Kesley Bone | Center #3 | Liaoning Hengye (China)
Kelsey Bone averaged 19.7 points and 11 rebounds in Liaoning Hengye’s three games last week. Despite going 0-3 in the games, the 6-4 center finished with a huge performance on November 29, scoring 16 points and grabbing an impressive 19 rebounds, eight of them coming on the offensive end. Her 16 points were the lowest amount she has scored in a game during the Chinese League this season, while her 19 boards are the most rebounds she’s recorded while overseas this year. After a 34-point loss on December 1, Bone and Liaoning came up just short two days later, falling to Bayi, 93-96, in overtime. The Texas A&M grad finished with 23 points and six rebounds in the loss, and has scored 20 or more points in 18 of Liaoning’s 19 games this season. Over 19 games, Bone ranks fifth in the Chinese League in points per game (27.6) and eighth in rebounds per game (10.9)
Upcoming Games This Week: December 6: Liaoning Hengye (5-14) vs. Heilongjiang (6-11); December 10: Liaoning Hengye (5-14) at Shandong (3-15)
Brittney Griner | Center #42 | UMMC Ekaterinburg (Russia)
Brittney Griner and UMMC Ekaterinburg extended their winning streak to seven after going 3-0 in the last eight days. Coming back from a two-week break, Ekaterinburg took on undefeated Dynamo Kursk, which features Anna Cruz, Angel McCoughtry, Nneka Ogwumike and Epiphanny Prince in its starting lineup, in Russian League play on November 27. Griner finished with 10 points and five boards in the win. Three days later, the Olympic gold medalist recorded her best overseas performance of Ekat’s season, scoring 24 points on 64.7-percent (11-of-17) shooting, grabbing six rebounds and swatting three blocks in Ekaterinburg’s 81-66 win in EuroLeague play. Griner has started in six of Ekat’s eight overall games she has appeared in, and has averaged 14.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks. The three-time WNBA all-star’s most impressive games have come in EuroLeague play, as she’s averaged 18 points on an impressive 62.7-percent shooting (32-of-51), 6.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in such games. Griner is the only player in the EuroLeague to rank in the top three in points per game (3rd), field-goal percentage (3rd) and blocks per game (2nd).
Upcoming Games This Week: December 7: EuroLeague, UMMC Ekaterinburg (3-1) at ESBVA-LM (2-2), Free live stream available at https://www.youtube.com/FIBA at noon Phoenix time.
Alex Harden | Guard #15 | Hapoel Zichron Maagan Michael (Israel)
Did not play last week. Alex Harden and her Israeli team will be in action later today (December 5).
Upcoming Games This Week: December 5: Hapoel Zichron Maagan Michael (1-1) vs. Ramat Hasharon (1-2)
Isabelle Harrison | Center #20 | CCC Polkowice (Poland)
Isabelle Harrison and CCC Polkowice went 1-2 over the last eight days, moving to 1-1 in Polish League games and 0-1 in EuroLeague play. Harrison finished with a team-high 21 points and game-high eight rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench on November 27. She knocked down seven of her nine shots (77.8-percent) and converted on all seven of her free throws in the loss. After a six-point, three-rebound performance on November 30 in EuroLeague play, Izzy finished out the week with team highs in points (16) and rebounds (8) in Polkowice’s 86-72, Polish League, win on December 3. In seven overseas games this year, the Mercury center is averaging 12.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. She’s showcased a hot hand overseas as well, shooting 61.4-percent (35-of-57) from the field and 93.3-percent (14-of-15) at the free throw line.
Upcoming Games This Week: December 7: EuroLeague, CCC Polkowice (0-4) vs. Hatay BB (0-4), Free live stream available at https://www.youtube.com/FIBA at 11 a.m. Phoenix time.
Sonja Petrovic | Forward #5 | ZVVZ USK Praha (Czech Republic)
Offensively, Sonja Petrovic did not have her strongest performances of the overseas season this past week. USK Praha went 3-0 over its last three games, with Petrovic playing in two of the three contests. The Mercury forward struggled to find her shot in Praha’s 85-35 ZBL League win on November 27, finishing four-of-11 from the field for eight points. Her shooting woes continued in the team’s EuroLeague win on November 30, as Petrovic scored just four points on two-of-11 shooting. The Olympic bronze medalist did, however, pull down a game-high 17 rebounds. Petrovic did not play in Praha’s game on December 4. Despite her low scoring games last week, the Serbian is averaging 15.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 10 overseas games this season.
Upcoming Games This Week: December 7: EuroLeague, USK Praha (4-0) at Dynamo Kursk (4-0), Free live stream available at https://www.youtube.com/FIBA at 9 a.m. Phoenix time; December 10: ZBL League, USK Praha (12-0) vs. Valosun Brno (8-3)
Diana Taurasi | Guard #32 | UMMC Ekaterinburg (Russia)
Diana Taurasi has officially returned to basketball. The three-time Olympic gold medalist made her 2016-17 overseas debut with UMMC Ekaterinburg on November 27, netting 15 points and grabbing six rebounds in Ekat’s 63-56 Russian League win against an Angel McCoughtry and Nneka Ogwumika led Dynamo Kursk team. Taurasi followed up that performance by scoring 19 points in her first EuroLeague game of this overseas season, knocking down four triples in the win. The seven-time EuroLeague Champion again knocked down four three-pointers in Ekaterinburg’s win on December 4, en route to 23 points in the game to go along with six rebounds. Having played in only three games overseas thus far, Taurasi is averaging 19 points and four rebounds per game, and has also averaged three three-point makes per game.
Upcoming Games This Week: December 7: EuroLeague, UMMC Ekaterinburg (3-1) at ESBVA-LM (2-2), Free live stream available at https://www.youtube.com/FIBA at noon Phoenix time.
Marta Xargay | Guard #10 | ZVVZ USK Praha (Czech Republic)
Much like Mercury and USK Praha teammate Sonja Petrovic, Marta Xargay struggled to find her shot in Praha’s last three games. The Mercury guard shot 21.4-percent (six-of-28) in those games, averaging 7.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists per contest. Despite the shooting struggles, Xargay continues her impressive season overseas, averaging 12.1 points and 3.1 assists in 11 total games with Praha, who remains undefeated in both EuroLeague and ZBL League play.
Upcoming Games This Week: December 7: EuroLeague, USK Praha (4-0) at Dynamo Kursk (4-0), Free live stream available at https://www.youtube.com/FIBA at 9 a.m. Phoenix time; December 10: ZBL League, USK Praha (12-0) vs. Valosun Brno (8-3)
Not Overseas Yet: Candice Dupree (ZVVZ USK Praha)