WNBA News & Fantasy Basketball Notes 8/20

Aug 20th 2024J.J. Calle

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

  • Sabrina Ionescu (neck) — Out

  • Shakira Austin (hip) — In

  • Gabby Williams (signed) — Out

  • Layshia Clarendon — TBD

Follow us on Twitter at @Underdog__WNBA for notifications.

Los Angeles Sparks News

Confirmed Lineup: Crystal Dangerfield, Stephanie Talbot, Rickea Jackson, Dearica Hamby, Azurá Stevens

  • Layshia Clarendon — TBD

  • Lexie Brown (illness) — Out

  • Aari McDonald (foot) — Injured

  • Cameron Brink (knee) — Out for season

Odyssey Sims went from averaging 17.2 points per game with the Wings to scoring five total points off the bench in her first two games with the Sparks. Despite the reduced role, she has led the team with a 22.7% usage rate. The Sparks have posted a deplorable 91.3 Offensive Rating coming out of the Olympic break, and they are currently 13.5-point underdogs.

Connecticut Sun News

Confirmed Lineup: Tyasha Harris, DiJonai Carrington, Marina Mabrey, Alyssa Thomas, Brionna Jones

  • Tiffany Mitchell (illness) — TBD

Dallas Wings News

Confirmed Lineup: Jacy Sheldon, Arike Ogunbowale, Satou Sabally, Natasha Howard, Teaira McCowan

  • Maddy Siegrist (finger) — Said she'll play

The Wings will be at full health for the first time this season once Siegrist is cleared to play. In Sabally's season debut after the Olympic break, she missed a triple-double by two rebounds and three assists. The offensive distribution resulted in 12 shot attempts for Ogunbowale, who led the league with 20.1 field goal attempts per game before the break.

New York Liberty News

Confirmed Lineup: Courtney Vandersloot, Leonie Fiebich, Kayla Thornton, Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones

  • Sabrina Ionescu (neck) — Out

  • Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (knee) — Injured

Seattle Storm News

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

  • Gabby Williams (signed) — Out

Washington Mystics News

Confirmed Lineup: Brittney Sykes, Ariel Atkins, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Shakira Austin, Stefanie Dolson

  • Shakira Austin (hip) — In

  • Sika Koné (acquired) — Out

  • Sug Sutton (acquired) — Out

  • Karlie Samuelson (knee) — Out

  • DiDi Richards (Achilles) — Injured

Despite being limited to eight games due to an ongoing hip issue, Austin ranks third in the league with a 28.9% usage rate and second with a 17.1% rebound rate. She's been limited to 20 minutes in each game after the Olympic break. Austin and Sykes have played 48 total minutes together across four games, but that pairing has generated a significant +8.0 Net Rating.