Daily Briefing — May 16, 2022: Rhyne Howard hype train keeps rolling

I personally would not want to be the guy who traded away the right to draft her. But that’s just me.

But first, read:

• Our Jenn Hatfield takes a deep-dive into the significances of Harvard and Yale’s new head coaches — their programs, what it means that both are women of color, and what it means for the Ivy League as a whole.

W Roundup

Connecticut: Activated combo guard Courtney Williams

Las Vegas: Signed wing Jackie Young to a rookie extension

Los Angeles: Signed combo forward Katie Lou Samuelson to a one-year rookie extension

Minnesota: Signed combo forward Jessica Shepard to a multi-year extension. The deal is a bit odd, since players on rookie-scale deals typically aren’t extended until during their fourth year in the league (Shepard is in her third), since teams command a player’s fourth-year salary at the league minimum. (The Lynx are presumably buying out future, non-team-controlled years in return for this.)

New York: Picked up combo forward Jocelyn Willoughby’s fourth-year contract option

Watch List, Monday, May 16

(All times in Eastern)

None

Sunday, May 15 recap

Dallas beat New York, 81-71. The game was within one possession for most of the first half. The Wings shot 45.0% from three and 16-for-20 from the line while holding the Liberty to 31.8% and 6-for-11, respectively; New York committed 17 turnovers; the teams combined for 39 fouls.

Dallas was led by off-ball guard Arike Ogunbowale’s 21 points on 6-for-18 from the field, 4-for-9 from three, and 5-for-6 from the line and four assists; big Isabelle Harrison had 18 points on 7-for-15 FG, six rebounds, and two assists against two turnovers; wing Marina Mabrey notched 14 points on 6-for-11 shooting (2-4 3pt.), four rebounds, and three assists against two turnovers in 24 minutes.

TDB Dallas center minutes distribution watch: Isabelle Harrison, 28; Teaira McCowan, 10; Awak Kuier, 2; Charli Collier was a healthy scratch.

Point guard Sabrina Ionescu led the Liberty with 17 points on 6-for-16 from the field, 1-for-5 from three, and 4-for-6 from the line, seven rebounds, and six assists against three turnovers; wing Betnijah Laney had 13 points on 6-for-11 shooting (0-3 3pt.), three rebounds, and five assists against three turnovers; big Natasha Howard notched 14 points on 6-for-12 FG (2-4 3pt.), eight rebounds, and two blocks against five turnovers and four fouls; center Stefanie Dolson fouled-out for the second-straight game, this time in 18 minutes.

Atlanta beat Indiana, 85-79. The Fever shot 12.5% from three, but the Dream went 23-for-30 at the line to Indiana’s 12-for-19; the teams combined for 36 turnovers and 46 fouls.

Atlanta was led wing Rhyne Howard’s career-high 33 points in 32 minutes on 9-for-18 shooting, 3-for-8 from the field, and 12-for-17 at the line, three rebounds, two assists, and three steals against three turnovers; combo forward Nia Coffey had 14 points on 4-for-7 shooting (2-2 3pt.) and six rebounds against three turnovers and five fouls in 30 minutes; backup point guard Aari McDonalnd notched 11 points on 4-for-6 FG (1-3 3pt.), three rebounds, and two assists against two turnovers and four fouls.

Combo guard Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 27 points on 8-for-16 shooting (4-4 3pt., 7-8 FT), three rebounds, and four assists against four turnovers; big NaLyssa Smith had a career-high 18 points on 6-for-16 from the field, 3-for-5 from three, and 3-for-7 from the line, six rebounds, and three assists against three turnovers — before leaving with a sprained ankle.