Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. Here’s what’s going on in the WNBA.
The Minnesota Lynx swept the Chicago Sky this season.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Ned Dishman/Getty Images.)
I swear the Minnesota Lynx keep finding ways to win.
I already mentioned that Crystal Dangerfield is the frontrunner of this year’s Rookie of the Year race. They have Napheesa Collier, the steady forward and last season’s Rookie of the Year. A surprise career game from Bridget Carleton put her in the rotation.
Then they get a career game from Damiris Dantas. She scored 28 points as the resilient Minnesota Lynx swept the season series with the Sky.
Dantas made a big three-pointer and a jumper to give the Lynx leads late. Then Dangerfield scored five straight points to keep the Sky at bay. Odyssey Sims splitting free throws late gave Chicago one more chance but Courtney Vandersloot‘s desperation three went all air.
And the thing is they’re doing all of this without Sylvia Fowles, who is missing extensive time for the first time in a long time. And they’ve been hit by injuries by other players, which has forced Dangerfield and Carleton into the starting line-up. But all they’ve done is play solid basketball. Now they’re making their 10th straight postseason.
Obviously, a lot of that credit can also go to Cheryl Reeve, who is the coach and general manager of the Minnesota Lynx. After her first season didn’t go so well (13-21), all she’s done is help guide the Lynx to four WNBA championships. Their last two seasons have been lean years after their dynasty ended but the Lynx still made the postseason. She has been able to get so much out of her players and this season is no exception.
Can they actually win the championship this season? It’s going to be so tough with Seattle, Las Vegas, and L.A. at the top. We’ll see in a few weeks.
Bullet Passes
Brittney Sykes continues to prove herself as a great acquisition by the Sparks. She scored 19 points in a close win against Dallas. The Sparks are 9-1 since she was put into the starting line-up and is averaging 11.8 points in that span.
But Candace Parker is still the centerpiece of that Sparks team. She went for 22-10-6 in that game and is still definitely a candidate for Most Valuable Player.
The Sparks defense held Arike Ogunbowale to 4 for 17 shooting from the field. Ogunbowale scored 17 points, stopping her 7-game streak of scoring 20 or more points.
Good to see Sue Bird playing again. She scored 9 points in her return as the Storm won yet again.
Sadface. The Washington Mystics have lost 12 of their last 13 games.
Double U Scoreboard
MIN 86 (12-5) vs CHI 83 (11-7)
LA 91 (13-4) vs DAL 83 (6-11)
WAS 64 (4-12) vs SEA 71 (14-3)
Watch This Play
YOU try stopping Candace Parker:
Can’t stop, won’t stop CP3 😤 @Candace_Parker
💻 @CBSSportsNet | #BradentonArea pic.twitter.com/Bp6XgQPJqX
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 3, 2020
Look at them behind-the-back dribbles!
Hope everyone in the Wubble stays safe!
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
TNLP on FaceBook.