WNBA Recap: Monday’s high performers ranked, together with Caitlin Clark, Breanna Stewart, and extra

Good morning, WNBA followers! It was a busy Monday night time within the affiliation, with recreation play tipping off in Atlanta in entrance of a sold-out 17,000+ crowd that noticed Caitlin Clark come to city for the primary time.

Then, the full-strength regarded to bounce again from a loss to the Solar with a win towards the Mercury, Liberty ahead Betnijah Laney-Hamilton returned to the lineup for the primary time in six weeks after recovering from knee surgical procedure.

The Mystics additionally traveled to Seattle, hoping to remain within the win column after their Friday night time win over the Sparks. They did simply that, pulling out a uncommon clutch-time victory over the Storm.

First, Monday’s recreation outcomes:

• The Indiana Fever (14-16) beat the Atlanta Dream (10-19), 84-79
• The New York Liberty (26-5) beat the Phoenix Mercury (16-15), 84-70
• The Washington Mystics (8-22) defeated the Seattle Storm (18-11), 74-72

Right here have been the highest performers across the league:

5. Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury

Photograph by Paras Griffin/Getty Photos

Brittney Griner completed with 22 factors (11-16 FG), 6 rebounds, 2 blocks in Monday’s Mercury loss to the Liberty.

However, the Liberty’s blitzing defensive scheme helped power her into 7 turnovers.

“I assumed for essentially the most half, she nonetheless had 22 factors,” Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello stated psotgame. “That’s once we left her in single protection. She is a superb participant. I assumed that once we have been blitzing, we introduced our greater put up gamers. I assumed Stewie (Breanna Stewart) did a extremely good job. We rotated nicely out of it. It’s relying in your scrambled protection. It was efficient.”

5. Tina Charles, Atlanta Dream

Photograph by Adam Hagy/NBAE by way of Getty Photos

Just some days after turning into the second-leading scorer in WNBA historical past, Tina Charles exploded for 28 factors on 13-21 capturing, alongside 8 rebounds, in a loss to the Fever. With teammates Allisha Grey (3-12 FG) and Rhyne Howard (5-17 FG) struggling, Charles saved Atlanta within the recreation all method to the ultimate minutes.

Nonetheless, Charles praised the Dream’s effort within the loss.

“On the finish, like I instructed these guys, I don’t care in regards to the rating — wins or losses,” Charles stated. “I simply care in regards to the character we confirmed all through the sport, and I assumed we confirmed nice character.”

4. Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever

Photograph by Paras Griffin/Getty Photos

Kelsey Mitchell is on an absolute tear. She’s averaging 26.3 factors per recreation within the month of August — essentially the most of any WNBA participant. In Monday’s win, Mitchell had a game-high 29 factors (10-23 FG) and eight rebounds. Her night time was punctuated by an and-one layup with 3 minutes to play that gave the Fever a 7 level lead and helped put the sport out of attain.

Mitchell credited the workforce’s tempo for her success.

“For us, it’s about taking part in uptempo,” Mitchell stated. “And I prefer to play that method, and I bought teammates that wish to play that method. So for me, it’s about clearly being assured in my play, however taking part in alongside my teammates, and type of letting that chemistry movement. Once I discover my spots, and make the most of my workforce to seek out that spot, I look first rate.”

3. Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever

Photograph by Stephen Maturen/Getty Photos

Caitlin Clark recorded 19 factors, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and a pair of steals on Monday. Of word, she solely turned over the ball twice — her first recreation with lower than 3 turnovers since Could.

Clark mirrored on taking part in in entrance of greater than 17,000 folks — the biggest crowd for a WNBA recreation ever in Georgia.

“I really feel like I’m solely 22 years outdated, however I act like I’m 10. I really feel like I’m only a child that performs basketball and has a whole lot of enjoyable,” Clark stated postgame. “For me, coming into these arenas and these environments, I go searching and it’s unbelievable. It truly is.”

2. Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty

Photograph by Chris Coduto/Getty Photos

Breanna Stewart completed with 21 factors (8-17 FG), 6 rebounds, and 6 assists in Monday’s win over the Mercury. She was additionally tasked with guarding Kahleah Copper — the league’s second main scorer — and holding her to only 14 factors, together with no free throw makes an attempt.

“Stewie doesn’t get sufficient credit score for her protection,” Sandy Brondello stated. “Clearly, Copper is a superb participant, however she’s actually good… she’s an incredible participant, however to not get to the foul line, that’s self-discipline, too.”

1. Brittany Sykes, Washington Mystics

Photograph by Amanda Loman/Getty Photos

Within the Mystics’ win over the Storm, Brittney Sykes scored 20 factors — and sunk a pair of game-winning free throws with a second to play.

Sykes mirrored on having her quantity referred to as on the ultimate place and being put in place to safe the win.

“I’m not an enormous iso participant — that’s probably not my cup of tea,” Sykes stated. “However within the final 12 months or so, particularly on this season, I’m seeing that that’s one thing I’ve to get snug with. My teammates have the utmost confidence in me to make the correct play, whether or not it’s to dish it when it must be dished, or go rating.”