Elizabeth Williams’ ninth season in the WNBA has taken a turn for the worst, despite her year getting off to a great start. A torn meniscus was sustained by the Chicago Sky’s starting center during a game on June 6 against the Washington Mystics. It is uncertain if Williams will be able to play again in 2024 despite the team announcing that she would require surgery to treat the ailment.
The Virginia Beach, Virginia, native was a mainstay in Chicago’s roster and was putting up strong statistics until the tragedy hit. Williams’s presence in the frontcourt was essential to the Sky’s offensive performance, averaging 10.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. She was also quite hazardous due to her guarded demeanor. Her ability to guard the rim makes her one of Chicago’s most useful players; she currently ranks sixth in the league in shot blocks per game (1.7). Williams’s expertise is vital for the Sky, particularly with newcomers like Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese still figuring things out.
Head coach Teresa Weatherspoon, who is also recuperating from a shoulder injury, looked to Cardoso to round out the starting lineup in the absence of the former Duke center. In a situation when veterans could be crucial, Chicago is left with a frontcourt that is younger and less experienced. With a record of 6-9 for the season, the club is third in the Eastern Conference and ninth overall in the WNBA. Williams’ passing will only make the Sky’s ascent to fame more challenging as they work to right the ship.
Point guard Chelsea Gray was sidelined for months after suffering an injury in the third game of the 2023 WNBA championships, and she never returned to the field. She eventually returned to action on Wednesday night, assisting the Las Vegas Aces in a 94-83 victory over the Seattle Storm. In her 16 minutes of action, Gray finished with one basket, four rebounds, and seven assists. In a game against the Connecticut Sun on Friday night, she took the field once more as she gradually regains her full strength.
Gray was perhaps the greatest point guard in the league until her injury last year, and she made a significant contribution. The Manteca, California, native is a terrifying offensive weapon who averaged 15.3 points and 7.3 assists per game while starting every game because of her ability to pace the floor and dish out assist after assist. She is an important leader and experienced presence due to her work as the offensive coordinator for Las Vegas, and she played a significant part in the team’s championship campaigns in 2022 and 2023.
Although guard Lexie Brown had a great start to the year, her output has somewhat decreased since the start of the league. Nevertheless, with an average of 8.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, she is a dependable member of the Los Angeles Sparks team. With her excellent defensive abilities and solid shooting stats, Brown’s return to the floor after missing most of 2023 due to a bacterial ailment that needed multiple operations is encouraging for the Sparks. However, it doesn’t seem like the native of Suwanee, Georgia, is back to full vigor. The former Duke guard’s status for the most recent Los Angeles game versus the New York Liberty was initially reported as out due to sickness. Despite making it onto the court, she didn’t have much playing time—she was only on the court for seven minutes, during which she had two steals and one assist.
With just four wins and thirteen defeats thus far in league play, the Sparks are having a difficult season overall. If the club hopes to be in the running for the playoffs later in the season, it needs to improve upon its present position at the bottom of the WNBA rankings. Los Angeles has also found things more challenging due to injuries, most notably the ACL rupture suffered by rookie Cameron Brink. Players with Brown’s level of dependability and consistency might be the key to more success for the Sparks if they want to add more victories to their record.
The return of Gray, a talented player who can take over any game she plays in, is a threat to the rest of the WNBA and gives the reigning league champions the much-needed lift. Las Vegas finished 34-6 the previous season and won back-to-back championships. But the 2024 Aces have been more of a challenge, starting the regular season 8-6, matching their number of losses from the previous year. With the club sitting third in the Western Conference and fifth overall in the league, Gray’s return might be the sparkplug that propels Las Vegas back to prominence. This summer, the former Blue Devil will also go to Paris for the Olympics, where she is anticipated to start for Team USA as a point guard.
With just four wins and thirteen defeats thus far in league play, the Sparks are having a difficult season overall. If the club hopes to be in the running for the playoffs later in the season, it needs to improve upon its present position at the bottom of the WNBA rankings. Los Angeles has also found things more challenging due to injuries, most notably the ACL rupture suffered by rookie Cameron Brink. Players with Brown’s level of dependability and consistency might be the key to more success for the Sparks if they want to add more victories to their record.