WNBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 5/18

May 18th 2024Cooper Boni

Each day, this column will provide live updates for all WNBA news. Enjoy up-to-the-minute alerts for injuries and lineup confirmations. The Key News to Watch section will highlight notable injuries to monitor for the current WNBA slate.

Key WNBA News to Watch

  • Rebecca Allen (back) — Available

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__WNBA for notifications.

Indiana Fever News

Confirmed Lineup: Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, Katie Lou Samuelson, NaLyssa Smith, Aliyah Boston

  • Damiris Dantas (knee) — Out

Through two games, Clark is shooting 30.4% from the field and 27.8% from beyond the arc. She went two-of-eight from the field and one-of-seven from deep in a blowout loss to the Liberty on Thursday. Mitchell has played off the bench to start the season as she's been nursing an ankle injury, but she should be reinserted into the starting lineup soon. Indiana will face New York for the second consecutive game and must slow Breanna Stewart down after her 31-point performance in the previous outing.

New York Liberty News

Confirmed Lineup: Courtney Vandersloot, Sabrina Ionescu, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones

Los Angeles Sparks News

Confirmed Lineup: Lexie Brown, Layshia Clarendon, Kia Nurse, Dearica Hamby, Cameron Brink

  • Rae Burrell (illness) — Out

  • Azurá Stevens (arm) — Injured

Las Vegas Aces News

Confirmed Lineup: Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Alysha Clark, A'ja Wilson, Kiah Stokes

  • Chelsea Gray (leg) — Out

Despite Gray being sidelined, Las Vegas beat Phoenix in the regular-season opener. Wilson dominated the game, posting 30 points and 13 rebounds. Clark started for Gray in that contest and provided 34 valuable minutes. She will likely start again, with Megan Gustafson and Sydney Colson getting most of the available reserve minutes. The Aces will face the Sparks, who are starting the 2024 campaign without Azura Stevens (arm), so Wilson should see a lot of ex-teammate Dearica Hamby and rookie Cameron Brink.

Chicago Sky News

Confirmed Lineup: Dana Evans, Marina Mabrey, Diamond DeShields, Angel Reese, Elizabeth Williams

  • Isabelle Harrison (knee) — Out

  • Kamilla Cardoso (shoulder) — Injured

Reese started in her first career regular-season game and performed well, recording 12 points and eight rebounds in a loss to the Wings. With Harrison sidelined again, Reese should continue to see plenty of time in the frontcourt. Harrison missed the 2023 season after undergoing meniscus surgery and it's unclear when she will make her 2024 season debut. For the second consecutive game, Chicago will face Dallas, who are also dealing with multiple injuries early in the year.

Dallas Wings News

Confirmed Lineup: Sevgi Uzun, Arike Ogunbowale, Maddy Siegrist, Stephanie Soares, Teaira McCowan

  • Satou Sabally (shoulder) — Injured

  • Natasha Howard (foot) — Injured

  • Jaelyn Brown (nose) — Injured

With Howard out for the next three to six weeks and Sabally sidelined, Ogunbowale should garner increased usage. In the first game of the season, Ogunbowale scored a game-high 25 points while leading the Wings to a win. Siegrist will likely have a heightened role until Dallas gets healthier, and she started strong, recording 13 points, five rebounds, and three blocks off the bench in the opening contest. Uzun got the start to open the new campaign and figures to be the answer at point guard for the moment, as Jacy Sheldon received just nine minutes on Wednesday.

Atlanta Dream News

Confirmed Lineup: Haley Jones, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, Tina Charles

  • Lorela Cubaj (temporary contract suspension) — Out

  • Jordin Canada (hand) — Injured

Phoenix Mercury News

Confirmed Lineup: Natasha Cloud, Diana Taurasi, Kahleah Copper, Rebecca Allen, Natasha Mack

  • Rebecca Allen (back) — Available

  • Brittney Griner (toe) — Injured