WNBA video games, scores: Prime performers Thursday together with in Sky vs Mercury

After a month-long Olympic break, WNBA play lastly resumed on Thursday evening. Paradoxically, the identical gamers who’ve represented USA Basketball these previous few weeks in Paris led means of their groups’ wins — no relaxation, no downside.

Within the triple-header, the Liberty got here away with a 35-point win over the Sparks, the Mercury with a 20-point win over the Sky, and the Lynx with a 9-point win over the Mystics.

Apparently sufficient, it was 5 members from the U.S. girls’s Olympic basketball crew who dominated the WNBA final evening. Listed below are Thursday’s prime 5 performers, ranked from excellent to ridiculously good.

5. Sabrina Ionescu, New Liberty

Sabrina Ionescu had one other stellar outing for the Liberty, posting 18 factors on 6-13 capturing, 6 assists and 4 rebounds in a win over the Sparks. She completed the sport with a plus-minus of +25 in simply 23 minutes, serving to the Liberty get out to a 19-point first quarter lead and by no means trying again.

Ionescu is within the midst of a profession season, averaging 19.8 factors and 6.1 assists per recreation — each profession highs. After a number of weeks of serving because the youngest member on Staff USA in Paris, Ionescu helped the Liberty enhance to a league-best 22-4 document.

4. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx

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Napheesa Collier is again and it seems to be like she she by no means left. Collier suffered a foot damage towards the Solar on July 4th and didn’t play once more till All-Star Weekend. The Lynx went 3-2 with out her pre-Olympics, and it was evident simply how crucial she was to their play on each sounds of the ball. However, Collier seemed good all through her Paris tenure — averaging 6.7 factors and 6.5 rebounds — and didn’t miss a beat in her first recreation again with the Lynx in over a month.

Collier completed with 17 factors, 12 rebounds, and a couple of steals, serving to the Lynx to a 79-68 win over the Mystics. The Lynx improved to 18-8 on the season.

After the sport, Collier credited the crew’s unwavering connectivity: “We’re so sturdy, and our chemistry is so good. We imagine in one another a lot – it doesn’t matter if we’re up or down. We keep collectively.”

3. Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty

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Bear in mind when Breanna Stewart was in a capturing hunch? That now looks like a distant reminiscence. Stewart went 0-14 from downtown in 4 video games with the Liberty in July, however seems to be to have discovered her rhythm after a wonderful Paris Olympic match through which she averaged 16.3 factors on 56.7% capturing.

Stewie dominated within the Liberty’s 103-68 win over the Sparks, ending with 27 factors in simply 20 minutes of play. Her offensive efficiency was as environment friendly as they arrive — she hit 10-15 photographs and made 3-4 from three-point vary.

After the sport, Stewart credited her Liberty teammates for serving to make the re-acclimation again to the WNBA simpler.

“This crew enjoys being round one another,” she stated. “We’ve got a chemistry and a camaraderie.”

2) Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury

Photograph by Gary Dineen/NBAE through Getty Photos

In Paris, Brittney Griner took a backseat position as A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart dominated the frontcourt.

However again in a Mercury jersey, Griner seemed to have reverted to her former unstoppable self. The Sky had no reply for the 6’ 9 heart, who loved one among her finest performances of the 2024 season. Griner dominated the paint, ending the sport with 23 factors on 10-12 capturing, to associate with 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 blocks.

After the 85-65 win, Griner stated she loved the uncommon alternative to match up towards a participant almost her peak: Sky rookie Kamilla Cardoso stands at 6’ 7.

“I at all times like going up towards folks my dimension,” Griner stated. “I seemed ahead to it tonight. I used to be proud of it — I simply type of learn it.”

The 33-year outdated stated she felt recent regardless of not having a lot of a break — Staff USA competed within the gold medal recreation on Sunday, however Griner solely averaged 14.3 minutes per recreation all through the match.

“I type of really feel rested, actually,” she stated.

1) Kahleah Copper, Phoenix Mercury

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Kahleah Copper – who spent seven seasons with the Sky and led the crew to a championship in 2021 – confirmed out in her first recreation again at Wintrust Enviornment. She exploded for 29 factors on 12-19 capturing, serving to the Mercury defeat the Sky.

“Everyone knows what she will be able to do,” Brittney Griner stated of Copper. “We’ve been on the opposite finish of it on this area. I’m simply completely happy I get to see it from the facet of being her teammate now.”

Copper was matter-of-fact when requested postgame if that is the type of efficiency she hoped to have towards her former crew.

“Sure,” she stated with a smile. “Environment friendly, you win — I like that.”