WNBA Overseas Report: February 13


With leagues overseas either in the midst of the playoffs or moving closer to them, let’s take a look at some of the WNBA stars whose championship hopes are still alive.

Sylvia Fowles (Minnesota Lynx) vs. Glory Johnson (Dallas Wings)

Sylvia Fowles and Glory Johnson are two of the multitude of WNBA players who took their talents to China this season, and now their journeys have come to a head as Fowles leads her Beijing Great Wall against Johnson and the Xinjiang Tianshan Deers in the semifinals of the CBA playoffs. In Game 1 of their series on Saturday, Fowles led Beijing to victory with an impressive 30-point, 13-rebound, 4-block performance. On Tuesday, Johnson — who finished Game 1 with 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks — and Xinjiang will try to even the series in Game 2.

Sonja Petrovic, Phoenix Mercury

Last year with the Phoenix Mercury, Sonja Petrovic was a contributor off the bench, chipping in 5.1 points and 2.2 rebounds over 14.8 minutes per night. But in Europe, she is certifiably a star. With the group stage of EuroLeague winding down, Petrovic is second in scoring, third in rebounding, and sixth in three-point percentage, putting up 17.7 points and 8.5 rebounds a night while shooting 44.4 percent from outside. The Serbian guard’s strong play has her ZVVZ USK Praha in second place in Group A, and in strong position to advance to the knockout stage.

Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury

Sticking with Phoenix Mercury players, Brittney Griner has also come on strong in the EuroLeague this year. Through 12 games of the group stage, she’s led her Russian squad, UMMC Ekaterinburg, to a 12-1 record, which has them atop Group B and already safely through to the knockout stage. She’s done it with her trademark dominant play inside, averaging 16.3 points (4th in EuroLeague) on 60.6 percent shooting (2nd in EuroLeague), 6.3 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks (1st in EuroLeague) per game.

Elizabeth Williams, Atlanta Dream

The WNBA’s Most Improved Player in 2016, Williams has carried her success with her to Europe, where she’s been a steady presence for the Russian team Nadezhda Orenburg. In the team’s first 12 games, she’s averaging 10.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game, which is 2nd in EuroLeague. Her play has helped Nadezhda to a 9-3 record, which has them 2nd in Group B and in prime position to advance to the knockout stage as they look to avenge their loss last year in the title game.

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