2017 WNBA Week 1: Atlanta rolling without its Angel; Wings' rookies shine


The 21st season of the WNBA kicked off last May 13. A week into the action, defending champions Los Angeles Sparks and fellow 2016 finalists Minnesota Lynx both stayed undefeated. Also able to impress were the Atlanta Dream, which are 2-0 even with Angel McCoughtry sitting out,  and the Dallas Wings' pair of rookies Kaela Davis and Allisha Gray.

All that and more in LVJ WNBA's 2017 season Week 1 round-up.

Atlanta Dream shining without their Angel

We all know McCoughtry chose to sit out this season (and it paid off anyway as her Dynamo Kursk had an unbeaten run to take home the 2016-17 EuroLeague Women title) so there were a few questions entering the season.

Apparently, the Dream found the answer in Layshia Clarendon and Tiffany Hayes. Without the high-usage McCoughtry, it was expected that her touches would be distributed among the team's remaining wings and backcourt players.

Hayes and Clarendon have both been impressive in Week 1, carrying the Dream to two straight wins. Hayes is averaging 21-6-3 and is getting nine free throw attempts per game. Clarendon is averaging 16-4-4.5 and is shooting 90 percent from the free throw line. With both them taking over the facilitating duties and jumpstarting the offense, it doesn't feel the Dream don't have their all-world WNBA star that much.

This Lynx core will shoot for one last title (or two)


The window of opportunity for the current Lynx core made up of one-time season MVP Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus, Lindsay Whalen, Rebekkah Brunson, and Sylvia Fowles to win another WNBA title is getting smaller and smaller, but it doesn't mean they are slowing down.

A solid opening week validated that for the Lynx, which have shown in the past seven years the ability to bounce back and win a title after losing the year before.

Fowles, has been dominant in the post. She's putting up 21.7 PPG, 10 RPG, 2 SPG, and 2 BPG while shooting 57.5 percent from the floor. Whalen turned 35 recently but is still doing great when it comes to quarterbacking for her team, averaging 5.3 assists/game. Moore is averaging 16-7.3-5.7 through three games.

Expect this team to aim for nothing less than the title.

Brittney Griner could win MVP this year


What about Brittney Griner? While some of her teammates for the Phoenix Mercury are struggling, she has been the clear-cut best player through three games.

Griner is putting up 23.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG, and 3 BPG and is shooting a whopping 68.4 percent overall. The highlight of her week was a 32-point, 10-rebound, three-block performance (shooting a staggering 13-of-15 from the floor) in the Mercury's 85-62 win over the Indiana Fever.

Davis, Gray proving to be great fits for Dallas


Much has been said about players choosing to forego their final year(s) in college to turn pro. There have been both criticisms and praise regarding that trend, which isn't really new to the league. It's understandable where all the "they should finish their education first" talk is coming from, but for Dallas Wings rookie guards Kaela Davis and Allisha Gray, it has been a smooth transition from college to the WNBA.

With the departure of Riquna Williams and Odyssey Sims (who are both with the Los Angeles Sparks now), the Wings needed some bodies to replace them, and fortunately via the draft, they were able to cop two talented guards.

After leading the South Carolina Gamecocks to the NCAA championship, Davis and Gray have both been solid for the Wings in two games so far. Gray is averaging 13 PPG and 3 RPG. Davis is averaging 13.5-2-2.5 while being perfect from the free throw line.

With the sudden retirement of Erin Phillips as well, expect these two to continue leading the charge along with Skylar Diggins for Dallas.

All is well in Los Angeles


Los Angeles quickly responded when long-time backcourt general Kristi Toliver departed during the offseason.

A week into the season, they've found the answer to who's going to fill the void she left. There's Sydney Wiese and Odyssey Sims who both chipped in impressive opening-week performances.

Sims dropped 20-4-6 on 9-of-15 field goals in a 78-68 win over the Seattle Storm, while just recently, Wiese surprised people as she led the Sparks past the Washington Mystics, 99-89. Wiese had 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting.

With Nneka Ogwumike and Candace Parker still playing on the top of their games, a repeat is very much possible for the Sparks.

Will this finally be New York's year?

Sure, the Sparks and Lynx showed they are the favorites to figure in another battle for the WNBA title this season, getting most of the spotlight. But quietly, the Liberty are poised to make it big this year.

They have a full-strength roster led by Tina Charles. Epiphanny Prince has had a solid run in Europe during the offseason. Brittany Boyd and Sugar Rodgers are both improving. The acquisition of Kia Vaughn further strengthened the frontcourt rotation and gave them experience. With bench players like Bria Hartley and Amanda Zahui B as well, the Liberty are stacked.

Last year, they finished third in the regular season but were upset by the Phoenix Mercury, denying them a chance to compete with the powerhouse squads of the league. Will this finally be the year they can string a good season and a deep run in the post-season?


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