WNBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 5/19

May 19th 2024J.J. Calle

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

  • Nneka Ogwumike (ankle) — Out

  • Brittney Sykes (ankle) — Out

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__WNBA for notifications.

Seattle Storm News

Confirmed Lineup: Skylar Diggins-Smith, Jewell Loyd, Victoria Vivians, Ezi Magbegor, Mercedes Russell

  • Nneka Ogwumike (ankle) — Out

  • Nika Muhl (pending visa approval) — Out

The Storm rank last in the league with an 84.0 Offensive Rating after consecutive losses to the Lynx. They can correct course against a Mystics team that should be without two starters. Diggins-Smith continues to find her footing after missing last season, but she has a team-worst -26 plus/minus. Jewell Loyd hasn’t been any better, converting seven-of-40 field goal attempts.

Ogwumike missed the final two minutes of Friday’s double-overtime loss after tweaking her ankle. Afterward, she said she felt fine. Her usage rate has suffered the most among the trio of Loyd, Diggins-Smith, and Ogwumike, and it currently stands at 20.2% -- the lowest mark since her rookie season.

Washington Mystics News

Confirmed Lineup: Julie Vanloo, Ariel Atkins, Karlie Samuelson, Aaliyah Edwards, Stefanie Dolson

  • Shakira Austin (injury management) — Out

  • Brittney Sykes (ankle) — Out

The Mystics will likely be down two starters and their highest usage leaders as Sykes was helped off the court in the first quarter of the previous game and Austin underwent offseason surgery for a torn hip labrum that requires maintenance. Atkins and Vanloo will handle playmaking duties.