WNBA Recap: Saturday’s top 7 performers ranked, including Sabrina Ionescu, Kamilla Cardoso and more

August 18, 2024

Saturday WNBA The triple-header produced many outstanding performances and we Top 5 performer format SB Nation instead ranked their top seven, and that list includes several All-Stars, like Sabrina Ionescu, A’ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier, as well as up-and-comers like Camila Cardozo.

First, the results from Saturday’s matches.

The Lynx defeated the Mystics 99-83 to improve to 19-8 and good for third in the league.
The Sky beat the Sparks 79-67 to improve to 11-15 and extend their lead as the No. 8 seed.
The Liberty defeated the Aces 79-67 to improve to a league-best record of 23-4.

Here are the top seven WNBA performers from Saturday:

7. Sabrina Ionescu New York Liberty

The Liberty became the first WNBA team to qualify for the playoffs on Saturday, but it wouldn’t have been possible without Sabrina Ionescu, who is having the best year of her career with strong performances in the two games since the Olympic break.

Ionescu had a game-best plus-minus of +14 to go with a team-high 23 points (9-21 from the field), six rebounds and three assists in the Liberty’s win over the Aces, which extended their winning streak to six.

“It was good to pick up where we left off,” Ionescu said after the game.

6. Jonquel Jones New York Liberty

Jonquel Jones was also key to the Liberty’s success, nearly recording a triple-double in the game. The former MVP had a big game in the Liberty’s 79-67 win over the Aces, finishing with 10 points (4-of-9 field goal), 17 rebounds (7 offensive) and seven assists.

Jones, Liberty’s third-leading scorer this season, was relatively quiet offensively in the game, but her rebounding has been a big impact for her teammates, Sabrina Ionescu said after the game.

“If I miss, I can shoot with confidence knowing JJ is there,” Ionescu said. “She saves me from making a mistake almost every time.”

5. Lindsay AllenChicago Sky

Lindsay Allen led the Sky to a season-high 16 points (on an efficient 7-of-11 shooting) along with six assists and four rebounds in a 94-90 win over the Sparks.

Chicago was down by 10 going into the fourth quarter, but Allen made two jump shots in the final seconds to help the Sky come back and win the game late.

“We just want to continue to be what we are as a team,” Allen said after the game. “We’re just going to continue to hold ourselves to our standards, our non-negotiables, and as we get closer to the playoffs we’re just going to try to get stronger and be a playoff team and be there.”

The win puts the Sky in a 2.5-game lead for the final postseason spot with 14 games remaining.

4. Aja WilsonLas Vegas Aces

A’ja Wilson continues to dominate the league, but the A’s haven’t been their usual dominant force, and after the loss to New York, Las Vegas dropped to fifth in the WNBA standings.

Wilson still had a strong game in the loss, finishing with 24 points (8-of-15 from the field), 11 rebounds, three steals and three blocks, but said after the game that the Aces felt they needed to be more focused and prepared for the game.

“We just weren’t motivated for 40 minutes, it doesn’t matter if there was a break or not,” Wilson said. “That’s not acceptable.”

3. Stephanie Dolson Washington Mystics

Although the Mystics have struggled, Stephanie Dolson has been outstanding this season. In Saturday’s loss to the Lynx, Dolson made 8-of-8 field goals and 6-of-6 three-pointers, tying the WNBA record for most three-pointers made without a miss.

But her team-high 23 points wasn’t enough to overcome another big performance from Lynx and Napheesa Collier. Still, Mystics coach Eric Thibault noted after the game how important Dolson was to Washington. By team.

“Steph, she makes our offense work in a lot of different ways,” Mystics coach Eric Thibault said after the loss. “She’s always been the connector, but when she starts to get the shot, it changes the flow of the game.”

2. Camila CardosoChicago Sky

The Sky’s No. 3 pick played arguably his best game of the season in Saturday’s win over the Sparks. Cardoso finished with 15 points (6-for-9 from the field), 14 rebounds and three assists in 28 minutes of action, especially in the fourth quarter as the Suns pushed for double-digit points.

After the competition, she said the Olympic break had helped her recover and that she continued to draw confidence from those around her.

“Just listening to my coaches and my teammates,” Cardozo said, “They just show me so much love and support.”

Sky teammate Lindsay Allen praised Cardoso’s performance in the comeback win over the Sparks.

“It’s all about her being active,” she said, “her length is something we rely on a lot, so when she’s active, defending hard, running hard, posting up hard every time she gets the ball, it really makes a big difference for us.”

1. Napheesa Collier Minnesota Lynx

A’ja Wilson is having a historically dominant season and the MVP race may be over, but Lynx star Napheesa Collier has the door open just a little. On Saturday, she scored 30 points on 13-of-16 shooting in a 99-83 win over the Mystics. Her 13 field goals tied her career high, according to a Lynx spokesperson.

“Fee was outstanding,” Thibault said after the game, noting that the Mystics’ defense left a bit to be desired. “She made some tough shots. She made some tough shots.”