University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers in the WNBA: Midseason Update
8/20/2020 11:17:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS – As the 2020 WNBA season hits the midway point, it's time to check in on how former Gophers Rachel Banham and Amanda Zahui B. have been performing.
All 12 teams in the league are playing the season in the "Wubble" at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Due to COVID-19, the normal 34-game regular season has been reduced to 22 contests this year.
A native of Lakeville, Banham returned to her home state this February when she was traded to the Minnesota Lynx from the Connecticut Sun. She played in the first nine games of the season -- missing the last two due to a hamstring injury – and is averaging career highs in several categories including points (5.8), rebounds (1.3), assists (2.3), free throw percentage (.900) and minutes (18.2).
She's hit double-digit scoring twice, first with a season-high 13 points against Chicago on July 30 and then recently with 10 points versus Washington on August 11. She had one of her more complete games against Zahui B. and the Liberty on August 5 when she tallied seven points, five assists, three rebounds, a block and a steal in 25 minutes of action.
Minnesota is currently in a three-way tie for second place in the league with an 8-3 record, 2.5 games behind first-place Seattle.
Zahui B. has been a fixture in the Liberty lineup this season, starting all 11 contests so far. She leads the team in both rebounding (8.0 per game) and blocks (1.3), and she is also averaging 10.1 points and 1.5 assists per game. Within the league, Zahui B. ranks fifth in blocks per game and is sixth in rebounds per contest.
One area of her game that she has developed has been her 3-point shooting. She 23-of-59 from long range this year, already setting a career high for 3-pointers made in a season. For context, she made a total of 17 3's in her first three seasons in the WNBA combined and was only 7-of-26 from beyond the arc while playing from the Gophers.
Her 3-point shooting prowess was on display when she made 4-of-9 threes against Washington on August 7, then followed that with a 6-of-9 performance in the next game versus Las Vegas two days later. She had her lone double-double of the season in that game against the Mystics with 14 points and a season-high 14 rebounds, and she scored a season-high 20 points against the Aces.
Zahui B. has six games this year with at least 10 points and three games with at least 10 rebounds for the Liberty, which is in last place at 1-10 on the season.
All 12 teams in the league are playing the season in the "Wubble" at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Due to COVID-19, the normal 34-game regular season has been reduced to 22 contests this year.
A native of Lakeville, Banham returned to her home state this February when she was traded to the Minnesota Lynx from the Connecticut Sun. She played in the first nine games of the season -- missing the last two due to a hamstring injury – and is averaging career highs in several categories including points (5.8), rebounds (1.3), assists (2.3), free throw percentage (.900) and minutes (18.2).
GOLDEN GOPHER
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) July 29, 2020
GOLDEN BUCKETS pic.twitter.com/PgxLw8fdOw
She's hit double-digit scoring twice, first with a season-high 13 points against Chicago on July 30 and then recently with 10 points versus Washington on August 11. She had one of her more complete games against Zahui B. and the Liberty on August 5 when she tallied seven points, five assists, three rebounds, a block and a steal in 25 minutes of action.
𝘽𝙖𝙣𝙝𝙖𝙢 𝘽𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙩𝙨 pic.twitter.com/lIZTTTAo1C
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) August 1, 2020
Minnesota is currently in a three-way tie for second place in the league with an 8-3 record, 2.5 games behind first-place Seattle.
"Ope, let me just sneak right past ya there." -@rachelbanham_1, probably pic.twitter.com/0Lj5wHUzRf
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) August 12, 2020
Zahui B. has been a fixture in the Liberty lineup this season, starting all 11 contests so far. She leads the team in both rebounding (8.0 per game) and blocks (1.3), and she is also averaging 10.1 points and 1.5 assists per game. Within the league, Zahui B. ranks fifth in blocks per game and is sixth in rebounds per contest.
Check out @AmandaZahuiB's best moments of the day. 🗽 pic.twitter.com/4Zl2DrfmGf
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) August 2, 2020
One area of her game that she has developed has been her 3-point shooting. She 23-of-59 from long range this year, already setting a career high for 3-pointers made in a season. For context, she made a total of 17 3's in her first three seasons in the WNBA combined and was only 7-of-26 from beyond the arc while playing from the Gophers.
Back to back 3s from @AmandaZahuiB! 🗽
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) August 9, 2020
Shooting 4-6 from 3PT range in the 1st half. pic.twitter.com/2nOAIe0W5D
Her 3-point shooting prowess was on display when she made 4-of-9 threes against Washington on August 7, then followed that with a 6-of-9 performance in the next game versus Las Vegas two days later. She had her lone double-double of the season in that game against the Mystics with 14 points and a season-high 14 rebounds, and she scored a season-high 20 points against the Aces.
.@AmandaZahuiB says NO 🚫
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 31, 2020
📺: @NBATV pic.twitter.com/1zyeCXz0dy
Zahui B. has six games this year with at least 10 points and three games with at least 10 rebounds for the Liberty, which is in last place at 1-10 on the season.
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