This weekly wrap covers the games from June 21 to 28 (PHT). Check out last week's edition here.
Game of the Week
The titanic bout between the WNBA’s top two teams lived up to the billing as the Las Vegas Aces pulled out a thrilling 95-92 victory over the Seattle Storm on Monday (PHT).
In the latest chapter of their budding rivalry that dates back to last season’s Finals duel in the Wubble, it was Chelsea Gray’s turn to have her moment. Gray drilled the clutch go-ahead jumper over Breanna Stewart with 10.6 seconds left.
Gray (@cgray209) calls game with this one, @LVAces WIN 😤 pic.twitter.com/t4LtUUYEUT
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 27, 2021
The newly announced Olympian was in full takeover mode, scoring 15 of her 21 points in the fourth quarter and in overtime. Gray, who also notched seven assists, was responsible for a strong three-point play that gave the Aces the lead with 26.4 seconds left in the extra session. Stewart countered with a pair of free throws that put Seattle back up, 92-91, before Gray answered with her jumper.
The stars came out to play in this one as A’ja Wilson had a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds and teammate Kelsey Plum contributed 15 points. For the Storm, Stewart had a monster line of 35 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks, while Mercedes Russell had 22 and 11, which matched her season-highs.
The Storm had a chance to win the game in regulation but Stewart’s turn-around failed to hit the mark. After an out-of-bounds review and a deflection that dwindled the time, Stewart couldn’t nail another crack at the basket.
The Storm (12-4) and the Aces (11-4) continue to pace the standings and are on a collision course for a repeat of the Finals.
Team in the spotlight
Before being blown out of the water by the Connecticut Sun on Monday (PHT), the Chicago Sky were the hottest team in the league.
The return of Candace Parker in the lineup rejuvenated the squad and won a franchise-record seven straight.
There was a lot of hype surrounding Parker’s homecoming during the offseason but an ankle injury forced her to miss the first part of the year. It didn’t help that Allie Quigley was also sidelined with an injury and Stefanie Dolson suited for the 3x3 women’s team. It wasn’t long ago that the Sky were sitting at 11th place in the standings.
But Parker’s return in early June quickly turned things around, going 8-0 before Monday’s loss. The Sun were finally able to cool off the Sky with a 16-point drubbing even without MVP candidate Jonquel Jones in the mix.
The Sky still have a long way to go but with a 9-8 record and a fourth-place standing, they’re now right in the thick of things.
Big-time ballers
Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces)
Kelsey Plum was in our big-time ballers list last week, and guess what, she’s in it again. She had a total of 30 points in her last two games against the Minnesota Lynx and Seattle Storm.
Plum is having a career year scoring an average of 13.3 points per game. She provides quality minutes off the bench, providing the Aces a jolt of energy every time she’s on the floor. If she keeps this up, she’ll give teammate and two-time Sixth Woman of the Year Dearica Hamby a run for her money.
Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas Wings)
Another player who continues to light it up is Arike Ogunbowale. She’s fourth overall in points per game with 20.3, behind Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart, and Tina Charles.
What makes Ogunbowale even more dangerous is that she is tied for fifth in steals, collecting 1.6 per outing. Her transition game is deadly as they come, converting points off an opponent’s turnover in a hurry. With Ogunbowale at the forefront, the Wings have won six of their last 10, including back-to-back victories over the Indiana Fever and Washington Mystics.
Sylvia Fowles (Minnesota Lynx)
Last but certainly not the least is Sylvia Fowles. Now in her 14th season, the veteran center continues to be one of the best in the league. She’s back with a vengeance after playing just seven games in 2020 due to injury.
Against the Atlanta Dream, she put up 26 points, 19 rebounds, five blocks, and two steals. If you think that performance was jaw-dropping, she had a better outing two nights later versus the Aces when she dropped 30 points, 14 boards, four assists, four steals, and four blocks – a stat line no other player has done before.
A @WNBA First. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/20x9LHCd7P
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) June 26, 2021
She’s been so dominant as of late that Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve proclaimed that she is the best center in the history of the league. Even though that statement could be debatable, it’s no question that Fowles continues to be at the top of her game. Not bad for a 35-year-old.
Watch out for...
Diana Taurasi is back.
It’s only fitting that when Taurasi returned to the Phoenix Mercury lineup, she immediately reached another milestone in her storied career. She is the first player in WNBA history to reach 9,000 career points.
The scoring veteran logged in nearly 32 minutes and went off for 25 points, four treys, four boards, and three dimes. She did all this after sitting out for more than a month due to a sternum fracture.
DT etches her name in the history books once again 👏@dianataurasi becomes the first #WNBA player to reach 9,000 career PTS 🔥 #CountIt pic.twitter.com/6S6406EjvN
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 27, 2021
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