Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the WNBA daily as we try to heal from this pandemic.
Teaira McCowan got a double-double as the Indiana Fever got their second win of the season.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Darron Cummings/AP.)
This has to be so sweet for the Indiana Fever.
The Fever have had trouble breaking through. They beat the Washington Mystics on May 23rd and hadn’t won since then.
Until they got a rematch with the Connecticut Sun. Previously, they had a game against them on Thursday. Brionna Jones went off for 34 points against them. However, the Sun did have a big lead that got whittled down at the end. So there was some momentum going into their game on Saturday.
It became a defensive struggle. It’s usually the way the Sun like it but the Fever are the worst defensive team in the league and Connecticut had trouble making buckets. However, the Fever did lead by 8 late in the third and it was looking very good for Indiana.
The Sun, as expected, rallied back and tied the game at 55. Timely baskets by the Fever (with a couple big ones from Kelsey Mitchell) put them back up by 6. Still, Natisha Hiedeman tried to counter back with three-pointers. But Teaira McCowan pretty much clinched the game with a hook shot that gave them a four-point lead with 25 ticks left. The Indiana Fever would go on to score the upset.
Like I said before, everyone in the league is talented, even if records don’t show it. And on any given day, any team could beat another. They’re all professionals, after all. Still, I thought Indy would be better than a 2-16 record in this time of the season. They obviously have very good players in Kelsey Mitchell, Jessica Breland, McCowan, Tiffany Mitchell, and Danielle Robinson among others. Hopefully, their second half of the season brings more wins.
As for Connecticut, it’s a speed bump. We’ve seen contenders lose to doormat teams. Sometimes, you just have a bad day.
Bullet Passes
The New York Liberty came from 20 points down to defeat the Mystics. The Mystics only scored 28 points in the second half. Reshanda Gray made a couple of clutch lay-ups to complete the comeback.
Tina Charles still went off for 31 points and 16 boards but what a heartbreaking loss by D.C.
Kayla McBride scored 21 of her 24 points in the first half as the Lynx blew out the Mercury. The Lynx just had a field day starting from the second quarter on. Woof.
WNBA Scoreboard
July 3, 2021
Watch This Play
Look at the many beautiful bounce passes by the Liberty! Reshanda Gray makes the bucket at the end of that sparkling possession.
WORK THAT BALL AROUND @nyliberty ‼️
📺 @CBSSportsNet pic.twitter.com/GD8FleBELU
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 3, 2021
Such pretty basketball.
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.