We Want WNBA 4

New York 90, Indiana 87

When someone asks who made the first basket of the 25th WNBA season on a game show for obscure trivia, the answer will be Michaela Onyenwere. The New York rookie out of UCLA drained a three early in the league's opening game for the 2021 season.

Onyenwere scored seven of her team's first 20 points making a three, a layup and two free-throws as the score was 20-12 during the first quarter.

Below: Betnijah Laney

At 2:03 in the first, host New York led 23-16 as it made five of its first six three-point attempts. With 52 seconds left in the first quarter Indiana rookie Kysre Gondrezick scored her first basket in the WNBA to narrow the Fever's deficit to 26-21 after the final basket of the quarter. The Liberty shot 57.1 percent from the field including 6-8 from three in the opening period. Power forward Betnijah Laney posted 11 points for the Liberty making all three of her triples in the first quarter. Indiana struggled making just 38.5 percent of its shots but it did force New York to five turnovers.

In the second quarter Gondrezick drew first blood, making her first WNBA three, which made the score 26-24, New York. Lindsay Allen gave Indiana its first lead after a traditional three-point play at 29-28.

Both teams went back and forth in the second quarter as they went into the half tied at 47. At the intermission New York had 14 assists but also eight turnovers. Indiana had eight assists but just four turnovers. Laney led all players with 20 points at the break, while Indiana was paced in scoring by center Teaira McCowan's 11 points. Indiana's bench did a great job, getting the Fever back into the game. The Fever bench outscored New York 16-0 in the first half.

In the third quarter New York took at 56-51 lead when Sabrina Ionescu got her 10th assist of the game as she found center Kylee Shook cutting for an layup. Onyenwere scored back-to-back baskets and hit a free throw as New York started the quarter on a 15-10 run.

Indiana tied things up 62-62 with 3:48 to play in the third as point guard Danielle Robinson scored on an assist from forward Jantel Lavender. That was at the tail end of a 7-0 run by the Fever.

Below: DiDi Richards

At 2:49, in the third, DiDi Richards, a rookie out of Baylor entered the game for New York to a rousing ovation. From that point New York outscored Indiana 6-2, ending the third stanza with a 68-64 lead. Laney dropped 24 points in the first three quarters. Ionescu ended the third quarter with 11 assists, just two shy of the franchise single game record.

New York hadn't trailed the for whole second half until Lavender scored on a layup with 1:56 to play, making the score 82-81. The Fever went up 84-81 when Kelsey Mitchell scored her 20th point at 1:32.

Below: Jantel Lavender

New York closed the game on a 9-3 run which included Ionescu's game winning three with 0.4 to play. New York was led in scoring by Laney's 30 points. Ionescu posted 25 points to go with her 11 assists. Onyenwere scored 18 points in her debut. Indiana's McCowan had 22 points, 16 boards and two blocks. Mitchell led the Fever with 23 points. Lavender had a near double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds.

Connecticut 78, Atlanta 67

Center Jonquel Jones scored the first bucket of the game for Connecticut as the Sun visited Atlanta. In fact "Hurricane Jonquel," as she was referred to by a television analyst scored her team's first six points.

Below: Jonquel Jones

Atlanta's Odyssey Sims gave her team its first lead of the season at 7-6 when she hit a three with about six and a half minutes to go in the first quarter. As the quarter progressed Connecticut was up 15-13 with just under four minutes to play. By then Jones posted all but two of Connecticut's points. When the first quarter ended she had nearly outscored Atlanta by herself. Jones scored 16 points on 6-8 shooting as her team led Atlanta 22-17.

Connecticut continued to control things leading at the half 43-32. Jones' teammates stepped it up as she didn't have to score a single point to help her team expand its lead. At the half, DeWanna Bonner had seven points and three assists for the Sun. Brionna Jones posted six points in 10 minutes during the first half. The Sun shot 48 percent in the first two quarters. Atlanta struggled going 11-31, for 35.5 percent.

The Sun led throughout the rest of the contest, collecting the road win. Jonquel Jones finished the game with 26 points to go along with eight rebounds and three assists. Bonner scored 21 points, grabbed seven boards and dished out five dimes. Atlanta's Courtney Williams shared the team lead in points with Sims as both players scored 14 points each.

Phoenix 77, Minnesota 75

Below: Skylar Diggins

Point guard Skylar Diggins-Smith led the Mercury with 18 points as visiting Phoenix topped Minnesota. Phoenix also got 17 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots from Brittney Griner. Minnesota's Aerial Powers scored a team best 18 points in the loss.

Dallas 94, Los Angeles 71

Below: Marina Mabrey

The WNBA's top pick, rookie Charli Collier posted 11 points and 10 rebounds in her pro debut as her team won by 23 points in Los Angeles. Dallas also got 23 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals from Allisha Gray. The Wings also got quality contributions from reserves. Marina Mabrey knocked down three-of-five threes off of the bench for 11 points and Isabelle Harrison posted 10 points and nine rebounds in the win.

Los Angeles' top performer was Nneka Ogwumike, who had 18 points and eight rebounds.