Week 6 of the WNBA season has concluded. As Week 7 begins, let’s look back at how all the teams did over the past week. The Las Vegas Aces and Connecticut Sun remain at the top as they have for multiple weeks. The Aces were the only team to go undefeated over the past week (2-0). Despite going 1-1 this past week, the New York Liberty improved their stock the most climbing two spaces from the 10th seed to the 8th seed.
If you have a favorite team you can scroll down to them or read the entire article if you want an idea of how every team is doing and which players are playing the best right now. I also provide some additional commentary for most teams.
Atlanta Dream
Week 6 Record: 0-2
Overall Record: 7-8
Atlanta had a tough week facing off against two of the Top 3 teams in the WNBA. They lost both games but put up good fights in each game. On Wednesday (6/15), they lost 105-92 to the Connecticut Sun. AD Durr led the Dream with 21 points off the bench. Durr has played much better since they were traded from New York to Atlanta. The bench in this game was incredible scoring 45 points. Aari McDonald got the start and scored 19 points in the game. She also had a team-high five assists. Rhyne Howard added 14 points and five rebounds.
The Dream rallied in the 4th quarter outscoring the Chicago Sky 18-12 to force the game into overtime. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to win as they lost 106-100 in the OT period. Five players from Atlanta scored in double figures with AD Durr once again leading the way with 21 points off the bench. Aari McDonald scored 20 points, she also had six assists and five rebounds. Cheyenne Parker contributed with 16 points and six rebounds. And newcomer, Destiny Slocum scored 10 points off the bench. Slocum had recently signed a hardship contract with Atlanta.
Chicago Sky
Week 6 Record: 1-1
Overall Record: 10-5
Chicago played two very close games over the past week winning one and (surprisingly) losing the other. On Friday (6/17), they were able to outlast the Atlanta Dream in OT by a final score of 106-100. The Sky really showed off their depth with six different players scoring in double figures including all five starters. Kahleah Copper led the team with a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds. Emma Meesseman also had a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Allie Quigley added 17 points and Courtney Vandersloot scored 11. Both Azura Stevens and Rebekah Gardner scored 15 points.
The Sky appeared to be well on their way to a perfect 2-0 record for the week, that is until Indiana outscored them 35-20 in the third quarter which helped the Fever defeat Chicago 89-87. Kahleah Copper once again led the team in scoring with 28 points on 8-13 FG shooting. Vandersloot added 13 points and a team-high seven assists. Meesseeman was the only other player in double figures with 12 points and eight rebounds.
Copper’s strong performances in both games led to her being named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
Connecticut Sun
Week 6 Record: 2-1
Overall Record: 12-5
Connecticut remains as the 2nd overall seed in league standings after going 2-1 this past week. However, they’re starting to fall behind 1st place Las Vegas; the Sun now have five.
First, the Sun defeated the Atlanta Dream 105-92 on Wednesday. Five players reached double figures as Courtney Williams led the way getting revenge on her old team. Williams scored 20 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Natisha Hiedeman added 18 points and Jonquel Jones scored 15 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Brionna Jones (12 points) and Dijonai Carrington (11) were part of a bench that scored 40 points.
Then on Friday (6/17), Connecticut defeated Seattle for a 2nd time this season. In recent years, the Storm have had the Sun’s number. But not this season. The Sun used a 26-13 fourth quarter performance to defeat Seattle 82-71. DeWanna Bonner had 15 of her 20 points in the 4th quarter. She also had a double-double with 10 rebounds. Jonquel Jones also had one with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Alyssa Thomas scored 10 points and led the team with eight assists as she takes on more of a point guard/point-forward role with Jasmine Thomas out with a torn ACL. Brionna Jones could not be stopped in the low post scoring on 8-9 FG for a total of 19 points off the bench. Seattle not having a healthy Mercedes Russell is really causing major problems in these matchups.
Lastly, on Sunday (6/19), the Washington Mystics held Connecticut well below their season average with a final score of 71-63. Only Jonquel Jones managed to reach double figures in this game as the Mystics completely shut down Connecticut. Jonquel Jones had 15 points and 16 rebounds.
Dallas Wings
Week 6 Record: 2-1
Overall Record: 8-8
Dallas lost to the Aces 92-84 last Wednesday. Arike Ogunbowale led the Wings with 28 points. Her partner in crime, Marina Mabrey scored 18 points off the bench. Isabelle Harrison had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Allisha Gray added 10 more points.
Next, they defeated the Phoenix Mercury 93-88. Arike led the way again with 24 points and a team-high six assists. Teaira McCowan had an impressive double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. Harrison (16 points), Mabrey (14), and Gray (12) were the other players to reach double figures.
The Wings finished the week defeating the Los Angeles Sparks 92-82. Ogunbowale led the team with 27 points. Gray put up 20 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists. Mabrey added 21 points and five assists. And Kayla Thorton had 15 points in the victory.
Dallas rebounded well after a tough week the previous week.
Indiana Fever
Week 6 Record: 1-1
Overall Record: 5-13
Indiana lost to the Phoenix Mercury 93-80 on Wednesday last week. Kelsey Mitchell led the team with 26 points. Victoria Vivians added 14 points and Queen Egbo scored 12 points as the other player to score 10+. NaLyssa Smith had just four points but had a game-high 14 rebounds. Smith is Top 5 in the WNBA in rebounds per game at 8.9 RPG.
The Fever then got the most surprising victory of the week as they defeated the Chicago Sky 89-87. They outscored Chicago by 15 points in the 2nd half, all in the 3rd quarter where they had a 35-20 advantage. They played Chicago dead-even in the 4th quarter and that was just good enough to come away with the victory. Smith scored a career-high 26 points and also had 11 rebounds. Kelsey Mitchell had 13 points and a team-high nine assists. Emma Cannon (11 points) and Lexie Hull (10 points) provided offensive firepower off the bench.
While the Fever are near the bottom of the WNBA standings (just ahead of Minnesota), they’ve actually played pretty well this season and are creating building blocks for the future. If they do finish in the lottery, they should have the best odds to land Aaliyah Boston from South Carolina. Boston is a talent that could completely turn their franchise around just as we’ve seen A’ja Wilson do with Las Vegas.
Las Vegas Aces
Week 6 Record: 2-0
Overall Record: 13-2
Speaking of the Aces, yeah they keep rolling along. They were the only WNBA team to go undefeated during the past week. A’ja Wilson was also named the Western Conference Player of the Week award. She’s already received that award multiple times this season. Combine that with the fact that the Aces have the best record and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Wilson win her 2nd MVP award at the end of the season.
Vegas defeated the Dallas Wings 92-84 on Wednesday (6/15). Kelsey Plum led the team with 27 points and A’ja Wilson added 25 more. Both Chelsea Gray and Dearica Hamby scored 16 points. Gray finished with a team-high eight assists. And Hamby had a team-high 12 rebounds. The bench scored zero points again but it didn’t matter in this one. Will it during the playoffs? We will see.
The Aces needed a huge 2nd half push to defeat the Minnesota Lynx. They outscored Minnesota by 12 points over the final two quarters including a 34-24 third period. Wilson scored 25 points again in this one. She also had a team-high eight rebounds. Plum added 21 points and Chelse Gray scored 16 points and dished out eight assists. Hamby finished with 16 points and Jackie Young added 13 points.
Los Angeles Sparks
Week 6 Record: 0-1
Overall Record: 5-9
Los Angeles played just a single game over the past week and they lost to the Dallas Wings. As of last week, it was their third loss in a row. Nneka Ogwumike remains a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season for the Sparks. She led the team with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Brittney Sykes scored 16 points and Chiney Ogwumike had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. Katie Lou Samuelson added 11 points.
Minnesota Lynx
Week 6 Record: 0-2
Overall Record: 3-13
The Lynx lost a heartbreaker to the Seattle Storm 81-79 last Tuesday (6/14). They completely outplayed the Storm in the first half leading 46-39. But ultimately they weren’t able to slow down Breanna Stewart. Kayla McBride led the Lynx with 20 points. Aerial Powers scored 10 points and a team-high seven assists. Jessica Shepard added 12 points and six rebounds off the bench. Nikolina Milic contributed with 11 points and seven rebounds.
One heartbreaking loss is bad enough. But two? That’s just not fair! But that’s what happened to Minnesota as they lost to the Las Vegas Aces 96-95 on Sunday (6/19). They had an 11-point lead at halftime but were outscored by 12 points in the 2nd half. Moriah Jefferson led the way with 23 points and seven assists. Jessica Shepard had the great game of her career with 22 points, 19 rebounds, and six assists. Lisa Leslie is the only other player in WNBA history to put up those numbers. Aerial Powers (15 points) and Kayla McBride (11 points) were the other two to hit double-digit scoring.
Sylvia Fowles remains out with her knee injury. It is not clear if she’ll be able to return this season.
New York Liberty
Week 6 Record: 1-1
Overall Record: 6-10
New York had an impressive victory against the Washington Mystics on Thursday (6/16) by a final score of 77-65. Natasha Howard had one of her best games of the year scoring 27 points on 13-17 FG. She also pulled down a team-high nine rebounds. Sabrina Ionescu had 10 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds. Han Xu added 12 points off the bench.
On Sunday (6/19), the Liberty lost to the Seattle Storm for a third time 81-72. The game was back-and-forth and close throughout until Seattle pulled away in the final minutes of the 4th quarter. Marine Johannes scored a career-high 23 points. Ionescu nearly had a triple-double with 12 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds. Natasha Howard also had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Sami Whitcomb added 11 points off the bench in the losing effort.
The Liberty are fighting to get back into playoff seeding after losing seven of their first eight games this season.
Phoenix Mercury
Week 6 Record: 1-2
Overall Record: 6-10
Phoenix struggled this past week losing two of their three games. The Mercury were crushed by the Washington Mystics 83-65. DeShields led the team with 21 points and eight rebounds. Tina Charles added 19 points and Skylar Diggins-Smith had 11 points and eight rebounds.
On Wednesday (6/15), they defeated the Indiana Fever 93-80. Tina Charles scored 29 points to lead the way. She also added seven rebounds and four assists. Diana Taurasi scored 17 points and Diamond DeShields added 16 more. Lastly, Skylar Diggins-Smith added 13 points in the win.
The Mercury then lost to the Dallas Wings 93-88. Tina Charles is starting to get back to her normal self as she scored 27 points and pulled down a team-high nine rebounds. Diggins-Smith had a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. DeShields contributed with 14 points. DeShields has been one of the more underrated free-agent signings this season. She’s averaging 15.0 PPG for Phoenix.
Seattle Storm
Week 6 Record: 2-1
Overall Record: 10-6
The Storm needed a 2nd half rally to beat the Minnesota Lynx 81-79. Breanna Stewart led the team with 29 points and eight rebounds. Jewell Loyd scored 14 points and had five assists. Epiphanny Prince broke out of her slump to score 15 points off the bench including making five three-pointers (four of them in the 4th quarter) to help Seattle win the game.
Seattle was not able to defeat the Sun as they lost the game to Connecticut 82-71. The Storm were outscored 26-13 in the 4th quarter after carrying a lead into the final period. Stewie led the way with 19 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. She led the team in points, rebounds, and assists. Sue Bird added 14 points and Ezi scored 12 points. Jewell Loyd struggled, scoring just eight points on 3-10 FG shooting. More than offensive struggles, the Storm lacked an interior defensive presence to slow down Brionna Jones and Jonquel Jones.
On Sunday (6/19), they were able to defeat the New York Liberty 81-72 in what was Sue Bird’s final game in her home state. Seattle swept the season series with New York. Gabby Williams found her offense in this game leading the team with 23 points and nine rebounds. Stewie added 18 points and nine rebounds. Sue Bird (11 points) and Ezi Magbegor (10 points) were the only other players to reach double figures. Loyd struggled again offensively, making just 3-16 FG for nine points. But she did lead the team with seven assists.
Washington Mystics
Week 6 Record: 2-1
Overall Record: 11-7
Washington crushed the Mercury 83-65. Rookie Shakira Austin continues to impress. She had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Ariel Atkins scored 13 points and Alysha Clark added 11 points. Elizabeth Williams provided 10 points off the bench in the win.
The Mystics were then stunned by the Liberty as they lost 77-65 to New York. Natasha Cloud scored 17 points and also led the team with seven assists. Atkins was the only other player to reach double figures with 11 points.
On Sunday (6/19), the Mystics had one of their more impressive wins of the season as they completely shut down the Connecticut Sun on their way to a 71-63 victory. Elena Delle Donne scored 15 points and pulled down six rebounds to lead Washington. Ariel Atkins scored 12 points and had a team-high six assists. Alysha Clark added 10 points and five assists. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough contributed with 10 points off the bench in the win.
Commissioner’s Cup Matchup Decided
During Week 6, we finally learned which two teams would be facing off against one another in the 2nd annual Commissioner’s Cup. Last year Seattle defeated the Connecticut Sun to win the first-ever Cup trophy. This year, it’ll be the Las Vegas Aces versus the Chicago Sky. These two teams have had some great games against one another including the infamous Dearica Hamby halfcourt heave that eliminated the Sky from the playoffs a few of years ago.
WNBA Standings Through Week 6:
Las Vegas Aces 13-2
Connecticut Sun 12-5
Chicago Sky 10-5
Seattle Storm 10-6
Washington Mystics 11-7
Dallas Wings 8-8
Atlanta Dream 7-8
New York Liberty 6-10
Phoenix Mercury 6-10
Los Angeles Sparks 5-9
Indiana Fever 5-13
Minnesota Lynx 3-13
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