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There are three WNBA games on for Thursday. Let’s get to them!
Washington Mystics (5-3) vs. Minnesota Lynx (2-5)
When: Thursday June 7 at 4 p.m. EST
Where: Capital One Arena | No tickets available
How to watch: WNBA League Pass (worldwide streaming) | NBC Sports Washington (D.C. area TV)
Injuries: For the Mystics, Elena Delle Donne has an undisclosed illness while Tayler Hill is still in knee rehab. The Lynx should be good to go.
Storylines to follow
There will be a big crowd, but when? This game was originally scheduled at 7 p.m. tonight. However, it was moved up to 4 p.m. because there will be a watch party at 8 p.m. for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Washington Capitals and the Vegas Golden Knights. What’s even more significant is that the Capitals lead the series 3-1. If they win tonight, the Capitals are the NHL champions.
Anyone with a ticket to today’s game can stay in their seat for the watch party. This prompted tickets for the game to sell out quickly though the Mystics ultimately made the game free.
Both teams are trying to get out of slumps - The Mystics have lose three of their last four games without Elena Delle Donne who has an illness. Meanwhile, the Lynx lost four games in a row for the first time since 2010 — before Maya Moore came into the league.
New York Liberty (2-3) vs. Connecticut Sun (5-1)
When: Thursday June 7 at 7 p.m. EST
Where: Westchester County Center | TICKETS
How to watch: WNBA League Pass (worldwide streaming) | MSG+ (New York area TV) | NBC Sports Boston (Boston area)
Injuries: For the Liberty, Epiphanny Prince (concussion) and Kiah Stokes (foot) are out. The Sun have no injuries.
Storylines to follow
Alyssa Thomas is on a tear - Thomas is averaging 14.7 points, 4.5 assists, and a team-high 11 rebounds a game so far for the Sun. She has scored in double digits every game this season and has yet to have a true poor game this season. It’s rare to see frontcourt players with her skillset so it will be interesting to see how they will try to counter her strengths.
Kia Nurse is a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate - The rookie guard failed to score in double digits for the first time on Tuesday in New York’s loss to the Phoenix Mercury. But still, Nurse is averaging over 16 points a game as a reserve which is nothing short of phenomenal. The Libs are playing a rival team tonight, so expect to see her bounceback from a down Tuesday performance.
Los Angeles Sparks (4-1) vs. Seattle Storm (5-2)
When: Thursday June 7 at 10:30 p.m. EST
Where: STAPLES Center | TICKETS
How to watch: ESPN2 (national television) | WNBA League Pass (worldwide streaming)
Injuries: For the Sparks, Maria Vadeeva has visa issues. For the Storm, Crystal Langhorne (ribs) is questionable.
Storylines to follow
Future semifinals or finals match? The Sparks and Storm are among the WNBA’s top teams heading into tonight’s game. L.A. has generally stayed in form all season long with their veteran core of Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike while the Storm’s young star duo of Jewell Loyd and Breanna Stewart have done the same.
Can Seattle prevent the Sparks from going on big runs? The Storm los last Saturday to the Wings, 94-90 after coming back from a 26 point deficit. While it is a good thing to see that Seattle can come back from large deficits at any time, it will be a taller order for the Storm to come back from a team like the Sparks.