With simply two weeks left till the Olympic break, WNBA motion isn’t slowing down. Final week noticed Caitlin Clark notch her first triple-double, and this week the league’s high two groups will battle for the second time this season. In the meantime, accidents are beginning to take a toll on groups throughout the standings.
Right here’s what it’s good to know:
Caitlin Clark makes historical past, however Alyssa Thomas holds final file
Clark could have been the primary rookie to file a triple-double, however she’s not the primary participant to do it this season. Alyssa Thomas, who additionally holds the profession file for triple-doubles, has two, and Layshia Clarendon recorded one for the Sparks, bringing the entire for the season to 4.
Clark’s triple-double got here at an opportune time for the Fever as they work their means up the standings. The Fever have overwhelmed groups within the backside of the standings: the Sparks, Sky, Mystics and Dream, all of whom have under .500 data. However within the final two weeks, Indiana has additionally notched wins towards the Mercury and the Liberty. The Mercury are in sixth place with an 11-10 file, and the Liberty are first within the league at 17-4.
Caitlin Clark and Alyssa Thomas are within the triple-double membership. (Picture by Emilee Chinn/Getty Photos)
Clark helped the Fever to high the league’s greatest squad, because of her record-setting triple-double. She completed with 19 factors, 13 assists and 12 rebounds to steer the Fever to their greatest win of the season. Clark practically reached the historic feat towards the Mystics as nicely, when she recorded 15 factors, 12 assists and 9 rebounds in Indiana’s 88-82 victory on June 30.
Clark is the sixteenth participant in WNBA historical past to notch a triple-double. Sheryl Swoopes recorded the primary on July 27, 1999, with 14 factors, 15 rebounds and 10 assists when she performed for the Houston Comets. She bought a second in 2005. Margo Dydek, Lisa Leslie, Deanna Nolan, Tameka Johnson, Moriah Jefferson, Courtney Williams, Satou Sabally, Sug Sutton and Clarendon every have one triple-double, whereas Courtney Vandersloot and Chelsea Grey every have two. Sabrina Ionescu and Candace Parker have three every to tie for the No. 2 spot, however Thomas is way forward of anybody else, with 13 triple-doubles.
Thomas’ first triple-double got here on July 22, 2022, when she recorded 15 factors, 12 steals and 10 rebounds in a 94-84 win over the Lynx. She added three extra in 2022 — together with two within the playoffs — and 7 in 2023 to get her whole to 11. This season, Thomas bought a triple-double in a win towards the Fever on Could 14 with 12 factors, 13 assists and 10 rebounds. She bought her second of the season on July 4 with 13 factors, 14 assists and 10 rebounds in a 78-73 win over the Lynx.
Clarendon’s 2024 triple-double got here in L.A.’s first sport of the season when it fell to Atlanta 92-81. Clarendon had 11 factors, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, doing so with out committing a turnover.
Playoff race: Liberty on high, with Dream, Sparks, Mystics, Wings on the skin
If the WNBA season ended at this time, the New York Liberty would declare the No. 1 seed, because of a 17-4 file and a tie-breaking win over the Connecticut Solar, who’re additionally 17-4. The 2 play once more Wednesday, when a win from the Solar may put them atop the standings. Or, one other Liberty victory may assist New York create separation.
The Lynx are third within the standings with a 15-6 file, adopted carefully by the 14-7 Storm and 13-7 Aces. The Mercury are the one different staff above .500, with an 11-10 file, whereas the Fever (9-13) and the Sky (8-12) at present have the ultimate two postseason bids.
Accidents plaguing league’s greatest and worst groups
Because the playoff race heats up, accidents may play a component.
On the backside of the standings, the Mystics and the Wings have been stricken by accidents. In Washington’s loss to the Lynx on Saturday, 4 key gamers had been out on account of harm or sickness. Shakira Austin missed her sixteenth sport of the season with a hip harm, whereas Karlie Samuelson (left hand) and Brittney Sykes (left foot) had been additionally out. Emily Engstler didn’t play on account of sickness.
In the meantime, the Wings are nonetheless with out Maddy Siegrist, who’s out with a damaged finger, and Satou Sabally, who has but to play on account of shoulder surgical procedure in February. She is anticipated to be again after the Olympic break, whereas Siegrist is out indefinitely. One vibrant spot for the 5-17 Wings is the play of Odyssey Sims, who was signed to a hardship contract. In six appearances this season, she is averaging 14.8 factors, 5.3 assists and a pair of.2 steals per sport.
The third-place Lynx are additionally coping with what might be a season-changing harm. Their 15-6 file is in jeopardy after Napheesa Collier left her staff’s July 4 loss to the Solar with plantar fasciitis in her left foot. Collier is out indefinitely. She’s at present one of many leaders within the MVP award race and can be slated to compete with Staff USA within the Olympics, if she will.
