WNBA Watch: 4 Scoring Threats Reach Season Highs in Week 3

Here are four AU players who stood out during Week 3 of WNBA play.

Zia Cooke

Zia Cooke recorded three straight double-figure scoring performances during Week 3, continuing one of the strongest stretches of her WNBA career for the Seattle Storm.

She opened the week with 19 points against the Connecticut Sun, adding four rebounds, one assist, and one steal despite Seattle’s narrow 80-78 loss on Friday.

Two days later, Cooke followed with a career-high 25 points in a dominant 77-59 victory over Connecticut. She shot 7-for-14 from the field while adding five rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Her 24 points marked a team high for the Storm that night.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by WNBA (@wnba)

NaLyssa Smith

NaLyssa Smith turned up the scoring production for Las Vegas during Week 3, showing the offensive ability AU fans became accustomed to seeing during her standout season in Nashville.

She posted 22 points during the Aces’ 101-95 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday, finishing as one of three Las Vegas players to score 20 or more points alongside A’ja Wilson’s 24 and Chennedy Carter’s 23.

For the opposing Sparks, fellow AU veteran Ariel Atkins contributed 11 points for Los Angeles, marking her second straight game with as many points.

Kaitlyn Chen

Kaitlyn Chen continued her strong sophomore campaign with two double-figure scoring performances during Week 3 for the Golden State Valkyries, including a career-high outing. 

She scored 18 points on Friday versus the Indiana Fever before adding 10 points in Monday’s win over the Connecticut Sun. Chen also contributed two rebounds and two assists in the victory.

For Connecticut, AU teammate Aneesah Morrow led the Sun with 11 points despite the team’s 97-70 loss to Golden State.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Golden State Valkyries (@valkyries)

Kia Nurse

Nurse delivered her highest scoring performance of the season during Toronto’s matchup with the Minnesota Lynx.

Despite the loss, Nurse was a threat from the three-point line, with 11 of her 13 attempts coming from beyond the arc. She poured in 23 points while shooting 6-for-13 overall from the field and 6-for-11 from three-point range. She also added four rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

Nurse finished well ahead of the rest of Toronto’s scorers, with Kiki Rice posting the team’s next-highest total at 11 points. Nurse also tied for the team lead in rebounds during the contest.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by WNBA (@wnba)

Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.