KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Now four weeks into the WNBA season, Tennessee has an SEC-best seven players in action.
Candace Parker logged her sixth double-double of the season against Phoenix on Wednesday, notching 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Sparks to an 83-74 win. Parker leads the league in rebounding, averaging 9.5 rpg. The Sparks are now tied for the third-best record in the league at 8-3.
Mercedes Russell and the top-ranked Seattle Storm suffered just their second loss of the season on Thursday, falling 90-84 to the Fever. Russell recorded four points and three rebounds in that contest. She has seen action in all 13 games, averaging 3.8 ppg. and 3.1 rpg.
LVFLs Glory Johnson and Shekinna Stricklen, both on the Atlanta Dream, are enduring a nine-game losing skid, falling most recently to Washington on Wednesday, 98-91. Stricklen has started 10 games and is averaging 6.7 ppg. and 1.7 rpg. Johnson has seen action in 10 games, averaging 3.8 ppg. and 3.4 rpg.
Diamond DeShields has helped the Chicago Sky to a 9-4 record, good enough for first place in the Eastern Conference. She’s averaging 6.8 ppg. and 1.5 apg. on the season. On Thursday, she exited the Sky’s game against the Liberty after only two minutes of action due to an apparent injury. Chicago went on to win, 101-85. DeShields’ status for Chicago’s game against the Fever on Saturday has not been announced.
Isabelle Harrison has started in 10 of 12 games for Dallas, averaging 5.3 ppg. and 4.7 rpg. She logged four points and four rebounds in her most recent outing, a 91-84 loss to Minnesota on Wednesday.
As a late addition to the Aces roster, Cierra Burdick has found her way onto the court six times this season, scoring in her two most recent appearances. The Aces own the second-best record in the league at 9-3.
Cierra Burdick
Las Vegas Aces | F | 4th Season
Having signed a contract with the Aces on July 31, Burdick has seen action in six games thus far, scoring two points in each of her last two appearances. The Aces will hit the court again on Saturday, playing at 3 p.m. ET against the top-ranked Storm (ABC, NBA TV Canada).
Diamond DeShields
Chicago Sky | G | 3rd Season
DeShields is averaging 6.8 ppg. and 1.5 apg. through 13 games for the Eastern Conference-leading Chicago Sky. The Sky will be back in action on Saturday, taking on the Fever at 5 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network, The U, Fever.WNBA.com).
Isabelle Harrison
Dallas Wings | F/C | 4th Season
Harrison has started 10 games this season for the Wings and is averaging 18.9 mpg., 5.3 ppg., and 4.7 rpg. Dallas will face off against the Mystics on Friday at 8 p.m. ET (Facebook, Fox Sports Southwest Plus, NBC Sports Washington, NBA TV Canada).
Glory Johnson
Atlanta Dream | F | 8th Season
After missing the start of the season due a positive COVID-19 test, Johnson has since appeared in 10 games for Atlanta, averaging 3.8 ppg. and 3.4 rpg. The Dream will look to turn things around on Friday when they face off against the Sparks at 7 p.m. ET (Twitter, Fox Sports Southeast – Atlanta).
Candace Parker
Los Angeles Sparks | F/C | 13th Season
Parker is currently leading the league in rebounds, averaging 9.5 rpg. to go along with 13.0 ppg. and 3.7 apg. Fresh off a double-double effort in the Sparks’ win over the Mercury on Wednesday, Parker will look to continue that type of productivity on Friday when Los Angeles faces off against the Dream. Game time is set for 7 p.m. ET (Twitter, Fox Sports Southeast – Atlanta).
Mercedes Russell
Seattle Storm | C | 3rd Season
Russell has seen action in all 13 games for the Storm, averaging 3.8 ppg. and 3.1 rpg. Seattle will take the court again Saturday at 3 p.m. ET against Las Vegas (ABC, NBA TV CANADA).
Shekinna Stricklen
Atlanta Dream | G/F | 9th Season
Stricklen has started in 10 games for Atlanta, averaging 6.7 ppg. and 1.7 rpg. The Dream will look to get back in the win column on Friday when they face off against the Sparks at 7 p.m. ET (Twitter, Fox Sports Southeast – Atlanta).
-UT Athletics
