Commissioner’s Cup play continues with a four-game Sunday slate

June isn’t simply the primary month of summer season; it’s additionally the beginning of Commissioner’s Cup play within the WNBA.

Issues kicked off with the Indiana Fever beating the Chicago Sky 71-70 on Saturday, and now we now have 4 video games scheduled for Sunday. Earlier than we preview the motion, here’s a fast rundown on how Commissioner’s Cup play works.

All video games performed from June 1 to June 13 will likely be Commissioner’s Cup video games. Every workforce will play 5 video games, one towards every of its in-conference rivals. Groups will play three Commissioner’s Cup video games at house and two on the street, or vice versa. The workforce from every convention with the highest document in Commissioner’s Cup video games will compete for a $500,000 prize pool within the Commissioner’s Cup Championship on June 25 on the area of the workforce with the perfect document in Cup play.

Easy sufficient? Let’s get into the Sunday video games.

Is thrashing the Solar a Dream?

The Atlanta Dream will likely be internet hosting the Connecticut Solar and trying to beat the Solar, one thing no workforce has completed thus far in 2024.

They’ll want Rhyne Howard to go bonkers and certain want a giant recreation from Allisha Grey to get the job completed. The Solar have had many shut video games, however have pulled victories out. If their forwards proceed to attain in double figures and so they get sufficient manufacturing from their guards, they need to come out of Atlanta with a win.

Embrace the mid

Not each recreation on the schedule will likely be a basic, and this matchup between the 2-5 Los Angeles Sparks and the 3-5 Phoenix Mercury shouldn’t be essentially the most thrilling on paper.

Positive, Sparks’ rookies Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson are enjoyable to look at, and the Mercury have proficient gamers comparable to Kahleah Copper and Diana Taurasi, however these groups simply aren’t deep sufficient prime to backside to win many video games.

Somebody must win on Sunday, and it is going to be fascinating to see which facet performs nicely sufficient to get the end result. Nevertheless, given their play up to now, it’s unlikely both workforce is a contender for the Commissioner’s Cup.

Caitlin Clark performs once more

Welcome to the WNBA, Caitlin Clark! Again-to-backs and video games stacked on prime of one another till the season ends. The Fever simply received a tricky matchup versus the Sky, and their reward is enjoying the Liberty on the street.

A win right here will likely be robust for Indiana as they’ve misplaced each occasions they’ve performed New York, and neither recreation has been notably shut. For the Fever to tug off an upset, they’ll want an outstanding Clark scoring efficiency and Aliyah Boston and NaLyssa Smith to dominate the paint and seize a lot of the boards.

How good is Minnesota?

The Lynx have received 5 of their first seven video games and look able to contend. Napheesa Collier is a strolling double-double machine, and with Courtney Williams operating the offense, they’re buzzing like a well-oiled machine.

The Wings are at .500 however have had some high quality wins, and with Arike Ogunbowale as the perfect scorer within the league, they’ll all the time have an opportunity to beat any prime workforce. Nevertheless, a victory on Sunday must come on the street in Minnesota, and solely the defending champs, the Las Vegas Aces, have been ready to try this this 12 months.

Sport info

Atlanta Dream (4-2) vs. Connecticut Solar (7-0)

When: Sunday, June 2 at 3 p.m. ET

The place: Gateway Middle Area in School Park, GA

Methods to watch: WNBA League Go

Dream harm report: Jordin Canada (out; hand)

Solar harm report: none

Phoenix Mercury (3-5) vs. Los Angeles Sparks (2-5)

When: Sunday, June 2 at 6 p.m. ET

The place: Footprint Middle in Phoenix, AZ

Methods to watch: WNBA League Go

Mercury harm report: Rebecca Allen (out; concussion protocol), Brittney Griner (out; toe)

Sparks harm report: Azurá Stevens (out; left arm), Layshia Clarendon (out; concussion protocol)

New York Liberty (6-2) vs. Indiana Fever (2-8)

When: Sunday, June 2 at 7 p.m. ET

The place: Barclays Middle in Brooklyn, NY

Methods to watch: NBA TV

Liberty harm report: Nyara Sabally (out;), Courtney Vandersloot (out; again)

Fever harm report: Temi Fagbenle (out; foot), Damiris Dantas (out; knee)

Minnesota Lynx (5-2) vs. Dallas Wings (3-3)

When: Sunday, June 2 at 7 p.m. ET

The place: Goal Middle in Minneapolis, MN

Methods to watch: CBSSN

Lynx harm report: Diamond Miller (out; knee), Cecilia Zandalasini (day-to-day;)

Wings harm report: Natasha Howard(out; foot), Satou Sabally (out; shoulder)