The WNBAs commerce deadline is formally a week-and-a-half away with groups having till August 7 at 3:00 p.m. ET to get all trades finished earlier than the WNBAs common season reaches 70% full. As Cole Huff defined final week, it’s cheap to consider that the Dallas Wings and the Washington Mystics might be sellers within the subsequent ten days. The Dallas Wings stay the second worst group within the league whereas the Washington Mystics have reportedly been entertaining calls to commerce sophomore ahead Aaliyah Edwards.
However who is perhaps the consumers? The New York Liberty received their work finished early incomes a dedication from free agent Belgian celebrity and 2019 WNBA Finals MVP Emma Meesseman. She is about to reach in August. However how will the Lynx match particularly since they misplaced Karlie Samuelson for the season on July 4?
What in regards to the Seattle Storm, a group who continues to lose to groups with out as a lot expertise? As of now the Storm are fifth within the WNBA standings, however have the ninth ranked offense within the league. That has to enhance if Seattle needs to go on a deep playoff run.
Earlier than shifting to the week forward, the damage endemic within the WNBA have to be mentioned. Previously week Golden States Kayla Thornton received season-ending knee surgical procedure following an damage she sustained in observe, Angel Reese missed two video games this previous week nursing a foul again, and Breanna Stewart left the Libertys sport on Saturday towards the Sparks with presumably a proper calf pressure.
Add that to the truth that Caitlin Clark has remained out after injuring her proper groin proper earlier than the All-Star break. And MVP Napheesa Collier has been taking part in by one thing in her shoulder. She started sporting a wrap on her shoulder on July 25 to mitigate some discomfort.
Whats the reason for this and why does it really feel like so many notable gamers are injured and banged up all of sudden?
There was a ton of warmth this season for questionable and inconsistent officiating from WNBA referees, and whereas a few of that is warranted particularly when the league has extra eyes on it than it ever has, theres one other a part of this story. Poor officiating isnt simply why the WNBA has been on tempo this season to register essentially the most accidents ever throughout a daily season in current reminiscence per Lucas Seehafer of The IX Basketball.
Since 2021, the quantity of video games performed within the common season has elevated by 37.5%. Coming off the pandemic bubble season in 2020, there have been 32 common season video games performed as a result of it was an Olympic yr and the footprint of the season needed to embrace a month-long break in the midst of the season. From 2022 to 2025, the quantity of video games has gone up from 36 video games in 2022, to 40 video games in 2023 and 2024 after which in 2025 there are 44 video games throughout the common season, essentially the most ever. Final season, 2024 was additionally an olympic yr.
Whereas the quantity of video games performed has vastly elevated, the WNBA footprint, or quantity of days that embody a complete common season and playoff schedule has not. Extra video games are being shoved into much less time.
In simply this previous week, six groups within the Dream, Aces, Liberty, Mystics, Solar and Wings have all performed in back-to-back video games. This prompted ESPN broadcast analyst and former WNBA participant Rebecca Lobo to dig up some analysis that confirmed the dramatic lower in common days between video games throughout the common season since 2021. The numbers by way of ESPN researcher Garrett Gastfield present that even in a non-olympic yr, the schedule is much more brutal than it was a season in the past.
As of now the WNBA and its gamers are concerned in on-going CBA negotiations, and the size of time in between video games along with an extended season footprint must be introduced up in additional discussions. Whereas Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is getting ready to increase subsequent season into the month of November because of the 2026 FIBA World Cup that takes place in September, the leagues calendar footprint must be expanded in the long run quite than simply for a season.
We need to promote participant security, Mercury ahead Satou Sabally informed reporters on June 19.I believe that’s the largest factor, and we need to work along with the league about it, as a result of we’re the product, proper? And we additionally perceive it’s a enterprise, so simply discovering the very best approach to make it accommodating for everyoneto be certain that we will play all these video games and provides our greatest efficiency.
The present modelplaying 44 video games in 119 days has in flip led to extra gamers getting injured at a second when die-hard followers and new audiences crave seeing their favourite gamers play as a substitute of in avenue garments on the bench.
Theres a theme within the video games chosen for this week. Each has particular playoff implications as these are all matchups between groups which can be very shut to one another within the standings.
As of this writing, the one matchup I’ve highlighted that doesnt embrace groups only a sport or two other than each other within the standings is when the Liberty lastly face off towards the Lynx on Wednesday night time.
The Liberty stay 3.5 video games behind the Lynx, however that shouldnt deter anybody from watching the 2024 WNBA Finals rematch that options the highest two groups within the league that took over two months to be performed. Additionally, a few of the finest matchups this week are nationally televised video games. Thats what the WNBAs playoff push deserves.
(Tuesday July 29 at 10 p.m. ET on NBA TV)
The Aces and the Sparks go into Tuesdays matchup having every received a sport of the groups season collection. As of this writing, the Aces are 13-13 and are 1.5 video games up on the 11-14 Sparks. Los Angeles has momentum using a 5 sport profitable streak the place theyve defeated the Solar and the Mystics twice after which defeated the Liberty on a Rickea Jackson buzzer beater on Saturday. Whereas the Sparks have improved particularly offensively, their win streak got here towards groups which can be both unfavourable in internet ranking or within the Libertys case simply got here off taking part in the day earlier than. Whereas the Aces blew out the twelfth place Dallas Wings on Sunday, Las Vegas remains to be on the lookout for consistency. Does Jewell Loyd coming off the bench assist the Aces shifting ahead? Additionally, Tuesday the Sparks will welcome again Cameron Brink, the 2024 No.2 general choose who tore her ACL and meniscus final season and hasnt performed in a sport since.
(Wednesday July 30 at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN)
Theres excellent news and unhealthy information. First the great. After over two months, the second most WNBA followers have been ready for is sort of right here: the primary rematch of the epic 2024 Finals that went 5 video games and into time beyond regulation twice. The unhealthy information is that the New York Liberty will most probably play this sport with out Breanna Stewart, who appeared to pressure her decrease proper leg within the first quarter towards the Sparks. Additionally, the Liberty will most probably be with out Finals Sport 5 hero Nyara Sabally who in line with the New York Posts Madeline Kenney might be out for between two to a few weeks. Whereas the Lynx have battled with much less accidents, they nonetheless wont be utterly wholesome. Theyve missed Karlie Samuelsons taking pictures on the wing ever since she went down with a season ending foot damage. No matter whos in and whos out, theres nonetheless quite a lot of expertise on the ground that may battle it out on Wednesday. However with out Stewart, will probably be arduous to know after this week how these groups match up towards one another in 2025. Some extra excellent news is that each groups will play one another three extra occasions within the month of August.
(Thursday July 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video)
The Valkyries and the Mystics have each been struggling as of late. Each groups received blown out by opponents on Sunday and so they each sit on the backside of the playoff image. As of Monday, Golden State simply trails Washington by half a sport for the ultimate eighth spot, and if the Valkyries nonetheless need to make the postseason, which isnt sure particularly contemplating their All-Star Kayla Thornton is out for the season, this is a vital sport for them to win. With a win on Thursday night time, the Valkyries would maintain the benefit within the season collection towards the Mystics, though these two groups play one another two extra occasions earlier than the tip of August.
(Friday August 1 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ION)
When these two groups confronted off on July 23, Brittney Griners return to Phoenix was sprinkled with some aggressive juice along with some real emotion. She needed to indicate out and defeat the franchise that needed to go in a distinct path after she performed for the Mercury for over a decade. Griner succeeded at each duties. She had 18 factors and eight rebounds in her Goals 90-79 win over the Mercury. I anticipate Griner to need to present out as soon as once more when the Mercury face the Dream in Atlanta on Friday. However apart from the delight related right here, there are playoff implications too. The Mercury are only a sport above the Dream within the standings as of Monday, and if the Dream defeat the Mercury once more on Friday night time, Atlanta may clinch the season collection, a helpful seeding benefit if the 2 groups find yourself with the identical file on the finish of the season.
(Sunday August 3 at 3:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+)
The Fever and the Storm are inverses of each other. The Fever have the third finest offense within the league, however inconsistency on the defensive finish of the ball has led to being sixth within the standings. The Storm, nonetheless, have the second finest protection and ninth ranked offense. Seattle scored 58 factors towards the Mystics who’ve a mediocre protection, ranked seventh finest within the league. The Storms offense stays so inconsistent. As of Monday the fifth place Storm have a one sport edge over the Fever within the standings. The Fever have the sting in season collection, and in the event that they defeat the Storm once more on Sunday, Indiana may have the seeding benefit if these two groups additionally find yourself tied on the final day of the season.
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