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]]>Originating from SEC rival universities, A'ja Wilson and Angel Reese find themselves a top of the WNBA player rankings.
What a week it's been for Angel Reese and A'ja Wilson. Wilson, of the Las Vegas Aces, was named Western Conference player of the week. Similarly, Reese, of the Chicago Sky, was crowned the Eastern Conference Player of the Week, including games on June 27 through July 7.
Reese, the former no. 7 overall pick, averaged 16.8 points, 14 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. Although the Sky finished 2-3 over a five-game span, the rookie put up a career-high 27 points on 8-13 field goal shooting against the Seattle Storm. The game prior, "Chi-Town Barbie" notched a career-high 19 boards against the Atlanta Dream. With victories over the Storm and Dream, Reese has been relentless on the glass. Although some criticize her inability to finish at the rim, she leads the league in offense boards — by a mile. She's a fighter down below, and now she's classified in the same category as the all-time greats.
Angel Reese becomes the first player in WNBA history to put up 10 consecutive double-doubles in a single season surpassing Candace Parker (9 in 2015) pic.twitter.com/6Aac5nyzgN
— Ballislife Womens Basketball (@ballislifewbb_) June 30, 2024
Reese has made history in multiple ways in a week filled with awkward post-game pressers and social media chatter. She totaled her 13th consecutive double-double, passing the great Candace Parker for a WNBA all-time record. Putting up such numbers close to halftime, Reese accomplished the feat by the third quarter, and against an admirable Storm team. Now halfway through the season, she finds herself deep in the Rookie of the Year conversation alongside Caitlin Clark.
With that said, Sky guard Chennedy Carter didn't hold back after a post-game presser with ION. While the Rookie of the Year award verdict is still debatable, Reese earned her first WNBA All-Star nod in her rookie season. In her increasing list of accomplishments, she becomes the first rookie to win a Player of the Week award. What's more impressive was her dominant performance against the reigning champions. It's not every day you're given the opportunity to matchup against A'ja Wilson, and Reese understood the assignment, at least offensively. In the loss against the Aces, the Sky star tallied 18 points and 11 rebounds.
"Barbie [Angel Reese] is rookie of the year, there's no other way to put it," said Carter. Named Rookie of the month in June, Reese continues to make headlines.
Leading the Aces to a 4-1 record over the period, Wilson put up a season-high 35 points on 56.5 percent field goal shooting against the Sparks on July 5. Although it was a rare overtime defeat, Wilson shot 100 percent from the charity stripe, and matched her season-high six blocks. Coming off two consecutive double-doubles, the Aces star led her squad to victories over the Dallas Wings, Washington Mystics, Indiana Fever, and Sky. A menace on the defensive end, no. 22 has 16 blocks in four games in July alone.
Taking the league by storm, Wilson's emotions from last year's MVP results have translated to success on the court. Averaging a double-double for the first time in her career, the Aces center is putting up 27 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.8 steals, and 2.7 blocks. Putting up more than four points compared to last season, Wilson has added a lethal addition to her game--- a three-point shot. We are talking about a superstar who didn't hit her first three until 2022. The latest addition to her game could be something fierce.
A’ja Wilson scored 31 and extended her WNBA record for most consecutive 20-point regular season games (20).
— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) June 28, 2024
Angel Reese had 18 points, 11 rebounds and tied Candace Parker’s WNBA record for most consecutive double-doubles (9).@LVAces pic.twitter.com/Jrjffn1I5V
With only two deep shots in last year's finals, we've been witnessing the evolution of Wilson's pre-game three-point shots. While that's translated to the court, the Center's drawn the likes and recent attention of NBA star LeBron James and Raiders Maxx Crosby. Just last game, Wilson matched a career-high 3-4 from downtown (75 percent) against Dallas, and a masterful 31 points against the Chicago Sky. With a favorable matchup against Angel Reese, Wilson finished with 10 free throws made alone from the stripe.
From rookie to the vet, women's basketball is in great hands. We are witnessing historic seasons from both athletes, the top two rebounders in the WNBA. Earning player of the month in June and July, Wilson will look to capture her third straight award before the start of the Olympics.
A'ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces (13-7) will next face the Storm in Seattle on June 10. Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky(8-12) will host the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday night.
Stay tuned for more WNBA related articles. Click here
Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content Creator and Manager for Ballislife Bets. She has a focus on the Women's Basketball and the NBA. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration
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]]>A'ja Wilson and Sabrina Ionescu are named the WNBA players of the week
MVP Periodt and the Queen of Brooklyn are making WNBA headlines.
Ionescu has a signature shoe with Nike and debuted the Sabrina 2s last month. Coincidentally, around the same time, Wilson announced her own shoe, the Nike A'One. Set to debut in 2025, Wilson joins Ionescu as one of three active WNBA players with their own signature shoe.
Less than two months into the season Wilson and Ionescu are having significant impacts on their team's overall performance.
Although Wilson is a two-time WNBA Champion, MVP, and defensive player of the year, she simply still hasn't forgotten that one fourth-place MVP voter. Rightfully so, she continues to clap back at the doubters through her performance on the hardwood.
The current favorite to win the WNBA MVP, Wilson averaged 28.5 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists last week from May 27 to June 2. In addition, the former Gamecock was named Western Conference Player of the Month for a historic ninth time and fourth in a row. The streak leader is Tina Charles, who currently plays for the Atlanta Dream.
A'ja Wilson is once again performing at an MVP level
Off to a blistering start, the Aces star added eight blocks and three steals in both matchups against the Atlanta Dream and Minnesota Lynx.
4-2 on the season, Becky Hammon and the Aces suffered a rare 78-74 against the Dream on the road. However, how can we forget Wilson's unforgettable block on good friend Allisha Gray? It may not have traveled into the concession stand but was a statement block.
On pace for another historical season, Wilson started off the season with five straight double-doubles, owning the longest streak of 20+ points and 10+ rebounds in WNBA history. The league leader in blocks with 12.4, Wilson boasted 29 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and four blocks against the Lynx. And a few days later, she put up 28 points, three assists, one steal, and four blocks against the Dream. Over the two games, Wilson shot 46.1 percent from the field.
Earning the weekly award for the 17th time in her career, Wilson has elevated her game significantly. Through six games into the 2024 season, the Aces star is averaging career-highs in points (26.5), rebounds (12.5), and blocks (2.8). Leading the league in player-estimated impact, Wilson is already poised as one of the all-time greats ever to grace the game.
Ionescu, now in her fifth season with the New York Liberty, was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the sixth time in her career. With an 8-2 record on the season, the former Oregon Duck led the Liberty to three consecutive victories over the Phoenix Mercury, Washington Mystics, and Indiana Fever. In that week span, Ionescu averaged 20.7 points, six assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game.?Additionally, she shot an impressive 42.6 percent from long range.
The leader in three-pointers last season, the guard has now tied the New York Liberty record for most consecutive games with at least one three-pointer(35 games). While we know Ionescu as a sharpshooter, her interior presence has been well documented. Stating she's worked on her game tremendously this past offseason, we are witnessing an increased presence of floaters and inside attacks.
Sabrina Ionescu's game has evolved beyond the three-point shot
Nearly 21 percent (31) of Ionescu's 146 field goal attempts have been delivered as driving layups and floating bank shots. Compare this to last year, where she only attempted 17 floater shots. More confident than ever, the California native averages the most points since her rookie season, with 17.9 points per game. Given she only played three games in her first season, it's a testament to the dedication, growth, and evolution of her game.
Ionescu started off the week with a game-high 22 points, six rebounds, and nine assists against the Phoenix Mercury at home. According to Liberty PR, ?Ionescu became the first player in franchise history to record double-digit points with at least five assists in a single quarter (10 points and five assists).
Just a few days later, No. 20 poured in 24 points, one rebound, three assists, on 50 percent three-point shooting against Washington at the Barclays. To end the week, the former Oregon star put up 16 points, six rebounds, and six assists in front of 17,000+ fans against the Indiana Fever.
The Las Vegas Aces (4-2) are set to match up against the Dallas Wings, Seattle Storm, and Los Angeles Sparks this week. The New York Liberty defeated the Chicago Sky 88-75 on Tuesday night, and will matchup with Atlanta, Connecticut, and Washington later this week.
Stay tuned for more WNBA related articles.?Click here
Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content Creator and Social Media Manager for Ballislife Bets.?She has a focus on the Women's Basketball and the NBA. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the?University?of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.
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