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sports Tuesday 12 april 2022
Dream move up in WNBA draft, now poised to make No. 1 pick

NEW YORK (AP) — The At- we're a veteran team," said
lanta Dream traded up two Thibault, also the Mystics
spots to get the No. 1 pick GM. "So whoever we draft
in the WNBA draft so they is not going to be expected
could get the player they to play 25 to 30 minutes."
feel can help turn around Some other things to know
the franchise, which has about the three-round
struggled the last few sea- draft:
sons. TRADING NO. 1
The leading candidates are This is the second year in
Rhyne Howard from Ken- a row that the No. 1 pick
tucky and NaLyssa Smith has been traded before
of Baylor. And on Monday the draft. Last year, New
night, players, families and York traded it to the Seat-
friends will attend the draft tle Storm, who then dealt it
in person for the first time to the Dallas Wings. Dallas
since 2019. selected Charli Collier first
"Rhyne is a pro. She's a overall in 2021. With play-
game changer. She's an ers who could potentially
elite talent," ESPN analyst change the course of fran-
LaChina Robinson said. chise looming in upcoming
"When you look at all the drafts — starting with Ali-
different things she can do yah Boston of South Caro-
on the basketball court, she lina next season and Paige
can score it from 3, she has Bueckers and Caitlyn Clark
a pull-up game, she can the year after — odds are
get to the rim. There really the top pick won't change
just isn't anything else from hands next year.
a scoring standpoint that MAKING A SQUAD
you could ask for." It's incredibly difficult for
Atlanta finished 8-24 last draftees to make a WNBA
season and has missed the roster with only potentially
playoffs four of the past five 144 spots available on the
seasons. The franchise got Kentucky's Rhyne Howard (10) is guarded by LSU's Khayla Pointer (3) in the second half of an 12 teams. It's usually fewer,
new ownership last year, NCAA college basketball game at the women's Southeastern Conference tournament Friday, though, because of salary
brought in a new coach in March 4, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. cap issues and because
Tanisha Wright and have a Associated Press some teams only carry 11
new general manager in players. Less than half of
Dan Padover. and also embraces the city chise. Dunn has four picks third pick from the Dream last year's 36 draft picks are
The Dream had the No. 1 of Atlanta." (2, 4, 6, 10) in the first round and coach Mike Thibault currently on WNBA rosters.
pick in 2009 and used it to Whoever the Dream don't to build a roster around. is comfortable that he'll be RECORD-SETTING WOLVER-
draft Angel McCoughtry. take first between How- "In our particular situation, able to add a good player INE
"We're in a rebuild right ard and Smith will likely be we need a lot," Dunn said. to an already strong team. Naz Hillmon had a historic
now, and we're also look- drafted second by Indi- "We need help inside. We "We're a little bit different career at Michigan lead-
ing to add pieces that can ana. The Fever haven't had need help outside. It's a than the other two teams in ing the Wolverines to the
be with us for a long time," a great draft history the little bit easier for us to pin- that we have some players Elite Eight for the first time
Padover said. "I think hav- last few seasons; none of point our needs because coming back to our team, in school history. The senior
ing the No. 1 pick in 2022, their first-round picks over they're glaring. But we are with Elena Delle Donne, forward could be the pro-
our hope is this person the past three seasons are essentially in that first round Alysha Clark, even Myisha gram's first player drafted
comes in with fresh ener- still on the roster. Indiana with 2, 4, 6 and 10 looking Hines-Allen, who missed a since Tabitha Pool was se-
gy and sparks something brought in Lin Dunn as the at the best player avail- good part of last year, that lected by the New York Lib-
underneath our franchise interim general manager able". coming in healthy. We're erty in the second round of
which we need right now, to bring stability to the fran- Washington received the a different kind of team, the 2005 draft.q

Commanders re-sign kicker Joey Slye to 2-year contract

By STEPHEN WHYNO tion of anonymity because offseason workouts and landed him on injured re- goal attempts and was 18
The Washington Com- terms of the contract were training camp this summer serve, Slye found a groove of 22 on extra points.
manders re-signed kicker not disclosed. competing for the job. with Washington. And it's After acquiring quarter-
Joey Slye on Monday, a The 26-year-old is one of Slye goes in as the favor- no coincidence he land- back Carson Wentz from
move designed to solidify two kickers on the roster ite after going a perfect ed there: Like many Com- the Indianapolis Colts,
a position that was in flux along with Brian Johnson, 12 of 12 on field goals and manders players, Slye has Washington has so far
much of last season. who was signed when Slye making nine of 10 extra a Carolina connection to spent the offseason mostly
Slye signed a two-year was sidelined by a ham- points with Washington coach Ron Rivera after bringing back players rath-
deal that could be worth string injury. Slye and John- last season in his third stop making his NFL debut with er than adding free agents
up to $5 million with $2 son were the third and of a tour around the NFL. the Panthers in 2019. from the outside. Guard
million guaranteed, ac- fourth kickers Washington He previously bounced Slye who played high Andrew Norwell and de-
cording to a person with used last season after go- around from Houston to school football in Virginia, fensive end Efe Obada
knowledge of the move. ing through Dustin Hopkins San Francisco. is going into his fourth pro are the only external free
The person spoke to The and Chris Blewitt. Despite missing four weeks season. In total last season, agents the Commanders
Associated Press on condi- They now figure to go into with a hamstring injury that Slye made 23 of 25 field have signed.q