Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the WNBA daily as we try to heal from this pandemic.
The defending champion Seattle Storm handed the Connecticut Sun their first loss.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Elaine Thompson/AP.)
What a game it was on Tuesday night.
The defending champs had another overtime game. This time, it was against the then-undefeated Connecticut Storm. Dijonai Carrington sent the game to overtime after her lay-up tied the game at 77.
With that, Sue Bird went to work. She cashed in on both three-pointers as part of an 8-0 run by the champions. Still, Jonquel Jones (who had a phenomenal game with 28 points and 13 rebounds) made a three later on to cut the deficit to three. But neither team would score after that. Jasmine Thomas missed a three-pointer with 39 seconds left and they never got a shot again. The Sun lost their first game of the season.
Of note, Curt Miller didn’t coach after he was suspended for his comments about Liz Cambage‘s weight. Assistant coaches Brandi Poole and Chris Koclanes acted as co-head coaches for the game and they did a very good job handling it. But ultimately, the Sun came up short against the very tough Seattle Storm.
Jonquel Jones should be in the running for MVP. She’s averaging 20.0 points, 11.2 rebounds (which goes for second in the league), and 1.8 steals. Natisha Hiedeman is an early candidate for Most Improved Player as she has more than doubled her scoring from 6.1 to 12.7. Brionna Jones has steadily improved and has been a big help in the frontcourt. And we still have all-world player DeWanna Bonner. Don’t forget that they have Jasmine Thomas that can hit all the big shots. Once they get Briann January back, the Sun will be even tougher. These are the ladies you don’t wanna mess with.
But hey, the Seattle Storm are still the champions and teams will have to go through them on the path to the title. They’re 4-1. They still have possibly the best player in the game with Breanna Stewart. Jewell Loyd can score with the best of ’em. And Sue Bird can still get it done (she went for 21 big points against the Sun). Until they’re dethroned, they’re the team to beat.
As of now, though? No more undefeated teams in the WNBA. It’s a rumble.
Bullet Passes
Ban injuries. First off, Diana Taurasi has a sternum fracture. She’s out for probably a month and, man, that does not sound comfortable at all.
The Liberty got off to a 5-1 start but now they’re losing a key piece in Natasha Howard. She’s out 4-6 weeks with an MCL sprain. Awful. They just got her back, too.
Tina Charles continues to burn the nets as she scored 30 points in the Mystics’ win over the Fever. That makes it three straight 30-point games for Charles and is one shy of the record made by Maya Moore and Arike Ogunbowale with four straight 30-point games.
After the Dream took a double digit lead in the second quarter, the Sky never got close again. Tiffany Hayes scored 26 to lead Atlanta to their second win.
And I am happy that Aari McDonald was able to contribute with 9 points and 5 dimes!
WNBA Scoreboard
May 25, 2021
Watch This Play
We saw Luka Doncic‘s one-legged three but Sue had one, too!
Okayyyyy, Crystal👏👌 pic.twitter.com/9AvcLGiIAx
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) May 26, 2021
What a shot by this all-timer.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the WNBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.
R.I.P. Nala.