We’re about a week and a half into the 2022 WNBA season, and while it is still early, we learned a lot from game action over the past week.

The 3-1 Las Vegas Aces are rolling offensively, leading the league in scoring at 91 points per game. The Washington Mystics handed the Aces their first loss of the season and have looked like a championship contender so far, even with Natasha Cloud missing the last two games due to COVID-19 protocol.

Rhyne Howard and the WNBA rookie class continue to put on a show, and the New York Liberty have a few areas of concern that need to be addressed. Here are my thoughts after the past week in the WNBA.

Making sense of the Minnesota Lynx

I wrote last week that it was far too early to hit the panic button on the Lynx. And despite the dramatic changes they’ve made to the roster and their 0-4 start to the season, I’m already starting to feel better about the direction of the team.

Last week, the Lynx agreed to a contract buyout with Angel McCoughtry and mutually parted ways with Odyssey Sims due to personal reasons. The next day, the Lynx signed guards Moriah Jefferson and Evina Westbrook to season-long deals. They also released the hardship contracts of Rennia Davis, Yvonne Turner and Nikolina Millic, only to announce that two of the three had re-signed the next day — a transactional process required when dealing with hardships. Minnesota wanted to part ways with Davis, and needed to release all three to make that possible.

Some saw the roster moves and predicted the Lynx might be tanking, but I don’t believe that’s the case for two reasons. One, every transaction the team made had something to do with a player’s injury or inability to perform at 100 percent. Two, it would be shocking for head coach and GM Cheryl Reeve to tank Sylvia Fowles’ last season. Minnesota still has a chance to be competitive this season, and while maybe not to this extent, the early-season challenges were expected based on the make-up of the current roster.

In need of reinforcements, the Lynx activated Kayla McBride on Monday after she returned late from her overseas season with Fenerbahce in Turkey, simultaneously releasing Turner from her hardship contract to make room. McBride is listed as available for Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Sparks. If Damiris Dantas gets healthy and Aerial Powers produces more consistently, the Lynx should be right back in the mix.

Based on their performance against the Chicago Sky on Saturday in an 82-78 loss, I am encouraged that things are looking up in Minnesota.

A generational talent?

Rhyne Howard scored a career-high 33 points in the Dream’s win over the Indiana Fever on Sunday, the most of any WNBA player so far this season. Her performance included 17 of Atlanta’s 21 first-quarter points. The rookie is now fourth in the league in scoring, averaging 20.8 points per game for the 3-1 Dream.

Below is Howard’s shot chart from the first quarter of Sunday’s game:

Howard’s offensive skill set and scoring ability are undeniable. It’s how quickly and seamlessly her game has translated to the WNBA that is most impressive. Howard has not skipped a beat from her career at Kentucky, playing with a level of confidence that is putting her in elite historical company and making the Dream the talk of the season so far.

In the example shown below from the game against the Fever, the Dream are set up in a 1-4 high, dump-down look. The team can take a number of different approaches out of this action, but what makes the play so effective is the Dream’s ability to sell their fakes.

When Erica Wheeler dumps the ball down to Cheyenne Parker, she cuts down to the opposite short corner. Nia Coffey turns and appears to want to pin down for Wheeler, but she instead pins Howard’s mark. Howard does a great job of timing this up, waiting for her defender to hesitate briefly as the help on Wheeler. That short pause and screening action provide just enough space for Howard to get her shot off.

RHYN3️⃣ HOWARD🔥 pic.twitter.com/Il5M9i0kA6

— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) May 15, 2022

In the clip below, we see the Dream exposing Indiana’s scramble defense and sharing the basketball with an extra pass.

The Fever miscommunicated on how to play the high-ball screen, which forced them to scramble — or X out — to defend the shooters. Kristy Wallace had a good look at the basket, but she decided to swing it once more to a wide-open Howard in the corner. This is a great example of passing up a good shot for an even better one.

17 points in the first quarter for the #1 draft pick @howard_rhyne 😲 Are you not amazed? pic.twitter.com/xuWYl8WPwO

— WNBA (@WNBA) May 15, 2022

What’s up with the …

New York Liberty

The Liberty played four games in nine days, dropping the last three after winning their season opener against the Connecticut Sun. With a new, high-profile coach and top talent, expectations for the 1-3 Liberty are higher than they’ve been in years, but this week reminded us that the team is still a work in progress. Two of their most glaring areas of concern early on have been rebounding and scoring.

The Liberty are currently last in the league on the boards, pulling down just 28.9 rebounds per game and getting out-rebounded by their opponents in every game so far. In no game was this more evident than in their 92-85 overtime loss to the Indiana Fever on Friday, when they were manhandled on the glass, 57-33, and allowed 17 second-chance points. Those were extra possessions New York could not afford to give up in such a close game.

The Liberty are also averaging a league-worst 72 points per game. Their offensive struggles were on full display in an 83-50 loss to the Sky last week. New York shot just 33 percent from the floor and 13 percent from the 3-point line, with Han Xu the only Liberty player to reach double figures that night.

In their overtime loss to the Fever, the Liberty had three players in double figures, but their third-leading scorer, Natasha Howard, went just 1-for-15 from the floor. Those are rough numbers for anyone, let alone your starting post player in such a close contest. New York has to find a way to get more consistent production from its offense, starting with trips to the free-throw line and second-chance opportunities.

Howard did bounce back with an efficient 14-point performance in a loss to the Wings on Sunday. Betnijah Laney has also looked a lot more comfortable offensively in the Liberty’s last two games. Sabrina Ionescu leads the team in scoring with 18.8 points per game, and the anticipated return of Rebecca Allen will give this team a veteran leader and poised outside shooter.

Another bright spot for New York has been the impressive play of Han Xu. In 12 minutes per game across two games, the 6-foot-10 center is averaging 10 points, good for fourth on the team. Her 64 percent field-goal percentage currently leads the team, and she’s also 2-for-3 from beyond the arc. While the 22-year-old continues to adjust to the physicality of the WNBA, her instincts, mobility and efficiency bode well for the Liberty as they look for answers on offense.

In the following clip from Sunday’s game, Han catches Wings center Teaira McCowan dropping a little too low in help and takes advantage of her height and quick release. Han does not need a lot of space for her shot because she can create it with her length. WNBA teams will certainly be adding this to their scouting reports on her moving forward.

6'10, Han Xu from the three-point line? Why not! 👏 pic.twitter.com/ASOzemmzpS

— WNBA (@WNBA) May 15, 2022

Week 2 Power Rankings

1. Washington Mystics (3-1)
2. Las Vegas Aces (3-1)
3. Chicago Sky (2-1)
4. Connecticut Sun (1-1)
5. Atlanta Dream (3-1)
6. Phoenix Mercury (2-1)
7. Dallas Wings (2-1)
8. Los Angeles Sparks (2-2)
9. Seattle Storm (1-3)
10. Indiana Fever (2-3)
11. New York Liberty (1-3)
12. Minnesota Lynx (0-4)

Rachel Galligan is a basketball analyst at Just Women’s Sports. A former professional basketball player and collegiate coach, she also contributes to Winsidr. Follow Rachel on Twitter @RachGall.

Rose Lavelle is hoping to return to the field soon. 

The 28-year-old midfielder has been sidelined with a lower leg injury since the Gold Cup in early march. Since then, she has yet to play for new club Gotham FC in the NWSL. She also missed a potential USWNT appearance at the SheBelieves Cup in April, where senior team newcomer Jaedyn Shaw saw success assuming Lavelle's role in the attacking midfield. 

At the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee media showcase on Monday, Lavelle told reporters that she’s doing well and hopes to be back soon.

"I’m doing good — I’m hoping I’ll be back in the next couple weeks," Lavelle said. "It’s frustrating to start the year off with an injury, just because I feel like you come off preseason and you’re revving to go, so it’s so annoying."

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Lavelle is still looking to compete for one of just 18 Olympic roster spots. When healthy, she ranks as one of the national team’s most trusted assets, but considering this most recent injury, her health is an obvious concern. Faced with an onslaught of experienced competitors and young talent, incoming USWNT coach Emma Hayes will have some big decisions to make when selecting the Paris-bound squad — a reality Lavelle seems to be taking in stride as she works to regain full fitness.

"We have so many special players, we have so much depth, and so many different weapons to utilize on and off the bench," Lavelle said. "Unfortunately that means really good players are going to get left off, too. And I think for all of us, it’s just about being ready for whatever role is given to us, embracing that, and looking to put it into a collective picture so that we can go into the Olympics ready to go."

Stanford has found its replacement for legendary head women's basketball coach Tara VanDerveer in associate head coach Kate Paye.

The Cardinal confirmed the hiring on Tuesday via a press release. Paye was largely expected to replace the longtime head coach, as the college mentioned they were still negotiating Paye's contract when they announced VanDerveer's retirement.

In Tuesday's statement, Paye reported that she was "humbled" to have been tapped to lead the women’s program.

"Stanford University has been a central part of my life for as long as I can remember and I am humbled to have the opportunity to lead its women’s basketball program," Paye said. "I’d first like to thank Tara, who has played such a pivotal role in my career for her friendship and guidance. It’s not what she’s done, but how she’s done it, that has had such a profound impact upon me."

A Woodside, California native, Paye played under VanDerveer from 1992 to 1995, taking home a national title her freshman year. After graduation, Paye briefly joined San Diego State as an assistant coach before making her professional debut with the ABL's Seattle Reign in 1996. After finishing her playing career with the WNBA's Seattle Storm, she joined the team’s coaching staff in 2007 and has been with the organization ever since, picking up another national title win — this time as associate head coach — in 2021. Paye's brother John played quarterback for Stanford from 1983 to 1986, while also serving as a point guard on the basketball team.

In her own response, VanDerveer said that she was "grateful" that Stanford picked Paye to follow in her stead. Last week, the decorated coach stated that this year would be her last after 38 seasons at the helm and three national titles under her belt.

"She has long been ready for this opportunity and is the perfect leader for Stanford at this time of immense change in college athletics," VanDerveer noted. "Kate was the choice for this job and I am confident she will achieve great success as head coach."

The 2024 WNBA Draft has officially concluded, leaving the newly minted rookie class facing a tough road ahead.

Only 144 roster slots are available throughout the league’s 12 teams, the reason why the players are sometimes referred to as the “144.” And Monday’s draft picks are set to join a large group of established players competing for those same roster spots, from seasoned veterans to young athletes determined to prove their value on the court.

Last year, just 15 of the league’s 36 draftees made it onto their drafting team's opening-day squad.

In reality, there are oftentimes fewer than 144 spots available, as not every team maxes out their roster. Per the league's CBA, each team roster must maintain a minimum standard of 11 players, but those lists can include players out with injuries or on other forms of leave. Players can also be assigned to short-term hardship contracts, something waived players must be prepared for at any point during the season.

Earlier this week, Laeticia Amihere — a 2022 national champion with South Carolina who currently plays for the Atlanta Dream — took to TikTok to provide some insight into the WNBA training camp process. 

"You can either get drafted on Draft Night, or you can get signed by a team," she said. "Once that happens, you go to training camp literally like two weeks later... Basically everybody's got to try out. There's 12 roster spots, and there's like 18 people at the at the trial."

@laeticiaamihere Replying to @dantavius.washington #wnba #draft ♬ original sound - Laeticia Amihere

Amihere also had an important point to make: Getting cut does not signify a player’s abilities. 

"If you get cut after training camp, that does not mean you're not good," she said. "That does not mean that player sucks, don't stop supporting that player. Literally, there's so many reasons somebody can get cut."

"If you guys look at the best players in the league, most of them have bounced around teams," she added. "And I promise you it is not a bad thing, it's just how the league is."

Things, however gradually, are changing. With Golden State's WNBA team scheduled to launch in time for the 2025 season, league expansion is just around the corner. On Monday, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced that the league is aiming to grow to 16 teams by 2028. But by then, it might be too little too late for the generation of talent emerging from an increasingly competitive NCAA system.

Monday night’s WNBA draft added to the nationwide uptick in record-breaking women's sports viewership, pulling in 2.45 million viewers throughout the nearly two-hour broadcast and peaking at 3.09 million, according to an ESPN release. 

That number shatters the previous draft viewership record — 601,000 in 2004 — which was fueled primarily by then-No. 1 pick Diana Taurasi entering the league after UConn's historic three-peat March Madness performance.  

The 2023 WNBA draft drew 572,000 viewers, the most for any televised WNBA event since 2.74 million tuned in to NBC for a Memorial Day matchup between the New York Liberty and Houston Comets back in 2000.

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While many came to watch Caitlin Clark get drafted No. 1 overall, it’s important to note that viewership didn’t take a massive dip after the superstar shooter left the stage. The numbers show that a bulk of the audience stuck around to watch the remainder of the show, making 2024's event not just the most-viewed WNBA draft in history, but also the most-viewed WNBA program to ever air on ESPN platforms.

Draft Day's popularity is yet another sign indicating an expected rise in WNBA regular season viewership. Clark and Iowa's NCAA tournament showdown with the Chicago Sky-bound Kamilla Cardoso's South Carolina side drew a record 18.7 million to ABC's Sunday afternoon broadcast. Banking on this trend, 36 of Indiana's upcoming 40 games are set to be shown on national television. In-person ticket sales are also soaring, leading the defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces to re-home their matchup with the Fever to a venue that can accommodate some 6,000 more fans.