Within the eleventh week of the season, the Atlanta Dream and Phoenix Mercury concluded their season streak. The Arizona Wildcats who’re at the moment within the WNBA have completed their first yr as opponents Ari MacDonaldA dream of receiving the season collection Sam Thomas Mercury 2-1. The groups competed head-to-head on Sunday, July seventeenth in Phoenix with Dream profitable 85-75.
In the meantime, in New Zealand, the previous Arizona striker Trinity Baptiste And the Dominic McBride The fourth spherical of play started at GJ Gardner Houses Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa. In addition they performed in a recreation the place earlier Wildcats appeared on opposing groups final week, however neither participant made it to the bottom within the competitors.
Ari McDonald and the Atlanta Dream
McDonald’s week began off sturdy with 12 factors, 3 assists, and three steals in 16 minutes of on-road play in opposition to defending champion Chicago Sky. However her different two matches weren’t that sturdy.
MacDonald has a 4-17 total and 1-8 of three in two video games in opposition to Connecticut and Phoenix. Indicator 3 was an enormous one.
On Sunday, Phoenix tied the sport 73-all with 5:11 to go. Atlanta managed to regain its result in 80-75, however Mercury continued to threaten. MacDonald hit her 3-point shot with just one:02 seconds left, placing an finish to Phoenix’s hopes of a comeback.
Sam Thomas and Phoenix Mercury
One factor that may be stated about coach Phoenix is that Vanessa Nygaard is aware of what the followers need. On Sunday, July 17, I discovered that many followers on the footprint middle wished to see MacDonald and Thomas on the ground on the identical time. Nygaard is certain within the first quarter.
Thomas noticed 1:18 from the motion, however she did not have any stats in opposition to the dream. Earlier than that, you hadn’t seen the stadium since July 7. She has solely had greater than two minutes of play six instances this season and has performed solely two double-digit minutes twice. It final occurred on Could 29 after I performed 22 minutes.
Thomas is 2 for 11 off the sphere this season. She has 4 rebounds, 4 assists and two blocks in a complete of 73 minutes of play in 2022.
Mercury is 0.5 video games exterior the playoff place. The group did not have a decide within the first or second spherical of the draft again in 2023. Even when it did, the WNBA lottery relies on the outcomes of the previous two years, so Mercury seemingly would not have an important draft spot even when they completed this previous season. The group reached the finals final season.
In that regard, Thomas might have an opportunity to return to Phoenix subsequent season and proceed to develop. It will assist her expertise in Italy after the 2022 WNBA season ends.
Trinity Baptiste and mainland Boakai
Baptiste has established herself as an offensive star not solely within the Pouakai roster however in the complete Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa. After the second spherical of play, it completed second within the league with 20.3 factors per recreation. Because the fourth spherical begins, she’s sitting at 21.3 PPG, and she or he’s nonetheless prime of her group.
Boakai’s downside is that she and her American colleague Irene Wallen They’re the one two gamers who common a double quantity for his or her group. Baptiste alone accounts for simply over 30 p.c of her group’s targets.
Baptiste and Valen Scored a complete of 40 factors Within the match with Whai from McBryde. Baptiste additionally grabbed 13 rebounds. Boakai was nonetheless shedding at residence 99-69 regardless of McBride’s damage. Pouakai was unable to cease present clarkwho went for 11 made 3 throws.
Pouakai is now 3-3
Dominic McBride and Approach
McBride began the week with six factors, one rebound, one help, one steal and one block in Whai’s loss to Kahu on July 12. She has not appeared in any matches since then.