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The WNBA has been back for three days, and we’ve already experienced some interesting developments.
The Atlanta Dream and Connecticut Sun, who meet on Sunday, Aug. 18 at 3 p.m. ET (League Pass), both won their return games. The Dream survived a somewhat surprising thriller against the Seattle Storm. With five seconds left, Jewell Loyd fired a fadeaway 3 and tied the score at 81, but Tina Charles was unfazed by the incredible shot and put her team ahead 83-81 with a simple 2-pointer. With no timeouts left and under two seconds to go, the Storm were unable to release a shot. Dream’s resilience was something to be admired, as the team’s chances of making the playoffs are close to none, yet they refused to give up and, despite trailing by eight points with 15 minutes left in the game, mounted a comeback.
The Sun have championship aspirations and should beat the Dream easily if they want to prove that this is going to be THE season. That Marina Mabrey trade? 17 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals in her debut for the Sun. She also had five fouls, but without that intensity, Mabrey wouldn’t be the player that she is. The Sun have also signed Caitlin Bickle and Celeste Taylor, two rookies, who can step in for the veterans and give them rest. In the 109-91 win over the Dallas Wings, Taylor played 11 minutes, while Bickle saw just one. Expect the latter to get more time when called upon by head coach Stephanie White.
Can the Fever weather the Storm with momentum, motivation?
After losing a close game to the Dream, the Storm are going to be looking to release their frustrations. The Indiana Fever, who they meet at 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC), might not be the team to approach with that mindset though, because the Fever can use that to their favor. If you give them an inch, they’ll take 22 feet and 1.75 inches. In Thursday’s win over the Phoenix Mercury, the backcourt of Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell made 10 of their combined 24 attempts from long distance. Clark had 29 points and Mitchell 28, while the rookie also dished out 10 assists. NaLyssa Smith and Aliyah Boston both grabbed nine boards. It’s just one game, but one can be tempted to say that the Fever are on the verge of something good.
This, though, is when the Fever’s abilities are going to get tested. The Storm are, at the moment, the superior, more experienced team and their roster is more complete. But the Fever have something that the Storm don’t: three players worthy of Olympic participation who didn’t make the roster and who missed out on the opportunity to win gold for their country. And they have yet to win a game against the Storm this season. So they have the Storm beat in regard to motivation. We’ll see on Sunday if they’ll be able to use it to their advantage.
Game information
Atlanta Dream (8-17) vs. Connecticut Sun (19-6)
When: Sunday, August 18 at 3 p.m. ET
Where: Gateway Center Arena @ College Park in Atlanta, GA
How to watch: League Pass, ESPN3
Dream injury report: Aerial Powers (out; calf)
Sun injury report: none
Indiana Fever (12-15) vs. Seattle Storm (17-9)
When: Sunday, August 18 at 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN
How to watch: ABC
Fever injury report: Temi Fagbenle (out; thumb)
Storm injury report: none
Las Vegas Aces (16-9) vs. Los Angeles Sparks (6-20)
When: Sunday, August 18 at 6 p.m. ET
Where: Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, NV
How to watch: League Pass
Aces injury report: none
Sparks injury report: Aari McDonald (out; right foot), Lexie Brown (out; Crohn’s disease), Layshia Clarendon (not with team; personal), Cameron Brink (out for season; ACL)
Phoenix Mercury (14-13) vs. Chicago Sky (11-15)
When: Sunday, August 18 at 9 p.m. ET
Where: Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ
How to watch: League Pass
Mercury injury report: Rebecca Allen (out; right hamstring), Charisma Osborne (out; left lower leg)
Sky injury report: Elizabeth Williams (out for season; knee)