WNBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 8/17

Aug 17th 2024Cooper Boni

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

  • Shakira Austin (hip) — In

  • Chennedy Carter (illness) — Available to play

  • Odyssey Sims (signed) — TBD

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__WNBA for notifications.

Minnesota Lynx News

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

Collier missed the final few outings leading up to the Olympic break but ultimately played for the US national team in Paris. She then started in Minnesota's first game back and didn't miss a beat, posting a team-high 17 points and 12 rebounds en route to a win versus the Mystics. Collier received 30 minutes in that outing and appeared to be fully healthy. The Lynx will face the Mystics for the second straight game, this time in Washington.

Washington Mystics News

Confirmed Lineup: Brittney Sykes, Ariel Atkins, Karlie Samuelson, Shakira Austin, Stefanie Dolson

  • Shakira Austin (hip) — In

  • DiDi Richards (Achilles) — Injured

New York Liberty News

Confirmed Lineup: Courtney Vandersloot, Sabrina Ionescu, Leonie Fiebich, Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones

  • Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (knee) — Injured

Las Vegas Aces News

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

The Aces will face the Liberty in a matchup between two of the league's premier teams. Las Vegas lost by eight in its only other meeting with New York this season, but Gray did not play in that contest. Now, Gray is back, and the Liberty will be without one of their best defenders in Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. Las Vegas (107.1) and New York (108.0) lead the league in Offensive Rating, and both teams have two players that rank top-10 in points per game.

Chicago Sky News

Confirmed Lineup: Lindsay Allen, Rachel Banham, Michaela Onyenwere, Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso

  • Chennedy Carter (illness) — Available to play

  • Elizabeth Williams (knee) — Out for season

In their first outing since the Olympic break, the Sky lost in blowout fashion at home. They scored just 65 points in the process, their second-lowest scoring output in any contest this season. The game may have been more competitive if Carter was available, but still, the Sky will need a player or two to step up offensively moving forward with Marina Mabrey no longer on the roster. Chicago has a good opportunity to bounce back against the Sparks, who were beaten by 35 points in their first game post-break and have the league's third-worst Defensive Rating (106.2).

Los Angeles Sparks News

Confirmed Lineup: Crystal Dangerfield, Kia Nurse, Rickea Jackson, Azurá Stevens, Dearica Hamby

  • Odyssey Sims (signed) — TBD

  • Stephanie Talbot (foot) — Not on injury report

  • Aari McDonald (foot) — Out

  • Layshia Clarendon — Out

  • Lexie Brown (illness) — Out

  • Cameron Brink (knee) — Out for season