WNBA Recap: Monday’s top performers ranked, including Caitlin Clark, Breanna Stewart, and more

Good morning, WNBA followers! It was a busy Monday night time within the affiliation, with sport 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 seemed 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 sport 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 had been the highest performers across the league:

5. Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury

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 mentioned psotgame. “That’s after we left her in single protection. She is a superb participant. I assumed that after we had been blitzing, we introduced our larger put up gamers. I assumed Stewie (Breanna Stewart) did a extremely good job. We rotated properly out of it. It’s relying in your scrambled protection. It was efficient.”

5. Tina Charles, Atlanta Dream

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

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

“On the finish, like I advised these guys, I don’t care concerning the rating — wins or losses,” Charles mentioned. “I simply care concerning the character we confirmed all through the sport, and I assumed we confirmed nice character.”

4. Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever

Kelsey Mitchell is on an absolute tear. She’s averaging 26.3 factors per sport 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 staff’s tempo for her success.

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

3. Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever

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

Clark mirrored on taking part in in entrance of greater than 17,000 individuals — the biggest crowd for a WNBA sport 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 mentioned postgame. “For me, coming into these arenas and these environments, I go searching and it’s unimaginable. It truly is.”

2. Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty

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 mentioned. “Clearly, Copper is a superb participant, however she’s actually good… she’s a tremendous participant, however to not get to the foul line, that’s self-discipline, too.”

1. Brittany Sykes, Washington Mystics

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 known as on the ultimate place and being put in place to safe the win.

“I’m not a giant iso participant — that’s not likely my cup of tea,” Sykes mentioned. “However within the final yr or so, particularly on this season, I’m seeing that that’s one thing I’ve to get comfy with. My teammates have the utmost confidence in me to make the appropriate play, whether or not it’s to dish it when it must be dished, or go rating.”