WNBA Daily 5/11/22: Game Threads: Atlanta, Chicago, and Phoenix Win
Wednesday, 5/11/22 Results and Game Threads
- Atlanta 77, Los Angeles 75
- Chicago 83, New York 50
- Phoenix 97, Seattle 77
Atlanta 77, Los Angeles 75
The Atlanta Dream (2-0) took down the visiting Los Angeles Sparks 77-75 in front of a sold-out crowd at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park. Led by this season’s No. 1 draft pick, Rhyne Howard, the Dream handed the Sparks (2-1) their first loss of the season. Atlanta held the Sparks to just 75 points, the fewest Los Angeles has scored through three games this season. The Dream also outperformed the Sparks from the three-point line, shooting 43.3% (13-30) compared to 31.6% (6-19) by Los Angeles.
Top Performers
Atlanta
- Rhyne Howard 21 points, 8 rebounds
- Megan Walker 11 points
- Cheyenne Parker 10 points, 5rebounds
- Kristy Wallace 10 points
- Erica Wheeler 9 points, 7rebounds, 5 assists
Los Angeles
- Jordin Canada 19 points, 6 rebounds
- Nneka Ogwumike 17 points, 15 rebounds
- Liz Cambage 16 points
Chicago 83, New York 50
The Chicago Sky (1-1) set a franchise record for margin of victory (33) in an 83-50 win over the New York Liberty (1-1). New York’s 50 points mark the least amount of points the Sky has given up in franchise history.
Chicago guard Rebekah Gardner made her WNBA debut and finished with 14 points, four rebounds, and two steals on 6-for-9 shooting. A product of UCLA, Gardner has spent her pro career playing in Spain after going undrafted in 2012.
Top Performers
Chicago
- Dana Evans 15 points, 4 rebounds
- Rebekah Gardner 14 points, 4 rebounds
- Candace Parker 11 points, 6 rebounds, 4assists
- Emma Meesseman 10 points, 6rebounds, 4 assists
New York
- Han Xu 10 points
- Jocelyn Willoughby 9 points
Phoenix 97, Seattle 77
Former WNBA player and Phoenix head coach Vanessa Nygaard earned her first pro coaching victory when her team beat the Seattle Storm 97-77. Five Mercury (1-1) players finished in double figures.
The Storm (1-1) played without starting forward Breanna Stewart and Epiphanny Prince. Both missed the contest due to league health and safety protocols.
Diamond DeShields made her debut as a member of the Mercury. Brianna Turner made her first appearance this season and was in the starting lineup. Both Turner and DeShields recently arrived after playing overseas in Italy.
Nygaard on the win: “I’m just happy to see our team make progress. For myself as a coach, I learned a lot during the game and to have our two players that were gone for most of the preseason back in the rotation. It definitely wasn’t perfect, but it was just good to have some success.”
Top Performers
Phoenix
- Tina Charles 22 points, 11 rebounds
- Skylar Diggins-Smith 19 points, 7rebounds, 6 assists
- Diana Taurasi 15 points, 4 assists
- Diamond DeShields 12 points, 4 assists
- Shey Peddy 10 points, 6 assists
Seattle
- Jewell Loyd 26 points, 5 rebounds
- Sue Bird 14 points, 6 assists
- Ezi Magbegor 11 points, 5 rebounds
