Stats for each WNBA crew midway via the 2024 season

Twenty video games down, 20 to go. The WNBA formally hit the midway level of the common season this week, that means it is time to dissect every crew’s progress from all angles. Groups have been graded, award races have been examined. Now, let’s speak numbers, particularly stats that outline every WNBA crew so far of the 12 months.

A few of these spotlight particular person impression, some collective strengths and weaknesses. Some showcase accomplishments, others showcase room for enchancment. Some would possibly change because the 40-game season progresses to the All-Star Sport after which resumes following the Olympic break.

However first, just a few numbers in regards to the league general: Attendance is as much as a median of 9,311 followers per sport, in line with Throughout the Timeline, the league’s finest quantity because the Nineteen Nineties. Two video games this season (each that includes No. 1 draft decide Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever) already surpassed the 20,000 attendance threshold, one thing that occurred solely six different occasions within the league’s historical past. And, via Sunday, viewership for WNBA on ESPN networks is up 183% in comparison with final season.

Again to the basketball — together with probably the most intriguing video games this weekend.

On paper, the Dream upgraded from final season’s efficiency — once they returned to the playoffs for the primary time since 2018 — by buying and selling for Jordin Canada and signing free agent Tina Charles. However that hasn’t translated onto the court docket thus far. Canada missed the start of the season with a hand damage, and Atlanta sits at an uninspiring 7-11 report, with younger, hungry groups just like the Sky and Fever nipping at its heels. The most important points are on the offensive finish, the place the Dream put up 95.3 factors per 100 possessions and a forty five.0% efficient discipline aim clip, each league-worst marks.

There’s time to show issues round, particularly with Canada again: In her previous three video games alone, she had 22 assists. They might additionally use Rhyne Howard, who has missed the previous 5 video games with an ankle damage. Atlanta is 6-7 when Howard has performed and 1-4 with out her.

24.6 and 23.0: Mixed scoring and rebounding averages for Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso when beginning collectively

The Sky have had an up-and-down season with 9 losses in clutch video games, however the future stays brilliant behind the put up tandem of Reese and Cardoso. It took a while to materialize, as Cardoso did not make her professional debut till June 1 due to a shoulder damage and Elizabeth Williams’ season-ending damage allowed the previous South Carolina star to affix Reese within the beginning lineup. The duo have since helped Chicago set up itself because the WNBA’s high paint-scoring (41.7 factors per sport) and second-best offensive rebounding (34.1%) crew — and one of many higher general defensive squads (99.7 defensive ranking), fifth within the league.

There’s loads of room for enchancment, significantly in getting extra/higher 3-point capturing. However the rookies have helped give the new-look Sky a clearer id.

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Chelsea Grey hits turnaround jumper to all however seal Aces’ win

Chelsea Grey spins and sinks a tricky shot to wrap up the Aces’ win over the Mystics.

76: The Connecticut Solar’s magic quantity on offense

The Solar, whose 13-1 begin was finest within the league earlier than they dropped three of their previous six video games, have lengthy been generally known as a tricky defensive crew. However even earlier than their most up-to-date skid, coach Stephanie White and gamers acknowledged they weren’t enjoying incredible basketball, significantly offensively. It is no shock then that in all 4 of their losses to this point, they have been held to 75 factors or fewer — and, in all however one, to beneath 41% capturing from the sphere. Not serving to is that they play on the slowest tempo within the league and, apart from the Sky, take and make the fewest 3-pointers of any crew.

Regardless of their postseason success over the previous 5 years, the Solar will seemingly must elevate their offensive play in the event that they need to surpass the likes of the high-scoring Aces and Liberty and clinch the franchise’s first title. Regulate DeWanna Bonner’s effectivity: The Solar are undefeated when she shoots higher than 31% from the sphere.

3.1%: Dallas Wings’ (present) probability of creating the playoffs

The damage gods haven’t finished the Wings any favors: All-WNBA choice Satou Sabally (shoulder) is out till after the Olympics. Natasha Howard (foot) missed 12 video games earlier this season. Maddy Siegrist is now sidelined by a damaged finger.

Midway via the season, the Wings’ 16 losses are two off from what they racked up in all of 2023. Eight of these losses got here by single digits. Their web ranking can be a league-worst minus-10.0.

It is a dramatic drop-off for a crew that completed fourth final 12 months and has each Howard and Sabally hitting free company after this season. Even with Sabally theoretically again after the Olympics, it could take an enormous turnaround — and different groups struggling — for the Wings to make the postseason. For the time being, ESPN Analytics offers Dallas the second-worst odds to advance to the playoffs, behind Los Angeles (2.6%).

1: Indiana Fever’s pre-All-Star break power of schedule rating

Fever basketball has been dissected lots. What cannot be misplaced is their significantly tough schedule to begin the season: Indiana can have performed 15 video games towards groups ranked .500 or higher earlier than the All-Star break. After the Olympics, they’re going to play simply seven, with ESPN Analytics rating their post-All Star schedule because the second best within the league.

As they’ve performed extra collectively, the Fever have honed a clearer id with Caitlin Clark shining as a playmaker and Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell extra deeply integrated into the offense. At present ninth within the standings, Indiana sits simply out of the playoff image via Thursday, however ESPN Analytics at present initiatives them to make the playoffs (with a 62.9% probability) forward of Chicago (52.1%).

Reviews of the Aces’ demise have been significantly exaggerated. They had been 6-6 previous to the return of Chelsea Grey on account of issues on each ends of the court docket, significantly defensively. However the two-time defending champs lastly have their level guard and chief again — or, as Kelsey Plum has stated, the sugar of their cake.

The Aces are undefeated since then, together with wins over Seattle and Connecticut. With everybody returned to their pure positions, the offense runs smoother and Grey’s presence has been felt defensively, too. The crew’s defensive ranking ranked tenth within the league with out Grey (104.2) and is second together with her (94.5). Las Vegas’ general web ranking can be first (plus-17.1) together with her again over the previous six video games.

The Aces at present sit fifth within the standings, however nobody within the league is considering of them as a fifth-place crew.

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Minnesota Lynx have fun as they win the 2024 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup

The Minnesota Lynx have fun on the buzzer as they defeat the New York Liberty to win the 2024 Commissioner’s Cup.

It appeared unrealistic to count on the rebuilding Sparks to lastly claw their means again into the playoffs for the primary time since 2020, particularly with so many younger gamers and newcomers. That stated, lottery picks Brink (No. 2 general) and Rickea Jackson (No. 4) kicked off a brand new, promising period of L.A. basketball.

Jackson might be a surefire choice for the all-rookie crew, however Brink was devastatingly misplaced for the season in late June after struggling an ACL tear. The previous Stanford standout — a 3×3 Olympian for Group USA previous to her damage — established herself early as a premier rim protector, boasting a whopping 9.0% block charge, and confirmed encouraging flashes on offense, too.

The Lynx blossomed into title contenders this season largely as a result of they’ve the perfect protection within the league (89.5 defensive ranking). Do not gloss over what they’ve achieved offensively, both. Their 3-point clip is a league-best 39.3%, however even higher is how effectively they share the ball. Their help share is the best mark within the league and, if it had been maintained all through the season, would shatter the WNBA’s single-season report, set by the Liberty in 2023 (75.0%).

Sure, that quantity might drop over the following 20 video games if Minnesota’s capturing comes again all the way down to earth, but it surely’s nonetheless a testomony to the crew chemistry coach Cheryl Reeve has stated was on level because the starting of coaching camp.

What makes Minnesota’s dominance on each ends much more spectacular is it has performed 12 video games towards opponents with a .500 or higher report and has a 7-5 report in these outings.

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Liberty surge into lead with late 15-0 run

The Liberty take the lead for good with a 15-0 run within the fourth quarter vs. the Lynx.

With regards to the efficiency this 12 months of superteams that dominated the dialog final season, New York has been probably the most constant: With their win over the Lynx on Tuesday, the Liberty recorded their finest begin via 20 video games and have become the twelfth crew in league historical past to begin a season 17-3 or higher. They achieved this regardless of being with out Courtney Vandersloot for 9 video games and after retooling their bench to have extra of a defensive focus.

One maybe underappreciated aspect to New York’s 2024 success is the ascension of Jonquel Jones, whose scoring common (16.5 factors per sport) is simply behind that of her 2021 MVP season. Her facilitating can be at an all-time excessive (3.4 assists per sport), and her rebounding (8.8 boards per sport) and defensive presence (1.2 blocks per sport) stay as essential as ever. To not point out, Jones is capturing at a blistering 58.7% from the sphere, together with 43.7% from 3 (on 4.4 makes an attempt per sport).

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Kahleah Copper knocks down 3-pointer in ultimate minute

Diana Taurasi finds Kahleah Copper for an open 3-pointer to increase the Mercury’s lead over the Wings within the ultimate minute.

27.6: Phoenix Mercury’s 3-point makes an attempt per sport

Nate Tibbetts introduced from the NBA a transparent imaginative and prescient of how he needed the Mercury to play basketball in his first 12 months teaching within the Valley: a method that entails capturing lots of 3-pointers (Phoenix is second within the league in making an attempt such photographs, behind the Liberty, and Tibbetts has stated he’d love for them to try nearer to 40 per sport). Some days, that interprets to excessive scoring. On others, like within the 23-point loss to the Solar, the Mercury went 1-for-27 from behind the arc, albeit with out Diana Taurasi and Rebecca Allen.

Phoenix’s 10-10 report suggests it has underachieved thus far, although it has additionally been with out Brittney Griner (9 video games) and Allen (six video games) for significant stretches. Each present size, measurement and a defensive presence. Griner additionally works in Tibbetts’ system as her inside scoring offers the offense a special look, and she will kick out to shooters on the perimeter. With the expertise of their beginning 5 or 6, the Mercury may very well be harmful in the event that they get scorching on the proper time, significantly if they will grow to be extra constant defensively.

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Nneka Ogwumike fakes defender out of her sneakers for a straightforward bucket

Nneka Ogwumike pump-fakes her defender and will get to the basket with ease for the layup.

Plus-.409: Seattle Storm’s win share bounce year-over-year

Final 12 months was powerful for the Storm as they adjusted to life with out Breanna Stewart and Sue Chook, ending eleventh within the league at 11-29 and lacking the playoffs for the primary time since 2015. They did not undergo lengthy. Seattle has reentered the title dialog, at present fourth within the league standings and on observe to complete with the most important year-over-year bounce for a crew because the Lynx (0.412 from 2010 to 2011). Whereas Minnesota drafted Maya Moore No. 1 general in 2011, Seattle acquired stars Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith in free company.

Seattle’s calling card this 12 months has been its protection, rating third within the league in defensive effectivity (93.8 factors per 100 possessions). The Storm additionally lead the pack in steal charge (11.1%) and block charge (12.0%), in line with Her Hoop Stats.

Regardless of having spent the season on the backside of the standings, the Mystics will not be as unhealthy as their 5-16 report displays. Their web ranking is minus-5.3, eighth within the league. One wrongdoer: their efficiency in clutch time, or when a sport’s scoring margin is inside 5 factors with 5 or fewer minutes remaining. The Mystics have performed probably the most such video games this season (15), successful simply two.

Washington has been with out Brittney Sykes and Shakira Austin for a lot of the season, and now Karlie Samuelson, so it is simple to surprise what they’d’ve seemed like at full power. However following Elena Delle Donne’s resolution to sit down out the season plus the departure of Natasha Cloud to Phoenix, this was all the time purported to be a rebuilding 12 months for the 2019 champs.

Video games to observe this weekend

Chicago Sky at Seattle Storm
Friday, 10 p.m. ET (ION); Sunday, 6 p.m. ET

With soon-to-be All-Star teammates Angel Reese and Nneka Ogwumike duking it out twice in a three-day span at Local weather Pledge Enviornment, Chicago might be seeking to tally at the very least yet one more signature win, whereas Seattle will hope to increase its four-game win streak.

New York Liberty at Indiana Fever
Saturday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

The Fever defeated a .500 crew, the Mercury, for the primary time Sunday. (Phoenix proceeded to fall beneath that mark Monday earlier than going again above .500 on Wednesday). Towards New York, Indiana has an opportunity to earn one other such victory at residence on Saturday — the one challenge is, it has misplaced to the Liberty thrice this season by a median margin of 27.7 factors. Can Clark & Co. do one higher than their Might 18 effort, wherein they challenged New York and misplaced by simply 11?

Atlanta Dream at Connecticut Solar
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

The Dream secured a much-needed win over the Solar once they met June 28 in Uncasville. The rematch offers Atlanta an opportunity to select up extra momentum with Jordin Canada lastly again from her hand damage. The Solar, who’ve cooled off not too long ago, need to restake their declare as a high crew within the league.

Dallas Wings at Las Vegas Aces
Sunday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Dallas-Las Vegas matchups have traditionally been fairly entertaining. Though the Wings aren’t at full power and have struggled this 12 months, we’re hoping for one more shut contest. When these groups performed earlier this 12 months, the Aces got here away with a 14-point victory, with Arike Ogunbowale and A’ja Wilson placing up 31 and 36 factors, respectively.