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WNBA Preview: Commissioner’s Cup 101, Mercury/Lynx lead key matchups for the week

Jackie Powell previews what to expect in the 2025 edition of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Jackie Powell,

Jackie Powell,

WNBA Player News

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Megan McConnell

PHX G #16

13hMegan McConnell (knee) is out for Thursday’s game against the Valkyries.

McConnell suffered a right knee injury during the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s loss to the Lynx, her first appearance for the team after being inked to a rest-of-season contract earlier in the day. While the Mercury have not provided specifics on the severity of the injury or how much time she’ll miss, the rookie guard will not be available on Thursday. Haley Jones should play more minutes off the bench for the shorthanded Mercury, who are down four players due to injury.

Sami Whitcomb

PHX G #33

13hSami Whitcomb (foot) is probable for Thursday’s game against the Valkyries.

Whitcomb is dealing with a right foot injury, hence her appearance on the Mercury injury report. The good news is that she’s considered probable, making it likely that the guard will be in the starting lineup. If Whitcomb cannot play, Lexi Held is the player most likely to fill the void, with Haley Jones also in line for additional minutes.

Alyssa Thomas

PHX F #25

13hAlyssa Thomas (calf) and Natasha Mack (back) are out for Thursday’s game against the Valkyries.

The Mercury are among the teams hit hard by the injury bug recently, with Thomas being the most notable absentee. Thursday’s game will be the fourth she’s missed with a calf injury, and Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said Tuesday that she does not have a timeline for return. As for Mack, she has yet to appear in a game this season. Kitija Laksa will continue to start for Thomas, with Lexi Held and Haley Jones playing rotation minutes off the bench.

Tiffany Hayes

GSV G #15

13hTiffany Hayes (nose) is questionable for Thursday’s game against the Mercury.

After missing multiple games with a nose injury, Hayes returned to the Valkyries’ starting lineup for Sunday’s game against the Lynx. Unfortunately, the veteran guard reinjured her nose during the fourth quarter and did not return. If Hayes cannot play on Thursday, Stephanie Talbot is the most likely replacement in the starting lineup. No Hayes on Thursday would also result in more playing time for Cecilila Zandalasini.

Nyara Sabally

NYL C #8

16hNyara Sabally (knee) is questionable for Thursday’s game against the Mystics.

Sabally is once again listed as questionable on the Liberty’s pregame injury report. However, she has not appeared in a game since May 22, leaving the reigning champs without a legitimate backup center. Without Sabally, the Liberty have been able to go small when starting center Jonquel Jones needs a breather. Also, Isabelle Harrison’s playing time has increased with Sabally out of the lineup, but not enough to impact fantasy basketball.

Marième Badiane

FA C #22

23hLynx waived center Marième Badiane.

After totaling nine minutes in Minnesota’s first two games, Badiane did not appear in another game until May 30, playing two minutes against the Mercury. A member of the French national team, Badiane will represent her nation in this summer’s FIBA EuroBasket. Being waived at this point allows her to go through training camp ahead of the competition.

Li Yueru

SEA C #28

23hAs first reported by iHeart Women’s Sports’ Khristina Williams, Li Yueru has requested to be traded from the Storm.

After logging just over 14 minutes per game with the Sparks in 2024, Li has played even less in her first season in Seattle. The 6-foot-7 center is averaging 9.1 minutes in eight appearances, most recently playing six minutes in Tuesday’s win over the Wings. Interestingly, the draft pick sent to Seattle along with Li as part of the six-team deal headlined by Jewell Loyd and Kelsey Plum would be used to select Dominique Malonga in April’s draft. Unfortunately for the third-year WNBA veteran from China, there does not appear to be a clear path to additional playing time in Seattle, especially with Malonga, Nneka Ogwumike and Ezi Magbegor also in the frontcourt rotation.

Kayla McBride

MIN G #21

1dKayla McBride scored and distributed at a high level in Tuesday’s 88-65 win over the Mercury, posting 13 points (5-of-8 FGs), four rebounds, seven assists, two steals and three three-pointers in 25 minutes of play.

While McBride only got two shots in the first half, that didn’t stop her from making an impact on Tuesday night. Instead, the Lynx’s number two option changed her focus over to playmaking and found Alanna Smith on the wing for wide open threes and Napheesa Collier and Courtney Williams in their spots to score inside the paint. After a quiet scoring half, McBride picked up her aggression in the second half, taking and making a pair of threes from the left corner pocket in the fourth quarter to completely put the game away. McBride scored 11 of her 13 points in the second half.

Alanna Smith

MIN F #8

1dAlanna Smith provided pivotal minutes in Tuesday’s 88-65 win over the Mercury, recording 13 points (5-of-6 FGs, 3-of-4 FTs), three rebounds, six assists, three blocks and three three-pointers in 25 minutes of play.

In seven total games played, Smith has shot 50 percent from deep, which includes drilling a trio of treys on Tuesday night against the Mercury. In addition to her sharpshooting, Smith was spacing the floor via her movement without the basketball as both Napheesa Collier and Courtney Williams found her cutting to the basket for two scores in the game’s middle quarters. As for Smith’s playmaking, half of her six assists were to Collier on Tuesday night, finding her frontcourt partner at her spots in the paint. Smith maintained the highest overall plus/minus out of all players on the floor, finishing the game with at +31.

Myisha Hines-Allen

DAL F #2

1dMyisha Hines-Allen recorded 16 points (6-of-9 FGs, 3-of-4 FTs), 12 rebounds, three assists, two steals and one three-pointer for the Wings in their loss to the Storm on Tuesday.

Hines-Allen bounced back from a one-point, zero-rebound performance against the Sky to record her first double-double of the season on Tuesday. Four of her 12 rebounds came on the offensive end of the floor, but even more noteworthy was her efficient 66 percent shooting on a night where Dallas shot under 35 percent from the field as a team. Her efficiency ultimately led her to finish as the Wings’ second-leading scorer and one of three on the team to reach double figures. She’ll have a chance to ride the momentum of Tuesday’s game when the Wings face the Sparks on Friday.

Latest

Mercury overcome 18-point first-half deficit to beat Sparks 85-80

Kathryn Westbeld made an open 3-pointer from the top of the key with 2:11 left in the third quarter to give the Mercury their first lead, 58-57, since it was 14-13 in the opening frame.

Associated Press,

Associated Press,

Liberty hit 19 3-pointers in 100-52 rout of Sun for second-largest margin of victory in WNBA history

The victory was the largest in franchise history, eclipsing a 43-point win over Washington in 1998.

Associated Press,

Associated Press,

Sun snap five-game skid with an 85-83 win over the Caitlin Clark-less Fever

Indiana was without star Caitlin Clark, who missed her second game due to a strained left quad. Clark was injured while playing against New York on Saturday.

Associated Press,

Associated Press,

WNBA: Los Angeles Sparks at Las Vegas Aces

Sparks’ Kelsey Plum returns to Las Vegas, greeted with cheers and hugs

Plum made her first appearance in Las Vegas since being sent to Los Angeles in a three-team trade in which the Aces landed Jewell Loyd from Seattle.

A’ja Wilson scores 35 points to power Aces to 96-81 victory over Sparks

This was the highest-scoring game for Wilson, who also had six assists, since her 41-point performance Sept. 1 at Phoenix.

Associated Press,

Associated Press,

Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers to miss at least 2 games while in WNBA’s concussion protocol

The Wings said Friday that Bueckers, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft out of UConn, was put in concussion protocol after their 97-92 loss at Chicago on Thursday night.