Game 10: Napheesa Collier is going off, Riquna Williams is in Sixth Woman of the Year contention, and everything else you need to know
Phee really did a mid-game shimmy lmfao.
Hello, it’s me, Matt.
We’re now 10 games through a 22-game season. Nearly halfway! Already. 😭
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Ok, I’ll shut up now.
Here’s Basketball.
Napheesa Collier can’t be stopped
I’m freaking crushed that Sylvia Fowles has a calf injury that will sideline her indefinitely. She was having an MVP-type season, and is one of my favorite players to watch. But her absence has opened up a big slot for second-year forward Napheesa Collier to fill, and in two games, she’s gone off.
On Saturday, the Lynx beat the Liberty, 94-64, and Collier put up 26 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. She had two steals and two blocks, too. Jeez Phee. She made 8-of-15 looks, including 2-of-3 from range and 8-of-9 from the free throw line.
SHE ALSO HIT THIS DAMN SHIMMY LMFAO
Go off, Phee. It’s gonna take big-time nights like this for Minnesota to keep a high playoff seed until, hopefully, Fowles returns.
Riquna Williams is playing like Sixth Woman of the Year
Sixth Woman of the Year is going to be a tight race, likely between the Aces’ Dearica Hamby, who won the award last year, the Mercury’s Bria Hartley and the Sparks’ Williams. Right now, Williams is on a hot streak.
In a 90-76 win over the Fever, Williams went off for 21 points on 13 shots, including 7-of-12 from three-point range. That’s wild!
On the season, she’s averaging 13 points, two assists and a rebound on 49 percent shooting from range. She takes five per game. That’s a hot hand off the bench.
Jackie Young has improved SO much
Young didn’t have a great rookie year after going No. 1 in the draft, but she’s putting together an excellent season. She looks confident, always aiming to score in the mid-range. She’s thriving as an off-ball slasher.
In the Aces' 88-73 win over the Mystics, Young led all Vegas scorers with 16 points on 13 shots.
The Seattle Storm are winning by too many points in my opinion
Friday’s 83-65 destruction of the Wings was Seattle’s third-straight win by 18 points or more. Look at how bored Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart are lol:
Somebody please challenge them!
Welcome to the 2020 season, Connecticut Sun
After losing their first five straight, Connecticut has won four of its last five, including three in a row. Friday night’s win was the team’s most impressive, knocking off the Sky, 77-74. They’re back in the playoff hunt!
DeWanna Bonner was excellent as usual with 19 points and nine rebounds. Alyssa Thomas nearly triple-doubled with 15 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
Now for the bad.
The Mystics are so lost
An 88-73 loss to the Aces marked their seventh straight loss, and third consecutive by double-digits. I keep reminding you why they’re losing. It’s because, like, um, all of their best players are out. But damn, it’s getting hard to watch. They had 18 turnovers to 19 assists on Friday, and shot 38 percent from the floor.
If Aerial Powers is going to miss a lot more time, it’s fair to wonder if the Mystics will have trouble making the postseason.
Final scores:
Sun 77, Sky 74
Storm 83, Wings 65
Mercury 96, Dream 80
Aces 88, Mystics 73
Sparks 90, Fever 76
Lynx 94, Liberty 64
Matt’s power rankings:
Storm
Aces
Sparks
Lynx
Mercury
Sky
Sun
Fever
Wings
Mystics
Dream
Liberty
Matt’s MVP rankings:
Breanna Stewart
A’ja Wilson
Candace Parker
Angel McCoughtry
Brittney Griner
Matt’s Rookie of the Year rankings:
Chennedy Carter
Satou Sabally
Julie Allemand
Crystal Dangerfield
Ezi Magbegor
Ok, that’s it from me.
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