The WNBA season resumes on Thursday following the month-long Olympic break.
Here are five storylines we’re watching as the race for the postseason intensifies.
How far can Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston take the Fever?
Indiana has come a long way from its 1-8 start. The Fever are 10-7 in their last 17 games, and the team’s turnaround has been fueled by the last two No. 1 overall picks of the WNBA Draft in Boston and Clark.
During the team’s first nine games, Boston averaged 11 points on 45.2 percent shooting, 6.8 rebounds and fewer than one block per game. Since June 1, Boston has averaged 15.9 points (56.9 percent shooting), 9.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.
Meanwhile, Clark averaged fewer points during the Fever’s turnaround but has a better shooting percentage, more rebounds and assists and fewer turnovers per game since the start of the season.
The Fever (11-15) are seventh in the WNBA standings and three games ahead of the Dream (7-17) for the league’s final playoff spot.
“Barbie and Chen” lead the Sky
Clark’s main Rookie of the Year competition is Angel Reese, a double-double machine in the season’s first half. Earlier this season, Reese set the WNBA record for most consecutive double-doubles (15). The former LSU Tiger is second in the league in total rebounds per game (11.9) and first in offensive rebounds (4.9).
The “Barbie” nickname she earned at LSU traveled with her to Chicago, where she found her “Ken” on the basketball court. Guard Chennedy Carter has become the team’s go-to scoring threat.
Per Her Hoop Stats, Carter has the league’s third-highest usage rate (28.9 percent). She’s made a career-high 51.8 percent of her field goal attempts while averaging 17.2 points per game, her most since her rookie season (17.4).
Marina Mabrey’s impact on the Sun
With Carter taking her game to the next level, the Sky sent guard Marina Mabrey to the Sun on July 17. The six-year WNBA veteran could be the piece Connecticut needs to win its first league title.
The Sun have been the best defensive team this season, allowing the fewest points per game (72.9) in the league, but the offense has lagged. They rank eighth in scoring (79.8 points per game), with their three-point attack sorely lacking.
Connecticut is 10th in three-point attempts (424), makes (133) and percentage (31.4 percent). Mabrey is a career 35.9 percent shooter from beyond the arc and is 35 percent this season.
The biggest question about the fit is how Mabrey and guard DiJonai Carrington will coexist. The two have had a few dustups as rivals in the past, and both must bury the hatchet for the trade to work for the Sun.
International Olympic stars look for roster spots
The Olympics were an excellent showcase for some of the top unsigned WNBA talent, including Gabby Williams of the French national team.
The former UConn guard (2014-15 through 2017-18) finished the Olympics averaging 15.5 points, 4.8 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game. She nearly sent Sunday’s gold medal game between the USA and France to overtime with a last-second field goal.
Williams’ foot was inches past the three-point line, which gave the U.S. a 67-66 win. As close as she was to sending the game to overtime, Williams should be even closer to a WNBA roster spot.
One team we can likely cross off her list is the Sky. Reese recently implored Williams to sign with the franchise, which Williams shut down.
