Preview: Dream host Lynx, Liberty host Wings, Storm host Mystics in Tuesday tripleheader

Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day Weekend. Here is what’s in store for a tripleheader of WNBA games on Tuesday. Two of them will be on Twitter, so there will be plenty of opportunities to see the WNBA in action tonight!

Atlanta Dream (1-2) vs. Minnesota Lynx (2-2)

When: Tuesday May 29 at 7 p.m. EST

Where: McCamish Pavilion | TICKETS

How to watch: Twitter (worldwide streaming)

Injuries: For the Lynx, Sylvia Fowles is questionable due to an ankle injury she suffered against the Mystics on Sunday.

Storylines to follow

• Both teams are trying to right the ship. The Lynx were expected to remain a juggernaut after winning the 2017 WNBA Championship. But Minnesota lost a double-digit lead to the Mystics on Sunday and did not play much better against the Liberty on the road last week. The Dream, on the other hand, lost to the Wings twice in three games. However, they defeated the Sky on May 23 in a convincing fashion.
• Can Tiffany Hayes improve her shooting efficiency? The Dream guard leads Atlanta scorers at 16.7 points per game, but she is also only making 34.2 percent of her overall shot attempts. Guards like Chelsea Gray (LA Sparks) and Kristi Toliver (Mystics) put up big numbers and clutch shots to do away with Minnesota in both of their losses this season. Hayes could very well be the next candidate to do just that.

New York Liberty (0-2) vs. Dallas Wings (2-2)

When: Tuesday May 29 at 7 p.m. EST

Where: Westchester County Center | TICKETS

How to watch: WNBA League Pass (worldwide streaming) | MSG+ (New York area TV)

Injuries: For the Liberty, Brittany Boyd is out due to an Achilles’ injury, Epiphanny Prince is doubtful due to concussion protocol. Sugar Rodgers is questionable due to a knee injury. Kia Vaughn is probable after missing the start of the season in Turkey.

For the Wings, Aerial Powers (quadriceps), Glory Johnson (hamstring) and Theresa Plaisance (ACL) are out.

Storylines to follow

• Can Kia Nurse continue to put up big numbers off the bench? Mystics guard Ariel Atkins is one of the WNBA’s most productive rookies outside of the lottery picks. But Nurse is averaging 15.5 points a game off the bench while shooting above 40 percent from the field and from three. The Liberty already have one of the WNBA’s deepest backcourt rotations, but Nurse could find herself starting if she continues to put up these types of numbers.
• How will Liz Cambage fare against Tina Charles? Cambage is back with the Shock/Wings franchise for the first time since 2013, and she is averaging 16.8 points, 11 rebounds, 3.3 blocks and 2.5 assists per game. If she holds this kind of production up, Cambage will be an All-Star for sure. Tonight, she will face off against Liberty center Tina Charles, who is averaging 18 points and 8 rebounds a game. These are still great numbers, but sound a bit more pedestrian on the surface, considering that Cambage already played games against Sylvia Fowles of the Lynx and Brittney Griner of the Mercury.

Seattle Storm (3-1) vs. Washington Mystics (4-0)

When: Tuesday May 29 at 10 p.m. EST

Where: KeyArena | TICKETS

How to watch: Twitter (worldwide streaming) | JOE TV (Seattle)

Injuries: For the Storm, Crystal Langhorne (ribs) and Noelle Quinn (knee) are questionable. For the Mystics, Tayler Hill is out due to knee rehab, while Elena Delle Donne (stomach bug) and LaToya Sanders are questionable.

Storylines to follow

• Two of the WNBA’s top teams face off. The Mystics are currently the WNBA’s top team with a 4-0 record coming into tonight’s game — largely due to their bench unit. But the Storm have more star talent, with Jewell Loyd playing at an MVP level while Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart remain in top form.
• Will the Mystics tweak their starting lineup? The Mystics are 4-0, but the starting unit hasn’t played particularly well, allowing opponents to lead after the first quarter in three consecutive games. Rookie post Myisha Hines-Allen outplayed Krystal Thomas in the Lynx game, while rookie guard Ariel Atkins is also averaging close to double digits herself. One of the two could be in position to take over for Monique Currie or Krystal Thomas, neither of whom have been in form so far in the 2018 season.