Daily Briefing — May 18, 2022: Mercury poisoning

After the game, head coach Vanessa Nygaard deflected attention towards the Brittney Griner detainment and avoided answering.

But first, read:

• Our James Kay takes a look at how new combo forward Rebekah Gardner fits the Sky’s needs
• WNBA.com’s Mark Schindler highlighted some of the league’s best passers
• Basketball News’ Sharon Brown had a one-on-one with New York combo forward Michaela Onyenwere on giving back to the community and the Liberty

W Roundup

Dallas: Activated big wing Satou Sabally

Las Vegas: Activated center Kiah Stokes

Los Angeles: Activated combo forward Katie Lou Samuelson

New York: Activated combo forward Rebecca Allen

Watch List, Wednesday, May 18

(All times in Eastern)

Seattle @ Chicago, 10 p.m., Facebook (Local: Amazon Prime video, Marquee)

Tuesday, May 17 recap

Connecticut beat New York, 92-65. The Liberty jumped out to a 10-2 lead, before the Sun went on a 27-5 run. Connecticut shot 46.7% from three and 25-for-28 at the line, while holding New York to 31.8% from deep; the Sun notched 16 steals, part of 29 Liberty turnovers; the teams combined for 43 fouls.

Big wing DeWanna Bonner led Connecticut 16 points on 5-for-11 shooting (1-2 3pt.), three assists, and four steals in her first game of the season; backup combo guard Natisha Hiedeman had 15 points on 5-for-9 form the field (2-4 3pt.), three rebounds, three assists, and three steals; backup center Brionna Jones scored 14 points on 5-for-7 FG with three rebounds against three turnovers and four fouls in 25 minutes; big Alyssa Thomas notched 12 points on 5-for-6 shooting, six rebounds, three assists, four steals, and five turnovers.

New York was led by wing Betnijah Laney’s 16 points on 6-for-13 from the field and 4-for-8 from three and three assists against six turnovers and four fouls in 32 minutes; center Stefanie Dolson finally managed to not foul out, finishing with 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting (1-1 3pt.) and seven rebounds against four turnovers and four fouls in 26 minutes; big Natasha Howard had eight points on 4-for-8 FG (0-1 3pt.), six rebounds (three offensive), two assists, and four steals against four turnovers.

Atlanta beat Indiana, 101-79. The Dream shot 16.4% better from the field and 25.5% better from three, while going 23-for-26 at the line; the Fever assisted on 22 of their 30 buckets; the teams combined for 48 fouls.

Big Cheyenne Parker led Atlanta with 17 points (15 in the first half) on 6-for-10 FG (1-2 3pt.), five assists, and two blocks in 21 minutes; wing Rhyne Howard scored 19 points on 7-for-10 from the field and 3-for-5 from three with five rebounds and no turnovers; combo guard Erica Wheeler had 16 points on 5-for-8 shooting (2-2 3pt.), three rebounds, and five assists against four fouls in 22 minutes; off-ball guard Kristy Wallace notched 15 points on 4-for-6 FG (3-4 3pt.) and three rebounds; backup big Naz Hillmon fouled out in 18 minutes, but finished with eight points (3-5 FG), five rebounds, and three assists.

Indiana was led by combo forward Victoria Vivians’ 16 points on 5-for-14 from the field and 1-for-6 from three, six rebounds, and three assists against two turnovers and four fouls; point guard Danielle Robinson had 12 points on 5-for-12 shooting (0-2 3pt.), three rebounds, and four assists; center Queen Egbo scored 12 points on 5-for-7 FG with five rebounds (three offensive) against two turnovers; combo forward Emily Engstler made the first start of her career, finishing with seven points on 3-for-10 shooting (1-4 3pt.), 10 rebounds (three offensive), and three assists against five fouls in 21 minutes.

Washington beat Dallas, 84-68. The Wings jumped out to a 19-6 lead, but the Mystics jumped ahead 10 minutes later; Washington won the third quarter 31-13. The Mystics shot 10.5% better from the field and 16.7% better from three; Washington won the rebounding battle by 10.

Center Shakira Austin led the Mystics with a career-high 20 points in 29 bench minutes on 9-for-11 FG, eight rebounds (four offensive), two assists, and two blocks; big Elena Delle Donne had 14 points on 5-for-11 shooting (1-4 3pt.), five rebounds, and two assists against five fouls in 26 minutes; point guard Natasha Cloud notched 10 points on 3-for-4 from three (0-4 from two), four rebounds, seven assists, and two steals; backups off-ball guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and combo forward Kennedy Burke — the latter making her season and Washington debut — combined for 21 points on 9-for-15 from the field, three rebounds, five steals, and no turnovers, with Walker-Kimbrough adding three assists.

Dallas was led by wing Marina Mabrey’s 16 points on 5-for-9 from the field and 3-for-6 from three, five rebounds, five assists, and two steals against four turnovers and four fouls in 26 minutes; big Isabelle Harrison scored 16 points on 6-for-10 FG with five rebounds; wing Allisha Gray had 14 points on 6-for-14 shooting (2-5 3pt.), six rebounds, and four assists against two turnovers; off-ball guard Arike Ogunbowale struggled to six points on 3-for-12 from the field (0-3 3pt.).

TDB Dallas center minutes distribution watch: Isabelle Harrison 30; Teaira McCowan 9; Charli Collier 1.

Las Vegas beat Phoenix, 86-74. The Mercury led 24-12 after 7.5 minutes, and still led as late as the early third quarter; the Aces won the third 30-12. Phoenix committed 15 turnovers; the teams combined for 45 fouls.

Las Vegas was led by center A’ja Wilson’s 16 points on 4-for-8 from the field (0-1 3pt.) and 8-for-11 from the line and 10 rebounds for a  double-double, plus three assists and two blocks against four fouls in 34 minutes; wing Jackie Young had 19 points on 7-for-13 shooting (3-5 3pt.), four rebounds, two assists, and two steals; point guard Kelsey Plum scored 20 points on 7-for-16 from the field and 4-for-8 from three, with three assists against three turnovers; point guard Chelsea Gray notched 14 points on 5-for-12 FG (1-3 3pt.) and a season-high nine assists against three turnovers and four fouls in 33 minutes.

Center Tina Charles led the Mercury with 17 points on 8-for-16 FG (1-3 3pt.), nine rebounds, and two assists against three turnovers and four fouls in 36 minutes; combo guard Skylar Diggins-Smith had 10 points on 3-for-9 shooting (1-4 3pt.), four rebounds, and six assists against four turnovers and five fouls in 31 minutes; backup point guard Shey Peddy scored 13 points on 5-for-8 from the field and 2-for-4 from three, plus four assists; combo guard Diana Taurasi and wing Diamond DeShields struggled to a combined 19 points on 5-for-17 from the field and 2-for-9 from three and four turnovers, with Taurasi adding four assists and DeShields five rebounds, two turnovers, and five fouls.

Minnesota beat Los Angeles, 87-84. The teams each held nearly double-digit leads in the first three quarters, before a back-and-forth fourth. The Lynx outshot the Sparks by 12.9% from three, while winning the rebounding battle by 14; the teams combined for 19 steals, part of 18 Minnesota turnovers; the teams combined for 41 fouls.

In her first game of the season, off-ball guard Kayla McBride led the Lynx with 24 points on 8-for-18 from the field and 4-for-7 from three, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals against three turnovers; center Sylvia Fowles recorded a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double on 8-for-10 FG with five offensive boards, two assists, two blocks, and three turnovers while fouling-out in 39 minutes; point guard Moriah Jefferson had 20 points on 7-for-14 shooting (1-2 3pt., 5-6 FT), seven rebounds, six assists, and four steals against six rebounds and four fouls in 36 minutes.

Los Angeles was led by big Nneka Ogwumike’s 22 points on 9-for-16 FG (0-1 3pt.), eight rebounds (three offensive), and three assists against four fouls in 35 minutes; center Liz Cambage had 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting (1-2 3pt.), seven rebounds, three assists, and three blocks against three turnovers and five fouls in 25 minutes; combo guard Lexie Brown notched 12 points on 4-for-6 from three (0-1 from two) and four assists without a turnover; combo forward Katie Lou Samuelson made her season and Sparks debut, and shot 3-for-5 from three.