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<ul class="summary-list"><li>The <keyword id="12243940" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="atlanta-dream" source="Orion">Atlanta Dream</keyword> selected <keyword id="13568781" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="rhyne-howard" source="Orion">Rhyne Howard</keyword> with the first overall pick of the 2022 <keyword id="11896033" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="wnba" source="Orion">WNBA</keyword> Draft.</li><li>The Dream's GM <a href="https://www.ajc.com/sports/state-sports/dream-trade-up-to-make-no-1-overall-pick-in-wnba-draft-monday/2RB2QBH7FZAFRKSZCE5UPCEY6Y/">called Howard "a foundational piece"</a> for the franchise before the season even began.</li></ul><p>Rhyne Howard has been a professional basketball player for a little more than a week.</p><p>But even in that short span, she's proving that she's among the best in the business.</p><p>The former Kentucky Wildcats superstar is lighting the WNBA on fire just a handful of games into her professional career. Before the Atlanta Dream moved up to take Howard with the No. 1 pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, General Manager Dan Padover said he thought the 6-foot-2 wing could become the type of "foundational piece" necessary to <a href="https://www.insider.com/atlanta-dream-recruit-top-management-team-gm-overhaul-wnba-franchise-2021-10">transform the franchise</a>.</p><p>But even he — a two-time WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year — never expected it to happen so fast.</p><div type="image" title="Rhyne Howard." height="1803" width="2400" msid="91629161" hostid="261"></div><p>"We thought at some point she could do what she is doing now," Padover told Insider. "But in no way did we plan for it to show in her first four games."</p><p>Howard stuffed the stat sheet in her WNBA debut on the road against the Dallas Wings. She led Atlanta with a team-high 16 points, four assists, four blocks, and two steals while adding three rebounds in a well-rounded effort.</p><p>Her Dream left Texas with a seven-point win and tons of momentum, which they carried all the way back home for a matchup with the Los Angeles Sparks four days later. Howard led all scorers with 21 points and added eight assists to power Atlanta to a two-point victory.</p><p>"I'm super comfortable," Howard said in a recent postgame press conference. "My team, they put a lot of confidence in me. They're always telling me just basically go play."</p><div type="image" title="The Atlanta Dream selected Rhyne Howard with the first overall pick of the 2022 WNBA Draft." height="1878" width="2500" msid="91629163" hostid="261"></div><p>"They got me for a reason, so I have to just come out and make an impact and help us get the team win," she added.</p><p>For the first time since the 2017 season, the Dream were off to a 2-0 start. And even though they followed it up with a loss against the Las Vegas Aces — one of the strongest teams in the WNBA — they bounced back on the road against the Indiana Fever two days later. Their star <keyword id="13961136" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="rookie" source="Orion">rookie</keyword> led the effort with a 33-point showing — the first 30-piece of her WNBA career.</p><p>Howard averaged 20.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game over her first four contests, good enough to earn Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors <em>in her very first week in the WNBA</em>.</p><p>"I'm not sure I would use the word surprised, but I would say we are impressed with how fearless and confident she has come out the gate in this league," Padover said. "That is impressive for any rookie."</p><div type="image" title="Rhyne Howard." height="1878" width="2500" msid="91629165" hostid="261"></div><p>But Howard has seemingly managed to make her mark on more than just an individual level. With a 3-1 record at the end of Week 1, Atlanta found itself tied with the Aces and the Washington Mystics at the top of the league.</p><p>For a team that won just eight games total last season, the strong start may very well mark the beginning of a stunning turnaround for the Dream. And as Padover predicted, Howard is already proving to be "a foundational piece for our franchise and where we want to go."</p><p>"Might she hit a tough stretch at some point this season? Most players do," Padover said. "But I think she's showing a skillset and competitiveness that is going to make her a threat on both sides of the ball in this league for a long, long time."</p>

This year's top WNBA draft pick is proving she's a superstar just 4 games into her pro career

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12055088" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="baylor-bears" source="Orion">Baylor Bears</keyword> star <keyword id="13391711" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nalyssa-smith" source="Orion">NaLyssa Smith</keyword> told Insider she should be "the number one pick" in the <keyword id="13568780" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="wnba-draft" source="Orion">WNBA Draft</keyword>.</li><li>Smith and <keyword id="12470934" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="kentucky-wildcats" source="Orion">Kentucky Wildcats</keyword> star <keyword id="13568781" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="rhyne-howard" source="Orion">Rhyne Howard</keyword> are widely expected to be the first two names off the board.</li></ul><p>With just 12 teams in the league and extremely limited roster spots available, NaLyssa Smith knows it will be "a blessing regardless" to hear her name called at the 2022 <keyword id="11896033" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="wnba" source="Orion">WNBA</keyword> Draft.</p><p>But if you ask the Baylor Bears superstar <em>when </em>she should walk across the draft stage, she won't hesitate to give you a blunt answer: before everyone else.</p><p>"I deserve to be the number one pick," Smith told Insider.</p><div type="image" title="NaLyssa Smith." height="994" width="1325" msid="90710494" hostid="261"></div><p>The 2019 NCAA champion and two-time All-America selection cited "all the time and energy I've put into the game of basketball" as part of her reasoning for going first overall while speaking to Insider about <a href="https://www.insider.com/womens-college-basketball-stars-reflect-ncaa-weight-room-scandal-2022-3">her NIL partnership with Wingstop</a>. And that hard work and dedication shows up in her statistics and highlight reels; Smith is undoubtedly among the most skilled and most athletic prospects in the class.</p><p>The 6-foot-4 forward averaged 15.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game over her four years at Baylor, becoming one of just eight Bears players to record 2,000+ career points and the seventh to do so while also accumulating 1,000 career rebounds.</p><p>This year, Smith averaged a team-high 22.1 points and 11.5 boards en route to a Baylor single-season record 25 double-doubles. Her 403 rebounds on the year were the most from a Bears player in more than 40 years.</p><div type="image" title="NaLyssa Smith." height="1333" width="2000" msid="90710496" hostid="261"></div><p>"It's a blessing to be in the position I'm in today, and I appreciate everything that Baylor Nation has given me," Smith said. "I gave my all and stayed loyal to the program so I hope that I made Baylor Nation proud."</p><p>It's no wonder that Smith is widely expected to be selected as one of the top-two picks in this year's draft. But whether she goes to the Atlanta Dream with the first pick or she drops to the Indiana Fever with the second is still up for debate.</p><p>Kentucky Wildcats superstar Rhyne Howard — one of just a handful of three-time first-team All-America selections in <keyword id="12055086" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="womens-college-basketball" source="Orion">women's college basketball</keyword> history — has long been considered a favorite to go first in the draft. She's an elite sharpshooter and lock-down defender who poses a mismatch threat as a 6-foot-2 guard, but it may take some time for Howard to adjust to the speed and talent level of the pros.</p><div type="image" title="Rhyne Howard." height="1861" width="2481" msid="90710497" hostid="261"></div><p>Smith, meanwhile, is viewed as "the most pro-ready player in this draft as far as being able to slide into a WNBA game today," an anonymous WNBA general manager told <a href="https://theathletic.com/3232328/2022/04/06/anonymous-wnba-draft-scouts-3-gms-assess-naz-hillmon-emily-engstler-thyne-howard-and-more/">The Athletic's Chantel Jennings</a>. That may make all the difference, as <a href="https://www.insider.com/atlanta-dream-recruit-top-management-team-gm-overhaul-wnba-franchise-2021-10">the Dream are embarking on a total rebuild</a> and are in need of a franchise cornerstone.</p><p>Smith — who played for former Atlanta head coach Nicki Collen at Baylor this year — could very well be the best-suited draftee to improve the Dream's outlook for the 2022 season.</p><p>"There are two things that college players have to deal with immediately, it's the faster pace — the 24-second clock — and the physicality of the league," another anonymous GM told Jennings. "You're 21, and you're playing against someone who's 30, and they've been in the weight room nine more years than you. With Nicki [Collen], what she helped NaLyssa with is that they played faster, they played more up-tempo, inside and outside."</p><div type="image" title="NaLyssa Smith." height="1666" width="2222" msid="90710500" hostid="261"></div><p>"[I] can't imagine anyone passing on her if she's sitting there," the GM added.</p><p>The WNBA Draft is scheduled for Monday, April 11 at New York's Spring Studios. Fans can tune in to watch the action on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET.</p>

Top WNBA draft prospect NaLyssa Smith says 'I deserve to be the No. 1 pick'

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12205485" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="kelsey-plum" source="Orion">Kelsey Plum</keyword> earned 2022 <keyword id="11896033" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="wnba" source="Orion">WNBA</keyword> All-Star <keyword id="11949090" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mvp" source="Orion">MVP</keyword> honors after scoring 30 points in Sunday's game.</li><li>One day before, the <keyword id="11931768" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="las-vegas-aces" source="Orion">Las Vegas Aces</keyword> star "stunk it up" with the lowest score in the 3-point contest.</li></ul><p>Kelsey Plum put on a jaw-dropping, record-breaking performance to win MVP honors during Sunday's <keyword id="14412759" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="wnba-all-star-game" source="Orion">WNBA All-Star Game</keyword>.</p><p>And the Las Vegas Aces star had a ton of motivation to ball out.</p><p>Plum — a first-time All-Star — also participated in Saturday's WNBA Skills Challenge and MTN DEW 3-Point Contest the day before the All-Star Game. And while she enjoyed a solid performance in the Skills Challenge — losing to eventual winner Sabrina Ionescu in the second of three rounds — Plum completely "stunk it up" it the 3-point contest, teammate <keyword id="12137455" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="aja-wilson" source="Orion">A'ja Wilson</keyword> said in a press conference after Sunday's All-Star Game.</p><div type="image" title="Plum looks frustrated as she participates in the WNBA 3-Point Contest." height="1424" width="1898" msid="92860765" hostid="261" sizebytes="192584"></div><p>Despite leading the league in made three-pointers heading into All-Star Weekend, Plum recorded just 14 points out of a possible 40 total in the opening round of the contest. She finished dead last behind fellow competitors Allie Quigley, Ariel Atkins, Rhyne Howard, Jewell Loyd, and Arike Ogunbowale.</p><p>Wilson, who was mic'd up during Plum's round, had plenty to say about her point guard's performance:</p><p>Plum said, "I had to redeem myself," the following day.</p><p>She dropped a game-high 30 points Sunday, tying the WNBA All-Star Game scoring record Maya Moore set in 2015 and breaking the field-goals record with 12 made shots. And it wasn't just a high-volume showing for the Olympic 3x3 gold medalist: She shot an impressive 66.7% from the floor and went 5-for-11 from beyond the arc.</p><p>"It's one thing to score, but I'm trying to get percentages," Plum said. "So when I missed a couple, I'm like: 'KP, you cannot let this like be the downfall [and] just go out bricking.'"</p><p>"Especially anyone [who] saw yesterday, I had to redeem myself," she added with a smirk. "I'm not a rack shooter. I'm more of a game shooter. I'm glad it worked out."</p><div type="image" title="Plum (right) dribbles past Las Vegas Aces teammate Jackie Young during the 2022 WNBA All-Star Game." height="1407" width="1876" msid="92860766" hostid="261" sizebytes="132978"></div><p>Wilson, who was seated right next to Plum during the press conference, was quick to sing the 27-year-old's praises.</p><p>"I am so proud of KP — I was saying that before we went to starting lineups," Wilson, a 2022 WNBA All-Star Game captain, said. "This girl here she works so hard, countless nights in the gym and for me to be able to draft her and say that she's my teammate is truly amazing. This gives me no surprise.</p><p>"When she stunk it up yesterday, I just knew it was about time she was going to let loose," the 2020 WNBA MVP added. "I'm so proud that she has this accomplishment, but this is KP. She's worked hard for this. This doesn't come by a surprise. Proud of you, girl."</p><div type="image" title="A'ja Wilson (left) hugs Kelsey Plum after the latter earned 2022 WNBA All-Star Game MVP honors." height="1879" width="2500" msid="92860767" hostid="261" sizebytes="187040"></div><p>"I talk crazy about her, but I'm proud of her," she added.</p><p>The second half of the 2022 WNBA regular season is already underway. As of this article's initial publication, Plum and Wilson's Aces lead the Western Conference with a 16-7 record.</p><p>And Plum, who was last season's WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, has a legitimate case for this year's MVP award; at present, she ranks in the top 10 in points per game, assists per game, 3-point field-goal percentage, and offensive win shares.</p>

The WNBA All-Star MVP was motivated to show out and break records after she 'stunk it up' in the 3-point contest

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11896033" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="wnba" source="Orion">WNBA</keyword> stars inspire fans worldwide by breaking boundaries and shattering expectations in the <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword> world.</li><li><keyword id="11892744" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="twitter" source="Orion">Twitter</keyword> connected some of those players with their supporters with a special All-Star weekend project.</li></ul><p>CHICAGO — WNBA superstars have been breaking barriers for 26 years and counting.</p><p>The longest-tenured professional <keyword id="11896034" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="womens-sports" source="Orion">women's sports</keyword> league in the United States, the WNBA has shattered expectations within the world of sports and inspired millions to defy the societal limits they may be facing in their own lives. And according to Twitter — where much of the discourse surrounding the WNBA lives, as any fan of the league can tell you — a good amount of those individuals drawing inspiration from the league hail from outside the United States. </p><p>"What we found is there's a pretty large international following and tweet volume for the WNBA," Kelsey Bowers, a senior manager of US sports partnerships for Twitter, told Insider. "TheWNBA community can be pretty insular at times, so how do we help bring in new fans and make the conversation and experience feel all-inclusive to really bring people in?"</p><div type="image" title="breanna stewart" height="1667" width="2500" msid="92831534" hostid="261"></div><p>"So that's how we came up with this activation," she added.</p><p>In honor of the considerable impact the WNBA has had worldwide, the WNBA teamed up with Twitter to ask fans from around the globe to share their favorite memories of the WNBA and examples of its players shattering expectations. </p><p>Then, a few of those tweets found their way to some of this year's All-Stars — who had to smash literal glass in order to access each message.</p><p>You read that right, but don't worry — no All-Stars were harmed in the making of this project.</p><div type="image" title="2022 WNBA All-Star Game captain A'ja Wilson prepares to smash some glass." height="1406" width="1874" msid="92831535" hostid="261"></div><p>Ahead of Sunday's contest at Chicago's Wintrust Arena, several superstars and influential WNBA figures headed to Twitter Sports' first-ever "demolition room" to wreak havoc and connect with fans from around the world. Tweets originally written in different languages were translated to English, printed on paper, slipped into an envelope, and sandwiched between two panes of sugar glass before the talent arrived for filming.</p><p>Once the stars put on their protective gear — including goggles and gloves — they were free to smash the glass to reveal what fans found inspiring about them or the league itself. And after reading the notes from fans, the players and influencers could respond with a message for the cameras.</p><p>"We're tying in international audiences of multiple different languages and creating an execution on site with All-Star players and legends and influencers of the community who are talking about the amazing impact that the WNBA has had," Bowers said. "We knew we wanted to continue to talk about social justice and the amazing things that the W has does, so that's how we came up with the breaking [glass] ceilings and shattering expectations idea."</p><div type="image" title="Sue Bird smashes some glass." height="877" width="1169" msid="92835026" hostid="261" sizebytes="45610"></div><p>"We wanted to bring in these different international perspectives of what fans think the WNBA has been so incredible at and how they've been shattering these expectations to highlight those on site and share those out on platform once the experiences over," she added.</p><p>The final product: more than 20 faces of the WNBA connected with fans tweeting in eight different languages to discuss the brilliance of their league. And here's what it looked like:</p><p>Seattle Storm superstar Sue Bird, who is the league's all-time leader in assists, read a tweet translated from Spanish about a fan's favorite memory of the WNBA:</p><p>"My favorite memory of <a href="https://twitter.com/S10Bird">@S10Bird</a> is when she got emotional when the audience of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Seattle?src=hashtag_click">#Seattle</a> started the chants of 'One more year!' <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MoreThanIncredible?src=hashtag_click">#MoreThanIncredible</a>"</p><p>Here's 2021 WNBA Finals MVP Kahleah Copper responding to a fan from France:</p><p>"144 players who stand up together against discrimination and elect a black senator to Congress," Copper read, a reference to the WNBA players' campaigning for Rev. Raphael Warnock, running in Georgia, during the 2020 elections and <a href="https://www.insider.com/loeffler-wnba-effort-warnock-georgia-impacted-american-republic-future-2021-1">helping to flip the United States Senate</a>.</p><p>First-time All-Star and Atlanta Dream rookie Rhyne Howard read a tweet translated from Tagalog, a language native to the Philippines:</p><p>"<a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA">@WNBA</a> is <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MoreThanIncredible?src=hashtag_click">#MoreThanIncredible</a> because it shows the strength and heart of women who truly inspire more than just the game of basketball!  Every game is exciting!   <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBATwitter?src=hashtag_click">#WNBATwitter</a>."</p><p>Alyssa Thomas — a star for the Connecticut Sun — read a tweet from a fan in Japan.</p><p>"I'm very happy ☺️ Thank you! !! In a tight schedule, I am always energized by the best players. I hope that the match will be held in Japan someday   I will continue to support all the players of all the teams! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MoreThanIncredible?src=hashtag_click">#MoreThanIncredible</a>"</p><p>And Thomas' Connecticut teammate, Brionna Jones, read a tweet translated from Georgian:</p><p>"The world-class top-level basketball game makes <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wnba?src=hashtag_click">#wnba</a> amazing. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wnba?src=hashtag_click">#wnba</a> is very important. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MoreThanIncredible?src=hashtag_click">#MoreThanIncredible</a>"</p><p>Several other All-Stars and leaders within the WNBA community participated in the project, but perhaps the most inspirational message out of the "demolition room" came from LaChina Robinson. The ESPN host and basketball analyst read a tweet translated from Spanish:</p><p>"For the example they give to the new generations "</p><p>Then, Robinson took a moment to agree with the Twitter user who sent in the message.</p><p>"You are right, because the WNBA is trailblazing for little girls that want to live their dream of being heroes, role models, amazing professional basketball players, moms, business owners, advocates in the community," Robinson said.</p><p>The second half of the 2022 WNBA campaign picks up this week. The regular season comes to an end on August 14, and playoffs begin just a few days thereafter. </p>

WNBA All-Stars smash glass to reveal fan tweets about the league's 26 years of shattering expectations

<p class="source"><span>Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)</span></p><p class="caption">Oregon Ducks star Sabrina Ionescu became the first college player - male or female - to register 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists in their career.</p><ul class="summary-list"><li>The 2020 NCAA tournament tips off in a few short weeks.</li><li>The top teams in the country like Oregon, Baylor, Louisville, and UConn are ready to compete for a spot in the Final Four in New Orleans, Louisiana.</li><li>Ducks star Sabrina Ionescu has shined in her senior season, dropping triple-double after triple-double and becoming the first college player to register 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists in their career.</li><li>Other stars like Kentucky's Rhyne Howard, Arizona's Aari McDonald, and Texas A&amp;M's Chennedy Carter have lit up scoreboards and put the country on notice in time for March.</li><li>Get to know Ionescu, Howard, McDonald, Carter, and the rest of this year's college basketball elite so you're fully prepared for the most wonderful time of the year.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul>

March Madness is approaching - Here are the 15 biggest names to look out for in the 2020 women's NCAA tournament

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="2890306" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Megan-Rapinoe">Megan Rapinoe</keyword> is "trying to start some drama" in this year's <keyword id="10940397" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ncaa-womens-tournament">NCAA women's tournament</keyword>.</li><li>The USWNT star is all-in on the budding rivalry between <a href="https://www.insider.com/march-madness-most-anticipated-matchup-paige-bueckers-vs-caitlin-clark-2021-3">Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark</a>.</li><li>Bueckers and Clark say they are close, but Rapinoe isn't buying it. </li></ul><p>Megan Rapinoe is becoming a "super fan" of this year's NCAA women's college basketball tournament, and she's ready "to start some drama."</p><p>Despite having a live-in teacher in one of the best basketball players on the planet - her fiancée, WNBA icon Sue Bird - Rapinoe insists that she doesn't "know a ton about a ton." Still, the US Women's National Team megawatt star showed an impressive grasp of the field in this year's tourney while promoting her partnership with Smirnoff.</p><div type="image" title="Megan Rapinoe" height="683" width="910" msid="81727332" hostid="261"></div><p>In fact, she knew enough to declare that she's all-in on the budding rivalry between two of the nation's best players - <keyword id="1867885" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Iowa-Hawkeyes">Iowa Hawkeyes</keyword> freshman <keyword id="10975182" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="caitlin-clark">Caitlin Clark</keyword> and <keyword id="9637900" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="uconn-huskies">UConn Huskies</keyword> freshman <keyword id="9637901" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="paige-bueckers">Paige Bueckers</keyword>.</p><p>"I really do want to see the 'Buckets' vs Clark clash," Rapinoe told Insider, referring to Bueckers by her nickname. "I want to see that go down. I want them to guard each other. I want the whole thing to happen. I want the storylines."</p><p>Rapinoe's wish is the NCAA's command; the superstar 19-year-old point guards will face of in the Sweet Sixteen of <keyword id="952232" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="March-Madness">March Madness</keyword> this weekend, setting the stage for <a href="https://www.insider.com/march-madness-most-anticipated-matchup-paige-bueckers-vs-caitlin-clark-2021-3">the most hyped matchup in either of this year's NCAA tournaments</a>.</p><div type="image" title="paige bueckers caitlin clark march madness" height="1800" width="2400" msid="81727334" hostid="261"></div><p>Both Bueckers and Clark have continually insisted that they are friends off the court. Geno Auriemma's young superstar even went so far as to tell ESPN that she and her high-scoring Iowa opponent are "really big fans of each other," <a href="https://wcfcourier.com/sports/college/iowa/clark-its-not-caitlin-clark-vs-paige-bueckers-its-iowa-versus-uconn/article_f62cfbcc-5e8f-55b3-8f2a-b4a3d334c7fe.html">per the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier</a>.</p><p>But Rapinoe's buying absolutely none of it.</p><p>"Both of them keep saying how close they are, which, that's just fueling the drama in me," the pink-haired soccer star said. "They're just saying this in the media so they don't have to be rivals."</p><p>"I feel like they're keeping an eye on each other's stat lines," Rapinoe added. "So hopefully it's a fun rivalry."</p><div type="image" title="megan rapinoe" height="1666" width="2222" msid="81727336" hostid="261"></div><p>It's hard not to keep an eye on their stat lines, as the duo has exploded for standout performance after standout performance throughout their freshmen seasons. Clark led the entire nation - players in both men's and women's Division I, that is - with 26.8 points per game this season. And despite suiting up for a program that's housed many a WNBA icon, Bueckers has accumulated more points per game than any other freshman in UConn women's basketball history.</p><p>March Madness has been no exception for the flashy, crafty point guard pair. Bueckers set the Huskies scoring record for a player's debut NCAA tournament game when she dropped 24 points, nine rebounds, and six assists against the No. 16 High Point Panthers March 21. Two days later, she helped top-seeded UConn take down former Big East rival Syracuse with a game-high 20 points.</p><div type="image" title="caitlin clark" height="1405" width="1874" msid="81727339" hostid="261"></div><p>Clark, meanwhile, has become an unsurprising breakout star by lighting up the scoreboard every time she takes the floor in San Antonio. She has 23 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists to lead her No. 5 Hawkeyes past Central Michigan in the opening round. But against Rhyne Howard and the No. 4 Kentucky Wildcats on Tuesday, Clark errupted for 35 points on 6-of-12 shooting from behind the arc and added seven rebounds and six assists to spearhead Iowa's 14-point upset.</p><p>"Sue said the other day that Caitlin was the most exciting player in the tournament," Rapinoe said. "And I think it's because she's going to have to do so much. She's going to have to drop 35 [points] to beat some of these better teams, whereas obviously Paige has maybe a more well-rounded team around her."</p><p>"But I feel like Paige is competitive too," she added. "So she's not going to want to give anything."</p><div type="image" title="paige bueckers.JPG" height="1549" width="2065" msid="81727341" hostid="261"></div><p>Basketball fans across the country will be tuning into ABC at 1 p.m. ET Saturday to watch it all unfold, and it's safe to say Rapinoe will be watching, too. Though her loyalties undoubtedly lie with UConn - where Bird led the Huskies to two national championship victories as point guard - the 2019 Ballon d'Or winner has made it her priority "to get involved and obviously support" the women's game.</p><p>"Especially considering what happened on their arrival to San Antonio," Rapinoe said, referring to <a href="https://www.insider.com/ncaa-sexism-images-show-inequality-mens-womens-march-madness-2021-3">blatant disparities between the facilities and resources</a> at the men's and women's NCAA tournaments, "which was disappointing to say the absolute least."</p><p>"But ultimately I just want it to be exciting," she added. "We haven't had like the blitz of <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword> moments and there's no other playoffs or anything going on right now."</p>

Megan Rapinoe is 'trying to start some drama' in one of the fiercest budding rivalries in the NCAA tournament

<ul class="summary-list"><li>UConn and Iowa will meet in the Sweet 16 of the <keyword id="10940397" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ncaa-womens-tournament">NCAA women's tournament</keyword> on Saturday.</li><li>Thanks to <keyword id="9637901" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="paige-bueckers">Paige Bueckers</keyword> and Caitlin Clark, it's the most hyped matchup of <keyword id="952232" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="March-Madness">March Madness</keyword> this year.</li><li>Despite disparate treatment from the <keyword id="125824" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="NCAA">NCAA</keyword>, the women boast star power and the game of the year.</li></ul><p>The most highly anticipated matchup of this year's March Madness has arrived - and it's taking place on the women's side.</p><div type="image" title="caitlin clark iowa" height="1666" width="2222" msid="81714694" hostid="261"></div><p>The top-seeded <keyword id="9637900" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="uconn-huskies">UConn Huskies</keyword> will take on the No. 5 <keyword id="1867885" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Iowa-Hawkeyes">Iowa Hawkeyes</keyword> in a Sweet Sixteen grudge match airing on ABC at 1 p.m. ET Saturday. And with two superstar freshmen facing off head-to-head for the first time in their short-but-esteemed college careers, the game is already eliciting more fanfare than any other game of this NCAA tournament season.</p><h2>Iowa's Caitlin Clark is the 'must-watch' player of March Madness</h2><p>Clark is the leading scorer in all of Division I - men's and women's - with 26.8 points per game this year. And with an NCAA women's-best 7.2 assists per game and 274 three-pointers made to boot, the six-foot 19-year-old is "the <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-caitlin-clark-behind-the-back-pass-assist-iowa-hawkeyes-2021-3">most exciting player in college basketball right now</a>," according to WNBA legend Sue Bird.</p><div type="image" title="caitlin clark" height="1405" width="1874" msid="81714696" hostid="261"></div><p>Clark made good on Bird's word in the second round against Rhyne Howard and the No. 4 Kentucky Wildcats, dropping 35 points on 6-of-12 shooting from behind the arc while adding seven rebounds and six assists to lead her Hawkeyes to the 14-point upset. But the competition only gets stiffer as the NCAA tournament field whittles down, and Saturday's opponent represents the cream of the crop.</p><p>And so does the point guard she'll be up against.</p><h2>Paige Bueckers was a superstar before she stepped foot on a <keyword id="1737297" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="College-Basketball">college basketball</keyword> court, and she's exceeded the hype</h2><p>One of the <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-paige-bueckers-gatorade-athlete-of-year-sue-bird-2020-7">highest-touted players in the country</a> coming out of high school, Bueckers was already Geno Auriemma's next big star even before she arrived on UConn's campus. And when <a href="https://www.insider.com/sue-bird-paige-bueckers-advice-uconn-wbb-coach-geno-auriemma-2020-9">Bird - a Huskies legend herself - told Insider</a> in September that "Paige just has a flair for the game and a swag to her [that] can impact the game in so many different ways at that point guard spot," she certainly wasn't exaggerating.</p><div type="image" title="paige bueckers.JPG" height="1549" width="2066" msid="81714700" hostid="261"></div><p>In February, the 5-foot-11 19-year-old went on an unprecedented tear for the greatest program in NCAA basketball history, becoming the <a href="https://www.insider.com/paige-bueckers-game-winner-uconn-south-carolina-showcases-freshman-brilliance-2021-2">first player for UConn</a> to score 30 points in three consecutive games. And though many of women's basketball's brightest talents have passed through Storrs on their way to the WNBA, none of them - Bird, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Swin Cash, Tina Charles, Jennifer Rizzotti, Rebecca Lobo, Renee Montgomery, Moriah Jefferson, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Morgan Tuck, Gabby Williams, and Breanna Stewart included - ever accomplished that feat.</p><p>And Bueckers did it less than 15 games into her college career.</p><h2>Clark vs. Bueckers has been the top talking point in women's college basketball all season. Now they'll face each other for the first time.</h2><p>As the leader of the most esteemed, most successful, and most closely-watched program in the women's collegiate game, Bueckers has not had any trouble receiving her flowers throughout the season. She's been featured on ESPN more times than you could count, and she's earned the highly-coveted accolades to back that up: AP first-team All-America selection, Big East Player, and Freshman of the Year, espnW Player and Freshman of the Year, and more.</p><div type="image" title="paige bueckers.JPG" height="1666" width="2222" msid="81714701" hostid="261"></div><p>Bueckers is also one of four finalists - and the only freshman - in contention for this year's Naismith Women's Player of the Year award. The Hopkins, Minnesota native is also the only freshman featured on the 15-player Women's National Ballot for the John R. Wooden Award.</p><p>To say the acknowledgment of Bueckers' brilliance is well deserved would be an understatement. But given her loaded resume, Clark undoubtedly has earned similar praise and consideration for top accolades. The fact that she's been granted neither is indefensible, but Saturday's game on college basketball's biggest stage will serve as Clark's chance to prove her worth - and that she belonged on those lists.</p><h2>The megawatt matchup comes despite apparent sexism and unequal treatment from the NCAA</h2><p>It's no secret that women at all levels of athletics are fighting an uphill battle for <a href="https://www.insider.com/midge-purce-sports-gender-equality-uswnt-white-house-visit-2021-3">equality in sports</a>. But in this year's March Madness, sexism from the NCAA was on full, unobstructed display.</p><p>Viral images circulated ahead of the first games revealing <a href="https://www.insider.com/ncaa-sexism-images-show-inequality-mens-womens-march-madness-2021-3">blatant disparities between the facilities and resources</a> at the men's and women's tournaments. While men's players had access to gourmet buffets, full weight rooms, and loaded "swag bags," the women's players were forced to stomach inadequate meals, share a single rack of dumbbells, and accept far less merchandise. The <a href="https://www.insider.com/march-madness-puzzles-ncaa-500-150-pieces-men-women-sexism-2021-3">inequity even trickled down to the puzzles</a> gifted to players; the men got 500-piece sets, while the women's only had 150 pieces.</p><p>But perhaps most significantly, the NCAA appears to have intentionally stifled marketing and exposure for the women's game to exclusively promote the men's side. According to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/march-madness-ncaa-tournament-womens-basketball-11616428776">The Wall Street Journal</a>, the organization "withheld use of the lucrative "March Madness" moniker from women's college basketball. So while the men's courts and promotional materials are plastered with the highly-recognizable term, the women's side has no choice but to settle for "women's basketball."</p><p>The disparate resources and exposure granted to this year's championships undoubtedly could have hindered the success of the women's tourney. But it didn't.</p><div type="image" title="ncaa women's basketball" height="1667" width="2500" msid="81714704" hostid="261"></div><p>Though viewership ratings have not yet been released, ESPN's Women's Tournament Challenge grew 103% year-over-year, <a href="https://twitter.com/MollieCahillane/status/1374357750344482818">per Adweek's Mollie Cahillane</a>, setting a new all-time record. And according to reporting from <a href="https://northernstar.info/84584/sports/sports-columns/womens-national-tournament-provides-cinderella-story/">The Northern Star</a>, ESPN found that "Twitter references of the NCAA Women's tournament are up almost 90% during games compared to two seasons ago."</p><p>Both statistics suggest that this year's competition on the women's side has garnered an unprecedented level of engagement from fans. The UConn vs. Iowa, Bueckers vs. Clark Sweet Sixteen showdown on Saturday will only further contribute to the positive trend - and that's despite the NCAA's official efforts, not because of them. </p>

The most hyped matchup of March Madness is happening on the women's side - whether the NCAA likes it or not

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11972475" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="espn" source="Orion">ESPN</keyword> launched its first-ever fantasy <keyword id="11964518" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="womens-basketball" source="Orion">women's basketball</keyword> game ahead of the 2022 <keyword id="11896033" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="wnba" source="Orion">WNBA</keyword> season.</li><li>Insider consulted ESPN fantasy basketball expert <a href="https://www.espnfrontrow.com/2021/02/espn-senior-writer-fantasy-analyst-dr-andre-snellings-has-basketball-on-the-brain/">Dr. André Snellings</a> on everything you need to know.</li></ul><p>For the first time ever, fans can play in a <keyword id="13844869" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="wnba-fantasy" source="Orion">WNBA fantasy</keyword> league.</p><p>ESPN launched the first season-long <a href="https://www.espn.com/fantasy/womens-basketball/">fantasy women's basketball game</a> on its platform ahead of the WNBA's 2022 campaign, which tips off on Friday. Now, WNBA enthusiasts can round up some friends, draft their favorite players, and act as general managers of their very own fantasy teams comprised of the top women's basketball players on the planet. </p><p>But just because you have a command of the WNBA landscape doesn't mean you're ready to dive right into WNBA fantasy. Likewise, having a handle on other ESPN fantasy offerings offers no guarantee that you'll thrive in the women's basketball realm.</p><div type="image" title="Minnesota Lynx superstar Sylvia Fowles." height="1591" width="2121" msid="91377726" hostid="261"></div><p>So Insider <a href="https://www.espn.com/fantasy/womens-basketball/story/_/id/33678398/fantasy-wnba-how-play-fantasy-women-basketball">consulted an expert</a>. <a href="https://www.espnfrontrow.com/2021/02/espn-senior-writer-fantasy-analyst-dr-andre-snellings-has-basketball-on-the-brain/">Dr. André Snellings</a> is an ESPN senior writer and <a href="https://www.espn.com/search/_/type/articles/q/andre%20snellings">authority on all things fantasy basketball</a>. In our interview, he explains the differences between WNBA fantasy and other <keyword id="13844868" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fantasy-sports" source="Orion">fantasy sports</keyword>, breaks down the best strategies for successfully drafting and managing a WNBA fantasy team, and discusses the role ESPN fantasy women's basketball can play in helping the WNBA attract new fans.</p><p><em>This interview has been slightly edited for length and clarity.</em></p><p><strong>If I'm someone who is jumping right into a league without much background knowledge, what are the key things to know ahead of a WNBA Fantasy season?</strong></p><p>You need to <a href="https://www.espn.com/fantasy/womens-basketball/story/_/id/33766984/fantasy-women-basketball-stats-make-fantasy-stars">know the scoring</a>, especially if this is your first experience in the fantasy <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword> space. You get a group of people and you each take turns picking real-life players to represent you on your fantasy basketball team. So if the average league size has six people in, you'll get five of your friends, and each of you will take turns going through and deciding who you want to be on your team. <br /><br />The numbers that the players on your team produce will be how your fantasy team gets their points and the scoring system for ESPN's WNBA fantasy game. For points, rebounds, and assists, you get one point per item. So if someone gets 20 points and 10 rebounds, that would be 30 fantasy points. For steals and blocks, you get two points for each one you contribute. And then for three pointers, it's technically one point per three pointer, but if a player hits a three pointer, they also get three regular points. So the players that hit threes get a bonus point for each shot they make.</p><p><strong>Heading into a draft, what type of player should fantasy managers look to take in the first few rounds?</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="2021 WNBA leading scorer Tina Charles drives on Seattle Storm superstar Breanna Stewart." height="1666" width="2222" msid="91377729" hostid="261"></div><p>To start the draft, especially in this format, you definitely go with the best player available. In some fantasy formats, you have to pay a little bit more attention to position because there can be position scarcity sometimes, but to start the draft, my personal philosophy is always best player available, regardless of position. Position might just be a tie-breaker, but in the WNBA ESPN game, there are only three positions listed: center, forward, and guard. So there's a little bit less position scarcity than in a sport like fantasy baseball. <br /><br />To start the draft, you're looking for superstars. I'm a nerd, and how I approach fantasy sports analysis is through nerdism. One of the first things that I did was generate a spreadsheet, so I've got a spreadsheet with all of the WNBA players' stats from last season. And I can sort based on category, so I can sort based on points, sort based on rebounds, assists, steals, whatever. And I also have a column where I calculate how many fantasy points per game each player scored based on their stats from last season.</p><p>If I'm looking at my spreadsheet, an obvious correlation jumps out. The top 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 fantasy scorers per game last season were almost all 20-point, 10-rebounds players. They didn't have those exact numbers, but Tina Charles was number 1 with 23 points, 9.6 rebounds, Jonquel Jones 19 and 11, [Breanna Stewart] was at 20 and almost 10. Brittney Griner had 21 and almost 10.</p><p>That jumps out at me because, as you look through this list, there aren't any points-assist double-double people at the top. No steals and blocks necessarily at the top. It's almost all points-rebounds folks. And so what that tells me as I look through it is that the WNBA star players almost overwhelmingly, at least as far as production goes, are bigs: forwards and centers. They're dominating in the paint and they're putting up 20 and 10.</p><div type="image" title="a'ja wilson" height="1729" width="2306" msid="91377731" hostid="261"></div><p><strong>What is your strategy when it comes to selecting a guard? Do you go with a prolific scorer or opt for assists or steals specialists?</strong></p><p>You definitely want to get a scorer because scoring and rebounds are all one-to-one points to fantasy points. The volume scorers have more opportunity to put up consistent points. But in the backcourt, you want to look for all-around producers, not just points and assists, but rebounds, too.</p><p>The top guards [last season] were actually Courtney Williams and Skylar Diggins-Smith, because, for Courtney Williams, she was putting up almost seven boards a game in addition to her points. Skylar was over five assists with more than three boards as well. So for the back court, all-around game is a little bit more valuable than specialists. <br /><br />All of that said, this season in the backcourt, I'm really looking at Sabrina Ionescu. In her first few games in the WNBA a couple years ago, her numbers were crazy before she injured her ankle. And last season, I think she was still dealing with that for most of the season. She's one that has all-around numbers, but I could see her as one that could have high assist numbers, but also the excellent all-around game to maybe get her up closer to the, the big forwards as far as her fantasy production.</p><div type="image" title="Sabrina Ionescu." height="1405" width="1874" msid="91377734" hostid="261"></div><p><strong>How much stock should you put into a player's statistics from last season if they find themselves in a different team situation this year? For example, Courtney Williams led the Atlanta Dream in every major statistical category last year but is now joining a very deep squad in the Connecticut Sun.</strong></p><p>It almost has to be on a case-by-case basis. One difference that I'm seeing in preparing for fantasy women's basketball versus fantasy men's basketball is that there's much more turnover among the elite players in fantasy women's basketball as far as going to new team situations. A lot of the best players are playing overseas, so as I was going through and doing team previews, I had to make note of this player is going to be late getting to camp because her season in France is continuing into the [WNBA] season.</p><p>There are just a lot of variables. Even the number of games — last season it was 32 games, this season is 36. Mix that with the player turnover, it is a little more difficult to project individual player numbers in fantasy women's basketball than it traditionally has been in fantasy men's.</p><p><strong>How do you approach drafting players who may not be available for the duration of the season, whether they're playing overseas or dealing with injuries?</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="Elena Delle Donne." height="1666" width="2222" msid="91377736" hostid="261"></div><p>That actually comes down to a specific manager's strategy. The question is risk versus reward. Do you swing for the fences? Maybe you start off with Elena Delle Donne and [Breanna Stewart], if you can get 'em. If they're healthy, then you probably just won your league. But if they're not healthy, then you're gonna be scrambling trying to catch up. And so that becomes how much of a risk-taker you are. Maybe it also matters where you're drafting.</p><p>So if you've got the No. 1 overall pick, or a top two or three pick, maybe you can be a little more conservative. You can go with Jonquel Jones as your No. 1 overall, and feel good that you've got a stable foundation piece. But if you're picking six and of a six-team league and you've got those two consecutive picks [No. 6 and No. 7], maybe you take the chance and say, "Okay, if I take [Stewart] and Elena, I could arguably have a better producer than the team to pick No. 1 overall that doesn't pick again until 12." <br /><br />That becomes part of the strategy and the risk-reward. And if you take more chances early, then maybe you have to be a bit more conservative with your later picks and grab a bunch of players that you know will be available who can then limit your floor, so to speak. Whereas maybe the reverse is true. If you start off and your first two picks are rock solid, then you can swing for the fences in the third and fourth rounds, knowing that those can be clears that put you over the top but won't necessarily sink your season if they do have injuries. </p><p><strong>What's your philosophy on drafting rookies?</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="The Atlanta Dream selected Rhyne Howard with the first overall pick of the 2022 WNBA Draft." height="1878" width="2500" msid="91377739" hostid="261"></div><p>You have to look at the type of player. Are they a player that's gonna produce box score stats or a player that's going to be valuable to a team without necessarily putting up heavy stats? And then you also have to look at what their opportunity level looks like. Are they gonna come in and be a heavy volume player right off the bat? Whereas a rookie coming in on [a deeper team] may have to be the seventh player off the bench. This season, as far as rookies, I'm looking at [Rhyne] Howard and Shakira Austin. </p><p><strong>What else should fantasy managers keep in mind?</strong></p><p>The draft is often one of the most fun events of the year, and it's also one of the bigger events, as far as importance to your team, but it doesn't end there. The teams that are most successful often are the teams whose managers pay the most attention. They keep up with who's playing well and who's not. They will go to the free agency wire and pick up the hot player before everyone else. With WNBA fantasy being such a new league, I think that those who are willing to just really dig in will be the people that win these first few leagues. <br /><br />But I think the most important thing is to have fun with it. Use this as a tool. I grew up watching NBA basketball, so it was always part of my life, but I also grew up watching women's basketball. The same way I remember watching Dr. J dunk when I was a kid, I remember Cheryl Miller giving folks the business at USC.</p><div type="image" title="Diana Taurasi high-fives fans after her Phoenix Mercury's victory in Game 2 of the 2021 WNBA Finals." height="1666" width="2222" msid="91377741" hostid="261"></div> <br /><br />I got into fantasy men's basketball around the turn of the century 20 years ago. And even though I'd always been an NBA fan, once I got into fantasy, I started looking at the game in a whole different way because I was spending so much time watching it and analyzing it, trying to get my fantasy team right. And so I am really excited to go through a similar process with the WNBA and fantasy women's basketball. The people that are able to just get into it that way are going to be the ones whose teams win and hopefully the ones that get the most out of this experience.<p><strong>Do you suspect that ESPN fantasy women's basketball has the potential to help draw new fans to the WNBA?</strong></p><p>I hope it's hugely important because one thing we know about fans across sports is that people who play fantasy sports are more likely to watch games. They're going to watch more games, and not just their home teams, they're gonna watch all the games because every game has an impact on their fantasy teams. Even if the game's a blowout, somebody is gonna be putting up numbers that are gonna affect fantasy rosters. <br /><br />I'm hoping that people who were already into the WNBA will enjoy it in a different way and the people that may not pay as much attention to WNBA but like fantasy sports use this as a vehicle to really dig in and start loving and enjoying all the stories. I guess time will tell how it works out, but I feel like it can't be anything but a positive. </p>

You Searched For "rhyne howard" and got 9 results

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March Madness is approaching - Here are the 15 biggest names to look out for in the 2020 women's NCAA tournament

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Megan Rapinoe is 'trying to start some drama' in one of the fiercest budding rivalries in the NCAA tournament

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