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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

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — It never fails, Tara VanDerveer always takes a minute to thank everybody for coming to the game and that includes offering her immense gratitude to the Stanford band. “This is a tremendous accomplishment for Tara VanDerveer, who is already one of the most accomplished coaches in the history of basketball,” Krzyzewski said in a statement. Oregon State coach Scott Rueck credits VanDerveer for elevating the entire over the decades. Stanford: VanDerveer, who didn't have the playing opportunities growing up before Title IX, has considered herself so fortunate to get an early start in coaching at Idaho in 1978-79. She earned her 1,000th win Feb. 3, 2017, and became winningest women's coach on Dec. 15, 2020, by passing the late Tennessee coach Pat Summitt (1,098).

Persons: Tara VanDerveer, VanDerveer, Mike Krzyzewski, “ It's, ” VanDerveer, It's, “ Tara, Tara, ”, ” Krzyzewski, she’s, Kiki Iriafen, Stanford, Cameron Brink, “, Kiki, Iriafen, Talana, Cardinal, —, Jennifer Azzi, Chiney Ogwumike, Ros Gold, Jayne Appel, Marinelli, State Condoleezza Rice, ” Ogwumike, She's, ” Azzi, Raegan Beers, Brooke Demetre, Scott Rueck, ” Rueck, Pat Summitt Organizations: STANFORD, Calif, Stanford, Duke, Oregon State, of Fame, Fame, Friday’s, Oregon, Maples, Olympic, Atlanta Games, U.S, State, Beavers, Stanford . Oregon State, Title, Idaho, Vandals, Ohio State, Colorado, Arizona State, AP, womens Locations: Maples, Corvallis, Tennessee

☆ The WNBA Finals brought a surge of engagement for advertisers, new data shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Margaret Fleming | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

This year's WNBA Finals brought in more spectators than ever before and the most viewers watching from home in 20 years. Compared to last year's WNBA Finals, fans were 30% more likely to engage online with a brand they saw advertised than they were in 2022, EDO data show. Michelob Ultra ran the most effective ad series during the Finals, tracking 211% above the average Finals engagement rate over its six ads, per EDO. Both the WNBA Finals and playoffs metrics sit well above the average primetime broadcast and cable effectiveness for advertisers, EDO shows. Bosley Hair Restoration and Old Spice were 341% and 134% more effective than 2023 WNBA average, respectively, EDO data show.

Persons: EDO's, Laura Grover, Ultra, Jimmy Butler, Nneka Ogwumike, Oofos, Michelle Cardinal's, Dawn Staley, Darren Brown, Cardinal, Ally, Stephanie Marciano, thad, Bosley Organizations: Las Vegas Aces, EDO, NBA, WNBA, Growth Agency, Brands, Gatorade Locations: York

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson was honored as the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in a row. Wilson received 32 of 60 votes from a national media panel. No other player received more than three votes. In playing for the league's top-rated defense, Wilson also led the WNBA in defensive efficiency rating (93.2) and blocked shots (2.2). This is the third time in four years Wilson led the league in blocked shots.

Persons: HENDERSON, A'ja Wilson, Wilson, Alyssa Thomas, Thomas, Brittney Sykes, Breanna Stewart, Jordin Canada, Betnijah Laney, Ezi, Nneka, Napheesa Collier, Elizabeth Williams, ___ Organizations: Las Vegas Aces, WNBA, Connecticut Sun, Washington Mystics, New York Liberty, Los Angeles Sparks, Liberty, Seattle Storm, Sparks, Minnesota Lynx, Chicago Sky, Aces, Wings Locations: Nev

CNN —Vice President Kamala Harris was among those celebrating the return of Brittney Griner to the WNBA on Friday, five months after the Phoenix Mercury star was released from a Russian penal colony. Harris met with players from both teams before the game and thanked them for their support while Griner was in Russian custody for almost 300 days last year. “A team is a team, that’s family.”Harris addressed the players in their locker room before the game. Mario Tama/Getty ImagesIn return, Los Angeles star and players’ union president Nneka Ogwumike thanked Harris and the Biden administration for securing Griner’s release. “Just appreciating everything because tomorrow is not guaranteed.”Griner scored 18 points on her WNBA return.

☆ There's a bar in Portland that only shows women's sports — and it made nearly $1 million in its first 8 months
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Portland welcomed the city's — and possibly the country's — only sports bar that exclusively shows women's sports on its TVs. Founder and owner Jenny Nguyen told CNBC the business made nearly $1 million in its first eight months. The bar has gone viral online and received the attention of WNBA stars and more. Nguyen told CNBC that the Oregon bar raked in $944,000 in revenue during its first eight months, despite her fears not many would share her love for women's sports. "Me, personally, I thought the idea was brilliant and that (it was) what the world needs," Nguyen told CNBC.

☆ Brittney Griner's return could be the unlikely catalyst that forces the WNBA to relent on its most contentious policy
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( Meredith Cash | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

WNBA free agency is underway, with teams receiving the green light to recruit stars as of this weekend. Top free agent Breanna Stewart has reportedly made charter flights a key issue for teams wooing her. Private flights are not covered by the league's CBA, but Brittney Griner's return may force policy changes. The 2018 MVP took to Twitter to announce that she's prepared to help "subsidize charter travel for the entire WNBA" by offering her "NIL, posts + production hours." Several current WNBA players, including Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike, Elena Delle Donne, Napheesa Collier, Alysha Clark, Erica Wheeler, Kahleah Copper, and Natalie Achonwa, offered their support in the comments.

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