Refresher: What to expect in the final third of the 2016 WNBA season


The 2016 WNBA season will resume in a few days. In case you already forgot about what's happening in the league due to a month-long break (and the United States' Olympic dominance), here's a refresher on the league's 20th season.

The Los Angeles Sparks are the best team in the league...

The 21-3 Sparks are the best team in the league so far. They lead the league in point differential (+11.1) and offense (112.8 ORTG), and are second-best in defense (99.5 DRTG) behind the Minnesota Lynx. The Sparks' season included a 20-1 start, which tied the Houston Comets' record for best start through 21 games.


Of course, the Sparks are being led by Candace Parker, who is on pace to win a third MVP title. She averages 16.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG, and 5.1 APG and ranks in the top 10 in those categories. But if you think those numbers are unparalleled, her own teammate Nneka Ogwumike is giving her a good challenge for that MVP award. Ogwumike is averaging 19.6 PPG on a whopping 71 percent shooting overall. She also has 13 double-doubles including a current streak of five straight and league-bests of 7.4 win shares and 33.2 PER.

...but the Minnesota Lynx are the hottest right now


The Lynx have won six straight games prior to the Olympic break to close the gap between them and the Sparks to just half a game.

With their big four of Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, Seimone Augustus, and Lindsay Whalen also coming off another great appearance in the Olympics, let's see if the key players can carry over some momentum and cap the year with another title.

Epiphanny Prince has returned for the Liberty

New York Liberty guard Epiphanny Prince has been reactivated by the squad. She will return after recovering from an ACL injury last year.

Prince was an integral part of the Liberty's run last season, averaging 15 PPG, 2.9 RPG, and 3.4 APG and starting in 23 of 24 games. The Liberty had the best regular season record last year at 23-11.

Prince will surely help the Liberty with her shot-making ability and knack for getting to the rim to create opportunities for her other teammates.

Swin Cash to be honored in retirement ceremony on September 7


Speaking of the Liberty, Swin Cash, who announced that she will be retiring at the end of the season, will be honored in a retirement ceremony at the Madison Square Garden on September 7. It will be held after the Liberty-Seattle Storm game.

Cash announced earlier this year via The Players' Tribune that this season will be her final year in the league.

Outside of Los Angeles, Minnesota, and New York, it's a wide-open race for the playoffs

The Sparks, Lynx, and Liberty are still the elite teams in the league, having compiled a total record of 60-15 two-thirds through the regular season. These squads are just on the different level, and are locks to make the playoffs. But outside of them, it is pretty much a wide-open race for the remaining playoff spots.

Only four (!!!) games separate the fourth-ranked Atlanta Dream from the 11th-ranked Connecticut Sun. The Dream is the only team above .500 among those seven squads at 13-12. They are being followed by the Indiana Fever (12-12), Chicago Sky (11-13), Phoenix Mercury (10-14), Washington Mystics (9-15), Seattle Storm (9-15), and Sun (9-16).

Don't count the Connecticut Sun out yet


The Sun have been impressive in their last few games heading into the Olympic break. Connecticut has won five of its last eight games, with Chiney Ogwumike leading the way. Ever since she returned, Ogwumike inflicted energy on both ends and gave the team a boost. She averaged 18 PPG, 9.2 RPG, and 1.8 BPG in her last five games. With the Sun just 1.5 games behind of the eighth spot in the team standings, a playoff return is a big possibility.

Stewie is clear-cut top newcomer


In case you forgot about the Rookie of the Year race, Breanna Stewart is just a cut above the rest. She is averaging 19.2 PPG (fifth-best), 9.3 RPG (second-best), and 2.1 BPG (third-best), numbers that aren't juat worthy of the Rookie of the Year award but perhaps even a shot at the MVP should the Seattle Storm go on a serious roll in the last third of the season.

 MVP FRONT-RUNNERS

Obviously, I wasn't able to maintain posting weekly MVP Races on my blog due to other commitments here. But here's a list of players who have a legitimate shot at winning the most prestigious individual award this season.

Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks

Season averages: 16.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 40.3 percent 3-PT FGs


When Parker returned for the Sparks in the second half of the 2015 season, she changed the fortunes of the team. Los Angeles became a juggernaut which went 13-3 with her, and made the playoffs although exited in the first round. This year is much of the same story with her leadership on the floor and ability to take charge making a difference for Brian Agler's troops.

Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks

Season Averages: 19.6 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 71 percent FGs, 69.2 percent 3-PT FGs, 5.1 FT attempts/game, 13 double-doubles

Will Ogwumike be able to break the mold this season? MVP trophies are usually handed out to the top players of the league's best teams, not only for their numbers, but also their leadership and how they carried their respective teams throughout the year. But Ogwumike is the type of player makes a living off a different role. She moves well without the ball to generate baskets (for what it's worth, she can manufacture her own shot too). She is a hardworking forward who doesn't give up on every play. She leads the league in PER and win shares, and it is hard to argue against the impact she has given the Sparks this season. That's value right there.

Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx

Season averages: 19.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.6 SPG, 37.6 percent 3-PT FGs

The 2014 MVP is one of the best players in the world today. The Lynx will rely on her ability to take over with her scoring in the games to come, and expect her to bring the same game to the table every time.

Tina Charles, New York Liberty

 Season averages: 21.4 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 3.7 APG, 13 double-doubles


The biggest difference for Charles this season is that she has stepped up in facilitating. Charles averaged 3.7 assists per game, which is 1.4 assists better than her 2015 output. Throughout her career, Charles has averaged just 2.1 APG. Not only is she the Liberty's top offensive option which makes her draw the attention of the opposing team's defense, she also gets her teammates involved, a huge part in New York's success so far this season.

Elena Delle Donne, Chicago Sky

Season averages: 21.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.5 BPG, 41.9 3-PT percent FGs, 92.3 percent FGs

Well, what else could be said about the reigning MVP? She is doing everything right now for the Sky which sits just two games behind .500. The key stat this season for her is her 41.9 percent clip from long range, which is significantly better than her 2015 clip.

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