Breland is third Dream player to earn honor in 2018
NEW YORK, July 16, 2018 – Jessica Breland of the Atlanta Dream and Candace Parker of the Los Angeles Sparks today were named the WNBA’s Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played July 9-15.
Breland earned Player of the Week honors for the first time in her seven-year career. She led the Eastern Conference in rebounding (9.3 rpg) and blocked shots (2.67 bpg), ranked sixth in scoring (14.7 ppg) and finished fifth in field goal percentage (54.1, 20-of-37). Behind Breland, Atlanta went 3-0 and extended its winning streak to four games.
The 6-3 forward opened the week with a season-high 23 points, 10 rebounds, a career-high seven assists and a season-high-tying four blocks in a 106-89 win over the host Washington Mystics on July 11. Two days later, she scored 10 points, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked two shots as the Dream defeated the visiting Indiana Fever 98-74. Breland closed the week with 11 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in an 80-77 home win against Washington on July 15.
Parker was named Player of the Week for the 23rd time, second most in WNBA history behind the New York Liberty’s Tina Charles (29). During Los Angeles’ 2-1 week, Parker tied for the league lead in scoring (25.3 ppg). Among Western Conference players, she ranked second in assists (7.0 apg), tied for third in rebounds (9.0 rpg) and tied for third in blocks (1.67 bpg). The 6-4 forward/center also finished sixth in the West in three-point field goal percentage (46.2, 6-of-13).
Parker began her week with a near triple-double, recording 21 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in a 77-75 overtime win at the Seattle Storm on July 10. She also contributed four steals and two blocks in the victory. On July 12, Parker registered 21 points and seven rebounds in a 92-77 loss to the visiting Dallas Wings. The two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player (2008, 2013) capped the week with another near triple-double, becoming the first player in WNBA history to have 34 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in a game as the Sparks earned a 99-78 win at the Las Vegas Aces on July 15.
Other candidates for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Atlanta’s Tiffany Hayes, the Connecticut Sun’s Courtney Williams, Dallas’ Skylar Diggins-Smith, Las Vegas’ Kayla McBride, New York’s Tina Charles, the Phoenix Mercury’s Brittney Griner, Seattle’s Breanna Stewart and Washington’s Elena Delle Donne.
For more information on the WNBA Players of the Week, visit wnba.com/awards.
The 2018 WNBA regular season continues through Aug. 19 and the playoffs begin on Aug. 21. For more information on the WNBA and game tickets, fans may visit wnba.com.
2018 WNBA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Week Ending East Player Team West Player Team
5/27/18 Alyssa Thomas Connecticut Chelsea Gray Los Angeles
6/3/18 Tina Charles New York Liz Cambage Dallas
6/10/18 Tiffany Hayes Atlanta Brittney Griner Phoenix
6/17/18 Elena Delle Donne Washington Breanna Stewart Seattle
6/24/18 Angel McCoughtry Atlanta Maya Moore Minnesota
7/1/18 Elena Delle Donne Washington Maya Moore Minnesota
7/8/18 Elena Delle Donne Washington A’ja Wilson Las Vegas
7/15/18 Jessica Breland Atlanta Candace Parker Los Angeles
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