KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – With the final month of regular-season play in progress, an SEC-leading seven LVFLs are spread around five WNBA teams, with four of those squads either clinching or vying for spots in the playoffs.
Four-time league champion Seattle (19-10), with LVFLs Cierra Burdick and Mercedes Russell on its roster, has already clinched one of eight spots for postseason play. Rennia Davis and the four-time champion Minnesota Lynx (18-9) have punched their tickets, as have as Candace Parker, Diamond DeShields and the Chicago Sky (15-14). Dallas (12-16), which employees Isabelle Harrison, also remains in contention for a playoff berth.
Speaking of Parker, she and former Indiana Fever star Tamika Catchings received some special recognition last week, with the two LVFLs being announced as members of the “The W25,” a collection of the 25 greatest and most influential players in WNBA history. Parker and Catchings are two of three players in NBA/WNBA history to win MVP, Finals MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. The other player is Michael Jordan.
The WNBA has launched a fan campaign, Vote for the GOAT, where fans may cast their vote for the greatest WNBA player of all time. Catchings and Parker are among the options, and fans can vote HERE.
Below are updates on each of Tennessee’s alums on WNBA rosters this season through Sept. 6. UT also features former players in leadership positions around the league, including Catchings, the vice president and general manager of the Indiana Fever; Nikki (Caldwell) Fargas, the president of the Las Vegas Aces; and Tonya Edwards, assistant coach with the Chicago Sky.
Cierra Burdick
6-2 / F / Seattle Storm / 5th Season
After playing four games with Phoenix and three with Minnesota on temporary contracts earlier this season, Cierra Burdick has appeared in five contests and has been signed by Seattle for the rest of the 2021 campaign…For the year, her averages include 0.8 ppg. and 1.1 rpg. in 12 games played for the Storm, which is No. 4 in the league standings.
Next Game: Sept. 7 vs. Washington (10 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network, JOETV)
6-2 / G-F / Minnesota Lynx / 1st Season
Due to a stress fracture in her left foot, Davis remains sidelined in her first season in the WNBA and has yet to see action…She was the No. 9 overall pick in the 2021 draft by the Lynx, which currently stands third in the WNBA standings.
Next Game: Sept. 8 at Las Vegas (10 p.m. ET, NBA TV, MyLVTV, TSN2)
Diamond DeShields
6-1 / G / Chicago Sky / 4th Season
Starting 22 of 29 games thus far, DeShields is averaging 11.0 ppg., 3.4 rpg., 2.2 apg. and 1.1 spg. for the Sky while seeing 27.3 minutes of duty per contest…With 17 games of double-figure scoring under her belt in 2021, she tossed in a season-best 26 vs. Phoenix on June 1 and has tallied 15 or more points in three of her past four games.
Next Game: Sept. 12 vs. Washington (3 p.m. ET, ABC, NBA TV Canada)
Isabelle Harrison
6-3 / F / Dallas Wings / 5th Season
Has appeared in 27 contests and logged five starts, averaging 10.8 ppg. and 6.0 rpg. while shooting a team-leading 52.4 percent from the field and playing 23.8 minutes per contest for the Wings…Has scored in double figures 16 times, including the last five contests…Had back-to-back efforts of 22 and 21 points, respectively, against Indiana on Aug. 20 and vs. Washington on Aug. 26.
Next Game: Sept. 7 vs. Connecticut (8 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime, BSSW+, NESN+)
Candace Parker
6-4 / F-C / Chicago Sky / 14th Season
Has started all 20 games she has played this season for Chicago, averaging 13.4 ppg., 8.8 rpg., 3.9 apg. and 1.2 bpg. while seeing 27.2 minutes of court time per contest…Ranks second in scoring and first in rebounding for the Sky…Posted season bests of 30 points and 14 rebounds vs. Las Vegas on Sept. 2, and with a 12-point, 13-board effort the following game vs. the Aces on Sept. 5, Parker now has seven double-doubles on the year, including back-to-back double-doubles on two separate instances.
Next Game: Sept. 12 vs. Washington (3 p.m. ET, ABC, NBA TV Canada)
Mercedes Russell
6-6 / C / Seattle Storm / 4th Season
Russell has started 25 of 27 games for the Storm…She is putting up 7.0 ppg., 6.1 rpg. and 1.6 apg. while shooting 60.8 percent from the field and playing 24.2 minutes per game…That field goal percentage would rank No. 2 in the league if she had enough attempts…She ranks fourth in scoring and second in rebounding for Seattle…She matched her season best with 14 points on six-of-eight shooting in a win over the New York Liberty on Sept. 2.
Next Game: Sept. 7 vs. Washington (10 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network, JOETV)
Shekinna Stricklen
6-2 / G-F / Atlanta Dream / 10th Season
Has seen action in 20 games for the Dream in 2021…She is averaging 2.7 ppg. and 0.7 rpg. over 10.2 minutes per contest…Her best outing came Sept. 2 vs. Dallas, as she played a season-high 19 minutes and finished with 10 points on four-of-eight shooting and added a rebound and blocked shot.
Next Game: Sept. 8 vs. Phoenix (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2, SN1)
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