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WNBA DRAFT WOMEN’S SOCCER Collier makes history as top pick Dash hit the road first UT men’s or women’s player seeking selected No. 1 overall

By Nick Moyle offense STAFF WRITER By Corey Roepken AUSTIN — About 12 hours before CORRESPONDENT WNBA commissioner Cathy Engel- bert announced as After a preseason that lasted the top pick in the league’s 2021 vir- more than two months, the tual draft, Ponda Collier tweeted Dash are ecstatic to finally get out a vintage photo of her daughter back into a rhythm of playing nestled up against a basketball in competitive games every week. their car’s backseat, a toddler Now that they have one game adrift in starry hoops dreams. under their belts, they can con- That heavy-eyed little hoophead centrate on getting better. This Ponda posted a picture of is now week that means registering the first No. 1 overall pro draft pick their first on-target shot and, from either the Texas women’s or ideally, their first goal or two. men’s basketball programs. And On the heels of a scoreless that’s only the icing slathered atop draw in last week’s season open- asurreal Thursday night 21 years in er, Houston travels to Tacoma, the making for Collier, the 6-5 cen- Wash., for its second game of the ter and new face of the Dallas NWSL Challenge Cup and will Wings following three superb and face OL Reign FC at 9 p.m. Fri- at times awe-inspiring seasons as a day. Longhorn. The Dash (0-0-1, 1 point) will “It’s still surreal, you know, I still be boosted by a defense that can’t put into words this feeling,” Elsa /Getty Images stood up to the few challenges Collier said Thursday night. “I was Texas center Charli Collier, who starred at Barbers Hill, was selected No. 1 overall by the Dallas the created in 2years old in that picture laying on Wings. Collier helped the Longhorns make the Elite Eight for only the third time since 1990. the opener. That was significant the basketball, and I’ve loved bas- to Houston coach James Clark- ketball ever since. I feel like this appearance since 1990. She also All that production and promise 2021 selections son, but it didn’t take him long right here, it’s just a testament to all tied for second with19 double-dou- explains why the All-American, All- First round to point out the attack needs to of my hard work and all that I’ve bles and ranked sixth in made free Big 12 and Award finalist 1. Dallas (from New York), Charli Collier, F/C, Texas improve quickly. 2. Dallas, Awak Kuier, C, Virtus Eirene RG (Italy) worked for. It’s just amazing as a throws (153) among Division I play- became the WNBA’s 26th No. 1 3. Atlanta, Aari McDonald, G, Arizona Of the nine teams that played basketball player to see what ers while flashing range with 15 overall pick Thursday night. Collier 4. Indiana, , G, West Virginia last week, the Dash were the on- 5. Dallas (from Washington), , G, Arkansas you’ve been working for for so long made 3-pointers. is also just the third underclassmen 6. New York (from Connecticut), , F, UCLA ly team not to hit any shots on 7. Los Angeles (from Dallas), , F, Alabama to come true.” “Charli is such a tremendous selected first. 8. Chicago (from Phoenix), , G, (Australia) target. They also were limited to Though Dallas owned the first player and a difference-maker,” “I feel like you can definitely see 9. Minnesota, , G/F, Tennessee three shots overall. 10. Los Angeles, , G, Southern Cal two slots in this year’s draft, there Schaefer said last month. “She me as a stretch 5, somebody that 11. Seattle, , G, Texas A&M (traded to Indiana) Houston’s best opportunities, was little internal debate over commands everybody’s double; could put the ball on the floor, 12. Las Vegas, , C, Tango Bourges Basket (France) including when Veronica Latsko Second round which player merited that honor. A she gets no single looks. And that’s somebody that can shoot the mid- 13. Dallas (from New York), , G, Louisville had a goal negated by an offside homegrown star from Mont Bel- been my biggest complaint all year. range, be in the post,” Collier said. 14. Las Vegas (from Indiana), , G, Arkansas call, came on the counterattack. 15. Atlanta, Raquel Carrera, C, Valencia Basket Club (Spain) vieu who evolved into the nexus of That kid’s doing it with double and “You know, just a versatile basket- 16. Chicago (from Dallas), , F, Oklahoma State “Our general build-up in pos- 17. New York (from Washington), Didi Richards, G, Baylor first-year Texas coach Vic Schaef- triple teams. Her numbers are bet- ball player.” 18. Seattle (from Connecticut), , G, Stanford session needs to be better,” er’s attack, Collier was the clear- ter than everybody’s just about. Collier will now play her home 19. Indiana (from Chicago), , F, Auburn Clarkson said. “By being a little 20. Connecticut (from Phoenix), DiJonai Carrington, G, Baylor cut choice even over the likes of 6-5 “I think she’s worked really games at College Park Center in Ar- 21. Connecticut (from Minnesota), , G, Central Michigan more controlled in possession, 22. Los Angeles, , G, Rutgers Finnish pro Awak Kuier, Arizona’s hard. I don’t think anybody can ev- lington, about 200 miles north of 23. Seattle, N’Dea Jones, F, Texas A&M that will get us higher up the diminutive assassin Aari McDonald er question how hard the kid the Erwin Center and 290 miles 24. Indiana (from Las Vegas), Trinity Baptiste, F, Arizona field and we’ll spend more time and Rutgers’ stat-stuffer Arella Gui- works. She’s done it again, night in outside of high school alma mater Third round in the attacking third. When 25. New York, Valerie Higgins, G, Pacific rantes. and night out against you really Barbers Hill. 26. Indiana, Chelsey Perry, F, UT Martin we’re in there it’s about having 27. Atlanta, Lindsey Pulliam, G, Northwestern Collier averaged a respectable good players and really good She’ll be tasked with dragging 28. Los Angeles (from Dallas), Ivana Raca, F, Wake Forest more patience and not forcing 13.1 points on 43.2 percent shoot- coaching.” Dallas out from the Western Con- 29. New York (from Washington), Marine Fauthoux, G, Lyon Asvel Fe- it, not playing too quickly. If it’s minin (France) ing,10.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks as Collier’s game represents the ference cellar after two straight 30. Connecticut, , G, Oregon State not on, maintain possession and 31. Indiana (from Chicago), Florencia Chagas, G, USE Scotti Rosa Em- asophomore, teasing superstar ongoing blending of old and new last-place finishes, performances poli (Italy) shift the field, really look to cre- potential on a veteran-heavy ros- schools. that spurred the franchise to fire 32. Phoenix, Ciera Johnson, C, Texas A&M ate.” 33. Indiana (from Minnesota), Maya Caldwell, G, Georgia ter. But there was an exodus of The long-range jumper still coach Brian Agler and hire Las Ve- 34. Los Angeles, Aina Ayuso, G, Spain Friday’s game against OL 35. Seattle, Natalie Kucowski, F, Lafayette both coaches and players after the needs some fine-tuning, but Col- gas assistant . The 36. Las Vegas, Kionna Jeter, G, Towson Reign will be the last the club has 2019-20 season, ex-coach Karen lier looks comfortable around the franchise last won a playoff series to play without six regular start- Aston’s last, creating a power vacu- arc and has the tools to develop a in 2009, when it still resided in De- ers until the Olympics this sum- um the junior center yearned to devastating face-up game. She’s al- troit, and hasn’t finished above will end anytime soon. mer. Those players — Rachel Da- fill. so a paint-clearing nightmare on .500 since 2015, its last campaign “I’m confident and know my ly, , Jane Camp- Last season, Collier posted huge the glass, especially on offense (4.4 in Tulsa. work is paying off,” Collier said. “I bell, , Allysha numbers despite heavy defensive rebounds per game last season). Dallas believes Collier can help was a little girl wanting this all my Chapman and — pressure. And trying to go one-on-one in the end that stretch of futility once she life, so this is amazing. I’m missed the opener because they Collier averaged 19.0 points on post with the sinewy center usually trades in burnt orange for lime blessed.” were on international duty. 51.1 percent shooting, 11.3 re- ends in disaster for whatever luck- green and blue. And after what she They’ll miss this week’s bounds, and 1.2 blocks to help lead less defender draws that assign- achieved last season, there’s little [email protected] game, too, though Clarkson said Texas to only its third Elite Eight ment. reason to doubt this WNBA dream twitter.com/NRMoyle some of them expressed interest in flying straight into Seattle to join the team. The decision al- NFL ready had been made for them to miss the game, and Clarkson said he wanted to stick with it for Browns, Raiders players to skip workouts various reasons. Instead, those players will re- CLEVELAND — Following the Smith, 31, spent the 2020 sea- main in Houston over the week- guidance and advice of Browns son with the Dallas Cowboys, his end and begin training again center and NFL Players Associa- first season since being reinstated next week. tion president JC Tretter, Cleve- from a four-year suspension for “We didn’t know how many land’s players joined a growing various substance abuse-related minutes everybody would have list of teams vowing to skip volun- issues. Among them: an arrest for played. It’s international travel,” tary in-person workouts this DUI and hit-and-run in 2015 that he said. “We didn’t want to put offseason. prompted his release from the some players in a situation The Browns followed the Tam- San Francisco 49ers and brought where others that weren’t able pa Bay Buccaneers, Denver to a screeching halt a career that to play would have felt they were Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, Chi- began with Smith considered one letting the team down or any- cago Bears, Detroit Lions, New of the best pass rushers in the thing like that.” England Patriots and New York NFL. The team’s overall strength Giants in saying they’ll exercise A2011 first-round pick, Smith always was going to be lower their collectively bargained rights was an All-Pro with the 49ers in without those players, but the not to take part in the workouts, 2012 when he had a career-high attack especially took a hit. which were scheduled to begin 19½ sacks in helping lead San There were some bright spots, next week. Francisco to the Super Bowl. He but ultimately, the defense had The Las Vegas Raiders fol- had 14 as a rookie in 2011 and then to be at its best even to share the lowed suit later Thursday with 8½ more in 11 games in 2013, points against Chicago. their players releasing a state- posting 42 sacks overall in 43 The mostly intact back line, ment through the NFLPA that games from 2011-13. led by regular starters Katie they also wouldn’t participate in With Dallas last season, Smith Naughton, and the voluntary offseason program. had five sacks in 16 games. Three Hayley Hanson, and back-up On Wednesday, the league of those sacks came against the goalkeeper Lindsey Harris, will issued a memo to all 32 teams Seahawks in Seattle in Week 3. face another difficult task this announcing that the first four week. A second clean sheet weeks of the voluntary program would give the Dash a fantastic will be virtual before transition- Odds and ends platform to build on when their ing to in person at the team’s The Falcons signed safety international players returnand respective training facilities. Duron Harmon and four-time can kickstart the offense to a Last year, the offseason pro- All-Pro return specialist Cordar- proven defense. grams were all done virtually and relle Patterson to one-year con- “Considering it was our first training camp was pushed back tracts. Harmon started all 16 game and how excited every- because of the pandemic. games for Detroit in 2020 and set body was, to see the way the acareer high with 73 tackles. players came out their effort, Texans add Taylor Patterson earned first-team All- their application was very Pro honors as a kick returner in good,” Clarkson said. “I thought to offensive line Andy Lewis / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images 2013, 2016 and 2019-20 with Min- we started slowly. It wasn’t until Guard Lane Taylor, who Defensive end Aldon Smith signed a one-year deal with the nesota and Chicago. … The Raid- after the first 20 minutes we played his first eight seasons with Seattle Seahawks on Thursday. Smith, a former All-Pro, had ers cut two members of Jon Gru- really got a grip on the game. It Green Bay, has agreed to a one- five sacks in 16 games with the Dallas Cowboys last season. den’s first draft class in his sec- thought it was very even without year contract with the Texans. ond stint as coach, waiving defen- us really creating enough good Taylor, 31, spent most of the grew up in Arlington, played at West, this time with the team he sive linemen Maurice Hurst and clear-cut chances. last two seasons on injured re- Oklahoma State and signed with spent the early part of the decade Arden Key before their fourth “We got into some good posi- serve with biceps and knee in- Green Bay as an undrafted free tormenting — the Seattle Sea- seasons with the team. … The tions but the final ball, our deci- juries. He’s coming to Houston to agent in 2013. He’s the sixth veter- hawks. Cardinals re-signed linebackers sion-making in the final third let play for the Texans’ new offen- an acquired for the offensive line The Seahawks on Thursday Dennis Gardeck and Kylie Fitts to us down a little bit. With it being sive line coach, James Campen, by general manager Nick Caserio. announced they had signed one-year deals. … The Steelers the first game, that’s kind of ex- who coached him during his first Smith, a former All-Pro defensive re-signed veteranlinebacker pected.” six seasons with the Packers. Ex-Cowboy Smith end with the 49ers. Terms of the Vince Williams to a one-year The deal was first reported by deal were not disclosed, but the deal, a month after they cut him Corey Roepken is a freelance the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. signs with Seahawks NFL Network reported it will be in a cost-cutting measure. writer. Taylor, a native Texan who Aldon Smith is back in the NFC for one year. From wire reports