Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the WNBA daily as we try to heal from this pandemic.
The Seattle Storm established themselves as the #1 team.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Brad Horrigan/Hartford Courant.)
So this much is clear right now in the WNBA: the defending champions Seattle Storm are staying on top. In a nearly wire-to-wire victory, the Storm rained on the Connecticut Sun.
Seems like life without Jonquel Jones, who is fulfilling her overseas duties, is going to be a bit cruel for the Sun. And they’re also already without Alyssa Thomas. DeWanna Bonner could only muster 14 points against the Storm.
As for Seattle, it just seemed like an easy day in the office. Other than the first bucket, the Storm led every single moment of the game. Breanna Stewart did her usual, going for 22-9-5 and three steals. Sue Bird added 13 points to help Seattle be the first team to get to 10 victories this season.
The Storm have only lost twice this season: once to the powerful Las Vegas Aces and another to the Dallas Wings when Arike Ogunbowale made that difficult go-ahead three with 0.7 ticks left. This is also the second time the Storm defeated the Sun this season.
I suppose the Sun have outs on those losses. Connecticut received their first loss of the season against Seattle in an overtime game where head coach Curt Miller was suspended for his comments on Liz Cambage. And of course, this game is their first without Jones this season. Jones is everyone’s MVP favorite at the moment with averages of 21.6 points, 10.4 boards, 3.0 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.5 steals. She’s also shooting a mind-numbing .489 from behind the arc.
But for now, the Sun will have to go a few games without her. As for Seattle? Life as usual at the top.
Bullet Passes
Betnijah Laney hit a clutch jumper to help the New York Liberty stop their three-game skid and defeat the Phoenix Mercury. Laney has scored 20 or more points in 9 of 10 games this season. In the meantime, the Merc, who are without Diana Taurasi, are on a three-game losing streak of their own.
A’ja Wilson put 28 points and 14 boards on the Dallas Wings. Satou Sabally led the Wings with 24 points but their Fighting Irish backcourt of Arike and Marina Mabrey went a combined 5 for 26. You can’t do that against them Aces.
The Atlanta Dream held the Washington Mystics to 29 points in the second half as they stopped their four-game slide. The Dream tinkered with their starting line-up yet again and it resulted in Courtney Williams scoring 21 and Odyssey Sims putting in 20. Chennedy Carter is still out with that elbow injury.
WNBA Scoreboard
June 13, 2021
Watch This Play
Niiiice pocket pass by Sami Whitcomb to Kylee Shook.
Whitcomb with her 4th assist on the day 👀 @SamBam32
💻 https://t.co/fnncD5G4m5 pic.twitter.com/ir6o0P0E1S
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 13, 2021
Gotta keep the fundamentals going.
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.