The New York Liberty’s new-look roster is off to a rough start, with a few of its stars limited in training camp due to injuries.
Both Courtney Vandersloot and Jonquel Jones are not at full capacity as New York embarks on its superteam era. Vandersloot took a hit to the face during Monday’s workouts, Winsidr’s Myles Ehlrich reported, and the Liberty shut her down for the day out of caution.
On Tuesday, the Liberty announced that the guard has been placed in concussion protocol.
Additionally, Jones told reporters Monday that she is playing limited minutes, as she sustained an injury “like a stress reaction” in her left foot during the WNBA Finals last year. The 2021 WNBA MVP was in a boot “for a little while,” she said, and Sunday’s opening to training camp was “really like my first time going up and down the court.”
“I’m still restricted on it right now,” she said. “But every day, I’m building on it, adding more time.”
Jones was traded to the Liberty from the Sun in the offseason, generating buzz around what the team would look like. The buzz only increased when Vandersloot and two-time WNBA champion Breanna Stewart signed with the team.
Still, Jones does appear to be working out with the team, even if in a limited capacity. For Liberty fans, injuries are unfortunately familiar territory. Last season, the team didn’t play in a single preseason game, as it did not have enough healthy players on the roster.
Energy was on 🔟 today. pic.twitter.com/mhJmZ8CFO5
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) May 1, 2023
Now that the dust has settled on WNBA free agency, it’s time to dig into how teams did before the draft takes place in April and the regular season tips off a month later.
The 2023 free-agency period brought fireworks, with some of the league’s biggest stars transferring markets and creating WNBA superteams in the process. Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot joined Jonquel Jones in New York, and Candace Parker made the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces even more dangerous (though the Aces organization is under investigation both for its treatment of Dearica Hamby and reportedly for circumventing the salary cap). Other teams retooled through trades and signings, trying to keep up with the two frontrunners.
Which teams won and lost free agency? Our team of WNBA experts — Rachel Galligan, Lyndsey D’Arcangelo and Eden Laase — debate and hand out final grades below.
Biggest winners
Rachel Galligan: New York Liberty
The Liberty won free agency, and it’s not even close. Owners Joe and Clara Wu Tsai laid out a vision for the franchise when they acquired it in 2019, and that plan kicked into high gear this offseason. New York secured top free agents Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot to add to their arsenal of talent, which includes newly acquired MVP forward Jonquel Jones.
There was also the four-team trade involving Dallas, Chicago, Phoenix and New York, which ended up being a low-key victory for the Liberty. New York acquired the rights to Leonie Fiebich and a 2025 first-round pick swap from Phoenix. With the Mercury’s post-Diana Taurasi future in question, that pick could end up as a lottery selection.
Lyndsey D’Arcangelo: New York Liberty
The Liberty set the bar this offseason, no question. They not only acquired the top players on their wish list in Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot, but they also handled themselves professionally and transparently throughout the entire process. New York has clearly demonstrated its position as a player-first organization that is investing in both the franchise and the league’s future.
Eden Laase: New York Liberty
The player that put the Liberty’s offseason over the top for me was Vandersloot. Once they acquired Jones and signed Stewart, the team’s only potential weakness was the lack of a true point guard, since Sabrina Ionescu plays better off the ball. They solved that problem with perhaps the best pass-first point guard in the league.
Biggest disappointment
Galligan: Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm
The Lynx were unable to sign any top free agents despite reports that they were in the mix. Minnesota’s last three free agencies have been below average, and now they have a number of heavy contracts limiting their cap space. Essentially, Minnesota appears to be trying to run it back with the same core roster but without Sylvia Fowles, who retired after last season. Tiffany Mitchell and Lindsay Allen were the Lynx’s biggest pick-ups alongside Damiris Dantas and Nikolina Milić re-signing. With the way the roster is currently constructed, I don’t see the needle moving much in Minnesota.
Seattle added Kia Nurse, retained Ezi Magbegor and lost one of the best players in the world to New York in free agency. The Storm got nothing in return for Brenna Stewart because of their decision not to core her last year. They have no point guard after the retirement of Sue Bird (for which there had been plenty of time to prepare), and unless they make some late additions, this team could be in trouble of falling out of contention.
Silver lining for both? If there is a year to wind up in the draft lottery, 2024 is the time to do it.
D’Arcangelo: Chicago Sky, Seattle Storm
Both the Sky and the Storm knew their big stars might not stay and didn’t seem to have good back-up plans in place. The Sky’s roster has been completely dismantled and yet, in their recent trade for Marina Mabrey, they gave away a handful of future (and much-needed) draft picks. The Storm have no true point guard on the roster, even when they knew Sue Bird wasn’t coming back. They essentially threw all of their eggs in the Courtney Vandersloot basket and came up empty.
Laase: Chicago Sky
Losing Candace Parker, Courtney Vandersloot and rising star Azurá Stevens in free agency was a big blow to the 2021 WNBA champions. They have a franchise player to build around in Kahleah Copper, but none of their signings or acquisitions thus far have put this team over the edge. It seems like the organization is signing whichever players it can instead of building a team.
Biggest surprise
Galligan: Dallas Wings
The Wings’ overall roster movement this offseason was unexpected. I anticipated Marina Mabrey to return and did not expect Diamond DeShields to be on the move, let alone end up in Dallas. The Wings are clearly making a long-term investment in fifth-year center Teaira McCowan, which is understandable given her production, but there are no guarantees for how this team gels together on the floor under new head coach Latricia Trammell. Dallas continues to hoard draft picks, including three first-round selections in this year’s draft.
D’Arcangelo: Los Angeles Sparks
In his introductory press conference, new Sparks head coach Curt Miller talked about his excitement and anticipation for free agency. After leaving Connecticut for Los Angeles in October, he was ready to make some moves. Acquiring Jasmine Thomas and Dearica Hamby showed he meant it. But luring Azurá Stevens out of Chicago and away from other teams was downright impressive.
Laase: Los Angeles Sparks
All eyes have been on the Liberty and the Aces, but Miller is quietly putting together a solid team in Los Angeles. Picking up Hamby, Thomas and Stevens, and then re-signing both Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike, are all wins for the new coach. The Sparks are heading in the right direction after two straight losing seasons.
Best signing or acquisition
Galligan: Azurá Stevens (Chicago Sky)
New York’s Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot signings are the easy choice, but I’m going to go with Azurá Stevens to Los Angeles. Given the free-agency market this year, Stevens was highly sought after, with half of the teams in the league making a play to recruit her. It’s a positive sign that Los Angeles was able to attract a free agent of Stevens’ caliber this early on in their rebuild under new general manager Karen Bryant and coach Curt Miller. Stevens gives the Sparks a unique weapon and a great complement to Nneka Ogwumike.
D’Arcangelo: Candace Parker (Las Vegas Aces), Allisha Gray (Atlanta Dream)
Candace Parker is a huge get for the Aces, who are the favorites to repeat as WNBA champions outside of New York. Aside from Stewart and Vandersloot, Parker was the biggest signing in free agency and makes Las Vegas even more talented than they already were. But I have to give Atlanta credit as well. Allisha Gray, whom the Dream acquired in a trade with Dallas last month, is an undervalued player with a huge upside. Don’t sleep on a Gray/Rhyne Howard backcourt.
Laase: Jonquel Jones (New York Liberty)
This signing was especially critical because it sent all the other offseason moves in motion. Jones made New York an even more desirable location for Stewart and Vandersloot and likely played a part in Parker signing with the Aces, who give her the best shot at a title this season when competing against New York. The Liberty set off an era of superteams in the WNBA when they traded for Jones.
Most perplexing move
Galligan: Chicago Sky’s three first round picks and five total picks for Marina Mabrey
The Sky gave up their 2023 first-round pick, 2024 first-round pick, 2025 first-round swap rights, 2024 third-round pick and 2025 second-round pick for Marina Mabrey at a time when a host of elite college talent will be coming up through the draft. While there is reason to commend coach James Wade’s desire to win, this trade fleecing is hard to look past. He plans on winning now and retooling his roster through free agency for years to come, a vision that will largely depend on the franchise’s ownership changes and added investment.
We knew Chicago’s championship era would come to an end — with Candace Parker, Allie Quigley, Azurá Stevens and Courtney Vandersloot all walking away this offseason — but the decision to give up future assets in the midst of a complete overhaul is baffling. A move of this magnitude will be scrutinized for years to come.
D’Arcangelo: Chicago Sky, Minnesota Lynx
I’m a big Mabrey fan, but the Sky giving away the farm for a player who has yet to make an All-Star team is mind-boggling. As for the Lynx, it’s the lack of moves for me. They most likely tried to make plays for some big names but were unable to seal the deal, and now they’re left to compete in the league’s new superteam era with just two All-Stars on their roster (Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride).
Laase: Chicago refusing to accept the idea of a rebuild
There is no shame in rebuilding. It’s part of the game, particularly when you lose three starters at the same time, as James Wade and Chicago did. While Wade’s desire to be competitive with the team he has is understandable, his refusal to admit that his squad will need time to develop is puzzling.
Team grades
Atlanta Dream
B — Galligan
B+ — D’Arcangelo
B — Laase
Dallas Wings
A- — Galligan
B+ — D’Arcangelo
A — Laase
Los Angeles Sparks
A — Galligan
A — D’Arcangelo
A — Laase
Phoenix Mercury
B — Galligan
B- — D’Arcangelo
B — Laase
Chicago Sky
C- — Galligan
D — D’Arcangelo
D — Laase
Indiana Fever
B- — Galligan
B- — D’Arcangelo
B — Laase
Minnesota Lynx
F — Galligan
D — D’Arcangelo
D — Laase
Seattle Storm
D — Galligan
D — D’Arcangelo
D — Laase
Connecticut Sun
B+ — Galligan
B — D’Arcangelo
C — Laase
Las Vegas Aces
A — Galligan
A- — D’Arcangelo
A — Laase
New York Liberty
A+ — Galligan
A+ — D’Arcangelo
A+ — Laase
Washington Mystics
B — Galligan
B — D’Arcangelo
B — Laase
Rachel Galligan is a basketball analyst at Just Women’s Sports. A former professional basketball player and collegiate coach, she also contributes to Winsidr. Follow Rachel on Twitter @RachGall.
Lyndsey D’Arcangelo is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports, covering the WNBA and college basketball. She also contributes to The Athletic and is the co-author of “Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the National Women’s Football League.” Follow Lyndsey on Twitter @darcangel21.
Eden Laase is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @eden_laase.
Top WNBA free agent Courtney Vandersloot will not re-sign with the Chicago Sky, she announced Tuesday night.
The 33-year-old point guard spent her first 12 seasons with the Sky, but her Instagram post confirmed her expected departure.
“Although I never planned for this day to come, I have decided that it is time for me to pursue a new beginning,” Vandersloot wrote.
The free agency signing period began Wednesday. While Vandersloot did not say where she intends to sign, her announcement signaled the first tremor ahead of potentially seismic roster shifts across the league.
Vandersloot recently signed with Turkish club Fenerbahçe for the European season. When she heads to Turkey later this month, she will join forces with another top free agent in Breanna Stewart. Their partnership could provide a glimpse into the future, as reports have indicated the pair’s interest in playing together in the WNBA.
In contrast to those reports, Vandersloot was linked to the Storm on Wednesday afternoon, shortly after Stewart signed with the Liberty. But her agent debunked that rumor, saying the point guard had not yet made her decision.
Since the Sky made Vandersloot the No. 3 overall pick in the 2011 draft out of Gonzaga, she has been one of the best point guards in the league. She has led the league in assists six times in 12 seasons, and she has averaged 6.6 assists per game in her career.
The four-time All-Star helped lead the Sky to the 2021 WNBA championship alongside teammate and wife Allie Quigley, who is also a free agent.
“To the Sky organization who drafted the little guard from a mid-major and believed in me from the jump, I couldn’t have asked for anything better,” she wrote. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I have realized my dreams because of you.”
While WNBA free agency negotiations are well underway, Wednesday will bring a renewed frenzy as the first day that players can sign contracts ahead of the 2023 season.
One of the jewels of the free agent class, Candace Parker has already has selected her next destination. The two-time WNBA MVP plans to sign with the reigning WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces, with the goal of making the lineup even stronger.
The Connecticut Sun took another top free agent off the board when they used the core tag on Brionna Jones to keep her in the fold.
Still more stars remain up for grabs, including 2018 MVP Breanna Stewart, who has narrowed her choices to the Seattle Storm and the New York Liberty.
The WNBA unveiled the complete rundown of unrestricted free agents, restricted free agents and reserved players ahead of the free agency signing period. Just Women’s Sports breaks them down below.
Unrestricted free agents
An unrestricted free agent can sign with any team. Players are listed alongside their most recent team and their position.
- Lindsay Allen — Minnesota Lynx, G
- Rachel Banham, Minnesota Lynx, G
- Monique Billings — Atlanta Dream, F
- Lexie Brown — Los Angeles Sparks, G
- Maya Caldwell — Atlanta Dream, G
- Jordin Canada — Los Angeles Sparks, G
- Kaila Charles — Atlanta Dream, G/F
- Tina Charles — Seattle Storm, F/C
- Alysha Clark — Washington Mystics, F
- Nia Coffey — Atlanta Dream, F
- Sydney Colson — Las Vegas Aces, G
- Damiris Dantas — Minnesota Lynx, F
- Kaela Davis — Phoenix Mercury, F
- Reshanda Gray — Phoenix Mercury, F
- Brittney Griner — Phoenix Mercury, C
- Isabelle Harrison — Dallas Wings, F
- Bria Hartley — Connecticut Sun, G
- Tianna Hawkins — Washington Mystics, F
- Moriah Jefferson — Minnesota Lynx, G
- Jantel Lavender — Seattle Storm, F
- Emma Meesseman — Chicago Sky, F
- Tiffany Mitchell — Indiana Fever, G
- Kia Nurse — Phoenix Mercury, G/F
- Chiney Ogwumike — Los Angeles Sparks, F/C
- Nneka Ogwumike — Los Angeles Sparks, F
- JiSu Park — Las Vegas Aces, C
- Candace Parker — Chicago Sky, F
- Theresa Plaisance — Las Vegas Aces, F/C
- Epiphanny Prince — Seattle Storm, G
- Allie Quigley — Chicago Sky, G
- Ivana Raca — Fenerbahçe, F
- Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe — CJM Bourges Basket, F
- Kylee Shook — New York Liberty, C
- Jennie Simms — Phoenix Mercury, G
- Odyssey Sims — Connecticut Sun, G
- Azura Stevens — Chicago Sky, F/C
- Breanna Stewart — Seattle Storm, F
- Kiah Stokes — Las Vegas Aces, C
- Brittney Sykes — Los Angeles Sparks, G
- Stephanie Talbot — Seattle Storm, F
- Diana Taurasi — Phoenix Mercury, G
- Kristi Toliver — Los Angeles Sparks, G
- Yvonne Turner — Phoenix Mercury, G
- Courtney Vandersloot — Chicago Sky, G
- Shatori Walker-Kimbrough — Washington Mystics, G
- Erica Wheeler — Atlanta Dream, G
- Sami Whitcomb — New York Liberty, G
- Courtney Williams — Connecticut Sun, G
- Elizabeth Williams — Atlanta Dream, C
Officially official 😎
— WNBA (@WNBA) January 23, 2023
Check out the full list of 2023 Unrestricted Free Agents, Restricted Free Agents, Reserved Players, & Core Players #WNBAFreeAgency ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/LrK2DVYGnA
Restricted free agents
A restricted free agents’ previous team can match a contract offer from another team. The player will remain with their previous team if the offer is matched.
- Emma Cannon — Indiana Fever, F
- Bridget Carleton — Minnesota Lynx, F
- Sophie Cunningham — Phoenix Mercury, G
- Megan Gustafson — Phoenix Mercury, C
- Natisha Hiedeman — Connecticut Sun, G
- Marina Mabrey — Dallas Wings, G
- Teaira McCowan — Dallas Wings, C
- Shey Peddy — Phoenix Mercury, G
- Victoria Vivians — Indiana Fever, G
- Gabby Williams — Seattle Storm, F
Reserved players
A reserved player has received a qualifying offer from their previous team. That team has exclusive negotiating rights with the player.
- Anna Cruz — Minnesota Lynx, G
- Crystal Dangerfield — New York Liberty, G
- Rennia Davis — Indiana Fever, G/F
- AD Durr — Atlanta Dream, G
- Temi Fagbenle — Indiana Fever, C
- Rebekah Gardner — Chicago Sky, G
- Joyner Holmes — Connecticut Sun, C
- Marine Johannes — New York Liberty, G
- Jazmine Jones — Washington Mystics, G
- Rui Machida — Washington Mystics, G
- Ezi Magbegor — Seattle Storm, F/C
- Beatrice Mompremier — Atlanta Dream, C
- Khayla Pointer — Indiana Fever, G
- Kianna Smith — Los Angeles Sparks, G
- Sam Thomas — Phoenix Mercury, G
- Han Xu — New York Liberty, C
June is in the WNBA rearview mirror, and with it came highlights aplenty. From triple-double records to 35-point games to overtime battles, the stars of the league showed out.
Each month through the end of the regular season, Just Women’s Sports will select five starters and five reserves making up the team of the month.
As teams fight for playoff position, records become extra important. When making my selections for June’s lineup, team success was a key component in the evaluation process. There will always be outliers who can’t be ignored, but overall if a player is putting up big numbers but not necessarily propelling their team to victory, they have a lower chance of making the team of the month.
Here’s who made the cut for June.
Courtney Vandersloot, G, Chicago Sky
Though she’s a four-time All-Star, the Chicago Sky guard often performs in the background for her team. Vandersloot is elite at running the show and setting up her teammates, which is always her focus as a traditional point guard. Her numbers reflect that, with Vandersloot averaging 11 points, 6.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds a game this season.
But the veteran player is also a skilled scorer when she wants to be. In June, Vandersloot led the Sky in scoring in three straight games, with 25, 15 and then 18 points. She also recorded a 20-point, 10-assist double-double to help the Sky close out an 88-86 win over the Liberty on June 12. The Sky were 9-2 in June, with Vandersloot leading the team in assists in six of those contests.
Sabrina Ionescu, G, New York Liberty
May was a month to forget for the Liberty, as the team went 1-7 to open the season. The New York squad greatly improved in June, going 7-4 and inching closer to a winning record. A big part of the successful month was Ionescu, who averaged 20.3 points per game in June and led the Liberty in scoring in six of their 11 contests.
Ionescu’s triple-double on June 12 was a highlight, but it was also indicative of the well-rounded play she brought all month. She led the Liberty in at least one category in all 11 games, led in two categories in four games and led in three categories twice.
Money @EmmaMeesseman, back in effect💰#skytown #WNBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/iPDVVmuOhW
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) June 19, 2022
Emma Meesseman, F, Chicago Sky
The Sky were the best team in the WNBA in June, recording just two losses, so it makes sense to have two players on this list. Joining Vandersloot is fellow All-Star Meesseman, who has been a key contributor to the reigning champions in her first season in Chicago. Meesseman averaged 14.4 points per game in June and had her biggest performances in close contests.
After leading the Sky with 20 points and 11 boards in an 88-86 win over the Liberty on June 12, she added 17 points and 12 rebounds in a 106-100 overtime victory over the Dream five days later. Meesseman was also efficient with her opportunities, shooting 57 percent from the field over the nine games.
Jonquel Jones, F, Connecticut Sun
The reigning WNBA MVP is having another stellar season, averaging 14.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game for Connecticut. Jones was particularly strong in June, recording five double-doubles in 11 contests. She led the Sun in points seven times and in rebounding seven times, and there were four games in which she led in both categories.
Jones got her team off to a hot start in June, recording 20, 24, 25 and 16 points in the Sun’s first four games (all wins). Her efforts have helped Connecticut stay in fourth place in the league standings, just two games behind the first-place Sky.
Nneka Ogwumike, F, Los Angeles Sparks
I promised the occasional outlier in choosing the WNBA Team of the Month, and here it is. The Sparks went 2-5 in June, but Ogwumike was a noticeable bright spot. She led her team in scoring in every contest, averaging 18.6 points, while also recording two double-doubles. Ogwumike has been the most consistent piece on a rocky Sparks squad, and her play in June was particularly indicative of the seven-time All-Star’s individual dominance this season.
Reserves
Skylar Diggins-Smith, G, Phoenix Mercury
The 10-15 Mercury are struggling, but Diggins-Smith is not. The guard leads the league in minutes played and is third in points. She had 25 points or more in four games in June.
Kelsey Plum scores an All-Star Game record 30 PTS and is your 2022 @ATT #WNBAAllStar Game MVP! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/a81vWOXCQm
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 10, 2022
Kelsey Plum, G, Las Vegas Aces
Plum could easily be a part of this month’s starting five. The All-Star Game MVP is in the midst of a breakout season and averaged 23 points per game in the month of June.
A’ja Wilson, F, Las Vegas Aces
Wilson, averaging 18.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game this season, had five double-doubles in June alone. Her month included a 35-point performance in an 89-72 win over the Sparks, tying her career-high.
Breanna Stewart, F, Seattle Storm
Stewart averaged 22 points a game in June, leading the Storm in scoring six times. Stewart was also efficient with the ball, turning it over just nine times all month as she helped the 16-8 Storm hold onto third place in the standings.
Alyssa Thomas, F, Connecticut Sun
While Jones continues to put up huge numbers for the Sun, Thomas has had a hand in every victory, contributing in multiple ways. She led her team in rebounding four times and in assists 10 times. The highlight of her month was a double-double in a win over the Storm, with 11 rebounds and 12 assists.
Eden Laase is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @eden_laase.
The WNBA announced Friday the participants for Saturday’s skills challenge, held as part of the All-Star weekend in Chicago.
The contest will feature the Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu and the Sun’s Jonquel Jones, as well as the Sky’s Courtney Vandersloot and Azurá Stevens.
There will be eight teams in the event, each featuring one WNBA player and one athlete from the Elite Youth Basketball League. The EYBL’s Nike Nationals are also taking place in Chicago over the weekend.
“I’m really honored and excited to participate in the WNBA Skills Challenge,” said Ionescu. “As a Nike EYBL alum, having the chance to now be paired with a young EYBL star in this event is extra special. I’m looking forward to everything that All-Star weekend has to offer.”
Stevens and Indiana rookie NaLyssa Smith will be the only participants who were not selected for Sunday’s All-Star game.
The skills challenge will pit Smith, the No. 2 overall draft pick, against No. 1 overall pick and first-time All-Star Rhyne Howard. The Dream rookie will also be competing in the 3-point contest.
“It means a lot to me to have been chosen to participate in the AT&T All-Star game, the MTN Dew 3-point competition and now the skills competition all in my first season,” Howard said. “Competing against the players I have looked up to for years on a stage like this is going to feel surreal, but I am excited to show the world what I can do.”
The skills challenge will feature a three-round, bracket-style competition, which will air with the 3-point competition at 3 p.m. ET Saturday on ESPN.
James Wade will be in an unfamiliar position during the 2022 WNBA All-Star Game, as he will have to coach against two of his Chicago Sky players.
As head coach of Team Stewart, Wade’s roster was selected by captain Breanna Stewart in the All-Star draft Saturday. While Stewart picked up Chicago’s Kahleah Copper and Emma Meesseeman, opposing captain A’ja Wilson snatched up Candace Parker with the first overall selection and took Courtney Vandersloot later in the draft.
When Wade heard the news that he’d be going up against two Chicago Sky leaders, he summed up his feelings with one word: ““S***.”
“They don’t want us to be great. I thought A’ja was going to choose all Vegas players and we were going to have all of ours. I told Stewie, make sure we have all of our players. Stewie just doesn’t care,” he added with a laugh.
The All-Star Game tips off at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 10, in Chicago
Team Stewart
- Starters:
- Breanna Stewart (captain), Seattle Storm
- Sue Bird (captain), Seattle Storm
- Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces
- Jonquel Jones, Connecticut Sun
- Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks
- Reserves:
- Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm
- Kahleah Copper, Chicago Sky
- Skylar Diggins-Smith, Phoenix Mercury
- Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut Sun
- Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas Wings
- Emma Meesseeman, Chicago Sky
Team Wilson
- Starters
- A’ja Wilson (captain), Las Vegas Aces
- Sylvia Fowles (captain), Minnesota Lynx
- Candace Parker, Chicago Sky
- Kelsey Plum, Las Vegas Aces
- Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty
- Reserves
- Natasha Howard, New York Liberty
- Dearica Hamby, Las Vegas Aces
- Courtney Vandersloot, Chicago Sky
- Ariel Atkins, Washington Mystics
- Brionna Jones, Connecticut Sun
- Natasha Howard, New York Liberty
As we approach the midway point of the WNBA regular season, the Chicago Sky have risen to the top spot in our power rankings. Sitting one game back of the Las Vegas Aces in the standings, the Sky made up ground last week while the Aces lost two consecutive games for the first time this season, including to Chicago.
Also this week, all eyes were on the Valley as Tina Charles and the Phoenix Mercury mutually agreed to part ways in an unusual midseason contract divorce. The Mercury responded to the adversity of losing a key starter halfway through the season with an 83-72 win over the Dallas Wings the same day and an 83-71 win over the Indiana Fever on Monday night.
While the Washington Mystics remain inconsistent, their 87-86 road victory over the Aces was their best win of the season. At 12-9 and No. 5 in the standings, they’ve positioned themselves to remain in striking distance despite missing their top scorer for eight games so far. When Elena Delle Donne is on the floor, leading their offense at 15.6 points per game, the Mystics have as good a shot of contending for and in the playoffs as any team.
CP3 and the Chicago Sky roll
After a tough loss to the last-place Indiana Fever, the Sky bounced back last week, finding a rhythm and confidence with their production on the floor and setting some new records in the process. Chicago has now won three in a row, most notably a comeback 104-95 win over the top-seeded Aces and a 82-59 win over the Los Angeles Sparks.
In that game in Los Angeles last Thursday, Candace Parker finished with 10 points, 10 assists and 14 rebounds. The two-time WNBA champion became the first player in league history to record three triple-doubles, the first to record multiple triple-doubles in the same season and the second to record a triple-double in just three quarters.
Alongside Parker, Courtney Vandersloot has elevated her play and production in the last three games, averaging 19.3 points compared to just 11.2 points through the first 15 games of the season. Vandersloot continues to be one of the league’s best facilitators, but recently she has become more aggressive with her own shot selection and at hunting opportunities to take two additional shots per game. Her percentages have increased significantly as a result, with the guard shooting an impressive 65.7 percent from the field and 57 percent from 3-point range.
The increased production earned her Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Monday for the seventh time of her career. Take a look at Vandersloot’s numbers from the last three games compared to the first part of the season:
First 15 games vs. last three games
PPG: 11.2 — 19.3
APG: 7 — 5
RPG: 4.2 — 3.6
FG %: 43.3 — 65.7
3-point %: 34.2 — 57.1
Shot attempts: 9.5 — 11.6
3-point attempts: 2.3 — 4.6
On Sunday night, Vandersloot played the hero when she hit a buzzer-beating 3 to lift the Sky over the Minnesota Lynx 88-85. The sideline out-of-bounds play the Sky ran to win the game epitomizes the creativity and confidence Vandersloot is playing with right now.
SLOOT CALLS GAME 🚨🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/e4DJSkDDSv
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 27, 2022
In the play outlined above, we see Vandersloot and Emma Meesseman come together to set an elevator screen for Rebekah Gardner to run through (think of it like the two closing doors of an elevator). Allie Quigley inbounds the ball to Gardner, and at the same time, Messeeman screens for Vandersloot, who rolls off the action and quickly gets the ball back.
On the backside of this action, Quigley baits the defense and causes Kayla McBride to hesitate, while Parker sets an effective back screen to open up Quigley, who’s cutting to the corner. While the ball never finds that side of the floor, the backside action is important because it helps occupy the Lynx’s defense. The play did not directly result in the open shot Vandersloot took to win the game, but the complexities of the action combined with the Sky’s constant movement and screening positioning kept the Lynx scrambling and allowed Chicago to create an open look.
Nneka Ogwumike takes over in LA
While the Sparks haven’t exactly overwhelmed anyone with their 7-11 record and 10th place in the standings, Nneka Ogwumike has been a bright spot for a team that still has a lot to figure out.
Ogwumike is putting up some of the best numbers of her career, leading the Sparks in scoring at 18.2 points per game and rebounding at 7.4 per game. Her scoring average is the third-best mark of her 11-year career, and her 57.8 shooting percentage from the field is the second-best.
The Sparks have found ways to get Ogwumike 15-20 touches in the paint per game, and from there, the former MVP has done what she does best — run the floor, take advantage of positioning and get to her sweet spots in the paint to be a highly efficient and productive scorer. In the Sparks’ biggest win of the season over the Seattle Storm last week, Ogwumike also had arguably her best game, finishing with 24 points on 12-for-18 from the floor.
Aces lose two in a row
A two-game skid shouldn’t set off any alarm bells, especially when the losses come against two other potential contenders. Before last week, the Aces had an 8-1 record at home. Then, they dropped two in a row in Las Vegas — a 104-95 overtime loss to the Sky and a 87-86 loss to the Mystics.
In the Sky game, the Aces rode a 24-4 run to a 62-51 halftime lead, scoring 41 points in the first quarter alone. The Sky clawed back by erasing a 28-point deficit, setting a new record for the largest comeback in league history. The Aces’ shooters turned cold and the team scored just 11 points in the third quarter, while Chicago seized the opportunity to go on an 18-0 run.
The Mystics have been the most potent defensive team in the WNBA this season, allowing a league-low 76 points per game. While Las Vegas has led the league in scoring all season, offensive production was not necessarily the issue in the overtime loss. The Aces struggled to stop Washington’s duo of Delle Donne and Alysha Clark, who combined for 39 points. The Aces have relied on their offense all season, but when they go cold for long stretches, they have to find a way to get consistent defensive stops and tip the scales back in their favor.
Las Vegas got back into the win column with a 79-73 victory over the Sparks on Monday night. While they tapped into their depth with the return of Riquna Williams and more minutes for Iliana Rupert, consistent contributors A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum combined for 54 of their points.
They’ll have have an opportunity to prove themselves even further in a tough swing of road games, one against the Storm and a back-to-back series against the Lynx.
Week 8 Power Rankings
- Chicago Sky (13-5) +1
- Las Vegas Aces (14-4) -1
- Connecticut Sun (13-6) —
- Seattle Storm (11-7) —
- Washington Mystics (12-9) —
- New York Liberty (8-10) +3
- Atlanta Dream (8-10) -1
- Dallas Wings (9-10) —
- Los Angeles Sparks (7-11) +1
- Minnesota Lynx (5-14) +2
- Phoenix Mercury (8-12) -4
- Indiana Fever (5-15) -1
Rachel Galligan is a basketball analyst at Just Women’s Sports. A former professional basketball player and collegiate coach, she also contributes to Winsidr. Follow Rachel on Twitter @RachGall.
Chicago’s Courtney Vandersloot stepped up Sunday night, sinking a must-see buzzer beater to clinch an 88-85 victory over the Minnesota Lynx.
The veteran guard’s clutch three-pointer blunted a late 9-0 run from the Lynx, extending the Sky’s win streak to three games.
SLOOT CALLS GAME 🚨🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/e4DJSkDDSv
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 27, 2022
Six Chicago players finished in double figures, with Vandersloot leading all scorers, notching 18 points behind 53.8 percent shooting from the field. Emma Messeman added 15 points and four assists, while Candace Parker logged 13 points, eight rebounds and two assists.
Vandersloot revealed that in the moment, she thought, “just get a shot up” after the final called-up play broke down.
“We have a trust in each other,” Vandersloot added. “My teammates trust in me to make a play, especially down in the clutch.”
Chicago’s win improves the team’s record to 13-5 on the season, now just a half a game back from top-ranked Las Vegas.
Chicago’s Courtney Vandersloot drained a 3-pointer with 38 seconds left on the clock to help seal the Sky’s 82-78 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday night.
The veteran guard notched 16 points and 11 assists, leading the Sky past the Lynx down the stretch.
Clutch 👌 @Sloot22 pic.twitter.com/FsdXd0INqo
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 15, 2022
Four other Sky players finished in double figures, with Emma Meesseman recording a team-high 17 points on 3-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc.
Nikolina Milic, whom the Lynx signed to a hardship contract on Friday, scored a game-high 18 points on 60 percent shooting from the field. Minnesota center Sylvia Fowles contributed 16 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.
The Sky defense was locked in, forcing 15 Minnesota turnovers and committing only five as a team.
The Sky improved to 2-1 with the win, while the Lynx fell to 0-4, matching their start from last season.