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Happy Sunday and welcome back to Layup Lines, your quick recap of what’s going on in the WNBA.
We are somehow already almost at the All-Star break, so I will be back in your inbox later this week with an ASG preview and more midseason thoughts.
This 532 word newsletter should take about 2 minutes to read.
🤒 Fever rip off two big wins
Courtesy @wnba
It’s nice to have the Fever in the headlines just for basketball reasons! Indiana has now won seven of its last 10 after two different stars led big wins the last two nights.
On Friday, Caitlin Clark recorded the WNBA's first-ever 45-point, 10-assist double-double — and set the franchise record for most points in one game — in a 110-107 win over Seattle. This three is vintage, Iowa-era Clark.
Last night, Kelsey Mitchell played the hero by scoring 33 points in a 108-88 win over the Liberty. It was Mitchell’s 10th consecutive 20-point game and included this ridiculous shot to seal the win.
This is still an extremely flawed defensive team and they won’t get far in the playoffs without some wholesale changes, but the last two nights have at least been a good reminder of just how fun the Fever are offensively when everything is clicking.
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📺 What’s on this week
The All-Star game is next Saturday, so this week’s schedule is a little wonky.
We have three nationally televised games today that I can’t in good faith encourage you to watch. There are then four games tomorrow, a loaded six on Wednesday and that’s it outside of the All-Star break until Tuesday, July 28.
I’m going to watch Las Vegas @ Toronto (8pm ET Monday, Peacock) and Washington @ Golden State (10pm Monday, Leage Pass), with one eye on Minnesota playing both nights on the road against the Storm (10pm Monday, USA Network, 3pm Wednesday, League Pass).
Looking to wager? I like* Chicago / Atlanta under 180.5 total points scored today, plus Toronto +9.5 vs. Las Vegas and Washington / Golden State over 147.5 points scored tomorrow.
*I am 16-13 on bets I like this year.
🗞️ Three stories you may have missed
Teresa Weatherspoon, Cynthia Cooper pick WNBA All-Star teams (ESPN)
Tempo coach Sandy Brondello suspended by WNBA for Angel Reese comment (USA TODAY)
Adam Silver calls Caitlin Clark a 'political football,' sidesteps suspension report (The Athletic)
🇯🇵 Under-the-radar signing to go
Three months ago, Japanese guard Mai Yamamoto scored 24 points on seven 3-pointers against the Aces in an exhibition game. On Friday, Las Vegas signed Yamamoto for the rest of the season, taking the roster spot of the recently waived Chennedy Carter.
She becomes the shortest player in the league even if listed at 5-foot-5 and not 5-foot-4, but the guard is an electric, creative scorer who has jumped off the screen in international competitions for years.
If the Aces give Yamamoto 8-12 minutes per game off the bench, this could be such a good fit.
Courtesy @LVAces
Layup Lines is written 100% by a human being. I very much appreciate you reading!
— Everett Cook, Founder & Editor