Daily Briefing — June 3, 2022: Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray leave with injury as Connecticut Sun win rematch in Vegas

Our Aces beat, Matthew Walter, reported that Aces head coach Becky Hammon said that Gray would be getting stitched, but there were no other updates available.

And an update on Brittney Griner’s wrongful detention: she’s now able to send and receive emails and letters to and from WNBA players.

But first, read:

• Our Jenn Hatfield chronicles how Elizabeth Williams’ historic night against the Fever exemplifies how she elevates the Mystics
• ESPN.com’s Alexa Philippou dives into the all-too-predictable on-court reasons these Mercury aren’t playing good basketball
• The Indianapolis Star’s Matthew VanTryon profiles Emily Engstler’s journey from New York City streetballer to standout Fever rookie
• Hawk Central’s Chad Leistikow catches up with Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark during summer workouts to reflect on her past, present, and future
• The Mercury News’ Alex Simon reports how San Francisco is a strong candidate for a WNBA expansion franchise — and the big-name players interested in making that happen

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W Roundup

Seattle: Wing Kaela Davis’ hardship contract terminated, with Stephanie Talbot clearing health and safety protocols. Center Mercedes Russell is active and cleared for today’s game, set to make her season-debut. (With point guard Sue Bird and center Ezi Magbegor remaining in health and safety protocols, the Storm’s emergency hardship contract with combo guard Kiana Williams puts them at 10 healthy players.)

Watch List, Friday, June 3

(All times in Eastern, Game Of The Day in bold)

New York @ Washington, 7 p.m., League Pass/Twitter (Local: YES, NBC Sports Washington/Monument)

Chicago @ Atlanta, 7:30 p.m., League Pass (Local: Marquee, Bally Sports Southeast)

Connecticut @ Phoenix, 10 p.m., CBS Sports Network (Local: NESN+, Bally Sports Arizona Extra)

Dallas @ Seattle, 10 p.m., League Pass (Local: Bally Sports Southwest Extra, JOEtv/Amazon Prime video)

NCAA Roundup

Transfer portal

New to the portal:

• Shaylee Gonzales, point guard, BYU

Thursday, June 2 recap

Connecticut beat Las Vegas, 97-90. The Sun had a 93.6% win expectancy with a 43-24 lead after 13 minutes, but the Aces went on a 27-10 run from the mid-second quarter through the mid-third. The teams combined to shoot 49.3% from the field and 41.3% from three; the teams combined for 38 fouls.

Big Alyssa Thomas led the Sun with a 16-point, season-high-12-rebound double-double on 6-for-10 FG (4-6 FT), plus five assists and two steals against two turnovers and four fouls in 36 minutes; big wing Jonquel Jones fouled out in 32 minutes, finishing with a season-high 20 points on 7-for-9 from the field and 4-for-6 from three, seven rebounds, and two steals without a turnover; big wing DeWanna Bonner had a season-high 19 points on 4-for-6 from three (1-4 from two), seven rebounds, and four assists; combo guard Courtney Williams notched a season-high 18 points on 9-for-18 shooting (0-3 3pt.), four rebounds, six assists, and two steals against three turnovers for the Sun.

Las Vegas was led by wing Jackie Young’s season-high 26 points in 28 minutes on 9-for-12 shooting (2-4 3pt., 6-6 FT), three rebounds, and three assists against two turnovers; point guard Kelsey Plum had 23 points on 8-for-19 from the field and 5-for-10 from three, four rebounds, and eight assists against only one turnover; center A’ja Wilson notched 13 points on 5-for-16 FG (0-2 3pt., 3-7 FT), seven rebounds, and three blocks.