Showing posts with label WNBA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WNBA. Show all posts

Sunday, September 22, 2024

LAS VEGAS ACES’ A’JA WILSON UNANIMOUSLY WINS 2024 KIA WNBA MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD

Las Vegas Aces center-forward A’ja Wilson has been named the 2024 Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player, the WNBA announced today.

This marks the record-tying third Kia WNBA MVP Award for Wilson, who also earned the honor in 2020 and 2022. She is the fourth player in WNBA history to win three MVPs, joining Sheryl Swoopes (2000, 2002 and 2005), Lisa Leslie (2001, 2004 and 2006) and Lauren Jackson (2003, 2007 and 2010).

Wilson received all 67 first-place votes (670 points) from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, making her the first unanimous Kia WNBA MVP since the Houston Comets’ Cynthia Cooper in the league’s inaugural season of 1997.

Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (467 points) finished in second place, followed by New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (295 points) in third place, Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (130 points) in fourth place and Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas (83 points) in fifth place. Players were awarded 10 points for a first-place vote, seven points for a second-place vote, five points for a third-place vote, three points for a fourth-place vote and one point for a fifth-place vote.

In her seventh WNBA season, Wilson averaged 26.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.58 blocked shots and 1.79 steals in 34.4 minutes in 38 games. She ranked first in the WNBA in both points and blocks, second in rebounds, fifth in steals and fourth in minutes, setting career highs in all five per-game categories. Wilson also finished seventh in the league in field goal percentage (51.8) and 17th in free throw percentage (84.4).

The 6-4 Wilson broke the WNBA single-season record for scoring average, which had been set by Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi in 2006 (25.3 ppg). Wilson also set single-season records with 1,021 total points and 451 total rebounds. She is the first player to lead the WNBA in total points, rebounds and blocks (98) in a season.

Behind Wilson, the two-time defending WNBA champion Aces (27-13) earned the fourth seed in the 2024 WNBA Playoffs presented by Google. Las Vegas will host the Seattle Storm in Game 1 of a first-round playoff series tonight at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN.

In the 2024 regular season, Wilson was named the Kia WNBA Western Conference Player of the Month four times (May, June, July and September) and the WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week six times (Weeks 3, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12). A six-time WNBA All-Star, Wilson played for the USA Women’s National Team in the 2024 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game before leading the United States to the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, where she was honored as the MVP of the tournament.

Additional highlights of Wilson’s 2024 season include:

*Recorded the two highest-scoring games of the WNBA season, with 42 points against the Dallas Wings on Aug. 27 and 41 points against the Mercury on Sept. 1.

*Scored at least 20 points in 89.5% of her games (34 of 38), a WNBA single-season record.

*Grabbed 9.8 defensive rebounds per game, the highest single-season average in WNBA history.

*Posted the third-highest rebounding average in a WNBA season (11.87), behind No. 1 Angel Reese (13.1 rpg with the Chicago Sky in 2024) and No. 2 Sylvia Fowles (11.88 with the Minnesota Lynx in 2018).

*Finished with 24 points and a career-high 20 rebounds against the Storm on July 10 for the first 20-20 game of her career.

*Became the second player in WNBA history to have at least 25 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and five blocks in a game (vs. the Atlanta Dream on Aug. 30), joining Candace Parker (2008).

*Set WNBA single-season records for consecutive games with 20 or more points (15) and consecutive games with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds (eight).

*Became the Aces’ franchise leader in both total points and total rebounds.

*Led the WNBA in steals-per-turnover ratio (1.42 to 1) and had a career-low 1.3 turnovers per game.

*In August, Wilson won the 2024 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award for her dedication and positive impact on the community. Dawn Staley was the head coach for all four of Wilson’s seasons at the University of South Carolina, where the two won a national championship together in the 2016-17 season and Wilson was a four-time All-America Team selection.

Wilson was selected by the Aces with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm. She led the franchise to its first two WNBA championships, in 2022 and 2023, earning the WNBA Finals MVP Award last season. Among her accolades, Wilson has been the Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year, the Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year twice and an All-WNBA Team selection four times.

In honor of being named the 2024 Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player, Wilson will receive $15,450 and a specially designed trophy by Tiffany & Co.

Saturday, May 11, 2024

Nike announces A'ja Wilson signature shoe

WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson is a Nike signature shoe. Wilson's shoe will be called "A'One."

"It's been incredible working with Nike toward a dream of having my collection, and it really is an honor to take this next step and become a Nike signature athlete," Wilson said in a statement. "From my logo to the look of the shoe and the pieces throughout the collection, we've worked to make sure every detail is perfectly tuned to my game and style."

The shoe and rest of Wilson's signature collection will arrive in 2025.

Read Nike's announcement below:

Saturday, June 10, 2023

WNBA Statement reagarding incident involving Brittney Griner at Dallas Airport

The WNBA issued the following statement regarding today’s incident involving the Phoenix Mercury’s Brittney Griner:

“As we gather additional information about today’s incident at the Dallas Airport, it has come to our attention that this was orchestrated by a social media figure and provocateur. His actions were inappropriate and unfortunate.”

“The safety of Brittney Griner and all WNBA players is our top priority. Prior to the season, the WNBA worked together with the Phoenix Mercury and BG’s team to ensure her safety during her travel, which included charter flights for WNBA games and assigned security personnel with her at all times. We remain steadfastly committed to the highest standards of security for players.”

Friday, April 28, 2023

Full press conference: Brittney Griner discusses her return to basketball court with Phoenix Mercury

WNBA star Brittney Griner discussed her return to the basketball court with the Phoenix Mercury at a press conference Thursday ahead of the team's 2023 training camp. Griner spent nearly 10 months imprisoned on drug charges in Russia before she was freed in December in a prisoner swap. Watch the full press conference below.

Sunday, December 11, 2022

Barack Obama Statement On The Release Of Brittney Griner

Former U.S. President, Barack Obama released the folowing statement on the release of Brittney Griner via Twitter:

Grateful for the long-overdue release of Brittney Griner today from Russian custody. Kudos to President Biden and his administration for the difficult diplomatic work involved to make it happen. We’re looking forward to having Brittney back home.

NAACP Statement On The Release of Brittney Griner

The NAACP released the folowing statement on the release of Brittney Griner:

"The NAACP is elated to hear the news that after 10-months, Brittney Griner is finally on her way home. We applaud President Biden for ensuring Brittney's release. Let's be clear, Brittney's imprisonment was not only inherently political, but a clear violation of human rights. Although nothing can replace the time that she has lost, we hope that her family can find comfort in the fact that Brittney will be free to celebrate the holidays with them. Brittney, welcome home."

Thursday, December 08, 2022

NBA Player's Association statement on Brittney Griner's release

The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA)ed the following statement on the release of WNBA star, Brittney Griner:

We are overwhelmed with relief and gratitude that our sister Brittney Griner is finally coming home. Her strength and courage throughout this last year have been truly remarkable, as have the efforts of her wife Cherelle, our WNBPA sisters, Terri Jackson and the WNBPA staff, who have been relentless in their call to bring Brittney home. We know this homecoming would not have been possible without their unwavering support and continued work to keep BG always top of mind, and our players are honored to have contributed to those efforts. While this is a celebratory moment for our sisters and us, we must not forget the other political prisoners who remain in dire circumstances all over the world. These individuals must be remembered and fought for every single day as BG was so that they too can have this moment.

Welcome home Brittney, we are so happy to have you back! #WeAreBG"

WNBA Statement On The Release Of Brittney Griner

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert issued the following statement on the release of Brittney Griner:

“There has not been a day over the past ten months where we all haven’t had Brittney Griner on our minds and in our hearts and that has now turned into a collective wave of joy and relief knowing that she will soon be reunited with her family, the WNBA player community, and her friends. BG has shown extraordinary courage and dignity in the face of enormous adversity. The WNBA is grateful beyond measure to the Biden Administration, the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, and all those who played a role in bringing BG home today. Our hope is that Paul Whelan and every wrongfully detained American will be returned home safely and as soon as possible.”

Monday, April 11, 2022

WNBA commissioner's update on Brittney Griner

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert kicked off Monday's WNBA draft with an update on Phoenix Mercury All-Star Brittney Griner, who remains imprisoned in a Russian jail. Watch that statement below:

Thursday, March 17, 2022

Brittney Griner detention in Russia extended to May 19

Russian media reported that the detention of WNBA star Brittney Griner was extended until May 19, a development that could see the two-time Olympic champion being held for at least three months before her case is resolved.

Griner was detained at a Moscow airport, reportedly in mid-February, after Russian authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges allegedly containing oil derived from cannabis, which could carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

“The court granted the request of the investigation and extended the period of detention of the U.S. citizen Griner until May 19,” the court said, according to the state news agency Tass.

Ekaterina Kalugina, a member of Public Monitoring Commission, told TASS that Griner is sharing a cell with two inmates who "had no previous convictions and are charged with drug-related articles.">/p>

“The only objective problem has turned out to be the basketball player’s height,” Tass quoted Kalugina as saying of the 6-foot-9 Griner. “The beds in the cell are clearly intended for a person of lesser height.”

Saturday, March 05, 2022

Brittney Griner arrested in Russia on drug charges

WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner was arrested in Russia last month at a Moscow airport after a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges.

The Russian Customs Service said Saturday that the cartridges were identified as containing oil derived from cannabis, which could carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The customs service identified the person arrested as a player for the U.S. women's team and did not specify the date of her arrest. Russian media reported the player was Griner, and her agent did not dispute those reports.

“We are aware of the situation with Brittney Griner in Russia and are in close contact with her, her legal representation in Russia, her family, her teams, and the WNBA and NBA,” Griner's agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas said Saturday. “As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are not able to comment further on the specifics of her case but can confirm that as we work to get her home, her mental and physical health remain our primary concern.”

“Brittney Griner has the WNBA's full support and our main priority is her swift and safe return to the United States,” the league said in a statement.

[SOURCE: AP]

Wednesday, December 29, 2021

Candace Parker voted AP Female Athlete of Year

Candace Parker, 35, helped the Chicago Sky win the franchise's first WNBA championship and capped off 2021 by being named The Associated Press' Female Athlete of the Year for a second time.

The 13 years since her first AP athlete of the year honors ties Parker with Babe Didrikson Zaharias for the longest time between winning in the 80-year history of the award. The award was voted on by a panel of sports editors. Parker received 11 first-place votes, edging out swimmer Katie Ledecky and gymnast Simone Biles.

Parker is the only WNBA player to win the AP Female Athlete of the Year award.

Parker was named the AP award winner her rookie year with the Sparks in 2008, when she was honored as the WNBA's MVP and top rookie. She also guided the Sparks to the championship in 2016 and is one of 14 players to have won a college, WNBA and Olympic title. She played college ball at Tennessee, where she won two titles.

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Atlanta Dream name Tanisha Wright as Head Coach

The Atlanta Dream today announced industry veteran Tanisha Wright will join the team as head coach. As the fifth head coach in franchise history, Wright brings over 14 years of experience in the league as a player and coach to this role, most recently serving as an assistant coach for the Las Vegas Aces.

“It’s an honor to be chosen as head coach for the Atlanta Dream, and I’m excited to play a role in building a successful organization centered around the player experience,” said Wright. “I have been part of championship teams and understand what it takes to win in this league. I look forward to bringing my talents to this franchise and helping the Dream achieve success.”

As head coach, Wright will be responsible for fostering the growth of the Dream’s players and establishing a culture of integrity and accountability. She comes to the Dream during a pivotal year in which the organization welcomed the new ownership group including WNBA All Star Renee Montgomery, the first former player to become both an owner and executive in the WNBA. Wright’s announcement is yet another positive milestone in building the Dream organization, as former NFL executive Morgan Shaw Parker was recently named President and COO. Earlier this year, the Dream was also named the 2020 ESPN Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year for the players’ remarkable work last year championing social justice efforts that influenced the Georgia Senate election.

“Known for her defensive mindset, emotional intelligence, and grit, we are beyond thrilled that Tanisha Wright is joining the Atlanta Dream,” said Larry Gottesdiener, Owner and Chairman of the Atlanta Dream. “Tanisha demonstrates a rare depth of character that is inspiring, and we can’t wait to see the positive impact she will have on this team.”

“Words cannot express how excited I am for a rising talent like Tanisha to join the Dream,” said Renee Montgomery, Owner and Vice President of the Atlanta Dream. “Tanisha is widely respected across the league, and as with all great leaders, she will set a strong example for our team.”

Wright spent ten seasons as a guard with the Seattle Storm, where she helped lead the team to nine straight playoff appearances, and a WNBA Championship in 2010. During her basketball career, she joined the Charlotte 49ers as an assistant coach, before retiring as a player in 2019. In 2020, the Las Vegas Aces signed her as an assistant coach, where she worked closely with industry leader Bill Laimbeer.

Prior to joining the WNBA, Wright was a three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year at Penn State and was named a First-Team USBWA All-American.

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

NBA 2K22 Reveals Candace Parker Cover for the WNBA 25th Anniversary Special Edition

Candace Parker will be the first woman to be on the cover of the NBA 2K. She will be on the cover of the WNBA 25th Anniversary Special Edition, which will be available only in the United States and Canada.

Parker commented on being chosen for the cover of the WNBA 25th Anniversary Special Edition of the game, saying:

"The cover of NBA 2K is such a pivotal platform to inspire young ballers, and I wanted future WNBA stars to know that they can be cover athletes too. Representation matters, so this is a special moment of progress for the sport and the series. To be part of this historic cover is a testament to the growth and rising popularity of the women's game, and I'm proud to be the first female cover athlete to be the face of NBA 2K."

Monday, October 12, 2020

Barack Obama congratulates the Lakers and Seattle Storm on their championships and social justice work

On Sunday Brack Obama took to Twitter to congratulate the Los Angeles Lakers and the Seattle Storm on their championships and praised the NBA and WNBA for their work fighting for racial justice during the season.

The former United States President tweeted:

Congrats to the @Lakers and @Seattlestorm on their championship wins! Proud of all the NBA and WNBA teams and players who've been using their platforms to take a stand for racial justice and encourage civic participation this season.

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Barack Obama statement on NBA & WNBA players boycotting games

Barack Obama released the following statement via Twitter after the Milwaukee Bucks and other NBA and WNBA teams decided not to play games yesterday to protest the shooting of Jacob Blake:

I commend the players on the @Bucks for standing up for what they believe in, coaches like @DocRivers, and the @NBA and @WNBA for setting an example. It’s going to take all our institutions to stand up for our values.

Saturday, July 25, 2020

Mercury players will wear Breonna Taylor's name on jerseys in WNBA opener

Phoenix Mercury players will wear Breonna Taylor jerseys in WNBA opener.

Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman, was fatally shot when police officers burst into her Louisville apartment using a no-knock warrant during a narcotics investigation. The warrant to search her home was in connection with a suspect who did not live there and no drugs were found.

Phoenix players’ jerseys will feature a nameplate that reads “Breonna Taylor” below each player’s number and last name. Additionally, the Mercury will warm up in shirts that read “Black Lives Matter” on the front and “Say Her Name” on the back.

The team, which is in a bubbble in Florida, will open the 2020 campaign this Saturday against the Los Angeles Sparks. The opener tips at 12 p.m. and will be available to watch on ABC.

[SOURCE: ARIZONA SPORTS]

Saturday, June 20, 2020

WNBA player Renee Montgomery sitting out 2020 WNBA season to fight for social justice

Renee Montgomery of the WNBA's Atlanta dream has announced that she would sit out the 2020 WNBA season to work on off-court initiatives such as the Black Lives Matter movement.

Montgomery released the following statement via Twitter:

After much thought, I’ve decided to opt out of the 2020 WNBA season. There’s work to be done off the court in so many areas in our community. Social justice reform isn’t going to happen overnight but I do feel that now is the time and Moments equal Momentum. Lets keep it going!

"I really took a leap of faith," Montgomery said in a ESPN article "I didn't have a specific plan, I just kind of knew that this is where my heart is, so let's see where it goes.

"It is very difficult, because I played basketball my whole life. Everybody has associated me with basketball. So to give up that comfort zone of basketball, yeah, that's scary. But in the same breath, I felt strongly enough that I knew whatever happens, this is the right decision for me."

Montgomery, who is from St. Albans, West Virginia, has her own foundation and has raised money to help protesters and support the Black Lives Matter movement. She will continue that work and also do speaking engagements in the Atlanta community and beyond.

Montgomery said she envisions a multiplatform approach for the issues she wants to address, including the voting problems that were in evidence in Atlanta recently with hourslong lines.

Saturday, April 18, 2020

Gianna Bryant & teammates selected as honorary picks at WNBA draft

Gianna Bryant, Alyssa Altobelli and Payton Chester, who were among nine killed in a January helicopter crash that also claimed the life of Kobe Bryant, were named honorary selections in Friday's WNBA draft.

"It would have been a dream come true for her," Gianna's mother, Vanessa, said. "Kobe and Gigi loved the WNBA. Thank you. I want to congratulate all of this year's draft picks. Congratulations. Work hard. Never settle. Use that Mamba Mentality."

Before the start of the draft, Engelbert honored Gianna Bryant, Altobelli and Chester by announcing each of the players as jerseys were shown on the screen with their last names on them. The three girls, all 13 years old at the time, were passengers on the helicopter as it traveled to a basketball game at Kobe Bryant's Mamba Sports Academy in California on Jan. 26.

The WNBA had said it planned to honor the memory of the three young teammates during the draft, which was held virtually in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Gianna, known as Gigi, made no secret of her desire to one day follow her father's footsteps in professional basketball and play in the WNBA. Kobe and Gianna were frequently spotted at WNBA, NBA and college games.

[SOURCE: ESPN]

Saturday, April 06, 2019

Teresa Weatherspoon Announced as Member of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2019

Today, at a press event presented by Haggar Clothing Company, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced the 12 honorees in the Class of 2019 to be celebrated September 5-7, 2019 during this year’s Enshrinement festivities in Springfield, Massachusetts. The Class Announcement was made in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the site of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Final Four and televised live on ESPN2.

One of those 12 honorees was New York Liberty star Teresa Weatherspoon

Weatherspoon is a five-time WNBA All-Star (1999-2003) and two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (1997, 1998). Recognized as an iconic player with the New York Liberty, she was the first player to tally 1,000 points and 1,000 assists in the WNBA. Internationally, Weatherspoon is a six-time Italian League All-Star (1989-1994), two-time Russian League champion (1995,1996), and an Olympic gold medalist (1988). A native of Jasper, Texas, Weatherspoon played for Louisiana Tech University (1984-1988) where she was named to the Kodak All-America Team twice (1987, 1988). In 1988, she led her team to an NCAA Championship and was named the recipient of the Wade Trophy. Weatherspoon was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.