Frustration appears to be a recurring theme for many in the basketball world of 2022. As the WNBA world turns, so does the continued soap opera of a season that keeps fans tuning in. That is if fans can navigate the plethora of apps, streaming services, and TV channels necessary to watch games regularly.
On a very positive note, what a beautiful All-Star game. The two WNBA MVP frontrunners, A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, led their teams in an action-packed, fun-filled, tear-jerking forty minutes of entertainment.
As the second part of the season shifts into high gear, expect a flurry of movement in the standings. Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, and Minnesota are hustling to grab playoff spots and add wins to their team records. Chicago, Las Vegas, Seattle, and Connecticut own the top four positions to start the week.
In the thick of the 2022 WNBA MVP race, Wilson leads, and Stewart is a close second. Other players have time to stake a claim to the title, but time is running out. Do not miss a single night of action, whoever your MVP candidate is. The intensity level has reached full throttle.
BRITTNEY GRINER
It has been 145 days since Brittney Griner was wrongfully detained in Russia. Please visit wearebg.org and use your voice to help facilitate her release. At the All-Star game, BG was named an honorary All-Star, and every player wore her jersey during the second half of the game. It is with high hopes that BG returns home soon.
#FreeBG pic.twitter.com/B0pjYzgj83
— W Lead (@WNBALead) July 10, 2022
A’JA WILSON
It was an unsettling experience for Aces fans as Las Vegas lost three of their last five games. The team holds a tenuous second place in league standings, and challenges loom ahead as Vegas hits the road for three games.
Although the MVP race has tightened, Wilson is the frontrunner again this week. She averages 18.5 points a game and shoots a sizzling 49.0% from the field. She has a league-leading 12 double-doubles and leads the league in rebounds (10.1 RPG). Wilson is second in blocks (2.1 BPG) and ESPN fantasy points (37.4 FPG).
If Las Vegas wants to reclaim its winning ways, the team must make Wilson its focal point on offense. Pass her the ball and get out of the way. Let the MVP elevate her team to league dominance.
BREANNA STEWART
Winning four of their last five games, Seattle moved to third in league standings with a 15-8 record. Breanna Stewart averaged 17.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.8 steals in that span. Her scoring and rebounds decreased, but that is not necessarily a bad sign. It might be an adjustment period for her and the team as they welcomed Tina Charles into the Storm lineup.
Stewie leads the league in points (21.0 PPG) and ESPN fantasy points (39.0 FPG), and she is second in steals (1.9 SPG). Two home games against opponents with losing records bodes well for her as she continues to push for 2022 WNBA MVP honors.
KELSEY PLUM
Making her debut in the 2022 WNBA MVP power rankings, Kelsey Plum earned MVP honors at the All-Star game. She is first in the league in three-pointers made (3.2 3PM), second in scoring (19.9 PPG), and sixth in assists (5.7 APG). If KP can decrease turnovers and improve on the defensive end of the court, this may turn into a three-way battle for the 2022 WNBA MVP.
Hopefully, the WNBA will upgrade that white elephant All-Star MVP trophy to a legitimate professional one. Kudos to KP for being gracious in her acceptance of the well-deserved award.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1546231522197381121
AND FOUR
There are a few worthy mentions this week. A massive shoutout goes to Sylvia Fowles for her All-Star performance. A dunk and a three-pointer? If Minnesota can get past the five hundred mark, her name is back in the 2022 WNBA power rankings.
Additionally, congratulations on your dunk, Nneka Ogwumike. You are like a silent assassin. No one knows what happened until after the hit.
Here are some suggestions for next year’s All-Star game: allow fans access to all of the events, the entire weekend; sell WNBA apparel that matches those the players wear, and create a rule that will enable the four-pointer in every game.
Finally, congratulations to Jonquel Jones for her MVP-Esque performance in the All-Star game. Two years in a row, that award has slipped from your fingertips.
Every day, in every way, enjoy every baller that steps on the court for the WNBA. It is truly a gift to witness the athleticism and leadership of the players in this professional organization.
All stats courtesy of Her Hoops Stats
