Phoenix Mercury vs Minnesota Lynx
When: Thursday, Sept 17th at 7pm.
Where:ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida
TV: ESPN 2 / Radio: N/A
Injuries:
Phoenix: Brittney Griner (Out/ Personal Reasons), Skylar Diggins-Smith (Probable/ Leg), Bria Hartley (Out/ Torn ACL), Nia Coffey (Out/Foot)
Minnesota: Lexie Brown (Out/ Concussion), Sylvia Fowles (Game Time Decision/ Calf)
Phoenix : (*- 2020 Playoffs)
85.0- points per game
84.0 - points against
45.2 - Field goal %
Minnesota: (*-2020 Reg Season)
86.7 - points per game
84.1 - points against
49.1 - field goal %
Individual Leaders: Pho/Min -
Skylar Diggins-Smith 24.0 / Crystal Dangerfield 16.2 - Points
Brianna Turner 11.0 / Napheesa Collier 9.0 - Rebounds
Diana Taurasi 6.0 / Crystal Dangerfield 3.6 - Assists
Key Match-ups:
Skylar Diggins-Smith vs Crystal Dangerfield
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough vs Odyssey Sims
Diana Taurasi vs Napheesa Collier
Keep an eye on:
Will Fowles Play- is a BIG question that would change everything about this game. Fowles is a former MVP and one of the elite players in the entire league. Fowles average 15.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and nearly 2 blocks per game on 59 percent shooting from the field for her career. This season however, she's been plagued by a lingering calf injury that has limited her to 7 games. With Griner out for Phoenix, Fowles would be the ideal mismatch for the Lynx tonight and one Phoenix would have trouble dealing with. Even if Fowles is able to play, with her being out so long, how effective would she be? We will find out soon enough.
Connecticut Sun vs La Sparks
When: Thursday, Sept 17th at 9pm.
Where:ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida
TV: ESPN 2 / Radio: N/A
Injuries:
Connecticut: Bria Holmes (Out/Knee)
LA: None
Connecticut: (*- 2020 Playoffs)
94.0 - points per game
81.0 - points against
44.3 - Field goal %
LA: (*-2020 Reg Season )
84.9 - points per game
80.3 - points against
48.1 - field goal %
Individual Leaders: Con/LA -
Alyssa Thomas 28.0 / Candace Parker 14.7 -Points
Alyssa Thomas 13.0 / Candace Parker 9.7 - Rebounds
Alyssa Thomas 8.0 / Chelsea Gray 5.3 - Assists
Key Match-ups:
Jasmine Thomas vs Chelsea Gray
Alyssa Thomas vs Nneka Ogwumike
DeWanna Bonner vs Candace Parker
Keep an eye on:
All WNBA Front Court Battle: between both teams will decide this game, which is an understatement. What makes this match-up so intriguing is that both pairs of all star forwards mirror one another in size, skill, athleticism and big game experience. Sparks front court of Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike will be motivated to exact some revenge on the Sun. During the 2019 playoffs, LA saw their season end embarrassingly with a sweep at the hands of Connecticut. Even with the Sparks season series sweep of the Sun during the regular season, LA understands that the playoffs is a totally different deal.
Getting revenge won't be easy due to Connecticut's potent front court of Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner. Alyssa Thomas is the Sun's do everything forward that is at her most dangerous pushing the ball in the open court. Thomas led Connecticut in scoring (28), rebounds (13) and assists (8) in their opening round win over Chicago. Bonner was right there as well, utilizing her stretch-forward skill to finish with 23 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.
Something will have to give tonight. Stay Tuned.
