Seattle, we got the W! The Storm took down the Chicago Sky 97-88 tonight, a huge win for the Emerald City! But while we’re celebrating, the rest of the WNBA is bracing for a massive curveball coming in less than three weeks: the FIBA World Cup. This thing tips off September 4 in Berlin, Germany, wraps up on September 13, and then the WNBA season hits pause before resuming on September 17 for just one week before the regular season officially ends on September 24. How teams handle this wild schedule and potential player burnout is gonna be the dominant storyline for the rest of the season, especially for squads with playoff dreams and key players heading to Berlin.
Las Vegas Aces Show The Way For World Cup Prep
Look, some teams are already making moves. The Las Vegas Aces, for example, started resting their stars A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, and Jackie Young, all headed to Berlin for Team USA, just this past Sunday afternoon. Now, to be fair, the main reason for that decision was an absolutely absurd road back-to-back they had, with less than 24 hours between tip-off on Saturday in Minneapolis and Sunday in Brooklyn. That’s a brutal stretch for anyone, let alone your core. But it sets a precedent for how these teams might try to keep their top talent fresh for what’s ahead.
Dallas Wings Are Flying Into Disaster With Paige Bueckers
And then there’s the Dallas Wings. Man, what a rough patch. Before the All-Star break, they were on fire, winning seven of eight games. But since the season resumed, it’s been a complete flip. They’ve lost five of their last six games, including three straight. Their only win during this whole mess was a blowout against the non-playoff Connecticut Sun. Otherwise, they’ve been losing in competitive, but still super frustrating, fashion to top-tier teams like the Atlanta Dream, Washington Mystics (twice!), Golden State Valkyries, and Minnesota Lynx. Throw in a two-game injury absence for Azzi Fudd, and you can explain some of the struggles, sure. But the real gut punch is the concern that they’ll have to overextend Paige Bueckers, who’s also heading to the World Cup for Team USA, just to find their rhythm again. Alanna Smith is also going to Berlin for the Australian Opals, and Costanza Verona for Spain, but it’s Bueckers who needs the careful management. You know the Wings aren’t going anywhere in the playoffs without peak Paige, yet head coach Jose Fernandez hasn’t even hinted at any real concern for how they’ll navigate this. That’s a huge problem.
This World Cup schedule is a real mess, and it looks like some teams are already buckling under the pressure. For the Wings, getting it right with Paige Bueckers is everything, but it feels like they’re flying blind right now. While teams like the Valkyries and Lynx are playing tonight, trying to figure out their own plans, it makes you wonder how many teams are gonna limp into the playoffs instead of storming in. We’re glad our Storm got the W tonight, because the league’s about to get real wild!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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