This Week in the Wubble: August 3 – August 9
Looking back on the week that was in the WNBA
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Another week of WNBA basketball is behind us, and we’re already a third of the way through the season. Heading into the first and only week without an off day, let’s take a look back at what went down over the last seven days:
Connecticut and New York got in the win column
Both teams entered the week searching for their first win. For the Ionescu-less Liberty, that may have been expected. For the Sun — coming off of a WNBA Finals run — not so much. On Thursday, Connecticut eliminated the goose egg in its win column with a 91–68 victory over the Wings. That momentum didn’t last long, however, as the Sun dropped their next game to the Sky on Saturday to fall to 1–6. Curt Miller plays his starters more than anyone else in the league, including giving stars Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner each over 35 minutes per game (first and second in the WNBA). The effect of that usage has been some ugly fourth quarters for the Sun as they physically wear down, and it’s beginning to look like a lost season for Miller’s squad.
Connecticut’s I-95 rivals gave rookie head coach Walt Hopkins his first career win on Friday, taking down the Mystics 74–66. It took a 4-of-5 performance from deep from an unlikely source in Layshia Clarendon (who made four threes in 22 attempts in 2018 and 2019 combined) as well as an uncharacteristically poor shooting night from the defending champs (38% from the field and 25% from three), but New York and its crew of rookies tasted victory for the first time. And speaking of that game...
Washington came back down to earth
After a 3–0 start that reminded everyone how good of a coach Mike Thibault is, the Mystics have now dropped four straight to fall to below .500 on the season. Following the loss to the Liberty, Thibault said it “was one of the most embarrassing losses, if not the most embarrassing loss” during his Mystics tenure. That wasn’t enough to get his team back on track, however, as Washngton lost again two days later to the same Fever team that they defeated by 25 to open the season. Aerial Powers didn’t play in the rematch, but Thibault has his work cut out for him if he wants to right the ship and coach his team to a playoff bye.
The Bridget Carleton show
After playing a combined 16 minutes and scoring a total of two points in Minnesota’s first three games, Bridget Carleton got her opportunity to step in when Shenise Johnson went down with an injury. And Carleton seized it. The big one was the 25-point performance on Wednesday in her first career start, but the Iowa State product was money all week. In her last four games, Carleton has made 22-of-30 field goals including 7-of-9 threes.
Odyssey Sims arrived
Carleton had been one of the names mentioned as a possible cut once Sims showed up, but Carleton’s play solidified her roster spot and instead left Megan Huff as the odd woman out. (Huff has since signed with the Aces). Sims, who gave birth to a son in April, is going through the standard quarantine process and will also have to serve a two-game suspension stemming from a DWI charge last year. The target date for her return to the court is Thursday’s game against the Aces. The Lynx have played great without her and are currently off to a 5–2 start, but the return of last year’s leading scorer and assister will only bolster the depth of a backcourt that could still use it.
Chennedy Carter made history
On Thursday, the No. 4 overall pick made her case for Rookie of the Year honors by putting 35 on the best defense in the WNBA. Carter and the Dream gave the Storm all they wanted in a 93–92 loss that saw the rookie become the youngest player ever to score 30 in a game. Carter also became the first rookie in league history to record a game with at least 35 points and at least seven assists. ‘Hollywood’ has been putting on a show so far this season and is leading all rookies in scoring and assists. The injury to Sabrina Ionescu took away some competition, but at this rate, Carter very well may have been the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year anyway.
Players supported Kelly Loeffler’s opponent
Atlanta Dream co-owner and U.S. Senator of Georgia Kelly Loeffler has made her opinions known in recent months and, quite frankly, they fly in the face of everything that the WNBA and its players stand for, especially in this season dedicated to social justice. The players haven’t been shy about standing up for their beliefs, and last week, many of them did so via warmup shirts in support of Rev. Raphael Warnock, Loeffler’s challenger for the U.S. Senate seat. The league has said that it won’t force Loeffler to sell her stake in the team, but don’t expect its players to stop speaking out against her dangerous views any time soon.
Looking Ahead
Last week, the Sky and the Storm nearly split the first-place votes in our power rankings, with Chicago barely edging out Seattle for the top spot. As we enter our only Monday night of games this season, tonight’s matchup between the two will determine the No. 1 spot in the WNBA standings for at least 24 hours, as the Lynx are not in action until tomorrow night.
All stats are compiled from WNBA.com and are updated through games on Sunday, August 9.
Thanks for reading the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter. If you like our work, be sure to check out our stats site, our podcast, and our social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also buy Her Hoop Stats gear, such as laptop stickers, mugs, and shirts!
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