WNBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 5/20

May 20th 2024

Ryan Schwepfinger

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

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__WNBA for notifications.

Connecticut Sun News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyasha Harris, DiJonai Carrington, DeWanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas, Brionna Jones

  • Rachel Banham (concussion) — Out

Indiana Fever News

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

  • Damiris Dantas (knee) — Injured

While the Fever are off to an 0-3 start, there is reason for optimism in that Clark had her best game as a professional on Saturday at New York, registering 22 points, eight assists, and six rebounds. Turnovers were once again an issue for the heralded rookie, however, as she recorded eight against the Liberty. Indiana was bolstered by the return of Mitchell to the starting lineup after she came off the bench in the team's first two games.

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 are playing the first back-to-back of any team in this young WNBA season, having defeated the Mystics by a final score of 84-75 on Sunday. They did so without Ogwumike, as Mercedes Russell made her first start of the season in her place, totaling eight points and five rebounds in 30 minutes. Ogwumike has been fantastic in her first two games to open the season, averaging 22.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 3.5 steals in 36.5 minutes per outing. It would be a huge boost for the Storm if she were able to return on Monday.

New York Liberty News

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

The Liberty have been perhaps the league's most impressive team to open the 2024 season. Off to a 3-0 start, New York leads the WNBA in offensive rating (112.6), net rating (21.8), rebound percentage (53.4%), and true shooting percentage (59.5%).

On the individual side, after a slow opener, Stewart has really turned it on over New York's last two contests, averaging 27.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 steals, and 2.5 blocks per outing over that span.