Halfway with the WNBA

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With the upcoming WNBA All-Star Game scheduled at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, on July 19, it’s time to take an in-depth look at the league. 

As of this writing, the Minnesota Lynx are the top team in the league with a sparkling record of 20-4, followed by the Phoenix Mercury (15-6), New York Liberty (14-6), Seattle Storm (13-9), and Atlanta Dream (12-9). The Indiana Fever, with a 11-10 record, are in the second tier of squads, followed by Washington Mystics (11-10), Golden State Valkyries (10-11), Las Vegas Aces (10-11), Chicago Sky (7-15), Los Angeles Sparks (7-14), Dallas Wings (6-16), and the Connecticut Sun (3-18).

The Sun franchise is closest to Boston. With rumors of a possible move from Connecticut to Rhode Island, local hoop fans are wondering what kind of team they will inherit. With the gutting of last year’s squad, a team led for years by perennial All-Star Alyssa Thomas, the current rebuilding process of this once proud franchise is not sitting well with its fans. The Thomas-led Sun teams were always tough to compete against and held the title as one of the elite franchises in the league, despite not winning a championship.

Atlanta guard Alisha Gray won both the NBA Three-point Crown and the WNBA skills competition in 2024. PHOTO: JOHN MCCLELLAN

Expectations are low for the current Sun squad, which will take on the Indiana Fever at the TD Garden on Tuesday night. Last season, the Sun packed the TD Garden for a game against the Los Angeles Sparks. The New England five used a late 14-0 run to defeat LA, 69-61, in the first WNBA game played at the Boston Celtics’ home.

It will be interesting to see if the attendance grows for this year’s game, especially with increased ticket prices. If the game draws a good crowd, it can bode well for the possibility of a WNBA franchise coming to Boston in the future. Many thought that the Sun would be a logical choice for a new WNBA franchise in the Hub, but not with the current product they are putting on the court.

On Monday, Aliyah Boston, who played her high school ball at Worcester Academy, was honored by Gov. Maura Healey for her contributions to women’s sports. Boston was a three-time Gatorade Player of the Year for the Hilltoppers and played her college ball at the University of South Carolina, where she was again named Player of the Year and led the team to a national championship in 2022.

Aliyah Boston receives a proclamation from Gov. Maura Healey and Rep, Chris Worrell on Aliyah Boston Day. PHOTO: JOSHUA QUALLS/GOVERNOR’S PRESS OFFICE

In addition, the Indiana forward was the first Massachusetts player to be taken first in the WNBA draft and was the unanimous 2023 Rookie of the Year.

“To the young kids right here, I just want to say I hope that you guys see us, and you look at us as what you want to be and what you dream,” Boston said at the end of the ceremony. “It doesn’t have to be basketball, it doesn’t have to be sports, just whatever you set your mind to, whatever goals you have, write it down.”

Meanwhile, the WNBA is moving forward despite injuries to some of its key star players. The Aces lost MVP candidate A’ja Wilson for four games, due to a right wrist injury sustained against the New York Liberty last week, and they have battled mightily to reach a 10-11 mark for ninth place in the league standings.   

The defending champion New York Liberty is tied for the No. 2 spot with the Phoenix Mercury in the league, as Breanna Stewart, their MVP candidate, has struggled with injuries.

Caitlin Clark, the league’s showcase star, has missed multiple games due to a leg injury, a major reason the Fever has an 11-10 record and a tenuous hold on sixth place in league standings. She has struggled physically since returning from an injury and is just starting to regain her game shape. Her Fever team has held its own during her absence but needs her to be a force if they expect to compete for a WNBA title.

Nephessa Collier, the odds-on favorite for this year’s MVP Award, continues her stellar play while leading her Lynx team to the best record in the league. The Lynx, who felt they were robbed of the WNBA title due to calls that went against Collier in the deciding championship game against the Liberty, set their focus on completing their mission of winning their fifth title in franchise history.

Former Oregon Duck, center Satou Sabally is a 3-time All-Star. PHOTO: JOHN MCCLELLAN

Collier, the former Connecticut star, has emerged as the top player in the WNBA this season and is driven to get her team to championship glory. Her leadership and statistics — 23.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game — strongly support her argument for the league’s Most Valuable Player.

Collier and Caitlin Clark are the captains of their respective All-Star teams.

Collier’s squad will start Breanna Stewart, Allisha Gray, Nneka Ogwumike and rookie Paige Bueckers, backed up by substitutes Courtney Williams, Skylar Diggins, Angel Reese, Alyssa Thomas, Kelsey Plum and Ryne Howard.

Clark’s starters will be teammate Aliyah Boston, Sabrina Ionescu, A’ja Wilson and Satou Sabally, with substitutes Kelsey Mitchell, Gabby Williams, Jackie Young, Kayla Thorton, and rookies Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron completing the roster.

The WNBA has announced that the All-Star Game is a sellout, with many of the hometown Indiana crowd pulling for Caitlin Clark. But the real winners of this scenario will be the fans who will get to see some of the best basketball players, male or female, in the world put on a show. The WNBA brand of basketball is special due to its style of play, which features ball and body movement as key components.

The run to this year’s WNBA title is expected to be a thrilling affair, as the closeness of the league standings suggests that the competition will be fierce to secure a playoff spot. And while many feel that the Lynx are the team to beat, they will have to prove it on the court.