WNBA News, Notes & Lineups 8/4

Aug 4th 2023

Cooper BoniJohn Raudebaugh

Connecticut Sun at Indiana Fever, 7pm ET

Sun Injury Report: TBD

Sun Confirmed Lineup: Natisha Hiedeman, Tiffany Hayes, Rebecca Allen, DeWanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas

Fever Injury Report: Victoria Vivians (illness) is AVAILABLE. NaLyssa Smith (foot) is OUT.

Fever Confirmed Lineup: Erica Wheeler, Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull, Emma Cannon, Aliyah Boston

The Sun have won four of their last five games as their defense has been the driving force behind their success. During that span, teams have scored a league-low 77.6 points per game against them, and their 96.0 defensive rating has been the league's best. Those numbers don't bode well for the Fever, who have averaged a league-low 72.6 points per game over their last five games. Aliyah Boston has struggled in the absence of NaLyssa Smith as she's averaged just 11.6 points per game over those seven contests.

Los Angeles Sparks at Washington Mystics, 7pm ET

Sparks Injury Report: Lexie Brown (illness), Chiney Ogwumike (foot), Nia Clouden (knee) are OUT.

Sparks Confirmed Lineup: Jordin Canada, Layshia Clarendon, Karlie Samuelson, Nneka Ogwumike, Azurá Stevens

Mystics Injury Report: Elena Delle Donne (ankle), Shakira Austin (hip), Ariel Atkins (ankle), Kristi Toliver (foot) are OUT.

Mystics Confirmed Lineup: Natasha Cloud, Brittney Sykes, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Myisha Hines-Allen, Tianna Hawkins

Los Angeles has struggled offensively as they rank bottom two in points per game (78.2), field goal percentage (42.1%), and three-point percentage (31.2%). Luckily, they're facing a Mystics team that has struggled defensively since much of their core went down. Over the last 10 games, Washington's 106.4 defensive rating has been the league's third-worst, and they've given up the second-most points per game of any team. Brittney Sykes' 28.1% usage rate over that span has led the Mystics and has been the third-highest of any player in the league.

Chicago Sky at Dallas Wings, 8pm ET

Sky Injury Report: Isabelle Harrison (knee), Rebekah Gardner (foot), Sika Koné (overseas) are OUT.

Sky Confirmed Lineup: Marina Mabrey, Courtney Williams, Kahleah Copper, Alanna Smith, Elizabeth Williams

Wings Injury Report: Crystal Dangerfield (rib) is AVAILABLE. Awak Kuier (ankle), Diamond DeShields (knee), Lou Lopez Senechal (knee) are OUT.

Wings Confirmed Lineup: Crystal Dangerfield, Arike Ogunbowale, Satou Sabally, Natasha Howard, Teaira McCowan

These two teams play very different brands of basketball. The Sky's 95.47 pace is the third slowest in the league, while the Wings' 98.40 pace ranks top three. There's also a noticeable differential in free throw attempts as Chicago averages a league-low 16.6 per game, while Dallas is top five in that category. Arike Ogunbowale and Satou Sabally are combining for 8.8 free throw attempts per game on the season.

New York Liberty at Minnesota Lynx, 8pm ET

Liberty Injury Report: Stefanie Dolson (ankle), Han Xu (overseas) are OUT.

Liberty Confirmed Lineup: Courtney Vandersloot, Sabrina Ionescu, Betnijah Laney, Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones

Lynx Injury Report: Napheesa Collier (ankle) is AVAILABLE. Dorka Juhász (hamstring), Rachel Banham (thumb), Natalie Achonwa (maternity leave) are OUT.

Lynx Confirmed Lineup: Lindsay Allen, Kayla McBride, Diamond Miller, Napheesa Collier, Jessica Shepard

The Liberty match up well against the Lynx. New York's 37.4% three-point percentage is the league's second-best, while teams have converted 35.0% of their threes against Minnesota. However, the Lynx have defended better recently as their opponents have converted a league-low 27.7% of their three-pointers over the last five games. Kayla McBride has played better over that span, averaging 17.0 points per game on 53.7% shooting.