Tonight’s WNBA situation is a lituation
By Ian Levy
A few times in the past weeks we’ve had some Super Sundays in the WNBA, with five games going and all but two teams in action. On those days we’ve written a guide to help you prepare for all the action. Well tonight the WNBA situation is a lituation, because every single team will be playing. Six games. One night. Let’s get into it.
Atlanta Dream at New York Liberty, 7:30 PM EST (NBA TV)
After crushing the San Antonio Stars a few nights ago, the Liberty now have the best record in the league by percentage points, and sit atop the Eastern Conference at 17-7. They’re 8-2 in their last 10 games, cruising along and doing awesome community things in the process. Tina Charles is having another fantastic season, putting up nearly 18 points and 9 rebounds a night, good for fourth and second in the league, respectively. Epiphanny Prince gets buckets, Kiah Stokes is a favorite for Rookie of the Year, and they’re extremely tough on the defensive end. They’re just a really, really good team.
Unfortunately, Atlanta has had the opposite season, sitting in last place in the East and five games out of the playoffs with just 10 to play. Shoni Schimmel struggled early in the year, and though she is back in form now, it’s too little, too late. Still, Atlanta is a talented bunch, and if the Liberty take them lightly, it could be a long night.
Connecticut Sun at Tulsa Shock, 8:00 PM EST (Live Access)
The Connecticut Sun are probably wishing they were in the Western Conference this year. At 12-12, the Sun find themselves on the outside looking in at the postseason, sitting in fifth place in the East and two games behind Chicago for the final spot. Meanwhile, the Shock, at 12-14, have possession of third place in the West. But alas, that’s just how things go some years.
Besides, all hope is not lost for the Sun. Two games is in no way an insurmountable obstacle, even this late in the season. A win tonight in Tulsa would be a good way to start the journey back to playoff position, especially with the Chicago Sky facing a tough game against the Washington Mystics.
Tulsa is no pushover though. After losing Skylar Diggins to a torn ACL early in the year, their season fell off the rails. But recently it seems like they have figured things out, taking down the Liberty and the Phoenix Mercury in consecutive games. Riquana Williams has stepped up in Diggins’ absence, and along with Odyssey Sims, the Shock still have one of the most exciting backcourts in the league. Even without Diggins.
This should be a pretty fun matchup tonight.
Minnesota Lynx at San Antonio Stars, 8:00 PM EST (Live Access)
The Lynx will be glad to face a new opponent tonight, after losing to the Mystics two times this week. And the Lynx will definitely be glad the new opponent is the Stars, who are just 7-19 on the season, are on a three game losing streak and just got decimated by the Liberty the other night. Maya Moore has struggled offensively the last few nights, but she has some more help now that Seimone Augustus has returned.
Already having clinched a playoff spot, and sitting atop the Western Conference, it’s understandable that the Lynx might not be as focused as they have been earlier in the year, but they should still cruise to an easy victory tonight.
Washington Mystics at Chicago Sky, 8:30 PM EST (Live Access)
Now this should be a fun one.
In the jumbled up Eastern Conference, one game can be the difference between sitting comfortably in second place or sitting precariously in fourth place. Just one game separates the second, third, and fourth place teams, and the Sun, in fifth, are just two games out of contention.
Tonight’s matchup between Washington and Chicago could shake things up even more, especially if the Sky score a key victory at home. Even with all that Elena Delle Donne has done this season, the Sky are in no way sitting comfortably right now. Likewise for the Mystics, even with their swagger on a hundred thousand trillion after their two straight wins over the Lynx.
There are five really solid teams in the East, but only four can make the playoffs. Of course it won’t be determined tonight, but this should be an intense and exciting game. Plus, you should take an opportunity you can get to watch EDD this year, as she continues her historically good season.
Los Angeles Sparks at Phoenix Mercury, 10:00 PM EST (NBA TV)
No offense to Washington or Chicago, but this is the game of the night.
Candace Parker has looked like an MVP candidate since she returned to action for the Sparks, and is coming off a 25 point, 10 rebound, 6 assist, 8 steal, 3 block performance against the Fever. It appears the rest has done her well, and all of a sudden the Sparks are back in the playoff picture, and at times look like a team that could go all the way to the WNBA Finals. Tonight will be a good litmus test in that regards, as they take on a very dangerous Phoenix Mercury team.
Behind Brittany Griner and DeWanna Bonner, the Mercury are 15-10, and sit in second place in the West. They’ve showed complete dominance at times, but are coming off a surprising loss to the Shock. Now they’re back at home, however, where they’re 10-3 on the season.
There will be all sorts of star power on the court tonight when these two face off, and it’s definitely in your best interest to make sure you’re in front of a TV to watch it go down.
Indiana Fever at Seattle Storm, 10:00 PM EST (Live Access)
No one talks too much about the Fever, but they’ve quietly gone about their business and now sit in second place in the Eastern Conference. The other night they withstood an incredible Candace Parker performance to win in Los Angeles, and now they continue their West coast road trip in Seattle, and it appears they’ve brought their three-point shooting shoes with them.
They hit 10 triples against the Sparks the other night, and boast three of the top five shooters in the league, with Briann January, Maggie Lucas, and Shenise Johnson all shooting over 40 percent from behind the arc.
The Storm meanwhile have had a forgettable season except for Jewell Loyd’s Rookie of the Year campaign. She’s been impressive, but it hasn’t been nearly enough as Seattle is just 7-19. They’re still somehow just a game and a half back of the final playoff spot, but now that the Sparks are healthy, that looks like a longshot.