Daily Briefing — July 1, 2022: SWEET DREAM — Atlanta outlasts New York in overtime thriller

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In other news, the 2022 All-Star Selection Special will air on Saturday, July 2, at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN. Co-captain A’ja Wilson led fan voting and will get the first pick alongside co-captain Sue Bird. Co-captains Breanna Stewart and Sylvia Fowles will grab the second pick.

But first read…

• Our Jenn Hatfield explores the makings of Ariel Atkins’ All-Star selection and how the nod highlights her quiet, but sustained, growth over time with the Mystics.
• In a piece that took me an entire month to write, I take you to and through the premiere of ESPN’s latest 30 for 30 episode, “Dream On.” Everything the documentary does right, and plenty it could’ve done better — we go through it all.
• Our Tyler DeLuca reflects on Aubrey Joens’ late April transfer to Oklahoma from Iowa State and what the move means for the Sooners.
• From the archives: July 6, 1997 — For AP, Chuck Schoffner told the story of the WBL through the eyes of star player Molly Kazmer as she watches the opening days of the WNBA on television.

NCAA Roundup

Coaching Changes:

• Fordham: Fired head coach Stephanie Gaitley, and an interim hiring is imminent. Gaitley was previously fired from the St. Joseph’s head coaching position in 2001 after allegedly retaliating against a former player’s sexual harassment claim against her husband.

Watch List, Friday, July 1

(All times in ET, Game of the Day in bold)

Los Angeles @ Dallas, 8 p.m., CBS Sports Network (Local: Bally Sports Southwest)

Las Vegas @ Minnesota, 8 p.m., NBA TV (Local: Bally Sports North, MYLVTV, NBA TV Canada)

Indiana @ Seattle, 10 p.m., Facebook (Local: FOX13/Amazon Prime video, Indiana Fever Livestream)

Thursday, June 30 recap

Atlanta (9–11) beat New York (8–11), 92–81 in OT. The two teams bounced the lead back and forth until Atlanta took a 10–2 run to gain a multiple-possession advantage. The Liberty would claw their way back in the early third, eventually coming within two, but the Dream took another run, this time 9–0, and gaining a comfortable advantage heading into the fourth. In the final regulation quarter, however, New York outscored Atlanta 31–18, enough to nearly pull away with the lead if not for a 3-point buzzer-beater from Dream combo guard Erica Wheeler to send the game to overtime. The Liberty couldn’t find a rhythm and would score just once in the additional five minutes. This allowed the Dream, led by wing Tiffany Hayes, who had nine of Atlanta’s 13 overtime points, to run away with the lead and the win.

In her return to Atlanta following an injury to her right knee, Hayes led all scorers with 21 points on 8-for-15 shooting from the field (4–6 3pt, 1–3 FT) and three rebounds on four fouls. Wheeler logged 10 points on 4-for-8 from the field (1–2 3pt) and eight assists, while wing Rhyne Howard logged 10 points on 3-for-11 from the field (1–5 3pt, 3–4 FT), five rebounds and two assists on three fouls. Center Kia Vaughn notched a season-high eight points on 4-for-7 from the field and a season-high nine rebounds (five offensive) off the bench for Atlanta.

Center Stefanie Dolson led the Liberty with a season-high 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the field (2–3 3pt, 2–3 FT), and seven rebounds (two offensive) on three fouls. Point guard Sabrina Ionescu logged a double-double with 17 points on 6-for-19 from the field (1–10 3pt, 4–4 FT) and a career-high-tying 13 rebounds (two offensive) alongside seven assists and two steals. Big Natasha Howard had 13 points on 4-for-13 from the field (1–4 3pt, 4–7 FT), eight rebounds and three blocks on four fouls.