Checking in on Nneka Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart, and other WNBA stars

About two months ago, Nneka Ogwumike’s last-second shot lifted the Los Angeles Sparks over the Minnesota Lynx in one of the greatest WNBA Finals the league has ever seen. Shortly thereafter, the great migration of women’s basketball talent began, as the world’s best made their way overseas to continue playing either in Europe, Asia, or Australia. Let’s check in with how some of the WNBA’s best talent is faring with their other squads.

The players we checked in on below were the top-10 in MVP voting last summer.

Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks) and Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream) — Dynamo Kursk, Russia

Dynamo Kursk has lost just one game between the Russian League and Euroleague this season, thanks in large part to two of the WNBA’s brightest stars: Nneka Ogwumike and Angel McCoughtry. Ogwumike, of course, won her first MVP trophy this summer on the way to leading the Sparks to their first WNBA championship since 2001, while McCoughtry finished seventh in the MVP voting after another strong season with the Dream.

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Overseas, the two have been keeping up their stellar play — especially in EuroLeague, where they’re each averaging exactly 15.2 points per game, putting them in a tie for 11th on the Euroleague scoring list. Ogwumike is adding 11.4 rebounds a night, while McCoughtry is chipping in 5.7 boards and 3.8 assists per game, and with nearly half of the group stage games played, Ogwumike and McCoughtry have Kursk atop Group A, well on their way to advancing to the knockout stage.

Tina Charles — Sichuan Whale, China (New York Liberty)

Tina Charles finished second in the MVP voting this summer after an incredible season that saw her lead the league in both scoring (21.5 points per game) and rebounding (9.9 rebounds per game). Over in China, she’s doing the same, putting up a ridiculous 35.7 points and 17.5 rebounds a night to lead the Chinese Basketball Association.

Sichuan struggled early in the year, going just 3-8 in their first 11 games, but they are 6-5 since Charles’ arrival and currently riding a two-game winning streak thanks to some remarkable performances from the power forward. Last Thursday, she put up 44 points and 19 rebounds, then followed it up with 46 points and 26 rebounds on Saturday as Sichuan picked up two wins over Shandong. (Charles certainly has Shandong’s number, as earlier in the season she put up 50 points and 20 rebounds in a win over the Eastern Chinese club).

Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx), Elena Delle Donne (Chicago Sky), Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks, Tamika Catchings (Retired), Sue Bird (Seattle Storm) — Not Playing Overseas

Moore, Delle Donne, and Parker finished third, fourth, and fifth, respectively, in the MVP voting this summer, while Catchings finished eighth and Bird came in ninth after all added yet another fine season to their exceptional careers. And this winter, all of them are taking a well-deserved break from competitive play.

Delle Donne, of course, has famously forgone playing during the winter in order to stay closer to her family, while Moore, Parker, Catchings (who retired at the end of the WNBA season), and Bird have played overseas in the past, but are not doing so this year; all, however, are staying busy.

Delle Donne, who will be a restricted free agent next month, has made waves in the past few days by indicating she was interested in leaving the Chicago Sky, and would be prepared to sit out games in order to make that happen. Her signature Hyperdunk shoe was also released, capping an interesting week for the former MVP.

Candace Parker, meanwhile, stopped by Area 21 on TNT to chat with Kevin Garnett during an NBA on TNT doubleheader the other week.

Sue Bird has been busy celebrating the news that Seattle was awarded the 2017 WNBA All-Star Game in what could possibly be her last season.

https://twitter.com/seattlestorm/status/809522510597222402?lang=en

Maya Moore, on the other hand, has been speaking at events and helping run camps for children.

Breanna Stewart — Shanghai Baoshan Dahua, China (Seattle Storm)

Immediately after winning her fourth consecutive NCAA championship, Breanna Stewart submitted one of the finest rookie seasons the WNBA has ever seen, winning the Rookie of the Year Award and finishing sixth in MVP voting after averaging 18.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game.

There was little rest for Stewart after her rookie campaign, though, as she made her way to China to join the Shanghai Baoshan Dahua. Though this is her first season overseas, and she is the only American on the team, Stewart is having no problems with the transition. She’s putting up 31.3 points (third in the league), 9.9 rebounds (ninth), and 1.6 blocks (first) per game.

Recently, Stewart won the player of the week award for her 41-point, 13-rebound performance as she lead Shanghai to victory over Shanxi, 76-63. On the season, Stewart’s impressive play has led Shanghai to a 17-6 record as the team continues its quest for a first-ever championship.

Diana Taurasi — UMMC Ekaterinburg, Russia (Phoenix Mercury)

Last summer, Taurasi made her return to the WNBA, finishing 10th in the MVP voting after a solid season, but one that was perhaps disappointing by her standards as the Mercury were eliminated in easy fashion by the Minnesota Lynx in the semifinals.

This winter, Taurasi has once again returned to her powerhouse Russian squad, Ekaterinburg. The team has won the last eight titles in the Russian Women’s Basketball Premier League, and last year took home the Euroleague title for the first time since 2003.

This year, they are once again looking like favorites in both leagues, as they sit at 11-0 in Russia, and 5-1 in EuroLeague play. Taurasi, however, has played just five games between the two leagues. When she has played she’s been impressive, however, averaging 22.7 points a night in three EuroLeague games.

In addition, Taurasi was recently named as USA Basketball’s Female Athlete of the Year for the fourth straight season for her exploits in Europe, the WNBA, and during the Olympics.

All stats via Eurobasket.com and Asia-Basket.com current through December 20.