Daily Briefing — May 8, 2022: Rhyne Howard dazzles in debut

Watch List, Sunday, May 8

(All times in Eastern)

Los Angeles @ Indiana, 3 p.m., Amazon Prime Video

Washington @ Minnesota, 8 p.m., ESPN2

Seattle @ Las Vegas, 10 p.m., ESPN2

Saturday, May 7, recap

New York beat Connecticut, 81-79. The Sun led 12-2 midway through the first quarter, though the Liberty took the lead in the late second; New York led by as much as nine multiple times in the third before Connecticut held a one-possession lead for most of the fourth quarter. The Liberty out-shot the Sun by 5.5% from the field and 16.5% from three; the teams combined for 30 turnovers and 44 fouls.

Point guard Sabrina Ionescu led New York with 25 points on 10-for-18 from the field and 3-for-6 from three, four rebounds, six assists, and two steals against four turnovers and four fouls in 35 minutes; combo guard Sami Whitcomb had 15 points on 2-for-6 from three (2-2 from two, 5-6 FT), five rebounds, five assists, and three steals against four turnovers and four fouls in 33 minutes; big Natasha Howard notched 16 points on 5-for-14 from the field and 3-for-7 from three, six rebounds, three assists, and two blocks against three turnovers and four fouls in 36 minutes.

Connecticut was led by big Alyssa Thomas’ 25 points on 10-for-16 from the field and 5-for-9 from the line, seven rebounds (three offensive), two assists, and four steals against three turnovers in 36 minutes; big wing Jonquel Jones had 15 points on 6-for-17 shooting (2-7 3pt.), seven rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks against six turnovers; point guard Jasmine Thomas notched 13 points on 3-for-7 FG (1-4 3pt., 6-7 FT), four rebounds, and three assists against four turnovers and five fouls in 29 minutes.

Atlanta beat Dallas, 66-59. The Wings were within one possession in the mid-first quarter; then the Dream went on a 17-2 run; a 15-0 Dallas run led to a one-possession game in the early third, but Atlanta responded with a 12-3 run. The teams combined to shoot 27.8% from the field and 23.9% from three; the teams combined for 22 steals, part of 38 turnovers and 43 fouls.

In her WNBA debut, No. 1-overall pick Rhyne Howard led the Dream with 16 points on 4-for-12 from three (0-3 from two), three rebounds, four assists, two steals, and four blocks — the first 16/3/4/2/4 debut in league history, per Across The Timeline (and only the second debut with multiple assists, steals, and blocks, after Natasha Howard in 2014); combo forward Nia Coffey scored 11 points on 3-for-9 from the field and 1-for-4 from three, plus nine rebounds against four turnovers and four fouls; big Cheyenne Parker recorded a double-double with 10 points (4-11 FG, 0-2 3pt.) and 10 rebounds, plus two steals and three blocks against five turnovers and five fouls.

The Wings were led by wing Marina Mabrey’s 20 points on 8-for-16 from the field and 3-for-7 from three and six rebounds against four turnovers off the bench; wing Allisha Gray had 12 points on 3-for-12 FG (0-2 3pt., 6-8 FT), nine rebounds, two assists, and three blocks; off-ball guard Arike Ogunbowale, combo forward Kayla Thornton, and big Isabelle Harrison struggled to a combined 5-for-29 shooting, with Thornton adding three steals and Ogunbowale committing six turnovers and four fouls.

TDB Dallas point guard minutes distribution watch: Veronica Burton, 21 minutes; Tyasha Harris, nine; Moriah Jefferson, four.

TDB Dallas center minutes distribution watch: Awak Kuier, 19 minutes; Isabelle Harrison, 17; Charli Collier, three.