Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. Here’s what’s going on in the WNBA.
Chennedy Carter is back to place her claim on the Rookie of the Year award.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Ned Dishman/Getty Images.)
We’re almost near the end of the season (I can’t believe it). One of the most intriguing things going on in the WNBA is the race for Rookie of the Year. It’s not the suspects we thought that were going to go after this award. We’re all extremely disappointed that #1 overall pick Sabrina Ionescu, who scored 33 points in her second WNBA game, has been out with a severe ankle injury. She may not play again this season with about 10 days left in the season.
But the ones that have performed this season have been fantastic.
I’m glad Chennedy Carter has returned after missing five games with an ankle injury (don’t you hate them ankles?). The Atlanta Dream haven’t been great as a team this season (with the loss of Angel McCoughtry to free agency and Tiffany Hayes to pandemic reasons). But one of the few bright spots has been Carter, who can score from absolutely anywhere on the court. She scored 22 points against the Indiana Fever on Tuesday and is averaging 17.0 points per game. She leads all rookies in scoring, which somehow doesn’t qualify her on the WNBA official stat site but she should when the season is finished. I think.
The surprise frontrunner has been Crystal Dangerfield of the Minnesota Lynx. The Lynx are a tidy 11-5 and that certainly helps. But she probably wasn’t even supposed to be in this position; so many players have been hurt for the Lynx throughout the season (Shenise Johnson, Lexie Brown, Rachel Banham have all been dinged up while Odyssey Sims just came back from maternity leave). Dangerfield was put into the starting line-up by the third game and she hasn’t looked back. The 5’5″ UConn guard averages 15.9 points and 3.1 assists per game. She’s been very consistent for the Lynx as she has scored double digits in the last 13 games.
There is still Satou Sabally of the Dallas Wings. She also missed some time due to a back injury but she’s had some incredible games. She once put up 23 points and 17 boards against Indiana. In her second game back from that back injury two Tuesdays ago, she went for 28 points and 11 boards. She followed that up with an 18-11 game on Saturday. She’s currently at 12.8 points and 7.8 rebounds (she is in the Top 10 in boards) but she might have to have more games like her last two to steal the award.
The season ends on the 13th. We’ll see who finishes with a flourish in that Rookie of the Year race.
Bullet Passes
The Connecticut Sun are holding firm in that 7th spot right now in the standings. They’re 8-4 since that 0-5 start. Good on them on making that comeback.
The Lynx and the Chicago Sky have clinched playoff berths. Again, it’s amazing that the Lynx are in the postseason, especially with all their injuries. Now let’s see if they hold on to that second round bye.
But holy hell was Diana Taurasi scorching the nets. She’s the GOAT for a reason. She scored 26 of her 32 points in the first half as the Mercury got a huge win against the powerful Las Vegas Aces.
Double U Scoreboard
CON 70 (8-9) vs NY 65 (2-14)
IND 90 (5-12) vs ATL 102 (4-13)
PHX 92 (10-7) vs LV 85 (12-4)
Watch This Play
This was a nice lob to DT as she gets the fadeaway J at the buzzer. Nice bounce, too.
Clutch DT. 🔥#WhenItReallyMatters | @Clorox pic.twitter.com/eFAHkmkGvp
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 2, 2020
Hope everyone in the Wubble stays safe.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
TNLP on FaceBook.