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WNBA schedule: 3 must-see matchups this week

By Bailey Caldwell

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 21: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Aliyah Boston #7 of the Indiana Fever in action against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center on May 21, 2023 in New York City. The Liberty defeated the Fever 90-73. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 21: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Aliyah Boston #7 of the Indiana Fever in action against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center on May 21, 2023 in New York City. The Liberty defeated the Fever 90-73. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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The WNBA schedule has a full slate of games this week. Which matchups should be at the top of your viewing list?

The WNBA season is in full swing and entering week four of action. Awards races are starting to shape up. All-Star voting has already started. Some teams are already a quarter of their way through the schedule.

With storylines developing across the league, it can be overwhelming to keep up with what’s going on where. With consistent schedule overlap, it can be even more difficult choosing which games to watch.

Allow us to help you decide. Here are three must-see games from this week’s WNBA slate.

WNBA schedule: Must-see games this week, June 13-20

Washington Mystics @ Indiana Fever, Tuesday, June 13, 7 p.m. EST

Where to watch: Twitter, WNBA League Pass, Bally Sports Indiana, NBC Sports Washington, Monumental Sports

The Fever have climbed the must-see rankings this season. With a budding big three, new coach, and vastly improved play, they have become one of the most fun teams to watch, despite their record. This game will pit Indiana’s dynamic frontcourt duo against Washington’s.

NaLyssa Smith and Aliyah Boston have started to find their footing together. They swallow up rebounds, smother opponents in the paint, and can score from anywhere. They’ve been working well in high-low situations, too, and Smith’s improved off-the-dribble game is opening up opportunities in pick-and-roll situations.

Elena Delle Donne and Shakira Austin have been the most important players for Washington this year. They are a legitimate top-three frontcourt in the league. Delle Donne has gotten back to her efficient form, capable of scoring against anyone, any time, from anywhere. Austin has anchored their defense, while emerging as an offensive option in a variety of ways. She’s an elite roller and has shown more confidence taking slower-footed matchups off the dribble.

The battle between these duos will be fascinating to watch.

Los Angeles Sparks @ Dallas Wings, June 14, 1 p.m. EST

Where to watch: NBATV, WNBA League Pass, Bally Sports SW

This game will be all about pace. The Wings lead the league in pace, with the Sparks just a few spots below in fifth. The ways each team gets to their pace are vastly different, though.

The Wings are a high-octane, shoot-whatever-you-want offense built around isolation and offensive rebounds. Their ball movement is minimal, and they play some…unique, large lineups. It is untraditional, it works for them. They lead the league in rebounds, commit the fewest turnovers, and are 5-4.

The Sparks are the total opposite. Their system is predicated on ball and player movement, and they don’t shoot nearly as many threes or quick shots. They force the most turnovers in the league and much of their pace comes from transition. Their unique lineups are small, and often feature 3 or 4 guards. The conflicting styles should be interesting to watch.

An underrated aspect of this game (and the reason for the time) is the camp day element. For those unfamiliar, camp days happen across the league every WNBA season. Teams host summer camp groups featuring hundreds of kids, which leads to these early games in the middle of the week. Even through broadcast, the energy these kids bring makes the games a blast to watch, and is very unique to the W.

Atlanta Dream @ Indiana Fever, June 18, 4 p.m. EST

Where to watch: CBS Sports, Facebook.com, IndianaFever, Bally Sports South

Yes, the Fever are here again. A few weeks ago, they picked up their first win of the year, beating the Dream by three points in Atlanta. It was a great game, and this one should follow suit.

The Dream are still finding their way. They came in to this season looking to build on a strong 2022, but haven’t been able to build momentum yet. They’re looking for consistency at this point, and every game is an opportunity to establish it. A rematch against the Fever may be their best chance to get things going.

Meanwhile, the Fever are doing the opposite. They have competed night in and night out, building on what is already a successful campaign by their standards. Another interesting motivating factor here, even this early in the season, is that the Fever could leapfrog the Dream in the standings with a win. That could be important down the stretch.

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