CHEN, HAYES FUEL VALKYRIES’ PUSH TOWARD LYNX AND THE TOP SEED
The Minnesota Lynx have been a staple at the top of the WNBA standings all season long. They have been tied for first or in first place since May 24th, just six games into the season. Although Minnesota has lost three of its last four games, the Valkyries still have hope of capturing the number one overall seed and home-court advantage in the upcoming WNBA playoffs.
On Friday, the Lynx dropped a home game to Breanna Stewart and the New York Liberty 93-81. Stewart recorded her 11th double-double of the season after scoring 24 points while grabbing 10 rebounds in the 12-point victory. Naphessa Collier netted 14 points with seven rebounds and four assists but turned the ball over a season-high six times. Dorka Juhasz, who was named Team Hungary's MVP during the FIBA World Cup, was held scoreless in 15 minutes.
Later that night in San Francisco, the Valkyries took care of business against the Portland Fire, 82-66. In her third start of the season, Tiffany Hayes scored 13 points and dished out seven assists in 25 minutes. Kaitlyn Chen tied a game-high 17 points off the bench behind a career-high five three-pointers along with three assists and one block in 25 minutes. Kiah Stokes accounted for two points, nine rebounds and two blocks. Gabby Williams (reconditioning) did not play. On the Portland side, Serah Williams grabbed five rebounds and picked up one steal.
With the Lynx losing and the Valkyries winning, Golden State (30-11) now only trailed Minnesota (31-10) by one game in the loss column.
The Valkyries kept their winning ways going the very next night by defeating the Seattle Storm 70-57 at home. Hayes and Chen each scored 10 points. Stokes added three points, nine rebounds and four blocks. For a second straight game, Gabby Williams did not play due to reconditioning. Stefanie Dolson posted three points, four rebounds and two assists for the Storm.
With the Valkyrie win and the Lynx off, Golden State trailed Minnesota by just a half game for the top overall seed.
Then on Sunday, the Lynx took care of business against the Connecticut Sun, 101-89 at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Collier registered her fifth 20 plus point game of the season after scoring 23 points with six rebounds and two steals. Dorka Juhasz put in four points with three rebounds and one block. As for the Sun side, Aaliyah Edwards tailled 12 points with five rebounds, two assists and three steals. Olivia Nelson-Ododa did not play due to a knee injury.
The win put the Lynx back ahead of the Valkyries by one game in the loss column. Since Minnesota owns the regular-season head-to-head tiebreaker against Golden State, after winning three of the four meetings between the teams, all the Lynx have to do to clinch the number one overall seed is win either Tuesday at the Indiana Fever or Thursday against the Fever at home.
For the Valkyries to take the top spot, the Lynx would have to lose both of their games against the Fever, while Golden State would need to win back-to-back road games against the Portland Fire on Tuesday and the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday.
TEXAS?, GERMANY?, STORRS?… BUECKERS JUST LOVES TO HOOP
In her first pair of games back in the states, Paige Bueckers led the Dallas Wings to back-to-back home victories as all eight playoff teams battle for postseason position during the final days of the regular season.
On Thursday, Bueckers posted 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting along with six rebounds, three assists and two steals in a 97-77 victory against the Los Angeles Sparks. She kicked the game off with a fadeaway jumper over future hall of famer, Nneka Ogwumike for the first points of the game. Moments later, Bueckers crossed over Ariel Atkins, creating an easy layup and a 7-2 Wings lead. A few minutes later, Bueckers scored six straight Wings points on three layups to give Dallas a 16-15 lead. Bueckers finished the opening quarter with 10 points.
The score was tied at halftime, 44-44, as Bueckers got the Wings offense rolling after taking a pass from Arike Ogunbowale, splitting two defenders and making the open layup. A few minutes later, Paige returned the favor with a bounce pass back to Ogunbowale for a layup in transition to give the lead back to Dallas, 51-49. The Wings outscored the Sparks 25-14 in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Christyn Williams found Jessica Shepard in transition as well for a layup to extend the Wings’ lead to 73-58. Williams has played in two games with the Wings since signing a developmental contract back on August 14th.
After the game, Bueckers, perhaps still reflecting on her FIBA World Cup experience, spoke about her love and passion for the game of basketball.
Bueckers dazzled hoop fans again on Saturday after pouring in 26 points in an 87-82 victory against the Phoenix Mercury. Paige shot 10-of-19 from the field, including tying a season-high five three-pointers, along with four rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block in 31 minutes of action. The Wings have now won six games in a row.
Once again, Bueckers was at it early again as she scored 11 first-quarter points to help the Wings keep pace with the visiting Mercury. Paige has scored 209 first quarter points this season, the fourth most in the WNBA per statmuse.
The former Husky star picked it back up about half way through the second quarter after finding Ogunbowale for a three-pointer and a layup in transition to cut the Mercury lead to 37-32. Then Bueckers got hot from three, connecting from behind the arc on back-to-back Wings possessions to tie the game at 41 apiece. Then, with 3.2 seconds left in the half, the Wings inbounded the ball to Paige, who raced up the floor, used a crossover to split a double-team and create just enough space to launch a three. She rattled it in while drawing a foul and embraced the fired-up Wings crowd. Bueckers missed the free throw, but she finished the half with 20 points.
Fast forward to the fourth quarter, the Wings led by just one, 80-79 with just over two minutes left. Paige drove left, then stepped back for a three-pointer and knocked it down for the four-point lead.
Bueckers has now scored 1,515 career points, officially breaking the all-time record for most points in a player’s first two WNBA seasons. She passed Basketball Hall of Famer Seimone Augustus (1,489) for the top spot.
Christyn Williams did not play due to a coach’s decision.
STEWART CLICKING ON ALL CYLINDERS, JUST IN TIME FOR THE POSTSEASON
Over the last seven days, Breanna Stewart has won a FIBA Gold Medal, became the first player to win MVP of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup twice, recorded her 11th double-double of the season (as mentioned above) and then put on a 27-point performance in the New York Liberty’s 106-69 victory at the Toronto Tempo on Sunday. She also pulled down eight rebounds, dished out four assists, and picked up two steals in just 22 minutes of work. Kia Nurse scored two points in 15 minutes off the bench for the Tempo.
During the postgame press conference, Liberty Head Coach Chris DeMarco praised his superstar. The first-year head coach said, “I think if you ask any coach who’s ever coached her or played against [her], she is the best player in the world. She’s an absolute winner.” DeMarco added, “There’s something about her and her character. And as a coach, she’s never not looking you in the eyes, she’s never not looking her teammates in the eyes, she’s never not leading, and she does everything that contributes to winning.... When it comes to impacting winning, there’s nobody better. It’s not even close.”
It remains to be seen who the Liberty will play in the first round of the WNBA postseason. New York could end up as high as the four seed or as low as the eight depending on how the final two games of the regular season for multiple teams shakes out. One thing is for sure though, no team will want to face the Liberty because of Breanna Stewart.
NELSON-ODODA, DOLSON AND WILLIAMS MAKE IMMEDIATE IMPACT AFTER FIBA WORLD CUP
Olivia Nelson-Ododa (13 points), Stefanie Dolson (11 points) and Serah Williams (10 points) all recorded double-digit points in their team’s first game back post FIBA World Cup on Thursday.
All 13 of Nelson-Ododa’s points came in the first two quarters as she did not play in the second half of a 103-59 loss to the Atlanta Dream. Dolson’s 11 points were behind a season-high three triples and a pair of free throws in the Storm’s 114-77 loss to the Las Vegas Aces. It was the third time this season Dolson reached double figures in a game. Then in Williams’ third start of the season, she had a chance to tie the game at 90 with under 20 seconds after grabbing an offensive rebound, but her putback was blocked by the rim. The Fire went on to lose 94-91 to the Phoenix Mercury.
Serah Williams (Portland Fire)
- SUNDAY: 6 points (3-6 FG), 2 rebounds, 3 steals in 15 minutes. The Fire lost to the Los Angeles Sparks 105-84.
Stefanie Dolson (Seattle Storm)
- SUNDAY: 2 points (2-2 FT), 2 rebounds, 1 block in 14 minutes. The Storm fell to the Las Vegas Aces 98-77.
Aaliyah Edwards (Connecticut Sun)
- THURSDAY: 7 points (3-8 FG, 1-2 FT), 4 rebounds, 1 assist in 16 minutes. The Sun were defeated by the Atlanta Dream 103-59.
Azura Stevens (Chicago Sky)
- THURSDAY: 6 points (2-5 FG, 1-3 3-FG, 1-2 FT), 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 blocks in 21 minutes. The Sky fell to the Washington Mystics 106-81.
- SATURDAY: Did not play in the Sky’s 100-75 loss to the Atlanta Dream due to a knee injury.
Kia Nurse (Toronto Tempo)
- FRIDAY: 4 points (1-7 FG, 1-2 3-FG, 1-2 FT), 1 rebound, 1 assist in 13 minutes. The Tempo lost to the Indiana Fever 103-85.
Week 2 NFL Roundup
For the second straight week, both Skyler Bell and Joe Fagnano were both inactive for their respective teams, the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens. The Bills improved to 2-0 on the season after defeating the Detroit Lions 41-31 on Thursday night. The Baltimore Ravens were upset by the New Orleans Saints, 24-17 in their home opener. Travis Jones recorded one solo tackle and deflected one pass in the loss.
Offensive lineman Matthew Peart (Denver Broncos), Ryan Van Demark (Minnesota Vikings) and Christian Haynes (Seattle Seahawks) all played for their respective teams.
ANTHONY KAY PITCHES WELL, BUT WHITE SOX COUGH UP AL CENTRAL LEAD
With the Chicago White Sox clinging to a half-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central, Anthony Kay got the ball for the biggest start of his MLB career this past Wednesday. The former Husky southpaw allowed two hits, two runs (both unearned) while striking out three batters in four innings.
Kay faced four batters in the bottom of the first inning, issuing a two-out walk to Jo Adell before getting Travis Bazzana to pop out to shortstop to end the frame. The left-handed hurler retired the Guardians in order in the second inning, ending on this filthy slider to put away Austin Hedges.
Chicago ran into trouble in the bottom of the third after Chase Meidorth attempted to tag Petey Halpin running from first to second base, but the White Sox second basemen lost control of the ball once he made contact with the Cleveland baserunner. The ball trickled into the outfield and allowed Halpin to advance to third base with no throw and put runners at the corners with one out.
Up next was Jose Ramirez, who grounded back to Kay for the second out of the inning, allowing Steven Kwan to advance to second and putting runners at second and third. The next batter, Adell, delivered a two-run single to give Cleveland a 2-0 lead. Bazzana then lined out to right field to end the inning.
Kay allowed a one-out walk in the fourth, but retired Hedges on a ground out and Halpin on a fly out to keep the White Sox down by just two.
Despite throwing just 66 pitches, the White Sox decided to pull Kay from the game. He has thrown fewer than 70 pitches in back-to-back starts and has not surpassed 90 pitches since August 25th, when he threw 99 times against the Texas Rangers.
The Guardians went on to win the game 6-3 and take a half game lead in the AL Central.
SEARS CAN’T MAKE IT OUT FIRST INNING AGAINST WHITE SOX
The former Division III Rhode Island College Anchorman and UConn Husky had a strange start on Friday against the White Sox. In the bottom of the first inning, Chicago had runners on first and second and two outs when Gleyber Torres kicked around a ball in what should have ended the inning, but instead loaded the bases. The ensuing five White Sox hitters reached base, plating five runs, all unearned. Beau Brieske relieved Sears after just ⅔ of an inning. Brieske allowed one additional run, which was charged to Sears. The former Husky finished the game allowing six unearned runs in ⅔ innings.
The Tigers came back to win the game 11-8.
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