Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the WNBA daily as we try to heal from this pandemic.
Candace Parker got her first double-double of the season as the Sky edged out the Fever.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Ron Hoskins/Getty Images.)
The Chicago Sky are working their way out of the hole they dug themselves into.
No disrespect to the Indiana Fever (gosh, I hate it when I say that) but the Sky beat them again as they drew them in a back-to-back series. They got their second win in a row in a close one. It wasn’t easy.
Candace Parker got a double-double as she scored 20 and grabbed 14 boards.
Still, Kelsey Mitchell tied the game late with a jumper at under two minutes. But Courtney Vandersloot found her partner, Allie Quigley, open in the corner. Quigley made that clutch three to break the tie.
Quigley came through again after the Fever cut it to an 81-79 deficit. She drove in and made an off-balance jumper. That pretty much put away the game as the Sky go to 4-7.
Allie Quigley supplemented 16 points off the bench for the Sky. As for the Fever, they got 20 points and 13 boards from Teaira McCowan. But Indiana is now 1-11 and it’s tough to get out of a losing skid like this. Ask Chicago.
But the Sky have won two straight. We’re about a third into the season. While the Fever seem like they have a long season ahead, the Sky (with their talent) should be able to turn their season around.
At least, it’s good to see the “old Candace Parker” in this game.
Bullet Passes
The Minnesota Lynx won their fourth game in five as they took the Spark out of L.A. (I’m so clever) Crystal Dangerfield led Minnesota with 16 points. The Sparks, without the Ogwumike sisters, were led by Te’a Cooper with 17 points.
The playoffs are still a long way away but we have a three-way tie at 4-5 with the Sparks, Lynx, and the Mystics. The Sparks are the odd team out for now due to tiebreakers. Remember that the Top 8 make the playoffs.
Back to the Sky and the Fever. They have the two worst records in the league right now. But again, the Sky have plenty of time to turn it around. Technically, the Fever do as well but they don’t have the high expectations like the Sky do.
Seimone Augustus is going to get her jersey retired by the Lynx next season. Obviously, she deserves that honor. She won four rings with the Lynx, won Rookie of the Year in 2006, was an 8-time WNBA all-star, got All-WNBA honors 6 times, and got the Finals MVP in 2011.
And that’s just WNBA! Add in all her college and overseas accolades and that is a future hall-of-famer. Congrats, Mone.
WNBA Scoreboard
June 12, 2021
Watch This Play
I appreciate the pick here by Te’a Cooper. And what a tough fastbreak lay-up.
Steal and the bucket 👀 @TeaCooper2
The @LASparks are diminishing the Lynx lead here in the third!
💻 https://t.co/fnncD5G4m5 pic.twitter.com/IsZKsWyhHZ
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 13, 2021
Cooper is certainly taking advantage of increased PT with the Sparks.
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.