SEASON IN REVIEWS
All articles are authored by Tykera Carter and were originally published on WNBA.com.
Season In Review: Minnesota Lynx
December 22, 2020
As the end of 2020 draws near, WNBA.com is wrapping up this historic season by reviewing each team’s season. Take a look back at notable contributors and season highlights with the 2020 Season In Review. Next up: Minnesota Lynx.
Overview:
Cheryl Reeve is no stranger to experiencing success. Even during a season where her team suffered a few setbacks, the Minnesota Lynx exceeded a lot of expectations.
Minnesota, like many teams, had to deal with some injuries, most notably to 13-year-veteran Sylvia Fowles, who only saw action in eight games this season. When available, the two-time WNBA champ showed why she is still a force in the paint. For 13 straight games the Lynx were without her 14.6 PPG (3rd overall on the team) and team-high 9.7 RPG. On September 17, Fowles made a return in the Lynx second-round playoff match-up against Phoenix. The 6’6 center logged 6 points in 18 minutes before being sidelined for the duration of Playoffs.
Lexi Brown also missed some games, playing in only 17 games. Brown played her last game on September 6 before eventually departing the bubble.
It was Damiris Dantas’ 12.9 PPG that helped make up for the loss of Fowles down low. From a scoring standpoint, rising stars Napheesa Collier (16.1 PPG) and Rookie of the Year Crystal Dangerfield (16.2 PPG) anchored the Lynx to an impressive 14-8 record (4th in the league).
Top Contributors
Napheesa Collier
The 2019 Rookie of the Year continued to be an impact player for Minnesota in year two. For the first time, the UConn product appeared on both the All-WNBA Second Team and All-Defensive Second Team. Phee attempted 11.8 field goals per game, but her 52.3% field goal percentage proved that she gets the job done in an efficient manner. Collier’s 16.1 PPG ranked second on the team behind her fellow UConn teammate, Dangerfield.
Defensively, Collier ranked top 10 in the league in three categories, including third in steals (1.8 SPG), sixth in blocks (1.3 BPG), and tied for eighth in defensive rebounds (6.3 DREB).
Crystal Dangerfield
Dangerfield was selected in the second round (No. 16 overall) by the Lynx in the 2019 WNBA Draft and the 5’5 guard exceeded any and all expectations that came with that.
After coming off the bench for the first two games of her young career, Reeve made the move to insert Dangerfield into the starting line up… the rest was history. The Lynx were able to produce Rookie of the Year’s in back-to-back seasons, but one key difference this time around is that Dangerfield became the first second-round draft pick to take home this elite award. It’s safe to say the Lynx snatched up the steal of the draft. The rook finished at the top of her class in free throw percentage (92.2%) and third overall in the league. Dangerfield ranked second among rookies in scoring, minutes (30.0 MPG) and assists (3.6 APG).
Damiris Dantas
After Fowles could no longer sustain trying to play on an injured calf, it was Dantas that stepped up for the Lynx in a huge way. The six-year pro became a nightmare to defend. Her 43.3% shooting from downtown gave the 6’3 forward the ability to stretch the floor for the Lynx. Throughout the season Dantas emerged as one of the most versatile bigs in the league.
“This is her prime. She realizes everything about this league, what we want her to do, that we believe in her,” said coach Reeve. “She has everything around her. She loves this team, what it’s about. This is the best possible space she could be in.
“When she plays well we don’t lose.”
The native of Brazil finished the season with career-high averages of 12.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG and a 46.4 overall field goal percentage.
On September 10, Dantas signed a multi-year contract extension with the franchise.
Season Highlights
Cheryl Reeve Named 2020 Coach of the Year
Coach Reeve was named the WNBA Coach of the Year for the third time in her career. This accomplishment came after leading the Lynx to a 14-8 record. In her 12th season, Reeve shaped the team around Rookie of the Year Crystal Dangerfield and former Rookie of the Year Napheesa Collier. Furthermore, the Lynx ranked top six in points, field goal percentage, three-point field goal percentage, rebounding, assists and steals.
Odyssey Sims Returns From Maternity Leave
In a season that meant so much more, Sims took the initiative to return to play after being out on maternity leave. Nine games into the season, the 5’8 guard suited up in Bradenton, Florida. In comparison, Sims logged a career-low 18.5 MPG but her production was still essential to the Lynx success. In just 13 games, Sims averaged 9.4 PPG, 3.5 APG, and shot a career-high 90.9% from the stripe.
Sylvia Fowles Becomes WNBA All-Time Rebounding Leader
On July 28, Fowles recorded her 3,357th-career rebound, passing Lynx Assistant Coach Rebekkah Brunson on the leaderboards.
“Such an unbelievable moment. I’m very happy with how this panned out, and I’m happy I had a chance to honor BB for all the work that she put in,” said Fowles. “Sorry BB that I had to break your title, but that’s just what it is.”
CHICAGO SKY SEASON RECAP
Season In Review: Chicago Sky
December 17, 2020
As the end of 2020 draws near, WNBA.com is wrapping up this historic season by reviewing each team’s season. Take a look back at notable contributors and season highlights with the 2020 Season In Review. Next up: Chicago Sky.
Overview:
When thinking of the Sky, Courtney Vandersloot is the household name you can’t forget. Sloot’s record-breaking performances this season proved that she gets better with age as both a leader and a point guard. Major contributions from former reserves, Kahleah Cooper and Cheyenne Parker, were also key to Chicago’s success. Dating back to August, when the Sky went on a four-game winning streak, the franchise showed glimpses of being a Championship-level team. In the end, however, lack of depth late in the season got the best of Chicago when both Diamond DeShields and Azura Stevens departed from the bubble to nurse injuries.
Nonetheless, even without the two marquee contributors, the Sky were still able to finish sixth (12-10 overall record) in the final WNBA standings.
Looking back at previous seasons, the Sky are on the up and up. Before James Wade took over as head coach in 2019, the franchise had previously missed the playoffs in both 2017 and 2018. With Wade at the helm, the Sky have been able to earn back-to-back playoff berths. If the Sky can return their core once again, but this time at full health, watch out…. Wade could be cooking up something special in the Windy City.
Top Contributors
Courtney Vandersloot
Accurate passes, stellar court vision, and dime dropping from Sloot led the way for the Sky this season. The 10-year veteran led the league in assists (10.0 APG in 2020) for the fourth season in a row and for the second straight season she earned All-WNBA First Team Honors.
“I feel incredibly honored to be named to the All-WNBA First Team,” Vandersloot said. “There are so many deserving players, and to be named to a team with these other four players is incredibly humbling.”
Here’s a list of in-season accolades that paint the picture of the memorable season that Vandersloot had.
Month of August: Vandersloot won the Eastern Conference Player of The Month for the first time in her career. In a span of 14 games, Sloot averaged 13.6 PPG, 9.5 APG and 1.3 SPG.
On September 1, became the first player in history to record 18-assists in a single game.
On September 14, Sloot earned her fourth consecutive Peak Performer Award for assists
On September 13, officially became the first WNBA player to average double-digit assists through the regular season.
Kahleah Copper
All Copper needed was an opportunity to play more minutes, and with Diamond DeShields unfortunate battle with an on-going injury throughout the season, Copper’s number was called. The speedy guard scored in double-figures in all but two games this season, including a career-high 26 PTS against the Indiana Fever. Copper’s ability to speed past defenders and finish in traffic helped the crafty guard average a career-high 14.8 PPG, an 8.1 point jump in scoring from the 2019 season. Most impressively, the Rutgers product scored in a consistent fashion, finishing the season shooting over 49.6% from the field.
Allie Quigley
From creating her own shot to her wife Courtney Vandersloot finding the shooter in all the right spots on the floor, Quigley continued to be lights out from beyond the arc in 2020. The sharpshooting veteran averaged a team-high 15.4 PPG. On September 6, Quigley made a season-high five 3-pointers. Quigley recorded five games where she scored 20 points or more and reached double-figures in all but two games.
Cheyenne Parker
A breakout year for the forward was what the Sky needed. Parker notched career-highs in scoring (13.4 PPG), rebounding (6.4 RPG), and minutes played (24.9 MPG). On September 2, Parked registered the best stat line of her career with 20 PTS, 15 REB, and 4 BLK’s.
Season Highlights
Vandersloot Becomes First Player To Record 18 Assists In A Single-Game
Sloot broke the 22-year-old-record for most assists in a game that was previously held by Ticha Penicheiro. The ‘Vanderquigs’ made this a team effort. Easily the most memorable moment of the game is when Quigley received the record-setting assist and connected on a triple.
Quigley Becomes All-Time Leading Scorer For Chicago Sky
It was yet another ‘Vanderquig’ connection, Sloot found Quigley coming off of a screen to help her get the go-ahead bucket to become the franchise all-time leading scorer. Quigley currently has a total of 2,994 points for the Sky and counting.
Sky Set Franchise Record For Largest Margin Of Victory vs. LA
On July 28, the Chicago Sky defeated the Los Angeles Sparks by 18-points, which marked the largest win margin they’ve had against the Los Angeles Sparks in franchise history.