All-Star Predictions:

Skills Challenge- Natasha Cloud

3PT Contest- Sabrina Ionescu

All-Star Game- Team Clark, 110-105

All-Star Game MVP- Kelsey Mitchell

Mid-Season Awards:

MVP- Napheesa Collier

DPOY- Gabby Williams

ROY- Paige Bueckers

Most Improved- Kayla Thornton

Sixth Player- Naz Hillmon

Following the Break…

New York Getting Hot Again

The Liberty have weathered the storm without Jonquel Jones and head into All-Star Weekend on a 3-game win streak, including a 21-point domination over Indiana. They’ll face the Fever again on Tuesday, but this time around, the lineup will look a little different as JJ is set to return from injury which has sidelined her since June 19th! They’ve been a dangerous team WITHOUT her but are widely considered title favorites WITH her. For the second time in less than a week, they’ll take on a Caitlin Clark-less Indiana team looking to stay above .500.

Allisha & Atlanta

Allisha Gray will have to recover from this weekend’s festivities quickly if she wants to lead the Dream to back-to-back wins over Vegas and Phoenix on Tuesday and Wednesday. She’s participating in the trifecta: Skills Challenge (defending champ), 3-Point Contest (defending champ) & All-Star Game. Atlanta will be facing these two teams for the first time this season and will have to do so without their 2nd leading scorer Rhyne Howard who remains sidelined for July. Vegas is a team who can beat anybody when they get fully clicking and Phoenix was the hottest team in June who currently sits at #3 in the standings.

A’ja in ATTACK MODE

If A’ja continues this torrid streak she’s on, she may just overtake Napheesa for top MVP candidate by season’s end. The last two games have seen her carry Vegas to wins over Golden State and Dallas while averaging 35.5 PPG & 13.0 RPG. A one-woman show! She’ll look to bring all the smoke vs former Gamecock teammate Allisha Gray & Atlanta on Tuesday before a highly anticipated rematch with Indiana on Thursday. The Fever handed Vegas a 27-point loss to start the month, something that is surely still fresh on A’ja’s mind. When she gets cooking, there isn’t a defender on Earth who can contain her!

Don’t Count Out The Sparks!

With a core 4 like Kelsey, Rickea, Dearica & Azura, you’d have to be off your rocker to count Los Angeles out! They average a combined 65 points per game and head into the weekend with a surge of confidence on a 2-game win streak (Connecticut, Washington) and will face both teams again this week. That could increase to a 4-game win streak, which could do wonders for this team’s confidence. This team has been competitive the entire season, despite their sub .500 record. Their last three losses have come by a combined 26 points! The Sparks have an extraordinary amount of talent and have the potential to be one of July’s hottest teams if everything clicks just right. With four players averaging double-figures, opponents have a lot of firepower to try and contain.