A four-game Wednesday night in the WNBA features four teams hoping to earn their first win.
The 0-1 Toronto Tempo and 0-2 Connecticut Sun play host to the Seattle Storm and Las Vegas Aces, respectively, while the one-loss Indiana Fever and Los Angeles Sparks meet in LA. Sun-Aces (8 p.m. ET) and Sparks-Fever (10:30 p.m. ET) will be broadcast on USA Network, while Tempo-Storm (7 p.m. ET) is available through WNBA League Pass.
On Tuesday night, clutch buckets from Nia Coffey and Sarah Ashlee Barker delivered
the Minnesota Lynx and Portland Fire their first dubs of the season, with a Coffey triple securing the Lynx the 88-84 win over the Phoenix Mercury while Barker’s putback of Bridget Carleton’s off-target game-winning 3-point attempt set off a celebration in Portland, earning the Fire a 98-96 win over the New York Liberty.
Wednesday night’s fourth game, in contrast, matches up two teams looking to avoid a first loss, with the Chicago Sky visiting the Golden State Valkyries (10 p.m. ET, WNBA League Pass). Tuesday night, the Atlanta Dream advanced to 2-0, winning over the Dallas Wings, 77-72, thanks to 26 points from Allisha Gray and another Angel Reese double-double.
Yes, it’s still very early. But, which of the winless squads is most in need of a feel-good victory. Here’s how I see it. In the comments, share your own ranking and rationales.
1. Los Angeles Sparks
The Sparks loudly announced their intentions this offseason, reshaping their roster in order to guarantee a return to the playoffs.
It’s unreasonable for them to instantly affirm those ambitions, and a single win won’t do that, but another loss, especially another uncompetitive one, will have LA returning to relevance—an organizational desire Edwin Garcia has consistently emphasized in his Sparks coverage—for all the wrong reasons.
Additionally, the glare on the Cameron Brink situation will get brighter. If the newly-imported (or re-imported) vets rack up wins, Brink’s minimized role can be cast as a cost of winning. But if the reformed roster sputters, Brink’s spotty development will suffer more scrutiny, fair or not.
2. Toronto Tempo
The Toronto Tempo certainly would love to give their home fans the first win in franchise history before departing on a five-game road trip.
Hopefully, the Tempo can at least give them a fun game. While there was understandable exultation in Toronto during the opener, it’s hard to maintain excitement about ugly basketball—and the Tempo product was pretty unappealing. Head coach Sandy Brondello offered an honest assessment of her team, even as she also insisted that their issues—forcing contested shots, failing to trust the pass and fumbling transition opportunities—are an “easy fix.”
If, as they have proclaimed, the Tempo envision themselves as this year’s Valkyries, Toronto needs show quick progress. Although a positive result on Wednesday is ideal, better process—especially from their celebrated million-dollar backcourt of Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes—has to be the first priority.
3. Indiana Fever
Maybe this is surprising, as the Fever are expected, more so than the Sparks or Tempo, to establish themselves as championship contenders.
Yet, because there is widespread optimism about what this team could be, they’ve been extended the benefit of the doubt. After playing in only 13 games last season, any early season struggles from Caitlin Clark can be excused as rust. And then, Aliyah Boston missed all of Indy’s preseason games, preventing her from rediscovering her rhythm with Clark. New pieces, from Monique Billings to Myisha Hines-Allen to Ty Harris to rookie Raven Johnson, also need to find their niche.
Although an 0-2 start would be far from ideal, don’t expect it to cause serious alarm about Indiana. At least not immediately. But if Clark continues to be inefficient and the defense fails to find an adequate level, panic will begin to percolate soon enough.
4. Connecticut Sun
Even at 0-2, the Connecticut Sun can still smile. Wins are not the expectation this season, especially against the defending champions.
But development from the team’s young player is a priority. Thus far, last year’s first-round draft picks, Saniya Rivers and Annesah Morrow, appear on opposite trajectories.
After one game, head coach Rachid Meziane decided to relieve Rivers of primary ball-handling duties in order to open up other aspects of her game. Presumably, that references Rivers’ defensive potential; the hyper athlete has yet to record a steal and has just one block through two games. Morrow, in contrast, is thriving, agnostic of context. She’s making a bid to join the starting lineup after recording a 17-point and 16-rebound double-double, which featured three made 3s, in the second game of the season.
Seeing Rivers find a rhythm and Morrow continue to cook is a win for the Sun, regardless of the final scoreboard.
