Lady Vols in the WNBA update: August 7

Lady Vols in WNBA / Credit: UT Athletics

Lady Vols in the WNBA update: August 7

Lady Vols in WNBA / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. —  As the WNBA closes out its second week of competition, Tennessee has an SEC-best seven players in action.

The most recent addition to a WNBA roster is Cierra Burdick, who after having a successful season averaging 15.3 ppg. and 10.1 rpg. over 21 games playing for Sleza Wroclaw in Poland, signed with the Las Vegas Aces on July 31.

Three Lady Vols played in a thriller on Thursday, as Seattle and Atlanta slugged it out with Western Conference leader Seattle ultimately prevailing, 93-92. Mercedes Russell helped the Storm secure the win, playing 10 minutes and chipping in four points and three rebounds. Shekinna Stricklen started for the Dream, logging six points, two rebounds and an assist in the effort, while teammate Glory Johnson came off the bench to tally three points, seven rebounds and two steals in just under 20 minutes of action.

Narrowly missing a double-double in her last outing, Isabelle Harrison notched 12 points and nine rebounds in the Wings’ 91-68 loss to Connecticut on Thursday.

Candace Parker is coming off a double-double performance in the Sparks’ 86-75 win over the Fever on Wednesday, accruing a team-high 18 points and 11 rebounds. Los Angeles currently occupies seventh place in the league with a 3-2 record.

Diamond DeShields has seen action in every game for Eastern Conference leader Chicago, most recently logging seven points, two rebounds and a steal in the Sky’s 96-86 loss to the Aces on Thursday.

Cierra Burdick

Having signed a contract with the Aces on July 31, Burdick saw her first game action in Las Vegas’ 83-77 win over the Mystics on Wednesday. The Aces will hit the court again on Friday, playing at 9 p.m. ET against the Sparks (ESPN 2).

Diamond DeShields

DeShields is averaging 6.8 ppg. and 2.5 apg. through six games for the Eastern Conference-leading Chicago Sky. She will be in action again at 5 p.m. on Saturday when the Sky takes on the Sun (NBA TV [tape delay], NESN+, The U, NBA TV Canada).

Isabelle Harrison

Harrison has started four games this season for the Wings and is averaging 15.0 mpg., 5.3 ppg., and 4.3 rpg. Dallas is currently in sixth place in the West with a record of 2-4. They’ll match up with Atlanta at noon ET on Sunday (ESPN 2).

Glory Johnson

After missing the start of the season due a positive COVID-19 test, Johnson has since appeared in four games for Atlanta, averaging 2.5 ppg. and 3.3 rbg. She’ll hit the court again on Saturday when the Dream faces off against the Wings at noon ET (ESPN 2).

Candace Parker

Through five games Parker is averaging a double-double on the season with 13.6 ppg. and 10.0 rpg. Her 10.0 rpg. ranks third in the league, and her 1.6 bpg. ranks fourth. Fresh off a double-double effort in the Sparks’ win over the Indiana Fever on Wednesday, Parker will look to continue that type of productivity on Friday when Los Angeles faces off against Las Vegas. Game time is set for 9 p.m. ET (ESPN 2).

Mercedes Russell

Russell has seen action in all six games for the Western Conference-leading Storm, averaging 4.0 ppg. and 4.0 rpg. Seattle’s next game will be at 3 p.m. on Sunday against Phoenix (ABC, TSN2).

Shekinna Stricklen

Stricklen has started in all six games thus far for the Atlanta Dream, averaging 24.3 mpg, 8.5 ppg., and shooting a perfect 100 percent from the free-throw line. Her next game is Saturday against the Wings at noon ET (ESPN 2).

-UT Athletics

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