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Gophers in the WNBA Update, Vol. 2
7/27/2018 10:02:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS - Approximately two-thirds of the way through the 2018 WNBA season and heading into All-Star Weekend, it's time to update how the three former Gophers in the league are performing this season.
Minnesota Lynx point guard and Gophers head coach Lindsay Whalen, who was recently profiled by Sports Illustrated, has started all 25 games this season, helping the Lynx to third place in the league standings at 15-10. She leads the team with 3.3 assists per game and is also averaging 5.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.6 steals per contest this year.
Since her 17-point performance in the season opener, Whalen has produced four other games where she has reached double-figures in scoring. On July 13 against Las Vegas, she put up a season-high 22 points to go along with six rebounds and five assists for her highest scoring outing since a 24-point game against Seattle in August of 2016. Whalen also matched a season high with nine assists against the Aces on June 24 and recorded 15 points and five steals at Phoenix on June 22.
Rachel Banham and the Connecticut Sun enter the All-Star Break with a 14-12 record, which is good enough for the eighth and final playoff spot in the league. For an example of just how close the playoff race is, only four games separate teams 2-9 in the standings.
Banham has played in all 26 games this year with five starts and is averaging 5.5 points, 1.7 assists, 1.1 rebounds and 0.5 steals per game. She leads the team at the free throw line, making 25 of 27 attempts, or 92.6 percent, which would rank second in the league if she had enough makes to qualify.
After reaching double digits just once in the first 12 games of the year, Banham has scored at least 10 points in five of her last 14 contests. Her standout performance came on June 24 at Indiana when the third-year player went off for a career-high 20 points thanks to hitting all five of her 3-point attempts. On July 3, she went for 11 points and a career-high six assists at Los Angeles and followed that with 11 points and a personal-best six rebounds at Phoenix two days later.
For Amanda Zahui B. and the New York Liberty, they find themselves in 11th place in the league and 6.5 games out of the final playoff spot with a 7-18 record. Zahui B. has played in all 25 games while averaging 7.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 0.6 assists, and 0.4 steals and blocks per contest. She ranks second on the team by shooting 33 percent from 3-point range and is third on New York with a 48.3 shooting percentage from the floor.
On June 24, Zahui B. had a career-high 21 points at Los Angeles as she finished 9-of-15 from the floor. That effort was sandwiched by a 14-point game at Las Vegas and 10 points against Phoenix to give her three straight double-digit games. Most recently, in the final game before the break, she posted 15 points and six rebounds against Whalen and the Lynx.
Minnesota Lynx point guard and Gophers head coach Lindsay Whalen, who was recently profiled by Sports Illustrated, has started all 25 games this season, helping the Lynx to third place in the league standings at 15-10. She leads the team with 3.3 assists per game and is also averaging 5.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.6 steals per contest this year.
Spin move and FINISH 🌪️@Lindsay_13 puts on the moves to get the @minnesotalynx bucket! #WatchMeWork pic.twitter.com/MwLEOqXQbO
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 25, 2018
Since her 17-point performance in the season opener, Whalen has produced four other games where she has reached double-figures in scoring. On July 13 against Las Vegas, she put up a season-high 22 points to go along with six rebounds and five assists for her highest scoring outing since a 24-point game against Seattle in August of 2016. Whalen also matched a season high with nine assists against the Aces on June 24 and recorded 15 points and five steals at Phoenix on June 22.
.@Lindsay_13 was dealin' in Vegas with her 9 dimes! #WNBAvote pic.twitter.com/lao7QVKI1k
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) June 25, 2018
Rachel Banham and the Connecticut Sun enter the All-Star Break with a 14-12 record, which is good enough for the eighth and final playoff spot in the league. For an example of just how close the playoff race is, only four games separate teams 2-9 in the standings.
Banham has played in all 26 games this year with five starts and is averaging 5.5 points, 1.7 assists, 1.1 rebounds and 0.5 steals per game. She leads the team at the free throw line, making 25 of 27 attempts, or 92.6 percent, which would rank second in the league if she had enough makes to qualify.
Career night for @rachelbanham_1 👀
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 25, 2018
Banham goes 5-5 from 3-point range, finishes with 20 PTS in a @ConnecticutSun win! #WatchMeWork pic.twitter.com/lXOO2oLtZ7
After reaching double digits just once in the first 12 games of the year, Banham has scored at least 10 points in five of her last 14 contests. Her standout performance came on June 24 at Indiana when the third-year player went off for a career-high 20 points thanks to hitting all five of her 3-point attempts. On July 3, she went for 11 points and a career-high six assists at Los Angeles and followed that with 11 points and a personal-best six rebounds at Phoenix two days later.
Fun fact: When it's your birthday, you hit back-to-back 3-pointers. It's science. @rachelbanham_1 #FACTS #GetSun pic.twitter.com/34Jwm6P1q9
— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) July 15, 2018
For Amanda Zahui B. and the New York Liberty, they find themselves in 11th place in the league and 6.5 games out of the final playoff spot with a 7-18 record. Zahui B. has played in all 25 games while averaging 7.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 0.6 assists, and 0.4 steals and blocks per contest. She ranks second on the team by shooting 33 percent from 3-point range and is third on New York with a 48.3 shooting percentage from the floor.
A look 👀 @AmandaZahuiB career-high 21 pt game 👏 👏 👏 pic.twitter.com/xR7rPfIX3r
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) June 24, 2018
On June 24, Zahui B. had a career-high 21 points at Los Angeles as she finished 9-of-15 from the floor. That effort was sandwiched by a 14-point game at Las Vegas and 10 points against Phoenix to give her three straight double-digit games. Most recently, in the final game before the break, she posted 15 points and six rebounds against Whalen and the Lynx.
ZAHUI B‼️ FOR THREE‼️
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) July 11, 2018
With that make, @AmandaZahuiB has set a new career-high for 3-pointers in a season 🔥🔥 #ShowUp🗽 pic.twitter.com/fysZFWP14D
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