July 3, 2022
Daily Briefing — July 3, 2022: All-Star Draft Drama
By Em Adler
There was a game in Chicago, too, that one team showed up for
Happy Sunday! Welcome to The Next’s Daily Briefing, featuring the W Roundup, daily Watch List, and Yesterday’s Recap. Day 49 of the WNBA season is here, following the WNBA All-Star Draft, easily the most dramatic thing that happened in Chicago yesterday. Team captains A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart hopped on a teleconference with ESPN’s Kelsey Riggs to decide the teams.
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Here’s how the draft went down:
Starters:
- Candace Parker, Team Wilson
- Jackie Young, Team Stewart
“I had to pick Jackie Young in the first round, because otherwise [Team Wilson]’s just gonna be the Aces!” Stewart later said.
- Kelsey Plum, Team Wilson
- Jonquel Jones, Team Stewart
- Nneka Ogwumike, Team Wilson — later traded for Sabrina Ionescu
- Sabrina Ionescu, Team Stewart — later traded for Ogwumike
“Okay then, race to the triple-double,” said Wilson.
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Reserves:
- Jewell Loyd, Team Stewart
- Rhyne Howard, Team Wilson
- Kahleah Copper, Team Stewart
- Dearica Hamby, Team Wilson
- Skylar Diggins-Smith, Team Stewart
- Courtney Vandersloot, Team Wilson
- Alyssa Thomas, Team Stewart
- Ariel Atkins, Team Wilson
- Arike Ogunbowale, Team Stewart
“That one hurt,” said Wilson.
- Brionna Jones, Team Wilson
- Emma Meesseman, Team Stewart
- Natasha Howard, Team Wilson
Stewart said after, “What concerns me on A’ja’s roster is, uh… buckets, size— actually, nothing.”
Wilson responded, “No, not one [concern about Stewart’s roster].”
But then! Even after the Ogwumike-Ionescu trade, Stewart traded co-captain Sylvia Fowles to Wilson for co-captain Sue Bird. Which I’m sure is great for the optics of the league’s forthcoming promos.
As a reminder, Team Wilson is coached by Las Vegas’ Becky Hammon, while Team Stewart is piloted by Chicago’s James Wade — meaning Hammon plays against one of her starters in Young, while Wade faces two in Parker and Vandersloot.
“You know what, it’s great that I don’t have to make this rotation,” said Wilson.
But first, read:
- Our Antonio Losada rounds up the new superteam in Fenerbahçe
- Our Lucas Seehafer dives in Aerial Powers’ career-worst year
- Our Arie Graham opens the mailbag to questions on the Wings’ consistency, identity, and rotations
Watch List, Sunday, June 3
(All times in Eastern, Game Of The Day in bold)
Washington @ Connecticut, 1 p.m., ESPN
Seattle @ Atlanta, 3 p.m., NBA TV (Local: FOX13/Amazon Prime video, Bally Sports Southeast Extra)
New York @ Los Angeles, 6 p.m., CBS Sports Network (Local: Spectrum SportsNet)
Las Vegas @ Minnesota, 7 p.m., Amazon Prime (Local: My LV TV, Bally Sports North)
Saturday, June 29 recap
Chicago (15-5) beat Phoenix (9-13), 91-75. The Sky led by two after five minutes, then went on a 20-2 run. Chicago shot 52.6% from the field and 50.0% from three, while assisting on 24 of its 30 buckets; held the Mercury to 25.0% from deep while winning the rebounding battle by 10; the teams combined for 38 turnovers and 41 fouls.
Big Candace Parker led the Sky with 14 points on 5-for-8 shooting (2-3 3pt.), eight rebounds, and seven rebounds against seven turnovers in 26 minutes; combo guard Allie Quigley had 19 points on 6-for-10 from the field and 3-for-5 from three and five rebounds; big Emma Meesseman notched 10 points on 3-for-7 FG, four rebounds, and four assists without a turnover. Every player on Chicago’s roster saw the court, with eight recording between 18 and 27 minutes.
Phoenix was led by combo guard Skylar Diggins-Smith with 8-for-17 from the field (0-3 3pt.) and 9-for-9 from the line, four rebounds, three assists, and four steals against six turnovers; backup wing Diamond DeShields had 21 points on 7-for-16 shooting (2-3 3pt., 5-7 FT), nine rebounds (three offensive), two steals, and no turnovers against five fouls in 21 minutes; big Brianna Turner notched eight points on 4-for-6, seven rebounds, and three steals against three turnovers and four fouls in 35 minutes.
Written by Em Adler
Em Adler (she/her) covers the WNBA at large and college basketball for The Next, with a focus on player development and the game behind the game.