WNBA 2021 Season Preview
As the 2021 WNBA season approaches, this article will attempt to give an overarching view of some of the year to come in the WNBA. After a unique 2020 campaign, we have another one on tap due to the Summer Olympics interruption in July, cutting the season from 34 to 32 games. This also means there will likely be players coming and going at various times to participate for their respective countries. Regardless, it should be another fun season ahead!
Odds
Unsurprisingly, the
Las Vegas Aces and
Seattle Storm – last year s WNBA Finals participants – are the two favorites to bring home the championship again this season. Seattle holds a slight betting edge on all four of the sites RotoWire tracks, but the Aces and
Healthy Sylvia Fowles set to lead Lynx in home opener vs. Mercury
Field Level Media
The Phoenix Mercury and the Minnesota Lynx both have high expectations entering the WNBA season.
The Lynx, who rallied from an 11-point, third-quarter deficit to beat the Mercury 80-79 in a quarterfinal playoff elimination game last September, host the Mercury in the season opener for both teams Friday night.
Minnesota, which lost to eventual champion Seattle 3-0 in the semifinals, was 14-8 during the regular season.
Though three-time All-Star Kayla McBride, a key free-agent addition, and All-Defensive selection Napheesa Collier are expected to miss at least the opener after returning from overseas, reigning WNBA Coach of the Year Cheryl Reeve still has plenty work with.
Five notable WNBA players to watch this season
After spending the 2020 season in a bubble at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., WNBA teams return to their home markets in 2021 for the league’s 25th season. With players returning from injuries and time away or finding themselves on a new team, there are plenty of storylines to follow as the year unfolds. Here are five notable players to watch this season.
Brianne Spiker, TSN.ca Staff Sabrina Ionescu , The Canadian Press
After spending the 2020 season in a bubble at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., WNBA teams return to their home markets in 2021 for the league’s 25th season. With players returning from injuries and time away or finding themselves on a new team, there are plenty of storylines to follow as the year unfolds. Here are five notable players to watch this season.
GRUSYS, Irene Dawn
It is with heavy hearts that the family
of Irene Grusys (nee Thomas) announce her passing on Wednesday May 5, 2021
at the Lady Dunn Health Centre, Wawa, Ontario. She leaves behind her husband,
Felix, of more than 42 years of marriage along with her sons, Derek (Masae) and
Darren. Proud grandmother of her beautiful grandson, Winston, and her special
granddaughter, Elise. She was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, on March
24, 1945, to the late Joseph and Mildred (nee Snyder) Thomas, pioneering
residents of Wawa. She is survived by her older brother, Joseph Mark Thomas of
California and predeceased by her sister, Bertha “Bertie” Markovich (late
One Big Question Heading Into 2021
How good can this “Big 3” be? When Griner exited the single-site after just one game, she had been the Mercury’s leading scorer and rebounder. Taurasi, now 39, led the team in scoring with just over 18 PPG, as her and Diggins-Smith tag-teamed the load of taking this team as far as it could go. But with Griner back in the mix, alongside other pieces like Brianna Turner contributing, what’s the ceiling for this group? Phoenix can be as good as its “Big 3” deems.
WNBA Draft Ranking
Following the 2021 WNBA Draft, Michelle Smith ranked every team’s draft decisions. She rated Phoenix 11th out of the 12 WNBA teams.