Top 3 (and a half) Games to Watch — August 5–August 11
Thursday will mark one month to go in the regular season, and that means playoff races are heating up. No one in a playoff spot is more than a game away from the spot ahead of them, and every game could result in a shift in the standings.
Let’s start with the results from last week’s games:
- Chicago Sky 94, Connecticut Sun 100
- Las Vegas Aces 68, Los Angeles Sparks 76
- Washington Mystics 99, Seattle Storm 79
Her Hoop Stats Games to Watch
Washington Mystics (14–7) at Las Vegas Aces (15–7)
Monday, August 5, at 10 PM ET — League Pass, MyLVTV, Monumental
Remember when there was an earthquake in Los Angeles and they had to postpone the second half of the Mystics-Aces game? Well, it’s finally happening. Yes, the Mystics have a 51–36 lead, and no, a 15-point comeback is not the most likely scenario. But neither was an earthquake. Or a forfeit. Or an announcer counting down seconds out loud due to a broken shot clock.
The Mystics and Aces give us wild things. And on Monday night, the second half of their suspended game is the only WNBA action. So don’t miss it. Anything could happen.
Phoenix Mercury (11–10) at Los Angeles Sparks (13–8)
Thursday, August 8, at 10 PM ET — ESPN2, NBA TV Canada
The last year the Mercury won the season series against the Sparks was the year Derek Fisher retired as an NBA player — 2014. Now Los Angeles’ head coach, Fisher will look to keep it that way as the two teams enter their final meeting of the season having split the first two. The Sparks are sitting in fourth place and trying to hold onto a bye in the playoffs. Phoenix, currently in sixth, would move within a game of that bye position with a victory.
Both teams feature a star carrying plenty of momentum into the game. Candace Parker returned for the Sparks last week after an injury sidelined her for nearly a month, and she wasted no time in shaking off the rust. In two games back she averaged 18.5 points, 7 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2 blocks per game on 56% shooting. Meanwhile, the Mercury’s Brittney Griner put on a show of her own on Sunday: 26 points on 11-of-14 shooting, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks and a career-high 8 assists. She even knocked down her first three of the season. These two powerhouses will collide on national TV, so flip to The Deuce and take in this showdown in SoCal.
Minnesota Lynx (10–11) at Washington Mystics (14–7)
Sunday, August 11, at 3 PM ET — League Pass, NBC Sports Washington
The eighth-place Lynx are trying to remain in playoff position, but they will have to hit the road to take on a Mystics team that is battling for a double-bye. Washington does just about everything well on offense — shooting, passing, protecting the ball — but offensive rebounding is the one area that doesn’t seem to be a priority for head coach Mike Thibault. The Mystics are tenth in offensive rebounding rate over the past month, while the Lynx are second in the same span. With so much firepower on the other side, Minnesota will have to exploit that one advantage to have a chance at an upset.
This matchup will showcase some of the most efficient scorers in the league. Four players have over a 60% true shooting percentage on over 20% usage, and all of them will be in this game: Minnesota’s Sylvia Fowles and Washington’s Tianna Hawkins, Kristi Toliver and Elena Delle Donne. Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve may have discovered the secret to defending Delle Donne, however — the MVP candidate has averaged just 8.5 points per game in her last four games against Minnesota. Tune in to see if EDD can figure out Reeve’s defense and help Washington stay within reach of a top-two seed.
Connecticut Sun (16–6) at Las Vegas Aces (15–7)
Sunday, August 11, at 6 PM ET — ESPN2, TSN
The top two teams in the standings will cap off the week in what could be a preview of the WNBA Finals. The streaky Sun have won seven in a row for the second time this season, sandwiching a five-game losing streak. Depending on results earlier in the week, they could give themselves a two-game cushion with a win in this one. An Aces win could also move them into first place, so this contest has vital implications for the top of the league.
The centers in this one will get the hype, as Connecticut’s Jonquel Jones and Las Vegas’ Liz Cambage are two of the most dynamic bigs in the league. But don’t sleep on the two-guard matchup — the Sun’s Shekinna Stricklen and the Aces’ Kayla McBride will face off for the first time since meeting up in the final round of the three-point contest. Stricklen got the better of that battle, taking home the crown, but McBride has the better three-point percentage in the regular season with a 49% to 39% edge. Wrap up your weekend with what promises to be an exciting and entertaining affair.
If you like this content, please support our work at Her Hoop Stats by subscribing for just $20 a year. All stats are compiled from stats.wnba.com and represent games played through August 4, 2019.
