Wednesday’s top WNBA performers: Courtney Williams cooks Kelsey Plum, Napheesa Collier dominates

Good morning, WNBA fans! Wednesday night featured a double-header — and for real this time, as the Mercury and Dream faced off at 7:30pm ET, and the Aces-Lynx shortly after, at 9:30pm ET on ESPN.

First, here were the results of Wednesday’s slate:

1. The Atlanta Dream (10-17) beat the Phoenix Mercury (15-14) , 72-63 — marking their third consecutive win since the Olympics as they push for a playoff spot.
2. The Minnesota Lynx (19-8) beat the Las Vegas Aces (17-10), 98-73. That means Minnesota holds on to the #3 seed as the Aces continue to look a step below last year’s championship team.

There were several standout players from the two-game slate:

5. Tina Charles, Atlanta Dream

Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images

Tina Charles made history in the Dream’s win over the Mercury, moving to second on the WNBA all-time scoring list. She finished with 12 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 assists in the win. Charles, who took the 2023 WNBA season and seemed to be retired, is averaging 13.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game this season..

After the victory, Charles reflected on her historic accomplishment.

“I’m just very thankful,” Charles said. “A lot of gratitude to be on the court with [Taurasi], to be behind [Taurasi], to be in the same sentence. It’s just unimaginable.”

4. Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream

Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images

Allisha Gray helped lead the Dream to their third consecutive win, scoring 21 points on 6-14 shooting alongside 3 rebounds and 2 assists. She was also a team-high +17.

The 29-year-old South Carolina Gamecock has been one of Atlanta’s most consistent players this season, averaging 15.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.

“I think everybody has bought in,” Gray said. “We know what we need to execute. We worked really hard during the Olympic Break, and it’s a great turnaround. It’s nice to have everybody back healthy, so that makes it even more enjoyable as well.”

3. Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces

Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images

Jackie Young was a bright spot for Las Vegas as they fell to Minnesota at home on Wednesday. She finished the game with 26 points on 7-15 shooting, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.

2. Courtney Williams, Minnesota Lynx

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Courtney Williams posted her season-high in points (22) and assists (10) in Wednesday’s win over the Aces. The Aces’ Kelsey Plum, who guarded Williams most of the night, praised her opponent’s performance.

“She cooked me,” Plum said.

Williams shot 10-16 from the field, including 2-2 from three. Perhaps most impressively, she shot 2-2 from three with just a single turnover.

“She had it tonight, and when you get your ass kicked, you gotta give the other people credit,” Plum said.

Williams liked the way the Lynx came out — the team racked up 28 assists on 38 made field goals, and shot 11-19 from three.

“That’s the way we want to play basketball,” Williams said. “Obviously, we don’t play the sexiest type of basketball, but we effective.”

1. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx

Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images

In a game that involved A’ja Wilson, the runaway favorite for WNBA MVP, it was Napheesa Collier who notably looked like the best overall player on the floor.

Collier led the Lynx to a 98-87 victory over the Aces, finishing with 23 points (9-15 FG), 7 rebounds, and 4 assists — while recording zero turnovers. In turn, the Lynx improve to 3-0 since the Olympic break.

“It’s not easy,” Collier said of defeating the Aces. “They’re a great team. They’re a defending two-time champions. They had four players on the Olympic team, so that just shows you.”

Five of her her field goals were set up by Courtney Williams.

“It’s hard to guard,” Collier said in a Sports Center postgame interview. “She’s so amazing in the midrange, and obviously I like to play in the post. So, it’s like, ‘who are you going to guard?’”