WNBA Early Season Recap: Winners and Losers
The WNBA season has kicked off, and it’s been almost a week since the games began. Some teams are exceeding expectations, while others are falling short. Currently, there are two teams still unbeaten: the Chicago Sky and Atlanta Dream, alongside the Los Angeles Sparks and Connecticut Sun, who are yet to secure a win.
Let’s take a look at some of the early highlights and disappointments from the first week of action.
Starting with the Chicago Sky, they had a rough go of it last season. But, in an effort to improve, they’ve made significant changes to their roster. They’ve brought in players like Rikea Jackson, Skyler Diggins, and Jaycee Sheldon, while also trading Angel Reese and drafting Gabriella Jack.
So far, those changes seem to be paying off. Jackson, for instance, is off to a solid start, averaging 18.5 points, six rebounds, and four assists in two games. Diggins has maintained her strong play, averaging 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. Camila Cardoso’s impressive average of 15 points and 10.5 rebounds, along with the strong play from Sheldon and Jaquez, suggests that the Sky could be a serious contender. It’s early in the season, but a 2-0 record certainly creates a positive outlook for them.
Loser: Los Angeles Sparks
The Sparks have a roster filled with talent—Kelsey Plumb, Nneka Ogwumike, and Dearika Hamby are all-stars, and with players like Ariel Atkins and Ray Burrell, their supporting cast looks promising. Yet, they seem to be struggling. After missing the playoffs last year, this season hasn’t started any better. They’ve already faced a significant home loss to the Las Vegas Aces and followed that up with a nine-point defeat to the Indiana Fever.
Winner: Portland Fire
On a more positive note, the Portland Fire managed to snag their first win of the season, thanks to a last-second shot from Sarah Ashley Barker. They currently hold a record of 1-1. The atmosphere during that game at the Moda Center was electric, and players like Carla Leite stepped up when it mattered. Bridget Carleton showed the potential that the Fire were hoping for. Winning against a team like the New York Liberty is a great start, especially for an expansion team. Coach Alex Samara appears to be steering the team in the right direction.
Loser: Connecticut Sun
As for the Connecticut Sun, they’ve had a tough start, sitting at 0-3. While they are missing point guard Leyla Lacan and are in a rebuilding phase, their lack of competitiveness in two out of three games is concerning. They were heavily beaten by the Liberty in their opener, losing by 31 points, and another significant defeat came against the Aces, where they lost by 29. They did put up a better fight against the Seattle Storm, only losing by seven. It’s encouraging to see them putting up more of a challenge against a top-tier team.
