WNBA News, Notes & Lineups 9/19

Sep 19th 2023

Cooper BoniJohn Raudebaugh

Washington Mystics at New York Liberty, 7pm ET

Mystics Injury Report: Shakira Austin (hip), Kristi Toliver (knee) are OUT.

Mystics Confirmed Lineup: Natasha Cloud, Ariel Atkins, Brittney Sykes, Elena Delle Donne, Myisha Hines-Allen

Liberty Injury Report: Han Xu (overseas commitment) is OUT.

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

The Liberty pulled out a win in Game 1 despite a pedestrian performance from Breanna Stewart, who scored 10 points on 18.7% shooting. Sabrina Ionescu will look to stay hot from beyond the arc after draining seven three-pointers in that outing. The Mystics will need more from Natasha Cloud, who recorded four points in 32 minutes. Guards scored the fourth-fewest points per game (44.5) against New York this season. However, Cloud did have a 23-point outing against the Liberty in June.

Atlanta Dream at Dallas Wings, 9pm ET

Dream Injury Report: Nia Coffey (hand) is OUT.

Dream Confirmed Lineup: Danielle Robinson, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Monique Billings, Cheyenne Parker

Wings Injury Report: TBD

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

The Wings must defend Rhyne Howard better in Game 2 after she made eight three-pointers and scored 36 points in Game 1. Her success from deep wasn't shocking considering teams averaged the third-most made threes per game (8.2) against the Wings this season. Howard logged a team-high 32.0% usage rate in 38 minutes and turned the ball over just once. After averaging 13.8 turnovers per game in the regular season, the Wings committed 19 turnovers in Game 1, including five by Satou Sabally.