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WNBA News: Angel McCoughtry, Maya Moore Named Players of the Week

By Joseph Zucker

WHITE PLAINS, NY - JUNE 19: Atlanta Dream guard Angel McCoughtry (35) drives to the basket during the first half of the WNBA game between the Atlanta Dream and New York Liberty on June 19, 2018, at Westchester County Center in White Plains, NY. (Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WHITE PLAINS, NY - JUNE 19: Atlanta Dream guard Angel McCoughtry (35) drives to the basket during the first half of the WNBA game between the Atlanta Dream and New York Liberty on June 19, 2018, at Westchester County Center in White Plains, NY. (Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Dream forward Angel McCoughtry and Minnesota Lynx forward Maya Moore were named WNBA Player of the Week for their respective conferences, the league announced Monday.

McCoughtry averaged 32.0 points and 11.0 rebounds in the Dream’s two games last week, which Atlanta split to move to 7-6 on the season.

The Dream are on pace to reach the playoffs despite owning the WNBA’s worst offensive rating (89.2). Were it not for the fact Atlanta has the league’s best defense (93.6), the team would be in some trouble.

McCoughtry is partly to blame for the Dream’s offensive struggles. Her .411 field-goal percentage is the second-lowest of her career. In addition, McCoughtry owns the fifth-lowest three-point percentage (.222) among player with at least 20 attempts from deep in 2018, according to WNBA.com.

McCoughtry shot 43.9 percent from the floor and was 2-of-6 on three-pointers en route to winning Player of the Week. If that’s a sign of things to come, then the Dream become a much more dangerous squad.

Likewise, Moore’s POTW nod coincides with an upturn in form for the Lynx. Minnesota has won five of its last six games, including three in a row this past week.

During that stretch, Moore averaged 22.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists.

Nobody seriously considered the Lynx dynasty to be in its final throes as the team started the year 3-6. But it looked like the gulf between Minnesota and the rest of the league was closing.

The Lynx had to part ways with Renee Montgomery and Natasha Howard, depleting their depth somewhat, though Minnesota added Danielle Robinson to replace Montgomery.

Age starts becoming a question as well when Seimone Augustus, Lindsay Whalen and Rebekkah Brunson are all 34 or older. Sylvia Fowles will turned 32 in October, too.

With regard to the second point, Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum learned the hard way not to call the Lynx an “old” team:

After this past week, it looks like the WNBA title will go through Minneapolis.

The Lynx can further cement that notion Tuesday when they play the Seattle Storm at home. Especially after Plum’s minor jab, Minnesota will probably relish the chance to beat a young team on the rise such as Seattle.

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