Candace Parker was named Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday for the second time this season following a week in which she averaged 18.5 points, 12 rebounds and six assists per game while leading the Los Angeles Sparks to a 2-0 mark.
The two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player opened the week by registering game highs of 23 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks as the Sparks defeated the Lynx 79-57 on Aug. 2. Parker then nearly recorded a triple-double on Sunday, logging 14 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists as Los Angeles topped the Phoenix Mercury at home, 78-75. During that game she also scored her 5,000th career point, becoming just the 20th player in WNBA history to reach that mark.
In other notable performances by LVFLs, Glory Johnson tallied a double-double on Sunday, recording 10 points, 11 rebounds and four assists as Dallas came up just short of the Washington Mystics, 76-74.
In upcoming WNBA action, three former Lady Vols will hit the court on Tuesday. Jaime Nared and the Aces will look to get back in the win column as they face Atlanta on the road at 7 p.m. ET (NBA TV, Fox Sports South). Fellow rookie Mercedes Russell will also be in action as the first-place Storm plays at Indiana at 7 p.m. ET (League Pass), and Diamond DeShields and the Chicago Sky will host the Minnesota Lynx at 8:30 p.m. ET (Twitter, The U Too).
On Wednesday Parker will look to extend the Sparks’ win streak to three, as they face the Liberty in New York at 7 p.m. ET (League Pass, MSG+, SpecSN), and two former Lady Vols will square off when Johnson and the Wings host Shekinna Stricklen and the Connecticut Sun at 8 p.m. ET (NBA TV, FSSW).
Diamond DeShields
Chicago Sky | G | 1st Season
DeShields has started 27 games for the Sky and is averaging 13.8 ppg. Chicago is currently in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 10-18.
Isabelle Harrison
Las Vegas Aces | F/C | 3rd Season
Harrison remains on the Aces’ roster but is taking a personal leave of absence due to medical reasons, per an April 28 report from the franchise.
Glory Johnson
Dallas Wings | F | 6th Season
Johnson has appeared in 23 games this season, starting 15, and is averaging 8.6 ppg and 6.3 rpg. She posted double-doubles in two of her last three games, logging 11 points and 14 rebounds against Chicago and recording 10 points and 11 rebounds against the Mystics. Dallas is currently residing in fifth place in the Western Conference with a record of 14-14.
Jaime Nared
Las Vegas Aces | G/F | 1st Season
Nared has appeared in 26 games for the Aces, averaging 9.0 mpg, 2.4 ppg and 1.3 rpg. Her season high of 10 points came on June 8 against Atlanta.
Candace Parker
Los Angeles Sparks | F/C | 11th Season
Parker has logged 10 double-doubles on the season and ranks ninth in the WNBA in scoring (18.1 ppg) and seventh in rebounding (7.9 rpg). She leads the Sparks in scoring through 23 games, averaging 17.6 ppg. With a record of 17-11, the Sparks currently rank second in the Western Conference.
Mercedes Russell
Seattle Storm | C | 1st Season
Originally drafted 22nd overall by New York, Russell saw action in two games for the Liberty before signing with Seattle. Through a total of 18 WNBA appearances she is averaging 5.4 mpg, 1.3 rpg and 1.4 ppg. At 22-7, Seattle currently owns the best record in the WNBA.
Shekinna Stricklen
Connecticut Sun | G/F | 7th Season
Stricklen has seen action in 28 games for the Sun, starting 24 and averaging 18.4 mpg and 6.6 ppg. She logged a season-high 24 points on July 22 in a win over Dallas. The Sun is currently in third place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 16-12.
