🏀 Five WNBA stars to watch

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Well… here we are. Another season in the books.

The finals are done, summer is here, and the vibes are immaculate. Now it’s time to grab a drink, kick back, turn the WNBA on, and watch some offseason chaos unfold.

Today’s Lineup

Around the W with Crina: Five hoopers we’re enjoying this season.

Is Beal for Real?: The Wizards star is being linked with an intriguing destination

Stocks Going Up 📈: Some late NBA draft risers to keep your eye on

Around the W with Crina

Here are FIVE players we’re enjoying to start the WNBA season and WHERE you can watch them this weekend!

Brittney Griner: 20.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.5 BLK per game

The biggest story this season has been Brittney Griner’s return to the court after a year-long wrongful detention in Russia. She’s shown resilience and light, and on top of that, has looked very comfortable playing basketball once more.

Griner is averaging 20.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, shooting over 60% from the field (62.4). Her size and presence have been felt not only on the offensive side of the floor but on defense as well. BG is currently averaging 2.5 blocks per game, an impressive stat that shows just how hard she’s been to score against on the interior.

If you want to watch her compete for the Phoenix Mercury (2-6), they’ve got two matchups this weekend: Mercury vs Mystics (Friday at 8 pm ET on ionTV) and Mercury vs Liberty (Sunday at 12 pm ET on CBS).

Lexie Brown: 13.3 PPG, 2.9 APG, 48.4 FG% (42% from three)

Lexie Brown has been able to showcase her game with the LA Sparks this season, making a case for MIP very early on. Brown has been one of their most solid shooters and a big reason why the team is 5-4 to start the season. All of her numbers are up, and watching her confidence with this LA squad rise has been great to see.

If you like watching pure shooters and want to see Lexie Brown in action, you can catch her twice this weekend: Lynx vs Sparks (Friday at 10 pm ET on ionTV) and Sun vs Sparks (Sunday at 7:30 pm ET on WNBA League Pass).

Another player to watch in the Sparks/Sun matchup: Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun. AT has been arguably one of the best players in the league to start the season, averaging 14.1 PPG, 11.2 RPG, and 7.3 APG. She already has eight double-doubles to start the season and has led the Sun to an 8-2 start, second behind the Las Vegas Aces. To vote AT into the All-Star Game, click here.

Kalani Brown: 9.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 51.1 FG%

About two weeks ago, the Dallas Wings signed Kalani Brown to a rest-of-season contract on an emergency hardship (Lou Lopez Senechal and Diamond DeShields injured long-term for the Wings). Now, with Teaira McCowan away from the team for overseas duties, Kalani Brown has fully taken advantage of her opportunity. The 6’7 center has been great on the roll and playing in the post. Brown has used her size and movement to both score and be a presence on the boards.

To watch her and the Dallas Wings (5-5) this weekend, turn to CBS on Saturday at 2 pm ET as they face the Seattle Storm.

Cheyenne Parker: 15.5 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 1.4 STL per game

Last but certainly not least, the fifth player we’ve enjoyed so far is Cheyenne Parker of the Atlanta Dream. She is averaging 15.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game, proving to be a great fit on this young Atlanta team that is full of potential.

The Dream are 3-5 this season, but just recently pulled off an impressive win against the New York Liberty. They are starting to find their stride, and Cheyenne Parker should be on the game plan for all of their opponents.

To watch Cheyenne Parker and the Atlanta Dream this weekend, turn to CBS Sports Network on Sunday at 4 pm ET as they battle the also-young-and-full-of-potential Indiana Fever.

Bradley Beal x De’AAron Fox?

According to Shams Charania, there is another potential suitor for Wizards guard Bradley Beal (should he exercise his no-trade clause) and it’s a team that could immediately become a title contender with Beal’s creation and shot-making services; the Sacramento Kings. The last time Beal played with an explosive, dynamic point guard like De’Aaron Fox, he averaged 31.3 PPG… Just saying.

Oh, and the time before that was pretty good, too:

No Ceilings: Stock Risers 📈

Hello Enjoyers! It’s your friends from the No Ceilings crew here again to talk about the 2023 NBA Draft. Draft SZN is here, and today, we’re talking about some hot names that are seeing their draft stock rise up the boards.

Whit-More Do You Want?

Villanova one-and-done Cam Whitmore missed the start of the season due to injury. When he came back, he drained threes off the catch and plowed through anyone in his path to finish at the rim. He’s a downhill powerhouse at 6’6”, 235 lbs, but he’s still nimble defensively and has a great stroke. Streets are saying that Whitmore’s workouts have generated a palpable buzz, and he may go higher than anticipated on draft night. A multi-positional defender who can shoot and attack? Yeah, teams want that. It’ll take a miracle for him to fall past 7, and anything as high as 3 is on the table.

Coulibaly Heats Up

Bilal Coulibaly entered the year as a raw, intriguing athlete who could maybe go in the second round. Now, he’s Victor Wembanyama’s right-hand man, starting in French league playoff games and generating lottery consideration. He’s a live wire on defense, using his speed and 7’3” wingspan to wreak havoc and force turnovers. Coulibaly is a nasty dunker— a transition terror and a purveyor of putbacks. An improving shooter and passer, he looks like the athletic, 3-and-D wings that tends to succeed in the playoffs, but don’t sell him short because he has the potential to be so much more.

O-Max is Prospering

Oliver-Maxence Prosper (also known as O-MAX) had himself a dang NBA Combine. The 6’7” forward has a smooth face-up game, beautiful touch, and expanding range. He’s a pest on defense, using his fast feet and long arms to wall off opponents. With a 7’ wingspan, the dude is impenetrable. Once considered an undrafted free agent or second-round target, his 21 point outing at the combine solidified

him as a name to watch in the back end of the first round pick.

For more in depth Draft coverage, make sure you peep the official No Ceilings 2023 NBA Draft Guide

Frozen Moments

• Nikola Jokic is glad he stayed for the parade 😂

• The champagne is always flying when Michael Malone is around. 🍾

• Shaq lends a helping hand at Home Depot.

The Gist: College Sports

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Join readers that love and support college sports just as much as you do! Sign up today and stay in the know on your favorite college teams with The GIST.

What We’re Enjoying

Denver’s NBA Title? It Was All Part of the Journey. - Chris Mannix (Sports Illustrated)

Diablo IV: If you want a new game to play with your friends this summer, this is it. Diablo IV is all about fighting obscene amounts of all the monstrous creatures the underworld has to offer, acquiring piles of loot, and turning your party into a roving machine of death and destruction.

Signing Off

Thanks for reading everyone! With the draft just a week away, who are some of your favorite slept-on prospects? Reply to this email and let us know!

Now, go Enjoy your weekend and spend some time doing something you love, that’s an order.

Until next time,

-Crina, Quinn, and Spencer

Trivia Answer: The answer to today’s trivia is the Dallas Mavericks! Under the European tutelage of Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Doncic, the Mavs have won over 59% of their games this century.

Before you go…

Happy birthday to Enjoy Basketball LEGENDS Aarnav and Micah! These S-Tier Enjoyers have an 100% open rate, meaning they’ve never missed a Newsletter. Truly incredible stuff. If you want your own birthday shoutout, do us a favor and fill out our quick survey below. 👇