“I think my mindset is to make sure we punch first, whatever that looks like.”
Fourth-year veteran Sydney Wiese took her talents to a new level during the 2020 WNBA season down in Bradenton, Florida. The season started differently for Wiese as she was the first WNBA player to test positive for the coronavirus back in March. Wiese took her to time to rest and recover and came into the bubble ready to play. The lefty shooting guard finished the season averaging 6.8 points and 1.2 assists per game, while shooting an incredible 50.5% from the field, 47.2% from three, and 91.7% from the free throw line.
Wiese stepped up in a new way this season when she was moved to the starting lineup in early August. She went on to start in 15 of the 19 games she played and continued her impressive productivity in the starting lineup. She finished the season tied for fourth league-wide in three-point percentage and was fourth on the Sparks in field goal percentage. Wiese also had a three-game span where she averaged roughly 16 points per game while shooting about 66% from behind the arc.
“She’s a smart player and a lot of people may mistake her for not being as good as she is, but she’s a beast”, said teammate “Sazón” or Brittney Sykes.
Wiese, nicknamed “Garlic Salt” by Brittney Sykes, shook things up all season. One of her most notable games came shortly after her move into the starting lineup. On August 11th against the New York Liberty, Wiese put up 17 points, 2 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal, while shooting 60% from the field and 71.4% from behind the three-point line. Incredible shooting by Wiese along with help from the rest of the team led the Sparks to a 93-78 victory over the Liberty.
The guard finished a breakout season with highs of 18 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals.