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<p><span style="font-weight: 400">The Connecticut Sun&#8217;s retooling</span><span style="font-weight: 400"> roster will be noteworthy to track as free agency continues to unfold, but the revamp and reconstruction of its staff has gone under the radar. Sun President Jenn Rizzotti, a former W player herself, has noticeably prioritized players&#8217; requests for more former players on the bench and staff.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Hiring Stephanie White as Head Coach and a former player was intentional to a degree, as Rizzotti puts it. As soon as she knew White was available, she made the call.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">“Jenn told me how important it was for the players to have former players on staff. And I got that. They wanted to know that we (coaches) have been in their shoes and their situation,” says White.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">White understands the grind of the W. She can appreciate the nuances of the league and the perspectives of players, as she played for the Charlotte Sting and Indiana Fever over a five-year professional career from 1999-2004.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">She coached the Indiana Fever to a Finals appearance in 2015, her first year as a head coach, after a decade of collegiate and professional assistant stops, including becoming the first former W player to work as an assistant coach for the Fever.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">White returned to the collegiate ranks as the Head Coach at Vanderbilt and continued her broadcasting career with ESPN. But, as much as she appreciates the college game, she missed the W.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Time off from coaching since she and Vanderbilt parted ways in 2021 was a necessary refresh.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">“You get so focused in the micro and get tunnel vision at times as a coach,” says White.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Solely broadcasting allowed her to view the bigger picture, expand into the macro, and appreciate the nuance of what players and teams do well. There was less emphasis on the constant growth and improvement on the margins and more appreciation of what makes the game enjoyable.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">It also made her miss coaching. She loves the practices and feels most at home in the gym. White didn’t know she wanted a career in coaching until she stepped onto a practice court as a coach for the very first time.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">“When Jenn first reached out, I was so excited about the opportunity… There’s a window of opportunity right now with the roster and the players we have, and I’m looking forward to that challenge,” says White.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">“It’s important for someone like me, who’s further removed from my playing days, to have younger coaches who can be a conduit and a buffer. It’s important to have former players who are mature enough to handle that in the coaching role but also understand how to communicate with both sides.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">That made some of White’s hires simple.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Briann January and Abi Olajuwon both played for White, January with the Fever, and Olajuwon with the Chicago Sky when White was an assistant. White also brought Olajuwon to the Fever’s training camp roster when she was Head Coach. </span><span style="font-weight: 400">White had remained in consistent contact with Olajuwon and January even when she wasn’t coaching them or coaching in the W at all.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">White had even tried to bring January onto staff at Vanderbilt while January was still in the league.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">January spent two seasons as an assistant at Arizona State, her alma mater, and found her love for coaching before she was even done playing. Ask anyone around the W who knows January, and her addition to a coaching staff just months after retiring as a player comes as no surprise.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">As a former player for the Sun herself, January had a conversation with Rizzotti after she made the decision to move on in 2021.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">“I hope this is a temporary thank you and goodbye,” said Rizzotti to January, &#8220;b</span><span style="font-weight: 400">ecause I’d really like to have you back as a coach one day.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Rizzotti came calling this fall and made good on her word.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">“We kind of spoke it into existence,” laughs January. </span><span style="font-weight: 400">“I couldn’t ask for a better position to start my professional coaching career.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">January told Rizzotti straight up during that call in 2021 that she’d love to be back and ‘on her side again.’</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Coming into the year with the added benefit of having played alongside this core group for two seasons, January serves as that sort of bridge between the roster and coaching staff. She has a special connection that few can hope to replicate.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">“I feel I have an advantage in knowing what motivates them, how to make them their best selves and perform at their highest level,” says January.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">January sees herself as a future Head Coach in the W and is eager to learn and grow in every facet as a coach. Her preparation as an athlete was unparalleled, as Rizzotti details, and multiple members of the staff echo that they already see that from January in staff meetings.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">In speaking with January, it’s clear how her attention to detail which made her one of the great defenders of the last decade will mold her into one of the most promising coaching prospects. She pores over wanting to learn the Collective Bargaining Agreement inside out, asking questions about how each member of the front office does their job and understanding each player’s process.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Ushering in the next wave of former players into the ranks of coaching staffs and front offices is as important to the Sun as furthering synergy with the current roster. It’s all about balance and ‘pulling up’ players and new coaches from within.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">“Mentorship’s just important (to White) as getting over the championship hump,” says Olajuwon.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Olajuwon has spent her last decade since retiring as a player getting into the collegiate coaching ranks, most recently with Texas Christian. Much like White, she also never expected to get into coaching but fell in love with the mentorship aspect. She found a further appreciation for her former coaches once she took her first job, a position with Cal State Fullerton in 2014.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">She knows how hard it is to make it to the league and even more so how difficult it is to find staying power as one of 144.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">“Abi played three years behind one of the best to ever do it collegiately in Courtney Paris (at Oklahoma). Paris got drafted, and then Abi made an immediate impact as a senior and wound up getting drafted herself,” says White.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Her colleagues describe a hungry worker, someone with a deep desire to learn more and more about the game, and a fantastic communicator.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">“Anyone who is willing to put in the extra work and wants to be uncommon amongst the uncommon, I’m here for them,” says Olajuwon.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Across the board, the Sun are viewed as evolving. They have a competitive edge and window right now. They’re ready and excited to get to work.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">“We have a young staff that’s filled with unique experience and a wealth of knowledge,” says January.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Rizzotti wanted to emphasize the possibilities that are open to players once their careers are over. She started coaching collegiately in 1999 when she was still playing for the Houston Comets at a time when it was uncommon to hold a coaching job simultaneously, a path further trailblazed by Dawn Staley.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">This off-season has seen a wave of former W players re-enter the league in a non-playing capacity, and the Sun positioned themselves at the forefront.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">“There are a lot of great people and women in the WNBA,” says Sun Assistant General Manager Morgan Tuck.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">“Whether you come in as a coach, or player development, or on the front office side, it’s really appreciated that the league is buying into and seeing the value of players, not just as athletes.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Tuck, who formerly played from 2016-2019, retired prior to the 2021 season due to recurring knee injuries. That led to a position with the Sun a few months later, becoming the Director of Franchise Development and operating primarily on the business side.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">The transition out of playing and into post-professional life outside of being an athlete was difficult and overwhelming. Still, it was eased by working for an organization she’d already been a part of.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">“I was nervous; I’d never worked in an office: What does working hard look like? How do I improve at my job,” says Tuck reminiscing.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">After Darius Taylor’s hiring to be the new General Manager of the Sun, Tuck received a promotion to Assistant GM alongside her Franchise Development tag. Growing up, she loved the idea of being a GM. Watching the Miami Heat assemble and seeing Pat Riley at press conferences introducing the Heatles, Tuck thought that was the coolest possible job outside of playing.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">She’s still learning on the fly as one of the younger execs in the league (Tuck won’t turn 29 until just before the season at the end of April), but she’s eager to keep growing in the job.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Tuck has known Taylor for nearly a decade, as he recruited her while he was an assistant coach under Dawn Staley at South Carolina. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">She’s already learned a great deal from Rizzotti over the past year, who helped out on the basketball side quite a bit last year as the Sun didn’t have an Assistant GM on staff.  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">While this is a young staff, they have deep roots in basketball and in one another.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Using the momentum of last year, Connecticut has built a staff to be excited about immediately and for their future growth and development. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Spurred on by a new wave of former players in all facets of the organization, the Sun is not seeking to ‘reinvent the wheel’ but to add some tweaks along the way as they broaden their horizons off of their strong foundation.</span></p>
<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">WNBA reporter Mark Schindler writes a column on </span></em><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="http://wnba.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">WNBA.com</span></em></a><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/mg_schindler">@MG_Schindler</a>. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.</span></em></p>


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The Connecticut Sun Infrastructure: All in the Family

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<p>What if I told you that the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year, WNBA Finals MVP, and an overall eight former All-Stars would be playing across the pond this week? It&#8217;s all happening in EuroLeague as Week 12 games commence, when four of the five highest-ranked teams in the league are set to face off in a pair of star-studded battles. With all of the EuroLeague action available to watch live via the<i data-stringify-type="italic"> </i><i data-stringify-type="italic"><a class="c-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/@EuroLeagueWomen/streams" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://www.youtube.com/@EuroLeagueWomen/streams" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">EuroLeague Women&#8217;s Youtube Channel</a></i>, let&#8217;s prep for the action prior to viewing this upcoming slate.</p>
<h3>CBK Mersin Yenisehir Bld (7-4) vs. Beretta Famila Schio (8-3)</h3>
<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">When:</span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> 11 am EST Tuesday, January 31</span></p>
<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Notable Players: (Mersin)</span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> Chelsea Gray, Tiffany Hayes, DeWanna Bonner, Elizabeth Williams. </span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">(Schio) </span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Rhyne Howard, Marina Mabrey, Astou Ndour-Fall, Amanda Zahui B.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">These two clubs last faced off in early December, a game Italy’s Schio won 76–72 against CBK Mersin Yenisehir Bld, the Turkish league’s No. 1 team. It&#8217;s worth noting that Jonquel Jones and Briann January, who both played in that game, are no longer with Mersin; January has retired (farewell and congrats on a great career!), and Jones is back in the United States. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Much of Schio&#8217;s offense stems from Marina Mabrey&#8217;s pick-and-roll play and Rhyne Howard&#8217;s exploits as an off-ball mover. Their tandem shooting prowess from anywhere on the court makes Schio a challenging foe for any team on any given day.</span></p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Mabrey to Howard (Schio 2022-23)" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/az14YzGv5Xk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Over their last five games:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Mabrey is averaging 19.2 ppg with 3.8 assists while canning 47.1% of her nearly seven triples per game. She&#8217;s been on fire of late.</span></li>
<li><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Howard is averaging 16.2 ppg and 2.8 assists, shooting 40.5% from deep on 7.4 attempts from three per game. After a cold shooting starts to her season with Schio, Howard has found her rhythm.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Mersin has won five of their last six in Euro play since they lost to Schio. A Mersin win would even the clubs in the EuroLeague Group B standings, while what happens in the matchup between top-seeded Sopron (tied with Schio) and Avenida could create further waves in the upper echelon of the standings if Sopron were to lose.</span></p>
<h3><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">ZVVZ USK Praha (8-3) vs. Fenerbahçe Alagoz Holding (9-2)</span></strong></h3>
<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">When: </span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">1 pm EST Tuesday, January 31</span></p>
<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Notable Players: (Praha) </span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Brionna Jones, Alyssa Thomas, Temi Fagbenle, Maria Conde. </span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">(Fenerbahçe) </span></strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Breanna Stewart, Emma Meesseman, Satou Sabally, Kayla McBride, Alina Iagupova, Kiah Stokes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">The clubs played one another for the first time on December 7, an 82–72 win for Turkey’s Fenerbahçe. Natasha Howard came up big, with 16 points, six boards, and a block; Howard is no longer with the team, having come back to the United States, but oh hey, Fenerbahçe is slotting in Breanna Stewart at the four now!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Upgrading from an All-Star to an MVP candidate mid-season is ridiculous. In four games with the Turkish club, Stewart averages 20 points per game, 9.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 3.8 combined steals and blocks on the efficient play.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">With the Dallas Wings slated to potentially play a starting frontcourt of Teaira McCowan and Natasha Howard at the five and four, respectively, keep a close eye on Satou Sabally in this game. Playing against a WNBA starting pair in Thomas and Jones for the Czech club, watching and evaluating Sabally at the three will be interesting, where she is likely to slot in for the Wings this coming season.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">She&#8217;s been boiling from three of late, unsustainably so, but her volume (nearly five per game) is at a career mark, and that trend will be increasingly important when the W season comes around. Especially considering that Sabally didn&#8217;t play in the first matchup with Praha, it&#8217;ll be fun to see how they choose to defend her and Fenerbahçe&#8217;s array of talent when their star-studded frontcourt all share the floor.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">I&#8217;d be remiss if I didn&#8217;t mention Alina Iagupova. If you&#8217;ve never watched her play before or followed international basketball, you&#8217;re in for a treat.</span></p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Alina Iagupova 2022-23 EuroLeague PnR" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jl-sY8JM5Vg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Her change of pace is elite. She&#8217;s incredibly dynamic as a ball screen creator and unlocks a great deal of the scoring for this team with her gravity. Iagupova&#8217;s connection with McBride is a blast to watch as she has a knack for finding McBride as she weaves in and around screens to create openings.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">With a win here, Fenerbahçe likely seals their place as the top seed out of Group A in the EuroLeague, but with a loss to Praha, they&#8217;ll be even in the standings coming out of this week, which opens up more possibilities in the remaining weeks of play.</span></p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400">Play Gaming Society’s</span></i><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://gs.predictionsgame.com/account__;!!PMETyfE!Knb8ScF6sRDNrFOoq10Ba5lmFqZ3SPDIX860ioGZEGIK-jTMc6FMkjg4eMxQlHBVHNntD4XWMQqnwvoJUFU$"> <i><span style="font-weight: 400">free EuroLeague prediction game</span></i></a><i><span style="font-weight: 400"> for an immersive fan experience. Make a prediction on Tuesday’s Euroleague slate before 11 am ET for a chance to win an all-inclusive trip to the AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star in Las Vegas!</span></i></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400"> </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400">WNBA reporter Mark Schindler writes a column on </span></i><a href="http://wnba.com/"><i><span style="font-weight: 400">WNBA.com</span></i></a><i><span style="font-weight: 400"> throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at </span></i><a href="https://twitter.com/mg_schindler"><i><span style="font-weight: 400">@MG_Schindler</span></i></a><i><span style="font-weight: 400">. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.</span></i></p>


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EuroLeague Play: Analyzing the W’s Pivotal Presence in Action

<p>In 12 Cities presented by Google, we dive deeper into each city representing a franchise in the W. This episode highlights <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bjan_20/?hl=en">Briann January&#8217;s</a> time in Seattle, what makes the franchise excel, &amp; shows love to their supportive fans. #TheresMoreToTheGame; paid partnership with Google</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


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12 Cities Presented by Google: The Seattle Storm

<p>Breanna Stewart scores 33 points and Jewell Loyd adds 17 as the Storm take care of the Lynx at home.</p>


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Game Recap: Storm 89, Lynx 77

<p>Briann January speaks after scoring the 1,000th field goal of her career in a win over the Lynx.</p>


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Briann January: 'The game means everything to me'

<p>Breanna Stewart finished with 23 points for Seattle as the Storm defeated the Sparks 106-69.</p>


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Game Recap: Storm 106, Sparks 69

<p>Check out the top plays from across the WNBA.</p>


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Sunday's Top Plays

<p>Check out the top plays of the week!</p>


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Top Plays of the Week

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<p>The WNBA’s 2022 free agency period has almost wrapped and teams are surveying their rosters with just two and a half months to go until the start of the season. Let’s review the big moves so far that have defined what has become such a pivotal time in the WNBA schedule.</p>
<p>* Represents current Free Agents (Unrestricted, Free, and Reserved)</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-150470 size-large" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/02/GettyImages-1342163952-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" /></p>
<h3>Atlanta</h3>
<h4>Additions:</h4>
<p>Kia Vaughn, Erica Wheeler, Nia Coffey</p>
<h4>Subtractions:</h4>
<p>Chennedy Carter, *Odyssey Sims, Elizabeth Williams, *Shekinna Stricklen</p>
<h4>Summing it up:</h4>
<p>The free agency period lacked a home-run swing from the Dream. Still, new Head Coach Tanisha Wright has something of a blank slate to work with, with Tiffany Hayes, Monique Billings, Cheyenne Parker and Aari McDonald back and many new faces. Erica Wheeler is a strong pick-up in the backcourt in a trade with Los Angeles. The biggest question mark will be in the post, where the Dream will hope to pick up some depth through the draft.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-150472 size-large" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/02/GettyImages-1226490391-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" /></p>
<h3>Chicago:</h3>
<h4>Additions:</h4>
<p>Emma Meesseman, Julia Allemand, Crystal Bradford, Kysre Gondrezick</p>
<p><strong>Subtractions:</strong></p>
<p>Stefanie Dolson, Diamond DeShields, *Lexie Brown</p>
<h4>Summing it up:</h4>
<p>It was not a quiet offseason for the defending champs, but we all knew it wouldn’t be. The Sky quickly went all-in to keep Kahleah Copper with the core designation and most recently brought back Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley. In between, they secured the 2019 Finals MVP Emma Meesseman, who sat out the 2021 season and will be a welcome offensive contributor. The Sky become the first team in league history to sign three WNBA Finals MVPs to their roster.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-150473 size-large" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/02/GettyImages-1235168173-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" /></p>
<h3>Connecticut:</h3>
<h4>Additions:</h4>
<h4>Courtney Williams</h4>
<h4>Subtractions:</h4>
<h4>Briann January</h4>
<h4>Summing it up:</h4>
<p>The Sun did not have a ton of room to maneuver and it&#8217;s probably fine with a roster that Curt Miller is already pretty happy with. Nailing down Jonquel Jones to a new two-year contract was the big move and they made it. After losing one veteran guard in Briann January, they nabbed another in Courtney Williams, who spent four seasons with the Sun before going to Atlanta two years ago, into the fold.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-150474 size-large" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/02/GettyImages-1235371199-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" /></p>
<h3>Dallas:</h3>
<h4>Additions:</h4>
<p>None</p>
<h4>Subtractions:</h4>
<p>Non</p>
<h4>Summing it up:</h4>
<p>The team with the least amount to do stood pat during free agency but re-signed star guard Arike Ogunbowale to a multi-year contract. They have a pair of top-six draft picks to focus as well.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-150475 size-large" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/02/GettyImages-1235809629-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" /></p>
<h3>Indiana:</h3>
<h4>Additions:</h4>
<p>Bria Hartley</p>
<h4>Subtractions:</h4>
<p>Julia Allemand, Kysre Gondrezick, *Jessica Breland</p>
<h4>Summing it up:</h4>
<p>For a franchise that needs to make some big moves in order to make a big move in the standings, unfortunately, the biggest move was the decision by Tamika Catchings to step down from the GM role. The Fever added veteran Bria Hartley and parted ways with first-round draft pick Kysre Gondrezick. The Fever will have to hope that the No. 2 pick in this draft &#8211; and three picks among the top 10 &#8211; can be a game-changing combination.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-150476 size-large" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/02/GettyImages-1235617251-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" /></p>
<h3>Las Vegas:</h3>
<h4>Additions:</h4>
<p>Kalani Brown</p>
<h4>Subtractions</h4>
<p>Liz Cambage, Angel McCoughtry, *Bria Holmes</p>
<h4>Summing it up:</h4>
<p>New Head Coach Becky Hammon will be a little lighter on veteran players and post depth after the departure of Liz Cambage and Angel McCoughtry. On the bright side, the Aces will be moving forward with a pretty nice core group of players after signing A’ja Wilson to a new two-year contract as the team’s centerpiece and re-signing Riquna Williams and Kiah Stokes.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-150477 size-large" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/02/GettyImages-1238716285-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="682" /></p>
<h3>Los Angeles:</h3>
<h4>Additions:</h4>
<p>Liz Cambage, Jordin Canada, Katie Lou Samuelson, Chennedy Carter</p>
<h4>Subtractions:</h4>
<p>Nia Coffey, Erica Wheeler, Gabby Williams</p>
<h4>Summing it up:</h4>
<p>It was a very busy free agency for the Sparks after missing the playoffs last fall. They ended up with a pair of potent young guards in Canada and Carter, a 3-point shooter in Katie Lou Samuelson (playing on her fourth WNBA team) and Liz Cambage, an elite player that should be a great complement to the Ogwumike sisters inside and boost Los Angeles’ offensive options immediately.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-150478 size-large" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/02/GettyImages-1237778850-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" /></p>
<h3>Minnesota:</h3>
<h4>Additions:</h4>
<p>Angel McCoughtry</p>
<h4>Subtractions:</h4>
<p>None</p>
<h4>Summing it up:</h4>
<p>Bringing back Sylvia Fowles for one final season to make another run at a title, and re-signing Layshia Clarendon, Bridget Carleton and Rachel Banham puts the Lynx in position for another playoff run. Napheesa Collier’s pregnancy and whether she will return this season is a question mark. As is how 35-year-old Angel McCoughtry will contribute after missing last season with a knee injury. But it looks like Cheryl Reeve has the roster she wants.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-150479 size-large" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/02/GettyImages-1235989938-1-1024x768.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="768" /></p>
<h3>New York:</h3>
<h4>Additions:</h4>
<p>Stefanie Dolson</p>
<h4>Subtractions:</h4>
<p>Jazmine Jones, Leaonna Odom, *Reshanda Gray</p>
<h4>Summing it up:</h4>
<p>New Head Coach Sandy Brondello bolstered her team’s post game with the addition of two-time All-Star and Olympic gold medalist Stefanie Dolson and the re-signing of Rebecca Allen allows Brondello to begin building a team in her image.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-150480 size-large" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/02/GettyImages-1235169353-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" /></p>
<h3>Phoenix:</h3>
<h4>Additions:</h4>
<p>Tina Charles, Diamond DeShields</p>
<h4>Subtractions:</h4>
<p>Bria Hartley, Kia Vaughan, Megan Walker</p>
<h4>Summing it up:</h4>
<p>The cupboard is full for first-time Head Coach Vanessa Nygaard with the acquisition of Tina Charles, who is motivated to get a championship, along with Diamond DeShields, who still looks like she is on the verge of her WNBA breakout. With the Big Three of Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, and Skylar Diggins-Smith and Sophie Cunningham, Shey Peddy, and Kia Nurse re-signed, the Mercury look poised for big things again.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-150481 size-large" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/02/GettyImages-1235365107-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" /></p>
<h3>Seattle:</h3>
<h4>Additions:</h4>
<p>Briann January, Gabby Williams</p>
<h4>Subtractions:</h4>
<p>Jordin Canada, Katie Lou Samuelson, Cierra Burdick</p>
<p>h4&gt;Summing it up:</p>
<p>The Storm re-signed all of their free agents, keeping Sue Bird, Jewell Loyd, Mercedes Russell and Breanna Stewart (even for just one more year) means that the Storm are prepared to contend yet again. Losing Jordin Canada meant getting a guard to shore up the backcourt and the Storm went with veteran Briann January (in her final WNBA season) and may get a big payoff from securing Gabby Williams in a trade with Los Angeles. Williams still has a big upside in the early years of her WNBA career.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-150482 size-large" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/02/GettyImages-1235168907-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" /></p>
<h3>Washington:</h3>
<h4>Additions:</h4>
<p>Elizabeth Williams, Tianna Hawkins</p>
<h4>Subtractions:</h4>
<p>Emma Meesseman, Tina Charles, *Shavonte Zellous, *Theresa Plaisance, *Leilani Mitchell</p>
<p>h4&gt;Summing it up:</p>
<p>Riding the optimism that Elena Delle Donne will be back and healthy this season, the Mystics brought back Myisha Hines-Allen and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and are also looking forward to getting Alysha Clark on the floor. Adding Elizabeth Williams and Tianna Hawkins brings depth inside. Along with them possessing the No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft.</p>
<hr />
<p><em>Longtime WNBA reporter Michelle Smith writes a weekly column on WNBA.com throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.</em></p>


inside-the-w-with-michelle-smith-free-agency-review

Inside the W with Michelle Smith: Free Agency Review

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<p><em>Seven-time All-Defensive Team guard to return home to the Pacific Northwest</em></p>
<p><strong>SEATTLE — </strong>The Seattle Storm announced today the signing of free agent guard <strong>Briann January</strong>, a 13-year WNBA veteran and native of Spokane. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.</p>
<p>“Briann is one of the best defensive players in our league and brings a physicality and competitiveness which will help us on both ends of the floor,” said <strong>Talisa Rhea</strong>, Storm General Manager. “Her veteran experience, leadership and well-rounded skill set will fit seamlessly within our roster. We are excited to welcome her back to the Northwest to help us compete for another WNBA Championship.”</p>
<p>A 13-year veteran of the WNBA, January is widely regarded as one of the league’s top defensive guards and earned her seventh WNBA All-Defensive team honor in 2021, earning first-team recognition for the fifth time. January has averaged 8.3 points, 3.5 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.8 rebounds per game over her career, spending nine years in Indiana, two in Phoenix and the last two in Connecticut.</p>
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<p>“I’m so excited to have the opportunity to come back to my home state for my final season in the W,” said January. “I’ve always admired the way the Storm operate both on and off the court. I can’t wait to get to work with this talented group of women and do my part in helping this team win another championship.”</p>
<p>January started all 29 games she appeared in with Connecticut in 2021, averaging 7.0 points and 3.1 assists. A 2012 WNBA Champion with Indiana, January was the No. 6 overall selection in the 2009 WNBA Draft by the Fever. She has appeared in the WNBA playoffs in 12 of her 13 years in league, contributing 10.2 points, 3.8 assists and 1.0 steals per game in 62 career postseason games.</p>
<p>“Briann is a proven leader with championship experience and will make an immediate impact on our culture with her competitiveness, grit, and tough mentality,” said <strong>Noelle Quinn</strong>, Storm Head Coach. “She has made her mark in this league as a tenacious defender, but also brings a proven efficiency on the offensive end.”</p>
<p>January was a standout basketball player at Spokane’s Lewis and Clark High School, earning first-team all-state honors while leading the Tigers to a 25-3 record and a trip to the WIAA State semifinals as a senior. She was also a star track and field athlete, winning the state title in the high jump in her junior year.</p>


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