Your Day in Women’s Basketball, June 2: Kia Nurse at the buzzer, Cambage dominates inside
By James Hyman
Everyone loves the post buzzer beater dog-pile
What a wild night of WNBA action. We have to start in Chicago, where the Sky took on the Phoenix Mercury in one of the weirdest games of the season. The Mercury were in control in the first half, taking an 11-point lead into the locker room behind 14 first half points from Skylar Diggins-Smith.
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Immediately out of the gate in the third quarter, the Sky mounted their comeback, with all the starters contributing on offense and defense to the point where Chicago now had a comfortable double-digit lead of their own with only a few minutes left in the game.
After a Kahleah Copper missed shot up 83-81 with three seconds left in the game, Kia Nurse took the rebound, dribbled to mid-court, and proceeded to do a Euro Step heave combination to win the game by one at the buzzer for Phoenix that you just have to see to believe.
At the buzzer* we’re excited too 😬 pic.twitter.com/sqZgOcPhkj
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 2, 2021
It was an incredible end to a game of missed put away opportunities for both teams. I had to include the gif at the end so everyone could see the pure elation on Nurse’s face as her shot propels Phoenix to 4-3 on the season.
Tensions flare at Mohegan Sun
One of the most intriguing aspects of the NBA is the relationships between players and their individual personalities. Whether it be affection or animosity, those similar connections and emotions in the WNBA are not as often talked about in the media or amongst fans.
Every league needs villains, players that get under their opponent’s skin possessions after possession while consistently dominating them on the court. The WNBA has Liz Cambage. For anyone that watched last night’s game between the Las Vegas Aces and Connecticut Sun, Cambage put on an absolute clinic while also exuding immense levels of swagger.
The Sun ultimately prevailed for the second time this season against the Aces 74-67, and combined with last year’s semifinal playoff matchup, there is a rivalry brewing.
One thing to watch out for for Connecticut in the future is how Brionna Jones continues to adjust when being guarded by a team’s primary defender. Over the past three games, elite defenders have had a field day at getting around her post ups and stealing/tipping passes into the post. As the team’s third option, she needs to be more aggressive at establishing block position.
And one more note for Las Vegas and specifically Coach Bill Laimbeer, the Aces finished 0-5 from three. In today’s WNBA, that lack of diversity on offense will make it very hard to beat talented defensive teams.
Other scores from Tuesday night:
Dallas Wings defeat Los Angeles Sparks 79-69, Tyasha Harris with a career high 18 points in the win.
Seattle Storm defeat Indiana Fever 88-73, Breanna Stewart with 28 points and six boards.