Penny Taylor leads the Mercury to 3 straight wins
The Phoenix Mercury are on a mission, going 3-0 since returning from the Olympic break with Australia’s Penny Taylor absolutely firing alongside key players Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner. In a turn of the tables, the Los Angeles Sparks are yet to win a game since returning from the break after being the league’s front runners prior.
Whilst the Sparks aren't looking so invincible, stars Nneka Ogwumike and Candace Parker are still looking like the front-runners of the competition collecting 75 points together over their two games back.
https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/770073038217965569
Other stars of this season include Maya Moore, Tina Charles, Elena Delle Donne and Breanna Stewart.
Aussie Update
With the Mercury firing, it is no surprise that Aussie Penny Taylor is in fine form.
The dynamic small forward is continuing her fine form that we saw in the Rio Olympics. Taylor scored 22 points alongside 3 rebounds and 3 assists in the Mercury's first game back against Dallas, registering an 88% shooting efficiency from the field. Then in true Taylor style, she backed it up with a healthy amount of assists, logging 5 dimes with 4 rebounds and 3 points against the Sparks. In the Mercury's 14 point win over Indiana just days later, Taylor had 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 assist.
https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/769574209836027904
New York Liberty's Australian forward Bec Allen has also shown her skill in their first game back, providing 10 points in 10 minutes off the bench. With the remainder of the week off, it looks like Allen was kept busy attending the annual MTV Video Music Awards.
https://twitter.com/becallen8/status/769973035390623744
Catchings Honoured
Tamika Catchings has been honoured with the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award, which recognises a player who is an inspiration to the community and has the same leadership, spirit, charitable efforts and love for the game that Staley exhibited.
https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/771022285008277504
Catchings is a universally admired player who announced earlier this year she will be hanging up her boots at the end of the season.