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There has been a lot of movement in this year&#8217;s offseason and a lot of key players leaving teams they have been on their entire careers.
Some of the best performers from last season are currently on a different roster &#8211; or still unsigned &#8212; in 2023.
That includes:
<ul>
<li>5 of the Top 20 leaders in PPG last season.</li>
<li>7 of the Top 20 leaders in APG last season.</li>
<li>7 of the Top 20 leads in RPG last season.</li>
</ul>
The list of high-profile players who have changed teams includes <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2998928/breanna-stewart">Breanna Stewart</a>, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/812/candace-parker">Candace Parker</a>, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2999101/jonquel-jones">Jonquel Jones</a> and <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/981/courtney-vandersloot">Courtney Vandersloot</a>. But with so many big-name fantasy players switching teams how could this impact their production this season?
<h2>New York is loaded</h2>
The Liberty have added the top scorer from last season (Stewart), the 2nd-leader in assists last year (Vandersloot) and a Top 5 rebounder (Jones) from 2022. All of this on top of having <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/4066533/sabrina-ionescu">Sabrina Ionescu</a> who led New York herself in scoring and assists.
<a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2998928/breanna-stewart">Breanna Stewart</a>, F (39.1 projected fantasy PPG)
When it comes to Stewart, joining a team with other super stars shouldn&#8217;t impact her numbers too much, if at all. She was the leading scorer in all six career seasons with the Storm averaging 18+ PPG in each year. She&#8217;s versatile and can play with just about anyone.
A great example is when the Storm added <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/918/tina-charles">Tina Charles</a> (2021 leading scorer) to the roster midseason last year. It barely impacted Stewart&#8217;s production. She still averaged 21.6 PPG, 7.5 APG, 2.5 APG, and 1.9 3-pt FG per game after the addition of Charles (22.0 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 3.3 APG, 2.0 3-pt FG per game).
If you are looking for someone to draft with your first pick, I wouldn&#8217;t worry about Stewart&#8217;s numbers being affected; she will still be one of the highest scoring fantasy players in the league.
<a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/981/courtney-vandersloot">Courtney Vandersloot</a>, G (26.6 projected fantasy PPG)
The four-time All-Star, Vandersloot is joining a new roster for the first time in her career and she&#8217;s joining a team who already had an All-Star point guard in Ionescu.
The good news for Vandersloot is that Ionescu played well off ball as a catch and shoot player last season. Ionescu averaged 1.09 points per play on catch and shoot plays compared to just 0.86 off the dribble, according to Synergy.
This means the Vandersloot can assume the point guard position and focus on facilitating, similar to her roll when she was with the Sky. This also means that Ionescu could still be an elite fantasy player and focus more on rebounding and scoring instead of being the primary facilitator.
<a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2999101/jonquel-jones">Jonquel Jones</a>, F (31.3 projected fantasy PPG)
The 2021 MVP&#8217;s numbers were down last season and a lot of that was due to playing on a team with a lot of talent surrounding her. She was on a team with four other career All-Stars, which meant the Sun had to use a more balanced scoring attack, reducing Jones&#8217; productivity. This year&#8217;s Liberty team has a lot of talent as well, and this could cause her productivity to be similar to last season.
<h2>Other notables in new places</h2>
<a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/812/candace-parker">Candace Parker</a>, F, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/_/name/lv/las-vegas-aces">Las Vegas Aces</a> (32.0 projected fantasy PPG)
The two-time MVP will most likely take the spot of <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2566106/dearica-hamby">Dearica Hamby</a> in the Aces&#8217; starting lineup. This is great news for <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3149391/aja-wilson">A&#8217;ja Wilson</a> because Parker is a better 3-point shooter than Hamby and will force the defense to stretch out to give Wilson more one-on-one matchups in the post and mid-range. Parker is also a better facilitator, which could help getting Wilson more touches in her spots. I see Wilson having another monster year.
The Aces roster from last season not only had three players averaging 15+ PPG, but also three players averaging 3+ APG. Because of depth in scoring and facilitating on this squad among the starting lineup, Parker&#8217;s numbers could be negatively impacted. It could take some time for her to figure out her role since the Aces already have so many stars who are familiar with their roles from last season.
<a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2529130/natasha-howard">Natasha Howard</a>, F, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/_/name/dal/dallas-wings">Dallas Wings</a> (31.9 projected fantasy PPG)
Howard was the 2nd-leading scorer on the Liberty last season and was traded to the Wings this offseason. She is joining a roster with one of the best shooting guards in the league in <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3904577/arike-ogunbowale">Arike Ogunbowale</a> and a true center in <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3913903/teaira-mccowan">Teaira McCowan</a>. This could impact her scoring numbers negatively. But she could make up for that with her rebounding since four of the six top rebounders from last year are no longer on the Wings roster. I would expect her fantasy numbers to take a slight dip with this team.
<a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3904576/marina-mabrey">Marina Mabrey</a>, G, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/_/name/chi/chicago-sky">Chicago Sky</a> (29.3 projected fantasy PPG)
Mabrey was traded to the Sky in the offseason and this could be one of the best moves the Sky made. It also could be a perfect role for Mabrey, who is a great 3-point shooter. Chicago needed a 3-point threat since they lost 71% of their 3-point production from last season. I expect Mabrey to put up career numbers this year and be one of the league leaders in 3-pointers made.
<a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3058901/allisha-gray">Allisha Gray</a>, G, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/_/name/atl/atlanta-dream">Atlanta Dream</a> (27.6 projected fantasy PPG)
Gray is joining a very young Atlanta team and she brings some experience to this roster. She will help replace <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/1054/tiffany-hayes">Tiffany Hayes</a>, the 2nd-leading scorer from their team last season. The Dream&#8217;s offense struggled in 2022, averaging 78.5 PPG (11th in league), and Gray&#8217;s experience and offensive prowess could be utilized a lot more on this roster.
<a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/1054/tiffany-hayes">Tiffany Hayes</a>, G, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/_/name/conn/connecticut-sun">Connecticut Sun</a> (26.6 projected fantasy PPG)
Hayes could be a great addition to the Sun, who had no one scoring more than 15+ PPG last season. Connecticut also lost guard <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2987891/courtney-williams">Courtney Williams</a> in free agency, but this could be a perfect fit for Hayes since she is an elite scoring guard who can fill in that spot. She also is a three-point threat which the Sun needed considering they averaged just 6.4 threes per game in 2022 (11th in the league). She could be a player that has a breakout season with this Connecticut squad.
<a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2987891/courtney-williams">Courtney Williams</a>, G, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/_/name/chi/chicago-sky">Chicago Sky</a> (24.2 projected fantasy PPG)
Williams signed with a depleted Sky team in the offseason. Chicago needs offense considering four of their five leading scorers from last season did not return for 2023. This means that Williams could have a great opportunity to be a primary scorer for this team which she didn&#8217;t have last year with the stacked Sun.
<a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/2566106/dearica-hamby">Dearica Hamby</a>, F, <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/_/name/la/los-angeles-sparks">Los Angeles Sparks</a>
Hamby was traded by the Aces to the Sparks this offseason and she will be coming back from giving birth to her son in March. There is no timetable for Hamby&#8217;s return to play this season, but she is expected to return. You could possibly add her to your roster later in the season and she could be a great role player to have. She will be playing alongside an elite forward in <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/1068/nneka-ogwumike">Nneka Ogwumike</a>. Hamby is used to playing with great forwards since she&#8217;s played with <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3149391/aja-wilson">A&#8217;ja Wilson</a> over the last five seasons and she&#8217;s averaged 10.2 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.7 APG, and 1.1 SPG over that span.
Sign up <a href="https://fantasy.espn.com/womens-basketball/welcome?addata=digital_gameopen_wnba)">HERE</a> to play ESPN Fantasy Women’s Basketball!

fantasy-womens-basketball-impact-of-big-names-on-new-teams

Fantasy Women's Basketball: Impact of Big Names on New Teams

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2023 Free Agency List

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A collection of sponsorship deals, endorsements, and announcements to reveal milestones that these players are achieving.
As players and fans settle into the off-season, there&#8217;s been a temporary pause in action-packed moments from games being shared online. The &#8220;quieter&#8221; coverage of the WNBA allows original, player-created content to shine, but their recent business-related moves are often overshadowed by sports-related coverage. Combining their growing popularity with diverse personal styles, players use an entrepreneurial approach when taking their public image beyond the realm of sports or innovating upon traditional athlete deals. 
While many players head overseas to play during their off-season, other players are inspired to think out of the box by learning new trades or hustling to negotiate brand deals. The last few years of the WNBA have revealed an increasing number of players who are joining prestigious sportswear &#8220;families,&#8221; and there are actually even more WNBA players with brand deals than fans would expect: a <a href="https://sponsorunited.com/women-sports-2022-report/">2022 study on female professional athletes</a> and collegiate NIL athletes found that 3,500 brands bought a total of 5,650 sponsorships in 14 different leagues. 
Navigating traditional sports-related deals, as well as contemporary fashion, beauty, and wellness brands, the rise of entrepreneurship helps players in reaching audiences outside of basketball. When stylish brands like Glossier and Savage x Fenty select players as their brand ambassadors, it confirms that WNBA stars are inspirational figures who can influence non-sports fans. While partnership deals across women’s sports have increased <a href="https://sponsorunited.com/women-sports-2022-report/">20% year-over-year across major U.S. sports</a> (LPGA, NWSL, WNBA, WTA), there&#8217;s a large opportunity for more non-sports brands to invest in female athletes. 
Presenting a summary of innovative deals and unconventional business announcements from WNBA players, this article is the first in a two-part series that explores athlete image. From major, multi-year contracts with leading sportswear brands to custom content in brand ambassador deals, the diverse expressions of these players reflect in their entrepreneurial journeys. Next week, check back for a second article that analyzes these deals through exclusive brand and player insights. 
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Moolah Kicks Launches Two Stylish Players as Brand Ambassadors
Founded in 2020 by Boston College graduate Natalie White, and Moolah<a href="https://www.instagram.com/moolahkicks/"> Kicks</a> is the first basketball sneaker brand built exclusively for women. On October 20, 2022, they signed <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dh3nny/">Destanni Henderson</a> of the Indiana Fever as one of its first ambassadors for the new Neovolt Pro shoe. Recently, on November 22, 2022, Moolah Kicks also signed <a href="https://www.instagram.com/courtneywilliams10/">Courtney Williams</a> of the Connecticut Sun; both players will hoop in the Neovolt Pro in the 2023 WNBA season. 
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Allisha Gray Embarks on a Restaurant Venture 
On September 28, 2022, Dallas Wings player <a href="https://www.instagram.com/graytness_15/">Allisha Gray</a> went on <a href="https://twitter.com/graytness_15/status/1573450229525155840">Twitter</a> to announce her exciting off-season purchase: a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wnbfactory_official/">WNB Factory</a> franchise in Milledgeville, GA. Although Gray isn&#8217;t from Milledgeville, she is an alumna of Washington County High School in nearby Sandersville. While sports fans frequently travel to athlete-owned restaurants, Gray joins a short list of WNBA restaurant owners that includes Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Deanna Nolan, Alana Beard, Marissa Coleman, and Angel McCoughtry.
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Two Rising Star Players Named to Forbes 30 Under 30
Across the buzzy <a href="https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30/2022/sports">Forbes 30 Under 30</a> on Tuesday, Dallas Wings player <a href="https://www.instagram.com/arike_ogunbowale/">Arike Ogunbowale</a> and New York Liberty player <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sabrina_i/">Sabrina Ionescu</a> were honored on its Sports List. Ogunbowale&#8217;s feature on Forbes mentions her work as a founding member of LeBron James’ ‘More Than a Vote’ initiative and as an investor in Just Women’s Sports. At 25 years old, Ogunbowale has also exhibited on-court excellence at Notre Dame and as a WNBA All-Star. Ionescu’s feature pays respects to her first All-Star recognition, as well as her work as an ambassador for Boardroom, Kevin Durant’s media company, and as a strategic partner with Durant’s Thirty-Five Ventures. 
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Chiney Ogwumike Co-launches the Women’s International Pickleball Association 
During the espnW Women + Sports Summit on November 2, 2022, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/chiney/">Chiney Ogwumike</a> of the Los Angeles Sparks announced the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wipapickleball/">Women’s International Pickleball Association</a>. Alongside co-founders Rachel Hong, pickleball pro, and Allison Galer, Disrupt the Game president, Ogwumike spoke about empowering aspiring women athletes in the sport. The WIPA notes that it’s one of the fastest-growing games in the world, and with Ogwumike&#8217;s input, the group will create an ecosystem for serving success. 
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Sabrina Ionescu Returns to UO as Director of Athletic Culture
Taking on a part-time job for the off-season, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sabrina_i/">Sabrina Ionescu</a> of the New York Liberty has been named as the Director of Athletic Culture at the University of Oregon. Working with the Oregon Ducks&#8217; women&#8217;s basketball coach Kelly Graves, Ionescu will aid with student-athlete development, as well as work as a resource for current and future students. 
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Kelsey Plum Joins the Under Armour Roster 
Announced on November 2, Las Vegas Aces player <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kelseyplum10/">Kelsey Plum</a> made waves on social media with news that she&#8217;s joining the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/underarmour/">Under Armour</a> roster of athletes. Sharing a passion for growing the game for the next generation of women in sports, Plum and Under Armour strive to achieve more than the standard brand partnership. While Plum previously signed a multi-year agreement with Nike in 2017, her stellar performance has made her a highly coveted player for any brand. 
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Han Xu Receives Official Co-Signs from Nike and Glossier 
This week, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hanxu_521/">Han Xu</a> of the New York Liberty announced that she&#8217;s a Nike athlete. As the first Chinese player drafted to the WNBA in 22 years, Han is in a unique position to increase WNBA&#8217;s fanbase in China. Shared on the <a href="https://www.thenexthoops.com/features/locked-on-womens-basketball-fiba-womens-world-cup-final-draws-record-eyes/">Locked on Women’s Basketball podcast</a>, the final game in the FIBA Women&#8217;s World Cup between USA and China was up 227% with an average of 446,000 viewers. Earlier in October, Han also made a rare Instagram post announcing that she&#8217;s also a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/glossier/">Glossier</a> partner. 
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Breanna Stewart Utilizes the Benefits of Therabody
Under a multiyear deal with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/therabody/">Therabody</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/breannastewart30/">Breanna Stewart</a> of the Seattle Storm has shared work-out and recovery tips as an athlete ambassador. Apart from creating original content, Stewart previously invested in Therabody during the company’s funding round, joining investors like Kevin Durant and James Harden. While Stewart has used Therabody after her Achilles surgery, she&#8217;s also spoken out about its benefits during her periods and raised awareness for the impact of menstrual symptoms on female athletes.
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DiJonai Carrington Creates Content for Savage x Fenty Deal
Beginning in January of 2022, Connecticut Sun player <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dijonai__/">DiJonai Carrington</a> has maintained an endorsement deal with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/savagexfenty">Savage X Fenty</a>. Creating original content of herself in the brand&#8217;s garments, Carrington joins an elite rank of traditional style influencers who represent the energy of Rihanna’s lingerie brand. Carrington mentions her endorsement deal in a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/24/sports/basketball/wnba-style-fashion-marketing.html">New York Times article</a> on marketing in the W before revealing her game-day beauty routine. 
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Aari McDonald returns to Arizona as Director of Recruiting Operations
Atlanta Dream guard <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarimcdonald/?hl=en">Aari McDonald</a> will return to her alma mater and work with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/arizonawbasketball/?hl=en">Arizona</a>&#8216;s women&#8217;s basketball team as their Director of Recruiting Operations. Rather than venturing overseas, McDonald will be on-campus during the offseason. McDonald expressed her excitement about the opportunity to go back to Tuscon on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkUqxZ1gqz1/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=">Instagram</a>.
*This article highlights a select few players and does does not represent all players that have created marketing deals.
WNBA reporter Kirsten Chen writes a lifestyle &amp; fashion column on WNBA.com throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter through @hotgothwriter. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.

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The W in Designer: Exploring Athlete Image in the Off-Season (Part I)

Post-game press conference with select players and head coaches from<a href="https://www.wnba.com/game/20220918/LVACON/"> Las Vegas Aces </a>vs. Connecticut Sun in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals Presented by YouTubeTV

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Aces and Sun Postgame Press Conference - Game 4

Every Connecticut Sun starter scored in Double-Figures as they win Game 3 despite Jackie Young&#8217;s 22 points. Alyssa Thomas put up the 1st Triple-Double in WNBA Finals History, recording 16 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists. Game 4 is Sunday in Connecticut as the Aces remain up 2-1.

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Game Recap: Aces 76, Sun 105

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In the waning seconds of the 2nd quarter during Game Two of the WNBA Finals, Las Vegas Aces’ Head Coach, Becky Hammon, dove deep into her bag to open up an easy look and notch another two points on the board before the half.
Down double digits with under three minutes remaining, the Sun put together a run heading into halftime. It started with Jonquel Jones’ deep seal in the paint and finish off a high-low pass and a Courtney Williams floater crashing the backside of the play. Then an Alyssa Thomas up and under through traffic in the paint, a Bri Jones trip to the line, and finally another Jonquel Jones seal early in transition led to Connecticut closing a 13-point gap to 6.
They’d found traction, picking apart Vegas’ zone defense and establishing a rhythm while holding their own on the other end. They weren’t taking the quick shots that plagued them much of the game, resulting in less time to set their defense on the other end of the court.
With 19.3 seconds left on the clock, Hammon calls for a timeout. The Sun have the momentum; they’re clawing back in in a replicable way; they’re not fluke baskets.
Then we get some quality trickery from Hammon and Chelsea Gray on a stellar ATO (After Timeout Play), something Hammon has shown an immense aptitude for throughout the season and in this particular series.
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There’s a ton to take away from this play, both in its minutiae and the grand scheme of the game. For starters, A’ja Wilson scores with a silky smooth up and under, taking Bri Jones to task around the rim.
In totality, this play cemented, for me, the game for the Aces. Games are rarely won or lost in a singular play, but this felt akin to a boxer smiling at their opponent with blood streaming down their face. Las Vegas took Connecticut’s best shot, didn’t grimace, and proceeded to take increasing control of the game from there on out. I can’t imagine how frustrating it is to put together a run as the Sun did and then have that play pick you apart and deflate you right before the half.
Gray receives the inbounds pass from Jackie Young, who spaces to the near corner. Riquna Williams and Wilson are set in the slot to deliver a pair of staggered screens for Kelsey Plum to scamper around or through out of the far corner.
Gray holds the ball until the 10-second mark hits the clock and starts to dribble down Alyssa Thomas, occupied by the mimicked isolation. <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.wnba.com/news/the-wizardry-of-chelsea-gray/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">With how Gray plays</a>, there’s no relaxation found when she has the ball anywhere.
With the Sun playing their jumbo lineup (One guard and four frontcourt players), the Aces can make things mucky with something that’s been a staple for them all season but shone brightly in their offense in Game Two; guard screening. Using their bevy of ball-handlers and shooters to screen for Wilson, the Aces can get her an extra half or full step advantage which is all she needs to get to her spots around the elbow or the rim with her fluidity and footwork.
Throughout the game up to this point, Wilson has been screened for three times, twice by guards, and that’s just on her eight field goal attempts prior.
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Courtney Williams had top-locked Plum most of the game prior, essentially playing over-top instead of straight up to try and deny her the ball coming off of a screen. The play uses that to take advantage of the defense, with neither Riquna Williams nor Wilson making contact on their screens with Courtney Williams, allowing Plum to drag her across the floor while still being denied, and then making contact to screen Jonquel Jones.
As the Sun are in their jumbo lineup, and the Aces are in a smaller lineup with Wilson as the only big on the court, Connecticut is in a bit of a bind. Bri Jones has to be cognizant of Riquna Williams sinking to the corner off the stagger. Jonquel Jones sticks the screen from Plum, perhaps anticipating that Wilson will step back to her left to receive the ball from Gray, much like she did earlier in the second quarter.
There’s the miscalculation, that extra step provided by the defense trying to predict what will happen. Wilson glides to the paint. Gray slings a rocket pass with precision. Jones squared, attempting to recover, and that’s all she wrote.
“I thought they were over-helping (during the game) on a cutter, so I wanted to slip someone to the basket,” said Hammon after the game on her decision to run that play.
The way the Aces used their guards to make it that much harder for the Sun to get comfortable defensively is, in my mind, the biggest difference between game one and two. Plum made her driving a decisive factor in the game. Still, her aggression as a screener and how it made the defense think was pivotal in causing some micro-moments of chaos and confusion for Connecticut’s defense. 
The Sun defense was on their heels much of the game, and there are certainly areas that can be cleaned up, including individual guard defense. However, Game Two, to me, was more a brilliant showcase of the flexibility, talent, and basketball feel that the Aces players and coaching staff collectively possess.
WNBA reporter Mark Schindler writes a column on <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="http://wnba.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WNBA.com</a> throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at @MG_Schindler. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.

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WNBA Finals Game 2: A Showcase of the Aces' Dynamism

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<div class="metadata-value description-text no-animate">Post-game press conference with select players and head coaches from Connecticut Sun vs. Las Vegas Aces in Game 2 in the 2022 WNBA Finals Presented by YouTubeTV</div>
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Sun and Aces Postgame Press Conference - Game 2

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Once the Connecticut Sun made their historic comeback against the Chicago Sky to win Game 5 of the Semi-Finals and advance to meet the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA Finals, it was time to start breaking down the championship matchup.
In previewing the impending series, we looked at <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-finals-2022-preview-1-las-vegas-aces-vs-3-connecticut-sun/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">key questions</a>, <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-finals-2022-preview-1-las-vegas-aces-vs-3-connecticut-sun/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">individual matchups</a>, <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-finals-2022-10-stats-you-need-to-know/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statistics</a>, and <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://go.nba.com/m5i19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previous meetings</a> to guide our projections of how the Finals may play out. But, of course, all of this analysis is just on paper. How would the actual games compare to what we thought might happen?
We got our first impression on Sunday as the <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.wnba.com/video/game-recap-aces-67-sun-64/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aces edged out the Sun</a>, <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://stats.wnba.com/game/1042200301/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">67-64</a>, to take Game 1 of the 2022 WNBA Finals presented by YouTube TV in front of a sellout crowd at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. Here are five key lessons learned from Sunday&#8217;s action.
1. Connecticut imposed their style of play on Las Vegas … but Las Vegas still got the win
This series presents a clear strength vs. strength matchup: Las Vegas&#8217; high-powered offense against Connecticut&#8217;s stingy defense. The Aces not only led the WNBA in offensive efficiency this year but also posted the second-best offensive rating in league history. When the Aces are at their best, their offense performs like a world-class symphony. The task for the Sun was to turn that offense into a low-budget cover band.
And for most of the game, the Sun did just that. After the Aces got off to a hot start to open the game &#8212; leading 21-9 and shooting 8-11 (72.7%) from the field in the game&#8217;s first six minutes &#8212; the Sun defense took over. From that point on, the Sun outscored the Aces 29-13 for the rest of the first half as the Sun imposed their physicality on both ends of the court. 
The Aces entered the Finals averaging 92.3 points per game in the playoffs, compared to just 79.8 points per game for the Sun. Connecticut&#8217;s best chance to succeed is to keep the score in the 60s and 70s, keep the shooting percentages low and force as many turnovers as possible to limit Las Vegas&#8217;s offense. 
Connecticut coach Curt Miller calls this a &#8220;messy&#8221; style of play, and it almost worked in Game 1. 
&#8220;Really pleased with holding that high-powered offense down and got the style of play we wanted,&#8221; Miller said after the game. &#8220;So, we are encouraged, but I&#8217;m disappointed that it didn&#8217;t equate to a win.&#8221;
&#8220;After this game, we have to have a lot of confidence,&#8221; added Alyssa Thomas. &#8220;I mean, this is a three-point game, and we had a chance to tie.
&#8220;I think we are very confident, and we know that all you need is one, and then there are two games at our place. So yeah, there are some things we can clean up. Of course, we can make more shots, but overall we played a hard game.&#8221;
On the other side, Las Vegas proved it could still win while being forced to play Connecticut&#8217;s game. The Aces don&#8217;t want a repeat of this type of game, but they showed on Sunday that they could win ugly as well as win pretty.
2. Chelsea Gray&#8217;s hot streak did not cool off with five days off from the Semi-Finals to the Finals
A key factor in the Aces pulling out a win while playing a game more suited for Connecticut&#8217;s style is the fact that they have <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.wnba.com/news/the-wizardry-of-chelsea-gray/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chelsea Gray to hit tough shots against great defense</a> and keep the Aces scoring when their offense sputters.
Entering the Finals, Gray averaged 24 points per game while shooting 62.6% from the field and 59.5% from beyond the arc. While she didn&#8217;t quite reach those marks in Game 1 &#8212; she finished with 21 points on 9-17 (52.9%) shooting from the field and 2-7 (28.6%) from three – she was able to make timely baskets despite whatever defense the Sun threw her way.
&#8220;Nothing came easy for Chelsea,&#8221; said Miller. &#8220;Nearly every single shot, again, was
contested or made difficult. So, you&#8217;ve got to be pleased with that.
&#8220;She just is a tough shot maker, but as long as they are contested, we will be pleased that for 40 minutes if you continue to try to make them as difficult as possible. We gave her different looks. A lot of different people guarded her. We tried to keep her off-balance.&#8221;
Throughout the game, multiple Sun defenders took their shot at guarding Gray, whether it be guards like Natisha Hiedeman or Courtney Williams or some of Connecticut&#8217;s longer forwards like DeWanna Bonner and Thomas.
&#8220;My fade away, I&#8217;m able to get it off, off of long defenders,&#8221; said Gray. &#8220;They have Alyssa Thomas and Bonner, so how can I get my shot off and be efficient with it and just get to my spots and use my legs?&#8221;
3. Connecticut dominated the paint, offensive glass, and fast-break points for much of the game
We knew entering the series that Connecticut and Las Vegas were on near polar ends when it came to points in the paint (Sun 44.5 ppg, Aces 32.0) and points off 3-pointers (Aces 33.0 ppg, Sun 12.9 ppg).
However, in Game 1, the disparity in the paint was even greater than expected as the Sun doubled up the Aces 40-20 inside. Alyssa Thomas nearly matched the entire Aces roster in points in the paint as she finished with 18. On the other hand, the Aces did not win the battle of the 3-point line as both teams finished with five 3-pointers made, with the Aces shooting just 20.8% &#8212; their second-lowest percentage in any game this season.
Another area that the Sun dominated on paper and in Game 1 was the offensive glass, as Connecticut finished with a 13-6 advantage. The Sun had seven offensive rebounds in the second quarter alone when they outscored the Aces 21-9 to take a four-point lead into halftime. It also led to a heated halftime message from Hammon to her Aces players.
&#8220;I was lit,&#8221; said Hammon.&#8221; Because of everything we had talked about, we didn&#8217;t do any of it. 
&#8220;They had beat us in every hustle category, and that can&#8217;t happen. You can&#8217;t lose a championship, game, or quarter on hustle. That can never be the case.
&#8220;Points in the paint, rebounding, hustle points, transition points, second-chance points. You can go down the list; we didn&#8217;t do any of them until the second half.&#8221;
4. The physicality – especially on the front lines – was key to which team held the momentum throughout the game
The game opened with the two most recent league MVPs – Connecticut&#8217;s Jonquel Jones and Las Vegas&#8217; A&#8217;ja Wilson – defending one another. That was an advantage for Wilson in the early minutes as Jones&#8217; length, and height did not phase Wilson on offense. Going back to that early 21-9 run in the first six minutes of the game, eight of those points came from Wilson going at Jones.
Then the Sun switched things up and put Thomas on Wilson, and while the 6-2 Thomas doesn&#8217;t have the same length as the 6-6 Jones, Thomas adds a level or physicality that few defenders in the WNBA can match. This time it was an advantage for Thomas as Wilson was less effective against her defense for the rest of the first half.
We alluded to Hammon&#8217;s halftime speech, and the Aces responded by upping their level of intensity and physicality in the second half. After being dominated 8-2 on the offensive boards in the first half, the Aces closed the gap to 5-4 in the second. Vegas doesn&#8217;t necessarily have to beat Connecticut in those categories, but they must keep them close.
&#8220;Rebounding is not about size. Size certainly helps, but that&#8217;s not the final story,&#8221; said Hammon. &#8220;They are relentless on the glass. We feel if we can just keep it close, we&#8217;ll be doing well because that&#8217;s what they do best.&#8221;
5. Dearica Hamby was able to give the Aces 11 critical minutes in the second half after playing just eight total leading into the Finals
Hamby&#8217;s availability and expectations for her production were question marks when previewing this series. After sustaining a bone bruise in her knee late in the regular season, Hamby missed the first four games of the playoffs before returning in Games 3 and 4 of the Semi-Finals but played a total of just eight minutes.
Hamby did not play in the first half, but with Hammon needing a boost of energy and toughness, she turned to Hamby in the third quarter, and the two-time Sixth Woman of the Year delivered by making an immediate impact off the bench.
&#8220;Dearica didn&#8217;t get a sniff in the first half and comes out and completely changes the aspect of the game,&#8221; said Hammon. &#8220;That&#8217;s a pro, first of all, but being ready to go is a mentality. Her mentality is more of a physical mentality. That&#8217;s what we needed, so that&#8217;s what we told them.&#8221;
&#8220;She was huge for us,&#8221; added Gray on Hamby&#8217;s impact. &#8220;Came in, energy plays. It&#8217;s not going to show in the stat sheet. I was just like, yeah, D! She was making all the right plays when it was a rebound, getting deflections, getting a 24 violation when she was out there. Just the little things, she sparked it for us, and that is where it was a turning point, and we took control of the game. It was all energy, heart, and effort. That&#8217;s hard to do. She was cold, too. She didn&#8217;t have a warmup when she came into the game. She came in right away and was effective.&#8221;
&#8220;Energy,&#8221; Miller said when asked of Hamby&#8217;s impact on Game 1. &#8220;I thought her two offensive rebounds were important to them in that stretch. She got them extra possessions which led to baskets. I might be mistaken, but she might have the best plus/minus on the team tonight for them.&#8221;
Miller was correct as Hamby finished tied with Gray and Wilson with a team-best plus-seven in plus/minus. 
Longtime WNBA reporter Brian Martin writes articles on WNBA.com throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.

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WNBA Finals 2022: Lessons Learned from Game 1

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The Connecticut Sun walked off the floor of Michelob Ultra Arena down 1-0 to start the best of five WNBA Finals series, an eerily similar start to the 2019 Finals series they competed in against the Washington Mystics.
But, even with many of the same faces on the roster and an analogous first game in the Finals, this is a different team. Before and after the game, players and coaches alike have issued sentiments of growth over the past three years and even over the past few series.
As soon as the last second ticked off the clock, the Sun gathered by their bench and were vocal, uplifting one another and staying connected. They walked off the court disappointed, to be certain, but confident in who they were with a resolve to play their game regardless of opposition and circumstance.
“It’s the playoffs. Nothing (from the regular season) matters anymore, which we proved last series,” said Alyssa Thomas post-game.
“There’s a game two, and we will watch the video and be prepared for the next game. After this game, we have to have a lot of confidence. This is a three-point game, and we had a chance to tie. We know that all you need is one, and then there’s two games at our place.”
Comparing this presser with the one after <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://youtu.be/wNWV2Kk-m7o" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Game One in 2019</a>, that additional confidence comes from experience is palpable. 
Courtney Williams brought a physical embodiment of this team to Game One in Las Vegas.
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Williams told me pregame that she took a shot to the eye in Game Five of the Semi-Finals series with the Sky, leading to the shiner we saw in Game One yesterday.
It sounds cliché, but nothing has come easy for the Sun this season. They’ve been bruised up all season long. They take their lumps, at times self-inflicted. 
Aces head coach Becky Hammon repeatedly called the Sun relentless and rough before and after the game. 
The air with which she mentions their playstyle and grit is almost with an annoyance borne out of admiration; they play a near polar opposite style of the Aces and really any team in the league. When they drag you in the mud, it’s frustrating, but it’s difficult not to appreciate their commitment to mucking it up.
This team found something against Chicago. They shed the tension that’s plagued them in some of their most significant moments, particularly early on in that series.
Through their constant grit, they’ve found a way to play looser, have more fun, and enjoy the process, something Sun coach Curt Miller attributed heavily to DeWanna Bonner at the close of the Semifinals.
This team has looked to find a balance in their preparation, commitment to detail, and discipline, alongside their ability to enjoy the game and be more hands-off, something Miller spoke to before the game.
“It’s my 20th season as a head coach, and you’re continually learning, constantly learning flaws about you, X’s and O’s wise, personality-wise.”
As a head coach in college, first at Bowling Green and then at Indiana, Miller was hands-on to the max. Management and controlling the controllable led Bowling Green to their first and only Sweet 16 appearance in school history.
Finding ways to take the hands off the wheel and “knowing when not to coach” has helped propel the Sun further in the postseason.
“I’ve probably coached less this year than (any of) my 20 years, but I have a veteran group. I’m fortunate that I don’t have to overcoach. Preparation is our pillar, our key piece to what we believe in, and we believe that we’re prepared. Now I’m going to manage them and just support our players,” said Miller before the game.
He also mentioned how pivotal the coaching staff has been, that they sometimes run things at large, and he just manages personalities more than he used to.
“I have tremendous players to lean on and the elite assistant coaches.”
Even after the loss, the team didn’t feel they were tight or played tense. Their offense sometimes struggled, especially once the Aces employed more zone in the second half. Vegas dragged the Sun into multiple late clock scenarios, and they had gaffs in clock awareness. I can’t remember the last time I watched a game with that many tie-ups and shot clock violations all-around.
Ultimately, Connecticut felt good about its process, however. 
“I don’t think it ever felt tight,” said Jonquel Jones after the game.
“I’m happy with the game that we played, and we gave ourselves a good opportunity to come out with a win, and it just didn’t go our way. We’re excited about Game 2.”
Down to start a series is never ideal; since the league shifted to a best of five series in the Finals in 2005, only four teams have won the championship after losing the first game. 
Yet, this is how things have gone for the Sun in the playoffs. They were up against the wall in the first round after a drubbing in game two that was much further apart than the final score indicated. They promptly beat Dallas by 15 in Dallas to close the series. Against the Sky, they looked like a fighter out on their feet, and game three felt disastrous. They made it to the Finals anyway. 
While the Sun may not win this series, please make no mistake, they are a different team than they were three years ago. They’re a different team than they were three weeks ago, and a different team than they were three games ago when they went down 2-1.
WNBA reporter Mark Schindler writes a column on <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="http://wnba.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WNBA.com</a> throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at @MG_Schindler. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.

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The Sun's Evolution

The Sun rally on the road to defeat the defending champion Sky in Game 5 to advance to the WNBA Finals, despite Kahleah Copper&#8217;s 22 point onslaught.

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