The second night time of the resumption of WNBA motion presents up a three-game slate starting with the Seattle Storm (17-8) visiting the Atlanta Dream (7-17) and the Phoenix Mercury (14-12) going through the Indiana Fever (11-15) at 7:30 p.m. ET, adopted by the Dallas Wings (6-19) internet hosting the Connecticut Solar (18-6) at 9:30 p.m. ET. All video games are on ION.
Already, the impression of the compressed schedule is obvious because the Mercury—a workforce with three Olympians, together with gold medal recreation hero Kahleah Copper—can be on the second night time of a back-to-back. On Thursday, Phoenix appeared roaring and prepared for the season’s remaining push, smoking the Chicago Sky by 20 factors, 85-65, in Copper’s first recreation again within the Windy Metropolis. Copper was on hearth, scoring 29 factors on 12-for-19 taking pictures, whereas Brittney Griner was a drive, with 23 factors, 9 rebounds, six assists and 5 blocks. It was the type of efficiency that reminded that Phoenix is extra harmful than their relatively middling file.
Now, they’ll met a Fever workforce that spent a lot of the Olympic hiatus getting ready for a cost up the standings. Earlier than the prolonged pause, the Fever have been starting to spherical into the workforce they have been anticipated to be, going 5-5 over their final 10 video games. In that span, they’d the league’s fifth-best offense and eighth-best protection, and a internet ranking of -0.6. That’s adequate to keep up their spot at fringe of the playoff image. Nevertheless, to solidify a spot within the postseason, Indiana should show the two-way consistency that has eluded them in Caitlin Clark’s debut season. Making the most of a Phoenix workforce in a nasty schedule spot is a should.
Will Atlanta’s nightmare proceed towards Seattle?
Whereas the Fever hope to not have misplaced the measure of momentum they’d generated earlier than the break, the Dream have to find some optimistic momentum—pronto! Atlanta skidded into the Olympic break on a nine-game shedding streak, slowed down by accidents and incoherence. The Dream want All-Star Weekend Allisha Grey and a renewed Rhyne Howard, buoyed by 3×3 bronze medal, to supply route for a too-often aimless offense. The return of Jordin Canada, whose standing stays unsure because of a finger harm, additionally can be large. Over their nine-game shedding streak, Atlanta scored an anemic 74 factors per recreation.
The Storm, nonetheless, isn’t the workforce you wish to see throughout the way in which when offense is a matter. For the season, Seattle has the league’s third-best protection, and simply earlier than the break, they’d actually discovered their defensive kind, registering a 92.2 defensive ranking over their final 10 video games. Whereas Jewell Loyd (USA), Ezi Magebegor (Australia), Sami Whitcomb (Australia) and head coach Noelle Quinn (Canada) all hung out in Paris, Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith remained stateside, absolutely getting ready to steer the Storm down the stretch.
Will the Wings take flight over the Solar?
As with the Dream, it’s now or by no means for the Wings. Much more than Atlanta, Dallas can blame accidents for his or her season-long shortcomings. The Wings, in distinction to the Dream, seem higher outfitted to shake off their malaise and a rush up the standings. That’s largely because of Satou Sabally, who, after lacking the entire WNBA season with a shoulder harm, starred for Germany in Paris and is prone to make her season debut on Friday night time. The forthcoming return of Maddy Siegrist may even profit the Wings, though, to make room for Sabally and Siegrist on the roster, the Wings needed to half methods with Odyssey Sims and Monique Billings, each of whom gave the workforce good minutes throughout stretches of this injury-ravaged season.
The Solar appear effectively suited to keep up their place close to the highest of the standings. Enjoying for Workforce USA in all probability felt like a trip for Alyssa Thomas, who’s accustomed to logging 40-minute efforts for Connecticut. The largest problem for the Solar can be integrating Marina Mabrey, who was traded to the Solar earlier than the Olympic break however has but to debut for her new workforce. Contemplating she’ll see acquainted faces on the opposite aspect, as she performed for the Wings (alongside faculty roommate Ogunbowale) earlier than becoming a member of the Chicago Sky, count on Mabrey to be able to placed on a shotmaking present for her latest workforce.
Sport info
Seattle Storm (17-8) vs. Atlanta Dream (7-17)
When: Friday, Aug. 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET
The place: Gateway Heart @ School Park in Atlanta, GA
How you can watch: ION
Storm harm report: none
Dream harm report: Jordin Canada (questionable; finger)
Phoenix Mercury (14-12) vs. Indiana Fever (11-15)
When: Friday, Aug. 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET
The place: Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN
How you can watch: ION
Mercury harm report: Rebecca Allen (out; proper hamstring), Charisma Osborne (out; decrease left leg)
Fever harm report: none
Connecticut Solar (18-6) vs. Dallas Wings (6-19)
When: Friday, Aug. 16 at 9:30 p.m. ET
The place: School Park Heart in Arlington, TX
How you can watch: ION
Solar harm report: Olivia Nelson-Ododa (questionable; proper foot), DiJonai Carrington (not with workforce; private), Tiffany Mitchell (not with workforce; sickness)
Wings harm report: Satou Sabally (possible; shoulder), Jaelyn Brown (possible; sickness), Maddy Siegrist (uncertain; finger)
