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
Chennedy Carter (health protocols) — Out
Aari McDonald (foot) — Probable
Alanna Smith (ankle) — Out
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Confirmed Lineup: Skylar Diggins-Smith, Jewell Loyd, Gabby Williams, Nneka Ogwumike, Ezi Magbegor
Mercedes Russell (illness) — Not on injury report
Confirmed Lineup: Tyasha Harris, DiJonai Carrington, DeWanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas, Brionna Jones
Tiffany Mitchell (illness) — TBD
The Sun are playing on the second day of a back-to-back for the second time in a week as they play their fifth game in 10 days.
Thomas didn't return to Saturday's game after suffering a right leg injury in the first quarter, but she was cleared to return during the third quarter. After the game, coach White said:
"She's sore. We're gonna ... get her reevaluated to see how she feels for tomorrow. I know that there's still some concerns. I think probably in a pinch she could've went, but not really something that we wanted to chance."
Thomas has played in 109 consecutive games, and she's done so while battling torn labrums.
Confirmed Lineup: Lindsay Allen, Rachel Banham, Michaela Onyenwere, Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso
Chennedy Carter (health protocols) — Out
Elizabeth Williams (knee) — Out for season
The Sky have lost a league-high five straight and six of seven since trading Marina Mabrey to the Sun. In the four games Carter played in that span, she posted a league-best 33.3% usage rate while Reese has led all players with a 21.6% rebound rate -- up from 18.1% in the first half of the season.
Reese is six rebounds away from breaking the record for most in a season, and she'll have done it in fewer games than everyone else in the top eight in total rebounds in a season. She grabbed 16 rebounds in the first meeting against the Lynx.
Confirmed Lineup: Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride, Bridget Carleton, Napheesa Collier, Dorka Juhász
Alanna Smith (ankle) — Out
Confirmed Lineup: Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull, NaLyssa Smith, Aliyah Boston
Confirmed Lineup: Jacy Sheldon, Arike Ogunbowale, Satou Sabally, Natasha Howard, Teaira McCowan
Stephanie Soares (knee) — Available
Confirmed Lineup: Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Alysha Clark, A'ja Wilson
Of the four Aces who competed in the Olympics, Young was the first to receive a break when she rested during the previous game. The Aces have gone 3-4 since the Olympic break, and coach Hammon has alternated between Kiah Stokes, Megan Gustafson, and Clark in the starting lineup while trying to find the right combination to stimulate a winning formula.
Confirmed Lineup: Natasha Cloud, Diana Taurasi, Kahleah Copper, Monique Billings, Brittney Griner
Rebecca Allen (hamstring) — Injured
Charisma Osborne (leg) — Injured
Confirmed Lineup: Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Naz Hillmon, Tina Charles
Tina Charles (personal) — Not on injury report
Aerial Powers (calf) — Injured
Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (ankle) — Injured
Confirmed Lineup: Odyssey Sims, Stephanie Talbot, Rickea Jackson, Dearica Hamby, Azurá Stevens
Aari McDonald (foot) — Probable
Layshia Clarendon — Out
Lexie Brown (illness) — Out
Cameron Brink (knee) — Out for season
McDonald originally claimed the starting point guard role from Clarendon, who pilfered it from Brown. Crystal Dangerfield has started most of the games after the Olympic break, but Odyssey Sims has led the team with 5.3 assists per game in that timeframe. Dangerfield has helped push the pace (team-high 103.64 with her on the court), but the Sparks have gone winless in Dangerfield's five starts. They've recorded a 3-13 record since Brink suffered a torn ACL.