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
Napheesa Collier (foot) — Out
Stefanie Dolson (illness) — In
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Confirmed Lineup: Courtney Vandersloot, Sabrina Ionescu, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones
Nyara Sabally (back) — Questionable
Jaylyn Sherrod (signed) — TBD
Confirmed Lineup: Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, Katie Lou Samuelson, NaLyssa Smith, Aliyah Boston
Temi Fagbenle (thumb) — Out
Confirmed Lineup: Julie Vanloo, Ariel Atkins, DiDi Richards, Myisha Hines-Allen, Stefanie Dolson
Stefanie Dolson (illness) — In
Emily Engstler (illness) — Out
Shakira Austin (hip) — Injured
Brittney Sykes (foot) — Injured
Karlie Samuelson (hand) — Injured
The Mystics have gone 5-4 after starting the season on a 12-game losing streak. The only game in which they were uncompetitive over the last month was Thursday's loss without Dolson. They’ve had Sykes for one game in that span, Samuelson has been sidelined four straight, and Austin hasn’t played since the end of May.
They will be at a disadvantage if Dolson remains sidelined as they allowed 46 points in the paint without her in the last contest. Additionally, the Mystics have a deplorable -9.9 Net Rating on the road, down from -0.4 in home games. The Mystics and Lynx are the top two teams in assist rate regardless of location, and the Mystics’ usage has been mostly flat despite the key personnel losses.
Confirmed Lineup: Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride, Bridget Carleton, Dorka Juhász, Alanna Smith
Napheesa Collier (foot) — Out
Olivia Epoupa (thigh) — Out
The Lynx have lost three of four games since winning the Commissioner's Cup, and now they will likely be without Collier, who leads the team with a 26.9% usage rate, ranks sixth in the league with 20.0 points per game, and ranks fourth overall with 10.2 rebounds per game. When Collier has been off the court, the Lynx have recorded a team-worst -3.6 Net Rating.
Juhász and Diamond Miller project to handle most of Collier’s minutes. Since Carleton replaced Miller in the starting lineup four games into the season due to injury, Carleton has ranked second in accuracy (48.0%) among those who have attempted at least 3.0 three-point attempts per game. In the same timeframe, the Lynx have converted a league-high 40.6% of their threes while limiting opponents to a league-low 28.4% from deep.