Isobel Borlase was big-time in the Atlanta Dream’s semifinals sweep over the New York Liberty. Maintaining that play in the WNBA Finals could be crucial to the Dream’s success.
Atlanta Dream guard Isobel Borlase wasn’t one of the team’s most significant contributors during the regular season; the 22-year-old rookie appeared in all 44 games, averaging 4.8 points in 13 minutes a night.
But in the last two games of the WNBA semi-finals, Borlase was instrumental. With Allisha Gray, the team’s leading scorer, sidelined with a hand injury, Borlase scored double-digit points in back-to-back games. In Game 2, in a 101-98 overtime win over the Liberty, Borlase poured in 11 points on 4-9 shooting.
Then, two nights later, she posted 10 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, and an assist in 20 minutes off the bench.
Those aren’t massive numbers, but with the Dream already down two starters in Allisha Gray and Brionna Jones, Borlase’s consecutive double-figure outings were crucial.
And Borlase, who was the MVP of the Australian WNBL, has the support of her teammates.
“To be 22 years old and be able to come to this country and come to Atlanta and just thrive and be super confident, it’s helped us all year,” said Angel Reese. “It’s no different than playing overseas; she was the WNBL MVP for a reason, and I kept reminding her about that. Like, be who you are. Don’t shy away from who you are. We got your back. If anyone messes with you, we got your back.”
Isobel Borlase’s contributions could be even more important against the Valkyries
The Golden State Valkyries’ greatest strength is their depth, and that depth was a major factor in their series against the Las Vegas Aces. So far in these playoffs, 10 players are playing at least 10 minutes per game; the list includes starters Gabby Williams, Kiah Stokes, Kayla Thornton, Veronica Burton, and Cecilia Zandalasini, as well as bench players Kaila Charles, Kaitlyn Chen, Janelle Salaun, Tiffany Hayes, and Aminata Gueye.
Different Valkyries bench players have stepped up in different moments; Charles and Chen have both closed out games, while Hayes is the team’s second-leading scorer this postseason, averaging 13.3 points per game. Gueye, who joined the team in the last week of the regular season, was a crucial contributor against the Las Vegas Aces.
On the other side, the injuries to Gray and Brionna Jones have meant that the Dream have relied on only two bench players so far in these playoffs: Borlase and Te-Hina Paopao. But Paopao’s minutes have been very limited; the second-year guard has only played 4.8 minutes per game. So, outside of Bonner, who slotted into the starting lineup after Gray went down, Borlase has been the most pivotal bench contributor. If Gray is still limited by a hand injury, Borlase’s contributions become even more crucial.