WNBA Player News

After logging just over 14 minutes per game with the Sparks in 2024, Li has played even less in her first season in Seattle. The 6-foot-7 center is averaging 9.1 minutes in eight appearances, most recently playing six minutes in Tuesday’s win over the Wings. Interestingly, the draft pick sent to Seattle along with Li as part of the six-team deal headlined by Jewell Loyd and Kelsey Plum would be used to select Dominique Malonga in April’s draft. Unfortunately for the third-year WNBA veteran from China, there does not appear to be a clear path to additional playing time in Seattle, especially with Malonga, Nneka Ogwumike and Ezi Magbegor also in the frontcourt rotation.

After a slow start to the season, Austin has scored nine points or more in four straight and five of her last six appearances. While she did not have her best day shooting the basketball, the fourth-year center/forward was effective as a rebounder and shot blocker. Austin can unquestionably provide value off the bench, but her fantasy ceiling is capped due to that role. Stefanie Dolson (three points, one rebound and one three-pointer in 19 minutes) remains the starter, likely due to her ability to provide offensive spacing as a capable shooter. Austin is worth having in deeper leagues, but managers in standard formats should only have her on their watch lists.

The Mystics shot 29.5 percent from the field in Sunday’s 89-56 loss, with Sykes making just two of her 10 attempts. While the veteran guard has scored at least 20 points in four of her last six appearances, the two exceptions have been notable. In Washington’s June 5 loss to the Liberty, Sykes scored seven points on 2-of-9 shooting. With the Mystics rebuilding, the team does not have much margin for error, meaning they need a high-scoring Sykes when playing against the WNBA’s best teams.

Citron and the Mystics had a tough day at the office, as they were on the wrong end of an 89-56 beating. And three-point shooting was the deciding factor. Washington shot 3-of-17 from beyond the arc, with Citron missing all three of her attempts, while Atlanta was 18-of-42. Sunday’s effort should not put a damper on Citron’s start to the season, as she has been one of the WNBA’s best rookies thus far. She’s scored in double figures in all 11 of Washington’s games, providing consistent value in her role as a starter.

Canada did not provide much scoring in Sunday’s 89-56 victory, but she did offer solid value in the rebound and steals categories. Atlanta is now 3-1 since getting its starting point guard back from a knee injury, and they’ve won three in a row. While Canada may not be a significant scoring threat, the steadiness she brings offensively and the point-of-attack defense make her a valuable piece for the Dream. With Sunday’s victory, the Dream can finish atop the East standings in the Commissioner’s Cup with a win over New York on Tuesday. Atlanta holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over Indiana.

Paopao had the first breakout performance of her rookie campaign on Sunday, shooting 75 percent from the field and providing 16 points off the bench. She was responsible for four of Atlanta’s 18 three-pointers on the day, with the Dream establishing a new franchise record. Since scoring 11 points in a May 22 loss to the Fever, Paopao totaled 14 points in her six appearances since. Sunday’s performance should serve as a confidence booster for the rookie guard, who did not surpass 10 minutes in any of those six games. Paopao played 17 minutes on Sunday, due partially to the game getting out of hand early.

After going off for a season-high 36 points in Friday’s win over the Sky, Howard cooled off a bit on Sunday. However, it did not matter much to the Dream, as Allisha Gray went off for 32 and the team hit a franchise-record 18 three-pointers. Since scoring three points on 1-of-8 shooting in a June 10 win over the Fever, Howard has scored 50 points, her second-most productive two-game stretch of the season. Needing a win over the Liberty on Tuesday to clinch the top spot in the East for the Commissioner’s Cup, as Atlanta holds the head-to-head tiebreaker with Indiana, Howard has to be more productive than she was against the Mystics.

Gray put on a show during the first half of Sunday’s 89-56 Commissioner’s Cup victory, shooting 6-of-9 from the field with five three-pointers. The veteran guard finished with a career-high 32 points, and Gray’s top three offensive outputs have all occurred this season. With Atlanta playing a more open offensive style under first-year head coach Karl Smesko, Gray is off to the most productive start of her WNBA career. And with the Dream’s margin of victory, they’re in position to clinch the top spot in the East with a win over Liberty on Tuesday.

Allen made her season debut Sunday afternoon, serving as Bria Hartley’s backup. Due to the amount of time missed, Allen’s lack of production and playing time aren’t surprising. Hartley played 27 minutes on Sunday, finishing with six points, three rebounds, five assists and two steals. Given how busy the Sun will be next week, as they play four games, Allen’s playing time may not increase much as she works her way back from Achilles and hamstring injuries.

While Nelson-Ododa struggled with her shot on Sunday, the rebounding and defensive stats were there for the fourth-year center. Matching her season-high in rebounds, ONO also recorded a blocked shot for the first time since Connecticut’s May 30 win over the Fever. Nelson-Ododa does not offer much value as a scorer, but the rebounding and steals (eight over her last five appearances) make her worth a look in deeper fantasy leagues for managers needing those stats. Also, the Sun will play four games next week, starting with Indiana on Tuesday.

Charles was at her best during the first and third quarters of Sunday’s game, shooting 7-of-16 from the field in those frames. However, the veteran center missed both of her shot attempts during the fourth quarter as Chicago pulled away to hand Connecticut its eighth defeat of the season. Charles has scored at least 17 points in three consecutive games, shooting 46 percent from the field. The upcoming week will be a good one to have her rostered, as the Sun play four games, beginning with the Fever on Tuesday.