Aces' Ring Night Takes Unexpected Turn - LITE

• The opening weekend of the WNBA was always billed around this matchup. Paige Bueckers vs. Caitlin Clark. The last four No. 1 picks sharing the same court. It had all the ingredients to be special, and it absolutely delivered. Arike Ogunbowale, Paige Bueckers, and Odyssey Sims combined for 62 points as the Wings edged past the Fever by three in a thrilling contest.

• The action wasn’t done yet. The second game of the day also had everyone’s attention. The Aces were ready to celebrate their ring ceremony, but standing in front of them was a Mercury side still hurting from last year’s championship series defeat. With revenge on their minds, Phoenix’s starting five combined for 75 points to spoil A’ja Wilson and Co.’s ring ceremony, beating the defending champions by 33 points.

• It was Angel Reese’s debut for the Atlanta Dream, and she gave the fans plenty to cheer about. The Bayou Barbie finished with an 11-point, 14-rebound double-double, while Allisha Gray led the way with 24 points as the Dream fought back from 19 points down to beat a Napheesa Collier-less Minnesota Lynx.

• The new-look Sky also started their season on a winning note in front of 19,335 fans inside Portland’s Moda Center, the second-largest crowd for a home opener in WNBA history. But the home fans were left disappointed as Kamilla Cardoso led from the front with 22 points, helping Chicago cruise to a comfortable 15-point win. A new era is officially underway!

If there’s one team that never misses when it comes to finding overseas talent, it’s the Phoenix Mercury…and it looks like they’ve done it once again!

Against the Las Vegas Aces, the Phoenix Mercury rolled out a starting five featuring four familiar names in Alyssa Thomas, Kahleah Copper, Natasha Mack, and DeWanna Bonner, but barely anyone knew about the fifth name in the lineup. 

It was Serbian guard Jovana Nogić, fresh off a stint with UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia. While the WNBA stage was completely new to her, the bright lights did not seem to bother her one bit as she looked right at home in her debut. 

She became just the second player in WNBA history to score at least 19 points in a half during her debut, behind only Candace Parker, while also tying the league record for most 3-pointers made in a WNBA debut.

Huge credit to Nick U’Ren and the team for uncovering yet another potential star, because some of her plays were absolutely breathtaking. Go check them out!