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☆ Caitlin Clark will reportedly sign a sneaker deal with Nike
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Caitlin Clark is reportedly set to wear her own signature Nike sneaker in the WNBA. Now she’s set to sign an eight-year deal worth up to $28 million with Nike, according to the Wall Street Journal. The Athletic has reported that Clark’s deal includes a signature Nike shoe. CNN has not independently confirmed a deal between Clark and Nike. Nearly all major stars in the NBA have sneaker deals, including James, Kevin Durant and Luka Doncic with Nike and Stephen Curry with Under Armour.

Persons: Caitlin Clark, Clark, LeBron James, Serena Williams, Derek Jeter, James, Kevin Durant, Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Brian Nagel, Sabrina Ionescu, ” Brian Nagel Organizations: New, New York CNN, Nike, WNBA, Wall Street, CNN, State Farm, Gatorade, Panini, NBA, Oppenheimer, New York Liberty Locations: New York

☆ Brady, Jeter, Eli and Peyton Manning headline Fanatics’ effort to build a comic-con of sports
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Ian Thomas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Lance Fensterman, CEO of Fanatics Events and the former president of ReedPop — where he produced pop culture events like New York Comic-Con, Complex-Con, and Star Wars Celebration — said he sees several parallels between pop culture fans and sports fans. However, he noted, while events like New York Comic-Con have evolved to embrace multiple difference fanbases and communities, the sports-focused event space is "ready to be disrupted a bit." Tom Brady, Derek Jeter, Eli and Peyton Manning, Kevin Durant, Sabrina Ionescu and Hulk Hogan are just some of the big sports names scheduled to appear, Fensterman said. "Those are the moments that we get excited about, and we just don't see it being done anywhere else in the world of live sports events," Fensterman said. The festival was the highest-grossing and most-attended fan event in WWE history, according to Fanatics.

Persons: Con, Lance Fensterman, ReedPop, —, You've, Fensterman, Tom Brady, Derek Jeter, Eli, Peyton Manning, Kevin Durant, Sabrina Ionescu, Hulk Hogan Organizations: New York, Star, Fest, Javits Center, NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, UFC, WWE, Endeavor, IMG, WWE's Locations: New York City, U.S, New, Philadelphia

☆ Barclays lands New York Liberty jersey patch deal as WNBA popularity grows
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Ian Thomas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty participates in a 3-point challenge during the State Farm All-Star Saturday Night at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 17, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Barclays is the latest big corporation to align itself with the WNBA, signing a multi-year deal with the New York Liberty that will see the bank's logo appear on the team's jersey. Last season, the Liberty set a new WNBA attendance record with 17,143 fans attending game 3 of the WNBA Finals. New York Liberty CEO Keia Clarke, who earlier this year was named to the CNBC Changemakers list, said the team has seen an influx of interest from corporate partners. Furthermore, 12 of the team's new partners last season had never partnered with a WNBA team.

Persons: Sabrina Ionescu, Joe Tsai, Clara, Breanna Stewart, Keia Clarke, We've, Clarke Organizations: New York Liberty, Lucas Oil, Barclays, WNBA, Barclays Center, NBA's Brooklyn Nets, Alibaba, Liberty, Garden, CNBC Locations: Indianapolis , Indiana, Brooklyn, Madison

☆ The state of women's sports: Top executives weigh in on parity, media share and NIL regulations
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

From Caitlin Clark fever in Iowa to a packed house of 92,000 fans for women's volleyball in Nebraska, women's sports have never been more at the forefront. Last year saw record media deals for women's sports as the NCAA and NWSL both inked groundbreaking agreements. David Dow | Getty ImagesCathy Engelbert, commissioner of the Women's National Basketball Association: One of the obstacles is the undervaluation of our assets. Jayna Hefford, senior vice president of operations for the Professional Women's Hockey League: Women's sports still struggle to secure prime broadcast windows, consistent airtime and traditional media coverage. Steven Ferdman | Getty ImagesAmy Howe, FanDuel CEO: Women's sports need to continue to position their star athletes (i.e.

Persons: Caitlin Clark, Matthew Holst, there's, Renie Anderson, Jessica Berman, Jesse Grant, CNBC Jessica Berman, Cathy Engelbert, Breanna Stewart, David Dow, Jessica Gelman, John Lamparski, KAGR, Caitlin Clark's, Jayna Hefford, Haley Rosen, Mollie Marcoux Samaan, Michael Reaves, LPGA we've, Katrina Adams, Louis Armstrong, USTA Billie Jean King, Steven Ryan, Sabrina Ionescu, Coco Gauff, —, Berman, Pamela Duckworth, Engelbert, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Amy Howe, Steven Ferdman, FanDuel, Ionescu, A'ja Wilson, Rosen, Adams, they've, Renie, Anderson, I'm, influencers, Duckworth, Angel Reese, Billie Jean King, Jayna, Mark Blinch Organizations: Iowa Hawkeyes, NCAA, Michigan Wolverines, Carver, Getty, women's, Deloitte, CNBC, NFL, National Women's Soccer League, National Women's Soccer, WNBA, New York Liberty, Kia, Connecticut Sun, National Basketball Association, Business, New York Marriott Marquis Hotel, MIT Sloan Sports Analytics, MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, Sports, Professional Women's Hockey, Association, Tiburon Golf Club, Professional, LPGA, USTA, Louis, USTA Billie, USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, United States Tennis Association, Women's Tennis, Fubo Studios, FuboTV, NBA, Nike, Wall, Spring Studios, Renie Anderson NFL, Toronto, New York, Mattamy Athletic Centre Locations: Iowa City , Iowa, Iowa, Nebraska, Brooklyn , New York, New, New York City, Naples , Florida, NY, Toronto , Ontario, Canada

CNN —Iowa Hawkeyes superstar guard Caitlin Clark became the NCAA’s Division-1 all-time leading scorer in basketball – male or female – against the Ohio State Buckeyes on Sunday, passing Hall of Famer “Pistol” Pete Maravich. Supernova talentIowa guard Caitlin Clark broke the scoring record with a pair of free throws at the end of the first half. “It’s not anything that’s really been done in women’s basketball before,” she said. Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the scoring record. Caitlin Clark became the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer across men’s and women’s basketball.

Persons: Caitlin Clark, Pete Maravich, Clark, “, that’s, ”, Angel Reese, ’, She’s, Pete ” Maravich, Maravich, Jaeson Maravich, University of Washington’s Kelsey Plum, Lynette Woodard, Cliff Jette, Steph Curry, Sabrina Ionescu Organizations: CNN, Iowa Hawkeyes, Ohio State Buckeyes, Famer, Ohio State, NCAA, Sunday, LSU Tigers, LSU, Clark’s University of Iowa, Gatorade, Nike, State Farm, “, of Famer, Yahoo Sports, University of Washington’s, Kansas, Hawkeyes, Iowa, TNT Sports, NBA, WNBA, Indiana Fever, NCAA Division Locations: Ohio, Iowa, Des Moines , Iowa, men’s

☆ Caitlin Clark: Iowa’s NCAA record-breaking basketball supernova who everyone is talking about
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

In her third season with the team, Iowa reached its first ever NCAA women’s basketball national championship game, though the Hawkeyes eventually lost to LSU. Jensen remembers Clark saying, “Now, what else can we do?” moments after becoming the all-time top scorer in collegiate women’s basketball. I would love to see that.”Clark signs an autograph after becoming the all-time NCAA women's college basketball top scorer. Matthew Putney/APWhat is undeniable are the eyeballs Clark has brought to college women’s basketball. Reese's gesture toward Clark during the second half of the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball national championship game became one of the biggest talking points of the college basketball season.

Persons: CNN — Clark, Caitlin Clark, ’, She’s, Clark, Pete Maravich, Pete ’ –, Maravich’s, Angel Reese, –, Kelsey Plum's, Matthew Putney, Christyn Williams, Carmen Mandato, Steph Curry, Sabrina Ionescu, skillset, Jan Jensen, Jensen, Joseph Cress, Zion Williamson, Kelsey Plum, Anthony Davis, Maya Moore, Allen Iverson, Brittney Griner, Shaquille O’Neal, – Clark, ‘ Stephen, Sabrina ’ –, “ Let’s, Reggie Miller, Damian Lillard, Steph, Sabrina, who’s, Dame, ” Clark, Caitlin, ” Jensen, she’s, Matthew Holst, LSU’s Reese, Reese, John Cena, Tony Gutierrez, Sheryl Swoopes –, Swoopes –, ”, Sheryl Swoopes, Jay Williams, “, “ I’m, doesn’t, WILT, … — Dick Vitale, @DickieV, Dick Vitale, Wilt Chamberlain Organizations: CNN, NCAA, Clark’s University of Iowa, Gatorade, Nike, State Farm, Louisiana State, LSU Tigers, Hawkeyes, Iowa, LSU, UConn Huskies, NBA, WNBA, Michigan, Iowa City Press, Citizen, USA, Indiana Fever, Hall of Famer, Carver, WWE, ESPN, Duke Blue Devils, FAIR Locations: men’s, Des Moines , Iowa, Iowa, ‘

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — NBA All-Star weekend in Indianapolis had plenty of winners. There was Karl-Anthony Towns, the fourth player to score at least 50 in an All-Star Game. They’ll be busy for a while after the Eastern Conference’s 211-186 victory over the Western Conference on Sunday night in the highest-scoring All-Star Game. Some takeaways from Indianapolis:Photos You Should See View All 33 ImagesALL THOSE POINTSScoring 186 points is something that only two teams in the history of the All-Star Game had done before Sunday night. That’s the kind of game it’s going to be.”STEPH VS. SABRINAFor many, what happened Saturday night — Curry beating Ionescu — will be the highlight of All-Star weekend.

Persons: Damian Lillard, Michael Jordan, Stephen Curry, Sabrina Ionescu, Karl, Anthony Towns, They’ll, it’s, Here’s, ” Lillard, you’ve, STEPH VS, SABRINA, — Curry, Ionescu —, Sabrina, Curry, ” Ionescu, San Francisco —, Ionescu, They’re, Adrian Griffin, Joe Prunty, Doc Rivers –, Lillard, “ We’ve, Giannis Antetokounmpo, “, we’re, ”, Tyrese, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Anthony Davis, ___ Organizations: INDIANAPOLIS, Western Conference, West, New York Liberty, NBA, Lillard, Bucks, Milwaukee, ” Bucks, Pacers, Indy, Eastern Conference, Boston Locations: Indianapolis, San Francisco, —, Milwaukee, Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana, Phoenix

☆ All the celebrities we spotted at the 73rd NBA All-Star Game, from Lil Wayne to Ivanka Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Amanda Goh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The 73rd NBA All-Star Game took place on Sunday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. AdvertisementThe 73rd NBA All-Star Game took place on Sunday in Indianapolis, and it was a star-studded affair. Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump attend the 73rd NBA All-Star Game. Lil Wayne sits courtside during the 73rd NBA All-Star Game. AdvertisementDylan Wang attends the 73rd NBA All-Star Game.

Persons: Lil Wayne, Guy Fieri, Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, —, LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, East —, Antetokounmpo —, Kevin Mazur, Jennifer Hudson preforms, Justin Casterline, Jennifer Hudson, David Daniel Otunga Jr, Chris Tucker, Destin Christopher Tucker, Anthony Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu, Ionescu, Stephen Curry, Curry, Spike Lee, Jackson Lee, Bill Murray, Chainz, Babyface —, AJ McLean, Donnie Wahlberg, Jenny McCarthy, Dylan Wang, Wang, Shannon, Team Stephen A Organizations: NBA, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Service, East, West, Gainbridge, New York Liberty, WNBA, Getty, Lucas Oil, Team Locations: Gainbridge, Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Stephen Curry was on a roll — and it was barely enough to beat Sabrina Ionescu. The Golden State star and NBA's all-time 3-point king beat Ionescu 29-26 in the Steph vs. Sabrina competition at All-Star Saturday night, the first such him-vs.-her event of its kind at the league's weekend showcase. Ionescu won the WNBA's 3-point shootout at its All-Star weekend last year with a record 37 points, smashing Curry's NBA-shootout mark of 31 points. From there, a challenge was thrown down and the plan was concocted for them to meet at All-Star weekend. Curry's prize was a championship belt, with images of goats — as in, GOATs — on either side.

Persons: — Stephen Curry, Sabrina Ionescu, Ionescu, Steph, Sabrina, ” Ionescu Organizations: INDIANAPOLIS, Golden State, NBA, WNBA

☆ NBA All-Star Weekend: Steph Curry and Sabrina Ionescu to go head-to-head to crown basketball’s best three-point shooter
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The two sharpshooters will face off over All-Star Weekend in the first NBA vs. WNBA three-point contest to settle a long-running debate. Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports/ReutersA dream crossover match-upCurry is a two-time NBA three-point contest champion and holds the league’s record for most career three-pointers made (3,642). However, in 2023, Ionescu set the WNBA record for most three-pointers in a single-season (128). ET, before the three-point contest showcases some of the best talent from deep. Curry vs. Ionescu and the Slam Dunk competition then round out the evening.

Persons: Steph Curry, Sabrina Ionescu, ” Ionescu, “ We’re, ” Curry, Stephen, Sabrina ’ Curry, Ionescu, Curry, Gary A, Vasquez, ”, “, Elsa, Malik Beasley, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard, Lauri Markkanen, Donovan Mitchell, Karl, Anthony Towns, Trae Young, Gainbridge, Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, Joel Embiid, ’, CNN’s Ben Church Organizations: CNN, NBA, WNBA, Lucas Oil, TNT, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA Foundation, York, Connecticut Sun, Indiana Pacers, Eastern, Western, East, Black Colleges, Universities, Virginia Union, Winston, Salem State, G League, –, G, Indian Convention, TNT Sports, Turner Sports, Warner Bros, Discovery, Warner Bros . Locations: Indianapolis , Indiana, Indianapolis, Salem

She's the player with the best 3-point contest performance in NBA or WNBA history. Ionescu talked to Curry's girls that night and neither they, nor their dad, forgot that act of kindness. This is what sports is about.”Here's how we got here: Ionescu put on a shooting show for all-time in the WNBA's 3-point contest last summer. She had just scored 37 shootout points; Curry's best in the NBA version of the 3-point contest is 31. It is already sounding like this one will be the matchup maybe everyone wants to see on the All-Star stage.

Persons: He's, who's, Sabrina Ionescu, Stephen Curry, She's, Steph, Sabrina, “ It's, ” Ionescu, “, Ionescu, they've, Curry, ” Curry, you’ve, ”, Brandin Podziemski, I’ve, Podziemski, there's Mac McClung, there's Victor Wembanyama, “ We're, ” Dallas, Irving, she's, It's, Kevin Durant, ” Durant, Ionescu’s SI20, I’m Organizations: NBA, WNBA, New York Liberty, Golden State Warriors, Warriors, Cal, Sacramento, Ionescu’s, State Farm, NBA Foundation Locations: Indianapolis, Oregon, ”

Stephen Curry is headed back to NBA All-Star weekend. “Stephen vs. Sabrina” will happen as part of All-Star Saturday Night in Indianapolis on Feb. 17. Curry, the NBA’s all-time 3-point king, will take on the reigning WNBA 3-point shootout queen and single-season record holder Ionescu. That topped Curry’s NBA 3-point contest best of 31. Curry will shoot from the NBA 3-point line with NBA basketballs, and Ionescu will shoot from the WNBA 3-point line with WNBA basketballs.

Persons: Stephen Curry, Sabrina Ionescu, “ Stephen, Sabrina ”, Curry, Ionescu, “, Brandin Podziemski, I’ve, ” Curry, Podziemski, Ionescu’s SI20, Victor Wembanyama, Brandon Miller, Charlotte, Scoot Henderson, Henderson, Chet Holmgren, Cason Wallace, Washington’s Bilal Coulibaly, Utah’s Keyonte George, Utah’s Keyonte George , New Orleans ’ Jordan Hawkins, Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr, Dallas ’ Dereck, Paolo Banchero, Paolo Banchero , New Orleans ’ Dyson Daniels, Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey, Utah’s Walker Kessler, Indiana’s Bennedict, Sacramento’s Keegan Murray, Portland’s Shaedon Sharpe, Houston’s Jabari Smith, Jalen Williams, Mac McClung, Izan Almansa, Matas Buzelis, Ron Holland, Tyler Smith, Oscar Tshiebwe, Alondes Williams, ___ Organizations: NBA, WNBA, Sacramento, Ionescu’s, State Farm, NBA Foundation, San Antonio, Rising, G, Oklahoma City, Detroit, League Locations: Indianapolis, Portland, Utah’s Keyonte George , New Orleans, Paolo Banchero , New Orleans, Oklahoma

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Five-time Olympic gold medalist Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner head up the USA Basketball Women’s National Team roster announced Thursday for a pair of November exhibition games and training camp in Atlanta. The national team will play the Tennessee Lady Vols on Nov. 5 in Knoxville and Duke on Nov. 12. The team will hold a training camp Nov. 7-9 in Atlanta as the U.S. women chase an eighth straight Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This roster features seven Olympians including two-time gold medalist Griner (2016 and 2021), Angel McCoughtry (2012 and 2016), Ariel Atkins (2021), Gray (2021 in 3-on-3), Kelsey Plum (2021 in 3-on-3) and Jackie Young (2021 in 3-on-3). Stephanie White, the 2023 WNBA Coach of the Year with Connecticut, will be at training camp and a court coach at Duke.

Persons: Diana Taurasi, Brittney, A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Chelsea Gray, Taurasi, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Sabrina Ionescu, Azurá Stevens, Griner, Angel McCoughtry, Ariel Atkins, Gray, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Betnijah Laney, Plum, Ionescu, Dearica, Natasha Howard, Arike Ogunbowale, Cheryl Reeve, Mike Thibault, Curt Miller, Tanisha Wright, Stephanie White, ___ Organizations: USA Basketball Women’s, Team, Tennessee Lady Vols, Duke, USA Basketball, Paris Games, Las Vegas Aces, WNBA, Atkins, New York Liberty, Aces, Boston, Sparks, Minnesota Lynx, Mystics Locations: COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo, Atlanta, Knoxville, Sydney, Connecticut

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

Las Vegas did it without starters Chelsea Gray and Kiah Stokes, who were both sidelined with foot injuries suffered in Game 3. Las Vegas was also still missing veteran Candace Parker, who had foot surgery in late July. The Aces got the ball to Wilson on a lob, but Breanna Stewart blocked the shot, giving New York one last chance. After a timeout with 8.8 seconds left, the Liberty got the ball to Stewart, who was double-teamed. The first three games of the WNBA Finals were also routs, with New York winning Game 3 87-73 to stave off elimination.

Persons: A'ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Kiah Stokes, Gray, Candace Parker, “ We’ve, Alysha Clark, ” Wilson, Jackie Young, Courtney Vandersloot, York's, Kelsey Plum, Sabrina Ionescu's, Becky Hammon, Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Stewart, “, we’ve, Sandy Brondello, ” Vandersloot, Betnijah Laney, Hammon, ”, ” Stewart, ” Hammon, Clark, Cayla George, Stokes, George, Ionescu, Sue Bird, Dawn Staley, Wilson —, Vickie Johnson, Sue Wicks, Jennifer Connelly, Issa Rae, Jason Sudeikis, ___ Organizations: Las Vegas Aces, New York Liberty, The Aces, Los Angeles Sparks, Houston Comets, Las Vegas, Aces, New York, Liberty, ”, Seattle Storm, New, WNBA Locations: Vegas, New, midcourt, New York, South Carolina

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

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty are poised to tip off their highly anticipated WNBA Finals showdown, a matchup of the preseason favorites projected to battle for the title. “This is kind of like our March Madness and anything goes,” Las Vegas forward A'ja Wilson said. Las Vegas set an WNBA record with 34 regular-season victories this season. Political Cartoons View All 1202 ImagesA Liberty championship would be their first, and fulfill the hopes of the several blockbuster offseason moves. They also were opposing captains at this year's All-Star Game in Las Vegas, with Team Stewart winning by 16 points.

Persons: blowouts, A'ja Wilson, “, Angeles Sparks, Becky Hammon, Sandy Brondello, ” Brondello, Breanna Stewart, Stewart, you’re, Wilson, ” Wilson, “ I'm, STEWIE Stewart, Kelsey Plum, Sabrina Ionescu, Plum, ”, Darren Waller, Ionescu, Doug Feinberg, ___ Organizations: LAS VEGAS, Las Vegas Aces, New York Liberty, Famers, Aces, Angeles, Sparks, Houston Comets, Detroit Shock, Las, Las Vegas, Liberty, Commissioner's, WNBA, NCAA, UConn, Storm, Phoenix Mercury, Mobile, NFL, “ Go Giants, New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders Locations: Las Vegas, York, Seattle, 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

She finished the regular season second in the league in scoring, averaging a career-best 23 points a game. It’s been a lot of amazing basketball going on this year and makes you feel good going into the playoffs.”Stewart narrowly edged Las Vegas' A'ja Wilson by one vote from the 12-member media. It's the fourth time that an Aces player has won the award with Clark joining Dearica Hamby, who won it twice and Kelsey Plum. Joining them on the first-team are Seattle's Jewell Loyd and Las Vegas' Chelsea Gray. AP WNBA POWER POLLNew York finished atop the power poll with Las Vegas second.

Persons: Breanna Stewart, Stewart, “, ”, It’s, ” Stewart, Wilson, Alyssa Thomas, Thomas, Washington's Brittney Sykes, Alysha Clark, Clark, Dearica Hamby, Kelsey Plum, Connecticut's Stephanie White, Brionna Jones, Achilles, Brittney, Napheesa Collier, Griner, Collier, Satou, Sabally, Grace Berger, Dorka Juhasz, Diamond Miller, Jordan Horston, Haley Jones, Seattle's Jewell Loyd, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Sabrina Ionescu, Arike, Ogunbowale, ___ Organizations: Liberty, Associated, Aces, Las Vegas, AP, WNBA, Sun, Boston, Indiana Fever, Dallas Wings, Diamond Miller of, Las, AP WNBA, New York, Aces ., Phoenix Locations: Seattle, New York, Diamond Miller of Minnesota, Atlanta, Las Vegas, . Connecticut, Dallas, Washington, Aces . Atlanta, Minnesota, Chicago, Los Angeles, Indiana

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

☆ 7 marketing agencies and firms dedicated to creating sponsorship opportunities for women in sports with brands like Microsoft and Ferrari
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Margaret Fleming | Ashley Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Data suggests women athletes, who generally earn less on-field than men, rely more on sponsorships for their income. Some sports-marketing firms have emerged to fill the gap, connecting women athletes with brands. And, at the college level, brands are finding young women athletes like Olivia Dunne are among the best-performing partners on social media. A crop of sports-marketing companies has emerged to bridge this gap with a focus on helping women athletes partner with brands. Insider is highlighting seven sports-marketing companies focused on partnerships between women athletes and brands in 2023, based on our reporting and nominations from industry experts.

Persons: Elena Delle Donne, Sabrina Ionescu, Sue Bird, Naomi Osaka, Olivia Dunne, Wasserman, Brew Organizations: WNBA, Nike, Star, The, Forbes, Wasserman

☆ 7 sports-marketing agencies and firms helping women athletes score sponsorship deals and capitalize on surging popularity
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Margaret Fleming | Ashley Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Data suggests women athletes, who generally earn less on-field than men, rely more on sponsorships for their income. Some sports-marketing firms have emerged to fill the gap, connecting women athletes with brands. Below are seven agencies and firms focused on helping athletes in women's sports score brand deals. A crop of sports-marketing companies has emerged to bridge this gap with a focus on helping women athletes partner with brands. Insider is highlighting seven sports-marketing companies focused on partnerships between women athletes and brands in 2023, based on our reporting and nominations from industry experts.

Persons: Elena Delle Donne, Sabrina Ionescu, Sue Bird, Naomi Osaka, Olivia Dunne, Wasserman, Brew Organizations: WNBA, Nike, Star, The, Forbes, Wasserman

☆ Sabrina Ionescu Missed Her NCAA Tournament Moment. Now She Is Making WNBA Ones.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Robert O Connell | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/sports/basketball/sabrina-ionescu-wnba-new-york-liberty-76ee37f4

Persons: Dow Jones, sabrina, ionescu

☆ 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.

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