Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones Jr discuss Bill Russell's jersey being retired league-wide (2:30), what's coming in Laker Land (6:00), and the latest WNBA injury news (12:50). They close things out with questions from the mailbag (29:20) and Free Throws (1:07:40). 
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Nekias Duncan and former NBA video coordinator and assistant coach Steve Jones break down teams, players, and rumors around the NBA every week.

The Dunker Spot

Hold On A Minute, Playa

<p>If you have a minute and change to spare &mdash; and I'd assume so since you've opened this piece &mdash; I want you to watch this video. It's an assist compilation of Las Vegas Aces star Chelsea Gray from Tuesday night's win over the Atlanta Dream. It includes 5 of her game-high 9 assists.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/zbchwr" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>The assists, in order:</p>
<ul>
<li>A pick-and-roll with A'ja Wilson (MVP, by the way) in which Gray freezes Cheyenne Parker (Wilson's defender) with a hesi, forces a rotation from Naz HIllmon (#00) with her drive and waits out the secondary rotation from Rhyne Howard (#10, Rookie of the Year front-runner) before firing to Jackie Young</li>
<li>A full-court lead pass to Young after a singular dribble</li>
<li>An instantaneous feed to Wilson through a pair of defenders after a loose-ball scramble</li>
<li>A 20-plus-feet behind-the-back bounce pass (?????) to a cutting Kelsey Plum</li>
<li>A no-look feed to Young after a drive in transition</li>
</ul>
<p>Highlight films are typically dangerous for narrative-driven minds. With just a few clips, you can present a chapter as a full-blown story. But I assure you that this isn't a doctored snippet; this is who Chelsea Gray, The W's #PointGawd, really is.</p>
<p>The numbers don't do her justice, though it's worth noting that she's averaging a career-high in assists this season (6.2 per game). Only three players &mdash; Courtney Vandersloot, Natasha Cloud and Sue Bird &mdash; are assisting more than Gray on a <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=AST&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;PerMode=PerPossession&amp;CF=GP*GE*15" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per-possession basis</a>.</p>
<p>But to appreciate Gray's playmaking ability, you have to watch. Her cadence is different. The angles she spots for passes are almost unheard of for mere mortals; the angles she can <em>create&nbsp;</em>are more rare. There isn't a pass in the book she can't make; more importantly, there isn't a pass that she won't try.</p>
<p>If those descriptors sound familiar, it's because they've been used &mdash; reserved, even &mdash; for legends. Magic Johnson was and is the standard for that sort of creativity on the NBA side. Ticha Penicheiro &mdash; the league's all-time assist leader until Bird passed her in 2017 &mdash; certainly fits the bill for The W. You can see their inspiration shine through Gray's game.</p>
<p>"With Magic, it was everything he could do as a bigger point guard," Gray told Basketball News in a Zoom interview. "It was how he incorporated flashiness too. Being able to balance effectiveness with a little flash."</p>
<p>While Magic helped with broad strokes, you can thank Penicheiro's influence for Gray's affinity for no-look passes.</p>
<p>"With Ticha, her ability to look at a completely different person but pass it somewhere else always intrigued me," Gray said. "I used to look to the side and try to hit a pole [to practice]."</p>
<p>A throughline with Magic, Penicheiro and Gray is the ability to see plays develop before they happen. It's an obvious gift; it's easier to beat a defense if you're ahead of them conceptually. But there is an obvious drawback: It's a gift because only a few players can see the game that way.</p>
<p>What is genius if it isn't understood? It's likely a turnover in basketball.</p>
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
<p>Like many great playmakers before her, Gray has to walk a tightrope between doing her thing and coloring inside the lines. It's also the responsibility of the coach to help find that balance. She certainly felt that during the early portion of her Los Angeles Sparks tenure.</p>
<p>"It's like, if [the passes] go through, they're good. If they didn't, it'd be so terrible; 'I don't know what she saw; I don't know what that was (laughs),'" Gray said. "But as my game progressed and I got a little smarter about when to make certain passes, there was more of a balance.</p>
<p>"There's always a balance of not taking away the player and their effectiveness, but reeling them in so they're within what you're trying to accomplish."</p>
<p>When watching a Gray pick-and-roll, or a no-look, or a transition touchdown, it's hard not to wonder how she makes decisions. Luckily, Gray was kind enough to not only answer that question broadly, but also talk through some of her assists from this season for further insight with Basketball News.</p>
<p>(<em>This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.)<br /></em></p>
<p><strong>When you're making fancier reads, are any of those predetermined? What goes into your process?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Chelsea Gray: </strong>"It's a mixture of what the defense is doing, and my head.</p>
<p>"Sometimes I feel like the most 'complicated' way to get it there is the easiest way for me to get it there, or the quickest or most efficient. I was just having a conversation about a simple thing like a pick-and-pop. Me doing a bounce pass behind the back is the easiest, most efficient way to get it there, so my teammate has a wide-open shot rather than spinning in a circle to throw the pass.</p>
<p>"Sometimes, maybe I <em>could</em> do that, but [the behind-the-back bounce pass] is the most efficient way for me to do that to make sure my teammate has an easier read when they catch the ball."</p>
<p><strong>With great playmakers, I'm always curious about their process, and what or who they're reading on the floor. When you're running a ball-screen, what are the kind of things you're looking for?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/kt8p00" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"My initial read is seeing how my defender is guarding me. If they're playing off, that changes my angle going into the pick-and-roll. From there, I'm looking at my post player or whoever's setting the screen to see how their defender is guarding them &mdash; are they (the screener's defender) going to jump out?</p>
<p>"Some pick-and-rolls are defended differently based on who's setting the screen. Defenses might play it one way when Kiah Stokes is involved, but a different way if it's Dearica Hamby or A'ja Wilson. My teammates also do different things. Kiah, most of the time, is going to roll while the others may mix in pick-and-pops.</p>
<p>"All of that is going into my head when heading into a ball-screen. Then, it's like, 'If this happens, then <em>this&nbsp;</em>happens.' That's the repetitive nature of running so many pick-and-rolls throughout my career. When a defender does something, they're giving up something else. From there, it's about how to make the right decision as quickly as possible."</p>
<p><strong>You mentioned how defensive coverages may differ based on who's screening for you. Who's the best screener on the Aces?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/lpqo8y" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"That's so hard. Honestly, it does depend on the coverage they're getting. Against Dallas (on Aug. 4), Teaira McCowan was hitting A'ja and wasn't letting her screen. But because of that, I was able to hit her on the roll off the back side. Kiah tries to head-hunt&nbsp;<em>every single time </em>(laughs), so the angle is different.</p>
<p>"It's hard to say who the best pick-and-roll player is. Like, Dearica Hamby will hit and just go, super quickly. So it'll look like, 'Whoa, what a great screen,' but really, there was a lot of indecision on the defensive end. She's able to get us both open because she creates some thought in their head like, 'Oh snap, I'm hit; what are we doing on our coverage?' It really depends."</p>
<p><strong>With this pick-and-roll (video below), this ends up being a pass to Iliana Rupert. It looks like you're flowing out of HORNS. When you get the first screen, are you gauging what the big (NaLyssa Smith) is doing first?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/wx09bv" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"Yeah, I'm seeing what this big is doing here. I see Emily Engstler sink in for the help because Destanni Henderson is hit with the screen. I know Iliana Rupert is going to be open on the pop; it's a simple HORNS action."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_28_26_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p><strong>I have two transition clips to share now. In the first one, you find Kelsey Plum trailing the play. She makes a move and gets the bucket; you get the assist on this one. In the second one, you hit a streaking Jackie Young. When you're making these full-court hit-aheads, which defender are you reading? What determines where you go with the ball?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/0dl3fs" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"As we cross half court, our angles have to be clear and concise. As we're running, we know one big will run down the floor while the other will trail the play. As the trailer, Dearica Hamby will either come set a drag screen, or I'll pass to her and she'll flow to the next side."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_17_40_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"So if you pause it when Kelsey catches the ball, I'm reading to see if A'ja's defender picked her up, and if Dearica's defender picked her up. Indiana is pretty much matched up; they did a solid job in transition defense.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_20_31_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"Personally, I don't know if I would've counted this as an assist. I just get it there for her to be able to make a move. After the initial catch, she has to make a good and solid move to get into the paint and finish.</p>
<p>"This second one, on the other hand, people are just flying down the court. Kiah Stokes actually gets Jackie open by the way she runs the floor. Kayla Thornton feels like, 'Oh shoot, [Kiah's] going; Teaira McCowan, help!' Meanwhile, Jackie is streaking down the court.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_00_52_35_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"I see all of that unfolding, and that's on top of them being concerned about A'ja filling in. Jackie's able to knock the shot down, right in the flow."</p>
<p><strong>We have to talk about the falling pass to Kelsey Plum! You get a screen from Kiah Stokes. We have good defense from Brittney Sykes. When did you decide you're going to find the angle for the pass that way?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/6qblu6" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"Really, I decided in the moment. I saw it afterwards and was like, 'I know I fell, but I <em>had&nbsp;</em>to fall to get it there.' I felt that it would've been a turnover or Brittney Sykes would've gotten her hand on it. The <em>way&nbsp;</em>I fell was a bit of a dramatic fall, but it was necessary.</p>
<p>"It took all of my power in order to get it there. The angle and the rate in which [Kelsey Plum] was cutting was all going into my thought process. So I was like, 'Alright, I have to fall or else it's not going to get there.' If I threw a straight bounce pass, the defender would've gotten it."</p>
<p><strong>Alright, last one for the fancy passes. A&nbsp;<em>behind-the-back pass&nbsp;</em></strong><strong>on a baseline inbound?!</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/t544q2" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"To me, it was simple. In the moment, I realized what I did, but I got excited because the play that we called &mdash; we hadn't scored on it yet.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"If you pause it here, Tiffany Mitchell is already beat:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_36_44_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"But I can't make a bounce pass there with Lexie Hull right there. There's no possible way. So the only way I feel that I can get it there is by going behind the back.</p>
<p>"If you keep going... right there:</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_39_40_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"I would have to angle my body to be able to throw a chest pass. Hull might be able to get a hand on it, or Jackie [Young] won't be able to finish it. So if I look one way, it just takes half a step for Hull to come over and I'm able to get the angle for Jackie.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Honestly, a lot of times when I do the behind-the-back or a fancy pass, it's the quickest, most efficient way I feel it can get there. It's not like "let me do this pass because it'll be on a highlight reel." Sometimes I want to add a little no-look flair to it and I probably could've gotten it there by looking at her. But the fanciness of the curve, or behind-the-back, or behind-the head &mdash; that's the quickest way for me to get it there without a turnover. Maybe that's just ridiculous [laughs].</p>
<p><strong>No, I don't think so at all! On the no-look front: when you're watching others, does it bother you when players fake it? Sometimes it's obvious that a player will stare their teammate down before looking off and making it seem like a real no-look.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>[Laughs] Maybe that's their version of the way they want to do a no-look! I don't know, it doesn't bother me. As long as they get the assist, they should be fine with the way they're doing it.</p>

<p>If you have a minute and change to spare &mdash; and I'd assume so since you've opened this piece &mdash; I want you to watch this video. It's an assist compilation of Las Vegas Aces star Chelsea Gray from Tuesday night's win over the Atlanta Dream. It includes 5 of her game-high 9 assists.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/zbchwr" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>The assists, in order:</p>
<ul>
<li>A pick-and-roll with A'ja Wilson (MVP, by the way) in which Gray freezes Cheyenne Parker (Wilson's defender) with a hesi, forces a rotation from Naz HIllmon (#00) with her drive and waits out the secondary rotation from Rhyne Howard (#10, Rookie of the Year front-runner) before firing to Jackie Young</li>
<li>A full-court lead pass to Young after a singular dribble</li>
<li>An instantaneous feed to Wilson through a pair of defenders after a loose-ball scramble</li>
<li>A 20-plus-feet behind-the-back bounce pass (?????) to a cutting Kelsey Plum</li>
<li>A no-look feed to Young after a drive in transition</li>
</ul>
<p>Highlight films are typically dangerous for narrative-driven minds. With just a few clips, you can present a chapter as a full-blown story. But I assure you that this isn't a doctored snippet; this is who Chelsea Gray, The W's #PointGawd, really is.</p>
<p>The numbers don't do her justice, though it's worth noting that she's averaging a career-high in assists this season (6.2 per game). Only three players &mdash; Courtney Vandersloot, Natasha Cloud and Sue Bird &mdash; are assisting more than Gray on a <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=AST&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;PerMode=PerPossession&amp;CF=GP*GE*15" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per-possession basis</a>.</p>
<p>But to appreciate Gray's playmaking ability, you have to watch. Her cadence is different. The angles she spots for passes are almost unheard of for mere mortals; the angles she can <em>create&nbsp;</em>are more rare. There isn't a pass in the book she can't make; more importantly, there isn't a pass that she won't try.</p>
<p>If those descriptors sound familiar, it's because they've been used &mdash; reserved, even &mdash; for legends. Magic Johnson was and is the standard for that sort of creativity on the NBA side. Ticha Penicheiro &mdash; the league's all-time assist leader until Bird passed her in 2017 &mdash; certainly fits the bill for The W. You can see their inspiration shine through Gray's game.</p>
<p>"With Magic, it was everything he could do as a bigger point guard," Gray told Basketball News in a Zoom interview. "It was how he incorporated flashiness too. Being able to balance effectiveness with a little flash."</p>
<p>While Magic helped with broad strokes, you can thank Penicheiro's influence for Gray's affinity for no-look passes.</p>
<p>"With Ticha, her ability to look at a completely different person but pass it somewhere else always intrigued me," Gray said. "I used to look to the side and try to hit a pole [to practice]."</p>
<p>A throughline with Magic, Penicheiro and Gray is the ability to see plays develop before they happen. It's an obvious gift; it's easier to beat a defense if you're ahead of them conceptually. But there is an obvious drawback: It's a gift because only a few players can see the game that way.</p>
<p>What is genius if it isn't understood? It's likely a turnover in basketball.</p>
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
<p>Like many great playmakers before her, Gray has to walk a tightrope between doing her thing and coloring inside the lines. It's also the responsibility of the coach to help find that balance. She certainly felt that during the early portion of her Los Angeles Sparks tenure.</p>
<p>"It's like, if [the passes] go through, they're good. If they didn't, it'd be so terrible; 'I don't know what she saw; I don't know what that was (laughs),'" Gray said. "But as my game progressed and I got a little smarter about when to make certain passes, there was more of a balance.</p>
<p>"There's always a balance of not taking away the player and their effectiveness, but reeling them in so they're within what you're trying to accomplish."</p>
<p>When watching a Gray pick-and-roll, or a no-look, or a transition touchdown, it's hard not to wonder how she makes decisions. Luckily, Gray was kind enough to not only answer that question broadly, but also talk through some of her assists from this season for further insight with Basketball News.</p>
<p>(<em>This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.)<br /></em></p>
<p><strong>When you're making fancier reads, are any of those predetermined? What goes into your process?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Chelsea Gray: </strong>"It's a mixture of what the defense is doing, and my head.</p>
<p>"Sometimes I feel like the most 'complicated' way to get it there is the easiest way for me to get it there, or the quickest or most efficient. I was just having a conversation about a simple thing like a pick-and-pop. Me doing a bounce pass behind the back is the easiest, most efficient way to get it there, so my teammate has a wide-open shot rather than spinning in a circle to throw the pass.</p>
<p>"Sometimes, maybe I <em>could</em> do that, but [the behind-the-back bounce pass] is the most efficient way for me to do that to make sure my teammate has an easier read when they catch the ball."</p>
<p><strong>With great playmakers, I'm always curious about their process, and what or who they're reading on the floor. When you're running a ball-screen, what are the kind of things you're looking for?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/kt8p00" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"My initial read is seeing how my defender is guarding me. If they're playing off, that changes my angle going into the pick-and-roll. From there, I'm looking at my post player or whoever's setting the screen to see how their defender is guarding them &mdash; are they (the screener's defender) going to jump out?</p>
<p>"Some pick-and-rolls are defended differently based on who's setting the screen. Defenses might play it one way when Kiah Stokes is involved, but a different way if it's Dearica Hamby or A'ja Wilson. My teammates also do different things. Kiah, most of the time, is going to roll while the others may mix in pick-and-pops.</p>
<p>"All of that is going into my head when heading into a ball-screen. Then, it's like, 'If this happens, then <em>this&nbsp;</em>happens.' That's the repetitive nature of running so many pick-and-rolls throughout my career. When a defender does something, they're giving up something else. From there, it's about how to make the right decision as quickly as possible."</p>
<p><strong>You mentioned how defensive coverages may differ based on who's screening for you. Who's the best screener on the Aces?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/lpqo8y" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"That's so hard. Honestly, it does depend on the coverage they're getting. Against Dallas (on Aug. 4), Teaira McCowan was hitting A'ja and wasn't letting her screen. But because of that, I was able to hit her on the roll off the back side. Kiah tries to head-hunt&nbsp;<em>every single time </em>(laughs), so the angle is different.</p>
<p>"It's hard to say who the best pick-and-roll player is. Like, Dearica Hamby will hit and just go, super quickly. So it'll look like, 'Whoa, what a great screen,' but really, there was a lot of indecision on the defensive end. She's able to get us both open because she creates some thought in their head like, 'Oh snap, I'm hit; what are we doing on our coverage?' It really depends."</p>
<p><strong>With this pick-and-roll (video below), this ends up being a pass to Iliana Rupert. It looks like you're flowing out of HORNS. When you get the first screen, are you gauging what the big (NaLyssa Smith) is doing first?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/wx09bv" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"Yeah, I'm seeing what this big is doing here. I see Emily Engstler sink in for the help because Destanni Henderson is hit with the screen. I know Iliana Rupert is going to be open on the pop; it's a simple HORNS action."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_28_26_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p><strong>I have two transition clips to share now. In the first one, you find Kelsey Plum trailing the play. She makes a move and gets the bucket; you get the assist on this one. In the second one, you hit a streaking Jackie Young. When you're making these full-court hit-aheads, which defender are you reading? What determines where you go with the ball?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/0dl3fs" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"As we cross half court, our angles have to be clear and concise. As we're running, we know one big will run down the floor while the other will trail the play. As the trailer, Dearica Hamby will either come set a drag screen, or I'll pass to her and she'll flow to the next side."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_17_40_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"So if you pause it when Kelsey catches the ball, I'm reading to see if A'ja's defender picked her up, and if Dearica's defender picked her up. Indiana is pretty much matched up; they did a solid job in transition defense.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_20_31_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"Personally, I don't know if I would've counted this as an assist. I just get it there for her to be able to make a move. After the initial catch, she has to make a good and solid move to get into the paint and finish.</p>
<p>"This second one, on the other hand, people are just flying down the court. Kiah Stokes actually gets Jackie open by the way she runs the floor. Kayla Thornton feels like, 'Oh shoot, [Kiah's] going; Teaira McCowan, help!' Meanwhile, Jackie is streaking down the court.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_00_52_35_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"I see all of that unfolding, and that's on top of them being concerned about A'ja filling in. Jackie's able to knock the shot down, right in the flow."</p>
<p><strong>We have to talk about the falling pass to Kelsey Plum! You get a screen from Kiah Stokes. We have good defense from Brittney Sykes. When did you decide you're going to find the angle for the pass that way?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/6qblu6" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"Really, I decided in the moment. I saw it afterwards and was like, 'I know I fell, but I <em>had&nbsp;</em>to fall to get it there.' I felt that it would've been a turnover or Brittney Sykes would've gotten her hand on it. The <em>way&nbsp;</em>I fell was a bit of a dramatic fall, but it was necessary.</p>
<p>"It took all of my power in order to get it there. The angle and the rate in which [Kelsey Plum] was cutting was all going into my thought process. So I was like, 'Alright, I have to fall or else it's not going to get there.' If I threw a straight bounce pass, the defender would've gotten it."</p>
<p><strong>Alright, last one for the fancy passes. A&nbsp;<em>behind-the-back pass&nbsp;</em></strong><strong>on a baseline inbound?!</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/t544q2" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"To me, it was simple. In the moment, I realized what I did, but I got excited because the play that we called &mdash; we hadn't scored on it yet.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"If you pause it here, Tiffany Mitchell is already beat:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_36_44_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"But I can't make a bounce pass there with Lexie Hull right there. There's no possible way. So the only way I feel that I can get it there is by going behind the back.</p>
<p>"If you keep going... right there:</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_39_40_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"I would have to angle my body to be able to throw a chest pass. Hull might be able to get a hand on it, or Jackie [Young] won't be able to finish it. So if I look one way, it just takes half a step for Hull to come over, and I'm able to get the angle for Jackie.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"Honestly, a lot of times when I do the behind-the-back or a fancy pass, it's the quickest, most efficient way I feel it can get there. It's not like "let me do this pass because it'll be on a highlight reel." Sometimes I want to add a little no-look flair to it and I probably could've gotten it there by looking at her. But the fanciness of the curve, or behind-the-back, or behind-the head &mdash; that's the quickest way for me to get it there without a turnover. Maybe that's just ridiculous [laughs].</p>
<p><strong>No, I don't think so at all! On the no-look front: when you're watching others, does it bother you when players fake it? Sometimes it's obvious that a player will stare their teammate down before looking off and making it seem like a real no-look.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>[Laughs] Maybe that's their version of the way they want to do a no-look! I don't know, it doesn't bother me. As long as they get the assist, they should be fine with the way they're doing it.</p>

<p>If you have a minute and change to spare &mdash; and I'd assume so since you've opened this piece &mdash; I want you to watch this video. It's an assist compilation of Las Vegas Aces star Chelsea Gray from Tuesday night's win over the Atlanta Dream. It includes 5 of her game-high 9 assists.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/zbchwr" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>The assists, in order:</p>
<ul>
<li>A pick-and-roll with A'ja Wilson (MVP, by the way) in which Gray freezes Cheyenne Parker (Wilson's defender) with a hesi, forces a rotation from Naz HIllmon (#00) with her drive and waits out the secondary rotation from Rhyne Howard (#10, Rookie of the Year front-runner) before firing to Jackie Young</li>
<li>A full-court lead pass to Young after a singular dribble</li>
<li>An instantaneous feed to Wilson through a pair of defenders after a loose-ball scramble</li>
<li>A 20-plus-feet behind-the-back bounce pass (?????) to a cutting Kelsey Plum</li>
<li>A no-look feed to Young after a drive in transition</li>
</ul>
<p>Highlight films are typically dangerous for narrative-driven minds. With just a few clips, you can present a chapter as a full-blown story. But I assure you that this isn't a doctored snippet; this is who Chelsea Gray, The W's #PointGawd, really is.</p>
<p>The numbers don't do her justice, though it's worth noting that she's averaging a career-high in assists this season (6.2 per game). Only three players &mdash; Courtney Vandersloot, Natasha Cloud and Sue Bird &mdash; are assisting more than Gray on a <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=AST&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;PerMode=PerPossession&amp;CF=GP*GE*15" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per-possession basis</a>.</p>
<p>But to appreciate Gray's playmaking ability, you have to watch. Her cadence is different. The angles she spots for passes are almost unheard of for mere mortals; the angles she can <em>create&nbsp;</em>are more rare. There isn't a pass in the book she can't make; more importantly, there isn't a pass that she won't try.</p>
<p>If those descriptors sound familiar, it's because they've been used &mdash; reserved, even &mdash; for legends. Magic Johnson was and is the standard for that sort of creativity on the NBA side. Ticha Penicheiro &mdash; the league's all-time assist leader until Bird passed her in 2017 &mdash; certainly fits the bill for The W. You can see their inspiration shine through Gray's game.</p>
<p>"With Magic, it was everything he could do as a bigger point guard," Gray told Basketball News in a Zoom interview. "It was how he incorporated flashiness too. Being able to balance effectiveness with a little flash."</p>
<p>While Magic helped with broad strokes, you can thank Penicheiro's influence for Gray's affinity for no-look passes.</p>
<p>"With Ticha, her ability to look at a completely different person but pass it somewhere else always intrigued me," Gray said. "I used to look to the side and try to hit a pole [to practice]."</p>
<p>A throughline with Magic, Penicheiro and Gray is the ability to see plays develop before they happen. It's an obvious gift; it's easier to beat a defense if you're ahead of them conceptually. But there is an obvious drawback: It's a gift because only a few players can see the game that way.</p>
<p>What is genius if it isn't understood? It's likely a turnover in basketball.</p>
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
<p>Like many great playmakers before her, Gray has to walk a tightrope between doing her thing and coloring inside the lines. It's also the responsibility of the coach to help find that balance. She certainly felt that during the early portion of her Los Angeles Sparks tenure.</p>
<p>"It's like, if [the passes] go through, they're good. If they didn't, it'd be so terrible; 'I don't know what she saw; I don't know what that was (laughs),'" Gray said. "But as my game progressed and I got a little smarter about when to make certain passes, there was more of a balance.</p>
<p>"There's always a balance of not taking away the player and their effectiveness, but reeling them in so they're within what you're trying to accomplish."</p>
<p>When watching a Gray pick-and-roll, or a no-look, or a transition touchdown, it's hard not to wonder how she makes decisions. Luckily, Gray was kind enough to not only answer that question broadly, but also talk through some of her assists from this season for further insight with Basketball News.</p>
<p>(<em>This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.)<br /></em></p>
<p><strong>When you're making fancier reads, are any of those predetermined? What goes into your process?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Chelsea Gray: </strong>"It's a mixture of what the defense is doing, and my head.</p>
<p>"Sometimes I feel like the most 'complicated' way to get it there is the easiest way for me to get it there, or the quickest or most efficient. I was just having a conversation about a simple thing like a pick-and-pop. Me doing a bounce pass behind the back is the easiest, most efficient way to get it there, so my teammate has a wide-open shot rather than spinning in a circle to throw the pass.</p>
<p>"Sometimes, maybe I <em>could</em> do that, but [the behind-the-back bounce pass] is the most efficient way for me to do that to make sure my teammate has an easier read when they catch the ball."</p>
<p><strong>With great playmakers, I'm always curious about their process, and what or who they're reading on the floor. When you're running a ball-screen, what are the kind of things you're looking for?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/kt8p00" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"My initial read is seeing how my defender is guarding me. If they're playing off, that changes my angle going into the pick-and-roll. From there, I'm looking at my post player or whoever's setting the screen to see how their defender is guarding them &mdash; are they (the screener's defender) going to jump out?</p>
<p>"Some pick-and-rolls are defended differently based on who's setting the screen. Defenses might play it one way when Kiah Stokes is involved, but a different way if it's Dearica Hamby or A'ja Wilson. My teammates also do different things. Kiah, most of the time, is going to roll while the others may mix in pick-and-pops.</p>
<p>"All of that is going into my head when heading into a ball-screen. Then, it's like, 'If this happens, then <em>this&nbsp;</em>happens.' That's the repetitive nature of running so many pick-and-rolls throughout my career. When a defender does something, they're giving up something else. From there, it's about how to make the right decision as quickly as possible."</p>
<p><strong>You mentioned how defensive coverages may differ based on who's screening for you. Who's the best screener on the Aces?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/lpqo8y" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"That's so hard. Honestly, it does depend on the coverage they're getting. Against Dallas (on Aug. 4), Teaira McCowan was hitting A'ja and wasn't letting her screen. But because of that, I was able to hit her on the roll off the back side. Kiah tries to head-hunt&nbsp;<em>every single time </em>(laughs), so the angle is different.</p>
<p>"It's hard to say who the best pick-and-roll player is. Like, Dearica Hamby will hit and just go, super quickly. So it'll look like, 'Whoa, what a great screen,' but really, there was a lot of indecision on the defensive end. She's able to get us both open because she creates some thought in their head like, 'Oh snap, I'm hit; what are we doing on our coverage?' It really depends."</p>
<p><strong>With this pick-and-roll (video below), this ends up being a pass to Iliana Rupert. It looks like you're flowing out of HORNS. When you get the first screen, are you gauging what the big (NaLyssa Smith) is doing first?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/wx09bv" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"Yeah, I'm seeing what this big is doing here. I see Emily Engstler sink in for the help because Destanni Henderson is hit with the screen. I know Iliana Rupert is going to be open on the pop; it's a simple HORNS action."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_28_26_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p><strong>I have two transition clips to share now. In the first one, you find Kelsey Plum trailing the play. She makes a move and gets the bucket; you get the assist on this one. In the second one, you hit a streaking Jackie Young. When you're making these full-court hit-aheads, which defender are you reading? What determines where you go with the ball?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/0dl3fs" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"As we cross half court, our angles have to be clear and concise. As we're running, we know one big will run down the floor while the other will trail the play. As the trailer, Dearica Hamby will either come set a drag screen, or I'll pass to her and she'll flow to the next side."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_17_40_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"So if you pause it when Kelsey catches the ball, I'm reading to see if A'ja's defender picked her up, and if Dearica's defender picked her up. Indiana is pretty much matched up; they did a solid job in transition defense.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_20_31_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"Personally, I don't know if I would've counted this as an assist. I just get it there for her to be able to make a move. After the initial catch, she has to make a good and solid move to get into the paint and finish.</p>
<p>"This second one, on the other hand, people are just flying down the court. Kiah Stokes actually gets Jackie open by the way she runs the floor. Kayla Thornton feels like, 'Oh shoot, [Kiah's] going; Teaira McCowan, help!' Meanwhile, Jackie is streaking down the court.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_00_52_35_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"I see all of that unfolding, and that's on top of them being concerned about A'ja filling in. Jackie's able to knock the shot down, right in the flow."</p>
<p><strong>We have to talk about the falling pass to Kelsey Plum! You get a screen from Kiah Stokes. We have good defense from Brittney Sykes. When did you decide you're going to find the angle for the pass that way?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/6qblu6" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"Really, I decided in the moment. I saw it afterwards and was like, 'I know I fell, but I <em>had&nbsp;</em>to fall to get it there.' I felt that it would've been a turnover or Brittney Sykes would've gotten her hand on it. The <em>way&nbsp;</em>I fell was a bit of a dramatic fall, but it was necessary.</p>
<p>"It took all of my power in order to get it there. The angle and the rate in which [Kelsey Plum] was cutting was all going into my thought process. So I was like, 'Alright, I have to fall or else it's not going to get there.' If I threw a straight bounce pass, the defender would've gotten it."</p>
<p><strong>Alright, last one for the fancy passes. A&nbsp;<em>behind-the-back pass&nbsp;</em></strong><strong>on a baseline inbound?!</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/t544q2" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"To me, it was simple. In the moment, I realized what I did, but I got excited because the play that we called &mdash; we hadn't scored on it yet.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"If you pause it here, Tiffany Mitchell is already beat:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_36_44_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"But I can't make a bounce pass there with Lexie Hull right there. There's no possible way. So the only way I feel that I can get it there is by going behind the back.</p>
<p>"If you keep going... right there:</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_39_40_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"I would have to angle my body to be able to throw a chest pass. Hull might be able to get a hand on it, or Jackie [Young] won't be able to finish it. So if I look one way, it just takes half a step for Hull to come over, and I'm able to get the angle for Jackie.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"Honestly, a lot of times when I do the behind-the-back or a fancy pass, it's the quickest, most efficient way I feel it can get there. It's not like, 'Let me do this pass because it'll be on a highlight reel.' Sometimes I want to add a little no-look flair to it and I probably could've gotten it there by looking at her. But the fanciness of the curve, or behind-the-back, or behind-the head &mdash; that's the quickest way for me to get it there without a turnover. Maybe that's just ridiculous [laughs].</p>
<p><strong>No, I don't think so at all! On the no-look front: when you're watching others, does it bother you when players fake it? Sometimes it's obvious that a player will stare their teammate down before looking off and making it seem like a real no-look.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>[Laughs] Maybe that's their version of the way they want to do a no-look! I don't know, it doesn't bother me. As long as they get the assist, they should be fine with the way they're doing it.</p>

<p>If you have a minute and change to spare &mdash; and I'd assume so since you've opened this piece &mdash; I want you to watch this video. It's an assist compilation of Las Vegas Aces star Chelsea Gray from Tuesday night's win over the Atlanta Dream. It includes 5 of her game-high 9 assists.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/zbchwr" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>The assists, in order:</p>
<ul>
<li>A pick-and-roll with A'ja Wilson (MVP, by the way) in which Gray freezes Cheyenne Parker (Wilson's defender) with a hesi, forces a rotation from Naz HIllmon (#00) with her drive and waits out the secondary rotation from Rhyne Howard (#10, Rookie of the Year front-runner) before firing to Jackie Young</li>
<li>A full-court lead pass to Young after a singular dribble</li>
<li>An instantaneous feed to Wilson through a pair of defenders after a loose-ball scramble</li>
<li>A 20-plus-feet behind-the-back bounce pass (?????) to a cutting Kelsey Plum</li>
<li>A no-look feed to Young after a drive in transition</li>
</ul>
<p>Highlight films are typically dangerous for narrative-driven minds. With just a few clips, you can present a chapter as a full-blown story. But I assure you that this isn't a doctored snippet; this is who Chelsea Gray, The W's #PointGawd, really is.</p>
<p>The numbers don't do her justice, though it's worth noting that she's averaging a career-high in assists this season (6.2 per game). Only three players &mdash; Courtney Vandersloot, Natasha Cloud and Sue Bird &mdash; are assisting more than Gray on a <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=AST&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;PerMode=PerPossession&amp;CF=GP*GE*15" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per-possession basis</a>.</p>
<p>But to appreciate Gray's playmaking ability, you have to watch. Her cadence is different. The angles she spots for passes are almost unheard of for mere mortals; the angles she can <em>create&nbsp;</em>are more rare. There isn't a pass in the book she can't make; more importantly, there isn't a pass that she won't try.</p>
<p>If those descriptors sound familiar, it's because they've been used &mdash; reserved, even &mdash; for legends. Magic Johnson was and is the standard for that sort of creativity on the NBA side. Ticha Penicheiro &mdash; the league's all-time assist leader until Bird passed her in 2017 &mdash; certainly fits the bill for The W. You can see their inspiration shine through Gray's game.</p>
<p>"With Magic, it was everything he could do as a bigger point guard," Gray told Basketball News in a Zoom interview. "It was how he incorporated flashiness too. Being able to balance effectiveness with a little flash."</p>
<p>While Magic helped with broad strokes, you can thank Penicheiro's influence for Gray's affinity for no-look passes.</p>
<p>"With Ticha, her ability to look at a completely different person but pass it somewhere else always intrigued me," Gray said. "I used to look to the side and try to hit a pole [to practice]."</p>
<p>A throughline with Magic, Penicheiro and Gray is the ability to see plays develop before they happen. It's an obvious gift; it's easier to beat a defense if you're ahead of them conceptually. But there is an obvious drawback: It's a gift because only a few players can see the game that way.</p>
<p>What is genius if it isn't understood? It's likely a turnover in basketball.</p>
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
<p>Like many great playmakers before her, Gray has to walk a tightrope between doing her thing and coloring inside the lines. It's also the responsibility of the coach to help find that balance. She certainly felt that during the early portion of her Los Angeles Sparks tenure.</p>
<p>"It's like, if [the passes] go through, they're good. If they didn't, it'd be so terrible; 'I don't know what she saw; I don't know what that was (laughs),'" Gray said. "But as my game progressed and I got a little smarter about when to make certain passes, there was more of a balance.</p>
<p>"There's always a balance of not taking away the player and their effectiveness, but reeling them in so they're within what you're trying to accomplish."</p>
<p>When watching a Gray pick-and-roll, or a no-look, or a transition touchdown, it's hard not to wonder how she makes decisions. Luckily, Gray was kind enough to not only answer that question broadly, but also talk through some of her assists from this season for further insight with Basketball News.</p>
<p>(<em>This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.)<br /></em></p>
<p><strong>When you're making fancier reads, are any of those predetermined? What goes into your process?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Chelsea Gray: </strong>"It's a mixture of what the defense is doing, and my head.</p>
<p>"Sometimes I feel like the most 'complicated' way to get it there is the easiest way for me to get it there, or the quickest or most efficient. I was just having a conversation about a simple thing like a pick-and-pop. Me doing a bounce pass behind the back is the easiest, most efficient way to get it there, so my teammate has a wide-open shot rather than spinning in a circle to throw the pass.</p>
<p>"Sometimes, maybe I <em>could</em> do that, but [the behind-the-back bounce pass] is the most efficient way for me to do that to make sure my teammate has an easier read when they catch the ball."</p>
<p><strong>With great playmakers, I'm always curious about their process, and what or who they're reading on the floor. When you're running a ball-screen, what are the kind of things you're looking for?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/kt8p00" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"My initial read is seeing how my defender is guarding me. If they're playing off, that changes my angle going into the pick-and-roll. From there, I'm looking at my post player or whoever's setting the screen to see how their defender is guarding them &mdash; are they (the screener's defender) going to jump out?</p>
<p>"Some pick-and-rolls are defended differently based on who's setting the screen. Defenses might play it one way when Kiah Stokes is involved, but a different way if it's Dearica Hamby or A'ja Wilson. My teammates also do different things. Kiah, most of the time, is going to roll while the others may mix in pick-and-pops.</p>
<p>"All of that is going into my head when heading into a ball-screen. Then, it's like, 'If this happens, then <em>this&nbsp;</em>happens.' That's the repetitive nature of running so many pick-and-rolls throughout my career. When a defender does something, they're giving up something else. From there, it's about how to make the right decision as quickly as possible."</p>
<p><strong>You mentioned how defensive coverages may differ based on who's screening for you. Who's the best screener on the Aces?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/lpqo8y" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"That's so hard. Honestly, it does depend on the coverage they're getting. Against Dallas (on Aug. 4), Teaira McCowan was hitting A'ja and wasn't letting her screen. But because of that, I was able to hit her on the roll off the back side. Kiah tries to head-hunt&nbsp;<em>every single time </em>(laughs), so the angle is different.</p>
<p>"It's hard to say who the best pick-and-roll player is. Like, Dearica Hamby will hit and just go, super quickly. So it'll look like, 'Whoa, what a great screen,' but really, there was a lot of indecision on the defensive end. She's able to get us both open because she creates some thought in their head like, 'Oh snap, I'm hit; what are we doing on our coverage?' It really depends."</p>
<p><strong>With this pick-and-roll (video below), this ends up being a pass to Iliana Rupert. It looks like you're flowing out of HORNS. When you get the first screen, are you gauging what the big (NaLyssa Smith) is doing first?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/wx09bv" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"Yeah, I'm seeing what this big is doing here. I see Emily Engstler sink in for the help because Destanni Henderson is hit with the screen. I know Iliana Rupert is going to be open on the pop; it's a simple HORNS action."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_28_26_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p><strong>I have two transition clips to share now. In the first one, you find Kelsey Plum trailing the play. She makes a move and gets the bucket; you get the assist on this one. In the second one, you hit a streaking Jackie Young. When you're making these full-court hit-aheads, which defender are you reading? What determines where you go with the ball?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/0dl3fs" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"As we cross half court, our angles have to be clear and concise. As we're running, we know one big will run down the floor while the other will trail the play. As the trailer, Dearica Hamby will either come set a drag screen, or I'll pass to her and she'll flow to the next side."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_17_40_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"So if you pause it when Kelsey catches the ball, I'm reading to see if A'ja's defender picked her up, and if Dearica's defender picked her up. Indiana is pretty much matched up; they did a solid job in transition defense.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_20_31_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"Personally, I don't know if I would've counted this as an assist. I just get it there for her to be able to make a move. After the initial catch, she has to make a good and solid move to get into the paint and finish.</p>
<p>"This second one, on the other hand, people are just flying down the court. Kiah Stokes actually gets Jackie open by the way she runs the floor. Kayla Thornton feels like, 'Oh shoot, [Kiah's] going; Teaira McCowan, help!' Meanwhile, Jackie is streaking down the court.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_00_52_35_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"I see all of that unfolding, and that's on top of them being concerned about A'ja filling in. Jackie's able to knock the shot down, right in the flow."</p>
<p><strong>We have to talk about the falling pass to Kelsey Plum! You get a screen from Kiah Stokes. We have good defense from Brittney Sykes. When did you decide you're going to find the angle for the pass that way?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/6qblu6" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"Really, I decided in the moment. I saw it afterwards and was like, 'I know I fell, but I <em>had&nbsp;</em>to fall to get it there.' I felt that it would've been a turnover or Brittney Sykes would've gotten her hand on it. The <em>way&nbsp;</em>I fell was a bit of a dramatic fall, but it was necessary.</p>
<p>"It took all of my power in order to get it there. The angle and the rate in which [Kelsey Plum] was cutting was all going into my thought process. So I was like, 'Alright, I have to fall or else it's not going to get there.' If I threw a straight bounce pass, the defender would've gotten it."</p>
<p><strong>Alright, last one for the fancy passes. A&nbsp;<em>behind-the-back pass&nbsp;</em></strong><strong>on a baseline inbound?!</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/t544q2" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"To me, it was simple. In the moment, I realized what I did, but I got excited because the play that we called &mdash; we hadn't scored on it yet.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"If you pause it here, Tiffany Mitchell is already beat:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_36_44_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"But I can't make a bounce pass there with Lexie Hull right there. There's no possible way. So the only way I feel that I can get it there is by going behind the back.</p>
<p>"If you keep going... right there:</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_39_40_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"I would have to angle my body to be able to throw a chest pass. Hull might be able to get a hand on it, or Jackie [Young] won't be able to finish it. So if I look one way, it just takes half a step for Hull to come over, and I'm able to get the angle for Jackie.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"Honestly, a lot of times when I do the behind-the-back or a fancy pass, it's the quickest, most efficient way I feel it can get there. It's not like, 'Let me do this pass because it'll be on a highlight reel.' Sometimes I want to add a little no-look flair to it, and I probably could've gotten it there by looking at her. But the fanciness of the curve, or behind-the-back, or behind-the head &mdash; that's the quickest way for me to get it there without a turnover. Maybe that's just ridiculous [laughs].</p>
<p><strong>No, I don't think so at all! On the no-look front: when you're watching others, does it bother you when players fake it? Sometimes it's obvious that a player will stare their teammate down before looking off and making it seem like a real no-look.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>[Laughs] Maybe that's their version of the way they want to do a no-look! I don't know, it doesn't bother me. As long as they get the assist, they should be fine with the way they're doing it.</p>

<p>If you have a minute and change to spare &mdash; and I'd assume so since you've opened this piece &mdash; I want you to watch this video. It's an assist compilation of Las Vegas Aces star Chelsea Gray from Tuesday night's win over the Atlanta Dream. It includes 5 of her game-high 9 assists.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/zbchwr" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>The assists, in order:</p>
<ul>
<li>A pick-and-roll with A'ja Wilson (MVP, by the way) in which Gray freezes Cheyenne Parker (Wilson's defender) with a hesi, forces a rotation from Naz HIllmon (#00) with her drive and waits out the secondary rotation from Rhyne Howard (#10, Rookie of the Year front-runner) before firing to Jackie Young</li>
<li>A full-court lead pass to Young after a singular dribble</li>
<li>An instantaneous feed to Wilson through a pair of defenders after a loose-ball scramble</li>
<li>A 20-plus-feet behind-the-back bounce pass (?????) to a cutting Kelsey Plum</li>
<li>A no-look feed to Young after a drive in transition</li>
</ul>
<p>Highlight films are typically dangerous for narrative-driven minds. With just a few clips, you can present a chapter as a full-blown story. But I assure you that this isn't a doctored snippet; this is who Chelsea Gray, The W's #PointGawd, really is.</p>
<p>The numbers don't do her justice, though it's worth noting that she's averaging a career-high in assists this season (6.2 per game). Only three players &mdash; Courtney Vandersloot, Natasha Cloud and Sue Bird &mdash; are assisting more than Gray on a <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=AST&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;PerMode=PerPossession&amp;CF=GP*GE*15" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per-possession basis</a>.</p>
<p>But to appreciate Gray's playmaking ability, you have to watch. Her cadence is different. The angles she spots for passes are almost unheard of for mere mortals; the angles she can <em>create&nbsp;</em>are more rare. There isn't a pass in the book she can't make; more importantly, there isn't a pass that she won't try.</p>
<p>If those descriptors sound familiar, it's because they've been used &mdash; reserved, even &mdash; for legends. Magic Johnson was and is the standard for that sort of creativity on the NBA side. Ticha Penicheiro &mdash; the league's all-time assist leader until Bird passed her in 2017 &mdash; certainly fits the bill for The W. You can see their inspiration shine through Gray's game.</p>
<p>"With Magic, it was everything he could do as a bigger point guard," Gray told Basketball News in a Zoom interview. "It was how he incorporated flashiness too. Being able to balance effectiveness with a little flash."</p>
<p>While Magic helped with broad strokes, you can thank Penicheiro's influence for Gray's affinity for no-look passes.</p>
<p>"With Ticha, her ability to look at a completely different person but pass it somewhere else always intrigued me," Gray said. "I used to look to the side and try to hit a pole [to practice]."</p>
<p>A throughline with Magic, Penicheiro and Gray is the ability to see plays develop before they happen. It's an obvious gift; it's easier to beat a defense if you're ahead of them conceptually. But there is an obvious drawback: It's a gift because only a few players can see the game that way.</p>
<p>What is genius if it isn't understood? It's likely a turnover in basketball.</p>
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
<p>Like many great playmakers before her, Gray has to walk a tightrope between doing her thing and coloring inside the lines. It's also the responsibility of the coach to help find that balance. She certainly felt that during the early portion of her Los Angeles Sparks tenure.</p>
<p>"It's like, if [the passes] go through, they're good. If they didn't, it'd be so terrible; 'I don't know what she saw; I don't know what that was (laughs),'" Gray said. "But as my game progressed and I got a little smarter about when to make certain passes, there was more of a balance.</p>
<p>"There's always a balance of not taking away the player and their effectiveness, but reeling them in so they're within what you're trying to accomplish."</p>
<p>When watching a Gray pick-and-roll, or a no-look, or a transition touchdown, it's hard not to wonder how she makes decisions. Luckily, Gray was kind enough to not only answer that question broadly, but also talk through some of her assists from this season for further insight with Basketball News.</p>
<p>(<em>This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.)<br /></em></p>
<p><strong>When you're making fancier reads, are any of those predetermined? What goes into your process?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Chelsea Gray: </strong>"It's a mixture of what the defense is doing, and my head.</p>
<p>"Sometimes I feel like the most 'complicated' way to get it there is the easiest way for me to get it there, or the quickest or most efficient. I was just having a conversation about a simple thing like a pick-and-pop. Me doing a bounce pass behind the back is the easiest, most efficient way to get it there, so my teammate has a wide-open shot rather than spinning in a circle to throw the pass.</p>
<p>"Sometimes, maybe I <em>could</em> do that, but [the behind-the-back bounce pass] is the most efficient way for me to do that to make sure my teammate has an easier read when they catch the ball."</p>
<p><strong>With great playmakers, I'm always curious about their process, and what or who they're reading on the floor. When you're running a ball-screen, what are the kind of things you're looking for?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/kt8p00" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"My initial read is seeing how my defender is guarding me. If they're playing off, that changes my angle going into the pick-and-roll. From there, I'm looking at my post player or whoever's setting the screen to see how their defender is guarding them &mdash; are they (the screener's defender) going to jump out?</p>
<p>"Some pick-and-rolls are defended differently based on who's setting the screen. Defenses might play it one way when Kiah Stokes is involved, but a different way if it's Dearica Hamby or A'ja Wilson. My teammates also do different things. Kiah, most of the time, is going to roll while the others may mix in pick-and-pops.</p>
<p>"All of that is going into my head when heading into a ball-screen. Then, it's like, 'If this happens, then <em>this&nbsp;</em>happens.' That's the repetitive nature of running so many pick-and-rolls throughout my career. When a defender does something, they're giving up something else. From there, it's about how to make the right decision as quickly as possible."</p>
<p><strong>You mentioned how defensive coverages may differ based on who's screening for you. Who's the best screener on the Aces?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/lpqo8y" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"That's so hard. Honestly, it does depend on the coverage they're getting. Against Dallas (on Aug. 4), Teaira McCowan was hitting A'ja and wasn't letting her screen. But because of that, I was able to hit her on the roll off the back side. Kiah tries to head-hunt&nbsp;<em>every single time </em>(laughs), so the angle is different.</p>
<p>"It's hard to say who the best pick-and-roll player is. Like, Dearica Hamby will hit and just go, super quickly. So it'll look like, 'Whoa, what a great screen,' but really, there was a lot of indecision on the defensive end. She's able to get us both open because she creates some thought in their head like, 'Oh snap, I'm hit; what are we doing on our coverage?' It really depends."</p>
<p><strong>With this pick-and-roll (video below), this ends up being a pass to Iliana Rupert. It looks like you're flowing out of HORNS. When you get the first screen, are you gauging what the big (NaLyssa Smith) is doing first?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/wx09bv" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"Yeah, I'm seeing what this big is doing here. I see Emily Engstler sink in for the help because Destanni Henderson is hit with the screen. I know Iliana Rupert is going to be open on the pop; it's a simple HORNS action."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_28_26_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p><strong>I have two transition clips to share now. In the first one, you find Kelsey Plum trailing the play. She makes a move and gets the bucket; you get the assist on this one. In the second one, you hit a streaking Jackie Young. When you're making these full-court hit-aheads, which defender are you reading? What determines where you go with the ball?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/0dl3fs" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"As we cross half court, our angles have to be clear and concise. As we're running, we know one big will run down the floor while the other will trail the play. As the trailer, Dearica Hamby will either come set a drag screen, or I'll pass to her and she'll flow to the next side."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_17_40_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"So if you pause it when Kelsey catches the ball, I'm reading to see if A'ja's defender picked her up, and if Dearica's defender picked her up. Indiana is pretty much matched up; they did a solid job in transition defense.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_20_31_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"Personally, I don't know if I would've counted this as an assist. I just get it there for her to be able to make a move. After the initial catch, she has to make a good and solid move to get into the paint and finish.</p>
<p>"This second one, on the other hand, people are just flying down the court. Kiah Stokes actually gets Jackie open by the way she runs the floor. Kayla Thornton feels like, 'Oh shoot, [Kiah's] going; Teaira McCowan, help!' Meanwhile, Jackie is streaking down the court.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_00_52_35_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"I see all of that unfolding, and that's on top of them being concerned about A'ja filling in. Jackie's able to knock the shot down, right in the flow."</p>
<p><strong>We have to talk about the falling pass to Kelsey Plum! You get a screen from Kiah Stokes. We have good defense from Brittney Sykes. When did you decide you're going to find the angle for the pass that way?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/6qblu6" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"Really, I decided in the moment. I saw it afterwards and was like, 'I know I fell, but I <em>had&nbsp;</em>to fall to get it there.' I felt that it would've been a turnover or Brittney Sykes would've gotten her hand on it. The <em>way&nbsp;</em>I fell was a bit of a dramatic fall, but it was necessary.</p>
<p>"It took all of my power in order to get it there. The angle and the rate in which [Kelsey Plum] was cutting was all going into my thought process. So I was like, 'Alright, I have to fall or else it's not going to get there.' If I threw a straight bounce pass, the defender would've gotten it."</p>
<p><strong>Alright, last one for the fancy passes. A&nbsp;<em>behind-the-back pass&nbsp;</em></strong><strong>on a baseline inbound?!</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/t544q2" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"To me, it was simple. In the moment, I realized what I did, but I got excited because the play that we called &mdash; we hadn't scored on it yet.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"If you pause it here, Tiffany Mitchell is already beat:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_36_44_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"But I can't make a bounce pass there with Lexie Hull right there. There's no possible way. So the only way I feel that I can get it there is by going behind the back.</p>
<p>"If you keep going... right there:</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_39_40_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"I would have to angle my body to be able to throw a chest pass. Hull might be able to get a hand on it, or Jackie [Young] won't be able to finish it. So if I look one way, it just takes half a step for Hull to come over, and I'm able to get the angle for Jackie.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"Honestly, a lot of times when I do the behind-the-back or a fancy pass, it's the quickest, most efficient way I feel it can get there. It's not like, 'Let me do this pass because it'll be on a highlight reel.' Sometimes I want to add a little no-look flair to it, and I probably could've gotten it there by looking at her. But the fanciness of the curve, or behind-the-back, or behind-the head &mdash; that's the quickest way for me to get it there without a turnover. Maybe that's just ridiculous (laughs)."</p>
<p><strong>No, I don't think so at all! On the no-look front: when you're watching others, does it bother you when players fake it? Sometimes it's obvious that a player will stare their teammate down before looking off and making it seem like a real no-look.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>[Laughs] Maybe that's their version of the way they want to do a no-look! I don't know, it doesn't bother me. As long as they get the assist, they should be fine with the way they're doing it.</p>

<p>If you have a minute and change to spare &mdash; and I'd assume so since you've opened this piece &mdash; I want you to watch this video. It's an assist compilation of Las Vegas Aces star Chelsea Gray from Tuesday night's win over the Atlanta Dream. It includes 5 of her game-high 9 assists.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/zbchwr" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>The assists, in order:</p>
<ul>
<li>A pick-and-roll with A'ja Wilson (MVP, by the way) in which Gray freezes Cheyenne Parker (Wilson's defender) with a hesi, forces a rotation from Naz HIllmon (#00) with her drive and waits out the secondary rotation from Rhyne Howard (#10, Rookie of the Year front-runner) before firing to Jackie Young</li>
<li>A full-court lead pass to Young after a singular dribble</li>
<li>An instantaneous feed to Wilson through a pair of defenders after a loose-ball scramble</li>
<li>A 20-plus-feet behind-the-back bounce pass (?????) to a cutting Kelsey Plum</li>
<li>A no-look feed to Young after a drive in transition</li>
</ul>
<p>Highlight films are typically dangerous for narrative-driven minds. With just a few clips, you can present a chapter as a full-blown story. But I assure you that this isn't a doctored snippet; this is who Chelsea Gray, The W's #PointGawd, really is.</p>
<p>The numbers don't do her justice, though it's worth noting that she's averaging a career-high in assists this season (6.2 per game). Only three players &mdash; Courtney Vandersloot, Natasha Cloud and Sue Bird &mdash; are assisting more than Gray on a <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=AST&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;PerMode=PerPossession&amp;CF=GP*GE*15" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per-possession basis</a>.</p>
<p>But to appreciate Gray's playmaking ability, you have to watch. Her cadence is different. The angles she spots for passes are almost unheard of for mere mortals; the angles she can <em>create&nbsp;</em>are more rare. There isn't a pass in the book she can't make; more importantly, there isn't a pass that she won't try.</p>
<p>If those descriptors sound familiar, it's because they've been used &mdash; reserved, even &mdash; for legends. Magic Johnson was and is the standard for that sort of creativity on the NBA side. Ticha Penicheiro &mdash; the league's all-time assist leader until Bird passed her in 2017 &mdash; certainly fits the bill for The W. You can see their inspiration shine through Gray's game.</p>
<p>"With Magic, it was everything he could do as a bigger point guard," Gray told Basketball News in a Zoom interview. "It was how he incorporated flashiness too. Being able to balance effectiveness with a little flash."</p>
<p>While Magic helped with broad strokes, you can thank Penicheiro's influence for Gray's affinity for no-look passes.</p>
<p>"With Ticha, her ability to look at a completely different person but pass it somewhere else always intrigued me," Gray said. "I used to look to the side and try to hit a pole [to practice]."</p>
<p>A throughline with Magic, Penicheiro and Gray is the ability to see plays develop before they happen. It's an obvious gift; it's easier to beat a defense if you're ahead of them conceptually. But there is an obvious drawback: It's a gift because only a few players can see the game that way.</p>
<p>What is genius if it isn't understood? It's likely a turnover in basketball.</p>
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
<p>Like many great playmakers before her, Gray has to walk a tightrope between doing her thing and coloring inside the lines. It's also the responsibility of the coach to help find that balance. She certainly felt that during the early portion of her Los Angeles Sparks tenure.</p>
<p>"It's like, if [the passes] go through, they're good. If they didn't, it'd be so terrible; 'I don't know what she saw; I don't know what that was (laughs),'" Gray said. "But as my game progressed and I got a little smarter about when to make certain passes, there was more of a balance.</p>
<p>"There's always a balance of not taking away the player and their effectiveness, but reeling them in so they're within what you're trying to accomplish."</p>
<p>When watching a Gray pick-and-roll, or a no-look, or a transition touchdown, it's hard not to wonder how she makes decisions. Luckily, Gray was kind enough to not only answer that question broadly, but also talk through some of her assists from this season for further insight with Basketball News.</p>
<p>(<em>This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.)<br /></em></p>
<p><strong>When you're making fancier reads, are any of those predetermined? What goes into your process?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Chelsea Gray: </strong>"It's a mixture of what the defense is doing, and my head.</p>
<p>"Sometimes I feel like the most 'complicated' way to get it there is the easiest way for me to get it there, or the quickest or most efficient. I was just having a conversation about a simple thing like a pick-and-pop. Me doing a bounce pass behind the back is the easiest, most efficient way to get it there, so my teammate has a wide-open shot rather than spinning in a circle to throw the pass.</p>
<p>"Sometimes, maybe I <em>could</em> do that, but [the behind-the-back bounce pass] is the most efficient way for me to do that to make sure my teammate has an easier read when they catch the ball."</p>
<p><strong>With great playmakers, I'm always curious about their process, and what or who they're reading on the floor. When you're running a ball-screen, what are the kind of things you're looking for?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/kt8p00" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"My initial read is seeing how my defender is guarding me. If they're playing off, that changes my angle going into the pick-and-roll. From there, I'm looking at my post player or whoever's setting the screen to see how their defender is guarding them &mdash; are they (the screener's defender) going to jump out?</p>
<p>"Some pick-and-rolls are defended differently based on who's setting the screen. Defenses might play it one way when Kiah Stokes is involved, but a different way if it's Dearica Hamby or A'ja Wilson. My teammates also do different things. Kiah, most of the time, is going to roll while the others may mix in pick-and-pops.</p>
<p>"All of that is going into my head when heading into a ball-screen. Then, it's like, 'If this happens, then <em>this&nbsp;</em>happens.' That's the repetitive nature of running so many pick-and-rolls throughout my career. When a defender does something, they're giving up something else. From there, it's about how to make the right decision as quickly as possible."</p>
<p><strong>You mentioned how defensive coverages may differ based on who's screening for you. Who's the best screener on the Aces?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/lpqo8y" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"That's so hard. Honestly, it does depend on the coverage they're getting. Against Dallas (on Aug. 4), Teaira McCowan was hitting A'ja and wasn't letting her screen. But because of that, I was able to hit her on the roll off the back side. Kiah tries to head-hunt&nbsp;<em>every single time </em>(laughs), so the angle is different.</p>
<p>"It's hard to say who the best pick-and-roll player is. Like, Dearica Hamby will hit and just go, super quickly. So it'll look like, 'Whoa, what a great screen,' but really, there was a lot of indecision on the defensive end. She's able to get us both open because she creates some thought in their head like, 'Oh snap, I'm hit; what are we doing on our coverage?' It really depends."</p>
<p><strong>With this pick-and-roll (video below), this ends up being a pass to Iliana Rupert. It looks like you're flowing out of HORNS. When you get the first screen, are you gauging what the big (NaLyssa Smith) is doing first?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/wx09bv" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"Yeah, I'm seeing what this big is doing here. I see Emily Engstler sink in for the help because Destanni Henderson is hit with the screen. I know Iliana Rupert is going to be open on the pop; it's a simple HORNS action."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_28_26_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p><strong>I have two transition clips to share now. In the first one, you find Kelsey Plum trailing the play. She makes a move and gets the bucket; you get the assist on this one. In the second one, you hit a streaking Jackie Young. When you're making these full-court hit-aheads, which defender are you reading? What determines where you go with the ball?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/0dl3fs" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"As we cross half court, our angles have to be clear and concise. As we're running, we know one big will run down the floor while the other will trail the play. As the trailer, Dearica Hamby will either come set a drag screen, or I'll pass to her and she'll flow to the next side."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_17_40_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"So if you pause it when Kelsey catches the ball, I'm reading to see if A'ja's defender picked her up, and if Dearica's defender picked her up. Indiana is pretty much matched up; they did a solid job in transition defense.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_20_31_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"Personally, I don't know if I would've counted this as an assist. I just get it there for her to be able to make a move. After the initial catch, she has to make a good and solid move to get into the paint and finish.</p>
<p>"This second one, on the other hand, people are just flying down the court. Kiah Stokes actually gets Jackie open by the way she runs the floor. Kayla Thornton feels like, 'Oh shoot, [Kiah's] going; Teaira McCowan, help!' Meanwhile, Jackie is streaking down the court.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_00_52_35_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"I see all of that unfolding, and that's on top of them being concerned about A'ja filling in. Jackie's able to knock the shot down, right in the flow."</p>
<p><strong>We have to talk about the falling pass to Kelsey Plum! You get a screen from Kiah Stokes. We have good defense from Brittney Sykes. When did you decide you're going to find the angle for the pass that way?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/6qblu6" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"Really, I decided in the moment. I saw it afterwards and was like, 'I know I fell, but I <em>had&nbsp;</em>to fall to get it there.' I felt that it would've been a turnover or Brittney Sykes would've gotten her hand on it. The <em>way&nbsp;</em>I fell was a bit of a dramatic fall, but it was necessary.</p>
<p>"It took all of my power in order to get it there. The angle and the rate in which [Kelsey Plum] was cutting was all going into my thought process. So I was like, 'Alright, I have to fall or else it's not going to get there.' If I threw a straight bounce pass, the defender would've gotten it."</p>
<p><strong>Alright, last one for the fancy passes. A&nbsp;<em>behind-the-back pass&nbsp;</em></strong><strong>on a baseline inbound?!</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/t544q2" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"To me, it was simple. In the moment, I realized what I did, but I got excited because the play that we called &mdash; we hadn't scored on it yet.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"If you pause it here, Tiffany Mitchell is already beat:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_36_44_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"But I can't make a bounce pass there with Lexie Hull right there. There's no possible way. So the only way I feel that I can get it there is by going behind the back.</p>
<p>"If you keep going... right there:</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_39_40_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"I would have to angle my body to be able to throw a chest pass. Hull might be able to get a hand on it, or Jackie [Young] won't be able to finish it. So if I look one way, it just takes half a step for Hull to come over, and I'm able to get the angle for Jackie.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"Honestly, a lot of times when I do the behind-the-back or a fancy pass, it's the quickest, most efficient way I feel it can get there. It's not like, 'Let me do this pass because it'll be on a highlight reel.' Sometimes I want to add a little no-look flair to it, and I probably could've gotten it there by looking at her. But the fanciness of the curve, or behind-the-back, or behind-the head &mdash; that's the quickest way for me to get it there without a turnover. Maybe that's just ridiculous (laughs)."</p>
<p><strong>No, I don't think so at all! On the no-look front: When you're watching others, does it bother you when players fake it? Sometimes, it's obvious that a player will stare their teammate down before looking off and making it seem like a real no-look.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>[Laughs] Maybe that's their version of the way they want to do a no-look! I don't know, it doesn't bother me. As long as they get the assist, they should be fine with the way they're doing it.</p>

<p>If you have a minute and change to spare &mdash; and I'd assume so since you've opened this piece &mdash; I want you to watch this video. It's an assist compilation of Las Vegas Aces star Chelsea Gray from Tuesday night's win over the Atlanta Dream. It includes 5 of her game-high 9 assists.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/zbchwr" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>The assists, in order:</p>
<ul>
<li>A pick-and-roll with A'ja Wilson (MVP, by the way) in which Gray freezes Cheyenne Parker (Wilson's defender) with a hesi, forces a rotation from Naz HIllmon (#00) with her drive and waits out the secondary rotation from Rhyne Howard (#10, Rookie of the Year front-runner) before firing to Jackie Young</li>
<li>A full-court lead pass to Young after a singular dribble</li>
<li>An instantaneous feed to Wilson through a pair of defenders after a loose-ball scramble</li>
<li>A 20-plus-feet behind-the-back bounce pass (?????) to a cutting Kelsey Plum</li>
<li>A no-look feed to Young after a drive in transition</li>
</ul>
<p>Highlight films are typically dangerous for narrative-driven minds. With just a few clips, you can present a chapter as a full-blown story. But I assure you that this isn't a doctored snippet; this is who Chelsea Gray, The W's #PointGawd, really is.</p>
<p>The numbers don't do her justice, though it's worth noting that she's averaging a career-high in assists this season (6.2 per game). Only three players &mdash; Courtney Vandersloot, Natasha Cloud and Sue Bird &mdash; are assisting more than Gray on a <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=AST&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;PerMode=PerPossession&amp;CF=GP*GE*15" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per-possession basis</a>.</p>
<p>But to appreciate Gray's playmaking ability, you have to watch. Her cadence is different. The angles she spots for passes are almost unheard of for mere mortals; the angles she can <em>create&nbsp;</em>are more rare. There isn't a pass in the book she can't make; more importantly, there isn't a pass that she won't try.</p>
<p>If those descriptors sound familiar, it's because they've been used &mdash; reserved, even &mdash; for legends. Magic Johnson was and is the standard for that sort of creativity on the NBA side. Ticha Penicheiro &mdash; the league's all-time assist leader until Bird passed her in 2017 &mdash; certainly fits the bill for The W. You can see their inspiration shine through Gray's game.</p>
<p>"With Magic, it was everything he could do as a bigger point guard," Gray told Basketball News in a Zoom interview. "It was how he incorporated flashiness too. Being able to balance effectiveness with a little flash."</p>
<p>While Magic helped with broad strokes, you can thank Penicheiro's influence for Gray's affinity for no-look passes.</p>
<p>"With Ticha, her ability to look at a completely different person but pass it somewhere else always intrigued me," Gray said. "I used to look to the side and try to hit a pole [to practice]."</p>
<p>A throughline with Magic, Penicheiro and Gray is the ability to see plays develop before they happen. It's an obvious gift; it's easier to beat a defense if you're ahead of them conceptually. But there is an obvious drawback: It's a gift because only a few players can see the game that way.</p>
<p>What is genius if it isn't understood? It's likely a turnover in basketball.</p>
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
<p>Like many great playmakers before her, Gray has to walk a tightrope between doing her thing and coloring inside the lines. It's also the responsibility of the coach to help find that balance. She certainly felt that during the early portion of her Los Angeles Sparks tenure.</p>
<p>"It's like, if [the passes] go through, they're good. If they didn't, it'd be so terrible; 'I don't know what she saw; I don't know what that was (laughs),'" Gray said. "But as my game progressed and I got a little smarter about when to make certain passes, there was more of a balance.</p>
<p>"There's always a balance of not taking away the player and their effectiveness, but reeling them in so they're within what you're trying to accomplish."</p>
<p>When watching a Gray pick-and-roll, or a no-look, or a transition touchdown, it's hard not to wonder how she makes decisions. Luckily, Gray was kind enough to not only answer that question broadly, but also talk through some of her assists from this season for further insight with Basketball News.</p>
<p>(<em>This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.)<br /></em></p>
<p><strong>When you're making fancier reads, are any of those predetermined? What goes into your process?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Chelsea Gray: </strong>"It's a mixture of what the defense is doing, and my head.</p>
<p>"Sometimes I feel like the most 'complicated' way to get it there is the easiest way for me to get it there, or the quickest or most efficient. I was just having a conversation about a simple thing like a pick-and-pop. Me doing a bounce pass behind the back is the easiest, most efficient way to get it there, so my teammate has a wide-open shot rather than spinning in a circle to throw the pass.</p>
<p>"Sometimes, maybe I <em>could</em> do that, but [the behind-the-back bounce pass] is the most efficient way for me to do that to make sure my teammate has an easier read when they catch the ball."</p>
<p><strong>With great playmakers, I'm always curious about their process, and what or who they're reading on the floor. When you're running a ball-screen, what are the kind of things you're looking for?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/kt8p00" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"My initial read is seeing how my defender is guarding me. If they're playing off, that changes my angle going into the pick-and-roll. From there, I'm looking at my post player or whoever's setting the screen to see how their defender is guarding them &mdash; are they (the screener's defender) going to jump out?</p>
<p>"Some pick-and-rolls are defended differently based on who's setting the screen. Defenses might play it one way when Kiah Stokes is involved, but a different way if it's Dearica Hamby or A'ja Wilson. My teammates also do different things. Kiah, most of the time, is going to roll while the others may mix in pick-and-pops.</p>
<p>"All of that is going into my head when heading into a ball-screen. Then, it's like, 'If this happens, then <em>this&nbsp;</em>happens.' That's the repetitive nature of running so many pick-and-rolls throughout my career. When a defender does something, they're giving up something else. From there, it's about how to make the right decision as quickly as possible."</p>
<p><strong>You mentioned how defensive coverages may differ based on who's screening for you. Who's the best screener on the Aces?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/lpqo8y" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"That's so hard. Honestly, it does depend on the coverage they're getting. Against Dallas (on Aug. 4), Teaira McCowan was hitting A'ja and wasn't letting her screen. But because of that, I was able to hit her on the roll off the back side. Kiah tries to head-hunt&nbsp;<em>every single time </em>(laughs), so the angle is different.</p>
<p>"It's hard to say who the best pick-and-roll player is. Like, Dearica Hamby will hit and just go, super quickly. So it'll look like, 'Whoa, what a great screen,' but really, there was a lot of indecision on the defensive end. She's able to get us both open because she creates some thought in their head like, 'Oh snap, I'm hit; what are we doing on our coverage?' It really depends."</p>
<p><strong>With this pick-and-roll (video below), this ends up being a pass to Iliana Rupert. It looks like you're flowing out of HORNS. When you get the first screen, are you gauging what the big (NaLyssa Smith) is doing first?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/wx09bv" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"Yeah, I'm seeing what this big is doing here. I see Emily Engstler sink in for the help because Destanni Henderson is hit with the screen. I know Iliana Rupert is going to be open on the pop; it's a simple HORNS action."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_28_26_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p><strong>I have two transition clips to share now. In the first one, you find Kelsey Plum trailing the play. She makes a move and gets the bucket; you get the assist on this one. In the second one, you hit a streaking Jackie Young. When you're making these full-court hit-aheads, which defender are you reading? What determines where you go with the ball?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/0dl3fs" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"As we cross half court, our angles have to be clear and concise. As we're running, we know one big will run down the floor while the other will trail the play. As the trailer, Dearica Hamby will either come set a drag screen, or I'll pass to her and she'll flow to the next side."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_17_40_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"So if you pause it when Kelsey catches the ball, I'm reading to see if A'ja's defender picked her up, and if Dearica's defender picked her up. Indiana is pretty much matched up; they did a solid job in transition defense.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_20_31_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"Personally, I don't know if I would've counted this as an assist. I just get it there for her to be able to make a move. After the initial catch, she has to make a good and solid move to get into the paint and finish.</p>
<p>"This second one, on the other hand, people are just flying down the court. Kiah Stokes actually gets Jackie open by the way she runs the floor. Kayla Thornton feels like, 'Oh shoot, [Kiah's] going; Teaira McCowan, help!' Meanwhile, Jackie is streaking down the court.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_00_52_35_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"I see all of that unfolding, and that's on top of them being concerned about A'ja filling in. Jackie's able to knock the shot down, right in the flow."</p>
<p><strong>We have to talk about the falling pass to Kelsey Plum! You get a screen from Kiah Stokes. We have good defense from Brittney Sykes. When did you decide you're going to find the angle for the pass that way?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/6qblu6" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"Really, I decided in the moment. I saw it afterwards and was like, 'I know I fell, but I <em>had&nbsp;</em>to fall to get it there.' I felt that it would've been a turnover or Brittney Sykes would've gotten her hand on it. The <em>way&nbsp;</em>I fell was a bit of a dramatic fall, but it was necessary.</p>
<p>"It took all of my power in order to get it there. The angle and the rate in which [Kelsey Plum] was cutting was all going into my thought process. So I was like, 'Alright, I have to fall or else it's not going to get there.' If I threw a straight bounce pass, the defender would've gotten it."</p>
<p><strong>Alright, last one for the fancy passes. A&nbsp;<em>behind-the-back pass&nbsp;</em></strong><strong>on a baseline inbound?!</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/t544q2" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"To me, it was simple. In the moment, I realized what I did, but I got excited because the play that we called &mdash; we hadn't scored on it yet.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"If you pause it here, Tiffany Mitchell is already beat:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_36_44_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"But I can't make a bounce pass there with Lexie Hull right there. There's no possible way. So the only way I feel that I can get it there is by going behind the back.</p>
<p>"If you keep going... right there:</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_39_40_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"I would have to angle my body to be able to throw a chest pass. Hull might be able to get a hand on it, or Jackie [Young] won't be able to finish it. So if I look one way, it just takes half a step for Hull to come over, and I'm able to get the angle for Jackie.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"Honestly, a lot of times when I do the behind-the-back or a fancy pass, it's the quickest, most efficient way I feel it can get there. It's not like, 'Let me do this pass because it'll be on a highlight reel.' Sometimes I want to add a little no-look flair to it, and I probably could've gotten it there by looking at her. But the fanciness of the curve, or behind-the-back, or behind-the head &mdash; that's the quickest way for me to get it there without a turnover. Maybe that's just ridiculous (laughs)."</p>
<p><strong>No, I don't think so at all! On the no-look front: When you're watching others, does it bother you when players fake it? Sometimes, it's obvious that a player will stare their teammate down before looking off and making it seem like a real no-look.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Gray: </strong>(Laughs) "Maybe that's their version of the way they want to do a no-look! I don't know, it doesn't bother me. As long as they get the assist, they should be fine with the way they're doing it.</p>

<p>If you have a minute and change to spare &mdash; and I'd assume so since you've opened this piece &mdash; I want you to watch this video. It's an assist compilation of Las Vegas Aces star Chelsea Gray from Tuesday night's win over the Atlanta Dream. It includes 5 of her game-high 9 assists.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/zbchwr" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>The assists, in order:</p>
<ul>
<li>A pick-and-roll with A'ja Wilson (MVP, by the way) in which Gray freezes Cheyenne Parker (Wilson's defender) with a hesi, forces a rotation from Naz HIllmon (#00) with her drive and waits out the secondary rotation from Rhyne Howard (#10, Rookie of the Year front-runner) before firing to Jackie Young</li>
<li>A full-court lead pass to Young after a singular dribble</li>
<li>An instantaneous feed to Wilson through a pair of defenders after a loose-ball scramble</li>
<li>A 20-plus-feet behind-the-back bounce pass (?????) to a cutting Kelsey Plum</li>
<li>A no-look feed to Young after a drive in transition</li>
</ul>
<p>Highlight films are typically dangerous for narrative-driven minds. With just a few clips, you can present a chapter as a full-blown story. But I assure you that this isn't a doctored snippet; this is who Chelsea Gray, The W's #PointGawd, really is.</p>
<p>The numbers don't do her justice, though it's worth noting that she's averaging a career-high in assists this season (6.2 per game). Only three players &mdash; Courtney Vandersloot, Natasha Cloud and Sue Bird &mdash; are assisting more than Gray on a <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=AST&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;PerMode=PerPossession&amp;CF=GP*GE*15" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per-possession basis</a>.</p>
<p>But to appreciate Gray's playmaking ability, you have to watch. Her cadence is different. The angles she spots for passes are almost unheard of for mere mortals; the angles she can <em>create&nbsp;</em>are more rare. There isn't a pass in the book she can't make; more importantly, there isn't a pass that she won't try.</p>
<p>If those descriptors sound familiar, it's because they've been used &mdash; reserved, even &mdash; for legends. Magic Johnson was and is the standard for that sort of creativity on the NBA side. Ticha Penicheiro &mdash; the league's all-time assist leader until Bird passed her in 2017 &mdash; certainly fits the bill for The W. You can see their inspiration shine through Gray's game.</p>
<p>"With Magic, it was everything he could do as a bigger point guard," Gray told Basketball News in a Zoom interview. "It was how he incorporated flashiness too. Being able to balance effectiveness with a little flash."</p>
<p>While Magic helped with broad strokes, you can thank Penicheiro's influence for Gray's affinity for no-look passes.</p>
<p>"With Ticha, her ability to look at a completely different person but pass it somewhere else always intrigued me," Gray said. "I used to look to the side and try to hit a pole [to practice]."</p>
<p>A throughline with Magic, Penicheiro and Gray is the ability to see plays develop before they happen. It's an obvious gift; it's easier to beat a defense if you're ahead of them conceptually. But there is an obvious drawback: It's a gift because only a few players can see the game that way.</p>
<p>What is genius if it isn't understood? It's likely a turnover in basketball.</p>
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
<p>Like many great playmakers before her, Gray has to walk a tightrope between doing her thing and coloring inside the lines. It's also the responsibility of the coach to help find that balance. She certainly felt that during the early portion of her Los Angeles Sparks tenure.</p>
<p>"It's like, if [the passes] go through, they're good. If they didn't, it'd be so terrible; 'I don't know what she saw; I don't know what that was (laughs),'" Gray said. "But as my game progressed and I got a little smarter about when to make certain passes, there was more of a balance.</p>
<p>"There's always a balance of not taking away the player and their effectiveness, but reeling them in so they're within what you're trying to accomplish."</p>
<p>When watching a Gray pick-and-roll, or a no-look, or a transition touchdown, it's hard not to wonder how she makes decisions. Luckily, Gray was kind enough to not only answer that question broadly, but also talk through some of her assists from this season for further insight with Basketball News.</p>
<p>(<em>This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.)<br /></em></p>
<p><strong>When you're making fancier reads, are any of those predetermined? What goes into your process?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Chelsea Gray: </strong>"It's a mixture of what the defense is doing, and my head.</p>
<p>"Sometimes I feel like the most 'complicated' way to get it there is the easiest way for me to get it there, or the quickest or most efficient. I was just having a conversation about a simple thing like a pick-and-pop. Me doing a bounce pass behind the back is the easiest, most efficient way to get it there, so my teammate has a wide-open shot rather than spinning in a circle to throw the pass.</p>
<p>"Sometimes, maybe I <em>could</em> do that, but [the behind-the-back bounce pass] is the most efficient way for me to do that to make sure my teammate has an easier read when they catch the ball."</p>
<p><strong>With great playmakers, I'm always curious about their process, and what or who they're reading on the floor. When you're running a ball-screen, what are the kind of things you're looking for?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/kt8p00" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"My initial read is seeing how my defender is guarding me. If they're playing off, that changes my angle going into the pick-and-roll. From there, I'm looking at my post player or whoever's setting the screen to see how their defender is guarding them &mdash; are they (the screener's defender) going to jump out?</p>
<p>"Some pick-and-rolls are defended differently based on who's setting the screen. Defenses might play it one way when Kiah Stokes is involved, but a different way if it's Dearica Hamby or A'ja Wilson. My teammates also do different things. Kiah, most of the time, is going to roll while the others may mix in pick-and-pops.</p>
<p>"All of that is going into my head when heading into a ball-screen. Then, it's like, 'If this happens, then <em>this&nbsp;</em>happens.' That's the repetitive nature of running so many pick-and-rolls throughout my career. When a defender does something, they're giving up something else. From there, it's about how to make the right decision as quickly as possible."</p>
<p><strong>You mentioned how defensive coverages may differ based on who's screening for you. Who's the best screener on the Aces?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/lpqo8y" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"That's so hard. Honestly, it does depend on the coverage they're getting. Against Dallas (on Aug. 4), Teaira McCowan was hitting A'ja and wasn't letting her screen. But because of that, I was able to hit her on the roll off the back side. Kiah tries to head-hunt&nbsp;<em>every single time </em>(laughs), so the angle is different.</p>
<p>"It's hard to say who the best pick-and-roll player is. Like, Dearica Hamby will hit and just go, super quickly. So it'll look like, 'Whoa, what a great screen,' but really, there was a lot of indecision on the defensive end. She's able to get us both open because she creates some thought in their head like, 'Oh snap, I'm hit; what are we doing on our coverage?' It really depends."</p>
<p><strong>With this pick-and-roll (video below), this ends up being a pass to Iliana Rupert. It looks like you're flowing out of HORNS. When you get the first screen, are you gauging what the big (NaLyssa Smith) is doing first?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/wx09bv" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"Yeah, I'm seeing what this big is doing here. I see Emily Engstler sink in for the help because Destanni Henderson is hit with the screen. I know Iliana Rupert is going to be open on the pop; it's a simple HORNS action."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_28_26_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p><strong>I have two transition clips to share now. In the first one, you find Kelsey Plum trailing the play. She makes a move and gets the bucket; you get the assist on this one. In the second one, you hit a streaking Jackie Young. When you're making these full-court hit-aheads, which defender are you reading? What determines where you go with the ball?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/0dl3fs" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"As we cross half court, our angles have to be clear and concise. As we're running, we know one big will run down the floor while the other will trail the play. As the trailer, Dearica Hamby will either come set a drag screen, or I'll pass to her and she'll flow to the next side."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_17_40_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"So if you pause it when Kelsey catches the ball, I'm reading to see if A'ja's defender picked her up, and if Dearica's defender picked her up. Indiana is pretty much matched up; they did a solid job in transition defense.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_20_31_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"Personally, I don't know if I would've counted this as an assist. I just get it there for her to be able to make a move. After the initial catch, she has to make a good and solid move to get into the paint and finish.</p>
<p>"This second one, on the other hand, people are just flying down the court. Kiah Stokes actually gets Jackie open by the way she runs the floor. Kayla Thornton feels like, 'Oh shoot, [Kiah's] going; Teaira McCowan, help!' Meanwhile, Jackie is streaking down the court.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_00_52_35_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"I see all of that unfolding, and that's on top of them being concerned about A'ja filling in. Jackie's able to knock the shot down, right in the flow."</p>
<p><strong>We have to talk about the falling pass to Kelsey Plum! You get a screen from Kiah Stokes. We have good defense from Brittney Sykes. When did you decide you're going to find the angle for the pass that way?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/6qblu6" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"Really, I decided in the moment. I saw it afterwards and was like, 'I know I fell, but I <em>had&nbsp;</em>to fall to get it there.' I felt that it would've been a turnover or Brittney Sykes would've gotten her hand on it. The <em>way&nbsp;</em>I fell was a bit of a dramatic fall, but it was necessary.</p>
<p>"It took all of my power in order to get it there. The angle and the rate in which [Kelsey Plum] was cutting was all going into my thought process. So I was like, 'Alright, I have to fall or else it's not going to get there.' If I threw a straight bounce pass, the defender would've gotten it."</p>
<p><strong>Alright, last one for the fancy passes. A&nbsp;<em>behind-the-back pass&nbsp;</em></strong><strong>on a baseline inbound?!</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/t544q2" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"To me, it was simple. In the moment, I realized what I did, but I got excited because the play that we called &mdash; we hadn't scored on it yet.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"If you pause it here, Tiffany Mitchell is already beat:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_36_44_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"But I can't make a bounce pass there with Lexie Hull right there. There's no possible way. So the only way I feel that I can get it there is by going behind the back.</p>
<p>"If you keep going... right there:</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_39_40_690w.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"I would have to angle my body to be able to throw a chest pass. Hull might be able to get a hand on it, or Jackie [Young] won't be able to finish it. So if I look one way, it just takes half a step for Hull to come over, and I'm able to get the angle for Jackie.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"Honestly, a lot of times when I do the behind-the-back or a fancy pass, it's the quickest, most efficient way I feel it can get there. It's not like, 'Let me do this pass because it'll be on a highlight reel.' Sometimes I want to add a little no-look flair to it, and I probably could've gotten it there by looking at her. But the fanciness of the curve, or behind-the-back, or behind-the head &mdash; that's the quickest way for me to get it there without a turnover. Maybe that's just ridiculous (laughs)."</p>
<p><strong>No, I don't think so at all! On the no-look front: When you're watching others, does it bother you when players fake it? Sometimes, it's obvious that a player will stare their teammate down before looking off and making it seem like a real no-look.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Gray: </strong>(Laughs) "Maybe that's their version of the way they want to do a no-look! I don't know, it doesn't bother me. As long as they get the assist, they should be fine with the way they're doing it."</p>

<p>If you have a minute and change to spare &mdash; and I'd assume so since you've opened this piece &mdash; I want you to watch this video. It's an assist compilation of Las Vegas Aces star Chelsea Gray from Tuesday night's win over the Atlanta Dream. It includes 5 of her game-high 9 assists.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/zbchwr" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>The assists, in order:</p>
<ul>
<li>A pick-and-roll with A'ja Wilson (MVP, by the way) in which Gray freezes Cheyenne Parker (Wilson's defender) with a hesi, forces a rotation from Naz HIllmon (#00) with her drive and waits out the secondary rotation from Rhyne Howard (#10, Rookie of the Year front-runner) before firing to Jackie Young</li>
<li>A full-court lead pass to Young after a singular dribble</li>
<li>An instantaneous feed to Wilson through a pair of defenders after a loose-ball scramble</li>
<li>A 20-plus-feet behind-the-back bounce pass (?????) to a cutting Kelsey Plum</li>
<li>A no-look feed to Young after a drive in transition</li>
</ul>
<p>Highlight films are typically dangerous for narrative-driven minds. With just a few clips, you can present a chapter as a full-blown story. But I assure you that this isn't a doctored snippet; this is who Chelsea Gray, The W's #PointGawd, really is.</p>
<p>The numbers don't do her justice, though it's worth noting that she's averaging a career-high in assists this season (6.2 per game). Only three players &mdash; Courtney Vandersloot, Natasha Cloud and Sue Bird &mdash; are assisting more than Gray on a <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=AST&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;PerMode=PerPossession&amp;CF=GP*GE*15" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per-possession basis</a>.</p>
<p>But to appreciate Gray's playmaking ability, you have to watch. Her cadence is different. The angles she spots for passes are almost unheard of for mere mortals; the angles she can <em>create&nbsp;</em>are more rare. There isn't a pass in the book she can't make; more importantly, there isn't a pass that she won't try.</p>
<p>If those descriptors sound familiar, it's because they've been used &mdash; reserved, even &mdash; for legends. Magic Johnson was and is the standard for that sort of creativity on the NBA side. Ticha Penicheiro &mdash; the league's all-time assist leader until Bird passed her in 2017 &mdash; certainly fits the bill for The W. You can see their inspiration shine through Gray's game.</p>
<p>"With Magic, it was everything he could do as a bigger point guard," Gray told Basketball News in a Zoom interview. "It was how he incorporated flashiness too. Being able to balance effectiveness with a little flash."</p>
<p>While Magic helped with broad strokes, you can thank Penicheiro's influence for Gray's affinity for no-look passes.</p>
<p>"With Ticha, her ability to look at a completely different person but pass it somewhere else always intrigued me," Gray said. "I used to look to the side and try to hit a pole [to practice]."</p>
<p>A throughline with Magic, Penicheiro and Gray is the ability to see plays develop before they happen. It's an obvious gift; it's easier to beat a defense if you're ahead of them conceptually. But there is an obvious drawback: It's a gift because only a few players can see the game that way.</p>
<p>What is genius if it isn't understood? It's likely a turnover in basketball.</p>
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
<p>Like many great playmakers before her, Gray has to walk a tightrope between doing her thing and coloring inside the lines. It's also the responsibility of the coach to help find that balance. She certainly felt that during the early portion of her Los Angeles Sparks tenure.</p>
<p>"It's like, if [the passes] go through, they're good. If they didn't, it'd be so terrible; 'I don't know what she saw; I don't know what that was (laughs),'" Gray said. "But as my game progressed and I got a little smarter about when to make certain passes, there was more of a balance.</p>
<p>"There's always a balance of not taking away the player and their effectiveness, but reeling them in so they're within what you're trying to accomplish."</p>
<p>When watching a Gray pick-and-roll, or a no-look, or a transition touchdown, it's hard not to wonder how she makes decisions. Luckily, Gray was kind enough to not only answer that question broadly, but also talk through some of her assists from this season for further insight with Basketball News.</p>
<p>(<em>This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.)<br /></em></p>
<p><strong>When you're making fancier reads, are any of those predetermined? What goes into your process?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Chelsea Gray: </strong>"It's a mixture of what the defense is doing, and my head.</p>
<p>"Sometimes I feel like the most 'complicated' way to get it there is the easiest way for me to get it there, or the quickest or most efficient. I was just having a conversation about a simple thing like a pick-and-pop. Me doing a bounce pass behind the back is the easiest, most efficient way to get it there, so my teammate has a wide-open shot rather than spinning in a circle to throw the pass.</p>
<p>"Sometimes, maybe I <em>could</em> do that, but [the behind-the-back bounce pass] is the most efficient way for me to do that to make sure my teammate has an easier read when they catch the ball."</p>
<p><strong>With great playmakers, I'm always curious about their process, and what or who they're reading on the floor. When you're running a ball-screen, what are the kind of things you're looking for?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/kt8p00" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"My initial read is seeing how my defender is guarding me. If they're playing off, that changes my angle going into the pick-and-roll. From there, I'm looking at my post player or whoever's setting the screen to see how their defender is guarding them &mdash; are they (the screener's defender) going to jump out?</p>
<p>"Some pick-and-rolls are defended differently based on who's setting the screen. Defenses might play it one way when Kiah Stokes is involved, but a different way if it's Dearica Hamby or A'ja Wilson. My teammates also do different things. Kiah, most of the time, is going to roll while the others may mix in pick-and-pops.</p>
<p>"All of that is going into my head when heading into a ball-screen. Then, it's like, 'If this happens, then <em>this&nbsp;</em>happens.' That's the repetitive nature of running so many pick-and-rolls throughout my career. When a defender does something, they're giving up something else. From there, it's about how to make the right decision as quickly as possible."</p>
<p><strong>You mentioned how defensive coverages may differ based on who's screening for you. Who's the best screener on the Aces?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/lpqo8y" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"That's so hard. Honestly, it does depend on the coverage they're getting. Against Dallas (on Aug. 4), Teaira McCowan was hitting A'ja and wasn't letting her screen. But because of that, I was able to hit her on the roll off the back side. Kiah tries to head-hunt&nbsp;<em>every single time </em>(laughs), so the angle is different.</p>
<p>"It's hard to say who the best pick-and-roll player is. Like, Dearica Hamby will hit and just go, super quickly. So it'll look like, 'Whoa, what a great screen,' but really, there was a lot of indecision on the defensive end. She's able to get us both open because she creates some thought in their head like, 'Oh snap, I'm hit; what are we doing on our coverage?' It really depends."</p>
<p><strong>With this pick-and-roll (video below), this ends up being a pass to Iliana Rupert. It looks like you're flowing out of HORNS. When you get the first screen, are you gauging what the big (NaLyssa Smith) is doing first?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/wx09bv" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"Yeah, I'm seeing what this big is doing here. I see Emily Engstler sink in for the help because Destanni Henderson is hit with the screen. I know Iliana Rupert is going to be open on the pop; it's a simple HORNS action."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_28_26.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p><strong>I have two transition clips to share now. In the first one, you find Kelsey Plum trailing the play. She makes a move and gets the bucket; you get the assist on this one. In the second one, you hit a streaking Jackie Young. When you're making these full-court hit-aheads, which defender are you reading? What determines where you go with the ball?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/0dl3fs" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"As we cross half court, our angles have to be clear and concise. As we're running, we know one big will run down the floor while the other will trail the play. As the trailer, Dearica Hamby will either come set a drag screen, or I'll pass to her and she'll flow to the next side."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_17_40.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"So if you pause it when Kelsey catches the ball, I'm reading to see if A'ja's defender picked her up, and if Dearica's defender picked her up. Indiana is pretty much matched up; they did a solid job in transition defense.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_20_31.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"Personally, I don't know if I would've counted this as an assist. I just get it there for her to be able to make a move. After the initial catch, she has to make a good and solid move to get into the paint and finish.</p>
<p>"This second one, on the other hand, people are just flying down the court. Kiah Stokes actually gets Jackie open by the way she runs the floor. Kayla Thornton feels like, 'Oh shoot, [Kiah's] going; Teaira McCowan, help!' Meanwhile, Jackie is streaking down the court.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_00_52_35.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"I see all of that unfolding, and that's on top of them being concerned about A'ja filling in. Jackie's able to knock the shot down, right in the flow."</p>
<p><strong>We have to talk about the falling pass to Kelsey Plum! You get a screen from Kiah Stokes. We have good defense from Brittney Sykes. When did you decide you're going to find the angle for the pass that way?</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/6qblu6" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"Really, I decided in the moment. I saw it afterwards and was like, 'I know I fell, but I <em>had&nbsp;</em>to fall to get it there.' I felt that it would've been a turnover or Brittney Sykes would've gotten her hand on it. The <em>way&nbsp;</em>I fell was a bit of a dramatic fall, but it was necessary.</p>
<p>"It took all of my power in order to get it there. The angle and the rate in which [Kelsey Plum] was cutting was all going into my thought process. So I was like, 'Alright, I have to fall or else it's not going to get there.' If I threw a straight bounce pass, the defender would've gotten it."</p>
<p><strong>Alright, last one for the fancy passes. A&nbsp;<em>behind-the-back pass&nbsp;</em></strong><strong>on a baseline inbound?!</strong></p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/t544q2" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"To me, it was simple. In the moment, I realized what I did, but I got excited because the play that we called &mdash; we hadn't scored on it yet.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"If you pause it here, Tiffany Mitchell is already beat:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_36_44.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"But I can't make a bounce pass there with Lexie Hull right there. There's no possible way. So the only way I feel that I can get it there is by going behind the back.</p>
<p>"If you keep going... right there:</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_39_40.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"I would have to angle my body to be able to throw a chest pass. Hull might be able to get a hand on it, or Jackie [Young] won't be able to finish it. So if I look one way, it just takes half a step for Hull to come over, and I'm able to get the angle for Jackie.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"Honestly, a lot of times when I do the behind-the-back or a fancy pass, it's the quickest, most efficient way I feel it can get there. It's not like, 'Let me do this pass because it'll be on a highlight reel.' Sometimes I want to add a little no-look flair to it, and I probably could've gotten it there by looking at her. But the fanciness of the curve, or behind-the-back, or behind-the head &mdash; that's the quickest way for me to get it there without a turnover. Maybe that's just ridiculous (laughs)."</p>
<p><strong>No, I don't think so at all! On the no-look front: When you're watching others, does it bother you when players fake it? Sometimes, it's obvious that a player will stare their teammate down before looking off and making it seem like a real no-look.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Gray: </strong>(Laughs) "Maybe that's their version of the way they want to do a no-look! I don't know, it doesn't bother me. As long as they get the assist, they should be fine with the way they're doing it."</p>

<p>If you have a minute and change to spare &mdash; and I'd assume so since you've opened this piece &mdash; I want you to watch this video. It's an assist compilation of Las Vegas Aces star Chelsea Gray from Tuesday night's win over the Atlanta Dream. It includes 5 of her game-high 9 assists.</p>
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<p>The assists, in order:</p>
<ul>
<li>A pick-and-roll with A'ja Wilson (MVP, by the way) in which Gray freezes Cheyenne Parker (Wilson's defender) with a hesi, forces a rotation from Naz HIllmon (#00) with her drive and waits out the secondary rotation from Rhyne Howard (#10, Rookie of the Year front-runner) before firing to Jackie Young</li>
<li>A full-court lead pass to Young after a singular dribble</li>
<li>An instantaneous feed to Wilson through a pair of defenders after a loose-ball scramble</li>
<li>A 20-plus-feet behind-the-back bounce pass (?????) to a cutting Kelsey Plum</li>
<li>A no-look feed to Young after a drive in transition</li>
</ul>
<p>Highlight films are typically dangerous for narrative-driven minds. With just a few clips, you can present a chapter as a full-blown story. But I assure you that this isn't a doctored snippet; this is who Chelsea Gray, The W's #PointGawd, really is.</p>
<p>The numbers don't do her justice, though it's worth noting that she's averaging a career-high in assists this season (6.2 per game). Only three players &mdash; Courtney Vandersloot, Natasha Cloud and Sue Bird &mdash; are assisting more than Gray on a <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=AST&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;PerMode=PerPossession&amp;CF=GP*GE*15" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per-possession basis</a>.</p>
<p>But to appreciate Gray's playmaking ability, you have to watch. Her cadence is different. The angles she spots for passes are almost unheard of for mere mortals; the angles she can <em>create&nbsp;</em>are more rare. There isn't a pass in the book she can't make; more importantly, there isn't a pass that she won't try.</p>
<p>If those descriptors sound familiar, it's because they've been used &mdash; reserved, even &mdash; for legends. Magic Johnson was and is the standard for that sort of creativity on the NBA side. Ticha Penicheiro &mdash; the league's all-time assist leader until Bird passed her in 2017 &mdash; certainly fits the bill for The W. You can see their inspiration shine through Gray's game.</p>
<p>"With Magic, it was everything he could do as a bigger point guard," Gray told Basketball News in a Zoom interview. "It was how he incorporated flashiness too. Being able to balance effectiveness with a little flash."</p>
<p>While Magic helped with broad strokes, you can thank Penicheiro's influence for Gray's affinity for no-look passes.</p>
<p>"With Ticha, her ability to <a href="https://youtu.be/REAzNuZM9Yw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">look at a completely different person</a> but pass it somewhere else always intrigued me," Gray said. "I used to look to the side and try to hit a pole [to practice]."</p>
<p>A throughline with Magic, Penicheiro and Gray is the ability to see plays develop before they happen. It's an obvious gift; it's easier to beat a defense if you're ahead of them conceptually. But there is an obvious drawback: It's a gift because only a few players can see the game that way.</p>
<p>What is genius if it isn't understood? It's likely a turnover in basketball.</p>
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
<p>Like many great playmakers before her, Gray has to walk a tightrope between doing her thing and coloring inside the lines. It's also the responsibility of the coach to help find that balance. She certainly felt that during the early portion of her Los Angeles Sparks tenure.</p>
<p>"It's like, if [the passes] go through, they're good. If they didn't, it'd be so terrible; 'I don't know what she saw; I don't know what that was (laughs),'" Gray said. "But as my game progressed and I got a little smarter about when to make certain passes, there was more of a balance.</p>
<p>"There's always a balance of not taking away the player and their effectiveness, but reeling them in so they're within what you're trying to accomplish."</p>
<p>When watching a Gray pick-and-roll, or a no-look, or a transition touchdown, it's hard not to wonder how she makes decisions. Luckily, Gray was kind enough to not only answer that question broadly, but also talk through some of her assists from this season for further insight with Basketball News.</p>
<p>(<em>This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.)<br /></em></p>
<p><strong>When you're making fancier reads, are any of those predetermined? What goes into your process?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Chelsea Gray: </strong>"It's a mixture of what the defense is doing, and my head.</p>
<p>"Sometimes I feel like the most 'complicated' way to get it there is the easiest way for me to get it there, or the quickest or most efficient. I was just having a conversation about a simple thing like a pick-and-pop. Me doing a bounce pass behind the back is the easiest, most efficient way to get it there, so my teammate has a wide-open shot rather than spinning in a circle to throw the pass.</p>
<p>"Sometimes, maybe I <em>could</em> do that, but [the behind-the-back bounce pass] is the most efficient way for me to do that to make sure my teammate has an easier read when they catch the ball."</p>
<p><strong>With great playmakers, I'm always curious about their process, and what or who they're reading on the floor. When you're running a ball-screen, what are the kind of things you're looking for?</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"My initial read is seeing how my defender is guarding me. If they're playing off, that changes my angle going into the pick-and-roll. From there, I'm looking at my post player or whoever's setting the screen to see how their defender is guarding them &mdash; are they (the screener's defender) going to jump out?</p>
<p>"Some pick-and-rolls are defended differently based on who's setting the screen. Defenses might play it one way when Kiah Stokes is involved, but a different way if it's Dearica Hamby or A'ja Wilson. My teammates also do different things. Kiah, most of the time, is going to roll while the others may mix in pick-and-pops.</p>
<p>"All of that is going into my head when heading into a ball-screen. Then, it's like, 'If this happens, then <em>this&nbsp;</em>happens.' That's the repetitive nature of running so many pick-and-rolls throughout my career. When a defender does something, they're giving up something else. From there, it's about how to make the right decision as quickly as possible."</p>
<p><strong>You mentioned how defensive coverages may differ based on who's screening for you. Who's the best screener on the Aces?</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"That's so hard. Honestly, it does depend on the coverage they're getting. Against Dallas (on Aug. 4), Teaira McCowan was hitting A'ja and wasn't letting her screen. But because of that, I was able to hit her on the roll off the back side. Kiah tries to head-hunt&nbsp;<em>every single time </em>(laughs), so the angle is different.</p>
<p>"It's hard to say who the best pick-and-roll player is. Like, Dearica Hamby will hit and just go, super quickly. So it'll look like, 'Whoa, what a great screen,' but really, there was a lot of indecision on the defensive end. She's able to get us both open because she creates some thought in their head like, 'Oh snap, I'm hit; what are we doing on our coverage?' It really depends."</p>
<p><strong>With this pick-and-roll (video below), this ends up being a pass to Iliana Rupert. It looks like you're flowing out of HORNS. When you get the first screen, are you gauging what the big (NaLyssa Smith) is doing first?</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"Yeah, I'm seeing what this big is doing here. I see Emily Engstler sink in for the help because Destanni Henderson is hit with the screen. I know Iliana Rupert is going to be open on the pop; it's a simple HORNS action."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_28_26.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p><strong>I have two transition clips to share now. In the first one, you find Kelsey Plum trailing the play. She makes a move and gets the bucket; you get the assist on this one. In the second one, you hit a streaking Jackie Young. When you're making these full-court hit-aheads, which defender are you reading? What determines where you go with the ball?</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"As we cross half court, our angles have to be clear and concise. As we're running, we know one big will run down the floor while the other will trail the play. As the trailer, Dearica Hamby will either come set a drag screen, or I'll pass to her and she'll flow to the next side."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_17_40.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"So if you pause it when Kelsey catches the ball, I'm reading to see if A'ja's defender picked her up, and if Dearica's defender picked her up. Indiana is pretty much matched up; they did a solid job in transition defense.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_20_31.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"Personally, I don't know if I would've counted this as an assist. I just get it there for her to be able to make a move. After the initial catch, she has to make a good and solid move to get into the paint and finish.</p>
<p>"This second one, on the other hand, people are just flying down the court. Kiah Stokes actually gets Jackie open by the way she runs the floor. Kayla Thornton feels like, 'Oh shoot, [Kiah's] going; Teaira McCowan, help!' Meanwhile, Jackie is streaking down the court.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_00_52_35.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"I see all of that unfolding, and that's on top of them being concerned about A'ja filling in. Jackie's able to knock the shot down, right in the flow."</p>
<p><strong>We have to talk about the falling pass to Kelsey Plum! You get a screen from Kiah Stokes. We have good defense from Brittney Sykes. When did you decide you're going to find the angle for the pass that way?</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"Really, I decided in the moment. I saw it afterwards and was like, 'I know I fell, but I <em>had&nbsp;</em>to fall to get it there.' I felt that it would've been a turnover or Brittney Sykes would've gotten her hand on it. The <em>way&nbsp;</em>I fell was a bit of a dramatic fall, but it was necessary.</p>
<p>"It took all of my power in order to get it there. The angle and the rate in which [Kelsey Plum] was cutting was all going into my thought process. So I was like, 'Alright, I have to fall or else it's not going to get there.' If I threw a straight bounce pass, the defender would've gotten it."</p>
<p><strong>Alright, last one for the fancy passes. A&nbsp;<em>behind-the-back pass&nbsp;</em></strong><strong>on a baseline inbound?!</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Gray:&nbsp;</strong>"To me, it was simple. In the moment, I realized what I did, but I got excited because the play that we called &mdash; we hadn't scored on it yet.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"If you pause it here, Tiffany Mitchell is already beat:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_36_44.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"But I can't make a bounce pass there with Lexie Hull right there. There's no possible way. So the only way I feel that I can get it there is by going behind the back.</p>
<p>"If you keep going... right there:</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_08_11_01_39_40.png" alt="" width="578" height="325" /></p>
<p>"I would have to angle my body to be able to throw a chest pass. Hull might be able to get a hand on it, or Jackie [Young] won't be able to finish it. So if I look one way, it just takes half a step for Hull to come over, and I'm able to get the angle for Jackie.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"Honestly, a lot of times when I do the behind-the-back or a fancy pass, it's the quickest, most efficient way I feel it can get there. It's not like, 'Let me do this pass because it'll be on a highlight reel.' Sometimes I want to add a little no-look flair to it, and I probably could've gotten it there by looking at her. But the fanciness of the curve, or behind-the-back, or behind-the head &mdash; that's the quickest way for me to get it there without a turnover. Maybe that's just ridiculous (laughs)."</p>
<p><strong>No, I don't think so at all! On the no-look front: When you're watching others, does it bother you when players fake it? Sometimes, it's obvious that a player will stare their teammate down before looking off and making it seem like a real no-look.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Gray: </strong>(Laughs) "Maybe that's their version of the way they want to do a no-look! I don't know, it doesn't bother me. As long as they get the assist, they should be fine with the way they're doing it."</p>

Nekias Duncan talks to Las Vegas Aces star Chelsea Gray to gain insight into her passing prowess.

Through Her Eyes: How Chelsea Gray sees what you can't

<p>Quick question: Who has the longest winning streak in the WNBA right now?</p>
<p>If you guessed the Chicago Sky, owners of The W's best record, you'd be incorrect. They're in a great position to lock up the top seed this week, and have won 8 of their last 10 games, but they've only won their last two. The Las Vegas Aces, two games back of the Sky, aren't the answer either.</p>
<p>In fact, both of these teams have lost to the actual answer in the past week: The Dallas Wings.</p>
<p>The talented, confusing, constantly-shuffling Wings are on a five-game heater. With wins over the Atlanta Dream, Sky, Aces, Indiana Fever and New York Liberty, the Wings find themselves locked into a playoff spot (likely the No. 6 seed) and over .500 (17-16) for the first time <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/teams/DAL/2022_games.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">since June 5</a>.</p>
<p>They have The W's <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/teams/advanced/?sort=NET_RATING&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;DateFrom=07%2F30%2F2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best Net Rating</a> since July 30 (plus-8.5) behind an elite offense (110.0 Offensive Rating, second) and a strong-enough defense (101.5 Defensive Rating, fifth). The offensive boom is a bit surprising considering star guard Arike Ogunbowale has only appeared in 2 of the 5 contests.</p>
<p>This has been a collective effort. Marina Mabrey is averaging nearly 20 points per game during the win streak, and is fresh off a career-high 31-point outing against Sabrina Ionescu and the Liberty. With no Ogunbowale, the Wings have bumped up the minutes of Ty Harris and rookie Veronica Burton. While neither have the scoring chops of Ogunbowale, they're both able to fill gaps offensively while being (much) better as point-of-attack defenders.</p>
<p>Allisha Gray and Kayla Thornton have been absolute menaces defensively, with the latter having her most prolific offensive stretch of the season (14.2 points, 44.3% from 3).</p>
<p>I'd argue the star of the run has been Teaira McCowan.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The numbers themselves are impressive. She's averaging 17.6 points (55.9% field goal percentage) and 13.0 rebounds in roughly 30 minutes a night during the win streak. Zoom out a bit, and she's averaging 16.2 points (60.0%) and 10.0 rebounds per contest in 10 games since being named the full-time starter on July 14.</p>
<p>There simply aren't many players equipped to deal with McCowan's blend of size (listed as 6-foot-7, 239 pounds) and touch around the rim. It's one thing to have the stature of McCowan; it's another thing to know how to use it to bust defenses.</p>
<p>Her ability to seal and drive players backwards can bring a defense to its breaking point. It allows her to get deep positioning for easy buckets or drawn fouls, of course. But because she threatens the rim to that degree, she also forces double-and-triple teams down low. For a team missing its no-doubt-about-it coverage breaker in Ogunbowale, McCowan has given the Wings a much needed pressure point in the half-court.</p>
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<p>To that point: the Wings have posted an offensive rating of 113.9 with <a href="https://www.positiveresidual.com/shiny/wnba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McCowan on the floor</a> during the win streak; that number falls to 104.7 when she's on the bench. A whopping 66% of the Wings' shot attempts have come <a href="https://www.positiveresidual.com/shiny/wnba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at the rim or from three</a> during this stretch; that number drops to 56% with McCowan off the floor.</p>
<p>It's been more encouraging that the Wings have been able to survive with McCowan on the defensive end of the floor.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are limited pathways for the Wings to field a <em>great&nbsp;</em>defense around McCowan. She's most comfortable in a deep drop, a coverage that yields pull-up attempts and puts much of the onus on perimeter defenders to prevent worse outcomes. McCowan struggles to flip her hips in space, leaving her susceptible to re-screening or sudden jukes from ball-handlers.</p>
<p>The Wings have seemingly asked her to meet them in the middle. She's playing higher up against ball screens. But instead of a traditional hedge-and-recover assignment, McCowan essentially gets to the level of the screen, then attaches to her defender to take away the roll. It's normally accompanied by the perimeter defender ducking under said-screen to meet the ball-handler, or with another Wing player stunting at the pick-and-roll to provide an extra layer of help.</p>
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<p>It's a weird-looking middle ground with holes to exploit. Re-screens to force McCowan to make second or third efforts can get dicey. Something as simple as rejecting a screen has the potential to put the defense in a bind.</p>
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<p>For now, the Wings have defended at a middling rate with McCowan on the floor. As long as it's "middling" and not "holy crap this is awful", McCowan's minutes will be closer to 30 than the 20 or so she was getting before this win streak. And if McCowan can stay on the floor long enough, she'll bring plenty of pain to opposing defenses.</p>

<p>Quick question: Who has the longest winning streak in the WNBA right now?</p>
<p>If you guessed the Chicago Sky, owners of The W's best record, you'd be incorrect. They're in a great position to lock up the top seed this week, and have won 8 of their last 10 games, but they've only won their last two. The Las Vegas Aces, two games back of the Sky, aren't the answer either.</p>
<p>In fact, both of these teams have lost to the actual answer in the past week: The Dallas Wings.</p>
<p>The talented, confusing, constantly-shuffling Wings are on a five-game heater. With wins over the Atlanta Dream, Sky, Aces, Indiana Fever and New York Liberty, the Wings find themselves locked into a playoff spot (likely the No. 6 seed) and over .500 (17-16) for the first time <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/teams/DAL/2022_games.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">since June 5</a>.</p>
<p>They have The W's <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/teams/advanced/?sort=NET_RATING&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;DateFrom=07%2F30%2F2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best Net Rating</a> since July 30 (plus-8.5) behind an elite offense (110.0 Offensive Rating, second) and a strong-enough defense (101.5 Defensive Rating, fifth). The offensive boom is a bit surprising considering star guard Arike Ogunbowale has only appeared in 2 of the 5 contests.</p>
<p>This has been a collective effort. Marina Mabrey is averaging nearly 20 points per game during the win streak, and is fresh off a career-high 31-point outing against Sabrina Ionescu and the Liberty. With no Ogunbowale, the Wings have bumped up the minutes of Ty Harris and rookie Veronica Burton. While neither have the scoring chops of Ogunbowale, they're both able to fill gaps offensively while being (much) better as point-of-attack defenders.</p>
<p>Allisha Gray and Kayla Thornton have been absolute menaces defensively, with the latter having her most prolific offensive stretch of the season (14.2 points, 44.3% from 3).</p>
<p>I'd argue the star of the run has been Teaira McCowan.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The numbers themselves are impressive. She's averaging 17.6 points (55.9% field goal percentage) and 13.0 rebounds in roughly 30 minutes a night during the win streak. Zoom out a bit, and she's averaging 16.2 points (60.0%) and 10.0 rebounds per contest in 10 games since being named the full-time starter on July 14.</p>
<p>There simply aren't many players equipped to deal with McCowan's blend of size (listed as 6-foot-7, 239 pounds) and touch around the rim. It's one thing to have the stature of McCowan; it's another thing to know how to use it to bust defenses.</p>
<p>McCowan's ability to seal and drive players backwards can bring a defense to its breaking point. It allows her to get deep positioning for easy buckets or drawn fouls, of course. But because she threatens the rim to that degree, she also forces double-and-triple teams down low. For a team missing its no-doubt-about-it coverage breaker in Ogunbowale, McCowan has given the Wings a much needed pressure point in the half-court.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/ylkzvh" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>To that point: the Wings have posted an offensive rating of 113.9 with <a href="https://www.positiveresidual.com/shiny/wnba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McCowan on the floor</a> during the win streak; that number falls to 104.7 when she's on the bench. A whopping 66% of the Wings' shot attempts have come <a href="https://www.positiveresidual.com/shiny/wnba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at the rim or from three</a> during this stretch; that number drops to 56% with McCowan off the floor.</p>
<p>It's been more encouraging that the Wings have been able to survive with McCowan on the defensive end of the floor.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are limited pathways for the Wings to field a <em>great&nbsp;</em>defense around McCowan. She's most comfortable in a deep drop, a coverage that yields pull-up attempts and puts much of the onus on perimeter defenders to prevent worse outcomes. McCowan struggles to flip her hips in space, leaving her susceptible to re-screening or sudden jukes from ball-handlers.</p>
<p>The Wings have seemingly asked her to meet them in the middle. She's playing higher up against ball screens. But instead of a traditional hedge-and-recover assignment, McCowan essentially gets to the level of the screen, then attaches to her defender to take away the roll. It's normally accompanied by the perimeter defender ducking under said-screen to meet the ball-handler, or with another Wing player stunting at the pick-and-roll to provide an extra layer of help.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/1f52h5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>It's a weird-looking middle ground with holes to exploit. Re-screens to force McCowan to make second or third efforts can get dicey. Something as simple as rejecting a screen has the potential to put the defense in a bind.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/8j464a" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>For now, the Wings have defended at a middling rate with McCowan on the floor. As long as it's "middling" and not "holy crap this is awful", McCowan's minutes will be closer to 30 than the 20 or so she was getting before this win streak. And if McCowan can stay on the floor long enough, she'll bring plenty of pain to opposing defenses.</p>

<p>Quick question: Who has the longest winning streak in the WNBA right now?</p>
<p>If you guessed the Chicago Sky, owners of The W's best record, you'd be incorrect. They're in a great position to lock up the top seed this week, and have won 8 of their last 10 games, but they've only won their last two. The Las Vegas Aces, two games back of the Sky, aren't the answer either.</p>
<p>In fact, both of these teams have lost to the actual answer in the past week: The Dallas Wings.</p>
<p>The talented, confusing, constantly-shuffling Wings are on a five-game heater. With wins over the Atlanta Dream, Sky, Aces, Indiana Fever and New York Liberty, the Wings find themselves locked into a playoff spot (likely the No. 6 seed) and over .500 (17-16) for the first time <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/teams/DAL/2022_games.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">since June 5</a>.</p>
<p>They have The W's <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/teams/advanced/?sort=NET_RATING&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;DateFrom=07%2F30%2F2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best Net Rating</a> since July 30 (plus-8.5) behind an elite offense (110.0 Offensive Rating, second) and a strong-enough defense (101.5 Defensive Rating, fifth). The offensive boom is a bit surprising considering star guard Arike Ogunbowale has only appeared in 2 of the 5 contests.</p>
<p>This has been a collective effort. Marina Mabrey is averaging nearly 20 points per game during the win streak, and is fresh off a career-high 31-point outing against Sabrina Ionescu and the Liberty. With no Ogunbowale, the Wings have bumped up the minutes of Ty Harris and rookie Veronica Burton. While neither have the scoring chops of Ogunbowale, they're both able to fill gaps offensively while being (much) better as point-of-attack defenders.</p>
<p>Allisha Gray and Kayla Thornton have been absolute menaces defensively, with the latter having her most prolific offensive stretch of the season (14.2 points, 44.3% from 3).</p>
<p>I'd argue the star of the run has been Teaira McCowan.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The numbers themselves are impressive. She's averaging 17.6 points (55.9% field goal percentage) and 13.0 rebounds in roughly 30 minutes a night during the win streak. Zoom out a bit, and she's averaging 16.2 points (60.0%) and 10.0 rebounds per contest in 10 games since being named the full-time starter on July 14.</p>
<p>There simply aren't many players equipped to deal with McCowan's blend of size (listed as 6-foot-7, 239 pounds) and touch around the rim. It's one thing to have the stature of McCowan; it's another thing to know how to use it to bust defenses.</p>
<p>McCowan's ability to seal and drive players backwards can bring a defense to its breaking point. It allows her to get deep positioning for easy buckets or drawn fouls, of course. But because she threatens the rim to that degree, she also forces double- and triple-teams down low. For a team missing its no-doubt-about-it coverage breaker in Ogunbowale, McCowan has given the Wings a much needed pressure point in the half-court.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/ylkzvh" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>To that point: the Wings have posted an offensive rating of 113.9 with <a href="https://www.positiveresidual.com/shiny/wnba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McCowan on the floor</a> during the win streak; that number falls to 104.7 when she's on the bench. A whopping 66% of the Wings' shot attempts have come <a href="https://www.positiveresidual.com/shiny/wnba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at the rim or from three</a> during this stretch; that number drops to 56% with McCowan off the floor.</p>
<p>It's been more encouraging that the Wings have been able to survive with McCowan on the defensive end of the floor.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are limited pathways for the Wings to field a <em>great&nbsp;</em>defense around McCowan. She's most comfortable in a deep drop, a coverage that yields pull-up attempts and puts much of the onus on perimeter defenders to prevent worse outcomes. McCowan struggles to flip her hips in space, leaving her susceptible to re-screening or sudden jukes from ball-handlers.</p>
<p>The Wings have seemingly asked her to meet them in the middle. She's playing higher up against ball screens. But instead of a traditional hedge-and-recover assignment, McCowan essentially gets to the level of the screen, then attaches to her defender to take away the roll. It's normally accompanied by the perimeter defender ducking under said-screen to meet the ball-handler, or with another Wing player stunting at the pick-and-roll to provide an extra layer of help.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/1f52h5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>It's a weird-looking middle ground with holes to exploit. Re-screens to force McCowan to make second or third efforts can get dicey. Something as simple as rejecting a screen has the potential to put the defense in a bind.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/8j464a" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>For now, the Wings have defended at a middling rate with McCowan on the floor. As long as it's "middling" and not "holy crap this is awful", McCowan's minutes will be closer to 30 than the 20 or so she was getting before this win streak. And if McCowan can stay on the floor long enough, she'll bring plenty of pain to opposing defenses.</p>

<p>Quick question: Who has the longest winning streak in the WNBA right now?</p>
<p>If you guessed the Chicago Sky, owners of The W's best record, you'd be incorrect. They're in a great position to lock up the top seed this week, and have won 8 of their last 10 games, but they've only won their last two. The Las Vegas Aces, two games back of the Sky, aren't the answer either.</p>
<p>In fact, both of these teams have lost to the actual answer in the past week: The Dallas Wings.</p>
<p>The talented, confusing, constantly-shuffling Wings are on a five-game heater. With wins over the Atlanta Dream, Sky, Aces, Indiana Fever and New York Liberty, the Wings find themselves locked into a playoff spot (likely the No. 6 seed) and over .500 (17-16) for the first time <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/teams/DAL/2022_games.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">since June 5</a>.</p>
<p>They have The W's <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/teams/advanced/?sort=NET_RATING&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;DateFrom=07%2F30%2F2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best Net Rating</a> since July 30 (plus-8.5) behind an elite offense (110.0 Offensive Rating, second) and a strong-enough defense (101.5 Defensive Rating, fifth). The offensive boom is a bit surprising considering star guard Arike Ogunbowale has only appeared in 2 of the 5 contests.</p>
<p>This has been a collective effort. Marina Mabrey is averaging nearly 20 points per game during the win streak, and is fresh off a career-high 31-point outing against Sabrina Ionescu and the Liberty. With no Ogunbowale, the Wings have bumped up the minutes of Ty Harris and rookie Veronica Burton. While neither have the scoring chops of Ogunbowale, they're both able to fill gaps offensively while being (much) better as point-of-attack defenders.</p>
<p>Allisha Gray and Kayla Thornton have been absolute menaces defensively, with the latter having her most prolific offensive stretch of the season (14.2 points, 44.3% from 3).</p>
<p>I'd argue the star of the run has been Teaira McCowan.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The numbers themselves are impressive. She's averaging 17.6 points (55.9% field goal percentage) and 13.0 rebounds in roughly 30 minutes a night during the win streak. Zoom out a bit, and she's averaging 16.2 points (60.0%) and 10.0 rebounds per contest in 10 games since being named the full-time starter on July 14.</p>
<p>There simply aren't many players equipped to deal with McCowan's blend of size (listed as 6-foot-7, 239 pounds) and touch around the rim. It's one thing to have the stature of McCowan; it's another thing to know how to use it to bust defenses.</p>
<p>McCowan's ability to seal and drive players backwards can bring a defense to its breaking point. It allows her to get deep positioning for easy buckets or drawn fouls, of course. But because she threatens the rim to that degree, she also forces double- and triple-teams down low. For a team missing its no-doubt-about-it coverage breaker in Ogunbowale, McCowan has given the Wings a much needed pressure point in the half-court.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/ylkzvh" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>To that point, the Wings have posted an ORTG of 113.9 with <a href="https://www.positiveresidual.com/shiny/wnba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McCowan on the floor</a> during the win streak; that number falls to 104.7 when she's on the bench. A whopping 66% of the Wings' shot attempts have come <a href="https://www.positiveresidual.com/shiny/wnba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at the rim or from three</a> during this stretch; that number drops to 56% with McCowan off the floor.</p>
<p>It's been more encouraging that the Wings have been able to survive with McCowan on the defensive end of the floor.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are limited pathways for the Wings to field a <em>great&nbsp;</em>defense around McCowan. She's most comfortable in a deep drop, a coverage that yields pull-up attempts and puts much of the onus on perimeter defenders to prevent worse outcomes. McCowan struggles to flip her hips in space, leaving her susceptible to re-screening or sudden jukes from ball-handlers.</p>
<p>The Wings have seemingly asked her to meet them in the middle. She's playing higher up against ball screens. But instead of a traditional hedge-and-recover assignment, McCowan essentially gets to the level of the screen, then attaches to her defender to take away the roll. It's normally accompanied by the perimeter defender ducking under said-screen to meet the ball-handler, or with another Wing player stunting at the pick-and-roll to provide an extra layer of help.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/1f52h5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>It's a weird-looking middle ground with holes to exploit. Re-screens to force McCowan to make second or third efforts can get dicey. Something as simple as rejecting a screen has the potential to put the defense in a bind.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/8j464a" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>For now, the Wings have defended at a middling rate with McCowan on the floor. As long as it's "middling" and not "holy crap this is awful", McCowan's minutes will be closer to 30 than the 20 or so she was getting before this win streak. And if McCowan can stay on the floor long enough, she'll bring plenty of pain to opposing defenses.</p>

<p>Quick question: Who has the longest winning streak in the WNBA right now?</p>
<p>If you guessed the Chicago Sky, owners of The W's best record, you'd be incorrect. They're in a great position to lock up the top seed this week, and have won 8 of their last 10 games, but they've only won their last two. The Las Vegas Aces, two games back of the Sky, aren't the answer either.</p>
<p>In fact, both of these teams have lost to the actual answer in the past week: The Dallas Wings.</p>
<p>The talented, confusing, constantly-shuffling Wings are on a five-game heater. With wins over the Atlanta Dream, Sky, Aces, Indiana Fever and New York Liberty, the Wings find themselves locked into a playoff spot (likely the No. 6 seed) and over .500 (17-16) for the first time <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/teams/DAL/2022_games.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">since June 5</a>.</p>
<p>They have The W's <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/teams/advanced/?sort=NET_RATING&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;DateFrom=07%2F30%2F2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best Net Rating</a> since July 30 (plus-8.5) behind an elite offense (110.0 Offensive Rating, second) and a strong-enough defense (101.5 Defensive Rating, fifth). The offensive boom is a bit surprising considering star guard Arike Ogunbowale has only appeared in 2 of the 5 contests.</p>
<p>This has been a collective effort. Marina Mabrey is averaging nearly 20 points per game during the win streak, and is fresh off a career-high 31-point outing against Sabrina Ionescu and the Liberty. With no Ogunbowale, the Wings have bumped up the minutes of Ty Harris and rookie Veronica Burton. While neither have the scoring chops of Ogunbowale, they're both able to fill gaps offensively while being (much) better as point-of-attack defenders.</p>
<p>Allisha Gray and Kayla Thornton have been absolute menaces defensively, with the latter having her most prolific offensive stretch of the season (14.2 points, 44.3% from 3).</p>
<p>I'd argue the star of the run has been Teaira McCowan.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The numbers themselves are impressive. She's averaging 17.6 points (55.9% field goal percentage) and 13.0 rebounds in roughly 30 minutes a night during the win streak. Zoom out a bit, and she's averaging 16.2 points (60.0%) and 10.0 rebounds per contest in 10 games since being named the full-time starter on July 14.</p>
<p>There simply aren't many players equipped to deal with McCowan's blend of size (listed as 6-foot-7, 239 pounds) and touch around the rim. It's one thing to have the stature of McCowan; it's another thing to know how to use it to bust defenses.</p>
<p>McCowan's ability to seal and drive players backwards can bring a defense to its breaking point. It allows her to get deep positioning for easy buckets or drawn fouls, of course. But because she threatens the rim to that degree, she also forces double- and triple-teams down low. For a team missing its no-doubt-about-it coverage breaker in Ogunbowale, McCowan has given the Wings a much needed pressure point in the half-court.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/ylkzvh" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>To that point, the Wings have posted an ORTG of 113.9 with <a href="https://www.positiveresidual.com/shiny/wnba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McCowan on the floor</a> during the win streak; that number falls to 104.7 when she's on the bench. A whopping 66% of the Wings' shot attempts have come <a href="https://www.positiveresidual.com/shiny/wnba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at the rim or from three</a> during this stretch; that number drops to 56% with McCowan off the floor.</p>
<p>It's been more encouraging that the Wings have been able to survive with McCowan on the defensive end of the floor.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are limited pathways for the Wings to field a <em>great&nbsp;</em>defense around McCowan. She's most comfortable in a deep drop, a coverage that yields pull-up attempts and puts much of the onus on perimeter defenders to prevent worse outcomes. McCowan struggles to flip her hips in space, leaving her susceptible to re-screening or sudden jukes from ball-handlers.</p>
<p>The Wings have seemingly asked her to meet them in the middle. She's playing higher up against ball-screens. But instead of a traditional hedge-and-recover assignment, McCowan essentially gets to the level of the screen, then attaches to her defender to take away the roll. It's normally accompanied by the perimeter defender ducking under said screen to meet the ball-handler, or, with another Wing player stunting at the pick-and-roll to provide an extra layer of help.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/1f52h5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>It's a weird-looking middle ground with holes to exploit. Re-screens to force McCowan to make second or third efforts can get dicey. Something as simple as rejecting a screen has the potential to put the defense in a bind.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/8j464a" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>For now, the Wings have defended at a middling rate with McCowan on the floor. As long as it's "middling" and not "holy crap this is awful", McCowan's minutes will be closer to 30 than the 20 or so she was getting before this win streak. And if McCowan can stay on the floor long enough, she'll bring plenty of pain to opposing defenses.</p>

<p>Quick question: Who has the longest winning streak in the WNBA right now?</p>
<p>If you guessed the Chicago Sky, owners of The W's best record, you'd be incorrect. They're in a great position to lock up the top seed this week, and have won 8 of their last 10 games, but they've only won their last two. The Las Vegas Aces, two games back of the Sky, aren't the answer either.</p>
<p>In fact, both of these teams have lost to the actual answer in the past week: The Dallas Wings.</p>
<p>The talented, confusing, constantly-shuffling Wings are on a five-game heater. With wins over the Atlanta Dream, Sky, Aces, Indiana Fever and New York Liberty, the Wings find themselves locked into a playoff spot (likely the No. 6 seed) and over .500 (17-16) for the first time <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/teams/DAL/2022_games.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">since June 5</a>.</p>
<p>They have The W's <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/teams/advanced/?sort=NET_RATING&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;DateFrom=07%2F30%2F2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best Net Rating</a> since July 30 (plus-8.5) behind an elite offense (110.0 Offensive Rating, second) and a strong-enough defense (101.5 Defensive Rating, fifth). The offensive boom is a bit surprising considering star guard Arike Ogunbowale has only appeared in 2 of the 5 contests.</p>
<p>This has been a collective effort. Marina Mabrey is averaging nearly 20 points per game during the win streak, and is fresh off a career-high 31-point outing against Sabrina Ionescu and the Liberty. With no Ogunbowale, the Wings have bumped up the minutes of Ty Harris and rookie Veronica Burton. While neither have the scoring chops of Ogunbowale, they're both able to fill gaps offensively while being (much) better as point-of-attack defenders.</p>
<p>Allisha Gray and Kayla Thornton have been absolute menaces defensively, with the latter having her most prolific offensive stretch of the season (14.2 points, 44.3% from 3).</p>
<p>I'd argue the star of the run has been Teaira McCowan.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The numbers themselves are impressive. She's averaging 17.6 points (55.9% field goal percentage) and 13.0 rebounds in roughly 30 minutes a night during the win streak. Zoom out a bit, and she's averaging 16.2 points (60.0%) and 10.0 rebounds per contest in 10 games since being named the full-time starter on July 14.</p>
<p>There simply aren't many players equipped to deal with McCowan's blend of size (listed as 6-foot-7, 239 pounds) and touch around the rim. It's one thing to have the stature of McCowan; it's another thing to know how to use it to bust defenses.</p>
<p>McCowan's ability to seal and drive players backwards can bring a defense to its breaking point. It allows her to get deep positioning for easy buckets or drawn fouls, of course. But because she threatens the rim to that degree, she also forces double- and triple-teams down low. For a team missing its no-doubt-about-it coverage breaker in Ogunbowale, McCowan has given the Wings a much needed pressure point in the half-court.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/ylkzvh" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>To that point, the Wings have posted an ORTG of 113.9 with <a href="https://www.positiveresidual.com/shiny/wnba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McCowan on the floor</a> during the win streak; that number falls to 104.7 when she's on the bench. A whopping 66% of the Wings' shot attempts have come <a href="https://www.positiveresidual.com/shiny/wnba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at the rim or from three</a> during this stretch; that number drops to 56% with McCowan off the floor.</p>
<p>It's been more encouraging that the Wings have been able to survive with McCowan on the defensive end of the floor.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are limited pathways for the Wings to field a <em>great&nbsp;</em>defense around McCowan. She's most comfortable in a deep drop, a coverage that yields pull-up attempts and puts much of the onus on perimeter defenders to prevent worse outcomes. McCowan struggles to flip her hips in space, leaving her susceptible to re-screening or sudden jukes from ball-handlers.</p>
<p>The Wings have seemingly asked her to meet them in the middle. She's playing higher up against ball-screens. But instead of a traditional hedge-and-recover assignment, McCowan essentially gets to the level of the screen, then attaches to her defender to take away the roll. It's normally accompanied by the perimeter defender ducking under said screen to meet the ball-handler, or, with another Wing player stunting at the pick-and-roll to provide an extra layer of help.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/1f52h5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>It's a weird-looking middle ground with holes to exploit. Re-screens to force McCowan to make second or third efforts can get dicey. Something as simple as rejecting a screen has the potential to put the defense in a bind.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/8j464a" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>For now, the Wings have defended at a middling rate with McCowan on the floor. However, as long as it's "middling" and not "holy crap this is awful," McCowan's minutes will be closer to 30 than the 20 or so she was getting before this win streak. And if McCowan can stay on the floor long enough, she'll bring plenty of pain to opposing defenses.</p>

<p>Quick question: Who has the longest winning streak in the WNBA right now?</p>
<p>If you guessed the Chicago Sky, owners of The W's best record, you'd be incorrect. They're in a great position to lock up the top seed this week, and have won 8 of their last 10 games, but they've only won their last two. The Las Vegas Aces, two games back of the Sky, aren't the answer either.</p>
<p>In fact, both of these teams have lost to the actual answer in the past week: The Dallas Wings.</p>
<p>The talented, confusing, constantly-shuffling Wings are on a five-game heater. With wins over the Atlanta Dream, Sky, Aces, Indiana Fever and New York Liberty, the Wings find themselves locked into a playoff spot (likely the No. 6 seed) and over .500 (17-16) for the first time <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/teams/DAL/2022_games.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">since June 5</a>.</p>
<p>They have The W's <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/teams/advanced/?sort=NET_RATING&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;DateFrom=07%2F30%2F2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best Net Rating</a> since July 30 (plus-8.5) behind an elite offense (110.0 Offensive Rating, second) and a strong-enough defense (101.5 Defensive Rating, fifth). The offensive boom is a bit surprising considering star guard Arike Ogunbowale has only appeared in 2 of the 5 contests.</p>
<p>This has been a collective effort. Marina Mabrey is averaging nearly 20 points per game during the win streak, and is fresh off a career-high 31-point outing against Sabrina Ionescu and the Liberty. With no Ogunbowale, the Wings have bumped up the minutes of Ty Harris and rookie Veronica Burton. While neither have the scoring chops of Ogunbowale, they're both able to fill gaps offensively while being (much) better as point-of-attack defenders.</p>
<p>Allisha Gray and Kayla Thornton have been absolute menaces defensively, with the latter having her most prolific offensive stretch of the season (14.2 points, 44.3% from 3).</p>
<p>I'd argue the star of the run has been Teaira McCowan.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The numbers themselves are impressive. She's averaging 17.6 points (55.9% field goal percentage) and 13.0 rebounds in roughly 30 minutes a night during the win streak. Zoom out a bit, and she's averaging 16.2 points (60.0%) and 10.0 rebounds per contest in 10 games since being named the full-time starter on July 14.</p>
<p>There simply aren't many players equipped to deal with McCowan's blend of size (listed as 6-foot-7, 239 pounds) and touch around the rim. It's one thing to have the stature of McCowan; it's another thing to know how to use it to bust defenses.</p>
<p>McCowan's ability to seal and drive players backwards can bring a defense to its breaking point. It allows her to get deep positioning for easy buckets or drawn fouls, of course. But because she threatens the rim to that degree, she also forces double- and triple-teams down low. For a team missing its no-doubt-about-it coverage breaker in Ogunbowale, McCowan has given the Wings a much needed pressure point in the half-court.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/ylkzvh" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>To that point, the Wings have posted an ORTG of 113.9 with <a href="https://www.positiveresidual.com/shiny/wnba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McCowan on the floor</a> during the win streak; that number falls to 104.7 when she's on the bench. A whopping 66% of the Wings' shot attempts have come <a href="https://www.positiveresidual.com/shiny/wnba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at the rim or from three</a> during this stretch; that number drops to 56% with McCowan off the floor.</p>
<p>It's been more encouraging that the Wings have been able to survive with McCowan on the defensive end of the floor.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are limited pathways for the Wings to field a <em>great&nbsp;</em>defense around McCowan. She's most comfortable in a deep drop, a coverage that yields pull-up attempts and puts much of the onus on perimeter defenders to prevent worse outcomes. McCowan struggles to flip her hips in space, leaving her susceptible to re-screening or sudden jukes from ball-handlers.</p>
<p>The Wings have seemingly asked her to meet them in the middle. She's playing higher up against ball-screens. But instead of a traditional hedge-and-recover assignment, McCowan essentially gets to the level of the screen, then attaches to her defender to take away the roll. It's normally accompanied by the perimeter defender ducking under said screen to meet the ball-handler, or, with another Wing player stunting at the pick-and-roll to provide an extra layer of help.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/1f52h5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>It's a weird-looking middle ground with holes to exploit. Re-screens to force McCowan to make second or third efforts can get dicey. Something as simple as rejecting a screen has the potential to put the defense in a bind.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/8j464a" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>For now, the Wings have defended at a middling rate with McCowan on the floor. However, as long as it's "middling" and not "holy crap this is awful," McCowan's minutes will be closer to 30 minutes than the 20 or so she was getting before this win streak. And if McCowan can stay on the floor long enough, she'll bring plenty of pain to opposing defenses.</p>

<p>Quick question: Who has the longest winning streak in the WNBA right now?</p>
<p>If you guessed the Chicago Sky, owners of The W's best record, you'd be incorrect. They're in a great position to lock up the top seed this week, and have won 8 of their last 10 games, but they've only won their last two. The Las Vegas Aces, two games back of the Sky, aren't the answer either.</p>
<p>In fact, both of these teams have lost to the actual answer in the past week: The Dallas Wings.</p>
<p>The talented, confusing, constantly-shuffling Wings are on a five-game heater. With wins over the Atlanta Dream, Sky, Aces, Indiana Fever and New York Liberty, the Wings find themselves locked into a playoff spot (likely the No. 6 seed) and over .500 (17-16) for the first time <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/teams/DAL/2022_games.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">since June 5</a>.</p>
<p>They have The W's <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/teams/advanced/?sort=NET_RATING&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;DateFrom=07%2F30%2F2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best Net Rating</a> since July 30 (plus-8.5) behind an elite offense (110.0 Offensive Rating, second) and a strong-enough defense (101.5 Defensive Rating, fifth). The offensive boom is a bit surprising considering star guard Arike Ogunbowale has only appeared in 2 of the 5 contests.</p>
<p>This has been a collective effort. Marina Mabrey is averaging nearly 20 points per game during the win streak, and is fresh off a career-high 31-point outing against Sabrina Ionescu and the Liberty. With no Ogunbowale, the Wings have bumped up the minutes of Ty Harris and rookie Veronica Burton. While neither have the scoring chops of Ogunbowale, they're both able to fill gaps offensively while being (much) better as point-of-attack defenders.</p>
<p>Allisha Gray and Kayla Thornton have been absolute menaces defensively, with the latter having her most prolific offensive stretch of the season (14.2 points, 44.3% from 3).</p>
<p>I'd argue the star of the run has been Teaira McCowan.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The numbers themselves are impressive. She's averaging 17.6 points (55.9% field goal percentage) and 13.0 rebounds in roughly 30 minutes a night during the win streak. Zoom out a bit, and she's averaging 16.2 points (60.0%) and 10.0 rebounds per contest in 10 games since being named the full-time starter on July 14.</p>
<p>There simply aren't many players equipped to deal with McCowan's blend of size (listed as 6-foot-7, 239 pounds) and touch around the rim. It's one thing to have the stature of McCowan; it's another thing to know how to use it to bust defenses.</p>
<p>McCowan's ability to seal and drive players backwards can bring a defense to its breaking point. It allows her to get deep positioning for easy buckets or drawn fouls, of course. But because she threatens the rim to that degree, she also forces double- and triple-teams down low. For a team missing its no-doubt-about-it coverage breaker in Ogunbowale, McCowan has given the Wings a much needed pressure point in the half-court.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/ylkzvh" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>To that point, the Wings have posted an ORTG of 113.9 with <a href="https://www.positiveresidual.com/shiny/wnba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McCowan on the floor</a> during the win streak; that number falls to 104.7 when she's on the bench. A whopping 66% of the Wings' shot attempts have come <a href="https://www.positiveresidual.com/shiny/wnba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at the rim or from three</a> during this stretch; that number drops to 56% with McCowan off the floor.</p>
<p>It's been more encouraging that the Wings have been able to survive with McCowan on the defensive end of the floor.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are limited pathways for the Wings to field a <em>great&nbsp;</em>defense around McCowan. She's most comfortable in a deep drop, a coverage that yields pull-up attempts and puts much of the onus on perimeter defenders to prevent worse outcomes. McCowan struggles to flip her hips in space, leaving her susceptible to re-screening or sudden jukes from ball-handlers.</p>
<p>The Wings have seemingly asked her to meet them in the middle. She's playing higher up against ball-screens. But instead of a traditional hedge-and-recover assignment, McCowan essentially gets to the level of the screen, then attaches to her defender to take away the roll. It's normally accompanied by the perimeter defender ducking under said screen to meet the ball-handler, or, with another Wing player stunting at the pick-and-roll to provide an extra layer of help.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/1f52h5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>It's a weird-looking middle ground with holes to exploit. Re-screens to force McCowan to make second or third efforts can get dicey. Something as simple as rejecting a screen has the potential to put the defense in a bind.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/8j464a" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>For now, the Wings have defended at a middling rate with McCowan on the floor. However, as long as it's "middling" and not "holy crap this is awful," McCowan's minutes will be closer to 30 minutes than the 20 or so she was getting before this win streak.</p>
<p>And if McCowan can stay on the floor long enough, she'll bring plenty of pain to opposing defenses.</p>

<p>Quick question: Who has the longest winning streak in the WNBA right now?</p>
<p>If you guessed the Chicago Sky, owners of The W's best record, you'd be incorrect. They're in a great position to lock up the top seed this week, and have won 8 of their last 10 games, but they've only won their last two. The Las Vegas Aces, two games back of the Sky, aren't the answer either.</p>
<p>In fact, both of these teams have lost to the actual answer in the past week: The Dallas Wings.</p>
<p>The talented, confusing, constantly-shuffling Wings are on a five-game heater. With wins over the Atlanta Dream, Sky, Aces, Indiana Fever and New York Liberty, the Wings find themselves locked into a playoff spot (likely the No. 6 seed) and over .500 (17-16) for the first time <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/teams/DAL/2022_games.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">since June 5</a>.</p>
<p>They have The W's <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/teams/advanced/?sort=NET_RATING&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;DateFrom=07%2F30%2F2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best Net Rating</a> since July 30 (plus-8.5) behind an elite offense (110.0 Offensive Rating, second) and a strong-enough defense (101.5 Defensive Rating, fifth). The offensive boom is a bit surprising considering star guard Arike Ogunbowale has only appeared in 2 of the 5 contests.</p>
<p>This has been a collective effort. Marina Mabrey is averaging nearly 20 points per game during the win streak, and is fresh off a career-high 31-point outing against Sabrina Ionescu and the Liberty. With no Ogunbowale, the Wings have bumped up the minutes of Ty Harris and rookie Veronica Burton. While neither has the scoring chops of Ogunbowale, they're both able to fill gaps offensively while being (much) better as point-of-attack defenders.</p>
<p>Allisha Gray and Kayla Thornton have been absolute menaces defensively, with the latter having her most prolific offensive stretch of the season (14.2 points, 44.3% from 3).</p>
<p>I'd argue the star of the run has been Teaira McCowan.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The numbers themselves are impressive. She's averaging 17.6 points (55.9% field goal percentage) and 13.0 rebounds in roughly 30 minutes a night during the win streak. Zoom out a bit, and she's averaging 16.2 points (60.0%) and 10.0 rebounds per contest in 10 games since being named the full-time starter on July 14.</p>
<p>There simply aren't many players equipped to deal with McCowan's blend of size (listed as 6-foot-7, 239 pounds) and touch around the rim. It's one thing to have the stature of McCowan; it's another thing to know how to use it to bust defenses.</p>
<p>McCowan's ability to seal and drive players backwards can bring a defense to its breaking point. It allows her to get deep positioning for easy buckets or drawn fouls, of course. But because she threatens the rim to that degree, she also forces double- and triple-teams down low. For a team missing its no-doubt-about-it coverage breaker in Ogunbowale, McCowan has given the Wings a much needed pressure point in the half-court.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/ylkzvh" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>To that point, the Wings have posted an ORTG of 113.9 with <a href="https://www.positiveresidual.com/shiny/wnba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McCowan on the floor</a> during the win streak; that number falls to 104.7 when she's on the bench. A whopping 66% of the Wings' shot attempts have come <a href="https://www.positiveresidual.com/shiny/wnba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at the rim or from three</a> during this stretch; that number drops to 56% with McCowan off the floor.</p>
<p>It's been more encouraging that the Wings have been able to survive with McCowan on the defensive end of the floor.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are limited pathways for the Wings to field a <em>great&nbsp;</em>defense around McCowan. She's most comfortable in a deep drop, a coverage that yields pull-up attempts and puts much of the onus on perimeter defenders to prevent worse outcomes. McCowan struggles to flip her hips in space, leaving her susceptible to re-screening or sudden jukes from ball-handlers.</p>
<p>The Wings have seemingly asked her to meet them in the middle. She's playing higher up against ball-screens. But instead of a traditional hedge-and-recover assignment, McCowan essentially gets to the level of the screen, then attaches to her defender to take away the roll. It's normally accompanied by the perimeter defender ducking under said screen to meet the ball-handler, or, with another Wing player stunting at the pick-and-roll to provide an extra layer of help.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/1f52h5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>It's a weird-looking middle ground with holes to exploit. Re-screens to force McCowan to make second or third efforts can get dicey. Something as simple as rejecting a screen has the potential to put the defense in a bind.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/8j464a" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>For now, the Wings have defended at a middling rate with McCowan on the floor. However, as long as it's "middling" and not "holy crap this is awful," McCowan's minutes will be closer to 30 minutes than the 20 or so she was getting before this win streak.</p>
<p>And if McCowan can stay on the floor long enough, she'll bring plenty of pain to opposing defenses.</p>

<p>Quick question: Who has the longest winning streak in the WNBA right now?</p>
<p>If you guessed the Chicago Sky, owners of The W's best record, you'd be incorrect. They're in a great position to lock up the top seed this week, and have won 8 of their last 10 games, but they've only won their last two. The Las Vegas Aces, two games back of the Sky, aren't the answer either.</p>
<p>In fact, both of these teams have lost to the actual answer in the past week: The Dallas Wings.</p>
<p>The talented, confusing, constantly-shuffling Wings are on a five-game heater. With wins over the Atlanta Dream, Sky, Aces, Indiana Fever and New York Liberty, the Wings find themselves locked into a playoff spot (likely the No. 6 seed) and over .500 (17-16) for the first time <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/teams/DAL/2022_games.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">since June 5</a>.</p>
<p>They have The W's <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/teams/advanced/?sort=NET_RATING&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;DateFrom=07%2F30%2F2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best Net Rating</a> since July 30 (plus-8.5) behind an elite offense (110.0 Offensive Rating, second) and a strong-enough defense (101.5 Defensive Rating, fifth). The offensive boom is a bit surprising considering star guard Arike Ogunbowale has only appeared in 2 of the 5 contests.</p>
<p>This has been a collective effort. Marina Mabrey is averaging nearly 20 points per game during the win streak, and is fresh off a career-high 31-point outing against Sabrina Ionescu and the Liberty. With no Ogunbowale, the Wings have bumped up the minutes of Ty Harris and rookie Veronica Burton. While neither has the scoring chops of Ogunbowale, they're both able to fill gaps offensively while being (much) better as point-of-attack defenders.</p>
<p>Allisha Gray and Kayla Thornton have been absolute menaces defensively, with the latter having her most prolific offensive stretch of the season (14.2 points, 44.3% from 3).</p>
<p>I'd argue the star of the run has been Teaira McCowan.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The numbers themselves are impressive. She's averaging 17.6 points (55.9% field goal percentage) and 13.0 rebounds in roughly 30 minutes a night during the win streak. Zoom out a bit, and she's averaging 16.2 points (60.0%) and 10.0 rebounds per contest in 10 games since being named the full-time starter on July 14.</p>
<p>There simply aren't many players equipped to deal with McCowan's blend of size (listed as 6-foot-7, 239 pounds) and touch around the rim. It's one thing to have the stature of McCowan; it's another thing to know how to use it to bust defenses.</p>
<p>McCowan's ability to seal and drive players backward can bring a defense to its breaking point. It allows her to get deep positioning for easy buckets or drawn fouls, of course. But because she threatens the rim to that degree, she also forces double- and triple-teams down low. For a team missing its no-doubt-about-it coverage breaker in Ogunbowale, McCowan has given the Wings a much needed pressure point in the half-court.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/ylkzvh" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>To that point, the Wings have posted an ORTG of 113.9 with <a href="https://www.positiveresidual.com/shiny/wnba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McCowan on the floor</a> during the win streak; that number falls to 104.7 when she's on the bench. A whopping 66% of the Wings' shot attempts have come <a href="https://www.positiveresidual.com/shiny/wnba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at the rim or from three</a> during this stretch; that number drops to 56% with McCowan off the floor.</p>
<p>It's been more encouraging that the Wings have been able to survive with McCowan on the defensive end of the floor.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are limited pathways for the Wings to field a <em>great&nbsp;</em>defense around McCowan. She's most comfortable in a deep drop, a coverage that yields pull-up attempts and puts much of the onus on perimeter defenders to prevent worse outcomes. McCowan struggles to flip her hips in space, leaving her susceptible to re-screening or sudden jukes from ball-handlers.</p>
<p>The Wings have seemingly asked her to meet them in the middle. She's playing higher up against ball-screens. But instead of a traditional hedge-and-recover assignment, McCowan essentially gets to the level of the screen, then attaches to her defender to take away the roll. It's normally accompanied by the perimeter defender ducking under said screen to meet the ball-handler, or, with another Wing player stunting at the pick-and-roll to provide an extra layer of help.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/1f52h5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>It's a weird-looking middle ground with holes to exploit. Re-screens to force McCowan to make second or third efforts can get dicey. Something as simple as rejecting a screen has the potential to put the defense in a bind.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/8j464a" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>For now, the Wings have defended at a middling rate with McCowan on the floor. However, as long as it's "middling" and not "holy crap this is awful," McCowan's minutes will be closer to 30 minutes than the 20 or so she was getting before this win streak.</p>
<p>And if McCowan can stay on the floor long enough, she'll bring plenty of pain to opposing defenses.</p>

Nekias Duncan breaks down the recent impact of Dallas Wings center Teaira McCowan.

Teaira McCowan is shining for the surging Dallas Wings

Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones, Jr. discuss Kevin Durant's ultimatum (2:10), recap the latest in the W (22:05), then cap things off with Free Throws (1:05:00).
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The Ultimatum

Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones Jr. are joined by Washington Mystics play-by-play broadcaster Meghan McPeak for a Mystics deep dive (1:15) and mailbag (1:09:25).
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Cloud 9 with Meghan McPeak

<p>The Las Vegas Aces have the most prolific starting lineup in the WNBA.</p>
<p>No unit has played more than the 537 minutes they've logged together. Among high-volume lineups &mdash; <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/lineups/advanced/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;sort=NET_RATING&amp;dir=1&amp;CF=MIN*GE*150" target="_blank" rel="noopener">let's say 150 minutes</a> &mdash; their plus-13.9 Net Rating ranks second in the league. The Seattle Storm's original starting group &mdash; Sue Bird, Jewell Loyd, Gabby Williams, Breanna Stewart and Ezi Magbegor &mdash; slightly edges them out (plus-14.4 NET in 324 minutes).</p>
<p>It's easy to see why the Aces lean on this group. A'ja Wilson is playing MVP ball, and should be the front-runner for the award in my opinion. Kelsey Plum will likely make the All-WNBA First Team. Jackie Young will be in consideration for a spot on the First or Second Team. We recently <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/wnba-las-vegas-aces-dont-forget-about-chelsea-gray-commissioners-cup-kelsey-plum-aja-wilson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sang the praises of Chelsea Gray</a> in this space, a former All-Star in her own right.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Dearica Hamby is a gap-filler to the highest order.</p>
<p>She was an All-Star this season because of her ability to do whatever was asked of her. Defensively, she's been tasked with guarding up or down the spectrum: taking on power forwards (her natural matchup), banging with centers when asked to do so (read: take some pressure off of Wilson) and defending wings when the Aces go to their three-big lineups. And that's before getting into the multiple schemes the Aces employ on that end.</p>
<p>Offensively, Hamby has mostly taken what's been left over. She's a willing screener, a plus-passer in high-post actions, a heady cutter and someone who has a nose for offensive boards. There is room for aggression; her ability to grab-and-go after misses make the Aces even more difficult to deal with in transition. They don't call her "Big Guard" for nothin' folks.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/79ftiw" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Hamby's versatility has long helped the Aces dial up the pressure on both ends. The Hamby-Wilson frontcourt has been blitzing the league for years; <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661319&amp;Season=2019,2020,2021&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=1628932,204324" target="_blank" rel="noopener">from 2019 to 2021</a>, the Aces outscored opponents by nearly 13 points per 100 possessions in the 1,227 minutes the two shared the court together. It should come as no surprise that the pairing has been fruitful (plus-15.9 in 771 minutes) with Hamby's insertion into the starting lineup.</p>
<p>Hamby is a good, multifaceted and important player for the Aces. In regards to the Aces' title hopes, I'd argue that Hamby has a case for being their most important player.</p>
<p>She is the X-factor at best, and a primary question mark, at worst, among the starting unit.</p>
<p>Hamby's value defensively is derived from her ability to do just about anything in a pinch; I would not say there is an <em>elite&nbsp;</em>skill present &mdash; and that's okay. That does leave the door open from subs, namely Kiah Stokes' name being called upon when the Aces want a little more beef against opposing centers.</p>
<p>The real question mark comes offensively. While she can be used as a passing or handoff hub, she is the worst of great options for the Aces. Pick-and-rolls with Plum or Gray at the helm are more fruitful; Young has grown as a creator out of ball skills; clearing the floor for Wilson is the bailout option of all bailout options in The W.</p>
<p>With that dichotomy present, Hamby has seen her on-ball usage drop. In a literal sense, Hamby's usage rate (16.5%) and assist rate (5.8%) are <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/player/204324/advanced/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">career-lows for her</a>. Roughly 20% of her offensive possessions have come via pick-and-roll screening (13.9), post-ups (4.1) or handoffs (2.0) per InStat tracking data; post-ups alone accounted for over 18% of her possessions last season.</p>
<p>And with Hamby not having the ball in her hands as a post or handoff hub, the spotlight has been put on her off-ball chops. Or more accurately, there's been little spotlight put on her by opposing defenses.</p>
<p>Tuesday night's contest between the Aces and Washington Mystics featured plenty of possessions where Hamby was the help-off point. When spaced in the short or weakside corner, the Mystics were okay with rotating off of her to muck things up elsewhere.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/oherv2" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>It's generally a safe gambit for defenses because Hamby doesn't have a reliable three-point shot. She's bumped up her volume to career-high levels (2.2 attempts), but that number isn't high enough to force closeouts, nor is her percentage (23.9) close to high enough to scare defenses right now.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Aces are a machine when they're able to play with flow, force help defenders to commit, and attack scrambling defenses. That becomes muted if teams are ignoring Hamby on the perimeter, mucking things up at best or turning half-court offense into a 4-on-5 affair at worst.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The "duh" solution is to hope Hamby regains form with her shot. It's gone right now; she made four triples in July (4-of-26), and has not made one since July 17.</p>
<p>Though Hamby's never been a high volume shooter, she's only a couple of seasons removed from a 47.4% clip on similar volume. Once the playoffs hit, you don't have to be a sniper; you just have to hit enough to survive a game or two.</p>
<p>Fundamentally, the answer may be channeling her screening and hand-off abilities as counters to disrespectful defenses. Similar to Draymond Green's snapiness when he's ignored off ball, Hamby can hurt defenses with timely flare or pin-in screens, or flow into quick-hitting exhanges with guards. Her on-ball screening has been much more effective than her off-ball picks; it'll take real commitment, but there have been enough flashes to signify that it's possible.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/qkholv" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Without a solution, the trend of Hamby finishing games from the sideline will continue. The Aces have closed with Stokes and Iliana Rupert in Hamby's spot in different spots this season. There's value to each of those options &mdash; Stokes is better equipped to deal with true centers, and Rupert is a more willing and effective three-point shooter &mdash; but neither of them bring the connective tissue that Hamby does on both ends of the floor.</p>
<p>The best version of this Aces team &mdash; the team that has enough talent to win it all this season &mdash; is with Hamby on the floor.</p>
<p>Or at least it should be.</p>

<p>The Las Vegas Aces have the most prolific starting lineup in the WNBA.</p>
<p>No unit has played more than the 537 minutes they've logged together. Among high-volume lineups &mdash; <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/lineups/advanced/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;sort=NET_RATING&amp;dir=1&amp;CF=MIN*GE*150" target="_blank" rel="noopener">let's say 150 minutes</a> &mdash; their plus-13.9 Net Rating ranks second in the league. The Seattle Storm's original starting group &mdash; Sue Bird, Jewell Loyd, Gabby Williams, Breanna Stewart and Ezi Magbegor &mdash; slightly edges them out (plus-14.4 NET in 324 minutes).</p>
<p>It's easy to see why the Aces lean on this group. A'ja Wilson is playing MVP ball, and should be the front-runner for the award in my opinion. Kelsey Plum will likely make the All-WNBA First Team. Jackie Young will be in consideration for a spot on the First or Second Team. We recently <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/wnba-las-vegas-aces-dont-forget-about-chelsea-gray-commissioners-cup-kelsey-plum-aja-wilson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sang the praises of Chelsea Gray</a> in this space, a former All-Star in her own right.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Dearica Hamby is a gap-filler to the highest order.</p>
<p>She was an All-Star this season because of her ability to do whatever was asked of her. Defensively, she's been tasked with guarding up or down the spectrum: taking on power forwards (her natural matchup), banging with centers when asked to do so (read: take some pressure off of Wilson) and defending wings when the Aces go to their three-big lineups. And that's before getting into the multiple schemes the Aces employ on that end.</p>
<p>Offensively, Hamby has mostly taken what's been left over. She's a willing screener, a plus-passer in high-post actions, a heady cutter and someone who has a nose for offensive boards. There is room for aggression; her ability to grab-and-go after misses make the Aces even more difficult to deal with in transition. They don't call her "Big Guard" for nothin' folks.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/79ftiw" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Hamby's versatility has long helped the Aces dial up the pressure on both ends. The Hamby-Wilson frontcourt has been blitzing the league for years; <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661319&amp;Season=2019,2020,2021&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=1628932,204324" target="_blank" rel="noopener">from 2019 to 2021</a>, the Aces outscored opponents by nearly 13 points per 100 possessions in the 1,227 minutes the two shared the court together. It should come as no surprise that the pairing has been fruitful (plus-15.9 in 771 minutes) with Hamby's insertion into the starting lineup.</p>
<p>Hamby is a good, multifaceted and important player for the Aces. In regards to the Aces' title hopes, I'd argue that Hamby has a case for being their most important player.</p>
<p>She is the X-factor at best, and a primary question mark, at worst, among the starting unit.</p>
<p>Hamby's value defensively is derived from her ability to do just about anything in a pinch; I would not say there is an <em>elite&nbsp;</em>skill present &mdash; and that's okay. That does leave the door open from subs, namely Kiah Stokes' name being called upon when the Aces want a little more beef against opposing centers.</p>
<p>The real question mark comes offensively. While she can be used as a passing or handoff hub, she is the worst of great options for the Aces. Pick-and-rolls with Plum or Gray at the helm are more fruitful; Young has grown as a creator out of ball skills; clearing the floor for Wilson is the bailout option of all bailout options in The W.</p>
<p>With that dichotomy present, Hamby has seen her on-ball usage drop. In a literal sense, Hamby's usage rate (16.5%) and assist rate (5.8%) are <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/player/204324/advanced/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">career-lows for her</a>. Roughly 20% of her offensive possessions have come via pick-and-roll screening (13.9), post-ups (4.1) or handoffs (2.0) per InStat tracking data; post-ups alone accounted for over 18% of her possessions last season.</p>
<p>And with Hamby not having the ball in her hands as a post or handoff hub, the spotlight has been put on her off-ball chops. Or, more accurately, there's been little spotlight put on her by opposing defenses.</p>
<p>Tuesday night's contest between the Aces and Washington Mystics featured plenty of possessions where Hamby was the help-off point. When spaced in the short or weakside corner, the Mystics were okay with rotating off of her to muck things up elsewhere.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/oherv2" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>It's generally a safe gambit for defenses because Hamby doesn't have a reliable three-point shot. She's bumped up her volume to career-high levels (2.2 attempts), but that number isn't high enough to force closeouts, nor is her percentage (23.9) close to high enough to scare defenses right now.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Aces are a machine when they're able to play with flow, force help defenders to commit, and attack scrambling defenses. That becomes muted if teams are ignoring Hamby on the perimeter, mucking things up at best or turning half-court offense into a 4-on-5 affair at worst.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The "duh" solution is to hope Hamby regains form with her shot. It's gone right now; she made four triples in July (4-of-26), and has not made one since July 17.</p>
<p>Though Hamby's never been a high volume shooter, she's only a couple of seasons removed from a 47.4% clip on similar volume. Once the playoffs hit, you don't have to be a sniper; you just have to hit enough to survive a game or two.</p>
<p>Fundamentally, the answer may be channeling her screening and hand-off abilities as counters to disrespectful defenses. Similar to Draymond Green's snapiness when he's ignored off ball, Hamby can hurt defenses with timely flare or pin-in screens, or flow into quick-hitting exhanges with guards. Her on-ball screening has been much more effective than her off-ball picks; it'll take real commitment, but there have been enough flashes to signify that it's possible.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/qkholv" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Without a solution, the trend of Hamby finishing games from the sideline will continue. The Aces have closed with Stokes and Iliana Rupert in Hamby's spot in different spots this season. There's value to each of those options &mdash; Stokes is better equipped to deal with true centers, and Rupert is a more willing and effective three-point shooter &mdash; but neither of them bring the connective tissue that Hamby does on both ends of the floor.</p>
<p>The best version of this Aces team &mdash; the team that has enough talent to win it all this season &mdash; is with Hamby on the floor.</p>
<p>Or at least it should be.</p>

<p>The Las Vegas Aces have the most prolific starting lineup in the WNBA.</p>
<p>No unit has played more than the 537 minutes they've logged together. Among high-volume lineups &mdash; <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/lineups/advanced/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;sort=NET_RATING&amp;dir=1&amp;CF=MIN*GE*150" target="_blank" rel="noopener">let's say 150 minutes</a> &mdash; their plus-13.9 Net Rating ranks second in the league. The Seattle Storm's original starting group &mdash; Sue Bird, Jewell Loyd, Gabby Williams, Breanna Stewart and Ezi Magbegor &mdash; slightly edges them out (plus-14.4 NET in 324 minutes).</p>
<p>It's easy to see why the Aces lean on this group. A'ja Wilson is playing MVP ball, and should be the front-runner for the award in my opinion. Kelsey Plum will likely make the All-WNBA First Team. Jackie Young will be in consideration for a spot on the First or Second Team. We recently <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/wnba-las-vegas-aces-dont-forget-about-chelsea-gray-commissioners-cup-kelsey-plum-aja-wilson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sang the praises of Chelsea Gray</a> in this space, a former All-Star in her own right.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Dearica Hamby is a gap-filler to the highest order.</p>
<p>She was an All-Star this season because of her ability to do whatever was asked of her. Defensively, she's been tasked with guarding up or down the spectrum: taking on power forwards (her natural matchup), banging with centers when asked to do so (read: take some pressure off of Wilson) and defending wings when the Aces go to their three-big lineups. And that's before getting into the multiple schemes the Aces employ on that end.</p>
<p>Offensively, Hamby has mostly taken what's been left over. She's a willing screener, a plus-passer in high-post actions, a heady cutter and someone who has a nose for offensive boards. There is room for aggression; her ability to grab-and-go after misses make the Aces even more difficult to deal with in transition. They don't call her "Big Guard" for nothin' folks.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/79ftiw" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Hamby's versatility has long helped the Aces dial up the pressure on both ends. The Hamby-Wilson frontcourt has been blitzing the league for years; <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661319&amp;Season=2019,2020,2021&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=1628932,204324" target="_blank" rel="noopener">from 2019 to 2021</a>, the Aces outscored opponents by nearly 13 points per 100 possessions in the 1,227 minutes the two shared the court together. It should come as no surprise that the pairing has been fruitful (plus-15.9 in 771 minutes) with Hamby's insertion into the starting lineup.</p>
<p>Hamby is a good, multifaceted and important player for the Aces. In regards to the Aces' title hopes, I'd argue that Hamby has a case for being their most important player.</p>
<p>She is the X-factor at best, and a primary question mark, at worst, among the starting unit.</p>
<p>Hamby's value defensively is derived from her ability to do just about anything in a pinch; I would not say there is an <em>elite&nbsp;</em>skill present &mdash; and that's okay. That does leave the door open from subs, namely Kiah Stokes' name being called upon when the Aces want a little more beef against opposing centers.</p>
<p>The real question mark comes offensively. While she can be used as a passing or handoff hub, she is the worst of great options for the Aces. Pick-and-rolls with Plum or Gray at the helm are more fruitful; Young has grown as a creator out of ball skills; clearing the floor for Wilson is the bailout option of all bailout options in The W.</p>
<p>With that dichotomy present, Hamby has seen her on-ball usage drop. In a literal sense, Hamby's usage rate (16.5%) and assist rate (5.8%) are <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/player/204324/advanced/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">career-lows for her</a>. Roughly 20% of her offensive possessions have come via pick-and-roll screening (13.9), post-ups (4.1) or handoffs (2.0) per InStat tracking data; post-ups alone accounted for over 18% of her possessions last season.</p>
<p>And with Hamby not having the ball in her hands as a post or handoff hub, the spotlight has been put on her off-ball chops. Or, more accurately, there's been little spotlight put on her by opposing defenses.</p>
<p>Tuesday night's contest between the Aces and Washington Mystics featured plenty of possessions where Hamby was the help-off point. When spaced in the short or weak-side corner, the Mystics were okay with rotating off of her to muck things up elsewhere.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/oherv2" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>It's generally a safe gambit for defenses because Hamby doesn't have a reliable three-point shot. She's bumped up her volume to career-high levels (2.2 attempts), but that number isn't high enough to force closeouts, nor is her percentage (23.9) close to high enough to scare defenses right now.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Aces are a machine when they're able to play with flow, force help defenders to commit, and attack scrambling defenses. That becomes muted if teams are ignoring Hamby on the perimeter, mucking things up at best or turning half-court offense into a 4-on-5 affair at worst.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The "duh" solution is to hope Hamby regains form with her shot. It's gone right now; she made four triples in July (4-of-26), and has not made one since July 17.</p>
<p>Though Hamby's never been a high volume shooter, she's only a couple of seasons removed from a 47.4% clip on similar volume. Once the playoffs hit, you don't have to be a sniper; you just have to hit enough to survive a game or two.</p>
<p>Fundamentally, the answer may be channeling her screening and hand-off abilities as counters to disrespectful defenses. Similar to Draymond Green's snapiness when he's ignored off ball, Hamby can hurt defenses with timely flare or pin-in screens, or flow into quick-hitting exhanges with guards. Her on-ball screening has been much more effective than her off-ball picks; it'll take real commitment, but there have been enough flashes to signify that it's possible.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/qkholv" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Without a solution, the trend of Hamby finishing games from the sideline will continue. The Aces have closed with Stokes and Iliana Rupert in Hamby's spot in different spots this season. There's value to each of those options &mdash; Stokes is better equipped to deal with true centers, and Rupert is a more willing and effective three-point shooter &mdash; but neither of them bring the connective tissue that Hamby does on both ends of the floor.</p>
<p>The best version of this Aces team &mdash; the team that has enough talent to win it all this season &mdash; is with Hamby on the floor.</p>
<p>Or at least it should be.</p>

<p>The Las Vegas Aces have the most prolific starting lineup in the WNBA.</p>
<p>No unit has played more than the 537 minutes they've logged together. Among high-volume lineups &mdash; <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/lineups/advanced/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;sort=NET_RATING&amp;dir=1&amp;CF=MIN*GE*150" target="_blank" rel="noopener">let's say 150 minutes</a> &mdash; their plus-13.9 Net Rating ranks second in the league. The Seattle Storm's original starting group &mdash; Sue Bird, Jewell Loyd, Gabby Williams, Breanna Stewart and Ezi Magbegor &mdash; slightly edges them out (plus-14.4 NET in 324 minutes).</p>
<p>It's easy to see why the Aces lean on this group. A'ja Wilson is playing MVP ball, and should be the front-runner for the award in my opinion. Kelsey Plum will likely make the All-WNBA First Team. Jackie Young will be in consideration for a spot on the First or Second Team. We recently <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/wnba-las-vegas-aces-dont-forget-about-chelsea-gray-commissioners-cup-kelsey-plum-aja-wilson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sang the praises of Chelsea Gray</a> in this space, a former All-Star in her own right.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Dearica Hamby is a gap-filler to the highest order.</p>
<p>She was an All-Star this season because of her ability to do whatever was asked of her. Defensively, she's been tasked with guarding up or down the spectrum: taking on power forwards (her natural matchup), banging with centers when asked to do so (read: take some pressure off of Wilson) and defending wings when the Aces go to their three-big lineups. And that's before getting into the multiple schemes the Aces employ on that end.</p>
<p>Offensively, Hamby has mostly taken what's been left over. She's a willing screener, a plus-passer in high-post actions, a heady cutter and someone who has a nose for offensive boards. There is room for aggression; her ability to grab-and-go after misses make the Aces even more difficult to deal with in transition. They don't call her "Big Guard" for nothin' folks.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/79ftiw" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Hamby's versatility has long helped the Aces dial up the pressure on both ends. The Hamby-Wilson frontcourt has been blitzing the league for years; <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661319&amp;Season=2019,2020,2021&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=1628932,204324" target="_blank" rel="noopener">from 2019 to 2021</a>, the Aces outscored opponents by nearly 13 points per 100 possessions in the 1,227 minutes the two shared the court together. It should come as no surprise that the pairing has been fruitful (plus-15.9 in 771 minutes) with Hamby's insertion into the starting lineup.</p>
<p>Hamby is a good, multifaceted and important player for the Aces. In regards to the Aces' title hopes, I'd argue that Hamby has a case for being their most important player.</p>
<p>She is the X-factor at best, and a primary question mark, at worst, among the starting unit.</p>
<p>Hamby's value defensively is derived from her ability to do just about anything in a pinch; I would not say there is an <em>elite&nbsp;</em>skill present &mdash; and that's okay. That does leave the door open from subs, namely Kiah Stokes' name being called upon when the Aces want a little more beef against opposing centers.</p>
<p>The real question mark comes offensively. While she can be used as a passing or handoff hub, she is the worst of great options for the Aces. Pick-and-rolls with Plum or Gray at the helm are more fruitful; Young has grown as a creator out of ball skills; clearing the floor for Wilson is the bailout option of all bailout options in The W.</p>
<p>With that dichotomy present, Hamby has seen her on-ball usage drop. In a literal sense, Hamby's usage rate (16.5%) and assist rate (5.8%) are <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/player/204324/advanced/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">career-lows for her</a>. Roughly 20% of her offensive possessions have come via pick-and-roll screening (13.9), post-ups (4.1) or handoffs (2.0) per InStat tracking data; post-ups alone accounted for over 18% of her possessions last season.</p>
<p>And with Hamby not having the ball in her hands as a post or handoff hub, the spotlight has been put on her off-ball chops. Or, more accurately, there's been little spotlight put on her by opposing defenses.</p>
<p>Tuesday night's contest between the Aces and Washington Mystics featured plenty of possessions where Hamby was the help-off point. When spaced in the short or weak-side corner, the Mystics were okay with rotating off of her to muck things up elsewhere.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/oherv2" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>It's generally a safe gambit for defenses because Hamby doesn't have a reliable three-point shot. She's bumped up her volume to career-high levels (2.2 attempts), but that number isn't high enough to force closeouts, nor is her percentage (23.9%) close to high enough to scare defenses right now.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Aces are a machine when they're able to play with flow, force help defenders to commit, and attack scrambling defenses. That becomes muted if teams are ignoring Hamby on the perimeter, mucking things up at best or turning half-court offense into a 4-on-5 affair at worst.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The "duh" solution is to hope Hamby regains form with her shot. It's gone right now; she made four triples in July (4-of-26), and has not made one since July 17.</p>
<p>Though Hamby's never been a high volume shooter, she's only a couple of seasons removed from a 47.4% clip on similar volume. Once the playoffs hit, you don't have to be a sniper; you just have to hit enough to survive a game or two.</p>
<p>Fundamentally, the answer may be channeling her screening and hand-off abilities as counters to disrespectful defenses. Similar to Draymond Green's snapiness when he's ignored off ball, Hamby can hurt defenses with timely flare or pin-in screens, or flow into quick-hitting exhanges with guards. Her on-ball screening has been much more effective than her off-ball picks; it'll take real commitment, but there have been enough flashes to signify that it's possible.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/qkholv" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Without a solution, the trend of Hamby finishing games from the sideline will continue. The Aces have closed with Stokes and Iliana Rupert in Hamby's spot in different spots this season. There's value to each of those options &mdash; Stokes is better equipped to deal with true centers, and Rupert is a more willing and effective three-point shooter &mdash; but neither of them bring the connective tissue that Hamby does on both ends of the floor.</p>
<p>The best version of this Aces team &mdash; the team that has enough talent to win it all this season &mdash; is with Hamby on the floor.</p>
<p>Or at least it should be.</p>

<p>The Las Vegas Aces have the most prolific starting lineup in the WNBA.</p>
<p>No unit has played more than the 537 minutes they've logged together. Among high-volume lineups &mdash; <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/lineups/advanced/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;sort=NET_RATING&amp;dir=1&amp;CF=MIN*GE*150" target="_blank" rel="noopener">let's say 150 minutes</a> &mdash; their plus-13.9 Net Rating ranks second in the league. The Seattle Storm's original starting group &mdash; Sue Bird, Jewell Loyd, Gabby Williams, Breanna Stewart and Ezi Magbegor &mdash; slightly edges them out (plus-14.4 NET in 324 minutes).</p>
<p>It's easy to see why the Aces lean on this group. A'ja Wilson is playing MVP ball, and should be the front-runner for the award in my opinion. Kelsey Plum will likely make the All-WNBA First Team. Jackie Young will be in consideration for a spot on the First or Second Team. We recently <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/wnba-las-vegas-aces-dont-forget-about-chelsea-gray-commissioners-cup-kelsey-plum-aja-wilson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sang the praises of Chelsea Gray</a> in this space, a former All-Star in her own right.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Dearica Hamby is a gap-filler to the highest order.</p>
<p>She was an All-Star this season because of her ability to do whatever was asked of her. Defensively, she's been tasked with guarding up or down the spectrum: taking on power forwards (her natural matchup), banging with centers when asked to do so (read: take some pressure off of Wilson) and defending wings when the Aces go to their three-big lineups. And that's before getting into the multiple schemes the Aces employ on that end.</p>
<p>Offensively, Hamby has mostly taken what's been left over. She's a willing screener, a plus-passer in high-post actions, a heady cutter and someone who has a nose for offensive boards. There is room for aggression; her ability to grab-and-go after misses make the Aces even more difficult to deal with in transition. They don't call her "Big Guard" for nothin' folks.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/79ftiw" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Hamby's versatility has long helped the Aces dial up the pressure on both ends. The Hamby-Wilson frontcourt has been blitzing the league for years; <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661319&amp;Season=2019,2020,2021&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=1628932,204324" target="_blank" rel="noopener">from 2019 to 2021</a>, the Aces outscored opponents by nearly 13 points per 100 possessions in the 1,227 minutes the two shared the court together. It should come as no surprise that the pairing has been fruitful (plus-15.9 in 771 minutes) with Hamby's insertion into the starting lineup.</p>
<p>Hamby is a good, multifaceted and important player for the Aces. In regards to the Aces' title hopes, I'd argue that Hamby has a case for being their most important player.</p>
<p>She is the X-factor at best, and a primary question mark, at worst, among the starting unit.</p>
<p>Hamby's value defensively is derived from her ability to do just about anything in a pinch; I would not say there is an <em>elite&nbsp;</em>skill present &mdash; and that's okay. That does leave the door open from subs, namely Kiah Stokes' name being called upon when the Aces want a little more beef against opposing centers.</p>
<p>The real question mark comes offensively. While she can be used as a passing or handoff hub, she is the worst of great options for the Aces. Pick-and-rolls with Plum or Gray at the helm are more fruitful; Young has grown as a creator out of ball skills; clearing the floor for Wilson is the bailout option of all bailout options in The W.</p>
<p>With that dichotomy present, Hamby has seen her on-ball usage drop. In a literal sense, Hamby's usage rate (16.5%) and assist rate (5.8%) are <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/player/204324/advanced/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">career-lows for her</a>. Roughly 20% of her offensive possessions have come via pick-and-roll screening (13.9), post-ups (4.1) or handoffs (2.0) per InStat tracking data; post-ups alone accounted for over 18% of her possessions last season.</p>
<p>And with Hamby not having the ball in her hands as a post or handoff hub, the spotlight has been put on her off-ball chops. Or, more accurately, there's been little spotlight put on her by opposing defenses.</p>
<p>Tuesday night's contest between the Aces and Washington Mystics featured plenty of possessions where Hamby was the help-off point. When spaced in the short or weak-side corner, the Mystics were okay with rotating off of her to muck things up elsewhere.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/oherv2" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>It's generally a safe gambit for defenses because Hamby doesn't have a reliable three-point shot. She's bumped up her volume to career-high levels (2.2 attempts), but that number isn't high enough to force closeouts, nor is her perimeter percentage (23.9%) close to high enough to scare defenses right now.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Aces are a machine when they're able to play with flow, force help defenders to commit, and attack scrambling defenses. That becomes muted if teams are ignoring Hamby on the perimeter, mucking things up at best or turning half-court offense into a 4-on-5 affair at worst.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The "duh" solution is to hope Hamby regains form with her shot. It's gone right now; she made four triples in July (4-of-26), and has not made one since July 17.</p>
<p>Though Hamby's never been a high volume shooter, she's only a couple of seasons removed from a 47.4% clip on similar volume. Once the playoffs hit, you don't have to be a sniper; you just have to hit enough to survive a game or two.</p>
<p>Fundamentally, the answer may be channeling her screening and hand-off abilities as counters to disrespectful defenses. Similar to Draymond Green's snapiness when he's ignored off ball, Hamby can hurt defenses with timely flare or pin-in screens, or flow into quick-hitting exhanges with guards. Her on-ball screening has been much more effective than her off-ball picks; it'll take real commitment, but there have been enough flashes to signify that it's possible.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/qkholv" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Without a solution, the trend of Hamby finishing games from the sideline will continue. The Aces have closed with Stokes and Iliana Rupert in Hamby's spot in different spots this season. There's value to each of those options &mdash; Stokes is better equipped to deal with true centers, and Rupert is a more willing and effective three-point shooter &mdash; but neither of them bring the connective tissue that Hamby does on both ends of the floor.</p>
<p>The best version of this Aces team &mdash; the team that has enough talent to win it all this season &mdash; is with Hamby on the floor.</p>
<p>Or at least it should be.</p>

<p>The Las Vegas Aces have the most prolific starting lineup in the WNBA.</p>
<p>No unit has played more than the 537 minutes they've logged together. Among high-volume lineups &mdash; <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/lineups/advanced/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;sort=NET_RATING&amp;dir=1&amp;CF=MIN*GE*150" target="_blank" rel="noopener">let's say 150 minutes</a> &mdash; their plus-13.9 Net Rating ranks second in the league. The Seattle Storm's original starting group &mdash; Sue Bird, Jewell Loyd, Gabby Williams, Breanna Stewart and Ezi Magbegor &mdash; slightly edges them out (plus-14.4 NET in 324 minutes).</p>
<p>It's easy to see why the Aces lean on this group. A'ja Wilson is playing MVP ball, and should be the front-runner for the award in my opinion. Kelsey Plum will likely make the All-WNBA First Team. Jackie Young will be in consideration for a spot on the First or Second Team. We recently <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/wnba-las-vegas-aces-dont-forget-about-chelsea-gray-commissioners-cup-kelsey-plum-aja-wilson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sang the praises of Chelsea Gray</a> in this space, a former All-Star in her own right.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Dearica Hamby is a gap-filler to the highest order.</p>
<p>She was an All-Star this season because of her ability to do whatever was asked of her. Defensively, she's been tasked with guarding up or down the spectrum: taking on power forwards (her natural matchup), banging with centers when asked to do so (read: take some pressure off of Wilson) and defending wings when the Aces go to their three-big lineups. And that's before getting into the multiple schemes the Aces employ on that end.</p>
<p>Offensively, Hamby has mostly taken what's been left over. She's a willing screener, a plus-passer in high-post actions, a heady cutter and someone who has a nose for offensive boards. There is room for aggression; her ability to grab-and-go after misses make the Aces even more difficult to deal with in transition. They don't call her "Big Guard" for nothin' folks.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/79ftiw" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Hamby's versatility has long helped the Aces dial up the pressure on both ends. The Hamby-Wilson frontcourt has been blitzing the league for years; <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661319&amp;Season=2019,2020,2021&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=1628932,204324" target="_blank" rel="noopener">from 2019 to 2021</a>, the Aces outscored opponents by nearly 13 points per 100 possessions in the 1,227 minutes the two shared the court together. It should come as no surprise that the pairing has been fruitful (plus-15.9 in 771 minutes) with Hamby's insertion into the starting lineup.</p>
<p>Hamby is a good, multifaceted and important player for the Aces. In regards to the Aces' title hopes, I'd argue that Hamby has a case for being their most important player.</p>
<p>She is the X-factor at best, and a primary question mark, at worst, among the starting unit.</p>
<p>Hamby's value defensively is derived from her ability to do just about anything in a pinch; I would not say there is an <em>elite&nbsp;</em>skill present &mdash; and that's okay. That does leave the door open from subs, namely Kiah Stokes' name being called upon when the Aces want a little more beef against opposing centers.</p>
<p>The real question mark comes offensively. While she can be used as a passing or handoff hub, she is the worst of great options for the Aces. Pick-and-rolls with Plum or Gray at the helm are more fruitful; Young has grown as a creator out of ball skills; clearing the floor for Wilson is the bailout option of all bailout options in The W.</p>
<p>With that dichotomy present, Hamby has seen her on-ball usage drop. In a literal sense, Hamby's usage rate (16.5%) and assist rate (5.8%) are <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/player/204324/advanced/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">career-lows for her</a>. Roughly 20% of her offensive possessions have come via pick-and-roll screening (13.9), post-ups (4.1) or handoffs (2.0) per InStat tracking data; post-ups alone accounted for over 18% of her possessions last season.</p>
<p>And with Hamby not having the ball in her hands as a post or handoff hub, the spotlight has been put on her off-ball chops. Or, more accurately, there's been little spotlight put on her by opposing defenses.</p>
<p>Tuesday night's contest between the Aces and Washington Mystics featured plenty of possessions where Hamby was the help-off point. When spaced in the short or weak-side corner, the Mystics were okay with rotating off of her to muck things up elsewhere.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/oherv2" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>It's generally a safe gambit for defenses because Hamby doesn't have a reliable three-point shot. She's bumped up her volume to career-high levels (2.2 attempts), but that number isn't high enough to force closeouts, nor is her perimeter percentage (23.9%) close to high enough to scare defenses right now.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Aces are a machine when they're able to play with flow, force help defenders to commit and attack scrambling defenses. That becomes muted if teams are ignoring Hamby on the perimeter, mucking things up at best or turning half-court offense into a 4-on-5 affair at worst.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The "duh" solution is to hope Hamby regains form with her shot. It's gone right now; she made four triples in July (4-of-26), and has not made one since July 17.</p>
<p>Though Hamby's never been a high volume shooter, she's only a couple of seasons removed from a 47.4% clip on similar volume. Once the playoffs hit, you don't have to be a sniper; you just have to hit enough to survive a game or two.</p>
<p>Fundamentally, the answer may be channeling her screening and hand-off abilities as counters to disrespectful defenses. Similar to Draymond Green's snapiness when he's ignored off ball, Hamby can hurt defenses with timely flare or pin-in screens, or flow into quick-hitting exhanges with guards. Her on-ball screening has been much more effective than her off-ball picks; it'll take real commitment, but there have been enough flashes to signify that it's possible.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/qkholv" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Without a solution, the trend of Hamby finishing games from the sideline will continue. The Aces have closed with Stokes and Iliana Rupert in Hamby's spot in different spots this season. There's value to each of those options &mdash; Stokes is better equipped to deal with true centers, and Rupert is a more willing and effective three-point shooter &mdash; but neither of them bring the connective tissue that Hamby does on both ends of the floor.</p>
<p>The best version of this Aces team &mdash; the team that has enough talent to win it all this season &mdash; is with Hamby on the floor.</p>
<p>Or at least it should be.</p>

<p>The Las Vegas Aces have the most prolific starting lineup in the WNBA.</p>
<p>No unit has played more than the 537 minutes they've logged together. Among high-volume lineups &mdash; <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/lineups/advanced/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;sort=NET_RATING&amp;dir=1&amp;CF=MIN*GE*150" target="_blank" rel="noopener">let's say 150 minutes</a> &mdash; their plus-13.9 Net Rating ranks second in the league. The Seattle Storm's original starting group &mdash; Sue Bird, Jewell Loyd, Gabby Williams, Breanna Stewart and Ezi Magbegor &mdash; slightly edges them out (plus-14.4 NET in 324 minutes).</p>
<p>It's easy to see why the Aces lean on this group. A'ja Wilson is playing MVP ball, and should be the front-runner for the award in my opinion. Kelsey Plum will likely make the All-WNBA First Team. Jackie Young will be in consideration for a spot on the First or Second Team. We recently <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/wnba-las-vegas-aces-dont-forget-about-chelsea-gray-commissioners-cup-kelsey-plum-aja-wilson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sang the praises of Chelsea Gray</a> in this space, a former All-Star in her own right.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Dearica Hamby is a gap-filler to the highest order.</p>
<p>She was an All-Star this season because of her ability to do whatever was asked of her. Defensively, she's been tasked with guarding up or down the spectrum: taking on power forwards (her natural matchup), banging with centers when asked to do so (read: take some pressure off of Wilson) and defending wings when the Aces go to their three-big lineups. And that's before getting into the multiple schemes the Aces employ on that end.</p>
<p>Offensively, Hamby has mostly taken what's been left over. She's a willing screener, a plus-passer in high-post actions, a heady cutter and someone who has a nose for offensive boards. There is room for aggression; her ability to grab-and-go after misses make the Aces even more difficult to deal with in transition. They don't call her "Big Guard" for nothin' folks.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/79ftiw" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Hamby's versatility has long helped the Aces dial up the pressure on both ends. The Hamby-Wilson frontcourt has been blitzing the league for years; <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661319&amp;Season=2019,2020,2021&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=1628932,204324" target="_blank" rel="noopener">from 2019 to 2021</a>, the Aces outscored opponents by nearly 13 points per 100 possessions in the 1,227 minutes the two shared the court together. It should come as no surprise that the pairing has been fruitful (plus-15.9 in 771 minutes) with Hamby's insertion into the starting lineup.</p>
<p>Hamby is a good, multifaceted and important player for the Aces. In regards to the Aces' title hopes, I'd argue that Hamby has a case for being their most important player.</p>
<p>She is the X-factor at best, and a primary question mark, at worst, among the starting unit.</p>
<p>Hamby's value defensively is derived from her ability to do just about anything in a pinch; I would not say there is an <em>elite&nbsp;</em>skill present &mdash; and that's okay. That does leave the door open from subs, namely Kiah Stokes' name being called upon when the Aces want a little more beef against opposing centers.</p>
<p>The real question mark comes offensively. While she can be used as a passing or handoff hub, she is the worst of great options for the Aces. Pick-and-rolls with Plum or Gray at the helm are more fruitful; Young has grown as a creator out of ball skills; clearing the floor for Wilson is the bailout option of all bailout options in The W.</p>
<p>With that dichotomy present, Hamby has seen her on-ball usage drop. In a literal sense, Hamby's usage rate (16.5%) and assist rate (5.8%) are <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/player/204324/advanced/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">career-lows for her</a>. Roughly 20% of her offensive possessions have come via pick-and-roll screening (13.9), post-ups (4.1) or handoffs (2.0) per InStat tracking data; post-ups alone accounted for over 18% of her possessions last season.</p>
<p>And with Hamby not having the ball in her hands as a post or handoff hub, the spotlight has been put on her off-ball chops. Or, more accurately, there's been little spotlight put on her by opposing defenses.</p>
<p>Tuesday night's contest between the Aces and Washington Mystics featured plenty of possessions where Hamby was the help-off point. When spaced in the short or weak-side corner, the Mystics were okay with rotating off of her to muck things up elsewhere.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/oherv2" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>It's generally a safe gambit for defenses because Hamby doesn't have a reliable three-point shot. She's bumped up her volume to career-high levels (2.2 attempts), but that number isn't high enough to force closeouts, nor is her perimeter percentage (23.9%) close to high enough to scare defenses right now.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Aces are a machine when they're able to play with flow, force help defenders to commit and attack scrambling defenses. That becomes muted if teams are ignoring Hamby on the perimeter, mucking things up at best or turning half-court offense into a 4-on-5 affair at worst.</p>
<p>The "duh" solution is to hope Hamby regains form with her shot. It's gone right now; she made four triples in July (4-of-26), and has not made one since July 17.</p>
<p>Though Hamby's never been a high volume shooter, she's only a couple of seasons removed from a 47.4% clip on similar volume. Once the playoffs hit, you don't have to be a sniper; you just have to hit enough to survive a game or two.</p>
<p>Fundamentally, the answer may be channeling her screening and hand-off abilities as counters to disrespectful defenses. Similar to Draymond Green's snapiness when he's ignored off ball, Hamby can hurt defenses with timely flare or pin-in screens, or flow into quick-hitting exhanges with guards. Her on-ball screening has been much more effective than her off-ball picks; it'll take real commitment, but there have been enough flashes to signify that it's possible.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/qkholv" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Without a solution, the trend of Hamby finishing games from the sideline will continue. The Aces have closed with Stokes and Iliana Rupert in Hamby's spot in different spots this season. There's value to each of those options &mdash; Stokes is better equipped to deal with true centers, and Rupert is a more willing and effective three-point shooter &mdash; but neither of them bring the connective tissue that Hamby does on both ends of the floor.</p>
<p>The best version of this Aces team &mdash; the team that has enough talent to win it all this season &mdash; is with Hamby on the floor.</p>
<p>Or at least it should be.</p>

<p>The Las Vegas Aces have the most prolific starting lineup in the WNBA.</p>
<p>No unit has played more than the 537 minutes they've logged together. Among high-volume lineups &mdash; <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/lineups/advanced/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;sort=NET_RATING&amp;dir=1&amp;CF=MIN*GE*150" target="_blank" rel="noopener">let's say 150 minutes</a> &mdash; their plus-13.9 Net Rating ranks second in the league. The Seattle Storm's original starting group &mdash; Sue Bird, Jewell Loyd, Gabby Williams, Breanna Stewart and Ezi Magbegor &mdash; slightly edges them out (plus-14.4 NET in 324 minutes).</p>
<p>It's easy to see why the Aces lean on this group. A'ja Wilson is playing MVP ball, and should be the front-runner for the award in my opinion. Kelsey Plum will likely make the All-WNBA First Team. Jackie Young will be in consideration for a spot on the First or Second Team. We recently <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/wnba-las-vegas-aces-dont-forget-about-chelsea-gray-commissioners-cup-kelsey-plum-aja-wilson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sang the praises of Chelsea Gray</a> in this space, a former All-Star in her own right.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Dearica Hamby is a gap-filler to the highest order.</p>
<p>She was an All-Star this season because of her ability to do whatever was asked of her. Defensively, she's been tasked with guarding up or down the spectrum: taking on power forwards (her natural matchup), banging with centers when asked to do so (read: take some pressure off of Wilson) and defending wings when the Aces go to their three-big lineups. And that's before getting into the multiple schemes the Aces employ on that end.</p>
<p>Offensively, Hamby has mostly taken what's been left over. She's a willing screener, a plus-passer in high-post actions, a heady cutter and someone who has a nose for offensive boards. There is room for aggression; her ability to grab-and-go after misses make the Aces even more difficult to deal with in transition. They don't call her "Big Guard" for nothin' folks.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/79ftiw" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Hamby's versatility has long helped the Aces dial up the pressure on both ends. The Hamby-Wilson frontcourt has been blitzing the league for years; <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661319&amp;Season=2019,2020,2021&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=1628932,204324" target="_blank" rel="noopener">from 2019 to 2021</a>, the Aces outscored opponents by nearly 13 points per 100 possessions in the 1,227 minutes the two shared the court together. It should come as no surprise that the pairing has been fruitful (plus-15.9 in 771 minutes) with Hamby's insertion into the starting lineup.</p>
<p>Hamby is a good, multifaceted and important player for the Aces. In regards to the Aces' title hopes, I'd argue that Hamby has a case for being their most important player.</p>
<p>She is the X-factor at best, and a primary question mark, at worst, among the starting unit.</p>
<p>Hamby's value defensively is derived from her ability to do just about anything in a pinch; I would not say there is an <em>elite&nbsp;</em>skill present &mdash; and that's okay. That does leave the door open from subs, namely Kiah Stokes' name being called upon when the Aces want a little more beef against opposing centers.</p>
<p>The real question mark comes offensively. While she can be used as a passing or handoff hub, she is the worst of great options for the Aces. Pick-and-rolls with Plum or Gray at the helm are more fruitful; Young has grown as a creator out of ball skills; clearing the floor for Wilson is the bailout option of all bailout options in The W.</p>
<p>With that dichotomy present, Hamby has seen her on-ball usage drop. In a literal sense, Hamby's usage rate (16.5%) and assist rate (5.8%) are <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/player/204324/advanced/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">career-lows for her</a>. Roughly 20% of her offensive possessions have come via pick-and-roll screening (13.9), post-ups (4.1) or handoffs (2.0) per InStat tracking data; post-ups alone accounted for over 18% of her possessions last season.</p>
<p>And with Hamby not having the ball in her hands as a post or handoff hub, the spotlight has been put on her off-ball chops. Or, more accurately, there's been little spotlight put on her by opposing defenses.</p>
<p>Tuesday night's contest between the Aces and Washington Mystics featured plenty of possessions where Hamby was the help-off point. When spaced in the short or weak-side corner, the Mystics were okay with rotating off of her to muck things up elsewhere.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/oherv2" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>It's generally a safe gambit for defenses because Hamby doesn't have a reliable three-point shot. She's bumped up her volume to career-high levels (2.2 attempts), but that number isn't high enough to force closeouts, nor is her perimeter percentage (23.9%) close to high enough to scare defenses right now.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Aces are a machine when they're able to play with flow, force help defenders to commit and attack scrambling defenses. That becomes muted if teams are ignoring Hamby on the perimeter, mucking things up at best or turning half-court offense into a 4-on-5 affair at worst.</p>
<p>The "duh" solution is to hope Hamby regains form with her shot. It's gone right now; she made four triples in July (4-of-26), and has not made one since July 17.</p>
<p>Though Hamby's never been a high volume shooter, she's only a couple of seasons removed from a 47.4% clip on similar volume. Once the playoffs hit, you don't have to be a sniper; you just have to hit enough to survive a game or two.</p>
<p>Fundamentally, the answer may be in channeling her screening and hand-off abilities as counters to disrespectful defenses. Similar to Draymond Green's snapiness when he's ignored off ball, Hamby can hurt defenses with timely flare or pin-in screens, or flow into quick-hitting exhanges with guards. Her on-ball screening has been much more effective than her off-ball picks; it'll take real commitment, but there have been enough flashes to signify that it's possible.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/qkholv" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Without a solution, the trend of Hamby finishing games from the sideline will continue. The Aces have closed with Stokes and Iliana Rupert in Hamby's spot in different spots this season. There's value to each of those options &mdash; Stokes is better equipped to deal with true centers, and Rupert is a more willing and effective three-point shooter &mdash; but neither of them bring the connective tissue that Hamby does on both ends of the floor.</p>
<p>The best version of this Aces team &mdash; the team that has enough talent to win it all this season &mdash; is with Hamby on the floor.</p>
<p>Or at least it should be.</p>

<p>The Las Vegas Aces have the most prolific starting lineup in the WNBA.</p>
<p>No unit has played more than the 537 minutes they've logged together. Among high-volume lineups &mdash; <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/lineups/advanced/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;sort=NET_RATING&amp;dir=1&amp;CF=MIN*GE*150" target="_blank" rel="noopener">let's say 150 minutes</a> &mdash; their plus-13.9 Net Rating ranks second in the league. The Seattle Storm's original starting group &mdash; Sue Bird, Jewell Loyd, Gabby Williams, Breanna Stewart and Ezi Magbegor &mdash; slightly edges them out (plus-14.4 NET in 324 minutes).</p>
<p>It's easy to see why the Aces lean on this group. A'ja Wilson is playing MVP ball, and should be the front-runner for the award in my opinion. Kelsey Plum will likely make the All-WNBA First Team. Jackie Young will be in consideration for a spot on the First or Second Team. We recently <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/wnba-las-vegas-aces-dont-forget-about-chelsea-gray-commissioners-cup-kelsey-plum-aja-wilson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sang the praises of Chelsea Gray</a> in this space, a former All-Star in her own right.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Dearica Hamby is a gap-filler to the highest order.</p>
<p>She was an All-Star this season because of her ability to do whatever was asked of her. Defensively, she's been tasked with guarding up or down the spectrum: taking on power forwards (her natural matchup), banging with centers when asked to do so (read: take some pressure off of Wilson) and defending wings when the Aces go to their three-big lineups. And that's before getting into the multiple schemes the Aces employ on that end.</p>
<p>Offensively, Hamby has mostly taken what's been left over. She's a willing screener, a plus-passer in high-post actions, a heady cutter and someone who has a nose for offensive boards. There is room for aggression; her ability to grab-and-go after misses make the Aces even more difficult to deal with in transition. They don't call her "Big Guard" for nothin' folks.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/79ftiw" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Hamby's versatility has long helped the Aces dial up the pressure on both ends. The Hamby-Wilson frontcourt has been blitzing the league for years; <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661319&amp;Season=2019,2020,2021&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=1628932,204324" target="_blank" rel="noopener">from 2019 to 2021</a>, the Aces outscored opponents by nearly 13 points per 100 possessions in the 1,227 minutes the two shared the court together. It should come as no surprise that the pairing has been fruitful (plus-15.9 in 771 minutes) with Hamby's insertion into the starting lineup.</p>
<p>Hamby is a good, multifaceted and important player for the Aces. In regards to the Aces' title hopes, I'd argue that Hamby has a case for being their most important player.</p>
<p>She is the X-factor at best, and a primary question mark, at worst, among the starting unit.</p>
<p>Hamby's value defensively is derived from her ability to do just about anything in a pinch; I would not say there is an <em>elite&nbsp;</em>skill present &mdash; and that's okay. That does leave the door open from subs, namely Kiah Stokes' name being called upon when the Aces want a little more beef against opposing centers.</p>
<p>The real question mark comes offensively. While she can be used as a passing or handoff hub, she is the worst of great options for the Aces. Pick-and-rolls with Plum or Gray at the helm are more fruitful; Young has grown as a creator out of ball skills; clearing the floor for Wilson is the bailout option of all bailout options in The W.</p>
<p>With that dichotomy present, Hamby has seen her on-ball usage drop. In a literal sense, Hamby's usage rate (16.5%) and assist rate (5.8%) are <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/player/204324/advanced/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">career-lows for her</a>. Roughly 20% of her offensive possessions have come via pick-and-roll screening (13.9), post-ups (4.1) or handoffs (2.0) per InStat tracking data; post-ups alone accounted for over 18% of her possessions last season.</p>
<p>And with Hamby not having the ball in her hands as a post or handoff hub, the spotlight has been put on her off-ball chops. Or, more accurately, there's been little spotlight put on her by opposing defenses.</p>
<p>Tuesday night's contest between the Aces and Washington Mystics featured plenty of possessions where Hamby was the help-off point. When spaced in the short or weak-side corner, the Mystics were okay with rotating off of her to muck things up elsewhere.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/oherv2" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>It's generally a safe gambit for defenses because Hamby doesn't have a reliable three-point shot. She's bumped up her volume to career-high levels (2.2 attempts), but that number isn't high enough to force closeouts, nor is her perimeter percentage (23.9%) close to high enough to scare defenses right now.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Aces are a machine when they're able to play with flow, force help defenders to commit and attack scrambling defenses. That becomes muted if teams are ignoring Hamby on the perimeter, mucking things up at best or turning half-court offense into a 4-on-5 affair at worst.</p>
<p>The "duh" solution is to hope Hamby regains form with her shot. It's gone right now; she made four triples in July (4-of-26), and has not made one since July 17.</p>
<p>Though Hamby's never been a high volume shooter, she's only a couple of seasons removed from a 47.4% clip on similar volume. Once the playoffs hit, you don't have to be a sniper; you just have to hit enough to survive a game or two.</p>
<p>Fundamentally, the answer may be in channeling her screening and hand-off abilities as counters to disrespectful defenses. Similar to Draymond Green's snappiness when he's ignored off ball, Hamby can hurt defenses with timely flare or pin-in screens, or flow into quick-hitting exhanges with guards. Her on-ball screening has been much more effective than her off-ball picks; it'll take real commitment, but there have been enough flashes to signify that it's possible.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/qkholv" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Without a solution, the trend of Hamby finishing games from the sideline will continue. The Aces have closed with Stokes and Iliana Rupert in Hamby's spot in different spots this season. There's value to each of those options &mdash; Stokes is better equipped to deal with true centers, and Rupert is a more willing and effective three-point shooter &mdash; but neither of them bring the connective tissue that Hamby does on both ends of the floor.</p>
<p>The best version of this Aces team &mdash; the team that has enough talent to win it all this season &mdash; is with Hamby on the floor.</p>
<p>Or at least it should be.</p>

<p>The Las Vegas Aces have the most prolific starting lineup in the WNBA.</p>
<p>No unit has played more than the 537 minutes they've logged together. Among high-volume lineups &mdash; <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/lineups/advanced/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;sort=NET_RATING&amp;dir=1&amp;CF=MIN*GE*150" target="_blank" rel="noopener">let's say 150 minutes</a> &mdash; their plus-13.9 Net Rating ranks second in the league. The Seattle Storm's original starting group &mdash; Sue Bird, Jewell Loyd, Gabby Williams, Breanna Stewart and Ezi Magbegor &mdash; slightly edges them out (plus-14.4 NET in 324 minutes).</p>
<p>It's easy to see why the Aces lean on this group. A'ja Wilson is playing MVP ball, and should be the front-runner for the award in my opinion. Kelsey Plum will likely make the All-WNBA First Team. Jackie Young will be in consideration for a spot on the First or Second Team. We recently <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/wnba-las-vegas-aces-dont-forget-about-chelsea-gray-commissioners-cup-kelsey-plum-aja-wilson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sang the praises of Chelsea Gray</a> in this space, a former All-Star in her own right.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Dearica Hamby is a gap-filler to the highest order.</p>
<p>She was an All-Star this season because of her ability to do whatever was asked of her. Defensively, she's been tasked with guarding up or down the spectrum: taking on power forwards (her natural matchup), banging with centers when asked to do so (read: take some pressure off of Wilson) and defending wings when the Aces go to their three-big lineups. And that's before getting into the multiple schemes the Aces employ on that end.</p>
<p>Offensively, Hamby has mostly taken what's been left over. She's a willing screener, a plus-passer in high-post actions, a heady cutter and someone who has a nose for offensive boards. There is room for aggression; her ability to grab-and-go after misses make the Aces even more difficult to deal with in transition. They don't call her "Big Guard" for nothin' folks.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/79ftiw" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Hamby's versatility has long helped the Aces dial up the pressure on both ends. The Hamby-Wilson frontcourt has been blitzing the league for years; <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661319&amp;Season=2019,2020,2021&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=1628932,204324" target="_blank" rel="noopener">from 2019 to 2021</a>, the Aces outscored opponents by nearly 13 points per 100 possessions in the 1,227 minutes the two shared the court together. It should come as no surprise that the pairing has been fruitful (plus-15.9 in 771 minutes) with Hamby's insertion into the starting lineup.</p>
<p>Hamby is a good, multifaceted and important player for the Aces. In regards to the Aces' title hopes, I'd argue that Hamby has a case for being their most important player.</p>
<p>She is the X-factor at best, and a primary question mark, at worst, among the starting unit.</p>
<p>Hamby's value defensively is derived from her ability to do just about anything in a pinch; I would not say there is an <em>elite&nbsp;</em>skill present &mdash; and that's okay. That does leave the door open from subs, namely Kiah Stokes' name being called upon when the Aces want a little more beef against opposing centers.</p>
<p>The real question mark comes offensively. While she can be used as a passing or handoff hub, she is the worst of great options for the Aces. Pick-and-rolls with Plum or Gray at the helm are more fruitful; Young has grown as a creator out of ball screens; clearing the floor for Wilson is the bailout option of all bailout options in The W.</p>
<p>With that dichotomy present, Hamby has seen her on-ball usage drop. In a literal sense, Hamby's usage rate (16.5%) and assist rate (5.8%) are <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/player/204324/advanced/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">career-lows for her</a>. Roughly 20% of her offensive possessions have come via pick-and-roll screening (13.9), post-ups (4.1) or handoffs (2.0) per InStat tracking data; post-ups alone accounted for over 18% of her possessions last season.</p>
<p>And with Hamby not having the ball in her hands as a post or handoff hub, the spotlight has been put on her off-ball chops. Or, more accurately, there's been little spotlight put on her by opposing defenses.</p>
<p>Tuesday night's contest between the Aces and Washington Mystics featured plenty of possessions where Hamby was the help-off point. When spaced in the short or weak-side corner, the Mystics were okay with rotating off of her to muck things up elsewhere.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/oherv2" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>It's generally a safe gambit for defenses because Hamby doesn't have a reliable three-point shot. She's bumped up her volume to career-high levels (2.2 attempts), but that number isn't high enough to force closeouts, nor is her perimeter percentage (23.9%) close to high enough to scare defenses right now.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Aces are a machine when they're able to play with flow, force help defenders to commit and attack scrambling defenses. That becomes muted if teams are ignoring Hamby on the perimeter, mucking things up at best or turning half-court offense into a 4-on-5 affair at worst.</p>
<p>The "duh" solution is to hope Hamby regains form with her shot. It's gone right now; she made four triples in July (4-of-26), and has not made one since July 17.</p>
<p>Though Hamby's never been a high volume shooter, she's only a couple of seasons removed from a 47.4% clip on similar volume. Once the playoffs hit, you don't have to be a sniper; you just have to hit enough to survive a game or two.</p>
<p>Fundamentally, the answer may be in channeling her screening and hand-off abilities as counters to disrespectful defenses. Similar to Draymond Green's snappiness when he's ignored off ball, Hamby can hurt defenses with timely flare or pin-in screens, or flow into quick-hitting exhanges with guards. Her on-ball screening has been much more effective than her off-ball picks; it'll take real commitment, but there have been enough flashes to signify that it's possible.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/qkholv" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Without a solution, the trend of Hamby finishing games from the sideline will continue. The Aces have closed with Stokes and Iliana Rupert in Hamby's spot in different spots this season. There's value to each of those options &mdash; Stokes is better equipped to deal with true centers, and Rupert is a more willing and effective three-point shooter &mdash; but neither of them bring the connective tissue that Hamby does on both ends of the floor.</p>
<p>The best version of this Aces team &mdash; the team that has enough talent to win it all this season &mdash; is with Hamby on the floor.</p>
<p>Or at least it should be.</p>

Nekias Duncan examines the importance of Aces forward Dearica Hamby to Las Vegas' title hopes.

The Las Vegas Aces won't reach full potential without Dearica Hamby

<p>With a 5-27 record on the season, we won't be seeing much more of the Indiana Fever. They're currently the only team in the WNBA officially eliminated from playoff contention, and have been for a while now.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It's understandable to an extent; this is clearly a rebuilding roster, with 4 of the top 7 minute-getters on the roster being rookies. The future is bright. NaLyssa Smith, Queen Egbo, Destanni Henderson and Emily Engstler have all showcased fun flashes this season, but it's just that &mdash; the future. We're likely a couple of years away from serious playoff contention with this group, assuming it stays in tact.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Not only will we not be seeing much more of the Fever as the season winds down, we specifically won't be seeing guard Kelsey Mitchell for the remainder of this campaign. The Fever announced on Saturday that she will miss the rest of the season with a partial plantar fascia tear in her left foot.</p>
<p>It's an unfortunate end to a tremendous individual season that has frankly flown too far under the radar.&nbsp;</p>
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
<p>Mitchell finishes the year with averages of 18.4 points (seventh in The W, fourth among guards) and 4.2 assists per game &mdash; both career-highs. Her jumper was the primary weapon of choice. Not only did she drain a career-best 40.9% of her 5.7 triples, but she is also <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=FG3_PCT&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;CF=FG3A*GE*5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of three players</a> to shoot north of 40% from deep on more than 5 attempts per contest. New York Liberty guard Marine Johannes (40% on 5.3 attempts) and Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum (42.7% on a ridiculous 7.3 attempts) were the other two.</p>
<p>(It's also worth noting that Phoenix Mercury <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/sophie-cunningham-giving-phoenix-a-lift-at-the-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">small-ball 4</a> Sophie Cunningham &mdash; at 39.8% on 6.0 attempts &mdash; is knocking on the door.)</p>
<p>Mitchell's intersection of usage, production and efficiency is nearly unmatched. She's currently one of five players to post a usage rate over 20% (23.6%), an assist rate over 20% (23.5%) and a True Shooting percentage above 55% (56.8%; <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/years/2022.html#advanced-team" target="_blank" rel="noopener">league average is 53.9%</a>). Plum, Diana Taurasi, Courtney Vandersloot and Candace Parker are the other four players, and I think it's fair to say that they benefit from an easier context than Mitchell has to deal with. Add the fact that Mitchell has the lowest turnover rate (10.5% of possessions) of the group, and her season becomes even more impressive.</p>
<p>Enough numbers though. The<em> way</em> that Mitchell racks them up is captivating on its own.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are quicker guards than Mitchell. Stronger guards. Bigger guards.</p>
<p>But I don't know if there's one in The W that's harder to keep track of than Mitchell. </p>
<p>The Fever frequently run her through a maze of screens, exhausting even the stickiest of defenders after a while. Mitchell's battery never seems to deplete.</p>
<p>Los Angeles Sparks guard (and elite defender) Brittney Sykes described Mitchell as an "Energizer bunny" on an <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brittney-sykes-game-2-thoughts/id1547857052?i=1000565497045" target="_blank" rel="noopener">episode of The Dunker Spot</a>.</p>
<p>"She does&nbsp;<em>not&nbsp;</em>stop moving. It is&nbsp;<em>ridiculous.</em> She's just a motor... she's a really great player. Her skill set allows her to move freely and keep defenses on their heels. It's like 'Dang it, Kelsey, stop moving!' She's one of those players where you're like 'I need to get you in foul trouble immediately so you'll slow down."</p>
<p>Per InStat tracking data, no player in the W has made more shots after utilizing an off-ball screen than Mitchell has.&nbsp;</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/nk50vi" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>I appreciate her pacing off the ball. Sometimes, it's a dead sprint into a screen, either lifting up the wing or going baseline to baseline. Other times, it's a light trot to get a defender in a certain position before jetting away. Defenders never have a sense of when she's going, where she's going, or how quickly she wants to get there.&nbsp;</p>
<p>That same pacing allows Mitchell to throw defenders off-balance when she has the ball in her hands. She's a smooth pick-and-roll operator with an ability to flow into pull-ups or stepbacks on a whim. When dealing with an overzealous defender, she's able to counter with hard drives to the basket. While she may not be<em> the&nbsp;</em>strongest guard in the W, she's certainly up there. Contact doesn't really bother her that much.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/xmfqk8" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Mitchell is a scorer at heart, but she's done a better job of leveraging her scoring gravity to create looks for her teammates. You don't have to manipulate weakside defenders like Vandersloot or Chelsea Gray when the pure threat of your ratchet can bend a defense.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/adc1e5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Mitchell missed out on All-Star honors this season. Considering the Fever's record, it's fair to assume she'll end up on the outskirts of All-WNBA discussions as well.&nbsp;</p>
<p>(As a brief aside, an All-WNBA Third Team would be nice at some point. Just saying.)</p>
<p>But Mitchell is one of the best guards in the W. She's one of the best players in the W. She was the brightest spot of the season for a Fever team without a ton of them, and I'll miss watching her ball out.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Get well soon, Kelsey.</p>

<p>With a 5-27 record on the season, we won't be seeing much more of the Indiana Fever. They're currently the only team in the WNBA officially eliminated from playoff contention, and have been for a while now.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It's understandable to an extent; this is clearly a rebuilding roster, with 4 of the top 7 minute-getters on the roster being rookies. The future is bright. NaLyssa Smith, Queen Egbo, Destanni Henderson and Emily Engstler have all showcased fun flashes this season, but it's just that &mdash; the future. We're likely a couple of years away from serious playoff contention with this group, assuming it stays in tact.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Not only will we not be seeing much more of the Fever as the season winds down, we specifically won't be seeing guard Kelsey Mitchell for the remainder of this campaign. The Fever announced on Saturday that she will miss the rest of the season with a partial plantar fascia tear in her left foot.</p>
<p>It's an unfortunate end to a tremendous individual season that has frankly flown too far under the radar.&nbsp;</p>
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
<p>Mitchell finishes the year with averages of 18.4 points (seventh in The W, fourth among guards) and 4.2 assists per game &mdash; both career-highs. Her jumper was the primary weapon of choice. Not only did she drain a career-best 40.9% of her 5.7 triples, but she is also <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=FG3_PCT&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;CF=FG3A*GE*5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of three players</a> to shoot north of 40% from deep on more than 5 attempts per contest. New York Liberty guard Marine Johannes (40% on 5.3 attempts) and Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum (42.7% on a ridiculous 7.3 attempts) were the other two.</p>
<p>(It's also worth noting that Phoenix Mercury <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/sophie-cunningham-giving-phoenix-a-lift-at-the-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">small-ball 4</a> Sophie Cunningham &mdash; at 39.8% on 6.0 attempts &mdash; is knocking on the door.)</p>
<p>Mitchell's intersection of usage, production and efficiency is nearly unmatched. She's currently one of five players to post a usage rate over 20% (23.6%), an assist rate over 20% (23.5%) and a True Shooting percentage above 55% (56.8%; <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/years/2022.html#advanced-team" target="_blank" rel="noopener">league average is 53.9%</a>). Plum, Diana Taurasi, Courtney Vandersloot and Candace Parker are the other four players, and I think it's fair to say that they benefit from an easier context than Mitchell has to deal with. Add the fact that Mitchell has the lowest turnover rate (10.5% of possessions) of the group, and her season becomes even more impressive.</p>
<p>Enough numbers though. The<em> way</em> that Mitchell racks them up is captivating on its own.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are quicker guards than Mitchell. Stronger guards. Bigger guards.</p>
<p>But I don't know if there's one in The W that's harder to keep track of than Mitchell. </p>
<p>The Fever frequently run her through a maze of screens, exhausting even the stickiest of defenders after a while. Mitchell's battery never seems to deplete.</p>
<p>Los Angeles Sparks guard (and elite defender) Brittney Sykes described Mitchell as an "Energizer bunny" on an <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brittney-sykes-game-2-thoughts/id1547857052?i=1000565497045" target="_blank" rel="noopener">episode of The Dunker Spot</a>: "She does <em>not&nbsp;</em>stop moving. It is&nbsp;<em>ridiculous.</em> She's just a motor... she's a really great player. Her skill set allows her to move freely and keep defenses on their heels. It's like 'Dang it, Kelsey, stop moving!' She's one of those players where you're like 'I need to get you in foul trouble immediately so you'll slow down."</p>
<p>Per InStat tracking data, no player in the W has made more shots after utilizing an off-ball screen than Mitchell has.&nbsp;</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/nk50vi" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>I appreciate her pacing off the ball. Sometimes, it's a dead sprint into a screen, either lifting up the wing or going baseline to baseline. Other times, it's a light trot to get a defender in a certain position before jetting away. Defenders never have a sense of when she's going, where she's going, or how quickly she wants to get there.&nbsp;</p>
<p>That same pacing allows Mitchell to throw defenders off-balance when she has the ball in her hands. She's a smooth pick-and-roll operator with an ability to flow into pull-ups or stepbacks on a whim. When dealing with an overzealous defender, she's able to counter with hard drives to the basket. While she may not be<em> the&nbsp;</em>strongest guard in the W, she's certainly up there. Contact doesn't really bother her that much.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/xmfqk8" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Mitchell is a scorer at heart, but she's done a better job of leveraging her scoring gravity to create looks for her teammates. You don't have to manipulate weakside defenders like Vandersloot or Chelsea Gray when the pure threat of your ratchet can bend a defense.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/adc1e5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Mitchell missed out on All-Star honors this season. Considering the Fever's record, it's fair to assume she'll end up on the outskirts of All-WNBA discussions as well.&nbsp;</p>
<p>(As a brief aside, an All-WNBA Third Team would be nice at some point. Just saying.)</p>
<p>But Mitchell is one of the best guards in the W. She's one of the best players in the W. She was the brightest spot of the season for a Fever team without a ton of them, and I'll miss watching her ball out.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Get well soon, Kelsey.</p>

<p>With a 5-27 record on the season, we won't be seeing much more of the Indiana Fever. They're currently the only team in the WNBA officially eliminated from playoff contention, and have been for a while now.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It's understandable to an extent; this is clearly a rebuilding roster, with 4 of the top 7 minute-getters on the roster being rookies. The future is bright. NaLyssa Smith, Queen Egbo, Destanni Henderson and Emily Engstler have all showcased fun flashes this season, but it's just that &mdash; the future. We're likely a couple of years away from serious playoff contention with this group, assuming it stays in tact.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Not only will we not be seeing much more of the Fever as the season winds down, we specifically won't be seeing guard Kelsey Mitchell for the remainder of this campaign. The Fever announced on Saturday that she will miss the rest of the season with a partial plantar fascia tear in her left foot.</p>
<p>It's an unfortunate end to a tremendous individual season that has frankly flown too far under the radar.&nbsp;</p>
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
<p>Mitchell finishes the year with averages of 18.4 points (seventh in The W, fourth among guards) and 4.2 assists per game &mdash; both career-highs. Her jumper was the primary weapon of choice. Not only did she drain a career-best 40.9% of her 5.7 triples, but she is also <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=FG3_PCT&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;CF=FG3A*GE*5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of three players</a> to shoot north of 40% from deep on more than 5 attempts per contest. New York Liberty guard Marine Johannes (40% on 5.3 attempts) and Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum (42.7% on a ridiculous 7.3 attempts) were the other two.</p>
<p>(It's also worth noting that Phoenix Mercury <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/sophie-cunningham-giving-phoenix-a-lift-at-the-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">small-ball 4</a> Sophie Cunningham &mdash; at 39.8% on 6.0 attempts &mdash; is knocking on the door.)</p>
<p>Mitchell's intersection of usage, production and efficiency is nearly unmatched. She's currently one of five players to post a usage rate over 20% (23.6%), an assist rate over 20% (23.5%) and a True Shooting percentage above 55% (56.8%; <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/years/2022.html#advanced-team" target="_blank" rel="noopener">league average is 53.9%</a>). Plum, Diana Taurasi, Courtney Vandersloot and Candace Parker are the other four players, and I think it's fair to say that they benefit from an easier context than Mitchell has to deal with. Add the fact that Mitchell has the lowest turnover rate (10.5% of possessions) of the group, and her season becomes even more impressive.</p>
<p>Enough numbers though. The<em> way</em> that Mitchell racks them up is captivating on its own.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are quicker guards than Mitchell. Stronger guards. Bigger guards.</p>
<p>But I don't know if there's one in The W that's harder to keep track of than Mitchell. </p>
<p>The Fever frequently run her through a maze of screens, exhausting even the stickiest of defenders after a while. Mitchell's battery never seems to deplete.</p>
<p>Los Angeles Sparks guard (and elite defender) Brittney Sykes described Mitchell as an "Energizer bunny" on an <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brittney-sykes-game-2-thoughts/id1547857052?i=1000565497045" target="_blank" rel="noopener">episode of The Dunker Spot</a>: "She does <em>not&nbsp;</em>stop moving. It is&nbsp;<em>ridiculous.</em> She's just a motor... she's a really great player. Her skill set allows her to move freely and keep defenses on their heels. It's like 'Dang it, Kelsey, stop moving!'</p>
<p>"She's one of those players where you're like 'I need to get you in foul trouble immediately so you'll slow down."</p>
<p>Per InStat tracking data, no player in the W has made more shots after utilizing an off-ball screen than Mitchell has.&nbsp;</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/nk50vi" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>I appreciate her pacing off the ball. Sometimes, it's a dead sprint into a screen, either lifting up the wing or going baseline to baseline. Other times, it's a light trot to get a defender in a certain position before jetting away. Defenders never have a sense of when she's going, where she's going, or how quickly she wants to get there.&nbsp;</p>
<p>That same pacing allows Mitchell to throw defenders off-balance when she has the ball in her hands. She's a smooth pick-and-roll operator with an ability to flow into pull-ups or stepbacks on a whim. When dealing with an overzealous defender, she's able to counter with hard drives to the basket. While she may not be<em> the&nbsp;</em>strongest guard in the W, she's certainly up there. Contact doesn't really bother her that much.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/xmfqk8" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Mitchell is a scorer at heart, but she's done a better job of leveraging her scoring gravity to create looks for her teammates. You don't have to manipulate weakside defenders like Vandersloot or Chelsea Gray when the pure threat of your ratchet can bend a defense.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/adc1e5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Mitchell missed out on All-Star honors this season. Considering the Fever's record, it's fair to assume she'll end up on the outskirts of All-WNBA discussions as well.&nbsp;</p>
<p>(As a brief aside, an All-WNBA Third Team would be nice at some point. Just saying.)</p>
<p>But Mitchell is one of the best guards in the W. She's one of the best players in the W. She was the brightest spot of the season for a Fever team without a ton of them, and I'll miss watching her ball out.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Get well soon, Kelsey.</p>

<p>With a 5-27 record on the season, we won't be seeing much more of the Indiana Fever. They're currently the only team in the WNBA officially eliminated from playoff contention, and have been for a while now.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It's understandable to an extent; this is clearly a rebuilding roster, with 4 of the top 7 minute-getters on the roster being rookies. The future is bright. NaLyssa Smith, Queen Egbo, Destanni Henderson and Emily Engstler have all showcased fun flashes this season, but it's just that &mdash; the future. We're likely a couple of years away from serious playoff contention with this group, assuming it stays in tact.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Not only will we not be seeing much more of the Fever as the season winds down, we specifically won't be seeing guard Kelsey Mitchell for the remainder of this campaign. The Fever announced on Saturday that she will miss the rest of the season with a partial plantar fascia tear in her left foot.</p>
<p>It's an unfortunate end to a tremendous individual season that has frankly flown too far under the radar.&nbsp;</p>
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
<p>Mitchell finishes the year with averages of 18.4 points (seventh in The W, fourth among guards) and 4.2 assists per game &mdash; both career-highs. Her jumper was the primary weapon of choice. Not only did she drain a career-best 40.9% of her 5.7 triples, but she is also <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=FG3_PCT&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;CF=FG3A*GE*5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of three players</a> to shoot north of 40% from deep on more than 5 attempts per contest. New York Liberty guard Marine Johannes (40% on 5.3 attempts) and Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum (42.7% on a ridiculous 7.3 attempts) were the other two.</p>
<p>(It's also worth noting that Phoenix Mercury <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/sophie-cunningham-giving-phoenix-a-lift-at-the-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">small-ball 4</a> Sophie Cunningham &mdash; at 39.8% on 6.0 attempts &mdash; is knocking on the door.)</p>
<p>Mitchell's intersection of usage, production and efficiency is nearly unmatched. She's currently one of five players to post a usage rate over 20% (23.6%), an assist rate over 20% (23.5%) and a True Shooting percentage above 55% (56.8%; <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/years/2022.html#advanced-team" target="_blank" rel="noopener">league average is 53.9%</a>). Plum, Diana Taurasi, Courtney Vandersloot and Candace Parker are the other four players, and I think it's fair to say that they benefit from an easier context than Mitchell has to deal with. Add the fact that Mitchell has the lowest turnover rate (10.5% of possessions) of the group, and her season becomes even more impressive.</p>
<p>Enough numbers though. The<em> way</em> that Mitchell racks them up is captivating on its own.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are quicker guards than Mitchell. Stronger guards. Bigger guards.</p>
<p>But I don't know if there's one in The W that's harder to keep track of than Mitchell. </p>
<p>The Fever frequently run her through a maze of screens, exhausting even the stickiest of defenders after a while. Mitchell's battery never seems to deplete.</p>
<p>Los Angeles Sparks guard (and elite defender) Brittney Sykes described Mitchell as an "Energizer bunny" on an <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brittney-sykes-game-2-thoughts/id1547857052?i=1000565497045" target="_blank" rel="noopener">episode of The Dunker Spot</a>: "She does <em>not&nbsp;</em>stop moving. It is&nbsp;<em>ridiculous.</em> She's just a motor... she's a really great player. Her skill set allows her to move freely and keep defenses on their heels. It's like 'Dang it, Kelsey, stop moving!'</p>
<p>"She's one of those players where you're like 'I need to get you in foul trouble immediately so you'll slow down."</p>
<p>Per InStat tracking data, no player in The W has made more shots after utilizing an off-ball screen than Mitchell has.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/nk50vi" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>I appreciate her pacing off the ball. Sometimes, it's a dead sprint into a screen, either lifting up the wing or going baseline to baseline. Other times, it's a light trot to get a defender in a certain position before jetting away. Defenders never have a sense of when she's going, where she's going, or how quickly she wants to get there.&nbsp;</p>
<p>That same pacing allows Mitchell to throw defenders off-balance when she has the ball in her hands. She's a smooth pick-and-roll operator with an ability to flow into pull-ups or stepbacks on a whim. When dealing with an overzealous defender, she's able to counter with hard drives to the basket. While she may not be<em> the&nbsp;</em>strongest guard in the W, she's certainly up there. Contact doesn't really bother her that much.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/xmfqk8" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Mitchell is a scorer at heart, but she's done a better job of leveraging her scoring gravity to create looks for her teammates. You don't have to manipulate weakside defenders like Vandersloot or Chelsea Gray when the pure threat of your ratchet can bend a defense.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/adc1e5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Mitchell missed out on All-Star honors this season. Considering the Fever's record, it's fair to assume she'll end up on the outskirts of All-WNBA discussions as well.&nbsp;</p>
<p>(As a brief aside, an All-WNBA Third Team would be nice at some point. Just saying.)</p>
<p>But Mitchell is one of the best guards in the W. She's one of the best players in the W. She was the brightest spot of the season for a Fever team without a ton of them, and I'll miss watching her ball out.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Get well soon, Kelsey.</p>

<p>With a 5-27 record on the season, we won't be seeing much more of the Indiana Fever. They're currently the only team in the WNBA officially eliminated from playoff contention, and have been for a while now.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It's understandable to an extent; this is clearly a rebuilding roster, with 4 of the top 7 minute-getters on the roster being rookies. The future is bright. NaLyssa Smith, Queen Egbo, Destanni Henderson and Emily Engstler have all showcased fun flashes this season, but it's just that &mdash; the future. We're likely a couple of years away from serious playoff contention with this group, assuming it stays in tact.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Not only will we not be seeing much more of the Fever as the season winds down, we specifically won't be seeing guard Kelsey Mitchell for the remainder of this campaign. The Fever announced on Saturday that she will miss the rest of the season with a partial plantar fascia tear in her left foot.</p>
<p>It's an unfortunate end to a tremendous individual season that has frankly flown too far under the radar.&nbsp;</p>
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
<p>Mitchell finishes the year with averages of 18.4 points (seventh in The W, fourth among guards) and 4.2 assists per game &mdash; both career-highs. Her jumper was the primary weapon of choice. Not only did she drain a career-best 40.9% of her 5.7 triples, but she is also <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=FG3_PCT&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;CF=FG3A*GE*5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of three players</a> to shoot north of 40% from deep on more than 5 attempts per contest. New York Liberty guard Marine Johannes (40% on 5.3 attempts) and Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum (42.7% on a ridiculous 7.3 attempts) were the other two.</p>
<p>(It's also worth noting that Phoenix Mercury <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/sophie-cunningham-giving-phoenix-a-lift-at-the-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">small-ball 4</a> Sophie Cunningham &mdash; at 39.8% on 6.0 attempts &mdash; is knocking on the door.)</p>
<p>Mitchell's intersection of usage, production and efficiency is nearly unmatched. She's currently one of five players to post a usage rate over 20% (23.6%), an assist rate over 20% (23.5%) and a True Shooting percentage above 55% (56.8%; <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/years/2022.html#advanced-team" target="_blank" rel="noopener">league average is 53.9%</a>). Plum, Diana Taurasi, Courtney Vandersloot and Candace Parker are the other four players, and I think it's fair to say that they benefit from an easier context than Mitchell has to deal with. Add the fact that Mitchell has the lowest turnover rate (10.5% of possessions) of the group, and her season becomes even more impressive.</p>
<p>Enough numbers though. The<em> way</em> that Mitchell racks them up is captivating on its own.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are quicker guards than Mitchell. Stronger guards. Bigger guards.</p>
<p>But I don't know if there's one in The W that's harder to keep track of than Mitchell. </p>
<p>The Fever frequently run her through a maze of screens, exhausting even the stickiest of defenders after a while. Mitchell's battery never seems to deplete.</p>
<p>Los Angeles Sparks guard (and elite defender) Brittney Sykes described Mitchell as an "Energizer bunny" on an <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brittney-sykes-game-2-thoughts/id1547857052?i=1000565497045" target="_blank" rel="noopener">episode of The Dunker Spot</a>: "She does <em>not&nbsp;</em>stop moving. It is&nbsp;<em>ridiculous.</em> She's just a motor... she's a really great player. Her skill set allows her to move freely and keep defenses on their heels. It's like 'Dang it, Kelsey, stop moving!'</p>
<p>"She's one of those players where you're like 'I need to get you in foul trouble immediately so you'll slow down."</p>
<p>Per InStat tracking data, no player in The W has made more shots after utilizing an off-ball screen than Mitchell has.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/nk50vi" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>I appreciate her pacing off the ball. Sometimes, it's a dead sprint into a screen, either lifting up the wing or going baseline to baseline. Other times, it's a light trot to get a defender in a certain position before jetting away. Defenders never have a sense of when she's going, where she's going, or how quickly she wants to get there.</p>
<p>That same pacing allows Mitchell to throw defenders off-balance when she has the ball in her hands. She's a smooth pick-and-roll operator with an ability to flow into pull-ups or stepbacks on a whim. When dealing with an overzealous defender, she's able to counter with hard drives to the basket. While she may not be<em> the&nbsp;</em>strongest guard in the W, she's certainly up there. Contact doesn't really bother her that much.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/xmfqk8" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Mitchell is a scorer at heart, but she's done a better job of leveraging her scoring gravity to create looks for her teammates. You don't have to manipulate weakside defenders like Vandersloot or Chelsea Gray when the pure threat of your ratchet can bend a defense.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/adc1e5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Mitchell missed out on All-Star honors this season. Considering the Fever's record, it's fair to assume she'll end up on the outskirts of All-WNBA discussions as well.&nbsp;</p>
<p>(As a brief aside, an All-WNBA Third Team would be nice at some point. Just saying.)</p>
<p>But Mitchell is one of the best guards in the W. She's one of the best players in the W. She was the brightest spot of the season for a Fever team without a ton of them, and I'll miss watching her ball out.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Get well soon, Kelsey.</p>

<p>With a 5-27 record on the season, we won't be seeing much more of the Indiana Fever. They're currently the only team in the WNBA officially eliminated from playoff contention, and have been for a while now.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It's understandable to an extent; this is clearly a rebuilding roster, with 4 of the top 7 minute-getters on the roster being rookies. The future is bright. NaLyssa Smith, Queen Egbo, Destanni Henderson and Emily Engstler have all showcased fun flashes this season, but it's just that &mdash; the future. We're likely a couple of years away from serious playoff contention with this group, assuming it stays in tact.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Not only will we not be seeing much more of the Fever as the season winds down, we specifically won't be seeing guard Kelsey Mitchell for the remainder of this campaign. The Fever announced on Saturday that she will miss the rest of the season with a partial plantar fascia tear in her left foot.</p>
<p>It's an unfortunate end to a tremendous individual season that has frankly flown too far under the radar.&nbsp;</p>
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
<p>Mitchell finishes the year with averages of 18.4 points (seventh in The W, fourth among guards) and 4.2 assists per game &mdash; both career-highs. Her jumper was the primary weapon of choice. Not only did she drain a career-best 40.9% of her 5.7 triples, but she is also <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=FG3_PCT&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;CF=FG3A*GE*5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of three players</a> to shoot north of 40% from deep on more than 5 attempts per contest. New York Liberty guard Marine Johannes (40% on 5.3 attempts) and Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum (42.7% on a ridiculous 7.3 attempts) were the other two.</p>
<p>(It's also worth noting that Phoenix Mercury <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/sophie-cunningham-giving-phoenix-a-lift-at-the-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">small-ball 4</a> Sophie Cunningham &mdash; at 39.8% on 6.0 attempts &mdash; is knocking on the door.)</p>
<p>Mitchell's intersection of usage, production and efficiency is nearly unmatched. She's currently one of five players to post a usage rate over 20% (23.6%), an assist rate over 20% (23.5%) and a True Shooting percentage above 55% (56.8%; <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/years/2022.html#advanced-team" target="_blank" rel="noopener">league average is 53.9%</a>). Plum, Diana Taurasi, Courtney Vandersloot and Candace Parker are the other four players, and I think it's fair to say that they benefit from an easier context than Mitchell has to deal with. Add the fact that Mitchell has the lowest turnover rate (10.5% of possessions) of the group, and her season becomes even more impressive.</p>
<p>Enough numbers though. The<em> way</em> that Mitchell racks them up is captivating on its own.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are quicker guards than Mitchell. Stronger guards. Bigger guards.</p>
<p>But I don't know if there's one in The W that's harder to keep track of than Mitchell. </p>
<p>The Fever frequently run her through a maze of screens, exhausting even the stickiest of defenders after a while. Mitchell's battery never seems to deplete.</p>
<p>Los Angeles Sparks guard (and elite defender) Brittney Sykes described Mitchell as an "Energizer bunny" on an <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brittney-sykes-game-2-thoughts/id1547857052?i=1000565497045" target="_blank" rel="noopener">episode of The Dunker Spot</a>: "She does <em>not&nbsp;</em>stop moving. It is&nbsp;<em>ridiculous.</em> She's just a motor... she's a really great player. Her skill set allows her to move freely and keep defenses on their heels. It's like 'Dang it, Kelsey, stop moving!'</p>
<p>"She's one of those players where you're like 'I need to get you in foul trouble immediately so you'll slow down."</p>
<p>Per InStat tracking data, no player in The W has made more shots after utilizing an off-ball screen than Mitchell has.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/nk50vi" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>I appreciate her pacing off the ball. Sometimes, it's a dead sprint into a screen, either lifting up the wing or going baseline to baseline. Other times, it's a light trot to get a defender in a certain position before jetting away. Defenders never have a sense of when she's going, where she's going or how quickly she wants to get there.</p>
<p>That same pacing allows Mitchell to throw defenders off-balance when she has the ball in her hands. She's a smooth pick-and-roll operator with an ability to flow into pull-ups or stepbacks on a whim. When dealing with an overzealous defender, she's able to counter with hard drives to the basket. While she may not be<em> the&nbsp;</em>strongest guard in the W, she's certainly up there. Contact doesn't really bother her that much.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/xmfqk8" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Mitchell is a scorer at heart, but she's done a better job of leveraging her scoring gravity to create looks for her teammates. You don't have to manipulate weakside defenders like Vandersloot or Chelsea Gray when the pure threat of your ratchet can bend a defense.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/adc1e5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Mitchell missed out on All-Star honors this season. Considering the Fever's record, it's fair to assume she'll end up on the outskirts of All-WNBA discussions as well.&nbsp;</p>
<p>(As a brief aside, an All-WNBA Third Team would be nice at some point. Just saying.)</p>
<p>But Mitchell is one of the best guards in the W. She's one of the best players in the W. She was the brightest spot of the season for a Fever team without a ton of them, and I'll miss watching her ball out.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Get well soon, Kelsey.</p>

<p>With a 5-27 record on the season, we won't be seeing much more of the Indiana Fever. They're currently the only team in the WNBA officially eliminated from playoff contention, and have been for a while now.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It's understandable to an extent; this is clearly a rebuilding roster, with 4 of the top 7 minute-getters on the roster being rookies. The future is bright. NaLyssa Smith, Queen Egbo, Destanni Henderson and Emily Engstler have all showcased fun flashes this season, but it's just that &mdash; the future. We're likely a couple of years away from serious playoff contention with this group, assuming it stays in tact.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Not only will we not be seeing much more of the Fever as the season winds down, we specifically won't be seeing guard Kelsey Mitchell for the remainder of this campaign. The Fever announced on Saturday that she will miss the rest of the season with a partial plantar fascia tear in her left foot.</p>
<p>It's an unfortunate end to a tremendous individual season that has frankly flown too far under the radar.&nbsp;</p>
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
<p>Mitchell finishes the year with averages of 18.4 points (seventh in The W, fourth among guards) and 4.2 assists per game &mdash; both career-highs. Her jumper was the primary weapon of choice. Not only did she drain a career-best 40.9% of her 5.7 triples, but she is also <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=FG3_PCT&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;CF=FG3A*GE*5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of three players</a> to shoot north of 40% from deep on more than 5 attempts per contest. New York Liberty guard Marine Johannes (40% on 5.3 attempts) and Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum (42.7% on a ridiculous 7.3 attempts) were the other two.</p>
<p>(It's also worth noting that Phoenix Mercury <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/sophie-cunningham-giving-phoenix-a-lift-at-the-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">small-ball 4</a> Sophie Cunningham &mdash; at 39.8% on 6.0 attempts &mdash; is knocking on the door.)</p>
<p>Mitchell's intersection of usage, production and efficiency is nearly unmatched. She's currently one of five players to post a usage rate over 20% (23.6%), an assist rate over 20% (23.5%) and a True Shooting percentage above 55% (56.8%; <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/years/2022.html#advanced-team" target="_blank" rel="noopener">league average is 53.9%</a>). Plum, Diana Taurasi, Courtney Vandersloot and Candace Parker are the other four players, and I think it's fair to say that they benefit from an easier context than Mitchell has to deal with. Add the fact that Mitchell has the lowest turnover rate (10.5% of possessions) of the group, and her season becomes even more impressive.</p>
<p>Enough numbers though. The<em> way</em> that Mitchell racks them up is captivating on its own.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are quicker guards than Mitchell. Stronger guards. Bigger guards.</p>
<p>But I don't know if there's one in The W that's harder to keep track of than Mitchell. </p>
<p>The Fever frequently run her through a maze of screens, exhausting even the stickiest of defenders after a while. Mitchell's battery never seems to deplete.</p>
<p>Los Angeles Sparks guard (and elite defender) Brittney Sykes described Mitchell as an "Energizer bunny" on an <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brittney-sykes-game-2-thoughts/id1547857052?i=1000565497045" target="_blank" rel="noopener">episode of The Dunker Spot</a>: "She does <em>not&nbsp;</em>stop moving. It is&nbsp;<em>ridiculous.</em> She's just a motor... she's a really great player. Her skill set allows her to move freely and keep defenses on their heels. It's like 'Dang it, Kelsey, stop moving!'</p>
<p>"She's one of those players where you're like 'I need to get you in foul trouble immediately so you'll slow down."</p>
<p>Per InStat tracking data, no player in The W has made more shots after utilizing an off-ball screen than Mitchell has.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/nk50vi" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>I appreciate her pacing off the ball. Sometimes, it's a dead sprint into a screen, either lifting up the wing or going baseline to baseline. Other times, it's a light trot to get a defender in a certain position before jetting away. Defenders never have a sense of when she's going, where she's going or how quickly she wants to get there.</p>
<p>That same pacing allows Mitchell to throw defenders off-balance when she has the ball in her hands. She's a smooth pick-and-roll operator, with an ability to flow into pull-ups or stepbacks on a whim. When dealing with an overzealous defender, she's able to counter with hard drives to the basket. While she may not be<em> the&nbsp;</em>strongest guard in the W, she's certainly up there. Contact doesn't really bother her that much.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/xmfqk8" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Mitchell is a scorer at heart, but she's done a better job of leveraging her scoring gravity to create looks for her teammates. You don't have to manipulate weakside defenders like Vandersloot or Chelsea Gray when the pure threat of your ratchet can bend a defense.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/adc1e5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Mitchell missed out on All-Star honors this season. Considering the Fever's record, it's fair to assume she'll end up on the outskirts of All-WNBA discussions as well.&nbsp;</p>
<p>(As a brief aside, an All-WNBA Third Team would be nice at some point. Just saying.)</p>
<p>But Mitchell is one of the best guards in the W. She's one of the best players in the W. She was the brightest spot of the season for a Fever team without a ton of them, and I'll miss watching her ball out.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Get well soon, Kelsey.</p>

<p>With a 5-27 record on the season, we won't be seeing much more of the Indiana Fever. They're currently the only team in the WNBA officially eliminated from playoff contention, and have been for a while now.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It's understandable to an extent; this is clearly a rebuilding roster, with 4 of the top 7 minute-getters on the roster being rookies. The future is bright. NaLyssa Smith, Queen Egbo, Destanni Henderson and Emily Engstler have all showcased fun flashes this season, but it's just that &mdash; the future. We're likely a couple of years away from serious playoff contention with this group, assuming it stays in tact.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Not only will we not be seeing much more of the Fever as the season winds down, we specifically won't be seeing guard Kelsey Mitchell for the remainder of this campaign. The Fever announced on Saturday that she will miss the rest of the season with a partial plantar fascia tear in her left foot.</p>
<p>It's an unfortunate end to a tremendous individual season that has frankly flown too far under the radar.&nbsp;</p>
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
<p>Mitchell finishes the year with averages of 18.4 points (seventh in The W, fourth among guards) and 4.2 assists per game &mdash; both career-highs. Her jumper was the primary weapon of choice. Not only did she drain a career-best 40.9% of her 5.7 triples, but she is also <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=FG3_PCT&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;CF=FG3A*GE*5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of three players</a> to shoot north of 40% from deep on more than 5 attempts per contest. New York Liberty guard Marine Johannes (40% on 5.3 attempts) and Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum (42.7% on a ridiculous 7.3 attempts) were the other two.</p>
<p>(It's also worth noting that Phoenix Mercury <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/sophie-cunningham-giving-phoenix-a-lift-at-the-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">small-ball 4</a> Sophie Cunningham &mdash; at 39.8% on 6.0 attempts &mdash; is knocking on the door.)</p>
<p>Mitchell's intersection of usage, production and efficiency is nearly unmatched. She's currently one of five players to post a usage rate over 20% (23.6%), an assist rate over 20% (23.5%) and a True Shooting percentage above 55% (56.8%; <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/years/2022.html#advanced-team" target="_blank" rel="noopener">league average is 53.9%</a>). Plum, Diana Taurasi, Courtney Vandersloot and Candace Parker are the other four players, and I think it's fair to say that they benefit from an easier context than Mitchell has to deal with. Add the fact that Mitchell has the lowest turnover rate (10.5% of possessions) of the group, and her season becomes even more impressive.</p>
<p>Enough numbers though. The<em> way</em> that Mitchell racks them up is captivating on its own.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are quicker guards than Mitchell. Stronger guards. Bigger guards.</p>
<p>But I don't know if there's one in The W that's harder to keep track of than Mitchell. </p>
<p>The Fever frequently run her through a maze of screens, exhausting even the stickiest of defenders after a while. Mitchell's battery never seems to deplete.</p>
<p>Los Angeles Sparks guard (and elite defender) Brittney Sykes described Mitchell as an "Energizer bunny" on an <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brittney-sykes-game-2-thoughts/id1547857052?i=1000565497045" target="_blank" rel="noopener">episode of The Dunker Spot</a>: "She does <em>not&nbsp;</em>stop moving. It is&nbsp;<em>ridiculous.</em> She's just a motor... she's a really great player. Her skill set allows her to move freely and keep defenses on their heels. It's like 'Dang it, Kelsey, stop moving!'</p>
<p>"She's one of those players where you're like 'I need to get you in foul trouble immediately so you'll slow down."</p>
<p>Per InStat tracking data, no player in The W has made more shots after utilizing an off-ball screen than Mitchell has.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/nk50vi" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>I appreciate her pacing off the ball. Sometimes, it's a dead sprint into a screen, either lifting up the wing or going baseline to baseline. Other times, it's a light trot to get a defender in a certain position before jetting away. Defenders never have a sense of when she's going, where she's going or how quickly she wants to get there.</p>
<p>That same pacing allows Mitchell to throw defenders off-balance when she has the ball in her hands. She's a smooth pick-and-roll operator with an ability to flow into pull-ups or stepbacks on a whim. When dealing with an overzealous defender, she's able to counter with hard drives to the basket. While she may not be<em> the&nbsp;</em>strongest guard in The W, she's certainly up there. Contact doesn't really bother her that much.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/xmfqk8" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Mitchell is a scorer at heart, but she's done a better job of leveraging her scoring gravity to create looks for her teammates. You don't have to manipulate weak-side defenders like Vandersloot or Chelsea Gray when the pure threat of your ratchet can bend a defense.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/adc1e5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Mitchell missed out on All-Star honors this season. Considering the Fever's record, it's fair to assume she'll end up on the outskirts of All-WNBA discussions as well.&nbsp;</p>
<p>(As a brief aside, an All-WNBA Third Team would be nice at some point. Just saying.)</p>
<p>But Mitchell is one of the best guards in the W. She's one of the best players in the W. She was the brightest spot of the season for a Fever team without a ton of them, and I'll miss watching her ball out.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Get well soon, Kelsey.</p>

<p>With a 5-27 record on the season, we won't be seeing much more of the Indiana Fever. They're currently the only team in the WNBA officially eliminated from playoff contention, and have been for a while now.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It's understandable to an extent; this is clearly a rebuilding roster, with 4 of the top 7 minute-getters on the roster being rookies. The future is bright. NaLyssa Smith, Queen Egbo, Destanni Henderson and Emily Engstler have all showcased fun flashes this season, but it's just that &mdash; the future. We're likely a couple of years away from serious playoff contention with this group, assuming it stays in tact.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Not only will we not be seeing much more of the Fever as the season winds down, we specifically won't be seeing guard Kelsey Mitchell for the remainder of this campaign. The Fever announced on Saturday that she will miss the rest of the season with a partial plantar fascia tear in her left foot.</p>
<p>It's an unfortunate end to a tremendous individual season that has frankly flown too far under the radar.&nbsp;</p>
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
<p>Mitchell finishes the year with averages of 18.4 points (seventh in The W, fourth among guards) and 4.2 assists per game &mdash; both career-highs. Her jumper was the primary weapon of choice. Not only did she drain a career-best 40.9% of her 5.7 triples, but she is also <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=FG3_PCT&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;CF=FG3A*GE*5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of three players</a> to shoot north of 40% from deep on more than 5 attempts per contest. New York Liberty guard Marine Johannes (40% on 5.3 attempts) and Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum (42.7% on a ridiculous 7.3 attempts) were the other two.</p>
<p>(It's also worth noting that Phoenix Mercury <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/sophie-cunningham-giving-phoenix-a-lift-at-the-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">small-ball 4</a> Sophie Cunningham &mdash; at 39.8% on 6.0 attempts &mdash; is knocking on the door.)</p>
<p>Mitchell's intersection of usage, production and efficiency is nearly unmatched. She's currently one of five players to post a usage rate over 20% (23.6%), an assist rate over 20% (23.5%) and a True Shooting percentage above 55% (56.8%; <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/years/2022.html#advanced-team" target="_blank" rel="noopener">league average is 53.9%</a>). Plum, Diana Taurasi, Courtney Vandersloot and Candace Parker are the other four players, and I think it's fair to say that they benefit from an easier context than Mitchell has to deal with. Add the fact that Mitchell has the lowest turnover rate (10.5% of possessions) of the group, and her season becomes even more impressive.</p>
<p>Enough numbers though. The<em> way</em> that Mitchell racks them up is captivating on its own.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are quicker guards than Mitchell. Stronger guards. Bigger guards.</p>
<p>But I don't know if there's one in The W that's harder to keep track of than Mitchell. </p>
<p>The Fever frequently run her through a maze of screens, exhausting even the stickiest of defenders after a while. Mitchell's battery never seems to deplete.</p>
<p>Los Angeles Sparks guard (and elite defender) Brittney Sykes described Mitchell as an "Energizer bunny" on an <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brittney-sykes-game-2-thoughts/id1547857052?i=1000565497045" target="_blank" rel="noopener">episode of The Dunker Spot</a>: "She does <em>not&nbsp;</em>stop moving. It is&nbsp;<em>ridiculous.</em> She's just a motor... she's a really great player. Her skill set allows her to move freely and keep defenses on their heels. It's like 'Dang it, Kelsey, stop moving!'</p>
<p>"She's one of those players where you're like 'I need to get you in foul trouble immediately so you'll slow down."</p>
<p>Per InStat tracking data, no player in The W has made more shots after utilizing an off-ball screen than Mitchell has.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/nk50vi" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>I appreciate her pacing off the ball. Sometimes, it's a dead sprint into a screen, either lifting up the wing or going baseline to baseline. Other times, it's a light trot to get a defender in a certain position before jetting away. Defenders never have a sense of when she's going, where she's going or how quickly she wants to get there.</p>
<p>That same pacing allows Mitchell to throw defenders off-balance when she has the ball in her hands. She's a smooth pick-and-roll operator with an ability to flow into pull-ups or stepbacks on a whim. When dealing with an overzealous defender, she's able to counter with hard drives to the basket. While she may not be<em> the&nbsp;</em>strongest guard in The W, she's certainly up there. Contact doesn't really bother her that much.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/xmfqk8" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Mitchell is a scorer at heart, but she's done a better job of leveraging her scoring gravity to create looks for her teammates. You don't have to manipulate weak-side defenders like Vandersloot or Chelsea Gray when the pure threat of your ratchet can bend a defense.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/adc1e5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>Mitchell missed out on All-Star honors this season. Considering the Fever's record, it's fair to assume she'll end up on the outskirts of All-WNBA discussions as well.</p>
<p>(As a brief aside, an All-WNBA Third Team would be nice at some point. Just saying.)</p>
<p>But Mitchell is one of the best guards in the W. She's one of the best players in the W. She was the brightest spot of the season for a Fever team without a ton of them, and I'll miss watching her ball out.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Get well soon, Kelsey.</p>

Nekias Duncan sings the praises of Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell, whose 2022 season has come to an end.

An ode to Kelsey Mitchell, the WNBA's forgotten star

Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones Jr. pay homage to the late Bill Russell (3:10), dish on tampering (6:50), recap the weekend in the WNBA (13:10), then wrap things up with Free Throws (42:35).
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A whole tractor though?!

Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones Jr. react to the latest NBA news (1:50), discuss Liz Cambage's departure from the Los Angeles Sparks (10:15), recap the Commissioner's Cup championship (27:40), then answer questions from the mailbag (49:30).
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Contract Divorce Court

<p>Kelsey Plum came out of the gates hot on Tuesday night.</p>
<p>No, this isn't a reference to the 4 three-pointers she made in the opening frame against the Chicago Sky; though, it probably could be. Plum's fourth triple of the quarter gave the Las Vegas Aces a 25-4 advantage, and they led by as many as 22 in the first quarter &mdash; a deficit the Sky ultimately were unable to overcome.</p>
<p>Plum came out firing after the game. After the scoreboard flashed a 91-83 final score. After her backcourt mate Chelsea Gray was named Commisioner Cup MVP for her 19-point, 5-assist, 4-rebound stat line.</p>
<p>There was competition for that award. Plum led the game in scoring (24 points) and tied for the game lead with 6 assists. Their MVP teammate A'ja Wilson scored 17 points, grabbed 17 boards and blocked a career-high 6 shots. Heck, Jackie Young quietly put up 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting, with timely pull-up middies, fiesty drives and airtight defense along the way.</p>
<p>It's that dynamic &mdash; the brighter-shining star talent with gaudier numbers &mdash; that allows Gray to fly under the radar.</p>
<p>Wilson and Plum are MVP candidates and All-Stars, primed to grace the All-WNBA First Team together. Young is the frontrunner for the Most Improved Player award, was an All-Star and has a strong chance to make an All-WNBA and All-Defensive team this season. Dearica Hamby (9-3-5, +12 in roughly 23 minutes on Tuesday night) joined the starting lineup this season after winning two of the last three Sixth Woman of the Year awards; she was an All-Star this year too.</p>
<p>Gray, a four-time All-Star in her own right, was the only starter to not make the team this season. She's somehow been lost in the fold &mdash; a testament to how good the Aces are, but a disservice to Gray's talent.</p>
<p>No more, says Plum.</p>
<p>"I just, for the record, want to set things straight," <a href="https://youtu.be/sj-SySVTZI0?t=341" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Plum began</a> after being asked about Gray's CC MVP designation.</p>
<p>"She's the best point guard in the world. She's the starting point guard on the Olympic team; she's an All-Star; she's an All-WNBA player. She's the clutchest player in the WNBA. Ask anyone, any GM, head coach, player. She got snubbed [from the All-Star team] this year, and it sucks because I felt like we deserved five All-Stars."</p>
<p>Plum wasn't done.</p>
<p>"I know that was tough for her, because she's a competitor. She leads our team. When we need big plays down the stretch, Chelsea consistently makes big plays. At the end of the day, you can talk about the numbers and this-and-that, but she wins games. That, to me, should be the most important thing. That's 'MVP' tonight, but she's been leading our team for the whole season. I feel like she doesn't get the love and credit she deserves, so I'm really, really glad people saw that tonight."</p>
<p>Gray's had a phenomenal July, averaging 13.6 points (56.9% from two, 40.9% from three) and 6.1 assists (2.0 turnovers) per contest. Those averages have perked up over her last five games: 14.0 points (48.6% from two, 42.1% from three), 7.0 assists (1.8 turnovers) and nearly 3 steals per game.</p>
<p>Gray's box score contributions just seem to hit differently.</p>
<p>Some of that is the timing. Half of Gray's made baskets on Tuesday night came in the third quarter, with those shots quelling the comeback effort of the Sky. They chipped the deficit down to 8 points, but Gray was right there to respond.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/71vqr5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>That's 7 timely points and a near full-court dot to Young in the span of three minutes.</p>
<p>Most of it is the nature of what Gray does. She bullies smaller guards &mdash; and sometimes like-sized ones &mdash; off the bounce or on the block. Her intersection of ball-handling and strength allows her to get to her spots without blinding speed. She's converting <a href="Most%20of%20it%20is%20the%20nature%20of%20what%20Gray%20does.%20She%20bullies%20smaller%20guards%20--%20and%20sometimes%20like-sized%20ones%20--%20off%20the%20bounce,%20or%20on%20the%20block.%20She%20will%20sprinkle%20an%20array%20of%20pull-up,%20step-back,%20and%20turnaround%20jumpers%20in%20your%20face.%20Passing%20windows%20will%20be%20hit%20with%20flare;%20if%20the%20window%20doesn't%20exist,%20she'll%20create%20one%20out%20of%20thin%20air%20if%20necessary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nearly 73% of her shots</a> inside the restricted area this season, third among guards that have taken at least 40 shots at the rim this season.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/x4acpz" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>She will sprinkle an array of pull-up, step-back, and turnaround jumpers in your face. <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/shooting/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;DistanceRange=By%20Zone&amp;DateFrom=07%2F01%2F2022&amp;sort=Mid-Range%20FGA&amp;dir=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Just this month</a>, Gray has converted nearly 62% of her mid-range jumpers. No, that's not a typo. Her awesome footwork and high-release point makes her a tough cover for defenders. You never quite know where she's going or when she's going to stop on a dime.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/a8ca2m" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>And it's hard to get past the passing. The list of passers more audacious than Gray is a short one &mdash; in the WNBA or otherwise. Her film is filled with all kinds of nonsense: full-court bombs, no-look bounce passes through traffic, flick-tastic lead passes, over-the-head feeds to shooters. It's insane stuff.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/endy9m" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>I still haven't gotten over the falling-down-bounce-pass from the Sparks game.</p>
<p>Quibble if you'd like about the "best point guard" comment from Plum &mdash; Skylar Diggins-Smith would certainly like a word &mdash; but it's hard to deny the general sentiment. Gray is an absolute baller and should be respected as such.</p>

<p>Kelsey Plum came out of the gates hot on Tuesday night.</p>
<p>No, this isn't a reference to the 4 three-pointers she made in the opening frame against the Chicago Sky; though, it probably could be. Plum's fourth triple of the quarter gave the Las Vegas Aces a 25-4 advantage, and they led by as many as 22 in the first quarter &mdash; a deficit the Sky ultimately were unable to overcome.</p>
<p>Plum came out firing after the game. After the scoreboard flashed a 91-83 final score. After her backcourt mate Chelsea Gray was named Commisioner Cup MVP for her 19-point, 5-assist, 4-rebound stat line.</p>
<p>There was competition for that award. Plum led the game in scoring (24 points) and tied for the game lead with 6 assists. Their MVP teammate A'ja Wilson scored 17 points, grabbed 17 boards and blocked a career-high 6 shots. Heck, Jackie Young quietly put up 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting, with timely pull-up middies, fiesty drives and airtight defense along the way.</p>
<p>It's that dynamic &mdash; the brighter-shining star talent with gaudier numbers &mdash; that allows Gray to fly under the radar.</p>
<p>Wilson and Plum are MVP candidates and All-Stars, primed to grace the All-WNBA First Team together. Young is the frontrunner for the Most Improved Player award, was an All-Star and has a strong chance to make an All-WNBA and All-Defensive team this season. Dearica Hamby (9-3-5, +12 in roughly 23 minutes on Tuesday night) joined the starting lineup this season after winning two of the last three Sixth Woman of the Year awards; she was an All-Star this year too.</p>
<p>Gray, a four-time All-Star in her own right, was the only starter to not make the team this season. She's somehow been lost in the fold &mdash; a testament to how good the Aces are, but a disservice to Gray's talent.</p>
<p>No more, says Plum.</p>
<p>"I just, for the record, want to set things straight," <a href="https://youtu.be/sj-SySVTZI0?t=341" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Plum began</a> after being asked about Gray's CC MVP designation.</p>
<p>"She's the best point guard in the world. She's the starting point guard on the Olympic team; she's an All-Star; she's an All-WNBA player. She's the clutchest player in the WNBA. Ask anyone, any GM, head coach, player. She got snubbed [from the All-Star team] this year, and it sucks because I felt like we deserved five All-Stars."</p>
<p>Plum wasn't done.</p>
<p>"I know that was tough for her, because she's a competitor. She leads our team. When we need big plays down the stretch, Chelsea consistently makes big plays. At the end of the day, you can talk about the numbers and this-and-that, but she wins games. That, to me, should be the most important thing. That's 'MVP' tonight, but she's been leading our team for the whole season. I feel like she doesn't get the love and credit she deserves, so I'm really, really glad people saw that tonight."</p>
<p>Gray's had a phenomenal July, averaging 13.6 points (56.9% from two, 40.9% from three) and 6.1 assists (2.0 turnovers) per contest. Those averages have perked up over her last five games: 14.0 points (48.6% from two, 42.1% from three), 7.0 assists (1.8 turnovers) and nearly 3 steals per game.</p>
<p>Gray's box score contributions just seem to hit differently.</p>
<p>Some of that is the timing. Half of Gray's made baskets on Tuesday night came in the third quarter, with those shots quelling the comeback effort of the Sky. They chipped the deficit down to 8 points, but Gray was right there to respond.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/71vqr5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>That's 7 timely points and a near full-court dot to Young in the span of three minutes.</p>
<p>Most of it is the nature of what Gray does. She bullies smaller guards &mdash; and sometimes like-sized ones &mdash; off the bounce or on the block. Her intersection of ball-handling and strength allows her to get to her spots without blinding speed. She's converting nearly 73% of her shots inside the restricted area this season, third among guards that have taken at least 40 shots at the rim this season.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/x4acpz" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>She will sprinkle an array of pull-up, step-back, and turnaround jumpers in your face. <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/shooting/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;DistanceRange=By%20Zone&amp;DateFrom=07%2F01%2F2022&amp;sort=Mid-Range%20FGA&amp;dir=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Just this month</a>, Gray has converted nearly 62% of her mid-range jumpers. No, that's not a typo. Her awesome footwork and high-release point makes her a tough cover for defenders. You never quite know where she's going or when she's going to stop on a dime.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/a8ca2m" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>And it's hard to get past the passing. The list of passers more audacious than Gray is a short one &mdash; in the WNBA or otherwise. Her film is filled with all kinds of nonsense: full-court bombs, no-look bounce passes through traffic, flick-tastic lead passes, over-the-head feeds to shooters. It's insane stuff.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/endy9m" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>I still haven't gotten over the falling-down-bounce-pass from the Sparks game.</p>
<p>Quibble if you'd like about the "best point guard" comment from Plum &mdash; Skylar Diggins-Smith would certainly like a word &mdash; but it's hard to deny the general sentiment. Gray is an absolute baller and should be respected as such.</p>

<p>Kelsey Plum came out of the gates hot on Tuesday night.</p>
<p>No, this isn't a reference to the 4 three-pointers she made in the opening frame against the Chicago Sky; though, it probably could be. Plum's fourth triple of the quarter gave the Las Vegas Aces a 25-4 advantage, and they led by as many as 22 in the first quarter &mdash; a deficit the Sky ultimately were unable to overcome.</p>
<p>Plum came out firing after the game. After the scoreboard flashed a 91-83 final score. After her backcourt mate Chelsea Gray was named Commisioner Cup MVP for her 19-point, 5-assist, 4-rebound stat line.</p>
<p>There was competition for that award. Plum led the game in scoring (24 points) and tied for the game lead with 6 assists. Their MVP teammate A'ja Wilson scored 17 points, grabbed 17 boards and blocked a career-high 6 shots. Heck, Jackie Young quietly put up 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting, with timely pull-up middies, fiesty drives and airtight defense along the way.</p>
<p>It's that dynamic &mdash; the brighter-shining star talent with gaudier numbers &mdash; that allows Gray to fly under the radar.</p>
<p>Wilson and Plum are MVP candidates and All-Stars, primed to grace the All-WNBA First Team together. Young is the frontrunner for the Most Improved Player award, was an All-Star and has a strong chance to make an All-WNBA and All-Defensive team this season. Dearica Hamby (9-3-5, +12 in roughly 23 minutes on Tuesday night) joined the starting lineup this season after winning two of the last three Sixth Woman of the Year awards; she was an All-Star this year too.</p>
<p>Gray, a four-time All-Star in her own right, was the only starter to not make the team this season. She's somehow been lost in the fold &mdash; a testament to how good the Aces are, but a disservice to Gray's talent.</p>
<p>No more, says Plum.</p>
<p>"I just, for the record, want to set things straight," <a href="https://youtu.be/sj-SySVTZI0?t=341" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Plum began</a> after being asked about Gray's CC MVP designation.</p>
<p>"She's the best point guard in the world. She's the starting point guard on the Olympic team; she's an All-Star; she's an All-WNBA player. She's the clutchest player in the WNBA. Ask anyone, any GM, head coach, player. She got snubbed [from the All-Star team] this year, and it sucks because I felt like we deserved five All-Stars."</p>
<p>Plum wasn't done.</p>
<p>"I know that was tough for her, because she's a competitor. She leads our team. When we need big plays down the stretch, Chelsea consistently makes big plays. At the end of the day, you can talk about the numbers and this-and-that, but she wins games. That, to me, should be the most important thing. That's 'MVP' tonight, but she's been leading our team for the whole season. I feel like she doesn't get the love and credit she deserves, so I'm really, really glad people saw that tonight."</p>
<p>Gray's had a phenomenal July, averaging 13.6 points (56.9% from two, 40.9% from three) and 6.1 assists (2.0 turnovers) per contest. Those averages have perked up over her last five games: 14.0 points (48.6% from two, 42.1% from three), 7.0 assists (1.8 turnovers) and nearly 3 steals per game.</p>
<p>Gray's box score contributions just seem to hit differently.</p>
<p>Some of that is the timing. Half of Gray's made baskets on Tuesday night came in the third quarter, with those shots quelling the comeback effort of the Sky. They chipped the deficit down to 8 points, but Gray was right there to respond.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/71vqr5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>That's 7 timely points and a near full-court dot to Young in the span of three minutes.</p>
<p>Most of it is the nature of what Gray does. She bullies smaller guards &mdash; and sometimes like-sized ones &mdash; off the bounce or on the block. Her intersection of ball-handling and strength allows her to get to her spots without blinding speed. She's converting nearly 73% of her shots inside the restricted area this season, which ranks third among guards that have taken at least 40 shots at the rim this season.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/x4acpz" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>She will sprinkle an array of pull-up, step-back, and turnaround jumpers in your face. <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/shooting/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;DistanceRange=By%20Zone&amp;DateFrom=07%2F01%2F2022&amp;sort=Mid-Range%20FGA&amp;dir=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Just this month</a>, Gray has converted nearly 62% of her mid-range jumpers. No, that's not a typo. Her awesome footwork and high-release point makes her a tough cover for defenders. You never quite know where she's going or when she's going to stop on a dime.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/a8ca2m" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>And it's hard to get past the passing. The list of passers more audacious than Gray is a short one &mdash; in the WNBA or otherwise. Her film is filled with all kinds of nonsense: full-court bombs, no-look bounce passes through traffic, flick-tastic lead passes, over-the-head feeds to shooters. It's insane stuff.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/endy9m" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>I still haven't gotten over the falling-down-bounce-pass from the Sparks game.</p>
<p>Quibble if you'd like about the "best point guard" comment from Plum &mdash; Skylar Diggins-Smith would certainly like a word &mdash; but it's hard to deny the general sentiment. Gray is an absolute baller and should be respected as such.</p>

<p>Kelsey Plum came out of the gates hot on Tuesday night.</p>
<p>No, this isn't a reference to the 4 three-pointers she made in the opening frame against the Chicago Sky; though, it probably could be. Plum's fourth triple of the quarter gave the Las Vegas Aces a 25-4 advantage, and they led by as many as 22 in the first quarter &mdash; a deficit the Sky ultimately were unable to overcome.</p>
<p>Plum came out firing after the game. After the scoreboard flashed a 91-83 final score. After her backcourt mate Chelsea Gray was named Commisioner Cup MVP for her 19-point, 5-assist, 4-rebound stat line.</p>
<p>There was competition for that award. Plum led the game in scoring (24 points) and tied for the game lead with 6 assists. Their MVP teammate A'ja Wilson scored 17 points, grabbed 17 boards and blocked a career-high 6 shots. Heck, Jackie Young quietly put up 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting, with timely pull-up middies, fiesty drives and airtight defense along the way.</p>
<p>It's that dynamic &mdash; the brighter-shining star talent with gaudier numbers &mdash; that allows Gray to fly under the radar.</p>
<p>Wilson and Plum are MVP candidates and All-Stars, primed to grace the All-WNBA First Team together. Young is the frontrunner for the Most Improved Player award, was an All-Star and has a strong chance to make an All-WNBA and All-Defensive team this season. Dearica Hamby (9-3-5, +12 in roughly 23 minutes on Tuesday night) joined the starting lineup this season after winning two of the last three Sixth Woman of the Year awards; she was an All-Star this year too.</p>
<p>Gray, a four-time All-Star in her own right, was the only starter to not make the team this season. She's somehow been lost in the fold &mdash; a testament to how good the Aces are, but a disservice to Gray's talent.</p>
<p>No more, says Plum.</p>
<p>"I just, for the record, want to set things straight," <a href="https://youtu.be/sj-SySVTZI0?t=341" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Plum began</a> after being asked about Gray's CC MVP designation.</p>
<p>"She's the best point guard in the world. She's the starting point guard on the Olympic team; she's an All-Star; she's an All-WNBA player. She's the clutchest player in the WNBA. Ask anyone, any GM, head coach, player. She got snubbed [from the All-Star team] this year, and it sucks because I felt like we deserved five All-Stars."</p>
<p>Plum wasn't done.</p>
<p>"I know that was tough for her, because she's a competitor. She leads our team. When we need big plays down the stretch, Chelsea consistently makes big plays. At the end of the day, you can talk about the numbers and this-and-that, but she wins games. That, to me, should be the most important thing. That's 'MVP' tonight, but she's been leading our team for the whole season. I feel like she doesn't get the love and credit she deserves, so I'm really, really glad people saw that tonight."</p>
<p>Gray's had a phenomenal July, averaging 13.6 points (56.9% from two, 40.9% from three) and 6.1 assists (2.0 turnovers) per contest. Those averages have perked up over her last five games: 14.0 points (48.6% from two, 42.1% from three), 7.0 assists (1.8 turnovers) and nearly 3 steals per game.</p>
<p>Gray's box score contributions just seem to hit differently.</p>
<p>Some of that is the timing. Half of Gray's made baskets on Tuesday night came in the third quarter, with those shots quelling the comeback effort of the Sky. They chipped the deficit down to 8 points, but Gray was right there to respond.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/71vqr5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>That's 7 timely points and a near full-court dot to Young in the span of three minutes.</p>
<p>Most of it is the nature of what Gray does. She bullies smaller guards &mdash; and sometimes like-sized ones &mdash; off the bounce or on the block. Her intersection of ball-handling and strength allows her to get to her spots without blinding speed. She's converting nearly 73% of her shots inside the restricted area this season, which ranks third among guards who have taken at least 40 shots at the rim this season.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/x4acpz" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>She will sprinkle an array of pull-up, step-back, and turnaround jumpers in your face. <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/shooting/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;DistanceRange=By%20Zone&amp;DateFrom=07%2F01%2F2022&amp;sort=Mid-Range%20FGA&amp;dir=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Just this month</a>, Gray has converted nearly 62% of her mid-range jumpers. No, that's not a typo. Her awesome footwork and high-release point makes her a tough cover for defenders. You never quite know where she's going or when she's going to stop on a dime.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/a8ca2m" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>And it's hard to get past the passing. The list of passers more audacious than Gray is a short one &mdash; in the WNBA or otherwise. Her film is filled with all kinds of nonsense: full-court bombs, no-look bounce passes through traffic, flick-tastic lead passes, over-the-head feeds to shooters. It's insane stuff.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/endy9m" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>I still haven't gotten over the falling-down-bounce-pass from the Sparks game.</p>
<p>Quibble if you'd like about the "best point guard" comment from Plum &mdash; Skylar Diggins-Smith would certainly like a word &mdash; but it's hard to deny the general sentiment. Gray is an absolute baller and should be respected as such.</p>

<p>Kelsey Plum came out of the gates hot on Tuesday night.</p>
<p>No, this isn't a reference to the 4 three-pointers she made in the opening frame against the Chicago Sky; though, it probably could be. Plum's fourth triple of the quarter gave the Las Vegas Aces a 25-4 advantage, and they led by as many as 22 in the first quarter &mdash; a deficit the Sky ultimately were unable to overcome.</p>
<p>Plum came out firing after the game. After the scoreboard flashed a 91-83 final score. After her backcourt mate Chelsea Gray was named Commisioner Cup MVP for her 19-point, 5-assist, 4-rebound stat line.</p>
<p>There was competition for that award. Plum led the game in scoring (24 points) and tied for the game lead with 6 assists. Their MVP teammate A'ja Wilson scored 17 points, grabbed 17 boards and blocked a career-high 6 shots. Heck, Jackie Young quietly put up 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting, with timely pull-up middies, fiesty drives and airtight defense along the way.</p>
<p>It's that dynamic &mdash; the brighter-shining star talent with gaudier numbers &mdash; that allows Gray to fly under the radar.</p>
<p>Wilson and Plum are MVP candidates and All-Stars, primed to grace the All-WNBA First Team together. Young is the frontrunner for the Most Improved Player award, was an All-Star and has a strong chance to make an All-WNBA and All-Defensive team this season. Dearica Hamby (9-3-5, +12 in roughly 23 minutes on Tuesday night) joined the starting lineup this season after winning two of the last three Sixth Woman of the Year awards; she was an All-Star this year too.</p>
<p>Gray, a four-time All-Star in her own right, was the only starter to not make the team this season. She's somehow been lost in the fold &mdash; a testament to how good the Aces are, but a disservice to Gray's talent.</p>
<p>No more, says Plum.</p>
<p>"I just, for the record, want to set things straight," <a href="https://youtu.be/sj-SySVTZI0?t=341" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Plum began</a> after being asked about Gray's CC MVP designation.</p>
<p>"She's the best point guard in the world. She's the starting point guard on the Olympic team; she's an All-Star; she's an All-WNBA player. She's the clutchest player in the WNBA. Ask anyone, any GM, head coach, player. She got snubbed [from the All-Star team] this year, and it sucks because I felt like we deserved five All-Stars."</p>
<p>Plum wasn't done.</p>
<p>"I know that was tough for her, because she's a competitor. She leads our team. When we need big plays down the stretch, Chelsea consistently makes big plays. At the end of the day, you can talk about the numbers and this-and-that, but she wins games. That, to me, should be the most important thing. That's 'MVP' tonight, but she's been leading our team for the whole season. I feel like she doesn't get the love and credit she deserves, so I'm really, really glad people saw that tonight."</p>
<p>Gray's had a phenomenal July, averaging 13.6 points (56.9% from two, 40.9% from three) and 6.1 assists (2.0 turnovers) per contest. Those averages have perked up over her last five games: 14.0 points (48.6% from two, 42.1% from three), 7.0 assists (1.8 turnovers) and nearly 3 steals per game.</p>
<p>Gray's box score contributions just seem to hit differently.</p>
<p>Some of that is the timing. Half of Gray's made baskets on Tuesday night came in the third quarter, with those shots quelling the comeback effort of the Sky. They chipped the deficit down to 8 points, but Gray was right there to respond.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/71vqr5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>That's 7 timely points and a near full-court dot to Young in the span of three minutes.</p>
<p>Most of it is the nature of what Gray does. She bullies smaller guards &mdash; and sometimes like-sized ones &mdash; off the bounce or on the block. Her intersection of ball-handling and strength allows her to get to her spots without blinding speed. She's converting nearly 73% of her shots inside the restricted area this season, which ranks third among guards who have taken at least 40 shots at the rim this season.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/x4acpz" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>She will sprinkle an array of pull-up, step-back and turnaround jumpers in your face. <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/shooting/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;DistanceRange=By%20Zone&amp;DateFrom=07%2F01%2F2022&amp;sort=Mid-Range%20FGA&amp;dir=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Just this month</a>, Gray has converted nearly 62% of her mid-range jumpers. No, that's not a typo. Her awesome footwork and high-release point makes her a tough cover for defenders. You never quite know where she's going or when she's going to stop on a dime.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/a8ca2m" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>And it's hard to get past the passing. The list of passers more audacious than Gray is a short one &mdash; in the WNBA or otherwise. Her film is filled with all kinds of nonsense: full-court bombs, no-look bounce passes through traffic, flick-tastic lead passes, over-the-head feeds to shooters. It's insane stuff.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/endy9m" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>I still haven't gotten over the falling-down-bounce-pass from the Sparks game.</p>
<p>Quibble if you'd like about the "best point guard" comment from Plum &mdash; Skylar Diggins-Smith would certainly like a word &mdash; but it's hard to deny the general sentiment. Gray is an absolute baller and should be respected as such.</p>

<p>Kelsey Plum came out of the gates hot on Tuesday night.</p>
<p>No, this isn't a reference to the 4 three-pointers she made in the opening frame against the Chicago Sky; though, it probably could be. Plum's fourth triple of the quarter gave the Las Vegas Aces a 25-4 advantage, and they led by as many as 22 in the first quarter &mdash; a deficit the Sky ultimately were unable to overcome.</p>
<p>Plum came out firing after the game. After the scoreboard flashed a 91-83 final score. After her backcourt mate Chelsea Gray was named Commisioner Cup MVP for her 19-point, 5-assist, 4-rebound stat line.</p>
<p>There was competition for that award. Plum led the game in scoring (24 points) and tied for the game lead with 6 assists. Their MVP teammate A'ja Wilson scored 17 points, grabbed 17 boards and blocked a career-high 6 shots. Heck, Jackie Young quietly put up 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting, with timely pull-up middies, fiesty drives and airtight defense along the way.</p>
<p>It's that dynamic &mdash; the brighter-shining star talent with gaudier numbers &mdash; that allows Gray to fly under the radar.</p>
<p>Wilson and Plum are MVP candidates and All-Stars, primed to grace the All-WNBA First Team together. Young is the frontrunner for the Most Improved Player award, was an All-Star and has a strong chance to make an All-WNBA and All-Defensive team this season. Dearica Hamby (9-3-5, +12 in roughly 23 minutes on Tuesday night) joined the starting lineup this season after winning two of the last three Sixth Woman of the Year awards; she was an All-Star this year too.</p>
<p>Gray, a four-time All-Star in her own right, was the only starter to not make the team this season. She's somehow been lost in the fold &mdash; a testament to how good the Aces are, but a disservice to Gray's talent.</p>
<p>No more, says Plum.</p>
<p>"I just, for the record, want to set things straight," <a href="https://youtu.be/sj-SySVTZI0?t=341" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Plum began</a> after being asked about Gray's CC MVP designation.</p>
<p>"She's the best point guard in the world. She's the starting point guard on the Olympic team; she's an All-Star; she's an All-WNBA player. She's the clutchest player in the WNBA. Ask anyone, any GM, head coach, player. She got snubbed [from the All-Star team] this year, and it sucks because I felt like we deserved five All-Stars."</p>
<p>Plum wasn't done.</p>
<p>"I know that was tough for her, because she's a competitor. She leads our team. When we need big plays down the stretch, Chelsea consistently makes big plays. At the end of the day, you can talk about the numbers and this-and-that, but she wins games. That, to me, should be the most important thing. That's 'MVP' tonight, but she's been leading our team for the whole season. I feel like she doesn't get the love and credit she deserves, so I'm really, really glad people saw that tonight."</p>
<p>Gray's had a phenomenal July, averaging 13.6 points (56.9% from two, 40.9% from three) and 6.1 assists (2.0 turnovers) per contest. Those averages have perked up over her last five games: 14.0 points (48.6% from two, 42.1% from three), 7.0 assists (1.8 turnovers) and nearly 3 steals per game.</p>
<p>Gray's box score contributions just seem to hit differently.</p>
<p>Some of that is the timing. Half of Gray's made baskets on Tuesday night came in the third quarter, with those shots quelling the comeback effort of the Sky. They chipped the deficit down to 8 points, but Gray was right there to respond.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/71vqr5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>That's 7 timely points and a near full-court dot to Young in the span of three minutes.</p>
<p>Most of it is the nature of what Gray does. She bullies smaller guards &mdash; and sometimes like-sized ones &mdash; off the bounce or on the block. Her intersection of ball-handling and strength allows her to get to her spots without blinding speed. She's converting nearly 73% of her shots inside the restricted area this season, which ranks third among guards who have taken at least 40 shots at the rim this season.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/x4acpz" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>She will sprinkle an array of pull-up, step-back and turnaround jumpers in your face. <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/shooting/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;DistanceRange=By%20Zone&amp;DateFrom=07%2F01%2F2022&amp;sort=Mid-Range%20FGA&amp;dir=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Just this month</a>, Gray has converted nearly 62% of her mid-range jumpers. No, that's not a typo.</p>
<p>Her awesome footwork and high-release point makes her a tough cover for defenders. You never quite know where she's going or when she's going to stop on a dime.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/a8ca2m" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>And it's hard to get past the passing. The list of passers more audacious than Gray is a short one &mdash; in the WNBA or otherwise. Her film is filled with all kinds of nonsense: full-court bombs, no-look bounce passes through traffic, flick-tastic lead passes, over-the-head feeds to shooters. It's insane stuff.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/endy9m" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>I still haven't gotten over the falling-down-bounce-pass from the Sparks game.</p>
<p>Quibble if you'd like about the "best point guard" comment from Plum &mdash; Skylar Diggins-Smith would certainly like a word &mdash; but it's hard to deny the general sentiment. Gray is an absolute baller and should be respected as such.</p>

<p>Kelsey Plum came out of the gates hot on Tuesday night.</p>
<p>No, this isn't a reference to the 4 three-pointers she made in the opening frame against the Chicago Sky; though, it probably could be. Plum's fourth triple of the quarter gave the Las Vegas Aces a 25-4 advantage, and they led by as many as 22 in the first quarter &mdash; a deficit the Sky ultimately were unable to overcome.</p>
<p>Plum came out firing after the game. After the scoreboard flashed a 91-83 final score. After her backcourt mate Chelsea Gray was named Commisioner Cup MVP for her 19-point, 5-assist, 4-rebound stat line.</p>
<p>There was competition for that award. Plum led the game in scoring (24 points) and tied for the game lead with 6 assists. Their MVP teammate A'ja Wilson scored 17 points, grabbed 17 boards and blocked a career-high 6 shots. Heck, Jackie Young quietly put up 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting, with timely pull-up middies, fiesty drives and airtight defense along the way.</p>
<p>It's that dynamic &mdash; the brighter-shining star talent with gaudier numbers &mdash; that allows Gray to fly under the radar.</p>
<p>Wilson and Plum are MVP candidates and All-Stars, primed to grace the All-WNBA First Team together. Young is the frontrunner for the Most Improved Player award, was an All-Star and has a strong chance to make an All-WNBA and All-Defensive team this season. Dearica Hamby (9-3-5, +12 in roughly 23 minutes on Tuesday night) joined the starting lineup this season after winning two of the last three Sixth Woman of the Year awards; she was an All-Star this year too.</p>
<p>Gray, a four-time All-Star in her own right, was the only starter to not make the team this season. She's somehow been lost in the fold &mdash; a testament to how good the Aces are, but a disservice to Gray's talent.</p>
<p>No more, says Plum.</p>
<p>"I just, for the record, want to set things straight," <a href="https://youtu.be/sj-SySVTZI0?t=341" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Plum began</a> after being asked about Gray's CC MVP designation.</p>
<p>"She's the best point guard in the world. She's the starting point guard on the Olympic team; she's an All-Star; she's an All-WNBA player. She's the clutchest player in the WNBA. Ask anyone, any GM, head coach, player. She got snubbed [from the All-Star team] this year, and it sucks because I felt like we deserved five All-Stars."</p>
<p>Plum wasn't done.</p>
<p>"I know that was tough for her, because she's a competitor. She leads our team. When we need big plays down the stretch, Chelsea consistently makes big plays. At the end of the day, you can talk about the numbers and this-and-that, but she wins games. That, to me, should be the most important thing. That's 'MVP' tonight, but she's been leading our team for the whole season. I feel like she doesn't get the love and credit she deserves, so I'm really, really glad people saw that tonight."</p>
<p>Gray's had a phenomenal July, averaging 13.6 points (56.9% from two, 40.9% from three) and 6.1 assists (2.0 turnovers) per contest. Those averages have perked up over her last five games: 14.0 points (48.6% from two, 42.1% from three), 7.0 assists (1.8 turnovers) and nearly 3 steals per game.</p>
<p>Gray's box score contributions just seem to hit differently.</p>
<p>Some of that is the timing. Half of Gray's made baskets on Tuesday night came in the third quarter, with those shots quelling the comeback effort of the Sky. They chipped the deficit down to 8 points, but Gray was right there to respond.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/71vqr5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>That's 7 timely points and a near full-court dot to Young in the span of three minutes.</p>
<p>Most of it is the nature of what Gray does. She bullies smaller guards &mdash; and sometimes like-sized ones &mdash; off the bounce or on the block. Her intersection of ball-handling and strength allows her to get to her spots without blinding speed. She's converting nearly 73% of her shots inside the restricted area this season, which ranks third among guards who have taken at least 40 shots at the rim this season.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/x4acpz" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>She will sprinkle an array of pull-up, step-back and turnaround jumpers in your face. <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/shooting/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;DistanceRange=By%20Zone&amp;DateFrom=07%2F01%2F2022&amp;sort=Mid-Range%20FGA&amp;dir=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Just this month</a>, Gray has converted nearly 62% of her mid-range jumpers. No, that's not a typo.</p>
<p>Her awesome footwork and high-release point make her a tough cover for defenders. You never quite know where she's going or when she's going to stop on a dime.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/a8ca2m" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>And it's hard to get past the passing. The list of passers more audacious than Gray is a short one &mdash; in the WNBA or otherwise. Her film is filled with all kinds of nonsense: full-court bombs, no-look bounce passes through traffic, flick-tastic lead passes, over-the-head feeds to shooters. It's insane stuff.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/endy9m" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>I still haven't gotten over the falling-down-bounce-pass from the Sparks game.</p>
<p>Quibble if you'd like about the "best point guard" comment from Plum &mdash; Skylar Diggins-Smith would certainly like a word &mdash; but it's hard to deny the general sentiment. Gray is an absolute baller and should be respected as such.</p>

<p>Kelsey Plum came out of the gates hot on Tuesday night.</p>
<p>No, this isn't a reference to the 4 three-pointers she made in the opening frame against the Chicago Sky; though, it probably could be. Plum's fourth triple of the quarter gave the Las Vegas Aces a 25-4 advantage, and they led by as many as 22 in the first quarter &mdash; a deficit the Sky ultimately were unable to overcome.</p>
<p>Plum came out firing after the game. After the scoreboard flashed a 91-83 final score. After her backcourt mate Chelsea Gray was named Commisioner Cup MVP for her 19-point, 5-assist, 4-rebound stat line.</p>
<p>There was competition for that award. Plum led the game in scoring (24 points) and tied for the game lead with 6 assists. Their MVP teammate A'ja Wilson scored 17 points, grabbed 17 boards and blocked a career-high 6 shots. Heck, Jackie Young quietly put up 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting, with timely pull-up middies, fiesty drives and airtight defense along the way.</p>
<p>It's that dynamic &mdash; the brighter-shining star talent with gaudier numbers &mdash; that allows Gray to fly under the radar.</p>
<p>Wilson and Plum are MVP candidates and All-Stars, primed to grace the All-WNBA First Team together. Young is the frontrunner for the Most Improved Player award, was an All-Star and has a strong chance to make an All-WNBA and All-Defensive team this season. Dearica Hamby (9-3-5, +12 in roughly 23 minutes on Tuesday night) joined the starting lineup this season after winning two of the last three Sixth Woman of the Year awards; she was an All-Star this year too.</p>
<p>Gray, a four-time All-Star in her own right, was the only starter to not make the team this season. She's somehow been lost in the fold &mdash; a testament to how good the Aces are, but a disservice to Gray's talent.</p>
<p>No more, says Plum.</p>
<p>"I just, for the record, want to set things straight," <a href="https://youtu.be/sj-SySVTZI0?t=341" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Plum began</a> after being asked about Gray's CC MVP designation.</p>
<p>"She's the best point guard in the world. She's the starting point guard on the Olympic team; she's an All-Star; she's an All-WNBA player. She's the clutchest player in the WNBA. Ask anyone, any GM, head coach, player. She got snubbed [from the All-Star team] this year, and it sucks because I felt like we deserved five All-Stars."</p>
<p>Plum wasn't done.</p>
<p>"I know that was tough for her, because she's a competitor. She leads our team. When we need big plays down the stretch, Chelsea consistently makes big plays. At the end of the day, you can talk about the numbers and this-and-that, but she wins games. That, to me, should be the most important thing. That's 'MVP' tonight, but she's been leading our team for the whole season. I feel like she doesn't get the love and credit she deserves, so I'm really, really glad people saw that tonight."</p>
<p>Gray's had a phenomenal July, averaging 13.6 points (56.9% from two, 40.9% from three) and 6.1 assists (2.0 turnovers) per contest. Those averages have perked up over her last five games: 14.0 points (48.6% from two, 42.1% from three), 7.0 assists (1.8 turnovers) and nearly 3 steals per game.</p>
<p>Gray's box score contributions just seem to hit differently.</p>
<p>Some of that is the timing. Half of Gray's made baskets on Tuesday night came in the third quarter, with those shots quelling the comeback effort of the Sky. They chipped the deficit down to 8 points, but Gray was right there to respond.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/71vqr5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>That's 7 timely points and a near full-court dot to Young in the span of three minutes.</p>
<p>Most of it is the nature of what Gray does. She bullies smaller guards &mdash; and sometimes like-sized ones &mdash; off the bounce or on the block. Her intersection of ball-handling and strength allows her to get to her spots without blinding speed. She's converting nearly 73% of her shots inside the restricted area this season, which ranks third among guards who have taken at least 40 shots at the rim this season.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/x4acpz" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>She will sprinkle an array of pull-up, step-back and turnaround jumpers in your face. <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/shooting/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;DistanceRange=By%20Zone&amp;DateFrom=07%2F01%2F2022&amp;sort=Mid-Range%20FGA&amp;dir=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Just this month</a>, Gray has converted nearly 62% of her mid-range jumpers. No, that's not a typo.</p>
<p>Her awesome footwork and high-release point make her a tough cover for defenders. You never quite know where she's going or when she's going to stop on a dime.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/a8ca2m" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>And it's hard to get past the passing. The list of passers more audacious than Gray is a short one &mdash; in the WNBA or otherwise. Her film is filled with all kinds of nonsense: full-court bombs, no-look bounce passes through traffic, flick-tastic lead passes and over-the-head feeds to shooters. It's insane stuff.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/endy9m" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>I still haven't gotten over the falling-down-bounce-pass from the Sparks game.</p>
<p>Quibble if you'd like about the "best point guard" comment from Plum &mdash; Skylar Diggins-Smith would certainly like a word &mdash; but it's hard to deny the general sentiment. Gray is an absolute baller and should be respected as such.</p>

<p>Kelsey Plum came out of the gates hot on Tuesday night.</p>
<p>No, this isn't a reference to the 4 three-pointers she made in the opening frame against the Chicago Sky; though, it probably could be. Plum's fourth triple of the quarter gave the Las Vegas Aces a 25-4 advantage, and they led by as many as 22 in the first quarter &mdash; a deficit the Sky ultimately were unable to overcome.</p>
<p>Plum came out firing after the game. After the scoreboard flashed a 91-83 final score. After her backcourt mate Chelsea Gray was named Commisioner Cup MVP for her 19-point, 5-assist, 4-rebound stat line.</p>
<p>There was competition for that award. Plum led the game in scoring (24 points) and tied for the game lead with 6 assists. Their MVP teammate A'ja Wilson scored 17 points, grabbed 17 boards and blocked a career-high 6 shots. Heck, Jackie Young quietly put up 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting, with timely pull-up middies, fiesty drives and airtight defense along the way.</p>
<p>It's that dynamic &mdash; the brighter-shining star talent with gaudier numbers &mdash; that allows Gray to fly under the radar.</p>
<p>Wilson and Plum are MVP candidates and All-Stars, primed to grace the All-WNBA First Team together. Young is the frontrunner for the Most Improved Player award, was an All-Star and has a strong chance to make an All-WNBA and All-Defensive team this season. Dearica Hamby (9-3-5, +12 in roughly 23 minutes on Tuesday night) joined the starting lineup this season after winning two of the last three Sixth Woman of the Year awards; she was an All-Star this year too.</p>
<p>Gray, a four-time All-Star in her own right, was the only starter to not make the team this season. She's somehow been lost in the fold &mdash; a testament to how good the Aces are, but a disservice to Gray's talent.</p>
<p>No more, says Plum.</p>
<p>"I just, for the record, want to set things straight," <a href="https://youtu.be/sj-SySVTZI0?t=341" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Plum began</a> after being asked about Gray's CC MVP designation.</p>
<p>"She's the best point guard in the world. She's the starting point guard on the Olympic team; she's an All-Star; she's an All-WNBA player. She's the clutchest player in the WNBA. Ask anyone, any GM, head coach, player. She got snubbed [from the All-Star team] this year, and it sucks because I felt like we deserved five All-Stars."</p>
<p>Plum wasn't done.</p>
<p>"I know that was tough for her, because she's a competitor. She leads our team. When we need big plays down the stretch, Chelsea consistently makes big plays. At the end of the day, you can talk about the numbers and this-and-that, but she wins games. That, to me, should be the most important thing. That's 'MVP' tonight, but she's been leading our team for the whole season. I feel like she doesn't get the love and credit she deserves, so I'm really, really glad people saw that tonight."</p>
<p>Gray's had a phenomenal July, averaging 13.6 points (56.9% from two, 40.9% from three) and 6.1 assists (2.0 turnovers) per contest. Those averages have perked up over her last five games: 14.0 points (48.6% from two, 42.1% from three), 7.0 assists (1.8 turnovers) and nearly 3 steals per game.</p>
<p>Gray's box score contributions just seem to hit differently.</p>
<p>Some of that is the timing. Half of Gray's made baskets on Tuesday night came in the third quarter, with those shots quelling the comeback effort of the Sky. They chipped the deficit down to 8 points, but Gray was right there to respond.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/71vqr5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>That's 7 timely points and a near full-court dot to Young in the span of three minutes.</p>
<p>Most of it is the nature of what Gray does. She bullies smaller guards &mdash; and sometimes like-sized ones &mdash; off the bounce or on the block. Her intersection of ball-handling and strength allows her to get to her spots without blinding speed. She's converting nearly 73% of her shots inside the restricted area this season, which ranks third among guards who have taken at least 40 shots at the rim this season.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/x4acpz" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>She will sprinkle an array of pull-up, step-back and turnaround jumpers in your face. <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/shooting/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;DistanceRange=By%20Zone&amp;DateFrom=07%2F01%2F2022&amp;sort=Mid-Range%20FGA&amp;dir=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Just this month</a>, Gray has converted nearly 62% of her mid-range jumpers. No, that's not a typo.</p>
<p>Her awesome footwork and high-release point make her a tough cover for defenders. You never quite know where she's going or when she's going to stop on a dime.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/a8ca2m" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>And it's hard to get past the passing. The list of passers more audacious than Gray is a short one &mdash; in the WNBA or otherwise. Her film is filled with all kinds of nonsense: full-court bombs, no-look bounce passes through traffic, flick-tastic lead passes and over-the-head feeds to shooters. It's insane stuff.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/endy9m" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>I still haven't gotten over the falling-down bounce pass from the Los Angeles Sparks game.</p>
<p>Quibble if you'd like about the "best point guard" comment from Plum &mdash; Skylar Diggins-Smith would certainly like a word &mdash; but it's hard to deny the general sentiment. Gray is an absolute baller and should be respected as such.</p>

<p>Kelsey Plum came out of the gates hot on Tuesday night.</p>
<p>No, this isn't a reference to the 4 three-pointers she made in the opening frame against the Chicago Sky; though, it probably could be. Plum's fourth triple of the quarter gave the Las Vegas Aces a 25-4 advantage, and they led by as many as 22 in the first quarter &mdash; a deficit the Sky ultimately were unable to overcome.</p>
<p>Plum came out firing after the game. After the scoreboard flashed a 91-83 final score. After her backcourt mate Chelsea Gray was named Commisioner Cup MVP for her 19-point, 5-assist, 4-rebound stat line.</p>
<p>There was competition for that award. Plum led the game in scoring (24 points) and tied for the game lead with 6 assists. Their MVP teammate A'ja Wilson scored 17 points, grabbed 17 boards and blocked a career-high 6 shots. Heck, Jackie Young quietly put up 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting, with timely pull-up middies, fiesty drives and airtight defense along the way.</p>
<p>It's that dynamic &mdash; the brighter-shining star talent with gaudier numbers &mdash; that allows Gray to fly under the radar.</p>
<p>Wilson and Plum are MVP candidates and All-Stars, primed to grace the All-WNBA First Team together. Young is the frontrunner for the Most Improved Player award, was an All-Star and has a strong chance to make an All-WNBA and All-Defensive team this season. Dearica Hamby (9-3-5, +12 in roughly 23 minutes on Tuesday night) joined the starting lineup this season after winning two of the last three Sixth Woman of the Year awards; she was an All-Star this year too.</p>
<p>Gray, a four-time All-Star in her own right, was the only starter to not make the team this season. She's somehow been lost in the fold &mdash; a testament to how good the Aces are, but a disservice to Gray's talent.</p>
<p>No more, says Plum.</p>
<p>"I just, for the record, want to set things straight," <a href="https://youtu.be/sj-SySVTZI0?t=341" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Plum began</a> after being asked about Gray's CC MVP designation.</p>
<p>"She's the best point guard in the world. She's the starting point guard on the Olympic team; she's an All-Star; she's an All-WNBA player. She's the clutchest player in the WNBA. Ask anyone, any GM, head coach, player. She got snubbed [from the All-Star team] this year, and it sucks because I felt like we deserved five All-Stars."</p>
<p>Plum wasn't done.</p>
<p>"I know that was tough for her, because she's a competitor. She leads our team. When we need big plays down the stretch, Chelsea consistently makes big plays. At the end of the day, you can talk about the numbers and this-and-that, but she wins games. That, to me, should be the most important thing. That's 'MVP' tonight, but she's been leading our team for the whole season. I feel like she doesn't get the love and credit she deserves, so I'm really, really glad people saw that tonight."</p>
<p>Gray's had a phenomenal July, averaging 13.6 points (56.9% from two, 40.9% from three) and 6.1 assists (2.0 turnovers) per contest. Those averages have perked up over her last five games: 14.0 points (48.6% from two, 42.1% from three), 7.0 assists (1.8 turnovers) and nearly 3 steals per game.</p>
<p>Gray's box score contributions just seem to hit differently.</p>
<p>Some of that is the timing. Half of Gray's made baskets on Tuesday night came in the third quarter, with those shots quelling the comeback effort of the Sky. They chipped the deficit down to 8 points, but Gray was right there to respond.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/71vqr5" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>That's 7 timely points and a near full-court dot to Young in the span of three minutes.</p>
<p>Most of it is the nature of what Gray does. She bullies smaller guards &mdash; and sometimes like-sized ones &mdash; off the bounce or on the block. Her intersection of ball-handling and strength allows her to get to her spots without blinding speed. She's converting nearly 73% of her shots inside the restricted area this season, which ranks third among guards who have taken at least 40 shots at the rim this season.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/x4acpz" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>She will sprinkle an array of pull-up, step-back and turnaround jumpers in your face. <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/shooting/?Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;DistanceRange=By%20Zone&amp;DateFrom=07%2F01%2F2022&amp;sort=Mid-Range%20FGA&amp;dir=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Just this month</a>, Gray has converted nearly 62% of her mid-range jumpers. No, that's not a typo.</p>
<p>Her awesome footwork and high-release point make her a tough cover for defenders. You never quite know where she's going or when she's going to stop on a dime.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/a8ca2m" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>And it's hard to get past the passing. The list of passers more audacious than Gray is a short one &mdash; in the WNBA or otherwise. Her film is filled with all kinds of nonsense: full-court bombs, no-look bounce passes through traffic, flick-tastic lead passes and over-the-head feeds to shooters. It's insane stuff.</p>
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/endy9m" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
<p>I still haven't gotten over the falling-down bounce pass from the Los Angeles Sparks game.</p>
<p>Quibble if you'd like about the "best point guard" comment from Plum &mdash; Skylar Diggins-Smith would certainly like a word &mdash; but it's hard to deny the general sentiment.</p>
<p>Gray is an absolute baller and should be respected as such.</p>

Nekias Duncan highlights the play of Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray stemming from Kelsey Plum's passionate comments.

Why we can't forget about Chelsea Gray, leader of the Las Vegas Aces

<p>There's never a dull moment in The W, even on off days.</p>
<p>The Los Angeles Sparks have been shuffling through changes for most of the season due to injuries, COVID and other outside commitments &mdash; guard Kristi Tolliver joined the team late due to her assistant coaching work with the Dallas Mavericks, for example. Even the coaching staff has seen some turnover, with Derek Fisher abruptly leaving in early June.</p>
<p>They've been an enigma of sorts; a clearly talented roster with a lack of cohesion. Just when you feel like they're starting to round things together for a stretch,&nbsp;<em>something</em> happens.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We've got a pretty big "something" now, figuratively and literally.</p>
<p>As first reported by <a href="https://theballout.com/2022/07/los-angeles-sparks-elizabeth-cambage-leaving-wnba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Ball Out</a> a little after midnight on Tuesday, Sparks center Liz Cambage will be departing the team. <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khristina Williams</a> of Girls Talk Sports <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1551929158321717252?s=20&amp;t=0SKRLYYPfPluSKeqEqhvkA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">later confirmed the report</a>, adding that Cambage "quit" on the team and made her intentions to leave known to multiple people in the organization.</p>
<p>The Sparks released a statement shortly after on Tuesday morning, announcing Cambage and the team have agreed to a contract divorce.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Los Angeles Sparks announce a &ldquo;contract divorce&rdquo; with center Liz Cambage. <a href="https://t.co/1olUZRWgTC">pic.twitter.com/1olUZRWgTC</a></p>
&mdash; Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1551942268927365120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
<p>
<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<p>It's unclear why Cambage is leaving, especially now. It's worth noting that she's averaging the lowest amount of minutes (23.4), field goal attempts (9.2) and points (13.0) per game since her age-20 season back in 2013.</p>
<p>The frontcourt minutes were split between her, fringe MVP candidate Nneka Ogwumike, Chiney Ogwumike and rookie Olivia Nelson-Ododa. Finding the balance between featuring Cambage in a post-heavy offense and playing with more tempo has been a constant battle. The defensive trade-off is also worth noting; though Cambage has played higher up in pick-and-roll since interim head coach Frank Williams has taken over, the Sparks have been able to toggle through schemes a little easier with Cambage off the floor.</p>
<p>With Cambage out of the picture, it's fair to expect an uptick in playing time from both Chiney Ogwumike and Nelson-Ododa. Ogwumike remains a prolific defender and energizer bunny on the offensive glass. The latter is fresh off playing a career-high 20 minutes against the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday, finishing with 7 points, five rebounds and a block. Her work as a handoff hub and screener should vibe well with the Sparks' stable of guards. Her defensive work, namely her ability to navigate in space and deal with quicker forwards, could also prove valuable.</p>
<p>As uneven as the fit was at times, it's hard to ignore the presence Cambage provided on the interior. Her deep seals into the post threaten defenses in a way few players in the W can replicate. She finishes her Sparks tenure having made nearly 74% of her shots inside of three feet, <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/c/cambael01w.html#shooting0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Basketball-Reference</a>. Teams have been able to fluster the Sparks with zone defense; having a 6'8 target like Cambage was a nice release valve to have.</p>
<p>The timing of the departure couldn't come at a weirder time. The Sparks have nine games left in their season. And though they currently hold the 6th seed, they're only 0.5 games ahead of the 9th place Phoenix Mercury, and three games ahead of the 11th place Minnesota Lynx. The hope for the Sparks will be to shore up their rotation while leaning more into the mobility of their roster on both ends.</p>

<p>There's never a dull moment in The W, even on off days.</p>
<p>The Los Angeles Sparks have been shuffling through changes for most of the season due to injuries, COVID and other outside commitments &mdash; guard Kristi Tolliver joined the team late due to her assistant coaching work with the Dallas Mavericks, for example. Even the coaching staff has seen some turnover, with Derek Fisher abruptly leaving in early June.</p>
<p>They've been an enigma of sorts; a clearly talented roster with a lack of cohesion. Just when you feel like they're starting to round things together for a stretch,&nbsp;<em>something</em> happens.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We've got a pretty big "something" now, figuratively and literally.</p>
<p>As first reported by <a href="https://theballout.com/2022/07/los-angeles-sparks-elizabeth-cambage-leaving-wnba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Ball Out</a> a little after midnight on Tuesday, Sparks center Liz Cambage will be departing the team. <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khristina Williams</a> of Girls Talk Sports <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1551929158321717252?s=20&amp;t=0SKRLYYPfPluSKeqEqhvkA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">later confirmed the report</a>, adding that Cambage "quit" on the team and made her intentions to leave known to multiple people in the organization.</p>
<p>The Sparks released a statement shortly after on Tuesday morning, announcing Cambage and the team have agreed to a contract divorce.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Los Angeles Sparks announce a &ldquo;contract divorce&rdquo; with center Liz Cambage. <a href="https://t.co/1olUZRWgTC">pic.twitter.com/1olUZRWgTC</a></p>
&mdash; Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1551942268927365120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
<p>
<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<p>It's unclear why Cambage is leaving, especially now. It's worth noting that she's averaging the lowest amount of minutes (23.4), field goal attempts (9.2) and points (13.0) per game since her age-20 season back in 2013.</p>
<p>The frontcourt minutes were split between her, fringe MVP candidate Nneka Ogwumike, Chiney Ogwumike and rookie Olivia Nelson-Ododa. Finding the balance between featuring Cambage in a post-heavy offense and playing with more tempo has been a constant battle. The defensive trade-off is also worth noting; though Cambage has played higher up in pick-and-roll since interim head coach Frank Williams has taken over, the Sparks have been able to toggle through schemes a little easier with Cambage off the floor.</p>
<p>With Cambage out of the picture, it's fair to expect an uptick in playing time from both Chiney Ogwumike and Nelson-Ododa. Ogwumike remains a prolific defender and energizer bunny on the offensive glass. The latter is fresh off playing a career-high 20 minutes against the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday, finishing with 7 points, 5 rebounds and a block. Her work as a handoff hub and screener should vibe well with the Sparks' stable of guards. Her defensive work, namely her ability to navigate in space and deal with quicker forwards, could also prove valuable.</p>
<p>As uneven as the fit was at times, it's hard to ignore the presence Cambage provided on the interior. Her deep seals into the post threaten defenses in a way few players in the W can replicate. She finishes her Sparks tenure having made nearly 74% of her shots inside of three feet, <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/c/cambael01w.html#shooting0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Basketball-Reference</a>. Teams have been able to fluster the Sparks with zone defense; having a 6'8 target like Cambage was a nice release valve to have.</p>
<p>The timing of the departure couldn't come at a weirder time. The Sparks have nine games left in their season. And though they currently hold the 6th seed, they're only 0.5 games ahead of the 9th place Phoenix Mercury, and three games ahead of the 11th place Minnesota Lynx. The hope for the Sparks will be to shore up their rotation while leaning more into the mobility of their roster on both ends.</p>

<p>There's never a dull moment in The W, even on off days.</p>
<p>The Los Angeles Sparks have been shuffling through changes for most of the season due to injuries, COVID and other outside commitments &mdash; guard Kristi Tolliver joined the team late due to her assistant coaching work with the Dallas Mavericks, for example. Even the coaching staff has seen some turnover, with Derek Fisher abruptly leaving in early June.</p>
<p>They've been an enigma of sorts; a clearly talented roster with a lack of cohesion. Just when you feel like they're starting to round things together for a stretch,&nbsp;<em>something</em> happens.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We've got a pretty big "something" now, figuratively and literally.</p>
<p>As first reported by <a href="https://theballout.com/2022/07/los-angeles-sparks-elizabeth-cambage-leaving-wnba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Ball Out</a> a little after midnight on Tuesday, Sparks center Liz Cambage will be departing the team. <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khristina Williams</a> of Girls Talk Sports <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1551929158321717252?s=20&amp;t=0SKRLYYPfPluSKeqEqhvkA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">later confirmed the report</a>, adding that Cambage "quit" on the team and made her intentions to leave known to multiple people in the organization.</p>
<p>The Sparks released a statement shortly after on Tuesday morning, announcing Cambage and the team have agreed to a contract divorce.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Los Angeles Sparks announce a &ldquo;contract divorce&rdquo; with center Liz Cambage. <a href="https://t.co/1olUZRWgTC">pic.twitter.com/1olUZRWgTC</a></p>
&mdash; Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1551942268927365120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
<p>
<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<p>It's unclear why Cambage is leaving, especially now. It's worth noting that she's averaging the lowest amount of minutes (23.4), field goal attempts (9.2) and points (13.0) per game since her age-20 season back in 2013.</p>
<p>The frontcourt minutes were split between her, fringe MVP candidate Nneka Ogwumike, Chiney Ogwumike and rookie Olivia Nelson-Ododa. Finding the balance between featuring Cambage in a post-heavy offense and playing with more tempo has been a constant battle. The defensive trade-off is also worth noting; though Cambage has played higher up in pick-and-roll since interim head coach Frank Williams has taken over, the Sparks have been able to toggle through schemes a little easier with Cambage off the floor.</p>
<p>With Cambage out of the picture, it's fair to expect an uptick in playing time from both Chiney Ogwumike and Nelson-Ododa. Ogwumike remains a prolific defender and energizer bunny on the offensive glass. The latter is fresh off playing a career-high 20 minutes against the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday, finishing with 7 points, 5 rebounds and a block. Her work as a handoff hub and screener should vibe well with the Sparks' stable of guards. Her defensive work &mdash; namely her ability to navigate in space and deal with quicker forwards&nbsp; could also prove valuable.</p>
<p>As uneven as the fit was at times, it's hard to ignore the presence Cambage provided on the interior. Her deep seals into the post threaten defenses in a way few players in the W can replicate. She finishes her Sparks tenure having made nearly 74% of her shots inside of three feet, <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/c/cambael01w.html#shooting0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Basketball-Reference</a>. Teams have been able to fluster the Sparks with zone defense; having a 6'8 target like Cambage was a nice release valve to have.</p>
<p>The timing of the departure couldn't come at a weirder time. The Sparks have nine games left in their season. And though they currently hold the 6th seed, they're only 0.5 games ahead of the 9th place Phoenix Mercury, and three games ahead of the 11th place Minnesota Lynx. The hope for the Sparks will be to shore up their rotation while leaning more into the mobility of their roster on both ends.</p>

<p>There's never a dull moment in The W, even on off days.</p>
<p>The Los Angeles Sparks have been shuffling through changes for most of the season due to injuries, COVID and other outside commitments &mdash; guard Kristi Tolliver joined the team late due to her assistant coaching work with the Dallas Mavericks, for example. Even the coaching staff has seen some turnover, with Derek Fisher abruptly leaving in early June.</p>
<p>They've been an enigma of sorts; a clearly talented roster with a lack of cohesion. Just when you feel like they're starting to round things together for a stretch,&nbsp;<em>something</em> happens.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We've got a pretty big "something" now, figuratively and literally.</p>
<p>As first reported by <a href="https://theballout.com/2022/07/los-angeles-sparks-elizabeth-cambage-leaving-wnba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Ball Out</a> a little after midnight on Tuesday, Sparks center Liz Cambage will be departing the team. <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khristina Williams</a> of Girls Talk Sports <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1551929158321717252?s=20&amp;t=0SKRLYYPfPluSKeqEqhvkA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">later confirmed the report</a>, adding that Cambage "quit" on the team and made her intentions to leave known to multiple people in the organization.</p>
<p>The Sparks released a statement shortly after on Tuesday morning, announcing Cambage and the team have agreed to a contract divorce.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Los Angeles Sparks announce a &ldquo;contract divorce&rdquo; with center Liz Cambage. <a href="https://t.co/1olUZRWgTC">pic.twitter.com/1olUZRWgTC</a></p>
&mdash; Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1551942268927365120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
<p>
<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<p>It's unclear why Cambage is leaving, especially now. It's worth noting that she's averaging the lowest amount of minutes (23.4), field goal attempts (9.2) and points (13.0) per game since her age-20 season back in 2013.</p>
<p>The frontcourt minutes were split between her, fringe MVP candidate Nneka Ogwumike, Chiney Ogwumike and rookie Olivia Nelson-Ododa. Finding the balance between featuring Cambage in a post-heavy offense and playing with more tempo has been a constant battle. The defensive trade-off is also worth noting; though Cambage has played higher up in pick-and-roll since interim head coach Frank Williams has taken over, the Sparks have been able to toggle through schemes a little easier with Cambage off the floor.</p>
<p>With Cambage out of the picture, it's fair to expect an uptick in playing time from both Chiney Ogwumike and Nelson-Ododa. Ogwumike remains a prolific defender and energizer bunny on the offensive glass. The latter is fresh off playing a career-high 20 minutes against the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday, finishing with 7 points, 5 rebounds and a block. Her work as a handoff hub and screener should vibe well with the Sparks' stable of guards. Her defensive work &mdash; namely her ability to navigate in space and deal with quicker forwards &mdash; could also prove valuable.</p>
<p>As uneven as the fit was at times, it's hard to ignore the presence Cambage provided on the interior. Her deep seals into the post threaten defenses in a way few players in the W can replicate. She finishes her Sparks tenure having made nearly 74% of her shots inside of three feet, <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/c/cambael01w.html#shooting0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Basketball-Reference</a>. Teams have been able to fluster the Sparks with zone defense; having a 6'8 target like Cambage was a nice release valve to have.</p>
<p>The timing of the departure couldn't come at a weirder time. The Sparks have nine games left in their season. And though they currently hold the 6th seed, they're only 0.5 games ahead of the 9th place Phoenix Mercury, and three games ahead of the 11th place Minnesota Lynx. The hope for the Sparks will be to shore up their rotation while leaning more into the mobility of their roster on both ends.</p>

<p>There's never a dull moment in The W, even on off days.</p>
<p>The Los Angeles Sparks have been shuffling through changes for most of the season due to injuries, COVID and other outside commitments &mdash; guard Kristi Tolliver joined the team late due to her assistant coaching work with the Dallas Mavericks, for example. Even the coaching staff has seen some turnover, with Derek Fisher abruptly leaving in early June.</p>
<p>They've been an enigma of sorts; a clearly talented roster with a lack of cohesion. Just when you feel like they're starting to round things together for a stretch,&nbsp;<em>something</em> happens.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We've got a pretty big "something" now, figuratively and literally.</p>
<p>As first reported by <a href="https://theballout.com/2022/07/los-angeles-sparks-elizabeth-cambage-leaving-wnba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Ball Out</a> a little after midnight on Tuesday, Sparks center Liz Cambage will be departing the team. <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khristina Williams</a> of Girls Talk Sports <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1551929158321717252?s=20&amp;t=0SKRLYYPfPluSKeqEqhvkA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">later confirmed the report</a>, adding that Cambage "quit" on the team and made her intentions to leave known to multiple people in the organization.</p>
<p>The Sparks released a statement shortly after on Tuesday morning, announcing Cambage and the team have agreed to a contract divorce.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Los Angeles Sparks announce a &ldquo;contract divorce&rdquo; with center Liz Cambage. <a href="https://t.co/1olUZRWgTC">pic.twitter.com/1olUZRWgTC</a></p>
&mdash; Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1551942268927365120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
<p>
<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<p>It's unclear why Cambage is leaving, especially now. It's worth noting that she's averaging the lowest amount of minutes (23.4), field goal attempts (9.2) and points (13.0) per game since her age-20 season back in 2013.</p>
<p>The frontcourt minutes were split between her, fringe MVP candidate Nneka Ogwumike, Chiney Ogwumike and rookie Olivia Nelson-Ododa. Finding the balance between featuring Cambage in a post-heavy offense and playing with more tempo has been a constant battle. The defensive trade-off is also worth noting; though Cambage has played higher up in pick-and-roll since interim head coach Frank Williams has taken over, the Sparks have been able to toggle through schemes a little easier with Cambage off the floor.</p>
<p>With Cambage out of the picture, it's fair to expect an uptick in playing time from both Chiney Ogwumike and Nelson-Ododa. Ogwumike remains a prolific defender and energizer bunny on the offensive glass. The latter is fresh off playing a career-high 20 minutes against the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday, finishing with 7 points, 5 rebounds and a block. Her work as a handoff hub and screener should vibe well with the Sparks' stable of guards. Her defensive work &mdash; namely her ability to navigate in space and deal with quicker forwards &mdash; could also prove valuable.</p>
<p>As uneven as the fit was at times, it's hard to ignore the presence Cambage provided on the interior. Her deep seals into the post threaten defenses in a way few players in The W can replicate. She finishes her Sparks tenure having made nearly 74% of her shots inside of 3 feet, <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/c/cambael01w.html#shooting0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Basketball-Reference</a>. Teams have been able to fluster the Sparks with zone defense; having a 6'8 target like Cambage was a nice release valve to have.</p>
<p>The timing of the departure couldn't come at a weirder time. The Sparks have nine games left in their season. And though they currently hold the 6th seed, they're only 0.5 games ahead of the 9th place Phoenix Mercury, and three games ahead of the 11th place Minnesota Lynx. The hope for the Sparks will be to shore up their rotation while leaning more into the mobility of their roster on both ends.</p>

<p>There's never a dull moment in The W, even on off days.</p>
<p>The Los Angeles Sparks have been shuffling through changes for most of the season due to injuries, COVID and other outside commitments &mdash; guard Kristi Tolliver joined the team late due to her assistant coaching work with the Dallas Mavericks, for example. Even the coaching staff has seen some turnover, with Derek Fisher abruptly leaving in early June.</p>
<p>They've been an enigma of sorts; a clearly talented roster with a lack of cohesion. Just when you feel like they're starting to round things together for a stretch,&nbsp;<em>something</em> happens.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We've got a pretty big "something" now, figuratively and literally.</p>
<p>As first reported by <a href="https://theballout.com/2022/07/los-angeles-sparks-elizabeth-cambage-leaving-wnba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Ball Out</a> a little after midnight on Tuesday, Sparks center Liz Cambage will be departing the team. <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khristina Williams</a> of Girls Talk Sports <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1551929158321717252?s=20&amp;t=0SKRLYYPfPluSKeqEqhvkA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">later confirmed the report</a>, adding that Cambage "quit" on the team and made her intentions to leave known to multiple people in the organization.</p>
<p>The Sparks released a statement shortly after on Tuesday morning, announcing Cambage and the team have agreed to a contract divorce.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Los Angeles Sparks announce a &ldquo;contract divorce&rdquo; with center Liz Cambage. <a href="https://t.co/1olUZRWgTC">pic.twitter.com/1olUZRWgTC</a></p>
&mdash; Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1551942268927365120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
<p>
<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<p>It's unclear why Cambage is leaving, especially now. It's worth noting that she's averaging the lowest amount of minutes (23.4), field goal attempts (9.2) and points (13.0) per game since her age-20 season back in 2013.</p>
<p>The frontcourt minutes were split between her, fringe MVP candidate Nneka Ogwumike, Chiney Ogwumike and rookie Olivia Nelson-Ododa. Finding the balance between featuring Cambage in a post-heavy offense and playing with more tempo has been a constant battle. The defensive trade-off is also worth noting; though Cambage has played higher up in pick-and-roll since interim head coach Frank Williams has taken over, the Sparks have been able to toggle through schemes a little easier with Cambage off the floor.</p>
<p>With Cambage out of the picture, it's fair to expect an uptick in playing time from both Chiney Ogwumike and Nelson-Ododa. Ogwumike remains a prolific defender and energizer bunny on the offensive glass. The latter is fresh off playing a career-high 20 minutes against the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday, finishing with 7 points, 5 rebounds and a block. Her work as a handoff hub and screener should vibe well with the Sparks' stable of guards. Her defensive work &mdash; namely her ability to navigate in space and deal with quicker forwards &mdash; could also prove valuable.</p>
<p>As uneven as the fit was at times, it's hard to ignore the presence Cambage provided on the interior. Her deep seals into the post threaten defenses in a way few players in The W can replicate. She finishes her Sparks tenure having made nearly 74% of her shots inside of 3 feet, <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/c/cambael01w.html#shooting0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Basketball-Reference</a>. Teams have been able to fluster the Sparks with zone defense; having a 6-foot-8 target like Cambage was a nice release valve to have.</p>
<p>The timing of the departure couldn't come at a weirder time. The Sparks have nine games left in their season. And though they currently hold the 6th seed, they're only 0.5 games ahead of the 9th place Phoenix Mercury, and three games ahead of the 11th place Minnesota Lynx. The hope for the Sparks will be to shore up their rotation while leaning more into the mobility of their roster on both ends.</p>

<p>There's never a dull moment in The W, even on off days.</p>
<p>The Los Angeles Sparks have been shuffling through changes for most of the season due to injuries, COVID and other outside commitments &mdash; guard Kristi Tolliver joined the team late due to her assistant coaching work with the Dallas Mavericks, for example. Even the coaching staff has seen some turnover, with Derek Fisher abruptly leaving in early June.</p>
<p>They've been an enigma of sorts; a clearly talented roster with a lack of cohesion. Just when you feel like they're starting to round things together for a stretch,&nbsp;<em>something</em> happens.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We've got a pretty big "something" now, figuratively and literally.</p>
<p>As first reported by <a href="https://theballout.com/2022/07/los-angeles-sparks-elizabeth-cambage-leaving-wnba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Ball Out</a> a little after midnight on Tuesday, Sparks center Liz Cambage will be departing the team. <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khristina Williams</a> of Girls Talk Sports <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1551929158321717252?s=20&amp;t=0SKRLYYPfPluSKeqEqhvkA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">later confirmed the report</a>, adding that Cambage "quit" on the team and made her intentions to leave known to multiple people in the organization.</p>
<p>The Sparks released a statement shortly after on Tuesday morning, announcing Cambage and the team have agreed to a contract divorce.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Los Angeles Sparks announce a &ldquo;contract divorce&rdquo; with center Liz Cambage. <a href="https://t.co/1olUZRWgTC">pic.twitter.com/1olUZRWgTC</a></p>
&mdash; Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1551942268927365120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
<p>
<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<p>It's unclear why Cambage is leaving, especially now. It's worth noting that she's averaging the lowest amount of minutes (23.4), field goal attempts (9.2) and points (13.0) per game since her age-20 season back in 2013.</p>
<p>The frontcourt minutes were split between her, fringe MVP candidate Nneka Ogwumike, Chiney Ogwumike and rookie Olivia Nelson-Ododa. Finding the balance between featuring Cambage in a post-heavy offense and playing with more tempo has been a constant battle. The defensive trade-off is also worth noting; though Cambage has played higher up in pick-and-roll since interim head coach Frank Williams has taken over, the Sparks have been able to toggle through schemes a little easier with Cambage off the floor.</p>
<p>With Cambage out of the picture, it's fair to expect an uptick in playing time from both Chiney Ogwumike and Nelson-Ododa. Ogwumike remains a prolific defender and energizer bunny on the offensive glass. The latter is fresh off playing a career-high 20 minutes against the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday, finishing with 7 points, 5 rebounds and a block. Her work as a handoff hub and screener should vibe well with the Sparks' stable of guards. Her defensive work &mdash; namely her ability to navigate in space and deal with quicker forwards &mdash; could also prove valuable.</p>
<p>As uneven as the fit was at times, it's hard to ignore the presence Cambage provided on the interior. Her deep seals into the post threaten defenses in a way few players in The W can replicate. She finishes her Sparks tenure having made nearly 74% of her shots inside of 3 feet, <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/c/cambael01w.html#shooting0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Basketball-Reference</a>. Teams have been able to fluster the Sparks with zone defense; having a 6-foot-8 target like Cambage was a nice release valve to have.</p>
<p>The timing of the departure couldn't come at a weirder time. The Sparks have nine games left in their season. And though they currently hold the sixth seed, they're only 0.5 games ahead of the 9th place Phoenix Mercury, and three games ahead of the 11th place Minnesota Lynx. The hope for the Sparks will be to shore up their rotation while leaning more into the mobility of their roster on both ends.</p>

<p>There's never a dull moment in The W, even on off days.</p>
<p>The Los Angeles Sparks have been shuffling through changes for most of the season due to injuries, COVID and other outside commitments &mdash; guard Kristi Tolliver joined the team late due to her assistant coaching work with the Dallas Mavericks, for example. Even the coaching staff has seen some turnover, with Derek Fisher abruptly leaving in early June.</p>
<p>They've been an enigma of sorts; a clearly talented roster with a lack of cohesion. Just when you feel like they're starting to round things together for a stretch,&nbsp;<em>something</em> happens.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We've got a pretty big "something" now, figuratively and literally.</p>
<p>As first reported by <a href="https://theballout.com/2022/07/los-angeles-sparks-elizabeth-cambage-leaving-wnba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Ball Out</a> a little after midnight on Tuesday, Sparks center Liz Cambage will be departing the team. <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khristina Williams</a> of Girls Talk Sports <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1551929158321717252?s=20&amp;t=0SKRLYYPfPluSKeqEqhvkA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">later confirmed the report</a>, adding that Cambage "quit" on the team and made her intentions to leave known to multiple people in the organization.</p>
<p>The Sparks released a statement shortly after on Tuesday morning, announcing Cambage and the team have agreed to a contract divorce.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Los Angeles Sparks announce a &ldquo;contract divorce&rdquo; with center Liz Cambage. <a href="https://t.co/1olUZRWgTC">pic.twitter.com/1olUZRWgTC</a></p>
&mdash; Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1551942268927365120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
<p>
<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<p>It's unclear why Cambage is leaving, especially now. It's worth noting that she's averaging the lowest amount of minutes (23.4), field goal attempts (9.2) and points (13.0) per game since her age-20 season back in 2013.</p>
<p>The frontcourt minutes were split between her, fringe MVP candidate Nneka Ogwumike, Chiney Ogwumike and rookie Olivia Nelson-Ododa. Finding the balance between featuring Cambage in a post-heavy offense and playing with more tempo has been a constant battle. The defensive trade-off is also worth noting; though Cambage has played higher up in pick-and-roll since interim head coach Frank Williams has taken over, the Sparks have been able to toggle through schemes a little easier with Cambage off the floor.</p>
<p>With Cambage out of the picture, it's fair to expect an uptick in playing time from both Chiney Ogwumike and Nelson-Ododa. Ogwumike remains a prolific defender and energizer bunny on the offensive glass. The latter is fresh off playing a career-high 20 minutes against the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday, finishing with 7 points, 5 rebounds and a block. Her work as a handoff hub and screener should vibe well with the Sparks' stable of guards. Her defensive work &mdash; namely her ability to navigate in space and deal with quicker forwards &mdash; could also prove valuable.</p>
<p>As uneven as the fit was at times, it's hard to ignore the presence Cambage provided on the interior. Her deep seals into the post threaten defenses in a way few players in The W can replicate. She finishes her Sparks tenure having made nearly 74% of her shots inside of 3 feet, <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/c/cambael01w.html#shooting0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Basketball-Reference</a>. Teams have been able to fluster the Sparks with zone defense; having a 6-foot-8 target like Cambage was a nice release valve to have.</p>
<p>The timing of the departure couldn't come at a weirder time. The Sparks have nine games left in their season. And though they currently hold the sixth seed, they're only a half-game ahead of the ninth-place Phoenix Mercury, and three games ahead of the 11th place Minnesota Lynx. The hope for the Sparks will be to shore up their rotation while leaning more into the mobility of their roster on both ends.</p>

<p>There's never a dull moment in The W, even on off days.</p>
<p>The Los Angeles Sparks have been shuffling through changes for most of the season due to injuries, COVID and other outside commitments &mdash; guard Kristi Tolliver joined the team late due to her assistant coaching work with the Dallas Mavericks, for example. Even the coaching staff has seen some turnover, with Derek Fisher abruptly leaving in early June.</p>
<p>They've been an enigma of sorts; a clearly talented roster with a lack of cohesion. Just when you feel like they're starting to round things together for a stretch,&nbsp;<em>something</em> happens.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We've got a pretty big "something" now, figuratively and literally.</p>
<p>As first reported by <a href="https://theballout.com/2022/07/los-angeles-sparks-elizabeth-cambage-leaving-wnba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Ball Out</a> a little after midnight on Tuesday, Sparks center Liz Cambage will be departing the team. <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khristina Williams</a> of Girls Talk Sports <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1551929158321717252?s=20&amp;t=0SKRLYYPfPluSKeqEqhvkA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">later confirmed the report</a>, adding that Cambage "quit" on the team and made her intentions to leave known to multiple people in the organization.</p>
<p>The Sparks released a statement shortly after on Tuesday morning, announcing Cambage and the team have agreed to a contract divorce.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Los Angeles Sparks announce a &ldquo;contract divorce&rdquo; with center Liz Cambage. <a href="https://t.co/1olUZRWgTC">pic.twitter.com/1olUZRWgTC</a></p>
&mdash; Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1551942268927365120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
<p>
<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<p>It's unclear why Cambage is leaving, especially now. It's worth noting that she's averaging the lowest amount of minutes (23.4), field goal attempts (9.2) and points (13.0) per game since her age-20 season back in 2013.</p>
<p>The frontcourt minutes were split between her, fringe MVP candidate Nneka Ogwumike, Chiney Ogwumike and rookie Olivia Nelson-Ododa. Finding the balance between featuring Cambage in a post-heavy offense and playing with more tempo has been a constant battle. The defensive trade-off is also worth noting; though Cambage has played higher up in pick-and-roll since interim head coach Frank Williams has taken over, the Sparks have been able to toggle through schemes a little easier with Cambage off the floor.</p>
<p>With Cambage out of the picture, it's fair to expect an uptick in playing time from both Chiney Ogwumike and Nelson-Ododa. Ogwumike remains a prolific defender and energizer bunny on the offensive glass. The latter is fresh off playing a career-high 20 minutes against the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday, finishing with 7 points, 5 rebounds and a block. Her work as a handoff hub and screener should vibe well with the Sparks' stable of guards. Her defensive work &mdash; namely her ability to navigate in space and deal with quicker forwards &mdash; could also prove valuable.</p>
<p>As uneven as the fit was at times, it's hard to ignore the presence Cambage provided on the interior. Her deep seals into the post threaten defenses in a way few players in The W can replicate. She finishes her Sparks tenure having made nearly 74% of her shots inside of 3 feet, <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/c/cambael01w.html#shooting0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Basketball-Reference</a>. Teams have been able to fluster the Sparks with zone defense; having a 6-foot-8 target like Cambage was a nice release valve to have.</p>
<p>The timing of the departure couldn't come at a weirder time. The Sparks have nine games left in their season. And though they currently hold the sixth seed, they're only a half-game ahead of the ninth-place Phoenix Mercury and three games ahead of the 11th place Minnesota Lynx. The hope for the Sparks will be to shore up their rotation while leaning more into the mobility of their roster on both ends.</p>

<p>There's never a dull moment in The W, even on off days.</p>
<p>The Los Angeles Sparks have been shuffling through changes for most of the season due to injuries, COVID and other outside commitments &mdash; guard Kristi Tolliver joined the team late due to her assistant coaching work with the Dallas Mavericks, for example. Even the coaching staff has seen some turnover, with Derek Fisher abruptly leaving in early June.</p>
<p>They've been an enigma of sorts; a clearly talented roster with a lack of cohesion. Just when you feel like they're starting to round things together for a stretch,&nbsp;<em>something</em> happens.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We've got a pretty big "something" now, figuratively and literally.</p>
<p>As first reported by <a href="https://theballout.com/2022/07/los-angeles-sparks-elizabeth-cambage-leaving-wnba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Ball Out</a> a little after midnight on Tuesday, Sparks center Liz Cambage will be departing the team. <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khristina Williams</a> of Girls Talk Sports <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1551929158321717252?s=20&amp;t=0SKRLYYPfPluSKeqEqhvkA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">later confirmed the report</a>, adding that Cambage "quit" on the team and made her intentions to leave known to multiple people in the organization.</p>
<p>The Sparks released a statement shortly after on Tuesday morning, announcing Cambage and the team have agreed to a contract divorce.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Los Angeles Sparks announce a &ldquo;contract divorce&rdquo; with center Liz Cambage. <a href="https://t.co/1olUZRWgTC">pic.twitter.com/1olUZRWgTC</a></p>
&mdash; Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1551942268927365120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
<p>
<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<p>It's unclear why Cambage is leaving, especially now. It's worth noting that she's averaging the lowest amount of minutes (23.4), field goal attempts (9.2) and points (13.0) per game since her age-20 season back in 2013.</p>
<p>The frontcourt minutes were split between her, fringe MVP candidate Nneka Ogwumike, Chiney Ogwumike and rookie Olivia Nelson-Ododa. Finding the balance between featuring Cambage in a post-heavy offense and playing with more tempo has been a constant battle. The defensive trade-off is also worth noting; though Cambage has played higher up in pick-and-roll since interim head coach Frank Williams has taken over, the Sparks have been able to toggle through schemes a little easier with Cambage off the floor.</p>
<p>With Cambage out of the picture, it's fair to expect an uptick in playing time from both Chiney Ogwumike and Nelson-Ododa. Ogwumike remains a prolific defender and energizer bunny on the offensive glass. The latter is fresh off playing a career-high 20 minutes against the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday, finishing with 7 points, 5 rebounds and a block. Her work as a handoff hub and screener should vibe well with the Sparks' stable of guards. Her defensive work &mdash; namely her ability to navigate in space and deal with quicker forwards &mdash; could also prove valuable.</p>
<p>As uneven as the fit was at times, it's hard to ignore the presence Cambage provided on the interior. Her deep seals into the post threaten defenses in a way few players in The W can replicate. She finishes her Sparks tenure having made nearly 74% of her shots inside of 3 feet, <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/c/cambael01w.html#shooting0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Basketball-Reference</a>. Teams have been able to fluster the Sparks with zone defense; having a 6-foot-8 target like Cambage was a nice release valve to have.</p>
<p>The timing of the departure couldn't come at a weirder time. The Sparks have nine games left in their season. And though they currently hold the sixth seed, they're only a half-game ahead of the ninth-place Phoenix Mercury and three games ahead of the 11th-place Minnesota Lynx.</p>
<p>The hope for the Sparks will be to shore up their rotation while leaning more into the mobility of their roster on both ends.</p>

Nekias Duncan explores what the departure of Liz Cambage means for the Los Angeles Sparks.

With Liz Cambage set to leave the Los Angeles Sparks, what's next?

Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones Jr. discuss the latest Kevin Durant rumor (1:45), recap the latest in the WNBA (15:20), then close things out with the Free Throw segment (54:40).
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The Shameless Episode

Nekias is a fan of tall passers, switch-y bigs, and Spain pick-and-rolls. He’s always here to remind you that the best way to beat a switch is with a slip.  He has written for Bleacher Report, SB Nation, Dime, Five Reasons Sports and Miami Heat Beat. Nekias is a writer and podcaster for BasketballNews.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @NekiasNBA.