WNBA: Lexie Brown starring for Los Angeles Sparks coming into Storm recreation

The Los Angeles Sparks (2-2) hope to have each Azurá Stevens and Jasmine Thomas make their 2023 debuts Saturday evening in opposition to the Seattle Storm (0-3) at Crypto.com Area (10 p.m. ET, CBS Sports activities). Each are game-time selections.

Each are of their first yr with the Sparks, with Thomas being acquired in a commerce with the Connecticut Solar and Stevens being signed in free company. Each had been anticipated to be key contributors if not borderline stars. Stevens has been out with a again damage; Thomas continues to be recovering from a torn ACL that saved her out for all however 5 video games of 2022.

LA is coming off an additional time win over the Phoenix Mercury Friday evening. To this point, the Sparks have solely performed two groups, dropping twice to the Las Vegas Aces (one blowout, one shut one) and rising victorious over Phoenix twice (one blowout, one shut one). We’ll see how Lexie Brown follows up her career-high-tying 26 factors from Friday evening. Brown, who additionally achieved the feat within the wubble with Minnesota, was 11-of-16 from the sphere and 3-of-7 from distance. Brown averaged 19.6 minutes per recreation over two years with the Lynx earlier than averaging simply 9.5 within the 17 video games she appeared in for the 2021 WNBA champion Chicago Sky. Final yr, in her first season in LA, she bought again to being a key contributor for a group (25 minutes per recreation) and to this point this yr she is fourth on the Sparks in minutes per recreation with a career-high 28.3.

Fifth on the group in minutes per recreation is Karlie Samuelson, who, as we talked about in Friday’s preview, is wanting like not only a roster lock for the primary time in her profession, but additionally one of many high scorers on the Sparks. She is averaging 11.5 factors on 64.3 % taking pictures from downtown. The Sparks gamers who’re enjoying the largest roles of their careers will likely be key transferring ahead.

Photograph by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Photos

The Storm have performed two good groups shut of their final two video games after getting blown out by the Aces of their opener. Jewell Loyd has not disenchanted in her first season because the group’s Batman, as she leads the league with 26 factors per recreation. If Loyd manages to be the highest scorer within the league all through the season, Seattle could possibly make some noise. You realize Loyd goes to do all the pieces in her energy to verify they’re not empty factors that don’t end in wins. As a result of she is a real winner and understands the duty of upholding Seattle’s successful tradition.

Different motion

Lynx (0-6) at Mystics (3-2)

The Mystics wish to assert themselves as a High 4 group within the league. They did a great job in beating the Wings Friday evening after I recommended within the Friday preview that Dallas may take their spot as that No. 4 group. Nevertheless, they solely received by one level and their earlier win over Chicago was by simply two. Washington hasn’t regarded dominant since its 16-point season-opening win over the Liberty. Let’s see if it might break by way of and win a blowout over the 0-6 Lynx.

Minnesota sadly has to take care of the indefinitely-long absence of Diamond Miller attributable to an ankle damage. The Lynx could also be 0-6, however they’ve misplaced 5 shut video games. So long as Napheesa Collier (18.8 factors per recreation) retains enjoying properly, they’ll have a shot to beat anybody.

Recreation info

Minnesota Lynx (0-6) vs. Washington Mystics (3-2)

When: Saturday, June 3 at 7 p.m. ET

The place: Leisure and Sports activities Area in Washington, D.C.

watch: WNBA League Go

Lynx inury report: Natalie Achonwa (private; out), Diamond Miller (ankle; out)

Mystics damage report: Myisha Hines-Allen (kneecap; game-time choice)

Seattle Storm (0-3) vs. Los Angeles Sparks (2-2)

When: Saturday, June 3 at 10 p.m. ET

The place: Crypto.com Area in Los Angeles, CA

watch: CBS Sports activities

Storm inury report: none

Sparks damage report: Katie Lou Samuelson (private; out for season), Azurá Stevens (again; game-time choice), Stephanie Talbot (knee; out for season), Jasmine Thomas (knee; game-time choice)