While the site is focused on the sneaker industry and business analysis primarily, I wanted to do a short run of a Daily Inside Hoops of the W to see if SEO would improve. My goal? I want to see if ESPN and other sports channels are intentionally overlooking the W or are they allotting resources to where it best benefits them. This takes time and it isn’t sponsored so if it takes too long, I won’t continue to write this. I hope I can see results over the next few weeks. Let’s get it!
An exciting slate of five games led to some amazing basketball post All-Star Break. A couple of defensive gems and two ridiculous performances.
Dallas Wings 74
Seattle Storm 83
The Wings two-stepped their way to a halftime lead only to get rained on in the second half. 5 of the Storm squad drop double figures led by Stewie (19 pts) and Steph Talbot with 14 pts. Tina Charles did what TC do almost delivering a double double with 14 points and 9 boards. Sue Bird was a maestro dropping 7 dimes. Tiera McCowan gave the Storm fits producing a double-double, the only one in the game, with 18 buckets and 10 rebounds. Arike dropped 12, but that wasn’t enough to maintain a strong first half.
Las Vegas Aces 107
New York Liberty 101
The high scoring back and forth saw Natasha Howard double up with 20 and 11. Some deep threes by Ionescu, who dropped 27, threatened the Aces late, but with four players in double figures, led by A’ja and her own two servings of 23 pts and 14 rebounds, the Aces held off the scrappy NY club. Kelsey Plum continued her all-star MVP form, dipping in and out of traffic to drop a game high 27 pts. Jackie Young led the Aces with 7 assists. The most notable stat of the game? Wilson, Plum and Young all shot 50% or higher for the game.
Atlanta Dream 75
Chicago Sky 90
Rhyne Howard made it tough to pull for her shooting a rough 30%, but the flashes were there as the rook only 7 pts. The Sky though… they play bullyball, and it all derives from their OG Candace Parker. Parker was rolling coast to coast with Euro Steps, firing threes on the road to 31 pts and 11 rebounds, a season high to lead the Sky who were getting folded and placed in the laundry bag through three quarters. Coop added another 23 and finding backdoor cuts from the high post Meesseman handed out 8 dimes and 1 turnover. Those initial three quarters of bullyball were played by the Dream’s lawfirm of Coffey, Parker and Hayes who led with their elbows high until the Sky turned on the jets pulling away at the end.
Phoenix Mercury 107
Minnesota Lynx 118
When a player can score 36 and be overshadowed, you know you had a damn good game. The temperature and score were rising as the Mercury got explosive games, that could be seen from space by the James Webb telescope, from Skylar (double-double 32 and 10 assists with 6 rebounds) and Sophie Cunningham who shot a blistering 60% from the floor for 36 pts. The crazy thing was how it was all overshadowed by the Lynx’s Aerial Powers who looked like a throwback to Maya Moore with a 35 and 13 rebound stat line. In a game that had a Playoff atmosphere the Lynx didn’t settle for one shining star. They couldn’t get by with only one stellar performance considering the Mercury still had Taurasi with 17pts and Shey Peddy with 10 boards. Sylvia Fowles and Jessica Shepard both doubled up in points and rebounds and Rachel Banham opened up the floor by dropping 5-7 from three with 25 pts and 7 assists. Every Lynx scored in the game.
Washington Mystics 94
Los Angeles Sparks 81
When Chiney Ogumike is left fending for the interior, the Sparks are going to have a tough time. Chiney was the only Spark with double figures in rebounding. As a matter of fact, no other Spark had more than 4 rebounds. Meanwhile the Mystics got a classic Delle Donne game. The future signature sneaker baller had a bananas 71% shooting from the field with 26 points, which kind of makes it hard for the Sparks to grab boards when the entire team is above 50%. Katie Lou did score on 75% of her touches for L.A. and had 26 points, but that was completely offset by 26 points from Natasha Cloud.
