WNBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 6/27

Jun 27th 2024Ryan 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

  • Diamond Miller (knee) — No longer on injury report

  • Aaliyah Edwards (back) — Out

  • Alyssa Thomas (ankle) — Available

  • Temi Fagbenle (foot) — Available

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__WNBA for notifications.

Minnesota Lynx News

Confirmed Lineup: Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride, Bridget Carleton, Napheesa Collier, Alanna Smith

  • Diamond Miller (knee) — No longer on injury report

The Lynx won the 2024 Commissioner's Cup on Monday with a 94-89 win over the Liberty at UBS Arena. Collier was named MVP with a 21-point, six-rebound box score, but Carleton had a strong game as well, leading the team with 23 points while going 6-8 from three-point range. The six threes tied Kelsey Plum for the Commissioner's Cup final record. At 13-3, Minnesota is one of three teams tied atop the league standings in the loss column, although they are ostensibly one game behind the 15-3 Liberty for the number one seed.

Dallas Wings News

Confirmed Lineup: Sevgi Uzun, Jacy Sheldon, Arike Ogunbowale, Natasha Howard, Teaira McCowan

  • Odyssey Sims (signed) — TBD

  • Satou Sabally (shoulder) — Injured

  • Jaelyn Brown (illness) — Injured

  • Maddy Siegrist (finger) — Injured

Connecticut Sun News

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

  • Alyssa Thomas (ankle) — Available

  • Moriah Jefferson (ankle) — Injured

The Sun have dropped two games in a row after their stellar 13-1 start and will look to get back on track against the struggling Mystics. Connecticut has fallen behind Minnesota in defensive rating (91.9) and also now ranks third in the league in net rating (9.8). Since June 1, the Sun (8.2 net rating) have been significantly behind both the Liberty (15.8) and Lynx (15.2) in that category.

Washington Mystics News

Confirmed Lineup: Julie Vanloo, Ariel Atkins, Myisha Hines-Allen, Didi Richards, Stefanie Dolson

  • Aaliyah Edwards (back) — Out

  • Shakira Austin (hip) — Injured

  • Brittney Sykes (foot) — Injured

  • Karlie Samuelson (hand) — Injured

The injury woes for the Mystics got worse on Wednesday with the news that Samuelson had fractured her hand at the end of Washington's previous game. She and Sykes are expected to be out until the Olympic break, which begins right after the All-Star break on July 19. The team will return to action from the Olympic break on August 15, giving both close to two months to recover. On the bright side, Edwards fully practiced Tuesday after missing the last two games.

Las Vegas Aces News

Confirmed Lineup: Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, A'ja Wilson, Kiah Stokes

  • Kierstan Bell (leg) — Injured

With just under a week off since their last game, perhaps Thursday's outing is a chance for Gray to make her first start of the season. She's played two games off the bench since returning from a leg injury, recording 16 and 17 minutes, respectively. Both contests were 11-point wins over top-four teams in Seattle and Connecticut.

Chicago Sky News

Confirmed Lineup: Lindsay Allen, Marina Mabrey, Chennedy Carter, Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso

  • Diamond DeShields (ankle) — Probable

  • Elizabeth Williams (knee) — Out for season

Indiana Fever News

Confirmed Lineup: Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, Kristy Wallace, NaLyssa Smith, Aliyah Boston

  • Temi Fagbenle (foot) — Available

  • Damiris Dantas (knee) — Not on injury report

The Fever got a double dose of good injury news on Wednesday with Dantas not being listed on the injury report and Fagbenle being upgraded to questionable. Dantas has healed from an MCL injury suffered approximately four months ago. A nine-year WNBA veteran, she could make her first appearance for the Fever in Seattle on Thursday. Dantas' best season came in 2020 with the Lynx when she averaged 12.9 points and 6.1 rebounds in 22 games (all starts).

Meanwhile, Fagbenle was in the midst of a breakout before suffering her injury, as she started her final two appearances in late May. In her last five games prior to being hurt, she averaged 11.0 points and 7.4 rebounds in 27.6 minutes per outing.

After practice on Wednesday, coach Sides said wasn't sure how the minutes would be split between Fagbenle and Dantas when both were ready to go, but they both figure to play alongside Aliyah Boston and NaLyssa Smith in what could be a crowded and potent frontcourt when everybody is healthy.

Seattle Storm News

Confirmed Lineup: Skylar Diggins-Smith, Jewell Loyd, Jordan Horston, Nneka Ogwumike, Ezi Magbegor