Week 1 (May 14th-19th) of the WNBGAY 2024
I watched every single game of the WNBA's Tip-Off Week so you don't have to. But you should. Here are the highlights on the league's gay players.
Tuesday, May 14th, 2024
New York @ Washington
NY 85, WSH 80
Click to viewNew York's Jonquel Jones led all scorers with 25 pts. JJ is looking great this year. She openly discussed how hard it was getting back to her best in the 2023 season after suffering a foot injury, so it's especially nice to see. Jones was also experiencing growing pains in her move from the Connecticut Sun to the New York Liberty. The Liberty didn't play their best overall, but JJ was WORKING.
Indiana @ Connecticut
CONN 92, IND 71
Connecticut's DeWanna Bonner with 20 Pts. Bonner also unseated her ex-wife and co-parent, Candice Dupree, as the fifth all-time leading scorer during this game. At 36, in her 14th season, Bonner shows no signs of slowing down.
Bonner's partner, Alyssa Thomas, registered a triple-double. This was her ninth career triple-double; she scored 13 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds. Thomas is only the second player to achieve a triple-double in their season debut.
In other gay news, recent exes NaLyssa Smith and Dijonai Carrington had a bit of a run-in.
that's hot. pic.twitter.com/cV4wn5fwBo
- stas (@yourgirlayedub) May 15, 2024
Carrington had a great game, just crushing it on defence, looking more confident on offence than last year. Smith knocked Carrington down from behind early in the 1st quarter, before hauling her up by the waist from behind in a very gay and intimate move. At the other end of the court, Smith tapped her chest and said "my bad," to which Carrington responded "Yeah, bitch, it is your bad."
Phoenix @ Las Vegas
LV 89, PHX 80
WNBA Straight A'ja Wilson led all scorers with 30 Pts. WNBGAY Diana Taurasi scored 23 pts, leading the Mercury. Taurasi hit 7 three-pointers during the game. Unfortunately, the Phoenix, playing without BG, were unable to overtake the reigning Champs.
Other notable gays in this game: Rebecca Allen, Tash Cloud, and Kahleah Copper, who each put up 14 points.
Minnesota @ Seattle
MIN 83, SEA 70
Minnesota's Alanna Smith (straight) led all scorers with 22 Pts. This was a rough game for Seattle. They had a great first quarter, but Jewell Loyd and Skylar Diggins-Smith both had a rough second half. Minnesota looked really good in this game, particularly Napheesa Collier and Alanna Smith.
Other notable gays in this game: Courtney Williams (14), Natisha Hiedeman (9), Jordan Horston (8).
Wednesday, May 15th, 2024
Chicago @ Dallas
DAL 87, CHI 79
Arike Ogunbowale led all scorers with 25 Pts. Arike, as usual, had a slow first start but she got it together when it was needed in the fourth quarter. Just Arike shit. This game was a BATTLE. Chicago and Dallas both look aggressive and confident. Ogunbowale bowled over her bestie Marina Mabrey who did NOT accept her apology in the moment. They hugged after the game finished.
Unfortunately, Natasha Howard sustained a foot injury in this game and will be out for 3-6 weeks. Howard joins Satou Sabally who is out until the Olympic Break with a shoulder injury sustained during the Olympic Qualifiers with the German National Team, and rookie Jaelyn Brown who has to have a procedure on her nose, which was broken during training camp.
Other notable gays in this game: Diamond Deshields (12 pts), Elizabeth Williams (14 pts), Natasha Howard (15 pts, 1 blk, 2 stls, 5 asts, 13 rbs).
Atlanta @ Los Angeles
ATL 92, LA 81
Atlanta's Rhyne Howard led all scoreres with 25 Pts. The real magic of the night happened for Layshia Clarendon. Clarendon logged their first triple-double during the game (11 pts, 10 rbs, 10 asts). Clarendon is the fourth person in franchise history to notch a triple-double and she is the first person to log their first triple-double in their eleventh season as a player in the WNBA.
Thursday, May 16th, 2024
New York @ Indiana
NY 102, IND 66
New York's Breanna Stewart led all scorers with 31 pts. Stewie didn't have a great season opener, scoring only 8 pts against Washington, but she more than made up for it against Indiana. Stewie added to her 31 pt game with 2 blocks, 3 steals, 4 assists, and 10 rebounds. Between bandwagon fans who said that Stewie's NCAA accomplishments didn't count because she played on an all-around good team at UConn, and the rough start Stewie had against Washington, Stewie had a lot to prove in this game. And prove she did.
Other notable gays in this game: Jonquel Jones (14 pts, 3 blks, 4 asts, 10 rbs), Courtney Vandersloot (9 pts, 3 stls, 6 asts, 4 rbs). On the other side NaLyssa Smith and Erica Wheeler both had rough games.
Friday, May 17th, 2024
Washington @ Connecticut
CONN 84, WSH 77
Connecticut's DeWanna Bonner led all scorers with 22 pts. Closely followed by Dijonai Carrington with 21 pts. This game was a battle. Connecticut trailed (62-56) with about 8 minutes left in the fourth. The Sun made 32 points in the quarter largely thanks to Bonner, Carrington, and Thomas.
Other notable gays in this game: Alyssa Thomas (13 pts, 1 blk, 2 stls, 6 asts, 11 rbs), Stefanie Dolson (9 pts, 1 blk, 1 stl, 1 ast, 6 rbs), Shakira Austin (10 pts, 1 stl, 9 rbs).
Seattle @ Minnesota
MIN 102 @ SEA 93 (2OT)
Minnesota's Napheesa Collier (straight) led all scorers with 29 pts. This wasn't a great game for the gays (me or the players). It went into double overtime and I wanted to go to bed. But I did not. Minnesota led with about 3 minutes left in the fourth quarter, then Seattle scored 11 points. With 15 seconds left and each team at 78 points, Courtney Williams and Jewell Loyd both miss easy shots. Loyd needed to make that shot to win the game, but the game went into its first OT. Loyd fouled out near the end of the first overtime, and Jordan Horston came in. Horston had a terrible game. Seattle lost in in the 2nd OT.
Other notable gays in this game: Kayla McBride (19 pts, 1 blk, 1 stl, 2 asts, 4 rbs), Jordan Horston (despite not being able to buy a bucket: 6pts, 1 blk, 3 stls, 11 rbs).
Saturday, May 18th, 2024
Indiana @ New York
NY 91, IND 80
Breanna Stewart led all scorers with 24 pts. This was the second matchup between Indiana and New York in four days. Unsurprisingly, the Liberty (reigning runners-up, with the reigning MVP) won. Stewie's wife and kids, as well as Sue Bird (Stewie's teemmate in Seattle) and Megan Rapinoe, were in attendance for this home game. Every single Liberty starter made at least two three-pointers, and the Liberty held the lead to double-digits for the entire game.
Other notable gays in this game: Jonquel Jones (14 pts, 1 blk, 5 asts, 12 rbs), Courtney Vandersloot (10 pts, 1 stl, 5 asts, 4 rbs).
Los Angeles @ Las Vegas
LV 89, LA 82
LA's Dearica Hamby led all scorers with 29 pts. This was definitely a revenge tour for Hamby (give it a Goog). Nothing notable happened for the gays in this game, honestly. The Aces are pretty straight, and even straighter without Chelsea Gray, who is still injured from last season. After a great season opener, Layshia Clarendon did not have a good game.
Chicago @ Dallas
CHI 83, DAL 74
Fresh off her engagement, Dallas's Arike Ogunbowale led all scorers with 35 (THIRTY FIVE) pts. It was not enough for the Wings to take the W over Chicago. Especially without Jaelyn Brown, Natasha Howard, AND Satou Sabally. Diamond DeShields received a technical foul in this game for whipped a ball at the ref after getting called for a personal foul on Arike Ogunbowale.
Other notable gays in this game: Kalani Brown (11 pts, 1 blk, 1 ast, 9 rbs).
In other gay news: Arike Ogunbowale wore the same pre-game outfit that she wore to propose to her girlfriend. My best guess is that they've been together about 6-9 months. Ogunbowale has not previously spoken about being a lesbian, but there is some speculation that she was previously dating her teammate Satou Sabally. If you check out games from the 2022 and 2023 seasons you'll see why. https://instagram.com/p/C7KTmdkPNul
Atlanta @ Phoenix
PHX 88, ATL 85
Phoenix's Kahleah Freaking Copper led all scorers with 38 pts. Kah's excellent total lead to Phoenix's first W of the season. Diana Taurasi's wife, Penny Taylor, was honoured for her contributions to the Mercury franchise, alongside three other retired players (Bridget Pettis, Jennifer Gillom, and Michele Timms), and ex-Coach Cheryl Miller. Taylor also sat for an interview in the second quarter where she noted that DT was a super hard worker and that she should wear kneepads when she plays.
Other notable gays in this game: Natasha Cloud (7 pts, 1 blk, 2 stls, 5 asts, 2 rbs), Crystal Dangerfield (10 pts, 1 blk-she's 5'5, 4 asts, 1 rb), Diana Taurasi (15 pts, 2 asts, 7 rbs).
Sunday, May 19th, 2024
Seattle @ Washington
SEA 84, WSH 75
Seattle's Jewell Loyd led all scorers with 24 pts. Loyd had a slow start to the game before becoming the high scorer and leading the Storm to victory. Both teams began the game 0-2. Mystics' Head Coach received a technical foul.
Other notable gays in this game: Emily Engstler actually played this game, Brittany Sykes and Shakira Austin are out with injuries, otherwise unremarkable games from all of the other gays.
All of the videos were inexplicably fucked last time, so I'm trying again, mods.
Sources: NYVSInd 1, ConVSInd 1,ConVSInd 2, ConVSInd 3, Carrington and Smith Twitter, PhxVSLV 1, MinVSSea 1, ChiVSDal 1, ChiVSDal 2, AtlVSLA 1, AtlvLA 2, NYVSInd 2, WasVSCon 1, SeaVSMin 1, IndVSNY 1, LVvsLA 1, ChiVSDal 1, Ogunbowale IG, AtlvsPhx 1, SeaVSWsh 1