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Indiana Fever get bad injury news ahead of Aces game  Indiana Fever center Damiris Dantas is out for the season after undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus on Monday. Dantas, who signed a two-year contract with the Fever in the offseason, has seen inconsistent minutes over the past few months but was nonetheless one of Indiana’s backup frontcourt options.Now, Indiana will have a more short-handed frontcourt rotation.The Fever lose one of their most veteran players in Damiris Dantas Damiris Dantas has appeared in 12 games this season, averaging 3.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.3 assists. Her role, albeit limited, meant that Stephanie White had another backup big option at her disposal. Now, an already-limited campaign has been cut short.Because she was already playing a more limited role than expected, the absence won’t impact Indiana’s day-to-day rotation as much.Nonetheless, Dantas is one of the most veteran players on the roster; the 33-year-old holds career averages of 6.8 points and 3.7 rebounds across 272 career games in 12 seasons. She’s played for the Fever since 2024, but previously suited up for the Minnesota Lynx and Atlanta Dream, and was someone who Stephanie White could turn to in a pinch.Now, with Dantas out for the season, the burden will continue to fall on Makayla Timpson, who is averaging 4.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per game.Aliyah Boston continues to hold down the fort in the frontcourtThe good news for Indiana is that they have one of the best bigs in the league anchoring the frontcourt: Aliyah Boston, who is averaging 16.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. Boston has averaged 26.8 minutes per game, and Timpson has played the majority of her backup minutes.The Fever may look to sign an additional big to bolster the rotation in the wake of Dantas’s absence. While Myisha Hines-Allen and Monique Billings have played significant roles, Indiana may want to sign another center to a rest-of-season contract.The Fever are 19-11 and coming off a loss to the Minnesota Lynx. Next up, they’ll face the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday, August 6th.  #Indiana #Fever #bad #injury #news #ahead #Aces #game

Indiana Fever get bad injury news ahead of Aces game

Indiana Fever center Damiris Dantas is out for the season after undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus on Monday. Dantas, who signed a two-year contract with the Fever in the offseason, has seen inconsistent minutes over the past few months but was nonetheless one of Indiana’s backup frontcourt options.

Now, Indiana will have a more short-handed frontcourt rotation.

The Fever lose one of their most veteran players in Damiris Dantas

Damiris Dantas has appeared in 12 games this season, averaging 3.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.3 assists. Her role, albeit limited, meant that Stephanie White had another backup big option at her disposal. Now, an already-limited campaign has been cut short.

Because she was already playing a more limited role than expected, the absence won’t impact Indiana’s day-to-day rotation as much.

Nonetheless, Dantas is one of the most veteran players on the roster; the 33-year-old holds career averages of 6.8 points and 3.7 rebounds across 272 career games in 12 seasons. She’s played for the Fever since 2024, but previously suited up for the Minnesota Lynx and Atlanta Dream, and was someone who Stephanie White could turn to in a pinch.

Now, with Dantas out for the season, the burden will continue to fall on Makayla Timpson, who is averaging 4.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per game.

Aliyah Boston continues to hold down the fort in the frontcourt

The good news for Indiana is that they have one of the best bigs in the league anchoring the frontcourt: Aliyah Boston, who is averaging 16.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. Boston has averaged 26.8 minutes per game, and Timpson has played the majority of her backup minutes.

The Fever may look to sign an additional big to bolster the rotation in the wake of Dantas’s absence. While Myisha Hines-Allen and Monique Billings have played significant roles, Indiana may want to sign another center to a rest-of-season contract.

The Fever are 19-11 and coming off a loss to the Minnesota Lynx. Next up, they’ll face the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday, August 6th.

#Indiana #Fever #bad #injury #news #ahead #Aces #game

Indiana Fever center Damiris Dantas is out for the season after undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus on Monday. Dantas, who signed a two-year contract with the Fever in the offseason, has seen inconsistent minutes over the past few months but was nonetheless one of Indiana’s backup frontcourt options.

Now, Indiana will have a more short-handed frontcourt rotation.

The Fever lose one of their most veteran players in Damiris Dantas

Damiris Dantas has appeared in 12 games this season, averaging 3.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.3 assists. Her role, albeit limited, meant that Stephanie White had another backup big option at her disposal. Now, an already-limited campaign has been cut short.

Because she was already playing a more limited role than expected, the absence won’t impact Indiana’s day-to-day rotation as much.

Nonetheless, Dantas is one of the most veteran players on the roster; the 33-year-old holds career averages of 6.8 points and 3.7 rebounds across 272 career games in 12 seasons. She’s played for the Fever since 2024, but previously suited up for the Minnesota Lynx and Atlanta Dream, and was someone who Stephanie White could turn to in a pinch.

Now, with Dantas out for the season, the burden will continue to fall on Makayla Timpson, who is averaging 4.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per game.

Aliyah Boston continues to hold down the fort in the frontcourt

The good news for Indiana is that they have one of the best bigs in the league anchoring the frontcourt: Aliyah Boston, who is averaging 16.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. Boston has averaged 26.8 minutes per game, and Timpson has played the majority of her backup minutes.

The Fever may look to sign an additional big to bolster the rotation in the wake of Dantas’s absence. While Myisha Hines-Allen and Monique Billings have played significant roles, Indiana may want to sign another center to a rest-of-season contract.

The Fever are 19-11 and coming off a loss to the Minnesota Lynx. Next up, they’ll face the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday, August 6th.

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Deadspin | Golf Glance: Final push for FedExCup Playoffs; LIV back at Trump’s course  Cameron Young is trying to become the first player to successfully defend at the Wyndham Championship since Sam Snead.   The final push is on to qualify for the first leg of the FedExCup Playoffs with this week’s regular-season finale on the PGA Tour, while LIV Golf returns to Trump National Bedminster for the first time since 2023.  PGA TOUR  THIS WEEK: Wyndham Championship, Greensboro, N.C., Aug. 6-9  Course: Sedgefield Country Club (Par 70, 7,131 Yards)  Purse: .5M (Winner: .53M)  Defending Champion: Cameron Young  FedEx Cup Leader: Scottie Scheffler  HOW TO FOLLOW  TV: Thursday-Friday: 3-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday: 1-3 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (CBS).  Streaming: Thursday-Friday: 6:45 a.m.-6 p.m. ET; Saturday-Sunday: 7:45 a.m.-6 p.m. (ESPN App)  X: @WyndhamChamp  NOTES: This is the final event of the 2026 regular season, with the top 70 players in the standings after this week advancing to the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Following that event, the top 50 players will qualify for the BMW Championship, and then the top 30 will advance to the Tour Championship. … This is the 87th playing of the Wyndham Championship, which dates to 1938 and is the seventh-longest running tour event outside of the majors. It has been played at Sedgefield since 2008. … Michael Thorbjornsen withdrew on Sunday following his first PGA Tour victory. He was replaced in the field by Justin Lower. Dan Brown also withdrew and was replaced by Lanto Griffin. … Chris Kirk finished T5 last year to become the only player to move into the top 70 following the Wyndham. … Brooks Koepka enters the week No. 86 in the standings. … No. 60 Shane Lowry is the only player between Nos. 60-80 who is not in this week’s field.   FEDEXCUP BUBBLE  Players Nos. 60-70: Shane Lowry, Nick Taylor, Harry Hall, Brian Harman, Patrick Rodgers, Aldrich Potgieter, Ricky Castillo, Matti Schmid, Jordan Smith, Steven Fisk, Jackson Koivun  Players Nos. 71-80: Mac Meissner, Keegan Bradley, Andrew Putnam, Johnny Keefer, Jason Day, Austin Smotherman, Stephan Jaeger, David Lipsky, Tom Hoge, Matt Wallace  BEST BETS: Cameron Young (+810 at DraftKings) is seeking to become the first player to successfully defend at the Wyndham since Sam Snead in 1956. … Jackson Koivun (+2000) claimed his first PGA Tour victory two weeks ago and finished T5 here as a sponsor exemption last year. … Hideki Matsuyama (+2500) enters with consecutive top-5 finishes the past two weeks. … Aaron Rai (+3100) became the first player from England to win the Wyndham two years ago. It was his lone tour victory until winning The Open last month.  Last Tournament: Rocket Classic (Thorbjornsen)  Next Tournament: FedEx St. Jude Championship, Memphis, Aug. 13-16  LIV GOLF  THIS WEEK: LIV Golf New York, Aug. 6-9  Course: Trump National Golf Club Bedminster (Par 71, 7,651 Yards)  Purse: Individual: M (Winner: M); Team: M (Winner: M)  Defending Champions: Individual: Cameron Smith; Team: Ripper GC   2026 Season Leaders: Individual: Jon Rahm; Team: 4Aces GC  HOW TO FOLLOW  TV: Thursday: 1-6 p.m. ET (FOX One); Friday-Saturday: 12-2 p.m. (Fox One); 2-5 p.m. (FOX); Sunday: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (FOX)  X: @livgolf_league  NOTES: The field includes 57 players comprised of 13 four-player teams and five wild cards with a daily shotgun start. … This is the third LIV event contested at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, which also played host to events in 2022 and ’23. … Smith’s win in 2023 was his most recent tournament victory, and his seven-shot win over Anirban Lahiri remains the largest margin of victory in LIV history.  Last Event: LIV Golf United Kingdom (Individual: Lucas Herbert; Team: Ripper GC)  Next Event: Indianapolis, Aug. 20-23  LPGA TOUR   THIS WEEK: OFF.  Race to CME Globe Leader: Nelly Korda  Last Tournament: AIG Women’s Open (Shiho Kuwaki)  Next Tournament: The Standard Portland Classic, Portland, Ore., Aug. 13-16  PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS  THIS WEEK: OFF.  Charles Schwab Cup Leader: Stewart Cink  Last Tournament: Portugal Invitational (Zach Johnson)  Next Tournament: Boeing Classic, Snoqualmie, Wash., Aug. 14-16  DP WORLD TOUR  THIS WEEK: OFF.  Race to Dubai Leader: Patrick Reed  Last Tournament: BMW International Open (David Puig)  Next Tournament: Danish Golf Championship, Funen, Denmark, Aug. 13-16  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Golf #Glance #Final #push #FedExCup #Playoffs #LIV #TrumpsCameron Young is trying to become the first player to successfully defend at the Wyndham Championship since Sam Snead.

The final push is on to qualify for the first leg of the FedExCup Playoffs with this week’s regular-season finale on the PGA Tour, while LIV Golf returns to Trump National Bedminster for the first time since 2023.

PGA TOUR

THIS WEEK: Wyndham Championship, Greensboro, N.C., Aug. 6-9

Course: Sedgefield Country Club (Par 70, 7,131 Yards)

Purse: $8.5M (Winner: $1.53M)

Defending Champion: Cameron Young

FedEx Cup Leader: Scottie Scheffler

HOW TO FOLLOW

TV: Thursday-Friday: 3-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday: 1-3 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (CBS).

Streaming: Thursday-Friday: 6:45 a.m.-6 p.m. ET; Saturday-Sunday: 7:45 a.m.-6 p.m. (ESPN App)

X: @WyndhamChamp

NOTES: This is the final event of the 2026 regular season, with the top 70 players in the standings after this week advancing to the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Following that event, the top 50 players will qualify for the BMW Championship, and then the top 30 will advance to the Tour Championship. … This is the 87th playing of the Wyndham Championship, which dates to 1938 and is the seventh-longest running tour event outside of the majors. It has been played at Sedgefield since 2008. … Michael Thorbjornsen withdrew on Sunday following his first PGA Tour victory. He was replaced in the field by Justin Lower. Dan Brown also withdrew and was replaced by Lanto Griffin. … Chris Kirk finished T5 last year to become the only player to move into the top 70 following the Wyndham. … Brooks Koepka enters the week No. 86 in the standings. … No. 60 Shane Lowry is the only player between Nos. 60-80 who is not in this week’s field.

FEDEXCUP BUBBLE

Players Nos. 60-70: Shane Lowry, Nick Taylor, Harry Hall, Brian Harman, Patrick Rodgers, Aldrich Potgieter, Ricky Castillo, Matti Schmid, Jordan Smith, Steven Fisk, Jackson Koivun

Players Nos. 71-80: Mac Meissner, Keegan Bradley, Andrew Putnam, Johnny Keefer, Jason Day, Austin Smotherman, Stephan Jaeger, David Lipsky, Tom Hoge, Matt Wallace

BEST BETS: Cameron Young (+810 at DraftKings) is seeking to become the first player to successfully defend at the Wyndham since Sam Snead in 1956. … Jackson Koivun (+2000) claimed his first PGA Tour victory two weeks ago and finished T5 here as a sponsor exemption last year. … Hideki Matsuyama (+2500) enters with consecutive top-5 finishes the past two weeks. … Aaron Rai (+3100) became the first player from England to win the Wyndham two years ago. It was his lone tour victory until winning The Open last month.

Last Tournament: Rocket Classic (Thorbjornsen)

Next Tournament: FedEx St. Jude Championship, Memphis, Aug. 13-16

LIV GOLF

THIS WEEK: LIV Golf New York, Aug. 6-9

Course: Trump National Golf Club Bedminster (Par 71, 7,651 Yards)

Purse: Individual: $20M (Winner: $4M); Team: $10M (Winner: $3M)


Defending Champions: Individual: Cameron Smith; Team: Ripper GC

2026 Season Leaders: Individual: Jon Rahm; Team: 4Aces GC

HOW TO FOLLOW

TV: Thursday: 1-6 p.m. ET (FOX One); Friday-Saturday: 12-2 p.m. (Fox One); 2-5 p.m. (FOX); Sunday: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (FOX)

X: @livgolf_league

NOTES: The field includes 57 players comprised of 13 four-player teams and five wild cards with a daily shotgun start. … This is the third LIV event contested at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, which also played host to events in 2022 and ’23. … Smith’s win in 2023 was his most recent tournament victory, and his seven-shot win over Anirban Lahiri remains the largest margin of victory in LIV history.

Last Event: LIV Golf United Kingdom (Individual: Lucas Herbert; Team: Ripper GC)

Next Event: Indianapolis, Aug. 20-23

LPGA TOUR

THIS WEEK: OFF.

Race to CME Globe Leader: Nelly Korda

Last Tournament: AIG Women’s Open (Shiho Kuwaki)

Next Tournament: The Standard Portland Classic, Portland, Ore., Aug. 13-16

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

THIS WEEK: OFF.

Charles Schwab Cup Leader: Stewart Cink

Last Tournament: Portugal Invitational (Zach Johnson)

Next Tournament: Boeing Classic, Snoqualmie, Wash., Aug. 14-16

DP WORLD TOUR

THIS WEEK: OFF.

Race to Dubai Leader: Patrick Reed

Last Tournament: BMW International Open (David Puig)

Next Tournament: Danish Golf Championship, Funen, Denmark, Aug. 13-16


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Golf #Glance #Final #push #FedExCup #Playoffs #LIV #Trumps">Deadspin | Golf Glance: Final push for FedExCup Playoffs; LIV back at Trump’s course  Cameron Young is trying to become the first player to successfully defend at the Wyndham Championship since Sam Snead.   The final push is on to qualify for the first leg of the FedExCup Playoffs with this week’s regular-season finale on the PGA Tour, while LIV Golf returns to Trump National Bedminster for the first time since 2023.  PGA TOUR  THIS WEEK: Wyndham Championship, Greensboro, N.C., Aug. 6-9  Course: Sedgefield Country Club (Par 70, 7,131 Yards)  Purse: .5M (Winner: .53M)  Defending Champion: Cameron Young  FedEx Cup Leader: Scottie Scheffler  HOW TO FOLLOW  TV: Thursday-Friday: 3-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday: 1-3 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (CBS).  Streaming: Thursday-Friday: 6:45 a.m.-6 p.m. ET; Saturday-Sunday: 7:45 a.m.-6 p.m. (ESPN App)  X: @WyndhamChamp  NOTES: This is the final event of the 2026 regular season, with the top 70 players in the standings after this week advancing to the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Following that event, the top 50 players will qualify for the BMW Championship, and then the top 30 will advance to the Tour Championship. … This is the 87th playing of the Wyndham Championship, which dates to 1938 and is the seventh-longest running tour event outside of the majors. It has been played at Sedgefield since 2008. … Michael Thorbjornsen withdrew on Sunday following his first PGA Tour victory. He was replaced in the field by Justin Lower. Dan Brown also withdrew and was replaced by Lanto Griffin. … Chris Kirk finished T5 last year to become the only player to move into the top 70 following the Wyndham. … Brooks Koepka enters the week No. 86 in the standings. … No. 60 Shane Lowry is the only player between Nos. 60-80 who is not in this week’s field.   FEDEXCUP BUBBLE  Players Nos. 60-70: Shane Lowry, Nick Taylor, Harry Hall, Brian Harman, Patrick Rodgers, Aldrich Potgieter, Ricky Castillo, Matti Schmid, Jordan Smith, Steven Fisk, Jackson Koivun  Players Nos. 71-80: Mac Meissner, Keegan Bradley, Andrew Putnam, Johnny Keefer, Jason Day, Austin Smotherman, Stephan Jaeger, David Lipsky, Tom Hoge, Matt Wallace  BEST BETS: Cameron Young (+810 at DraftKings) is seeking to become the first player to successfully defend at the Wyndham since Sam Snead in 1956. … Jackson Koivun (+2000) claimed his first PGA Tour victory two weeks ago and finished T5 here as a sponsor exemption last year. … Hideki Matsuyama (+2500) enters with consecutive top-5 finishes the past two weeks. … Aaron Rai (+3100) became the first player from England to win the Wyndham two years ago. It was his lone tour victory until winning The Open last month.  Last Tournament: Rocket Classic (Thorbjornsen)  Next Tournament: FedEx St. Jude Championship, Memphis, Aug. 13-16  LIV GOLF  THIS WEEK: LIV Golf New York, Aug. 6-9  Course: Trump National Golf Club Bedminster (Par 71, 7,651 Yards)  Purse: Individual: M (Winner: M); Team: M (Winner: M)  Defending Champions: Individual: Cameron Smith; Team: Ripper GC   2026 Season Leaders: Individual: Jon Rahm; Team: 4Aces GC  HOW TO FOLLOW  TV: Thursday: 1-6 p.m. ET (FOX One); Friday-Saturday: 12-2 p.m. (Fox One); 2-5 p.m. (FOX); Sunday: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (FOX)  X: @livgolf_league  NOTES: The field includes 57 players comprised of 13 four-player teams and five wild cards with a daily shotgun start. … This is the third LIV event contested at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, which also played host to events in 2022 and ’23. … Smith’s win in 2023 was his most recent tournament victory, and his seven-shot win over Anirban Lahiri remains the largest margin of victory in LIV history.  Last Event: LIV Golf United Kingdom (Individual: Lucas Herbert; Team: Ripper GC)  Next Event: Indianapolis, Aug. 20-23  LPGA TOUR   THIS WEEK: OFF.  Race to CME Globe Leader: Nelly Korda  Last Tournament: AIG Women’s Open (Shiho Kuwaki)  Next Tournament: The Standard Portland Classic, Portland, Ore., Aug. 13-16  PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS  THIS WEEK: OFF.  Charles Schwab Cup Leader: Stewart Cink  Last Tournament: Portugal Invitational (Zach Johnson)  Next Tournament: Boeing Classic, Snoqualmie, Wash., Aug. 14-16  DP WORLD TOUR  THIS WEEK: OFF.  Race to Dubai Leader: Patrick Reed  Last Tournament: BMW International Open (David Puig)  Next Tournament: Danish Golf Championship, Funen, Denmark, Aug. 13-16  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Golf #Glance #Final #push #FedExCup #Playoffs #LIV #Trumps

When you think of the WNBA’s best players, who comes to mind?

A’ja Wilson, who has won four MVP awards in the last six years, is probably on the list, as are the 2024 and 2025 No. 1 overall picks, Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers. Some WNBA players have established themselves as household names, while others continue to fly under the radar.

But who are the league’s most underrated players?

It’s a tricky question because the concept of a player being underrated can be interpreted in several ways; a player might be considered underrated because they’ve been flying under the radar (think low name recognition), or they might be considered underrated because they do get a lot of attention, but the general public still doesn’t realize how good they actually are.

With both of those criteria in mind, here are my picks for the WNBA’s most underrated players at the moment.

Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx

The Lynx had three All-Stars this season — Natasha Howard, Courtney Williams and Olivia Miles — and now they have Napheesa Collier, too, a perennial MVP candidate.

But McBride has been the player on the Lynx who often is most overlooked. She’s currently averaging 17.8 points per game while shooting 46% from the field and 40.3% from three. She has the 4th-highest plus-minus in the entire WNBA, and was Minnesota’s leading scorer for 8 consecutive games last month.

McBride is 34 years old, so she’s been around for a long time. Maybe that’s part of why her greatness is sometimes overlooked. But the Lynx would not be where they are right now without her.

Shakira Austin, Washington Mystics

Everyone talks about the Washington Mystics’ duo of elite sophomores, Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron, and rightfully so — both have been spectacular.

But Shakira Austin has been incredible, too. Austin, who for years dealt with a myriad of injuries, is averaging 15.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. She’s the Mystics’ second-leading scorer, leading rebounder, and leading shot blocker. Austin has appeared in all but one game this season and has been a major reason Washington is currently in the playoff mix.

Kiah Stokes, Golden State Valkyries

Kiah Stokes’ stats don’t jump off the page, but when you watch the Valkyries play, it becomes clear that she has been absolutely critical to their success on the defensive end. Stokes has filled in for Iliana Rupert as Golden State’s starting center, and while she’s only averaging 3.7 points and 5.2 rebounds, her real impact has been on the defensive end.

Stokes has the best defensive rating on the team — a 96.3 — and Golden State has looked like a different team on that end in her 22.3 minutes per game. Stokes is one of those players you have to watch a whole lot of in order to truly appreciate.

Angel Reese, Atlanta Dream

This one might surprise some readers, since Reese is one of the most popular and well-known players in the WNBA. Reese is a three-time All-Star and has received lots of recognition for her rebounding prowess. But there’s still a popular notion that Reese isn’t actually a great basketball player, and that her off-court gigs (modelling, podcast, etc) are why she’s famous.

The truth couldn’t be further from that, and it’s very clear when you watch Reese play. The 24-year-old is an elite defender, and she plays with a motor few — if any — WNBA players rival. She’s averaging 15.8 points per game (19th-most in the WNBA among players with at least 15 games) and 11.6 boards per game (second-most). She’s the best offensive rebounder in the league, grabbing 5.1 o-boards per game.

Her +4.2 net rating is the 18th-best in the league. Reese deserves to end up on an All-WNBA team this season, and she has way outperformed her No. 7 draft spot.

Natisha Hiedeman, Seattle Storm

Like Reese, Natisha Hiedeman is known for more than just basketball. The 29-year-old Storm guard makes up one half of the Studbudz, the popular Twitch streaming duo that’s taken the WNBA world by storm (no pun intended). But Hiedeman is also a hooper, and she’s in the middle of by far the best season of her WNBA career.

The 5’8 guard is averaging 16.4 points per game on 45.7% shooting, while hitting 34.6% from beyond the arc. For reference, previously, her career-high in points per game was 9.1, set last year in a big-time season for the Minnesota Lynx.

Hiedeman signed a two-year, $1.525 million contract with the Storm in the offseason, and some considered that an overpay. But she’s been absolutely balling for Seattle, and if the Storm were winning more games, more would probably realize.

Which WNBA players would you consider to be underrated?

#underrated #players #WNBA #explained">The 5 most underrated players in the WNBA, explained  When you think of the WNBA’s best players, who comes to mind?A’ja Wilson, who has won four MVP awards in the last six years, is probably on the list, as are the 2024 and 2025 No. 1 overall picks, Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers. Some WNBA players have established themselves as household names, while others continue to fly under the radar.But who are the league’s most underrated players?It’s a tricky question because the concept of a player being underrated can be interpreted in several ways; a player might be considered underrated because they’ve been flying under the radar (think low name recognition), or they might be considered underrated because they do get a lot of attention, but the general public still doesn’t realize how good they actually are.With both of those criteria in mind, here are my picks for the WNBA’s most underrated players at the moment.Kayla McBride, Minnesota LynxThe Lynx had three All-Stars this season — Natasha Howard, Courtney Williams and Olivia Miles — and now they have Napheesa Collier, too, a perennial MVP candidate.But McBride has been the player on the Lynx who often is most overlooked. She’s currently averaging 17.8 points per game while shooting 46% from the field and 40.3% from three. She has the 4th-highest plus-minus in the entire WNBA, and was Minnesota’s leading scorer for 8 consecutive games last month.McBride is 34 years old, so she’s been around for a long time. Maybe that’s part of why her greatness is sometimes overlooked. But the Lynx would not be where they are right now without her.Shakira Austin, Washington MysticsEveryone talks about the Washington Mystics’ duo of elite sophomores, Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron, and rightfully so — both have been spectacular.But Shakira Austin has been incredible, too. Austin, who for years dealt with a myriad of injuries, is averaging 15.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. She’s the Mystics’ second-leading scorer, leading rebounder, and leading shot blocker. Austin has appeared in all but one game this season and has been a major reason Washington is currently in the playoff mix.Kiah Stokes, Golden State ValkyriesKiah Stokes’ stats don’t jump off the page, but when you watch the Valkyries play, it becomes clear that she has been absolutely critical to their success on the defensive end. Stokes has filled in for Iliana Rupert as Golden State’s starting center, and while she’s only averaging 3.7 points and 5.2 rebounds, her real impact has been on the defensive end.Stokes has the best defensive rating on the team — a 96.3 — and Golden State has looked like a different team on that end in her 22.3 minutes per game. Stokes is one of those players you have to watch a whole lot of in order to truly appreciate.Angel Reese, Atlanta DreamThis one might surprise some readers, since Reese is one of the most popular and well-known players in the WNBA. Reese is a three-time All-Star and has received lots of recognition for her rebounding prowess. But there’s still a popular notion that Reese isn’t actually a great basketball player, and that her off-court gigs (modelling, podcast, etc) are why she’s famous.The truth couldn’t be further from that, and it’s very clear when you watch Reese play. The 24-year-old is an elite defender, and she plays with a motor few — if any — WNBA players rival. She’s averaging 15.8 points per game (19th-most in the WNBA among players with at least 15 games) and 11.6 boards per game (second-most). She’s the best offensive rebounder in the league, grabbing 5.1 o-boards per game.Her +4.2 net rating is the 18th-best in the league. Reese deserves to end up on an All-WNBA team this season, and she has way outperformed her No. 7 draft spot.Natisha Hiedeman, Seattle StormLike Reese, Natisha Hiedeman is known for more than just basketball. The 29-year-old Storm guard makes up one half of the Studbudz, the popular Twitch streaming duo that’s taken the WNBA world by storm (no pun intended). But Hiedeman is also a hooper, and she’s in the middle of by far the best season of her WNBA career.The 5’8 guard is averaging 16.4 points per game on 45.7% shooting, while hitting 34.6% from beyond the arc. For reference, previously, her career-high in points per game was 9.1, set last year in a big-time season for the Minnesota Lynx.Hiedeman signed a two-year, .525 million contract with the Storm in the offseason, and some considered that an overpay. But she’s been absolutely balling for Seattle, and if the Storm were winning more games, more would probably realize.Which WNBA players would you consider to be underrated?   #underrated #players #WNBA #explained

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