparks. 
One of the most exciting parts about witnessing the formation of the first expansion team since the Atlanta Dream were introduced to the league in 2008 is just how unfinished this team’s journey to tip-off is. Between having plenty of cap space to work with ahead of free agency and the fifth overall pick in a heavily stacked WNBA draft, the Valkyries are far from a settled image. That versatility will eventually become a solid competitive advantage if flexed correctly. 
WNBA reporter Candace Pedraza writes columns on <a href="http://wnba.com/">WNBA.com</a> throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams.

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Inside the Golden State Valkyries' Inaugural Roster

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(1) New York Liberty vs. (2) Minnesota Lynx
Game 1: Lynx at Liberty: Thursday, Oct. 10, 8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2: Lynx at Liberty: Sunday, Oct. 13, 3:00 p.m. ET, ABC
Game 3: Liberty at Lynx: Wednesday, Oct. 16, 8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN 
Game 4: Liberty at Lynx: Friday, Oct. 18, 8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN  (if necessary)
Game 5: Lynx at Liberty: Sunday, Oct. 20, 8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN  (if necessary) 
Matchup Stats: <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/team/1611661313/players-traditional/?Season=2024&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;sort=PTS&amp;dir=1&amp;OpponentTeamID=1611661324">Liberty vs. Lynx</a> | <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/team/1611661324/players-traditional/?Season=2024&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;sort=PTS&amp;dir=1&amp;OpponentTeamID=1611661313"> Lynx vs. Liberty</a>
And then there were two. The New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx will square off in the WNBA Finals for the first time in history. To get here, the Liberty swept the Atlanta Dream and dominated the semi-finals against the Las Vegas Aces, winning the series 3-1. As for the Lynx, they swept the Phoenix Mercury and came out on top of a winner-take-all Game 5 versus the Connecticut Sun. Deep down, we basketball fans wanted this: the two top-seeded teams battling it out for the ultimate crown. 
Historically, the Finals have only favored one of these franchises. The Lynx have won four WNBA championships (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017), which is tied with the Houston Comets and Seattle Storm for most all time. Cheryl Reeve, the 2024 Coach of the Year, was the head coach for all four titles. Meanwhile, the Liberty has served as the runner-up five times, dating back to the league’s debut season in 1997. That’s the most any franchise has made it to the Finals and lost. 
Zooming back into this regular season, the Lynx have had the Liberty’s number, winning three of the four meetings, which includes the Commissioner’s Cup Championship in June. Minnesota is the only team to defeat New York multiple times this season. But this is the postseason, and so far, the superstars for each team have been ballin’. The Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu is averaging a staggering 20.7 ppg in the playoffs, <a href="https://www.si.com/wnba/sabrina-ionescu-liberty-defeat-aces-wnba-finals-return">shooting a red-hot</a> 46% from 3-point land. Breanna Stewart has been a ball hawk on the defensive end and scoring at will with 20 points per contest (while adding eight blocks and six steals in the playoffs). And Leonie Fiebich, at the lengthy 6’4, has proven to be an integral piece to this Liberty roster.
But the Lynx’s Napheesa Collier might be playing the best basketball in the league right now. She’s averaging almost 30 ppg in the postseason—don’t forget about the <a href="https://lynx.wnba.com/news/napheesa-collier-scores-42-to-tie-a-wnba-playoff-record-for-points-and-the-lynx-swept-the-mercury#:~:text=MINNEAPOLIS%20(AP)%20Napheesa%20Collier%20scored,left%20in%20the%20fourth%20quarter.">42-point eruption</a> in the first round! She’s been poetically scoring around the rim (59% on 2-pointers) and drilling it 45% from deep. Every move is fluid; every counter move is diligent. She’s nearly unstoppable. Plus, the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year has led the top defensive team with two blocks and 1.1 steals per game. Collier’s point guard Courtney Williams, who exploded for 24 points and seven assists in Game 5 of the semi-finals, is also peaking at the right time. 
Reeve and Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello both have championship pedigree. The game-to-game adjustments and defensive schemes will be top-notch. We’re in for such a treat. 
Key Players: 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-194457" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/10/Article_Images-JJ.png" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/10/Article_Images-JJ.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/10/Article_Images-JJ-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/10/Article_Images-JJ-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Jonquel Jones, New York 
Jones got in early foul trouble in Game 3 of the semi-finals against Las Vegas. She had to sit for extended minutes, starting as early as seven minutes into the second quarter. With her on the bench, it glared to viewers just how important Jones is to this Liberty team. They missed her scoring (at all three levels) and the paint presence on the defensive end. But, frankly, some of her fouls were unnecessary ones. Fouls that you don’t do when you know you’re an extremely valuable asset to your team’s chances of winning. She’ll have to play smarter; Minnesota will attack Jones, aim to get her flustered, and eliminate her from the equation altogether. Not getting block-happy or being over-aggressive on hedges will be crucial to staying on the floor. 
Jones averaged only 10 points per game on 25 shots in the three-game regular season series. That’s only about eight shots per game. In the Commissioner’s Cup, she went 0-3 for a dismal three points, all from the free-throw line. This can’t happen again. New York should exploit Minnesota’s lack of post size in the Finals by feeding Jones deep in the paint and have Jones crash the offensive glass. 
Jones was excellent in last season’s Finals. She had back-to-back 20+ point performances. The Liberty will look for her to perform similarly as they hold a home-court advantage. 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-194458" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/10/Article_Images-BC.png" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/10/Article_Images-BC.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/10/Article_Images-BC-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/10/Article_Images-BC-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Bridget Carelton, Minnesota 
Minnesota (and Liberty) fans remember what Carelton did during the Commissioner’s Cup in New York. A team-high 23 points, six 3-pointers, five assists, and three steals. Some even say she should’ve won the game’s MVP award for her late surge. But stats aside, Carelton has the confidence to come into New York and make a real difference. We, as fans, want an old-fashioned shoot-out. Ionescu and Carelton’s stroke should make us run to grab umbrellas because it’s raining 3s. Carelton has that power. She can get hot in a hurry. 
The Lynx are at their best when they move the ball—they led the league in team assists. However, there were spurts in the Sun series when the ball got sticky. It would stay on one side of the court and not zip around the horn like it typically does. Shooters like Carelton suffer when this happens. She combined for eight points in the last two semi-final contests. She’s primed for a breakout performance in these Finals. With Collier garnering more attention and potentially double teams, Carelton must float to the open spots along the arch to make herself available and then knock down the open jumper. 
It’s the Finals, baby! Everyone will need to be at the top of their game, Carelton and Jones included. Phee and Stewie, former UConn teammates and summer Olympic gold medalists, are surging right now, but only one can be crowned this season’s WNBA champion. The final quest starts Thursday on ESPN.  
WNBA reporter Jordan Robinson writes columns on <a href="http://wnba.com/">WNBA.com</a> throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/heyjordanr?s=11&amp;amp;t=J-cOcDBZrcrt32m2C7gIVg">@HeyJordanR.</a> The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams.

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2024 WNBA Finals presented by YouTubeTV: Phee and Stewie Set to Battle for the Title

Playmaking is an art form that can be portrayed through many mediums. While you can look at a box score and gauge that two players are nearly equal in assist total, little is ascertained about how that player dishes the rock. &#8216;Elite is Elite&#8217; is about diving into the how and highlighting the minor details that constitute some of the significant strengths of the best in basketball.
Before the postseason, we dove into the ins and outs of the top WNBA players and the skillsets that make them unique. Kicking off the 2024 edition: Dimes.
In partnership with NBA 2K25, we pair each of the league&#8217;s top passers with playmaking badges from the game that best correspond to their skillset.
<h3 style="text-align: center">Alyssa Thomas: Versatile Visionary  </h3>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-188860" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EisEAT.png" alt="Alyssa Thomas" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EisEAT.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EisEAT-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EisEAT-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Alyssa Thomas currently sits second in the W in assists per game at 7.6. The volume of Thomas’ playmaking stands out, as she leads the league in assist percentage (She assists on 39.6% of all made baskets when she’s on the floor). Running a motion-heavy read-and-react offense, so much of Connecticut’s success is predicated on timing and playing outside to open up driving and cutting lanes.
With the ball in her hands, Thomas is a precise and rapid decision-maker, which sets her apart: No one is tasked with doing more as a creator on a possession-by-possession basis. She will dazzle with plays in transition and off the bounce, but where she excels most is her ability to routinely make the right play with snappiness. The Sun are built upon her gravity, so consistently making the correct reads with pace and accuracy is essential to being a successful offense.
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<h3 style="text-align: center">Caitlin Clark: Break Starter</h3>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-188861" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EisECC.png" alt="Caitlin Clark" width="960" height="714" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EisECC.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EisECC-300x223.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EisECC-768x571.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Caitlin Clark has acclimated to the league quickly and asserted herself as one of the top-flight playmakers in the league. Clark is already one of the premier pick-and-roll players in the W, as she and Aliyah Boston have continued to find footing in their two-player game, the budding cornerstone of Indiana’s success.
Her kick-ahead and outlet passing in transition have hit a high level since game one and look to be one of the ultimate skills at her disposal in the future. She hits the seams with lightning quickness after corralling a loose ball, head constantly up and probing for an opportunity to push the defense. Per Synergy Sports, Clark leads the WNBA in assists per game in transition, dishing out 2.5 dimes per contest in fastbreak offense, leading the league in total fastbreak assists with 83.
With her aggression in early offense, she routinely creates easy offenses for the fever, which only becomes more consistent when she and her teammates have learned one another’s games.
<h3 style="text-align: center">Chelsea Gray: Unpluckable</h3>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-188899" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EiECG.png" alt="Chelsea Gray" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EiECG.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EiECG-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EiECG-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Chelsea Gray is a magician with the ball in her hands, one of the premier playmakers and craftiest ball handlers in the sport. The Las Vegas Aces immediately felt Gray’s presence upon her return from injury as she masterfully blended patience, tempo, and the flair that sets her apart.
Gray sees the game in a light that few ever have or will, capable of reading the floor and playing in multiple planes of motion akin to a 4th dimension.
She dazzles with her control of the ball, capable of getting to any spot on the court she wishes at any given time. She manipulates defenses and individual defenders with her eyes and ball fakes at a supreme degree, shifting open cutting lanes and shots with the potential of what she could do before she even does it.
How she moves her teammates and conducts the offense into a harmonic rhythm isn’t always easy to see at the moment. Still, after a lengthy look at what it looks like without her, there should be a further appreciation for the timing and brilliance that Gray adds to the Aces as a decision-maker.
<h3 style="text-align: center">Sabrina Ionescu: Triple Strike</h3>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-188901" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EisESI.png" alt="Sabrina Ionescu" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EisESI.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EisESI-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/07/EisESI-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
The New York Liberty currently maintain the top-ranked offense in the WNBA, averaging just shy of 110 points per 100 possessions (109.8). That would rank as the 3rd most efficient offense in league history, just behind the 2023 Las Vegas Aces (111.5 pp/100) and 2019 Washington Mystics (110.8 pp/100).
Sabrina Ionescu’s pick-and-roll game and growth as a ball handler has been a staple of the Liberty’s offensive attack, and her tandem with Jonquel Jones has been one of the most effective two-player games in the WNBA by the numbers. Ionescu has dished 68 assists to Jones, per PBP Stats, including 38 rim assists and 20 assisted three-pointers, the 2nd and 6th most assists in those categories.
Her growth in patience with the ball in her hands has opened up her ability to probe the lane, more comfortably dictate offensively in space, and get the most out of her court vision. Her timing on passes always stands out; she is adept with pocket passing, throwbacks to a popping screener, and an improvement in hitting overhead on blitzed ball screens.
Only one player in the WNBA runs more pick-and-rolls per game than Ionescu, 15.6 per game, according to Synergy Sports. She can routinely pick apart whatever is thrown at the Liberty defensively with her growth.
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WNBA reporter Mark Schindler writes columns on <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="http://wnba.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WNBA.com</a> throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/mg_schindler">@MG_Schindler</a>. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams
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Elite is Elite '24: All-Star Dimes

The First Round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs presented by Google may have stress-induced some gray hairs, but the star power was fantastic. We saw early exits from Dream, Fever, and Mercury as the teams that defeated them inch one step closer to glory. The Liberty and Sun look focused on their goal for their franchises’ first championship. A’ja Wilson and the Aces continue their hunt for a three-peat. The Lynx looks to add to their team’s title trophy case for the first time since 2017. Wow, we are in for a treat. Let’s break down the Semi-Finals matchups and some key players who will make a monumental impact in this best-of-five series. 
<h2 style="text-align: center">(1) New York Liberty vs. (4) Las Vegas Aces</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-193990" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/GettyImages-2167345633-1.jpg" alt="Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces and Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the New York Liberty" width="594" height="396" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/GettyImages-2167345633-1.jpg 594w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/GettyImages-2167345633-1-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 594px) 100vw, 594px" />
Game 1: Aces at Liberty: Sunday, Sept. 29, 3:00 pm ET, ABC
Game 2: Aces at Liberty: Tuesday, Oct. 1, Time TBD, network TBD
Game 3: Liberty at Aces: Friday, Oct. 4, 9:30 pm ET, ESPN2 
Game 4: Liberty at Aces: Sunday, Oct. 6, TBD (if necessary)
Game 5: Aces at Liberty: Tuesday, Oct. 8, Time TBD, ESPN2 (if necessary) 
Matchup Stats: <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/team/1611661313/players-traditional/?Season=2024&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;sort=PTS&amp;dir=1&amp;OpponentTeamID=1611661319">Liberty vs. Aces</a> | <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/team/1611661319/players-traditional/?Season=2024&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;sort=PTS&amp;dir=1&amp;OpponentTeamID=1611661313">Aces vs. Liberty</a>
It would be an understatement to say the Liberty has a sour taste from losing to the Aces (on their home floor!) in the Finals (by a single point!) last season. If last season taught us anything, there was a big difference in this match-up from the regular season to the playoffs. In 2023, each team had lopsided victories; New York defeated the Aces by 38 last August. That didn’t matter much come post-season. Las Vegas becomes shape-shifters when the lights are bright, and they’re doing it again. 
The Liberty swept the Aces in the regular season, but the first game was without Chelsea Gray, and the last game was a narrow victory without A’ja Wilson. Still, New York has had a different fierceness in its eye this season, especially in these playoffs so far. Both teams are 11-4 in their last 15 games post-Olympic break. The margin of error will be slim, and the superstars Breanna Stewart and Wilson need to be at their all-time best. After winning the regular-season MVP last year, Stewart didn’t have an outstanding playoff performance (she shot 35% from the field across ten games). I bet she’s been itching to run it back. 
<h3>Key Players: </h3>
Sabrina Ionescu, Guard, New York 
Ionescu has dramatically improved her game since the last time these two teams met in the postseason. She’s attacking the basket more and not just settling for long-range 3-pointers. Then, when the post-defense helps, she’s added a pretty floater to her arsenal. We saw all this in her roaring 36-point performance in Game 2 of the first round, tying a franchise playoff record. “Spike Lee gave me a high five as I went to inbound the ball out of bounds, and I felt like New York was just injected into me,” Ionescu <a href="https://x.com/MylesEhrlich/status/1838766606639382920">said</a> after the game. (Hey, Spike, sit courtside for the rest of the season, yeah?) She pumped up the crowd in the win, got her team involved, and fed off Barclay’s energy. And she’ll need to do it again for at least three more games to earn another trip to the Finals. 
She’s a key player in this particular series because of her defense. In the Finals last season, the Aces purposefully put her in sets defensively to exploit her lack of on-ball guarding ability. Ionescu has stepped up her game on the offensive end, and now she’ll need to show that her defense has also elevated. 
Jackie Young, Guard, Las Vegas 
Now, for the player who will most likely be guarding Ionescu, Young will be key in limiting the drives by the Liberty guard. Her pressure on the perimeter for the Aces is an igniting factor for Becky Hammon’s entire defensive scheme. It also helps when you have the reigning Defensive Player in the Year as your help, just in case you get beat. Young is due for a breakout game. She’s struggled in spurts in the back half of the regular season. On offense, they will need her to knock down shots, be a playmaker if the ball gets stuck, and put pressure on the Liberty defense by attacking the rim. On defense, she has one job: stop Sabrina. 
<h2 style="text-align: center">(2) Minnesota Lynx vs. (3) Connecticut Sun</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-193991" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/GettyImages-2171951716.jpg" alt="Brionna Jones #42 of the Connecticut Sun" width="594" height="396" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/GettyImages-2171951716.jpg 594w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/GettyImages-2171951716-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 594px) 100vw, 594px" />
Game 1: Sun at Lynx: Sunday, Sept. 29, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2: Sun at Lynx: Tuesday, Oct. 1, Time TBD 
Game 3: Lynx at Sun: Friday, Oct. 4, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN 2 
Game 4: Lynx at Sun: Sunday, Oct. 6, TBD (if necessary)
Game 5: Sun at Lynx: Tuesday, Oct. 8, Time TBD, ESPN 2 (if necessary) 
Matchup Stats: <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/team/1611661324/players-traditional/?Season=2024&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;sort=PTS&amp;dir=1&amp;OpponentTeamID=1611661323">Lynx vs. Sun</a> | <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/team/1611661323/players-traditional/?Season=2024&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;sort=PTS&amp;dir=1&amp;OpponentTeamID=1611661324">Sun vs. Lynx</a>
Thinking back to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0xu47OO7Nc">the regular-season penultimate game</a> with these two teams gives me chills. The last four possessions were high-level players making high-level plays. With 24 seconds remaining, Alyssa Thomas made a free-throw line push shot. Then, a clutch turn-around jumper by Napheesa Collier. Then, a back-door cut from DeWanna Bonner. Then, a deep 3-pointer by Bridget Carleton sealed it with five seconds remaining. The Lynx won by two points. What a thrill! But it was Minnesota’s lone victory against the Sun in the regular season. Connecticut took the first two matches by a combined six points, which included an overtime win. The Sun and the Wings (surprisingly) were the only two teams to defeat the Lynx twice. 
In the semi-finals, that’ll be wiped clean. Coming into this second round, Collier and Thomas have been playing out of this world. Collier erupted for 42 points (70% from the field!!!) in Game 2 to defeat the Mercury after she scored 38 the prior game. She<a href="https://x.com/espn/status/1839149769547014650"> tied</a> Maya Moore for the record for the most points in a playoff game. Thomas also knotted a record of her own. According to ESPN, with 26 assists in this series, it tied with Sue Bird in 2020 for the most assists over a two-playoff game span. Bird went on to win Finals MVP that season; I&#8217;m just saying. The best part? Phee and AT will be guarding each other. That’s a battle I can’t wait to see with a Finals spot on the line.
<h3>Key Players:</h3>
Kayla McBride, Guard, Minnesota Lynx
McBuckets quietly had one of her best regular seasons in her 11-year career. She became the first Lynx and the 13th WNBA player to <a href="https://u.acrossthetimeline.com/stat-KaDys">make at least 100 threes in the regular season</a>, finishing with 105. Her 40.7% from 3-point range on 6.6 attempts per game was her best to date. Earlier in the season, <a href="https://www.thenexthoops.com/features/pass-her-the-ball-kayla-mcbride-is-turning-lynx-games-into-three-point-shooting-clinics/">she matched</a> a WNBA record for most made 3-pointers over a two-game span with 15. She’s averaging the second-most assists of her career (3.2 pg) and a career-best steals average per game (1.3). The latter is a nod to Minnesota’s sweltering defensive intensity all season long; they constantly battled the Sun for the top defensive team in the league. It’s a given this semi-final match-up will be defense first, and McBride has been dialed in on that end of the floor, but the Sun must also play defense on her. The knockdown shooter has gotten great, quick-trigger looks when Collier gets doubled inside. Minnesota’s league-best assist total is because they move the ball swiftly; McBride has been the beneficiary. She can set her feet, stay in rhythm, and knock it down. Combined with her partner-in-crime, Bridget Carleton, they are a whopping 48% from the 3-point line <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/team/1611661324/players-traditional/?Season=2024&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;sort=PTS&amp;dir=1&amp;OpponentTeamID=1611661323&amp;PerMode=Totals">against Connecticut</a> – with Carleton drilling 61.5% solo. 
Brionna Jones, Center, Connecticut 
Last season, the Sun knocked the Lynx out of the playoffs without Bri Jones as the anchor of their interior offense. Jones, who missed most of the 2023 season due to an Achille’s injury, will be key in the Sun getting past Minnesota again this postseason. In Game 1 of the first round against the Fever, the 2024 All-Star tied her career playoff high with four steals while defending Aliyah Boston inside. But she offset it by coughing up the ball five times, which set a new career playoff high. Jones seemed to hurt her right shoulder in the first half of Game 2, only scoring eight points in 13 total minutes. If she’s not 100%, Olivia Nelson-Ododa will have to step up and play substantial minutes in the semi-finals; her 6-foot-5 frame could help disrupt Collier’s looks inside the restricted area. But if Jones is a go, I can see Coach Stephanie White drawing up plays to feed her on the inside purposefully. Minnesota’s Alanna Smith will be tasked to guard Jones; she isn’t a true center and gives up over 30 pounds in the battle. In the Sun&#8217;s win over the Lynx in May, Jones tallied 19 points (60% from the field) while limiting Smith to only 10. Jones will have to dominate like this again for Connecticut to come out on top. 
WNBA reporter Jordan Robinson writes columns on <a href="http://wnba.com/">WNBA.com</a> throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/heyjordanr?s=11&amp;amp;t=J-cOcDBZrcrt32m2C7gIVg">@HeyJordanR.</a> The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams.

2024-wnba-playoffs-semi-finals-preview

2024 WNBA Playoffs presented by Google: Key Players to Watch in Semi-Finals

With the conclusion of the WNBA season upon us, it's time to reflect on the outstanding performances throughout the league. What makes someone the Kia Most Valuable Player of the WNBA? There isn't a cookie-cutter and finite answer: It changes depending on the season, who's doing what, and how they do it.
It's worth noting how MVP voting works. Voters do not vote for just one player for MVP; they submit a Top 5 list ranked in order of voters' MVP placement. This accounts for a points system that decides the MVP race. A first-place vote is worth ten points, 2nd place is worth seven points, 3rd place is worth five points, 4th place is worth three points, and a 5th place vote is worth one point. All the points are accumulated and added up, making it crucial to secure a first-place vote and as many points as possible in voting.
The Kia MVP is about all-around impact. Winning matters and should factor in. While wins are not a solitary stat, the MVP conversation is supposed to be selective: this is the highest individual achievement one can earn in basketball!

Chicago Sky v Las Vegas Aces

Last season, Wilson had the best season of her career, setting career highs as a scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker while continuing to refine her game. 2023 was the most efficient season of her career.
Last year felt like a pinnacle, one of the great seasons in WNBA history. She has shattered that this year, which is hard to comprehend. The two-time MVP has improved every season, but she has taken an unprecedented step forward this season, including two 40+ point outings this past week.
Wilson is averaging 27.5 points per game, comfortably leading the league. For reference, Diana Taurasi set the league record for scoring average in a season in 2006, scoring 25.3 points per contest. The only player in league history to average a 20 & 10 points/rebounds double-double or better while shooting over 50% from the field was Sylvia Fowles in 2011, per Her Hoop Stats. Wilson is scoring 7.5 more points per game and corralling almost two more boards while playing nearly identical minutes per game.
Everything isn't just raw stats; the production is felt in her play. The Aces have not played to their standard this season but have already clinched a postseason appearance primarily due to Wilson's heavy lifting, and that's dramatically mattered as they've started to round into play.
&nbsp;

Minnesota Lynx v Las Vegas Aces

Collier and the Lynx have put together a dominant start after the break, including two convincing wins over the Aces with her standout play. The arguments for Collier as the league's MVP are gaining steam.
Versatility is incredibly valued in modern basketball, and understandably so. However, versatility matters most when it can be repeatedly and practically applied. Napheesa Collier has embodied that this season, excelling in nearly every game category.
Her defense with Alanna Smith has set the tone for one of the most impressive one-year defensive turnarounds I've enjoyed watching. It's one thing to go from bad to good on defense. It's another way to take a team from bad to elite, and it's the best defense in the WNBA. Collier is phenomenal at attacking gaps and passing lanes with her length and timing while strong guarding multiple positions. 
She's third in the league in steals per game and tied for eighth in blocks per game, averaging 3.2 combined steals and blocks, behind only the aforementioned Wilson and Ezi Magbegor.Collier's impact cannot be underscored, as the Minnesota Lynx are also on pace to break the league record for assist rate in a season. She's dynamic in pick-and-roll in all facets, capable of popping, rolling, and handling herself. She can post up and attack mismatches. She can isolate. She can come off screens. Doing all that effectively and moving the ball quickly and to the right places when she sees a better opportunity for a teammate is easier said than done.

Seattle Storm v New York Liberty

July 10th's matchup with the Sun is the most significant indicator of Sabrina Ionescu's growth. In the final minute of the game, a slugfest in the late 4th quarter, Ionescu races down the court off a rebound, Sun star Alyssa Thomas stapled to her all the way.We've seen this story multiple times over the past few seasons. Even though the Liberty have had the Sun's number, Ionescu has struggled to handle ball pressure and Thomas' ability to swarm in their matchups.
In this particular game, however, Sabrina is composed. She looks for an early offense, sees nothing, and keeps her dribble alive for 10 seconds before drawing a ball screen in the middle of the floor. She gets DeWanna Bonner on a switch, reverses back to attack the paint, puts Bonner on her hip, and hits a fallaway floater to seal the game with 4 seconds left. Liberty wins.
Ionescu had the floater in college, but it has blossomed into a legitimate weapon for her this season as a pro. She's slowed down as a ballhandler, allowing screens to set up, better utilizing them and improving her patience. Keeping her dribble alive regularly and using screens to gain space has allowed her to become a true 3-level scorer and handle more responsibilities as a point guard. She's come up huge in the clutch and has been an absolute difference-maker for New York.

4. Breanna Stewart 

While Stewart's shot from deep hasn't been as reliable as it typically is (Career 36.6% three-point shooter prior to 2024-25), it's a testament to the rest of her all-around game that she's still right in the thick of another First Team All-WNBA nod. Sabrina Ionescu's consistency and late-game heroics have been pivotal for the Liberty. However, Stewart's ability to slot into a slightly different role while still being elite has been key for New York's best season in franchise history.
Her 26.4% usage rate is the lowest since her rookie season, but that's unlocked other aspects of her game. Already one of the most versatile and well-rounded players in the world, the reigning MVP has been utilized more in attacking off the catch and off the ball this season. Stewart is shooting 45% on drives per Synergy Sports, which is the best mark of her career. Creating more opportunities where defenses can't automatically load up on her has been a boon to her efficiency and ability to keep things humming offensively, getting to the free-throw line at the highest rate since 2017.
Defensively, Stewart has reigned supreme for a vastly improved New York defense. For reference, the Liberty has the best defensive rating in the league since the start of July, allowing only 92.9 points per 100 possessions over the past 15 games. An elite defender on the backline, on switches, and in isolation, Stewart's two-way versatility has the Liberty primed for a deep run.

Chicago Sky v Connecticut Sun

Connecticut Sun v Seattle Storm

It's not easy to follow up on one of the most impressive seasons the league has seen, but Thomas has done so admirably. While Thomas is not scoring with quite the same volume she did last season, that's partially out of necessity. Brionna Jones is back and thriving. DiJonai Carrington has emerged as a viable All-Star candidate. Every starter on the Sun is a double-digit scorer, the only team in the WNBA to meet that mark.
Thomas is the straw that stirs the drink in Connecticut, an elite facilitator and decision-maker, quite literally the engine of the Sun.
To add some context, Synergy Sports has a statistic called points per possessions + assists, which gauges total efficiency when including a player's scoring and the baskets they create from their passing. Out of 41 players in the league who have used at least 300 offensive possessions, Thomas ranks 2nd, generating 1.354 points per possession when she scores or assists a shot. In other words, she creates efficient offense routinely and on high volume, which matters when looking at her best attribute on the offensive end: her passing.Defensively, Thomas continues to elevate the Sun as one of the stalwart teams in the league. She can defend the perimeter and post, play aggressively off the ball, defend in every type of coverage, and be a nonstop headache for offenses.
&nbsp;

Indiana Fever v Phoenix Mercury

Two additional players have been on a rampage this season and could play themselves further into the MVP race.

While the Fever underwent understandable woes in the first month of the season, Indiana is 14-6 over their last 20 games, including two massive wins coming out of the All-Star Break. Clark has found a synergy with her teammates and an elite comfort on the floor as a facilitator and creator. She's knocking on the door of First Team All-W and a Top 5 finish in MVP voting.

Copper has taken the full-on leap into MVP range this season, exploding as a pick-and-roll creator. She is having the most efficient season of her career as a pick-and-roll creator, in the 76th percentile as a scorer per Synergy Sports. Her clutch time numbers are off the charts, and they are a key aspect of why this newly assembled group is in the playoff mix.

WNBA reporter Mark Schindler writes columns on WNBA.com throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at @MG_Schindler. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams.

Stats as of September 4, 2024



With the conclusion of the WNBA season upon us, it&#8217;s time to reflect on the outstanding performances throughout the league. What makes someone the Kia Most Valuable Player of the WNBA? There isn&#8217;t a cookie-cutter and finite answer: It changes depending on the season, who&#8217;s doing what, and how they do it.
It&#8217;s worth noting how MVP voting works. Voters do not vote for just one player for MVP; they submit a Top 5 list ranked in order of voters&#8217; MVP placement. This accounts for a points system that decides the MVP race. A first-place vote is worth ten points, 2nd place is worth seven points, 3rd place is worth five points, 4th place is worth three points, and a 5th place vote is worth one point. All the points are accumulated and added up, making it crucial to secure a first-place vote and as many points as possible in voting.
The Kia MVP is about all-around impact. Winning matters and should factor in. While wins are not a solitary stat, the MVP conversation is supposed to be selective: this is the highest individual achievement one can earn in basketball!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. A’ja Wilson</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-192445" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/WilsonMVP.png" alt="A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces" width="960" height="768" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/WilsonMVP.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/WilsonMVP-300x240.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/WilsonMVP-768x614.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />





Last season, Wilson had the best season of her career, setting career highs as a scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker while continuing to refine her game. 2023 was the most efficient season of her career.
Last year felt like a pinnacle, one of the great seasons in WNBA history. She has shattered that this year, which is hard to comprehend. The two-time MVP has improved every season, but she has taken an unprecedented step forward this season, including two 40+ point outings this past week.
Wilson is averaging 27.5 points per game, comfortably leading the league. For reference, Diana Taurasi set the league record for scoring average in a season in 2006, scoring 25.3 points per contest. The only player in league history to average a 20 &amp; 10 points/rebounds double-double or better while shooting over 50% from the field was Sylvia Fowles in 2011, per Her Hoop Stats. Wilson is scoring 7.5 more points per game and corralling almost two more boards while playing nearly identical minutes per game.
Everything isn&#8217;t just raw stats; the production is felt in her play. The Aces have not played to their standard this season but have already clinched a postseason appearance primarily due to Wilson&#8217;s heavy lifting, and that&#8217;s dramatically mattered as they&#8217;ve started to round into play.
&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. Napheesa Collier</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-192447" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/PheeMVP.png" alt="Napheesa Collier #24 of the Minnesota Lynx" width="960" height="768" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/PheeMVP.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/PheeMVP-300x240.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/PheeMVP-768x614.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />





Collier and the Lynx have put together a dominant start after the break, including two convincing wins over the Aces with her standout play. The arguments for Collier as the league&#8217;s MVP are gaining steam.
Versatility is incredibly valued in modern basketball, and understandably so. However, versatility matters most when it can be repeatedly and practically applied. Napheesa Collier has embodied that this season, excelling in nearly every game category.
Her defense with Alanna Smith has set the tone for one of the most impressive one-year defensive turnarounds I&#8217;ve enjoyed watching. It&#8217;s one thing to go from bad to good on defense. It&#8217;s another way to take a team from bad to elite, and it&#8217;s the best defense in the WNBA. Collier is phenomenal at attacking gaps and passing lanes with her length and timing while strong guarding multiple positions. 
She&#8217;s third in the league in steals per game and tied for eighth in blocks per game, averaging 3.2 combined steals and blocks, behind only the aforementioned Wilson and Ezi Magbegor. Collier&#8217;s impact cannot be underscored, as the Minnesota Lynx are also on pace to break the league record for assist rate in a season. She&#8217;s dynamic in pick-and-roll in all facets, capable of popping, rolling, and handling herself. She can post up and attack mismatches. She can isolate. She can come off screens. Doing all that effectively and moving the ball quickly and to the right places when she sees a better opportunity for a teammate is easier said than done.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. Sabrina Ionescu</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-192449" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/IonescuMVP.png" alt="Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the New York Liberty" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/IonescuMVP.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/IonescuMVP-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/IonescuMVP-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />





July 10th&#8217;s matchup with the Sun is the most significant indicator of Sabrina Ionescu&#8217;s growth. In the final minute of the game, a slugfest in the late 4th quarter, Ionescu races down the court off a rebound, Sun star Alyssa Thomas stapled to her all the way. We&#8217;ve seen this story multiple times over the past few seasons. Even though the Liberty have had the Sun&#8217;s number, Ionescu has struggled to handle ball pressure and Thomas&#8217; ability to swarm in their matchups.
In this particular game, however, Sabrina is composed. She looks for an early offense, sees nothing, and keeps her dribble alive for 10 seconds before drawing a ball screen in the middle of the floor. She gets DeWanna Bonner on a switch, reverses back to attack the paint, puts Bonner on her hip, and hits a fallaway floater to seal the game with 4 seconds left. Liberty wins.
Ionescu had the floater in college, but it has blossomed into a legitimate weapon for her this season as a pro. She&#8217;s slowed down as a ballhandler, allowing screens to set up, better utilizing them and improving her patience. Keeping her dribble alive regularly and using screens to gain space has allowed her to become a true 3-level scorer and handle more responsibilities as a point guard. She&#8217;s come up huge in the clutch and has been an absolute difference-maker for New York.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">4. Breanna Stewart </h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-192452" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/StewieMVP.png" alt="Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/StewieMVP.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/StewieMVP-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/StewieMVP-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
While Stewart&#8217;s shot from deep hasn&#8217;t been as reliable as it typically is (Career 36.6% three-point shooter prior to 2024-25), it&#8217;s a testament to the rest of her all-around game that she&#8217;s still right in the thick of another First Team All-WNBA nod. Sabrina Ionescu&#8217;s consistency and late-game heroics have been pivotal for the Liberty. However, Stewart&#8217;s ability to slot into a slightly different role while still being elite has been key for New York&#8217;s best season in franchise history.
Her 26.4% usage rate is the lowest since her rookie season, but that&#8217;s unlocked other aspects of her game. Already one of the most versatile and well-rounded players in the world, the reigning MVP has been utilized more in attacking off the catch and off the ball this season. Stewart is shooting 45% on drives per Synergy Sports, which is the best mark of her career. Creating more opportunities where defenses can&#8217;t automatically load up on her has been a boon to her efficiency and ability to keep things humming offensively, getting to the free-throw line at the highest rate since 2017.
Defensively, Stewart has reigned supreme for a vastly improved New York defense. For reference, the Liberty has the best defensive rating in the league since the start of July, allowing only 92.9 points per 100 possessions over the past 15 games. An elite defender on the backline, on switches, and in isolation, Stewart&#8217;s two-way versatility has the Liberty primed for a deep run.







<h2 class="wp-block-heading">5. Alyssa Thomas</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-192454" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/ATMVP.png" alt="Alyssa Thomas #25 of the Connecticut Sun" width="960" height="768" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/ATMVP.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/ATMVP-300x240.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/ATMVP-768x614.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />





It&#8217;s not easy to follow up on one of the most impressive seasons the league has seen, but Thomas has done so admirably. While Thomas is not scoring with quite the same volume she did last season, that&#8217;s partially out of necessity. Brionna Jones is back and thriving. DiJonai Carrington has emerged as a viable All-Star candidate. Every starter on the Sun is a double-digit scorer, the only team in the WNBA to meet that mark.
Thomas is the straw that stirs the drink in Connecticut, an elite facilitator and decision-maker, quite literally the engine of the Sun.
To add some context, Synergy Sports has a statistic called points per possessions + assists, which gauges total efficiency when including a player&#8217;s scoring and the baskets they create from their passing. Out of 41 players in the league who have used at least 300 offensive possessions, Thomas ranks 2nd, generating 1.354 points per possession when she scores or assists a shot. In other words, she creates efficient offense routinely and on high volume, which matters when looking at her best attribute on the offensive end: her passing. Defensively, Thomas continues to elevate the Sun as one of the stalwart teams in the league. She can defend the perimeter and post, play aggressively off the ball, defend in every type of coverage, and be a nonstop headache for offenses.
&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Honorable Mentions</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-192455" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/CCKahMVP.png" alt="Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/CCKahMVP.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/CCKahMVP-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/09/CCKahMVP-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />





Two additional players have been on a rampage this season and could play themselves further into the MVP race.



6. Caitlin Clark



While the Fever underwent understandable woes in the first month of the season, Indiana is 14-6 over their last 20 games, including two massive wins coming out of the All-Star Break. Clark has found a synergy with her teammates and an elite comfort on the floor as a facilitator and creator. She&#8217;s knocking on the door of First Team All-W and a Top 5 finish in MVP voting.



7. Kahleah Copper



Copper has taken the full-on leap into MVP range this season, exploding as a pick-and-roll creator. She is having the most efficient season of her career as a pick-and-roll creator, in the 76th percentile as a scorer per Synergy Sports. Her clutch time numbers are off the charts, and they are a key aspect of why this newly assembled group is in the playoff mix.



WNBA reporter Mark Schindler writes columns on <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="http://wnba.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WNBA.com</a> throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/mg_schindler">@MG_Schindler</a>. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams.

2024-mvp-ladder

The KIA 2024 MVP Ladder

As the 2024 WNBA season kicks back into full swing after a mid-season break, the league has once again teamed up with CarMax to showcase exciting games on the WNBA App.
Test Drive, presented by CarMax, will provide fans an opportunity to unlock the action with complimentary preview access to WNBA League Pass, the league’s direct-to-consumer offering that provides access to live out-of-market games. Fans can take advantage of the free preview window from August 24-26 and stream up to 6 games, live or on-demand, for free in the “Watch” tab of the WNBA App with no subscription or credit card information required.<a href="https://wnba-app.smart.link/sblpxcbmq"> Download</a> today to get ready to watch!
<h2>September 24, 2024</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-190880" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/ARTICLE-IMAGE_NYLvs.CT_.png" alt="" width="960" height="639" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/ARTICLE-IMAGE_NYLvs.CT_.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/ARTICLE-IMAGE_NYLvs.CT_-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/ARTICLE-IMAGE_NYLvs.CT_-768x511.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Connecticut Sun vs. New York Liberty
Two of the top 4 teams in the league standings all year face off as we inch closer to the postseason, where both the Liberty and Sun aim to chase a championship.
New York has dominated this regular season and has come out of the post-break gates swinging, including a victory over the Aces in Las Vegas. The Liberty and Sun have played three times this season, with New York winning each game, 10-1, against Connecticut since the start of the 2023 season, including last year’s playoff series.
This is the final matchup between the two during the regular season, making it a crucial measuring stick game. After a blockbuster mid-season trade to acquire guard Marina Mabrey, Connecticut has the potential to build up its strengths and minimize its weaknesses. This game holds weight and should be incredibly exciting to start off our free run of games.
Indiana Fever vs. Minnesota Lynx
Coming off of a two-game matchup with the reigning champ Las Vegas Aces, the Lynx will host a red-hot Indiana fever squad. The Lynx have slid back into the year, recapturing the defensive dynamism that set them apart and elevated them early in the year. Napheesa Collier continues to have a banner season, dominating on the defensive end but also having a hand in every aspect of Minnesota’s offense.
Collier&#8217;s development into one of the league&#8217;s most consistent and versatile stars has made her one of the best players on the planet and the Lynx a true title contender in 2024.
Stopping the Indiana Fever is no tall task, however. 
Since July 1st, the Fever are tied for 2nd in the WNBA in offensive rating with the Connecticut Sun, only behind the Phoenix Mercury. Caitlin Clark has reached a level of comfortability as a pro over this last month that has been incredible to watch, and she&#8217;s been completely in command of the offense. The cohesion between her, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell, along with their individual growth, has Indiana in the hunt for a playoff spot and potentially better seeding.
&nbsp;
<h2>September 25, 2024</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-190883" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/Articleimage_LASvs.DAL_.png" alt="" width="960" height="639" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/Articleimage_LASvs.DAL_.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/Articleimage_LASvs.DAL_-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/Articleimage_LASvs.DAL_-768x511.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Los Angeles Sparks vs. Dallas Wings
The Sparks and Wings face off in a matchup of two of the best scorers in the league this season, Dearica Hamby and Arike Ogunbowale.
Los Angeles is in the midst of a building year defined by their youth and player development. 4th overall pick Rickea Jackson has been one of the most productive rookies and forwards in the W this season. Watching her matchup against one of the most versatile forwards in the league, Satou Sabally should be a treat.
Dallas is seeking to climb back into the playoff discussion after an injury-riddled start to the season. While it will be a lofty climb, Ogunbowale has proven herself as one of the most dynamic and clutch scorers in the WNBA. This will be a crucial game for the Wings to find some footing as they reshape their defensive identity and integrate now healthy players.
&nbsp;
<h2>September 26, 2024</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-190882" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/ARTICLEIMAGE_INDvs.ATL_.png" alt="" width="960" height="639" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/ARTICLEIMAGE_INDvs.ATL_.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/ARTICLEIMAGE_INDvs.ATL_-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/ARTICLEIMAGE_INDvs.ATL_-768x511.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream
This matchup should be an absolute barnburner, as two of the top young guards in the WNBA face off. 2022 Rookie of the Year Rhyne Howard just had her best game of the season, a 30-point showing against the Seattle Storm. She’s in peak form after an ankle injury sidelined her for parts of the first half of the season. With Atlanta finding a groove, they’re Dreaming of making some noise to secure a playoff spot.
Caitlin Clark continues to make a strong case for the 2024 iteration of Rookie of the Year and a shot at an All-WNBA team. Watching these two dynamic guards, the league&#8217;s future, already phenomenal in the present, will be a must-see.
Please don’t sleep on 2023 Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston in this game: She averages 18.2 points per game against Atlanta in her career, the second-highest scoring average she has against a franchise.
New York Liberty vs. Phoenix Mercury
The Liberty are the current top dogs in the W, and the Mercury are still looking to find more consistent footing in the playoff standings. Can they win a marquee matchup with the best of the best?
Phoenix has oscillated this year, winning crucial games with late-game heroics but also struggling on the road (6-9) and dropping games they can’t afford to if they aspire to host a playoff series. 
However, the Mercury are one of the few teams that can say they’ve beaten the Liberty in 2024, having picked up a win prior to the All-Star Break. As Kahleah Copper continues her fantastic campaign, can she and the Mercury eke out a statement win before the close of August?
Washington Mystics vs. Seattle Storm
The Washington Mystics have been involved in some of the year&#8217;s most exciting games, consistently taking the top teams in the league wire to wire. Now, facing a Seattle Storm team working in a new player, recently signing forward Gabby Williams to a rest-of-season contract, this could be a fantastic matchup.
Both teams are gritty defensively, and the Storm is commanding one of the top defenses in the WNBA. With Williams now in the fold, that will likely only push the Storm further as a defensive juggernaut. 
As the Mystics continue to build on their youth, look for key play from Shakira Austin and Aaliyah Edwards in this one. Austin is back after an injury held her out much of the early season and is rounding back into the form that makes her one of the most exciting prospects in basketball.
WNBA reporter Mark Schindler writes columns on <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="http://wnba.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WNBA.com</a> throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/mg_schindler">@MG_Schindler</a>. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams.
&nbsp;

2024-mid-season-test-drive-schedule-breakdown

2024 Mid-Season Test Drive by CarMax: Inside the Schedule

In our 3rd annual iteration of Hustle Stat All-Stars, we have an ode to the players who go above and beyond in contributions on the court in a way that won’t consistently get recognized in the mainstream. To be a Hustle Stat All-Star, you, of course, cannot have made the All-Star team this year or any year prior. That’s not to say that some of these players won’t warrant that nod in the future, but with their present roles, they shine through for how they make those around them better and do the unheralded aspects of the game.

Bridget Carleton #6 of the Minnesota Lynx

Carleton

Carleton is enjoying a career year for the Lynx, her 6th season in the WNBA. She’s served as a vital part of one of the best teams in the league, all the more important considering she filled in budding star Diamond Miller’s spot in the starting lineup after her early season injury.

She’s started 21 straight games since, averaging 9.5 points, 4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. She’s been an absolute sniper this season, shooting 43.5% of her attempts from outside the arc. Carleton is 9th in the league in total made 3’s and 5th in three-point percentage amongst players who have taken at least 30 threes this season.

While shooting is her standout elite skill, how she’s filled out the rest of her game has been crucial for Minnesota. The Lynx are on pace to set the WNBA record for assist rate in a season, and Carleton’s ability as a secondary playmaker and ball mover has shined. Minnesota is also the top-ranked defense in the association, and her improvement on that end has been key. She often guards some of the top perimeter options in the league and provides enough resistance consistently to maintain the Lynx’s defensive shell. She’s been active and engaged off the ball, arguably even more important than stopping ball handlers herself.

The Lynx succeed because Carelton so consistently does her job, and part of the difficulty in recognizing that is that it’s more noticeable when she’s not on the court. She makes her teammates better by being on the court and thriving in her role.

Jordan Horston #23 of the Seattle Storm reacts during the third quarter against the Minnesota Lynx

Horston813

The Seattle Storm went through some flux early in the season, which was understandable given how many new faces they were integrating into the team. However, Seattle really hit a groove headed into the All-Star Break, 8-2 in their last 10 games. Not so coincidentally, that coincides with Jordan Horston being moved into the starting five for the first time this season.

In 272 minutes of playing time together, the 5-player lineup of Skylar Diggins-Smith, Jewell Loyd, Jordan Horston, Ezi Magbegor, and Nneka Ogwumike has a +15.4 net rating. In other words, the Storm outscored the opposition by 15.4 points per 100 possessions with that lineup on the floor. That’s an elite number and one that the Storm seek to keep building off of for the remainder of the season.

The Storm have struggled with shooting from distance this season, 12th in the WNBA in three-point percentage. So, that might make it sound counterintuitive that Horston has been the answer as a 5th starter. While Horston is not someone you have to guard out to three, she’s allowed the Storm to lean into the areas where they excel. She’s phenomenal, moving without the ball and cutting to play off of her star teammates. She’s got a real case for an All-Defensive team this season, an elite playmaker in the passing lanes and capable of clamping up at just about any position on the court. It’s also worth noting how much better she’s been as a finisher in year two, shooting 55.2% on two-pointers as opposed to below 40% as a rookie. You also can’t sleep on her ability to rip and run off the glass. Horston makes the Storm stronger with her all-around play.

Lindsay Allen #15 of the Chicago Sky shoots against the Seattle Storm

Allen

The Chicago Sky have found their base of stars and promising players for their future, headlined by Angel Reese, Chennedy Carter, and Kamilla Cardoso. First-year coach Teresa Weatherspoon has this team playing defense at a high level and rebounding with ferocity. As Carter has shined since entering the starting lineup, point guard Lindsay Allen's play has been impactful alongside her.

Carter is more of a natural scoring guard and combo guard, whereas Allen is the consummate floor general. Their games have meshed beautifully.

Allen has assisted Carter 27 times this season, the most fruitful assist combo for Chicago in 2024. Allen’s been elite at getting into the paint, whirling around to and fro, navigating sometimes cramped spacing (understandable in year one of a rebuild), and getting the ball where it needs to go. When Carter catches the ball and can step into her drives, she’s nearly unstoppable as the league's fastest player.

Allen hustles on defense, adds just enough as a scorer, and is commanding with the ball in her hands. She’s the exact player this young group needs to direct and settle things at times, and her play deserves so much shine.

Shatori Walker-Kimbrough #32 of the Washington Mystics reacts during the game against the New York Liberty

The Washington Mystics have played so much better than their record will ever indicate. They endured an incredibly difficult stretch to start the season, with franchise stars Brittney Sykes and Shakira Austin both sustaining injuries that have held them out much of the year. The Mystics have fought tooth and nail with a shorthanded group and given every team its best shot, taking all of the top four teams in the league by record down to the wire.

Shatori Walker-Kimbrough is an embodiment of that spirit from the Mystics. If I were asked to describe Shatori in one sentence to someone who’d never seen her play, I’d say she’s the picturesque idea of what you want in a role player. She’s just a damned good basketball player.

She can create with the ball in her hands in a pinch. She can come off screens and succeed as an off-ball player. She’s a quality playmaker. She’s always on the shortlist for an All-Defensive team. She just adds value across the board.

In her last 10 games, Walker-Kimbrough is averaging 12.1 points and 3.4 assists while shooting well from the field and from deep. In a year in which the Sixth Player of the Year race feels fairly open, she’s absolutely made herself part of the conversation.

Li Yueru #28 of the Los Angeles Sparks looks on during the game against the New York Liberty

Watching Li Yueru keep growing into her potential has been a delight. She’s dominant for the Chinese national team and was fantastic for Beskitas in Turkey this prior season: she has started to find herself in a smaller role at the highest level for the Sparks.

While it’s not always consistent, the flashes of brilliance are becoming more frequent. At 6’7 and with natural mobility, it’s hard not to be excited seeing some of the things Li Yueru does routinely on the court. She’s developing into one of the better pick-and-roll bigs in the league, improving her screening and angling to open up ball handlers best and herself. She’s fierce on the offensive glass. The game is starting to slow down for her, and she’s improving at making reads with and without the ball.

Acquired by the Sparks in the off-season in the trade with the Chicago Sky for Julie Allemand, Yueru has proven herself as a player with real potential to make an impact long-term for this team.

WNBA reporter Mark Schindler writes columns on&nbsp;WNBA.com&nbsp;throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at&nbsp;@MG_Schindler. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams

In our 3rd annual iteration of Hustle Stat All-Stars, we have an ode to the players who go above and beyond in contributions on the court in a way that won’t consistently get recognized in the mainstream. To be a Hustle Stat All-Star, you, of course, cannot have made the All-Star team this year or any year prior. That’s not to say that some of these players won’t warrant that nod in the future, but with their present roles, they shine through for how they make those around them better and do the unheralded aspects of the game.



<h1 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center">Bridget Carleton</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="640" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/Carleton.png" alt="Bridget Carleton #6 of the Minnesota Lynx" class="wp-image-190183" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/Carleton.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/Carleton-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/Carleton-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></figure>



Carleton is enjoying a career year for the Lynx, her 6th season in the WNBA. She’s served as a vital part of one of the best teams in the league, all the more important considering she filled in budding star Diamond Miller’s spot in the starting lineup after her early season injury.



She’s started 21 straight games since, averaging 9.5 points, 4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. She’s been an absolute sniper this season, shooting 43.5% of her attempts from outside the arc. Carleton is 9th in the league in total made 3’s and 5th in three-point percentage amongst players who have taken at least 30 threes this season.



While shooting is her standout elite skill, how she’s filled out the rest of her game has been crucial for Minnesota. The Lynx are on pace to set the WNBA record for assist rate in a season, and Carleton’s ability as a secondary playmaker and ball mover has shined. Minnesota is also the top-ranked defense in the association, and her improvement on that end has been key. She often guards some of the top perimeter options in the league and provides enough resistance consistently to maintain the Lynx’s defensive shell. She’s been active and engaged off the ball, arguably even more important than stopping ball handlers herself.



The Lynx succeed because Carelton so consistently does her job, and part of the difficulty in recognizing that is that it’s more noticeable when she’s not on the court. She makes her teammates better by being on the court and thriving in her role.



<h1 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center">Jordan Horston</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="640" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/Horston813.png" alt="Jordan Horston #23 of the Seattle Storm reacts during the third quarter against the Minnesota Lynx" class="wp-image-190196" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/Horston813.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/Horston813-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/Horston813-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></figure>



The Seattle Storm went through some flux early in the season, which was understandable given how many new faces they were integrating into the team. However, Seattle really hit a groove headed into the All-Star Break, 8-2 in their last 10 games. Not so coincidentally, that coincides with Jordan Horston being moved into the starting five for the first time this season.



In 272 minutes of playing time together, the 5-player lineup of Skylar Diggins-Smith, Jewell Loyd, Jordan Horston, Ezi Magbegor, and Nneka Ogwumike has a +15.4 net rating. In other words, the Storm outscored the opposition by 15.4 points per 100 possessions with that lineup on the floor. That’s an elite number and one that the Storm seek to keep building off of for the remainder of the season.



The Storm have struggled with shooting from distance this season, 12th in the WNBA in three-point percentage. So, that might make it sound counterintuitive that Horston has been the answer as a 5th starter. While Horston is not someone you have to guard out to three, she’s allowed the Storm to lean into the areas where they excel. She’s phenomenal, moving without the ball and cutting to play off of her star teammates. She’s got a real case for an All-Defensive team this season, an elite playmaker in the passing lanes and capable of clamping up at just about any position on the court. It’s also worth noting how much better she’s been as a finisher in year two, shooting 55.2% on two-pointers as opposed to below 40% as a rookie. You also can’t sleep on her ability to rip and run off the glass. Horston makes the Storm stronger with her all-around play.



<h1 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center">Lindsay Allen</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="640" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/Allen.png" alt="Lindsay Allen #15 of the Chicago Sky shoots against the Seattle Storm" class="wp-image-190197" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/Allen.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/Allen-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/Allen-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></figure>



The Chicago Sky have found their base of stars and promising players for their future, headlined by Angel Reese, Chennedy Carter, and Kamilla Cardoso. First-year coach Teresa Weatherspoon has this team playing defense at a high level and rebounding with ferocity. As Carter has shined since entering the starting lineup, point guard Lindsay Allen&#8217;s play has been impactful alongside her.



Carter is more of a natural scoring guard and combo guard, whereas Allen is the consummate floor general. Their games have meshed beautifully.



Allen has assisted Carter 27 times this season, the most fruitful assist combo for Chicago in 2024. Allen’s been elite at getting into the paint, whirling around to and fro, navigating sometimes cramped spacing (understandable in year one of a rebuild), and getting the ball where it needs to go. When Carter catches the ball and can step into her drives, she’s nearly unstoppable as the league&#8217;s fastest player.



Allen hustles on defense, adds just enough as a scorer, and is commanding with the ball in her hands. She’s the exact player this young group needs to direct and settle things at times, and her play deserves so much shine.



<h1 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center">Shatori Walker-Kimbrough</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="640" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/SWK.png" alt="Shatori Walker-Kimbrough #32 of the Washington Mystics reacts during the game against the New York Liberty" class="wp-image-190198" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/SWK.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/SWK-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/SWK-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></figure>



The Washington Mystics have played so much better than their record will ever indicate. They endured an incredibly difficult stretch to start the season, with franchise stars Brittney Sykes and Shakira Austin both sustaining injuries that have held them out much of the year. The Mystics have fought tooth and nail with a shorthanded group and given every team its best shot, taking all of the top four teams in the league by record down to the wire.



Shatori Walker-Kimbrough is an embodiment of that spirit from the Mystics. If I were asked to describe Shatori in one sentence to someone who’d never seen her play, I’d say she’s the picturesque idea of what you want in a role player. She’s just a damned good basketball player.



She can create with the ball in her hands in a pinch. She can come off screens and succeed as an off-ball player. She’s a quality playmaker. She’s always on the shortlist for an All-Defensive team. She just adds value across the board.



In her last 10 games, Walker-Kimbrough is averaging 12.1 points and 3.4 assists while shooting well from the field and from deep. In a year in which the Sixth Player of the Year race feels fairly open, she’s absolutely made herself part of the conversation.



<h1 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center">Li Yueru</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="640" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/Li.png" alt="Li Yueru #28 of the Los Angeles Sparks looks on during the game against the New York Liberty" class="wp-image-190199" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/Li.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/Li-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/Li-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></figure>



Watching Li Yueru keep growing into her potential has been a delight. She’s dominant for the Chinese national team and was fantastic for Beskitas in Turkey this prior season: she has started to find herself in a smaller role at the highest level for the Sparks.



While it’s not always consistent, the flashes of brilliance are becoming more frequent. At 6’7 and with natural mobility, it’s hard not to be excited seeing some of the things Li Yueru does routinely on the court. She’s developing into one of the better pick-and-roll bigs in the league, improving her screening and angling to open up ball handlers best and herself. She’s fierce on the offensive glass. The game is starting to slow down for her, and she’s improving at making reads with and without the ball.



Acquired by the Sparks in the off-season in the trade with the Chicago Sky for Julie Allemand, Yueru has proven herself as a player with real potential to make an impact long-term for this team.



WNBA reporter Mark Schindler writes columns on&nbsp;<a href="http://wnba.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WNBA.com</a>&nbsp;throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/mg_schindler">@MG_Schindler</a>. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams

2024-hustle-stat-all-stars

Hustle Stat All-Stars: The 2024 Team

The group stage is well underway, with just five of the 12 teams in play undefeated through two games. With a pivotal third game set between the United States and Germany this Sunday, both teams are undefeated, and each team faces a difficult test.
The USA Basketball Women&#8217;s National Team has infamously gone 57 straight games without a loss in this ultimate international tournament, a streak that winds back to before the turn of the century. What stands out about HOW this team is winning and what they’re working towards as they seek another Gold medal?
Here are 5 things I like about how the United States started playing.
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<h3 style="text-align: left">A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart’s Dominance</h3>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Breanna Stewart and A&#39;ja Wilson led the way for Team USA as they clinch a spot in the quarterfinals. 👏 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ParisOlympics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ParisOlympics</a> <a href="https://t.co/BidkZX7yXn">pic.twitter.com/BidkZX7yXn</a>
&mdash; NBC Olympics &amp; Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCOlympics/status/1819115412099121226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Wilson and Stewart are special no matter the field of play, but there&#8217;s just some kind of magic when they have The United States printed on the front of their jerseys. The team is currently averaging 94.5 points per game, the only country scoring over 80 points a contest on average: Wilson and Stewart are combining for 47.5 of those points, Wilson with 23.5 per game, and Stewart at 24 per game.
While multiple players are putting together phenomenal stretches of play, Wilson and Stewart have unquestionably been the two best players in the field.
Although the final scores of double-digit margins may tell a different story, these games have been competitive, particularly Thursday’s matchup with Belgium. This group is still finding its best lineups, aligning with how it wants to play, and ironing out some of the inconsistencies that are to be expected with a talented group that’s not accustomed to sharing the court.
The star duo has been pivotal in pushing the US to a higher gear that other teams frankly haven’t been able to match.
<h2 style="text-align: left">Transition Play</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-190071" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/StewartTransition-1.png" alt="Breanna Stewart" width="960" height="649" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/StewartTransition-1.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/StewartTransition-1-300x203.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/StewartTransition-1-768x519.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Per Synergy Sports, no team in the field is playing in transition more than the US. Almost 21% of all offensive possessions for the Americans have come out of transition, where they’re adding 22 points per contest. 
What’s been most fun to watch is how the US is thriving in transition and early offense. A’ja Wilson has dominated with early buckets by sprinting and sealing or straight-up outrunning her matchup for easy points. Breanna Stewart has been huge in how she’s created with early ball and drag screens. The US has often deployed a guard to screen for Stewart when she’s bringing the ball up, creating an incredibly difficult mismatch for the opposition that leads to easy points often: Stewart is scoring 10 points per game in transition. The next closest players are Julie Vanloo (Belgium) and Ezinee Kalu (Nigeria), with 6 each. 
Oh, and Stewart is also shooting 81.8% in transition.
<h2 style="text-align: left">Alyssa Thomas’ Spark Play</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-190067" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/ATUSA.png" alt="Alyssa Thomas" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/ATUSA.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/ATUSA-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/ATUSA-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Thomas has played a key role for the United States. Every player on this team is a star, and Thomas herself was in the WNBA MVP conversation last season. However, she fits in with her ability to scale down and smooth the offense for others while also injecting the defense with intensity. She makes quick reads and passes, cuts hard, screens well, and attacks the glass with gumption, doing all of the outlier things necessary to keep possessions alive.
In the Belgium game, the United States struggled to contain Julie Vanloo early on, as she was dynamic in pick-and-roll and shooting off the dribble. Thomas was pivotal in turning defense to offense in the second quarter, helping to slow down Vanloo and deny some of the interior looks Belgium created.
Her switchability, freneticism at the point of attack, and quickness attacking in the break were a dynamic the United States needed in that second quarter. Thomas’ play, paired with Jewell Loyd getting hot and turning it up defensively, changed the game.
<h2 style="text-align: left">Sabrina Ionescu’s Shotmaking</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-190068" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/SabrinaUSA.png" alt="Sabrina Ionescu" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/SabrinaUSA.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/SabrinaUSA-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/SabrinaUSA-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
The United States is 9 of 34 from deep through two games, in a bit of a slump from outside as a team. However, Ionescu has hit 4 of those triples for the US, shooting 44.4% from deep herself and hitting an absolute bomb from long range to close the game against Belgium and expand the point differential.
Point differential is a key decider in group play, often used as a tiebreaker as teams advance. While the United States luckily won’t have to worry about tiebreakers in group play, building any sort of cushion is important.
As a team, they’ll need to find consistency from deep as the event wears on, but Ionescu has proven herself a steady outlet in the early goings.
<h2 style="text-align: left">Jackie Young’s Defense</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-190069 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/JackieUSA.png" alt="Jackie Young" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/JackieUSA.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/JackieUSA-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/08/JackieUSA-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
As the United States has worked through a plethora of lineups and combinations on the court, Jackie Young has not been featured heavily. That’s part of the game with 12 All-Stars and All-WNBA caliber players all on the same team.
However, with her minutes in the 4th quarter against Belgium, she’s making a case for a larger role. Belgium was exceptional at getting into the paint and playing off those skip passes out. Containing Julie Vanloo was a back-and-forth battle for much of the affair.
Young would play just 9 minutes in the game, but those minutes were key in helping to push the game open, expanding the US’ lead to double digits and not looking back.
Young was instrumental in fighting through screens and staying attached to Vanloo, not letting her get a clear path to the basket. Her defense on the perimeter bought time for Wilson and Stewart on the backline to roam and muck up drives when they did come into the lane, sparking the final run that would secure the lead fully and eventually the game.
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WNBA reporter Mark Schindler writes columns on <a href="http://wnba.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WNBA.com</a> throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/mg_schindler">@MG_Schindler</a>. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams
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Five Things I Like: 2024 USA Basketball Women's National Team

The 2024 WNBA season has been defined by parity at the top to start the year: Almost every game has been a nail-biter and tightly contested, with the middle of the league quite close to blending with the top-flight title contenders. The postseason is a ways away, but if the first quarter of the season is any indication, we’re in for a wildly exciting close to the summer.
Headed into this weekend after an entertaining slate of Commissioner’s Cup play to set up the Championship Game, a trio of rivalry games stand out.
<h3 style="text-align: center">Las Vegas Aces vs. New York Liberty (Saturday, June 15, 3 pm ET, ABC)</h3>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-187000 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/06/NYLLVA615.png" alt="A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart" width="960" height="720" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/06/NYLLVA615.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/06/NYLLVA615-300x225.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/06/NYLLVA615-768x576.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
In our first regular season rematch since the 2023 WNBA Finals, the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces will take on the New York Liberty in Vegas. The Aces have had a rocky start to the season due to injury and absence, but A’ja Wilson has continued to dominate, somehow hitting an even higher level as a player after the best season of her career.
Las Vegas is fully exploring Wilson&#8217;s versatility on the court, running her off of screens, letting her create even more as a playmaker, and empowering her as the most dominant player in the game. How does everything start to click as star guard Chelsea Gray returns to the court? Gray is close to making her season debut, and much of what the Aces have missed can be chalked up to missing their floor general. As everyone returns to more natural roles and positions on the court, it will be interesting to see how the Aces’ bench and depth play out, as they have more to work with with Tip Hayes in the fold now.
For the Liberty, after back-to-back losses dropped them to 4-2 near the end of May, they’ve ripped off 7 straight victories, including a win over the previously unbeaten Connecticut Sun.
Sabrina Ionescu is playing the best basketball of her career and is more comfortable getting into the arc and finishing at the rim. The Liberty have been more consistent in getting Jonquel Jones and Betnijah Laney going offensively, which has paid dividends for the top-ranked offense in the W. They’re still finding their rhythm as they mix and match lineups, but the versatility off the bench has stood out for New York, and proven a strength during this winning streak. They have more options and solutions than last season, which bodes well for further rematches with the Aces.
This game won’t determine the full-season series, but it could be a crucial determining factor for each squad prior to the Olympic break.
<h3 style="text-align: center">Chicago Sky vs. Indiana Fever (Sunday, June 16, 12 pm, CBS)</h3>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-187009 aligncenter" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/06/CHIIND.png" alt="Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/06/CHIIND.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/06/CHIIND-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/06/CHIIND-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
In a showdown between two of the league&#8217;s up-and-coming young teams, the top talent in the association is on full display. 
First overall pick of the 2024 Draft, Caitlin Clark, and seventh overall pick Angel Reese face off for the second time as pros after a fun and exciting first matchup. 2023 Rookie of the Year, Aliyah Boston, is coming off of arguably the best game of her pro career, tying her career-high 27 points in a victory over Atlanta. Boston’s former teammate at South Carolina, Kamilla Cardoso, the third overall pick in 2024, has slid into the starting lineup of late for the Sky and continues to showcase her potential.
While neither team is contending for a championship this season, they are building towards the WNBA Finals’ of the future, and every game between the pair of teams is a must-see.
The season has been up and down for Indiana as they’ve sought to find cohesion as a team. The win against Atlanta was a highlight of that, with high highs but inconsistency along the way. However, the final 5 minutes of the 4th quarter may be the best moments we’ve seen between the past two top overall picks. Boston and Clark really found a flow and rhythm in their games, meshing with more intention in sets in the halfcourt.
Caitlin showed fantastic awareness and growth as a playmaker, handling ball pressure with a comfortability she didn&#8217;t have in the season&#8217;s opening weeks. Aliyah established position early and often, and the team worked with patience they’ve not often had this season, routinely getting her the ball in her spots. Those are the five minutes the Fever hope to build upon moving forward.
For the Sky, Angel Reese has hit second gear as she’s acclimated to the league. Before Friday night’s game with the Mystics, Reese was averaging 14 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 2.6 steals per game in June. Her defensive activity and freneticism have been vital for a Chicago team built on that defensive foundation, currently in the league&#8217;s upper half in defensive rating. She’s consistently seeing the court and making plays with the ball in her hands, popping with her potential as a point forward and offensive hub.
<h3 style="text-align: center">Seattle Storm vs Phoenix Mercury (Sunday, June 16, 3 pm ET, ABC)</h3>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-187002 aligncenter" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/06/SEAPHO.png" alt="Skylar Diggins-Smith" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/06/SEAPHO.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/06/SEAPHO-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/06/SEAPHO-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
In the game I’m perhaps most excited for, we get our first meeting between the Storm and Mercury with star center Brittney Griner. The Storm took the first meeting in early June, handily winning by 18 points, but the Mercury have won their first two matchups with BG healthy, wins over Minnesota and Dallas.
Phoenix has just made more sense with Griner in place, her gravity inside the arc opening up a wealth of opportunities for the Mercury’s perimeter options. Kahleah Copper has been a huge beneficiary of Griner’s return, going off for 63 points across those two matchups. They are a difficult matchup with Phoenix’s blend of shooting, off-ball movement, and Griner’s interior force.
The Storm, on the other hand, righted the ship after a tough start to the season, going 7-1 after a 1-3 start, their lone loss to the Minnesota Lynx.
Skylar Diggins-Smith has found her form again and is playing with the verve and confidence that sets her apart from her peers. Her shotmaking hasn’t yet hit her usual levels of consistency, but her playmaking and ability to get to the rim continue to open up the floor for the Storm. Jewell Loyd has carried much of Seattle’s offense and also had some difficulty getting into a rhythm, largely due to the Storm’s relative lack of floor spacing. They’re not a high-volume shooting team or a very accurate one yet, and they&#8217;ve been guarded as such, which has put a lot of pressure on Seattle’s guards and any scoring chances in the lane.
However, Seattle has really started to find something between Nneka Ogwumike and Ezi Magbegor. There have been some flashes of the high-low game between the pair, and each brings unique skill and ability to attack the basket that most traditional centers can struggle to guard.
When Ogwumike and Magbegor share the court (227 minutes), the Storm currently outperform the opposition by 14.7 points per 100 possessions, sporting a 90.3 defensive rating that would lead the WNBA by a significant margin.
With one of the strongest defensive foundations in the league, the Storm have a steady base from which to keep experimenting while playing at an incredibly high level as they work towards title contention.
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WNBA reporter Mark Schindler writes columns on <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="http://wnba.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WNBA.com</a> throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/mg_schindler">@MG_Schindler</a>. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams
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Rivalry Weekend 2024: Three Week 5 Matchups To Watch

A’ja Wilson has been foot-to-gas since opening tip-off. The six-year vet has had a history-making, record-breaking, absurd start to this season. She has ascended into a class of her own; it’s been otherworldly. When we saw Wilson rocking a platinum silver lace-front wig for Las Vegas Aces media day in May, did we truly expect anything different? <a href="https://x.com/espnW/status/1799992074290225495">It was giving</a> Storm from X-Men, one of the most powerful mutants in the Marvel Universe. Wilson, who is already a two-time MVP and Finals MVP, has somehow gained more on-court superpowers this year.  
<div id="attachment_186761" style="width: 860px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-186761" class="wp-image-186761 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/06/FEATUREIMAGE_-Recovered-6.png" alt="" width="850" height="478" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/06/FEATUREIMAGE_-Recovered-6.png 850w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/06/FEATUREIMAGE_-Recovered-6-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2024/06/FEATUREIMAGE_-Recovered-6-768x432.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px" />A&#8217;ja Wilson at the free throw line during Seattle Storm vs. Las Vegas Aces matchup. Wilson finished with a 29/11 double-double (June 7, 2024)</div>
TOP-TIER SCORER
As Wilson tells it in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXBIJjbiuac">M’VP: A Champ’s Diary</a>, she was out shopping when she saw a purse she liked. “Oh, that bag is top tier,” the sales associate said. It wasn’t top shelf, and it was something beyond that. It was rare and special. Since then, Wilson has made it her mission to be just that.
“The standard is top tier,” she <a href="https://boardroom.tv/aja-wilson-cover-story/">told</a> Boardroom. “When you think of top-tier, top-shelf, it’s things that are up there for a reason. And that is my standard.”
At a league-best 28.3 points per game, Wilson continues to show us the level of greatness she exudes. After her third 30-point performance of the season against the Sparks, Wilson has scored at least 20 points for the 14th consecutive game, setting a new WNBA record. She also became the third-fastest player to reach 4,000 career points Sunday, only behind Diana Taurasi and Breanna Stewart.
Question marks loomed over the Aces, who are still without starting point guard Chelsea Gray. Will their offense suffer? Who’s going to get the ball into Wilson? But A’ja’s aggressiveness on the offensive end silenced those. There’s no question who the star of this league is; Wilson has gone out and dominated inside the paint (67.4% in the restricted area), swishing it from mid-range (46.4%) and even drilling it from deep (41.7%). 
Vegas has already notched their fourth season loss, which last year didn’t come until August. But, Wilson says she’s not satisfied after leading her team to back-to-back WNBA championships. She wants more. She knows they’re not at full strength—Gray, Jackie Young, and Kierstan Bell were all sidelined this week—but come September and October, they’ll be clicking and stacking wins; that’s when it truly counts. 
Wilson, 28, considers herself a <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10121047-aja-wilson-i-have-a-lot-more-to-do-to-be-in-wnba-goat-debate-after-2-aces-titles">“GOAT-in-Training</a>,” but with eye-popping numbers like these and potentially en route to earning her third MVP award (and third champ ring) in five years, she’ll be in the GOAT conversations sooner than she thinks. 
RIM PROTECTOR
A few weeks back, versus the Dream, Allisha Gray had a fast break against Kelsey Plum in the first quarter. She briefly gets past Plum for what, she thought, was an easy two points. But, Wilson’s help-side swat sent Gray’s shot into the stands. It was nasty, egregious even, to do that to your former college roommate. Wilson then let out a primal roar as they scurried to find the ball to put it back in play. 
That’s what she does. Wilson is protecting the rim at all costs. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year has blocked a shot in 18 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the league. Against the Sparks on Sunday, she finished with six blocks, one shy of her career best. 
In her monster 36-point, 12-rebound romp over Dallas—through a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C75AQd-yeQK/?img_index=8">bleeding nose</a>, bruised eye, and lost contact lens—Wilson also snatched a career-best six steals in the contest. 
“It just takes a lot of pride, understanding where I am and knowing the personnel,” Wilson <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/38461630/aces-star-aja-wilson-wins-second-straight-dpoy-award">told ESPN</a> in 2023 about her defense. “I like to take that challenge of &#8216;Can I guard a 5? Can I guard a 1?&#8217; I try to go out there and prove it every time.”
Defense is about disruption. Disrupting shots, passes, cuts, and Wilson is a disruptor, and it starts from within. 
“I&#8217;m not trying to be the world&#8217;s best [shot-blocker], but if I can contain to help my guards or force a missed shot, I&#8217;m happy with that,” she continued. “People always say defense starts with the heart. I try to have as much heart as I can.”
LEADER
Aces rookie Kate Martin sat at the press conference podium after her first-career start against Los Angeles. Wilson to her right, and head coach Becky Hammon to her left. 
“I’m sitting next to the best player in the world,” Martin <a href="https://x.com/SummerDC_/status/1800009606686720407">said</a>, nodding Wilson’s direction. “And not only is she the best player in the world, she’s the best leader I’ve ever been around…she brings people together. She has so much confidence in every single person on our team, and that just builds up our locker room so much.”
All three of them are now smiling. Martin continued: “For the best player in the world to say keep shooting it, I feel on top of the world.” 
The Aces’ locker room is most desired. Between their laugh-out-loud pranks, pre-game dance battles, or in-game antics, they’re having a really good time. Winning contributes to that, but having a leader like Wilson, who is taking care of business on and off the court, makes for an easy follower. Yes, she dominates the box scores, but she’s also dominating in the areas we aren’t always privy to. She’s pouring into her teammates—buying them <a href="https://x.com/LVAces/status/1798432446045929875">birthday cakes and tiaras</a>—and instilling confidence in them (how can we forget about the incredible <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=374586894640541">mic’d up moment</a> to Jackie Young during a slump, “Shoot it. What’s the worst that can happen? We get paid to shoot!”). All things that build team morale. It’s clear they want to win with her and for her. 
A’ja’s dad, Roscoe, <a href="https://boardroom.tv/aja-wilson-cover-story/">said</a> it best—she has an unwavering desire to be excellent. We’re currently witnessing unprecedented WNBA greatness, and we’re only a quarter of the way through the season. Wilson is on the top tier all by herself. 
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WNBA reporter Jordan Robinson writes columns on <a href="http://wnba.com/">WNBA.com</a> throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/heyjordanr?s=11&amp;amp;t=J-cOcDBZrcrt32m2C7gIVg">@HeyJordanR.</a> The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams.
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