Angel, Asia, Ayeshia and Myisha: How Are They Doing? -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

NUMBERS ON THE CARDINAL TRIO IN THE WNBA

UPDATE: Ireland defeats India 1-0 to advance to the Women's Field Hockey World Cup quarterfinals. Louisville's Ayeshia McFerran with a shutout in goalkeep and several great saves for the Irish...now 2-0. 

As the WNBA heads to their All-Star game, we though we'd catch you up on how the three UofL WBB players in the league are faring. 

ANGEL McCOUGHTRY -- ATLANTA DREAM

The Dream are having the most success of the three teams that have Cardinal WBB players on them and Angel is a huge part of Atlanta's success. Atlanta is 16-9 on the season, in second place in conference standings and 2.5 games behind league leader Seattle as of 7/25/18, and Angel is the second leading scorer for the Dream with 16.5 points per game. 

The Dream defeated Los Angeles 81-71 Tuesday night and Angel had 19 points to lead Atlanta in scoring. She also grabbed seven rebounds in the win, which was streaking Atlanta's eighth win in a row. Putting in a team-high 31 minutes, Angel also pilfered three steals. Tied after three, the Dream outscored the Sparks by 10 in the fourth quarter. 

McCoughtry is the second leading scorer this year for Atlanta with  16.5 p.p.g and averages 28 minutes on court. She's started 24 of the 25 Atlanta games. She be in the All-Star game Saturday, playing for team (Candace) Parker.

Interesting that the WNBA has eliminated the conference vs. conference match up in the All-Star Game and the player selections were made by a "draft" between the two players that have the squads named after them...Parker and Elena Della Donne. 


MYISHA HINES-ALLEN -- WASHINGTON MYSTICS

At 14-11 and in seventh place in the overall league standings, the Mystics are 4.5 games back of the league leaders. Myisha Hines-Allen, who has been on the roster all season is serving primarily as a back-up player on the front line in her rookie season in the WNBA. 

In Tuesday action, the Mystics ran into a tough Connecticut Sun foe and fell 94-68 despite winning the first quarter. Myisha saw 11 minutes and picked up four points and three rebounds in the loss. 

She's played in 22 of the Mystics' 25 games this season and has 1 start to her credit. She's been averaging 11 minutes per contest and scoring 3.9 points per game. 

Such are the trials and tribulations of being a rookie on a team that has an unquestionable superstar like Delle Donne. The Mystics play three guards a lot to set up Della Donne and we're no WNBA experts here but have noticed that Washington averages -1.0 rebounds less than their opponents this season. Maybe Myisha could help that stat? Interesting that Hines-Allen was averaging 18 minutes a game in the Mystics' first nine games (where they were 6-3) but time has dropped off since then. 


ASIA TAYLOR -- INDIANA FEVER

Woe is the plight of the Fever, the worst team in the WNBA with a 3-23 record. Asia Taylor was picked up by Indiana after Washington released her and has provided a back-up role on a team that seems to have lost their identity and has no clear leadership on the court. Asia played in the Tuesday night 92-72 loss to league-leading Seattle but saw just three minutes with no points and no rebounds.

For the season with the Fever, Asia has played in 13 contests with no starts. She averages 2.0 points per game and 8.3 minutes a night. 

Surprising that a team with Candice Dupree and Cappie Pondexter, who both have 12 years inn the league, could be so bad. Three very talented rookies in Victoria Vivians (Mississippi St) and Ohio State stars Kelsey Mitchell and Stephanie Mavunga have seen plenty of time but Indiana just can't seem to find a winning balance. 

Losers of seven out of their last eight, maybe Indiana and head coach Pokey Chatman needs to shake things up a bit and give our Asia a bit more time on the court? Let's be perfectly frank and honest here. Could it get any worse for the Fever? Give A-Tayy, the rookies and Natalie Achonwa a chance to see what they can do. 

We wish all three Cardinals Forever the best of luck in what's left of the WNBA schedule and hope that their successes are huge the rest of the way. 


USA FIELD HOCKEY TIES ENGLAND 1-1

In their second contest in the Women's Field Hockey World Cup, the United States pulled off a pretty big surprise by tying #2 ranked England 1-1 yesterday in London, England. Almost 11,000 on hand for this one...The English taking a 1-0 lead after a scoreless first half but USA getting the equalizer from Erin Matson (UNC) about five minutes later for the tie and final score. 

Trying to find a box score for this event is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Coupled with the fact that the events are now pay-per-view, it's almost like the USA Field Hockey Association is trying to drive fans away instead of fostering interest. I never came up with a box score. Let me know if you find this pebble on a beach. 

UofL's Nicole Woods is part of the 30 player roster and Taylor Stone plus Katie Walsh on the Development roster. Woods has graduated from UofL. Stone and Walsh will be seniors for Justine Sowry in the 2018 season. Not sure if Woods played or not since I didn't purchase the event. 

Ireland, with UofL goalie Ayeshia McFerran in net, will take on India this morning at 9 a.m. EST. I'm debating buying this one. 


Grudingly. It's only $3 but it's the principle here. 


paulie
xxxxx