The 'Ball-Knowers' WNBA Watch Guide: Weekend of August 8 - August 12
Several games with playoff implications are on the schedule this week including a long awaited Minnesota - New York rematch. We get you up to speed on exactly who to watch for in the WNBA.
With the passing of the WNBA trade deadline this week, we’re almost at the end of any player acquisition window for teams before the playoffs begin. On August 29th, rosters have to officially be locked in for the postseason which means each team has, more or less, exactly what they think they need to make a run for a title.
This weekend, we have a ton of games that will help separate the wheat from the chaff, as they say. Several games feature playoff contenders or those right next to one another in the current standings. By Tuesday, we’ll have a much better idea of where everyone sits as playoff seedings start to solidify. So let’s get you up to speed on what you need to watch for!
Friday, August 8
New York Liberty (19-10) vs. Dallas Wings (8-22): 7:30 PM ET, ION
Why It’s Worth a Watch: Dallas and New York have split their regular season series so far and both games have turned out to be reasonably competitive so don’t judge this matchup based solely on the record. While Breanna Stewart is still out of the lineup (along with Kennedy Burke and Nyara Sabally), the Liberty are hardly hapless. Emma Meesseman put up 13 points in the last game between these two teams while Leonie Fiebich had an efficient 5/7 shooting night. It’s fair to wonder what edition of Dallas you’ll get on any given night and who knows! Maybe they’ll surprise us on a Friday.
What to Watch For: I’m interested in the integration of Diamond Miller into this Dallas rotation. Just from a measurables standpoint, the 6’3 former Maryland star is exactly the type of player that can help defend elite wings like Fiebich. I’m also really interested in the continued success of Haley Jones. As someone that has been hard on her in the press for a few years now, I’m always happy to be proven wrong by a player. She’s made a mark in Dallas and shown she deserves a spot in this league.
Must Watch Score: 7.5/10
Washington Mystics (13-16) vs. Minnesota Lynx (25-5): 7:30 PM ET, ION
Why It’s Worth a Watch: What exactly are the Washington Mystics now that Brittney Sykes has been traded? Star forward Shakira Austin didn’t appear too pleased on social media that her favorite guard and rookie (Aaliyah Edwards) were dealt away at the deadline so that’s something to monitor. The matchup here is tilted but beyond the box score I want to see the fight in Washington. While we, the media and fans with terminal GM brain, think the Mystics are making smart moves for the future I can understand players that might be a bit miffed that the team appears to be punting on a season in which they had a playoff shot.
What to Watch For: I’m curious to see if we get some Jacy Sheldon minutes now that she’s arrived from Connecticut. They probably could use her immediately given that the backcourt is extremely thin and very young right now. And yes, I understand the irony in affixing a ‘vet’ label to Sheldon who is merely in her second year as a pro. But when your starting backcourt is 22 and 21 years old, adding a 24 year old with a couple stops feels like some degree of presence. I expect Minnesota to win but what Washington gives us will be instructive as to what we can expect for the rest of the year.
Must Watch Score: 7/10
Seattle Storm (16-14) vs. Las Vegas Aces (16-14): 10:00 PM ET, ION
Why It’s Worth a Watch: Every Aces - Storm matchup feels like it has some juice because of how everything unfolded last season between Jewell Loyd and Noelle Quinn/Skylar Diggins. Interestingly enough, who is to say who was right? Both teams are 16-14 and one could argue each are playing below their expectation. With playoff spots becoming more hotly contested, games like these are starting to matter a lot. I anticipate a playoff type atmosphere and intensity in the Friday nightcap especially given that these teams have traded wins and losses this year.
What to Watch For: We are likely to get our first Brittney Sykes minutes for Seattle following their deadline trade. I’d imagine that will send Erica Wheeler to the bench and have Sykes operating in the starting backcourt with Skylar Diggins. How well and how fast she integrates into the lineup will be a storyline to watch. On the Aces end, they’ve won four of their last five games with the notable exception being a blowout loss to the Lynx. Moving Jewell Loyd to the bench has paid off for her as she’s shooting more efficiently and effectively than at any point this season. Do we see another 20+ point performance coming against her old team with standings on the line?
Must Watch Score: 8/10
Saturday, August 9
Chicago Sky (8-22) vs. Indiana Fever (17-14): 8:00 PM ET, CBS
Why It’s Worth a Watch: I was surprised to see Indiana get so thoroughly pummeled by Phoenix on Thursday but, on some level, it was good for the game writ large. While the WNBA expended a lot of capital making Sky - Fever the rivalry to follow off the strength of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, the reality is that Mercury - Fever is the naturally occurring, naturally created rivalry that sports leagues crave. This one will continue to look a bit toothless without the game’s two brightest stars involved but I always enjoy the Gamecock frontcourt battle between Kamilla Cardoso and Aliyah Boston.
What to Watch For: Personally, I’m looking to see how the Fever bounce back after two tough losses that slowed some of the high level momentum they were building in the wake of the All-Star break. This should serve as a pick-me-up given Chicago have only won one of their last ten games. It’s been a brutal run for the Sky especially with Reese out of the lineup but as I said in the trade deadline winners & losers column, there is no reason to put this on Tyler Marsh or the players. Blame here lies with GM Jeff Pagliocca.
Must Watch Score: 7/10
Los Angeles Sparks (14-15) vs. Golden State Valkyries (14-15): 8:30 PM ET, League Pass
Why It’s Worth a Watch: Maybe I have too much dip on my chip or maybe I’m just too L.A.-pilled to look at this matchup objectively but this game is probably my matchup of the day. Since a 5-13 start to the year, Lynne Roberts has righted the ship in her first season with the Sparks and the team has rattled off nine wins in the last 11 games. Now, they have a chance to beat Golden State to pull into the playoff picture for the first time this year. Meanwhile, the Valkyries are just trying to keep their heads above water as injuries and tough matchups are starting to catch up to a team that’s punched above their weight class all year.
What to Watch For: While Cameron Brink has had an uneven return to the lineup from an offensive standpoint, she has lived up to the billing as the defensive stopper the Sparks have needed all year. With the former Stanford star and Azura Stevens connected as a backcourt tandem, L.A. has filled in the missing gap of their team. Plus, Rickea Jackson is finally coming into her own as the elite scorer and generational mid-range shooter we always knew she was. Right now, the Sparks are the best watch in the league and you should keep an eye on them the rest of the year.
Must Watch Score: 9/10
Sunday, August 10
Minnesota Lynx (25-5) vs. New York Liberty (19-10): 12:30 PM ET, ABC/ESPN+
Why It’s Worth a Watch: I still grade this matchup high on the scale because this is still our WNBA Finals matchup this year unless someone proves me wrong. Even without Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart there is still plenty to see. With DiJonai Carrington now firmly in the Minnesota lineup, I expect to see one heck of a backcourt battle here. Sabrina Ionescu and Natasha Cloud vs. Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams and Carrington? Then add in the rotational pieces like Natisha Hiedeman and Marine Johannes? We have a chance for some serious fireworks here.
What to Watch For: With Phee out, the onus will be on Alanna Smith and the other frontcourt members of the Lynx to fill the defensive holes against an elite New York center in Jonquel Jones. To me, the Euro matchup of Jessica Shepard and Emma Meesseman should be fun and really give us an idea of Shepard’s Sixth Woman of the Year case as well as her top-end ability as a sole defensive option up front. While we’ll get a healthier version of these teams in the playoffs, this is another naturally occurring rivalry that we as fans should continue to nurture.
Must Watch Score: 9/10
Washington Mystics (13-16) vs. Dallas Wings (8-22): 4:00 PM ET, CBSSN
Why It’s Worth a Watch: A battle of rebuilding teams serves as a nice interlude matchup between the two elite games on Saturday. If you want to see the future of the league, this is a fun matchup to watch. Paige Bueckers on one end, bolstered by rookie teammates Aziaha James and JJ Quinerly, facing off against Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron on the other. I know there’s been discussion about Rookie of the Year and if Citron really is in contention. Thankfully, we have games like this to figure it out.
What to Watch For: I really hope that Sydney Johnson sticks Citron on Paige defensively instead of Arike Ogunbowale. I love position-aligned matchups between stars because it gives us a chance to really see them stacked up against one another. While there may not be a lot of juice from the perspective of seedings or standings, I think it can still be fun to watch individual matchups.
Must Watch Score: 7/10
Phoenix Mercury (19-11) vs. Atlanta Dream (19-11): 6:00 PM ET, NBATV
Why It’s Worth a Watch: With New York fading in the wake of Breanna Stewart’s injury, there is a legitimate road for either of these teams to get into the conversation for the second seed in the playoffs. Right now, Phoenix and Atlanta are just a game behind the Liberty and so this particular matchup is massive for seeding implications. So far, the Dream have owned the season series against the Mercury but it feels like Phoenix has started to stabilize with three straight wins after a run of losses in late July and early August. Both of these teams are near full-health and potential Finals contenders. What more could you want for a national TV game?
What to Watch For: Brittney Griner has been out with a neck injury and she was the X-Factor in the Dream’s most recent win over Phoenix. With the 6’8 center not available and Naz Hillmon likely to get the starting nod again, what does that mean for Atlanta’s height advantage over the Mercury? That’s been the story of the last two games but it feels like Alyssa Thomas is rounding into such elite form that you might be able to compensate for it now that BG may not be available. Aside from that you have several All-Stars and All-WNBA candidates dotting the floor including two MVP candidates in AT and Allisha Gray. Game of the Weekend, in my opinion.
Must Watch Score: 9.5/10
Seattle Storm (16-14) vs. Los Angeles Sparks (14-15): 8:00 PM ET, League Pass
Why It’s Worth a Watch: This game becomes a lot more interesting if the Aces beat the Storm and the Sparks beat the Valks on Friday night. The question I have with Los Angeles is how high their ceiling actually is and if they can just continue to string wins together. I think it’s worth noting that the team is 5-1 since bringing on ex-Dallas Wings head coach Latricia Trammell to help out Lynne Roberts. That’s not to say Roberts wasn’t already getting things together in L.A. but Trammell is a great coach and has clearly seen something that has helped unlock this L.A. team. If they manage to get one over on the Storm as well as Golden State, we may need to have some conversations about how far this can realistically go.
What to Watch For: I am really interested in the backcourt battle here. Brittney Sykes and Skylar Diggins will be up against Kelsey Plum who is playing her team into a spot where we can reasonably have a conversation about KP for potential All-WNBA honors. How will she manage two high level defensive guards in a matchup with a lot on the line for L.A.? Beyond that, the unicorn battle between Dominique Malonga and Cameron Brink is going to be amazing. It may only be 3-4 possessions where we see the flashes but that’s a legitimate big matchup that may come to define the league for the next decade if both stay healthy.
Must Watch Score: 9/10
Connecticut Sun (5-24) vs. Las Vegas Aces (16-14): 9:00 PM ET, NBATV
Why It’s Worth a Watch: Normally, I’d say to watch out for Connecticut because you really don’t know what you might get with them. But in this case the Aces are battle-tested and have buried the Sun in the two games they’ve played against each other this year. Things may be different with the addition of Aaliyah Edwards, who joins CT after a deadline trade with the Mystics but taking on A’ja Wilson is a challenge for anyone and everyone.
What to Watch For: How Edwards integrates into the Connecticut lineup and how she’s utilized will be a really interesting thing to watch for the rest of the year. In a lot of ways, the Sun are returning to their roots of leaning on former UConn greats to carry the state’s franchise at the WNBA level. Between Tina Charles, Olivia Nelson-Ododa and now Edwards, Geno Auriemma would be proud. AE and ONO potentially reuniting in the frontcourt is something I can’t wait to see, personally.
Must Watch Score: 7/10
Monday, August 11
Connecticut Sun (5-24) vs. Golden State Valkyries (14-15): 10:00 PM ET, League Pass
Why It’s Worth a Watch: This one is a bit more interesting for Connecticut than the Aces game. I just think Vegas is a terrible matchup for this Sun team whereas the Valkyries feel like a more balanced game. Golden State still has plenty of fight in them although I think the bill in regards to talent is coming due as we get closer to the playoffs. But even with that in mind, Connecticut has a really fun youth movement going and that’s an interesting juxtaposition to how Golden State built their expansion franchise (primarily through older vets with European experience).
What to Watch For: As always, the young core of the Sun is the draw in any game they play. But in this matchup I’m looking at Aneesah Morrow particularly closely. It feels like through a lot of the year, Rachid Meziane has been trying to get her to be more of a wing than a pure four or forward in the WNBA. With her length, versatility and work rate it feels like the natural place for the 6’1 rookie. With Aaliyah Edwards now in the mix, it feels like Morrow’s move to the wing will be more pronounced and how she performs there will be fascinating in terms of assessing her ceiling as a WNBA player.
Must Watch Score: 7.5/10
If You Can Only Watch One Game A Day…
Friday, August 8 - Seattle Storm (16-14) vs. Las Vegas Aces (16-14): 10:00 PM ET, ION
Saturday, August 9 - Los Angeles Sparks (14-15) vs. Golden State Valkyries (14-15): 8:30 PM ET, League Pass
Sunday, August 10 - Phoenix Mercury (19-11) vs. Atlanta Dream (19-11): 6:00 PM ET, NBATV
Monday, August 11 - Connecticut Sun (5-24) vs. Golden State Valkyries (14-15): 10:00 PM ET, League Pass
Honorable Mentions -
Sunday, August 10 - Minnesota Lynx (25-5) vs. New York Liberty (19-10): 12:30 PM ET, ABC/ESPN+