The Guru WNBA Report: Clark and Mitchell Power Indiana at L.A. While Expansion Toronto Gets First Win; Connecticut Routed by ‘Vegas Hours After Sale to Houston Approved by WNBA and NBA Boards

 By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsgurux

If there was any rust on Indiana’s Caitlin Clark in the Fever’s narrow season-opening loss at home Saturday returning after being out with injuries since mid-June last season, it all came off except for long-range scoring late Wednesday night, the former Iowa great and 2024 rookie of the year scoring 24 points and dealing nine assists while Kelsey Mitchell added 24 and the Fever (1-1) on the West Coast got their first win 87-78 over Los Angeles (0-2) before a crowd of 12,605 at the Crypto.com arena in Southern California.

A night after expansion Portland quickly got its first win, expansion Toronto (1-1) gained its first triumph delighting a home crowd of 8,142 at the Coca Cola Coliseum in Canada with an 86-73 victory over Seattle (1-2).

Las Vegas (2-1) is expected to strongly contend for its fourth title in the last five seasons while Connecticut (0-3) is expected to be lottery bound again in its final season in New England and the two teams looked that far apart as the visiting defending champions romped to a 98-69 win before a crowd of 5,452 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

The sellout streak of 18,064 at the Chase Center in San Francisco begun with Golden State’s debut last season continued in the fourth and other game of the night but the weekend sweep to start 2026 last weekend hit a speed bump, the Valkyries (2-1) losing 69-63 to Chicago (2-0) which with Atlanta are the only two clubs in the 15-team league left unbeaten while L.A. and Connecticut are the only duo without a win in the WNBA’s opening week in the 30th season that got under way Friday night.

Fever Top Sparks

It looked to be a rout when Clark’s first 3-pointer in seven attempts put Indiana up 78-63 put then the Sparks with 4:51 remaining in regulation erupted on an 11-3 run ending with Kelsey Plum’s shot to narrow the deficit to 83-76 with 1:23 remaining but after the Fever lost the ball on the next possession, Plum missed a chance to keep it going, not connecting on an open three, and Clark fed Mitchell inside to make it 85-76 at the 33.2 seconds mark.

Sophie Cunningham added 12 points to the winning attack, Monique Billings had nine points and eight boards, and Aliyah Boston who fouled out with 3:32 left had four points and seven boards.

Additionally, Myisha Hines-Allen picked up her 500th career assist.

Plum scored 25 for the Sparks, while Dearica Hamby collected 16 while former Stanford star Cameron Brink had 11 points and blocked three shots, while Nneka Ogwumike and Rae Burrell each scored 10 points.

Los Angeles starter Ariel Atkins was sidelined with a head injury the rest of the game are leaving 16 minutes into the action.

Former Saint Joseph’s star Laura Ziegler who played last season in Louisville who went undrafted is one of two two players signed to a developmental deal by Los Angeles after given a training camp deal.

“Laura is a versatile big, whose high basketball IQ and efficient shooting embody our style of play,” said Sparks General manager Raegan Pebley of the Denmark native. “She rebounds well on both sides of the ball and thrived in a new role with Louisville this past season, showcasing her adaptability. We’re excited to see her develop within our system.”

Ziegler can play 12 games in her role under the new CBA.

Indiana shot 56% in the first half.

“What I can do best for my team is make plays for my teammates and I know that,” said Clark of her long-range skill still a bit off.”

Of the officiating, Indiana coach Stephanie White who was on a committee to improve things said,” We said, ‘call everything,’ which is going to frustrate players but there will be a calibration.

“But this felt like last year and what the coaches want is consistency, which is frustrating.”

Tempo Quells Storm

Before the game, Toronto coach Sandy Brondello, formerly with New York, was asked to react to Portland’s first win.

“This isn’t going to be a competition,” Brondello said of the two new teams. "We’re going to have our ups and downs.”

The Tempo then proceeded to have an ups as Marina Mabrey scored 26 points propelled by six makes from deep, while Brittney Sykes scored 18 with eight rebounds and six assists.

Mabrey and Maria Conde combined for 14 points in the third period when Toronto wrnt on an 18-6 run to go ahead 65-56.

Then the former Notre Dame standout opened the first six minutes of the final quarter with eight more coming from a pair of threes within a minute for an 81-71 advantage.

Seattle was near scoreless with one made field goal in the funalsix minutes.

Conde, a reserve, had 16 points while first-round pick Kiki Rice from NCAA champion UCLA scored12.

Seattle’s Dominique Malonga, one of the top rookies last season, scored 21 with seven boards, former UConn star Stefanie Dolson scored 16, reserve Jade Melbourne had 14 points and six helpers, snd rookie Flau’jae Johnson, the number eight pick out of LSU, had seven points shooting 2-for-7 from the field.

The Storm had a narrow 45-44 lead at the half.

“It was a good game for us,” Brondello said. “We talked about game one for us we were very clunky.

“We think we can get some runs if we get some stops. But we shared the ball.”

Aces Rout Sun

Earlier in the day Connecticut became an official lame duck when the NBA and WNBA board of governors unanimously approved the sale from the Mohegan tribe, who bought the former Orlando Miracle in 2003, to to Tilman J. Fertitta, who will relocate the team next season to Houston, the Texas city that saw the former Comets win the first four WNBA titles (1997-2000).

As part of its farewell in New England the Sun will host games May 30 and July 2 in Hartford at the PeoplesBank Arena, which is one of UConn’s home sites, and another return to Boston at the NBA Celtics’ TD Garden on Aug. 18, which saw sellouts the past two seasons.

Word originally reported the Sun’s move to Boston, but the league negated to move, favoring Houston, which was edged out in last summer’s expansion announcement of returning to Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029) and gaining Philadelphia (2030).

In Wednesday’s game, Chennedy Carter shot 13-of-16, scoring, 27 points, while reigning and four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson had 14 of her 27 points in the third quarter, and 11 rebounds overall for her 121st career double-double.

Jackie Young added 11 and Las Vegas shot 54% from the field in the first half. Jewell Loyd also scored 11, and Cheyenne Psrker-Tyus scored 10.

The Aces dominated the boards 46-29.

Connecticut’s Aneesah Morrow had 16 points and 11 rebounds, Olivia Neldon-Ododa scored 14 while Brittney Griner (left foot) and Aaliyah Edwards (left thigh) were sidelined with injuries.

“I kind of like road trips early in the season,” said Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon. “You kinda get in that foxhole and get to know each other.

“A lot times at home it’s distractions, family members and what-not. As far as chemistry, we’re still very much in teaching mode getting our system in place.”

Sky Stop Valkyries

Former Tennessee star Rickea Jackson hit a late 3-pointer and scored 18 for Chicago, whose coach Tyler Marsh and Golden State’s Natalie Nakase served as assistants together to Hammon in Las Vegas.

Former Notre Dame great Skylar Diggins, a free-agent signee, had 15 points, seven assists and five boards while Jacy Sheldon scored 12, and former Saint Joseph’s star Natasha Cloud made her debut, scoring seven points off the bench with four rebounds.

The Vakyries’ Gabby Williams scored 18 points, Veronica Burton scored 16, and Kiah Stokes scored 11.

“I’m really proud, we came together, they’re (GS) a really loud crowd, it was a test for us. It’s a great win on the road,” Sheldon said.

Of Cloud, who was on New York last season, Jackson smiled and said, “Energy, that’s just Taj. She came to practice; you just feel her aura.

“To have that veteran just instills confidence in us.”

Golden State is off until next Thursday, heading East when New York returns to Brooklyn.

Looking Ahead

The Thursday night Amazon Primetime doubleheader has Dallas hosting Minnesota at 8 p.m. and Portland hosting New York at 10 p.m., as the Liberty try to even their Northwest visit.

All four Friday games are on League Pass beginning with Connecticut hosting Las Vegas at 7:30 p.m. for a second visit in three nights from the Aces, while ION joins the other three: Indiana hosting Washington at 7:30 p.m., and at 10 p.m., Los Angeles hosts Toronto, and Phoenix hosts Chicago.

The league is dark Saturday.

On Sunday, NBC returns to the WNBA telecast fold for the first time since early in the league’s history.

The main network and Peacock will air the Las Vegas game at Atlanta at 1:30 p.m., while at 6 p.m., the NBC Sports Network and Peacock will televise Seattle at Indiana.

League Pass has the other two games – Chicago at Minnesota at 7 p.m. and Toronto at Los Angeles at 7 p.m.

The NBC Sports Network and Peacock come back Monday night at 8 p.m. for Washington’s visit to Dallas followed at 10 p.m. on League Pass when Connecticut visits Portland.