Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Around the WNBA on Thursday, June 13

Pity those who missed out on Thursday’s Commissioner’s Cup action.

The Indiana Fever got their fourth win (4-10). Jackie Young went ballistic in the second quarter of the Aces’ dub over the Mercury. And the Storm countered Arike Ogunbowale’s production with six triples and 13 points on the break in their victory.

Let’s review what happened…

Aliyah Boston returns to form + Kelsey Mitchell’s big night in the Fever’s win:

First-quarter foul trouble sat Boston down for a few minutes, but she was confident and hungry, leading her team to a victory against the Atlanta Dream. She threw her weight around setting on plus off-ball screens, powered through the post, recovered five extra possessions and protected the lane well.

Her best spurts came in the second and fourth quarter. During the former sequence, Boston nailed two free throws, made a putback, and scored on Tina Charles twice at close range on post and face-up plays. In the latter interval, she bailed out the squad after the offense fell apart, bludgeoning the square on drives and a putback to outduel Rhyne Howard.

After the game, Fever coach Christie Sides said Boston was undeniable. “She played extremely well, really physical, didn’t back down and finished great, great shots at the rim tonight.”

Boston finished with 27 points on 12 of 21 tries, with 13 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and a turnover. Ten of her points came in the fourth quarter.

And Mitchell detonated for 24 points on seven of 14 shots. She was explosive off the dribble and connected on a mid-range shot plus three trays, including fumbling up one from the left corner to end the first half. Subsequently, Mitchell scored on a broken play at close range with 45 seconds left and earned multiple trips to the line, burying six freebies.

The Las Vegas Aces go on tour, beating the Phoenix Mercury:

A’ja Wilson carried her group to start, scoring 10 of their first 12 first-quarter points by converting two mid-range and two turnaround jumpers in the paint and scoring a putback. The rest of the Aces registered zero of 11 buckets partly because Brittney Griner was causing havoc as a low help defender. Kelsey Plum logged the team’s other two points at the line, yet the squad fell behind by 16 points to end the frame.

On the other side, Diana Taurasi hit a baseline jumper in transition, flared into the lane for a layup, scored against drop coverage at the cup and canned a right-wing trifecta, totaling 10 points through 10 minutes. Sophie Cunningham chipped in with seven points on three of four attempts.

Then Jackie Young dribbled into five triples between the top of the key and left side and burst into the lane in transition, making a bucket with contact. She had 21 points in the second quarter, and the Mercury tallied 23.

In the second half, Wilson and Young combined for 30 of the Aces’ 49 points on 45% accuracy. Young’s jumper in the paint over Kahleah Copper gave the Aces a four-point edge with 46 seconds left.

Wilson had 32 points on 10 of 17 attempts, with 15 rebounds (six on offense), two assists, one steal, two blocks and three turnovers. And Young notched 34 marks on 47.8% accuracy, with eight rebounds (four on offense), four assists, one steal and three turnovers.

Seattle Storm shoot down the Wings in Dallas:

For the Wings, Arike Ogunbowale made a left-corner banger, banked in a half-court heave, and dribbled past Jewell Loyd to the cup for a left-handed layup. And Teaira McCowan and Maddy Siegrist kept the understaffed Wings in the first half, scoring off-ball and recording four fastbreak points.

But the Storm were up 48-40 at halftime, led by Loyd’s 15 points and Skylar Diggins-Smith’s dozen. Additionally, the visitors had 16 points off turnovers and two via an extra try.

Next, Ogunbowale scored 14 second-half points, making one freebie plus two mid-range shots and recording three trifectas. Kalani Brown added four of five baskets. And McCowan made three offerings at close range.

But it wasn’t enough.

Defensively, the Storm forced seven turnovers in the second half. On offense, the group supplied seven points on the break between Sami Whitcomb, Jordan Horston and Diggins-Smith. Diggins-Smith hit a floater on the baseline and another in the paint on a pick-and-roll set with Ezi Magbegor as well. And Nneka Ogwumike connected on a 3-pointer, putback, two layups and two free throws. Ogwumike’s freebies came with under two minutes left, putting the Storm ahead by nine points.