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☆ Caitlin Clark will head to the WNBA at a critical moment for the league
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The WNBA, still emerging entering its 28th season, hopes Caitlin Clark can achieve what those athletes did and turn the league into a cultural phenomenon. WNBA players’ salaries also lag behind. Turning Clark fans into WNBA fansClark is already having an impact on the WNBA. “The need by WNBA teams to invest in fan acquisition and fan engagement is really critical to maximize this moment,” she said. Bebeto Matthews/APThe league was financially connected to the NBA, and each of the first eight WNBA teams was linked to an NBA franchise.

Persons: Woods, Venus Williams, Michael Jordan, Caitlin Clark, ”, Boris Lelchitski, Candace Parker, Jonquel Jones, ” Clark, Angel Reese, Clark, Reese, “, Phil Cook, Gregory Fisher, Nielsen, “ Caitlin Clark, Noah Henderson, Cathy Engelbert, “ We’ve, Erica Denhoff, Jessica Gelman, Gelman, David Stern, Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Rebecca Lobo, Bebeto Matthews, Terri Jackson, ” Donna Orender, Orender, ” Engelbert, Cameron Brink, ’, “ Clark, Donna Orender Organizations: New, New York CNN, NBA, WNBA, Indiana Fever, NCAA, University of Iowa, Louisiana State University, Tiger, USA, Sports, Reuters, Loyola University, CNN, LSU, WNBA's Indiana, Kraft Analytics Group, MIT Sloan Sports Analytics, Nielsen, Brands, Gatorade, State, longtime, Olympics, Basketball Players Association, Deloitte, Kraft Analytics Locations: New York, Chicago, Iowa, USA, Atlanta, San Francisco

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Liberty are bringing their core group back and trying to add another piece with prized free agent Nneka Ogwumike while Seattle signed Skylar Diggins-Smith as WNBA free agency tipped off Thursday. The Liberty, who made it to the WNBA Finals last season before losing to the Las Vegas Aces, met with Ogwumike, according to a person familiar with the situation. Sabally, who was a restricted free agent, averaged career highs in points (18.6), rebounds (8.1) and assists (4.4) last season. They also signed free agent Megan Gustafson. Williams had a stellar season with Chicago last year, averaging 10.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and a career-best 6.3 assists.

Persons: Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins, Smith, Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart, Betnijah Laney, Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Jones, Diggins, Jewell Loyd, “, ” Diggins, Jewell, Noelle Quinn, Satou Sabally, Kalani Brown, Sabally, Brown, Kiah Stokes, Sydney Colson, Megan Gustafson, Courtney Williams, Alanna Smith, Williams, ___ Organizations: New York Liberty, Seattle, Liberty, WNBA, Las Vegas Aces, Associated Press, Nets, Los Angeles Sparks, ESPN, Phoenix Mercury, Notre Dame, Seattle Storm, Dallas, Wings, Aces, Minnesota Lynx, Chicago Locations: York

NEW YORK (AP) — Breanna Stewart and the New York Liberty fell just short of winning the franchise's first WNBA championship, losing to the Las Vegas Aces in the Finals. The league's MVP won the two Finals series she played with Seattle and won four NCAA championships at UConn. “Making sure that I don’t feel that again, I think that’s really my mindset and mentality going forward,” Stewart said Friday. Stewart could be an unrestricted free agent but Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb said that he would give her the franchise tag so that she can't sign a contract directly with another team. Jones, who came to New York in a trade in the offseason, is also an unrestricted free agent.

Persons: — Breanna Stewart, Stewart, ” Stewart, Jonathan Kolb, “, …, ”, Jonquel Jones, Jones, ” Kolb, Betnijah Laney, Courtney Vandersloot, Sabrina Ionescu, Ionescu Organizations: New York Liberty, WNBA, Las Vegas Aces, Seattle, NCAA, UConn, Big East, Liberty, Connecticut Locations: York, New York

NEW YORK (AP) — Jonquel Jones and the New York Liberty wouldn't let the season end just yet. She scored 27 points and Breanna Stewart added 20 to help the New York Liberty beat the Las Vegas Aces 87-73 on Sunday in the WNBA Finals and force a Game 4. “She was huge for us,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said of Jones, who came to the Liberty in a trade in the offseason. BIG APPLE BASKETBALL IS BACKThis was the first WNBA Finals game in New York since 2002, when the Liberty were swept by the Sparks. No New York basketball team in either the NBA or WNBA has made it that far since.

Persons: — Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty wouldn't, Breanna Stewart, “, ” Jones, Jones, ”, Sandy Brondello, we've, Teresa Weatherspoon's, A'ja Wilson, Stewart, Betnijah Laney, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, Becky Hammon, Kelsey Plum, Wilson, Angeles Sparks, ” Wilson, Adam Silver, Dawn Staley, Sue Bird, Tony Parker, Plum, Sparks, Hammon, ” Hammon, Vickie Johnson, Crystal Robinson, Sue Wicks, Weatherspoon, Richie Adubato, Sabrina Ionescu, Joan Jett, Jason Sudeikis, Michael Shannon, Robin Roberts, Lil, Kim, ___ Organizations: New York Liberty, Las Vegas Aces, WNBA, Aces, Liberty, Houston, Las, Angeles, Houston Comets, Seattle, New, ., BIG, New York, York, NBA, Nets, Knicks, Hammon Locations: . New York, Las Vegas, New York, York, New York City

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A’ja Wilson scored 26 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and the Las Vegas Aces routed the New York Liberty 104-76 on Wednesday night to take a 2-0 series lead in the WNBA Finals. She's the third player in WNBA Finals history to have at least 25 points and 15 rebounds in a game. Las Vegas hit seven of its first nine shots - a blistering 77.8% clip - including four 3-pointers. Las Vegas set a new record for most points in the first quarter of a WNBA Finals. The Aces outscored the Liberty 28-13 in the third quarter, with 20 points coming from Wilson and Young.

Persons: — A’ja Wilson, Wilson, ” Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum, Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart, Betnijah Laney, Sabrina Ionescu, ” Gray, “, Jones, Young, Liberty couldn't Organizations: LAS VEGAS, Las Vegas Aces, New York Liberty, WNBA, Aces, Angeles Sparks, Liberty, New, Vegas, ___ AP Locations: New York, York

☆ WNBA Finals feature 'Superteam' showdown for the ages
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Aces defeated the Wings 97-83. Mandatory... Acquire Licensing Rights もっと読むNEW YORK, Oct 6 (Reuters) - A "superteam" showdown fans were clamoring for tips off on Sunday as the defending champion Las Vegas Aces play a New York Liberty team hungry for a maiden major title in the WNBA Finals. The number one Aces lost twice MVP Candace Parker to injury in July but never missed a beat as last year's Most Valuable A'ja Wilson propelled Sin City to a WNBA record 34 wins. "We saw a different level of excitement in the off season this year because of the superteam narrative," said ESPN commentator and former WNBA All-Star Rebecca Lobo. New York coach Sandy Bronello said relief was her primary emotion as the Liberty eked out an 87-84 win in Game 4 against Connecticut.

Persons: A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Kiah Stokes, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Breanna Stewart, Candace Parker, Rebecca Lobo, Wilson, Stewart, Lobo, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, They've, Jonquel Jones, Sandy Bronello, Brondello, Becky Hammon, Hammon, Amy Tennery, Ed Osmond 私 Organizations: Las Vegas Aces, Dallas Wings, Michelob, The Aces, Wings, New York Liberty, WNBA, Liberty, Aces, ESPN, San Francisco Bay Area, NBA, Chicago Sky, Washington Mystics, Connecticut, Phoenix Mercury Locations: Las Vegas , Nevada, USA, Sin, San Francisco Bay, Las Vegas, New York

NEW YORK (AP) — DeWanna Bonner scored 20 points, Rebecca Allen added 18 and the Connecticut Sun played stellar defense to beat the New York Liberty 78-63 on Sunday in the first game of their best-of-five WNBA semifinals playoff series. Third-seeded Connecticut lost all four games between the teams in the regular season, including getting blown out twice in New York. New York led by three at halftime before Connecticut went on a 16-2 run to start the third quarter. She scored the first five points of the fourth to push it to 70-55 — the team's biggest lead of the game. Allen had 12 to lead Connecticut while Alyssa Thomas had six points, five rebounds and five assists.

Persons: — DeWanna Bonner, Rebecca Allen, Hiedeman, Allen —, Jones, —, Bonner, Breanna, couldn't, Stewart, she's, Ionescu, Allen, Alyssa Thomas, Thomas, ___ Organizations: Connecticut Sun, New York Liberty, Connecticut, Sun, Liberty, New York, Minnesota, New Locations: New York, York, Washington, Connecticut

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Stephanie White was honored as the WNBA's Coach of the Year on Sunday after guiding the Connecticut Sun to a 27-win season and a No. The team also had to deal with a season-ending injury to key player Brionna Jones a month into the season. White received 36 votes from a national panel of 60 sportswriters and broadcasters. Becky Hammon of the Las Vegas Aces received three votes; Cheryl Reeve of the Minnesota Lynx and Tanisha Wright of the Atlanta Dream each received two votes. Political Cartoons View All 1163 Images“I think she's brought in a new energy for us,” Thomas said of White.

Persons: — Stephanie White, White, Curt Miller, Jonquel Jones, Jasmine Thomas, Brionna Jones, Latricia Trammell, Sandy Brondello, Becky Hammon, Cheryl Reeve, Tanisha Wright, Alyssa Thomas, she's, ” Thomas, of White, Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, ” White, Miller, Mike Thibault, “, Steph, ___ Organizations: Connecticut Sun, Indiana Fever, Vanderbilt, Los, Dallas Wings, New York Liberty, Las Vegas Aces, Minnesota Lynx, Atlanta, Sun, WNBA, ” Locations: UNCASVILLE, Conn, Los Angeles, New York

Liberty fans have waited 27 seasons for a W.N.B.A. The atmosphere at Barclays Center was electric for New York’s opening postseason game against the Washington Mystics. Those fans were rewarded with a Liberty win, 90-75, behind 29 points from Sabrina Ionescu and 20 from Jonquel Jones. The game started as a tense back-and-forth affair, but the Liberty took a narrow lead into halftime, and they never relinquished it. After the Liberty wrapped up the regular season with a 32-8 record, expectations were high that they could take the championship.

Persons: didn’t, Malala Yousafzai, Billie Jean King, Teresa Weatherspoon, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, Ionescu Organizations: Liberty, Barclays Center, Washington Mystics, Brooklyn Nets, Las Vegas Aces

A look at the best-of-3 first-round series in the WNBA playoffs, which starts Wednesday:No. Season series: Sun, 3-1Game 1: WednesdayConnecticut: The Sun start on offense and defense with Alyssa Thomas, who led the league in rebounding and assists. Connecticut, which made the WNBA Finals last season, had a change in coaches with Stephanie White taking over. New York won the Commissioner's Cup championship beating Las Vegas and is now hoping to win its first WNBA title. Add to that Brittney Sykes, who is one of the top defenders in the WNBA, and Washington could cause problems for New York.

Persons: A'ja Wilson, Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Candace Parker, Kahleah, Courtney Williams, James Wade, Alyssa Thomas, Thomas, Stephanie White, Brionna Jones, Napheesa Collier, Diamond Miller, Dorka, Teaira McCowan, Natasha Howard, Satou Sabally, Arike Ogunbowale, Rhyne Howard, Cheyenne Parker, Allisha Gray, Monique Billings, Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Courtney Vandersloot, Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Shakira Austin, Elena Delle Donne, Natasha Cloud, Ariel Atkins, Brittney Sykes Organizations: WNBA, Vegas, Aces, Connecticut Sun, NBA, Connecticut, Lynx, Dallas, Wings, Atlanta, Washington, Liberty, New York, Commissioner's, Las Vegas, Mystics Locations: Chicago, Angeles, Vegas, Connecticut, Minnesota, Atlanta, Dallas, York, New, Washington

☆ What to Know About the 2023 W.N.B.A. Season
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Sara Ziegler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Griner played no basketball during her imprisonment and is still working to get back into game shape. The off-season was dominated by free-agent signings and trades that established what could be two superteams: the Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces. The Liberty made three key moves: First, they traded with the Connecticut Sun for Jonquel Jones, the league’s most valuable player in 2021. Then they landed one of the top free agents: Breanna Stewart, the 2018 M.V.P., who had won two championships in Seattle. Those three join the returnees Betnijah Laney and Sabrina Ionescu, who have each made an All-Star team.

☆ Griner, 'superteams' in focus as WNBA season kicks off
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NEW YORK, May 17 (Reuters) - Brittney Griner is back in action for the Phoenix Mercury while the New York Liberty and defending champions Las Vegas Aces are expected to usher in the WNBA's "superteam" era when a new season tips off on Friday. "It was cool, and then at the same time, I was sitting there looking around, zoned out a little bit," said Griner, who will open her season on the road against the Sparks on Friday. I mean, these are some of the best players in the league," head coach Sandy Brondello told reporters this week. She will join reigning MVP A'ja Wilson and All-Star Kelsey Plum, along with two-time champion Alysha Clark, who also signed as a free agent. Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Former WNBA MVP Stewart headed to Liberty
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NEW YORK, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Twice WNBA champion and four-times All-Star Breanna Stewart is signing with the New York Liberty, the former first overall pick said on social media on Wednesday, in one of the most highly anticipated free agency moves. The announcement marks the end of an astonishingly prolific tenure with the Seattle Storm, where the lethal forward led the league in scoring last year and was twice named the WNBA Finals MVP. The Liberty are on the hunt for their first Women's National Basketball Association championship title after bouncing out of the playoffs in the first round the last two years. Last month they secured 2021 MVP Jonquel Jones in a trade with the Connecticut Sun. Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ She’s one of the WNBA’s biggest stars. This is Brittney Griner’s stellar career so far
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Brittney Griner’s release from detention in Russia ends a nine-month ordeal and allows her the chance to restart her stellar basketball career. In total, Griner is an seven-time WNBA All-Star – only seven players in WNBA history have made more All-Star appearances. For many years, WNBA players have regularly gone overseas during the WNBA’s offseason to make the most of the higher salaries they can earn in international leagues. According to the New York Times, nearly half of the WNBA’s 144 players traveled to play abroad during the last offseason. “But negatively, there is a factor that you will be tired for the new WNBA season and this can cause injuries and, maybe, you’ll be out of the season.

☆ With Griner in jail, WNBA players skip Russia in offseason
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Brittney Griner’s highly publicized legal woes in Russia and the country’s invasion of Ukraine has the top WNBA players opting to take their talents elsewhere this offseason. For the past few decades, Russia has been the preferred offseason destination for WNBA players to compete because of the high salaries that can exceed $1 million and the resources and amenities teams offered them. Nearly a dozen WNBA players competed in Russia last winter and none of them are heading back this year. Like Stewart, Vandersloot also isn’t headed back to Russia, choosing to play in Hungary where she obtained citizenship in 2016. The Griner situation also is weighing heavily on the minds of young WNBA players.

☆ WNBA players skipping Russia, choosing other places to play
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Brittney Griner's highly publicized legal woes in Russia and the country's invasion of Ukraine has the top WNBA players opting to take their talents elsewhere this offseason. For the past few decades, Russia has been the preferred offseason destination for WNBA players to compete because of the high salaries that can exceed $1 million and the resources and amenities teams offered them. Nearly a dozen WNBA players competed in Russia last winter and none of them are heading back this year. Like Stewart, Vandersloot also isn't headed back to Russia, choosing to play in Hungary where she obtained citizenship in 2016. The Griner situation also is weighing heavily on the minds of young WNBA players.

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