The season keeps ticking along, and every week there are more players getting extended opportunities and proving what they can do. This week's article features a 35-year old WNBA veteran, her 21-year old teammate, two players who have played overseas instead of in the WNBA for years and a Los Angeles starter that wears No. 33 because of Larry Bird.
Shakira Austin, Washington Mystics (37.0% rostered in ESPN leagues): Austin is in the midst of a strong rookie season, and has been starting since May 20. However, the uncertainty surrounding the health of Mystics MVP Elena Delle Donne (missed three of last four games with a back injury) has increased Austin's opportunities of late. She's averaged 24.7 MPG in her last three outings, the most minutes over any three-game span since she became a full-time starter, and her numbers in those games have been mirror images of solid production: 14 points and six rebounds, six points and 13 rebounds, and 12 points and six rebounds.
Alysha Clark, Washington Mystics (34.3%): Clark is a 10-season veteran in the WNBA who has started every game she's played this year, but like Austin, she has been seeing more opportunity of late with Delle Donne ailing. In her last three games, Clark has averaged 12.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.3 SPG and 1.3 3PG in 26.7 MPG, numbers very similar to her season-long averages from her last WNBA season in 2020, which indicates that they are very sustainable if she continues to get this level of run moving forward.
Han Xu, New York Liberty (24.0%): After sitting out the last two WNBA seasons to play overseas, Xu is in the midst of a breakout season. She scored in double figures in her first five games of the season, and has established a new double-digits streak in her last three outings. In those last three, the 6-9 center is averaging 13.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.0 BPG, 0.7 SPG and 0.7 3PG in 20.7 MPG off the bench. She's pushing starter Stefanie Dolson for playing time, and has nightly double-double upside if ever given starter minutes.
Katie Lou Samuelson, Los Angeles Sparks (22.8%): Samuelson has started the last six games for the Sparks, and has scored in double-digits in five of those games. During that span, she's averaged a strong 13.2 PPG, 2.2 3PG, 2.0 RPG, 2.0 APG and 1.3 SPG while playing 30.5 MPG. She's getting major run, and has played herself firmly onto the fantasy hoops landscape.
Nikolina Milic, Minnesota Lynx (2.2%): Milic is getting her first WNBA opportunity this season after playing overseas for years, and she's making the most of it. After being cut and re-signed by the Lynx, she has proven herself to be a capable scorer off the bench with explosive upside. She has played more than 20 minutes in a game three times this season, and has scored double-digits in all three with averages of 18.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG and 2.3 APG in 26.7 MPG in those outings. This includes Sunday's game, where she went for season highs of 23 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists in 30 minutes as the injuries up and down the Lynx lineup gave her a big opportunity to get major run. With Sylvia Fowles (knee) out for an extended period and Kayla McBride dealing with a foot injury, Milic could get an extended look.