After the excitement of the All Star Break, we present you with the Sports Rabbi’s weekly update from the Holy Land’s persons of interest currently playing in the WNBA (in alphabetical order) – whether they’re signed on to play in the Israeli Women’s Premier Basketball League (the Athena Winner League) next season or whether they’re otherwise intrinsically connected to the Holy Land, we are here to let you know how they’re traveling in the W!

Player: Kalani Brown
College: Baylor University
Draft: 2019, Round 1, Pick 7
Current WNBA Team: Dallas Wings (13-9, 2nd in Western Conference, 4th overall)
2023-24 Israeli Team: Maccabi Bnot Ashdod
Summary: The Wings had a successful week, with a 98-88 away win over the second-placed New York Liberty and a 98-84 home win over the struggling Los Angeles Sparks, to move up in the standings. Brown, who’s on a hardship contract with the Wings until the end of the season, averaged 5.5 points, 2 rebounds and 0.5 assists in a little over 9 minutes in the wins.

Player: Leigha Brown
College: University of Michigan
Draft: 2023, Round 2, Pick 15
Current WNBA Team: Connecticut Sun (17-6, 2nd in Eastern Conference, 3rd overall)
2023-24 Israeli Team: ASA Jerusalem
Summary: The Sun went 2-1 over the last week to maintain their position in the standings, losing away to the Phoenix Mercury 66-72, before winning back-to-back games against the Atlanta Dream at home (82-71) and away (86-78). Brown, who did not appear in the loss, averaged a little over a minute in the games against Atlanta without scoring.

Player: Veronica Burton
College: Northwestern University
Draft: 2022, Round 1, Pick 7
Current WNBA Team: Dallas Wings (13-9, 2nd in Western Conference, 4th overall)
2023-24 Israeli Team: Elitzur Holon
Summary: Holon announced the signing of the WNBA sophomore during the week, with Burton quoted as saying, “I can’t wait to start the season in Israel and I’m excited to join Elitzur Holon and be part of the team.” As noted above, this week the Wings enjoyed victories over the New York Liberty away (98-88) and the Los Angeles Sparks at home (98-84). Burton played a little over 6 minutes in the wins, but was unable to affect the scoreboard.

Player: Maya Caldwell
College: University of Georgia
Draft: 2021, Round 3, Pick 33
Current WNBA Team: Indiana Fever (6-16, 6th in Eastern Conference, 11th overall)
2023-24 Israeli Team: AS Ramat Hasharon
Summary: The Fever had a mixed week away from home, defeating the Washington Mystics 82-76, but losing to the New York Liberty 101-83. Caldwell averaged 2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 10 minutes over the two games.

Player: Alysha Clark
College: Middle Tennessee State University
Draft: 2010, Round 2, Pick 17
Current WNBA Team: Las Vegas Aces (21-2, 1st in Western Conference, 1st overall)
2023-24 Israeli Team: — (2022-23 with Elitzur Ramla)
Summary: The Aces showed no sign of slowing down after the All Star Break, with two road wins against the Los Angeles Sparks (97-78) and Clark’s former team, the Seattle Storm (79-63). Clark averaged 8.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1 assist in just under 23 minutes in the wins.

Player: Abby Meyers
College: University of Maryland
Draft: 2023, Round 1, Pick 11
Current WNBA Team: Washington Mystics (12-10, 3rd in Eastern Conference, 5th overall)
2023-24 Israeli Team: —
Summary: She’s back! After being waived by the Mystics in early July, the Jewish college star signed a hardship contract with the Mystics last week. The Mystics went 1-2 at home over the last week, with losses to the Indiana Fever (76-82) and the New York Liberty (87-96), followed by an 84-69 win over the Phoenix Mercury. Meyers appeared for only 28 seconds with no points in the loss to the Liberty, but scored 2 points in a minute and a half in the victory over the Mercury.

Jennie Simms, who was part of the Israel National Team was released by the Phoenix Sun at the end of last week.

Current Standings
1. Las Vegas Aces (21-2)
2. New York Liberty (16-5)
3. Connecticut Sun (17-6)
4. Dallas Wings (13-9)
5. Washington Mystics (12-10)
6. Atlanta Dream (12-10)
7. Minnesota Lynx (10-13)
8. Chicago Sky (9-13)
9. Los Angeles Sparks (7-15)
10. Phoenix Mercury (6-16)
11. Indiana Fever (6-16)
12. Seattle Storm (4-18)