WNBA Spotlights 3 Rising Players and 3 Slumping Stars With 15 Teams Past 75% Mark
Updated
Updated · NBC Sports · Aug 13
WNBA Spotlights 3 Rising Players and 3 Slumping Stars With 15 Teams Past 75% Mark
1 articles · Updated · NBC Sports · Aug 13
Summary
Three-quarters into the WNBA season, a leaguewide form check flagged Jackie Young, Napheesa Collier and Bridget Carleton as trending up while Natisha Hiedeman, Azura Stevens and Kahleah Copper have cooled off.
Young has scored at least 20 points in eight of her last 10 games, including a five-game streak, while Collier has posted 15-plus points in all eight appearances since returning from ankle surgery.
Carleton has become a key Portland scorer, topping 20 points and four 3-pointers in three of her last five games and hitting seven triples in back-to-back outings.
On the downside, Hiedeman is 5-of-21 over Seattle's last three games, Stevens has 20 points on 9-of-26 shooting since returning for Chicago, and Copper is 5-of-21 from deep over Phoenix's past four.
Those swings matter with all 15 teams deep into the regular season, as playoff seeding and draft-lottery positioning increasingly hinge on which high-usage players stay hot.