Candace Parker was named WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week following a week in which she tied for the league lead in scoring (25.3 ppg.), while ranking second in assists (7.0 apg.) and third in rebounds (9.0 rpg) among Western Conference Players. She narrowly missed a triple-double in a July 15 victory over the Las Vegas Aces when she became the first player in WNBA history to record 34 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. This marks the 23rd time Parker has earned Player of the Week honors, the second-most of any WNBA player behind only Tina Charles who received the honor 29 times.
Parker also narrowly missed a triple-double on July 10 vs. Seattle, turning in 21 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in a 77-75 victory over the Storm. In her only other game during the period, she contributed 21 points and seven rebounds in a July 12 loss to the Dallas Wings.
In other notable performances by LVFLs, Glory Johnson logged 11 points, seven rebounds and two steals as Dallas topped Parker’s Sparks, 92-77, on July 12, and Shekinna Stricklen tallied 10 points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal on July 15 when the Sun won at Minnesota, 83-64.
In upcoming action, two former Lady Vols will hit the court on Tuesday. Johnson and the Wings will host the New York Liberty at 1 p.m. ET (Twitter, FSSW-Dal+, MSG+), while Stricklen and the Sun will look to extend their win streak to three when they host Atlanta at 7 p.m. ET (League Pass, NBCSB).
On Wednesday LVFLs Mercedes Russell and Diamond DeShields will face off when Chicago hosts first-place Seattle at noon ET (League Pass).
Johnson will be back in action on Thursday as the Wings host the Mystics at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2), and Jaime Nared and the Las Vegas Aces will travel to Phoenix, tipping off at 10 p.m. ET (League Pass).
Parker and the third-place Los Angeles Sparks will enjoy a four-day break before returning to the court on Friday to host Indiana at 10:30 p.m. ET (League Pass, SPECSN).
Diamond DeShields
Chicago Sky | G | 1st Season
DeShields has started 21 games for the Sky and is the team’s second-leading scorer, averaging 13.4 ppg. Chicago is currently in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 7-15.
Isabelle Harrison
Las Vegas Aces | F/C | 3rd Season
Harrison remains on the Aces’ roster but is taking a personal leave of absence due to medical reasons, per an April 28 report from the franchise.
Glory Johnson
Dallas Wings | F | 6th Season
Johnson returned to action on June 8 after missing five games due to an injury suffered in the Wings’ season-opener. She has appeared in sixteen games this season, starting eight, and is averaging 8.3 ppg and 5.9 rpg. Dallas is currently residing in fourth place in the Western Conference with a record of 12-9.
Jaime Nared
Las Vegas Aces | G/F | 1st Season
Nared has appeared in 22 games for the Aces, averaging 9.3 mpg, 2.6 ppg and 1.2 rpg. Her season high of 10 points came on June 8 against Atlanta.
Candace Parker
Los Angeles Sparks | F/C | 11th Season
Parker is coming off a double-double on Sunday when she logged a season-high 34 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in a 99-78 victory over the Aces. She leads the Sparks in scoring through 23 games, averaging 17.6 ppg. After missing three games due to injury early in the season, she’s appeared in every game since, averaging 29.5 mpg. Her field goal percentage of 50.0 ranks tenth-best in the WNBA. With a record of 14-9, the Sparks currently rank third in the Western Conference.
Mercedes Russell
Seattle Storm | C | 1st Season
Originally drafted 22nd overall by New York, Russell saw action in two games for the Liberty before signing with Seattle. Through a total of 12 WNBA appearances she is averaging 7.2 mpg, 1.7 rpg and 1.4 ppg. At 16-6, Seattle currently owns the best record in the WNBA.
Shekinna Stricklen
Connecticut Sun | G/F | 7th Season
Stricklen has seen action in all 22 games for the Sun, starting 18 and averaging 17.8 mpg and 5.8 ppg. The Sun is currently in third place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 12-10.
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