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 DeShields (illness) — In
Nneka Ogwumike (eye) — Out
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Confirmed Lineup: Julie Vanloo, Ariel Atkins, Karlie Samuelson, Aaliyah Edwards, Stefanie Dolson
Brittney Sykes (ankle) — Out
Shakira Austin (hip) — Out
The Mystics are traveling to face the Sun in a battle between the league's lone winless team and its lone undefeated team. This will be the first time in WNBA history that an 0-8 team or worse has faced an 8-0 team or better.
Washington has tied its franchise-worst stretch to open the season as the team was also 0-8 to begin the 2007 campaign. The Mystics are still a long way away from the worst stretch to start a season by any team; the Atlanta Dream began 2008 with an 0-17 start en route to a 4-30 finish.
Confirmed Lineup: Tyasha Harris, DiJonai Carrington, DeWanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas, Brionna Jones
Moriah Jefferson (ankle) — Out
A stark contrast from the Mystics, the Sun are off to a franchise-record 8-0 start. It's the seventh best start in WNBA history; the other six to do this all made the Finals:
The Sun have the league's most stifling defense at the moment, leading the WNBA in Defensive Rating (89.1) as well as Net Rating (13.3). As dominant as Connecticut has been to open the season, they still have room to grow on the offensive end. The Sun rank eighth in the league in both effective field goal percentage (47.2%) and true shooting percentage (52.2%).
Confirmed Lineup: Courtney Vandersloot, Sabrina Ionescu, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones
Nyara Sabally (back) — Out
Only barely outshined by their Northern neighbors from Connecticut, the Liberty are also off to a sterling 7-2 start after stomping the Fever by 36 on Sunday. New York hit 100 points for the second time on the year; only the Storm have also hit the century mark twice. The Liberty are the league's leader in Offensive Rating by over two points with a 106.9 mark.
Confirmed Lineup: Dana Evans, Marina Mabrey, Diamond DeShields, Angel Reese, Elizabeth Williams
Diamond DeShields (illness) — In
Kamilla Cardoso's WNBA debut on Saturday could only be described as a success after she recorded 11 points and six rebounds in 18 minutes. Even though she was on a minutes restriction, coach Weatherspoon played her in the closing lineup during a narrow loss to the Fever, a possible sign of things to come as she continues to ramp up after suffering a shoulder injury in preseason.
Confirmed Lineup: Natasha Cloud, Diana Taurasi, Kahleah Copper, Sophie Cunningham, Natasha Mack
Rebecca Allen (concussion protocol) — Out
Brittney Griner (toe) — Injured
Confirmed Lineup: Skylar Diggins-Smith, Jewell Loyd, Victoria Vivians, Ezi Magbegor, Mercedes Russell
Nneka Ogwumike (eye) — Out
Joyner Holmes (signed) — TBD
After clearing a roster spot by waiving Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, the Storm filled it by signing Holmes to a rest-of-season contract on Monday. Holmes has played for five different WNBA teams in her career but is returning to her team from the latter portion of last season, as she played 29 games with the Storm in 2023 (two starts), averaging 3.2 points in 10.2 minutes per outing in Seattle.