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Michael Voepel
Michael Voepel
ESPN Senior Creator
- Michael Voepel is a senior creator who covers the WNBA, ladies folk’s college basketball and assorted college sports. Voepel began retaining ladies folk’s basketball in 1984, and has been with ESPN since 1996.
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Alexa Philippou
Alexa Philippou
ESPN
- Covers ladies folk’s college basketball and the WNBA
- Beforehand lined UConn and the WNBA Connecticut Sun for the Hartford Courant
- Stanford graduate and Baltimore native with further experience on the Dallas Morning Files, Seattle Cases and Cincinnati Enquirer
Aug 15, 2024, 11:55 PM ET
The predominant-location Unique York Liberty picked up the build they left off before the Olympic smash, dominating the Los Angeles Sparks 103-68 as the WNBA returned to motion Thursday. The Washington Mystics bought two welcome returns personnel-wise — though now not a victory — and the Phoenix Mercury’s three Olympians were amongst the Paris gold medalists who looked original and sharp to sail.
The league is support in motion with the flee for the playoffs on all people’s minds. With a pair of month left in the unusual-or-garden season, teams know every recreation from here on has an affect. The Liberty, seeking the franchise’s first WNBA title, are serious about the No. 1 seed as the aim.
For the third-location Minnesota Lynx, who won the Commissioner’s Cup closing in June, coping with a more in-depth-to-fleshy strength Mystics squad was once a correct test to get the the relaxation of their schedule began. Their seventy 9-68 win was once the closest recreation of the evening, and Olympic gold medalist Napheesa Collier bought issues going with her 13th double-double of the season.
The sixth-location Mercury, who hovered spherical a .500 file for deal of the first share of the season, bought an 85-65 victory at Chicago on Thursday that moved them to 14-12 and — they hope — a huge gamble to maybe meet up with the WNBA’s high five. Sky ahead Angel Reese (11 parts, 15 rebounds) bought her 18th double-double, nice looking her nearer to Tina Charles’ rookie file (22, dwelling in 2010).
Five assorted teams, including the Indiana Fever with rookie standout Caitlin Clark, will get support to motion Friday, while the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces return Saturday as they host final season’s WNBA Finals foe Unique York. Here’s a study at what stood out as the WNBA hit the hardwood again.
How did the Olympians play?
Philippou: The Olympians showed few indicators of jet sail. All U.S. nationwide group participants who played Thursday scored in double figures, including the principle stars of the evening — Kahleah Copper (29 parts), Brittney Griner (23), Breanna Stewart (27) — serving to their WNBA teams cruise to victories of their first games support. Unique York’s starters didn’t must play predominant minutes with the group pulling ahead by as many as 40, while Phoenix’s primary five every played as a minimal 30.
Whether fatigue hits over the route of the 2nd half of is one thing to monitor, but with the vogue the Liberty and Mercury came out Thursday, they’ll be making statements about what’s in retailer in the arrival weeks and months. The Mercury in tell are a group to monitor — if their core is all lastly healthy on the identical time, can they develop a behind flee?
Voepel: Griner was once 10 of 12 from the discipline, with 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 blocks — one of her most full games of the season. Accidents restricted her to 15 of the Mercury’s first 25 games. But when Griner, Copper and Diana Taurasi (11 parts, 4 assists) are leading the vogue, Phoenix would possibly even be harmful.
“After this [Olympic] smash, there could be a amount of teams, a amount of of us which would possibly maybe very effectively be hungry,” Griner said. “I do know we’re ready to develop that push. The Sky’s the restrict for this group. I personal we’ll attain truly, truly correct.”
Which teams looked rusty?
Philippou: Chicago left loads to be desired, though that can also wish needed to realize more so with personnel adjustments: This was once its first recreation since Marina Mabrey was once traded to Connecticut, while Chennedy Carter was once ruled out earlier Thursday as a result of a non-COVID illness. The dearth of floor spacing without Mabrey on the court, plus the absence of Carter’s explosiveness and capacity to construct, truly spelled ache for the Sky: Their 65 parts were their 2nd fewest on the season.
It will steal some time for his or her return in the Mabrey substitute — Rachel Banham (7 parts, 26 minutes) and Moriah Jefferson (2 parts, 12 minutes) — to resolve into issues, but even supposing Carter is support quickly, Chicago will need them to relieve jump-commence the offense and derive systems to commence issues up in the paint as they study a playoff berth in Year 1 under Teresa Weatherspoon.
Will a group admire Washington affect the playoff portray?
Voepel: Maybe so, though the Mystics themselves — in final location at 6-20 — don’t seem like going to develop it, they would maybe possess an affect on assorted teams as a spoiler of kinds. Accidents devastated the Mystics in the season’s first half of, but middle Shakira Austin (9 parts, 10 rebounds) returned to motion Thursday for the first time since Could maybe 31 and guard Brittney Sykes (11 parts, 4 rebounds) was once support for her first motion since June 11.
Whereas Washington realistically would possibly be looking out more against the 2025 draft and season, seeing the group looking out nearer to what it hoped to be attain out this season on the total is a steal.
