Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the WNBA daily as we try to heal from this pandemic.
Kayla McBride was clutch during the Lynx’s game against the Atlanta Dream.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Cooper Neill/Getty Images.)
The Atlanta Dream were pumped up. They were getting Chennedy Carter back for the first time in about a month as they took on the Minnesota Lynx.
And it was as if she never left. She scored the first basket for the Dream and it seemed like they were off to the races. Chennedy and Courtney Williams scored the first 16 points for the Dream. And then rookie dynamo Aari McDonald scored a quick 10 points off the bench for the Dream. Atlanta led by 12 after one.
But the Lynx had their own star players, too. Sylvia Fowles was still grabbing all the boards as she kept Minnesota in the game. Damiris Dantas also got it going as they cut the deficit to 6 by halftime.
The third quarter was a high-scoring affair. The Dream shot 75 percent from the field while the Lynx sank 65 percent of their shots.
And then it all bogged down in the fourth. While the Dream led by 9 early in the period, they couldn’t make anything for four minutes. The Lynx took advantage and close in, cutting the deficit to one. Then after Chennedy Carter stopped the bleeding, Dantas made another three to tie the game. The Lynx would take the lead after Syl’s free throws. Finally, Kayla McBride made back-to-back buckets to keep the Lynx ahead.
The Lynx had the ball with under 30 seconds left and with the shot clock still on, it would give the Dream another shot. But after Layshia Clarendon missed a jumper, she got her own board. Clarendon would run out the clock for the win.
Minnesota sweeps the season series against Atlanta. Overall, Minnesota is 6-7 as they have alternated wins and losses for the last 7 games. Meanwhile, the Dream have lost 6 of 7 games but they did just get Chennedy Carter back so they’re hoping they can turn it around.
Sylvia Fowles had a monster game with 26 points, 19 boards, and 5 blocks. Incredible.
WNBA Scoreboard
June 23, 2021
Watch This Play
This spin move by Crystal Bradford was the business.
Zoom Zoom 💨💨@get_em_cb pic.twitter.com/JstKGSrf4b
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) June 23, 2021
And she was doing it real quick, too. That’s impressive that she was able to control that.
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.