The WNBA welcomed 36 more players to the ranks on Monday night with the 2022 draft headlined by No. 1 overall pick Rhyne Howard to the Atlanta Dream. The league is taking the handoff from the NCAA tournament, which ended eight days ago, and will tip off its 26th season on May 6.
One of the biggest wins of the night was hearing more on Phoenix Mercury star and Team USA gold medalist Brittney Griner, who remains jailed in Russia since mid-February. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert began her press conference with the media by addressing Griner's situation and saying the league is working to bring her home but everyone "needs to be patient.