WNBA Tuesday Night -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

MYSTICS CALM THE STORM 87-84

(Tina Charles expressing pleasure that
Jared finally took her picture.) 

After Jared's comprehensive coverage Tuesday of what SCOTUS and the NCAA are doing and catching us up with several former and current Cardinals, I'll keep it rather simple for your Wednesday and bring you WNBA today.

First off, looking at last night's late match in Seattle, I surely wouldn't have picked the visiting Washington Mystics to win, much less stay close to the league-leading Seattle Storm.

Watching in street clothes for DC were Elena Della Donne, Natasha Cloud, Erica McCall, Kiara Leslie, Myisha Hines-Allen, three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree. But, one force who did show up is the superstar I refer to as "the black hole of Washington" -- the offensive juggernaut that is Tina Charles.

I was asked why I put this tag on her recently. Here's the reason: 

A black hole is a region of space/time where gravity is so strong that nothing -- no particles or even electromagnetic radiation, such as light can escape from it.  That pretty much sums up what happens when Charles gets the ball. She's going to shoot, usually score or create and nothing can escape or prevent it. 

Last night, Charles -- who was a 2010 graduate from UConn and first round WNBA pick -- consumed the Seattle defense for 36 points and five assists. She also grabbed 16 rebounds.

The Storm's Mercedes Russell was powerless against "T.C." and so was the rest of the Seattle squad in the 87-83 Washington win.  Tina goes out night after night and proves she is the best center in the WNBA and increased Washington's win streak to four while halting Seattle's win streak at three. 

I'm pretty sure Charles could lead a team composed of me, Jared, Daryl, Case, Sonja and Jeff and her to a win. The only real question is why the Connecticut Sun and New York Liberty ever got rid of her. Their loss is the Mystics gain. And, let's not forget she sat out 2020., getting a medical exemption for a pre-existing asthma condition. 

Charles is also on the 2020 USA Olympic women's basketball squad. It'll be shades of Godzilla invading Tokyo when she arrives to wreak havoc on the 11 other teams headed to Japan. I can't wait to se a Charles vs. Liz Cambage (Australia) matchup. Liz Balogun (Nigeria) thought Elizabeth Cunane was rough going? She ain't seen nothin' yet. 

Washington goes to 7-6 with the "W", Seattle is at 12-3, which is still the best record in the league. 

CHICAGO 92 -- NEW YORK 72

 

We got the treat of three Louisville Cardinals great on the same court last night in Dana Evans for Chicago and Kylee Shook and Jazmine Jones for New York.  Evans didn't see a whole lot of action in the 20-point Chicago beat-down of the Libs ( 5 minutes, no points) but the Sky did get 23 points in 23 minutes from Candace Parker and were never seriously challenged in Brooklyn. 

Respectable outings for Kylee (8 pts., 3 boards, 2 assists in 25 minutes) and Jaz (11 pts., five boards in 25 minutes) but they couldn't not overcome a 48-32 halftime disadvantage. 

I was hoping Dana would see more time than she did against her former teammates, but when things are clicking for the other Sky guards -- Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley and Diamond DeShields (they combined for 35 points) -- eking out playing time can be tough.

I do think that with Chicago up 75-52 after three, though, it might have been a good time to get Dana on the court for extended minutes in the fourth period. I'm not Sky head skipper James Wade, though...and won't try to rationalize what he does with his squad.  He got the "W", the Sun are starting to get healthy and win a few, he just might have an idea what's he doing. 

Walt Hopkins, New York head coach, made the decision not to start Sabrina Ionescu last night and you have to wonder if it was a wise one or not. She did come off the bench for 6 points, 7 assists and 8 rebounds -- but the game was pretty much out of control by then.

The Libs are at 7-7 on the season, the Sky 8-7.  If you liked the Tuesday contest, grab your popcorn and come back Thursday -- these two squads face up again.

                                                        ***********************

In other WNBA action last night, the Connecticut Sun melted the Wings Dana's previous team -- the Dallas Wings -- last night (to use an Icarus reference) 80-70. I watched this one for awhile, but switched over to watch the Libs and then one of my favorite movies of all time -- Hoosiers -- with Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey and Dennis Hopper in the unforgettable role as "Shooter". (There is no truth to the rumor that Gene Hackman is being considered to replace "Q" at Syracuse...or that (the late) Hopper contemplated joining Jeff Walz's staff at Louisville when Michelle Clark-Heard departed for WKU.)

Hoosiers is one of my favorite basketball movies of all time, along with The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh. You should check them out if you've never seen either. 

Have a wonderful Wednesday !

paulie