The Sportsletter - Dreams Come True

BY JEFF YODER

APR. 12, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

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Good Morning,

On the NBA’s off-night prior to the playoffs, the WNBA took center stage from New York for the first in-person draft since 2019. We also take advantage of the basketball-free night to peek at the NHL playoff races down the stretch. It’s one-and-done tonight in the NBA playoffs, and we’ll pick up steam as the week rolls on.

Letter Rip!

WNBA DRAFT

Dreams Come True

Photo: Andy Lyons / Getty Images

Atlanta Dream Select Rhyne Howard (Kentucky) With No. 1 Overall Pick

The 2022 WNBA Draft took place Monday night in New York. It was the first time since 2019 that the draft was held in person due to COVID-19, and the show was full of fireworks. The Atlanta Dream swung a trade with the Washington Mystics for the No. 1 overall pick to take the scoring threat of this year’s class — Rhyne Howard. Howard averaged over 20 points per game in four seasons at Kentucky. Meanwhile, the Indiana Fever made the most of the night with four first-round picks. Dreams came true on Monday night. Here’s who went where: 

WNBA Draft (1st Round)

1. Dream: G Rhyne Howard (Kentucky)

2. Fever: PF NaLyssa Smith (Baylor)

3. Mystics: C Shakira Austin (Ole Miss)

4. Fever: PF Emily Engster (Louisville)

5. Liberty: C Nyara Sabally (Oregon)

6. Fever: SG Lexie Hall (Stanford)

7. Wings: PG Veronica Burton (Northwestern)

8. Aces: SF Mya Hollingshed (Colorado)

9. Sparks: SF Rae Burrell (Tennessee)

10. Fever: C Queen Egbo (Baylor)

11. Aces: SG Kierstan Bell (Florida Gulf Coast)

12. Sun: SG Nia Clouden (Michigan State)

Full WNBA Draft Board

Editor’s Note: WNBA rules state that players must turn 22 years of age during the calendar year of the draft, meaning collegiate players like Paige Bueckers (UConn) and Aliyah Boston (South Carolina) will be selected in future years.

Additional Storylines

B/R: Twitter Reacts to Rhyne Howard Being Selected 1st by Atlanta Dream

ESPN: WNBA Draft Grades: Fever, Dream & Mystics Score Highest Marks

Yahoo! Sports: WNBA Draft Winners & Losers: Fashion, Mid-Majors Shine, ESPN Misses Historic Moment

NHL

The Final 10 Games

Photo: Codie McLachlan / Getty Images

NHL Playoff Picture With 10 Games Left in Regular Season

Before the NBA Playoffs commence tonight, we’re taking the opportunity to line up the NHL postseason picture. Ten games remain in the regular season and the divsional races are all but locked. The Eastern Conference picture looks crystal clear with eight teams head and shoulders above the rest, but the West will be a dogfight until the last day. Let’s peep the playoff picture and the individual races for the final three weeks.

NHL Playoff Picture

Metropolitan

1. Hurricanes (102 pts)

2. Rangers (100 pts)

3. Penguins (94 pts)

4. Capitals (90 pts)

In the Hunt: Islanders (75 pts), Blue Jackets (74 pts)

Atlantic

1. Panthers (108 pts)

2. Maple Leafs (100 pts)

3. Lightning (96 pts)

4. Bruins (95 pts)

In the Hunt: N/A

Central

1. Avalanche (110 pts)

2. Wild (94 pts)

3. Blues (94 pts)

4. Predators (87 pts)

In the Hunt: Stars (86 pts), Jets (81 pts)

Pacific

1. Flames (97 pts)

2. Oilers (90 pts)

3. Kings (86 pts)

4. Golden Knights (84 pts)

In the Hunt: Canucks (80 pts)

Individual League Leaders

Points: C. McDavid (EDM) — 108 pts

Goals: A. Matthews (TOR) — 58 goals

Assists: J. Huberdeau (FLA) — 77 assists

Additional Storylines

NHL: Ducks Eliminated From Playoffs for 4th Straight Season

SportsNet: Jets Down Canadiens to Continue ‘Desperation Mode’ Playoff Chase

ESPN: NHL Insiders Debate the Week Ahead: Best Matchups, Playoff Races & Players to Watch

MLB

Kwan's Rookie Record

Photo: Kyle Rivas / Getty Images

Guardians’ Rookie Steven Kwan Breaks MLB Rookie Record in First 4 Games

After four games in the big leagues, Guardians rookie Steven Kwan is in the record books! A strong opening series against the Reds over the weekend saw Kwan register nine hits and three walks for 12 bases reached, he kept it going Monday against the Royals. A triple and two more walks found Kwan with 15 bases and a piece of MLB history — the first player ever with 15 bases in his first four career games. Kwan has made 19 plate appearances thus far, and he’s made contact on all 26 recorded swings. His .789 on-base percentage leads the majors through Day 4. The Guardians beat the Royals (10-7), and their 28 runs through four games is the most in the majors. Its a rookie phenom ushering in a new era in Cleveland.

Watch: Steven Kwan Makes MLB History

MLB Quick-Hitters

A’s Hand Rays First ‘L’: After a 3-0 start for Tampa Bay, the Athletics wrecked the Rays on Monday (13-2) behind eight runs in the first two innings. There are no undefeated teams through four games.

Jays Blank Yanks: The Blue Jays shut out the Yankees (3-0) in a tight game where new Toronto star George Springer made the difference with a two-run home run.

Shocking Rockies Win Again: Colorado (3-1) is the surprise hot team to open the year after winning the opening series with the Dodgers. They beat the Rangers on Monday (6-4) thanks to base-running call in extra innings.

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THE STORYLINES

⚾️ MLB Overreactions From Opening Weekend

It’s no time to raise the flag nor wave a white one. Nonetheless, the four glorious days that marked the return of Major League Baseball still offered its viewers myriad chances to freak out over suboptimal performance or conflate a nice couple of games with greatness. (USA Today)

🏈 Under-the-Radar NFL Draft Prospects

All of the talk around the 2022 NFL draft has been about the first-round prospects. The premier names have earned their distinction, but every quality evaluator makes their money on Day 3 of the draft, as the best values in football are future starters found in the late rounds. (Bleacher Report)

⛳️ The Spring of Scottie Scheffler

All eyes may have been on a returning Tiger Woods going into the 2022 Masters, but in the end, it was an ascendant Scottie Scheffler who turned in a dominant performance that solidified his place as the world’s top golfer, with a shot now also becoming one of the sport’s highest-paid stars. (Forbes)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Former Oregon OL Doug Brenner Adds $100 Million to Lawsuit Against NCAA (ESPN)
• Tiger Woods Commits to 2022 British Open at St. Andrews (CBS Sports)
• Egyptian Swimmer Omar Hegazy Breaks 2 Guinness World Records After Losing Leg (SI)
• Bomb Threat Delays College Baseball Game Between Louisville and North Carolina (Yahoo! Sports)
• Mavericks Luka Doncic Questionable for Game 1 of Playoffs With Strained Calf (Bleacher Report)
• Adam Schefter Apologizes for Insensitive Tweet About Dwayne Haskins Death (USA Today)
• Lakers Reportedly Targeting Raptors Head Coach Nick Nurse as Frank Vogel’s Replacement (Sporting News)

🗓️ TODAY'S SCHEDULE

The Must-Watch List

UEFA Champions League

Bayern Munich vs. Villareal (3:00 pm)

Real Madrid vs. Chelsea (3:00 pm)

NBA Playoffs (Play-In)

Cavaliers at Nets (Tues. 7:00 pm)

Clippers at Timberwolves (Tues. 9:30 pm)

NHL

Blues at Bruins (7:00 pm)

Hurricanes at Rangers (7:00 pm)

Oilers at Wild (8:00 pm)

Lightning at Stars (9:30 pm)

MLB

Mets at Phillies (6:45 pm)

Blue Jays at Yankees (7:05 pm)

Padres at Giants (9:45 pm)

*All Times Eastern

Support The Sportsletter Team 

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Product Manager: Matthew Cahill

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

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