Daily Briefing — Jan. 19, 2022: Free agency at last

W Roundup

Free agency

• Rebecca Allen: Wants to return to New York — if the team “loves her back” — per our Liberty reporter, Jackie Powell.
• Riquna Williams: Is fielding interest from Connecticut, Chicago, and Las Vegas, per Annie Costabile of the Chicago Sun-Times. There was absolutely no other news yesterday regarding the combo guard, who was suspended for 10 games in 2019 for an arrest on domestic violence charges that were later dismissed.
• Sylvia Fowles: The center will play in 2022, as reported by Kent Youngblood of the Star Tribune. (For those of you active on Twitter yesterday: if Youngblood reports it, it’s as good as a proclamation from God himself — it’s happening.)

Indiana: Released point guard Kysre Gondrezick, last year’s No. 4-overall draft pick, its second-straight lottery pick cut on their rookie contract. The West Virginia product was an extreme reach at fourth — myself and our Chicago reporter, James Kay, both had her as a mid-second-rounder. Under the leadership of former Fever big Tamika Catchings, arguably the greatest player in W history, handed the Vice President of Basketball Operations role upon retirement and technically promoted to general manager before 2020, Indiana has drafted zero All-Stars and just three of her draft picks are currently under contract with the team. Two are under contract with other teams.

(All times in Eastern)

Watch List, Wednesday, Jan. 19

Must-watch

None

Good games

Dayton @ UMass, 7 p.m., ESPN+

#15 Texas @ #7 Iowa State, 7:30 p.m., ESPN+

Also watchable

RV* Kansas @ RV Kansas State, 7:30 p.m., ESPN+

Sickos games

None

Tuesday, Jan. 18 recap

#21 Duke: 58-49 win over Miami. Shot 20.8% from three; assisted on 16 of its 22 buckets. Combo guard Miela Goodchild scored a team-high 17 points on 6-for-15 from the field and 3-for-9 from three with seven rebounds and two steals; point guard Shayeann Day-Wilson fouled out in 33 minutes, finishing with 11 points on 4-for-8 shooting (1-4 3pt.), three rebounds, and a career-high seven assists against five turnovers.

RV Virginia Tech: 69-52 win over Virginia. Shot below 41% from the field and 34% from three for the fourth-straight game; assisted on 17 of its 23 buckets; drew 21 fouls. Center Elizabeth Kitley scored a game-high 24 points on 10-for-18 FG with 10 rebounds for a double-double, plus two assists and six blocks against two turnovers; wing Kayana Traloyr had 17 points on 5-for-10 shooting (2-5 3pt.).

Blown Leads

Rider: 75-74 loss to Niagara. Had a 97.9% win expectancy with a four-point lead and possession with 21 seconds remaining, then committed a turnover that led to an Eagle layup, went 1-for-2 at the line, committed a shooting foul, knocked the missed second free-throw out of bounds, and gave up a go-ahead and-one after the ensuing inbounds. The Broncos had led since 8:37 in the first quarter.

Cancellations

• Columbia vs. Cornell
• Charlotte vs. FIU
• UT-Martin vs. Belmont
• Western Carolina vs. Southern Wesleyan

*Receiving Votes