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☆ UConn's Paige Bueckers is an early favorite for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA draft. Here's why the internet is loving her right now.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Mykenna Maniece | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Paige Bueckers, 22, is a star guard on UConn's women's basketball team. Her style and support for her teammates at this year's draft have gotten a lot of love online. AdvertisementPaige Bueckers was one of the most-talked-about names after the 2024 WNBA draft on Monday, April 15, and she wasn't even one of the recruits. The 2023 WNBA season was "its most-watched regular season in 21 years," the league reported, and Deloitte predicted women's sports will surpass $1 billion in revenue for the first time. AdvertisementGet to know Paige Bueckers before she returns to UConn for her last dance and discover why she's the internet's latest obsession.

Persons: Paige Bueckers, She's, —, Louis Vuitton, Bueckers, Aaliyah Edwards, Nika Mühl, tweeting, Edwards, Kris Jenner, eyeing, Caitlin Clark, Naismith, Clark, Angel Reese Organizations: UConn, WNBA, Service, Washington Mystics, Seattle Storm, Best, Big East, NCAA, Deloitte

☆ Opinion: Caitlin Clark is still the GOAT, but she’s not the only one
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Opinion Amy Bass | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

This year’s women’s tournament just kept getting better with every turn. That intensity is proof positive that women’s basketball has exploded. The valuation of the college game, too, is on a meteoric rise. Caitlin Clark talks with the media after Iowa's loss to South Carolina in the 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament National Championship on April 7. “I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport… she carried a heavy load,” Staley said.

Persons: Amy Bass, Read, CNN —, Georgeann Wells, Ashlyn Watkins, Rodney Bedsole, Caitlin Clark, There’s, Tara VanDerveer’s, Geno Auriemma, Rebecca Lobo, Renee Montgomery, Kerry Bascom, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart, Dawn Staley, Pat Summit’s Lady, Clark, Kamilla Cardoso, Staley, It’s, Aaliyah Edwards, Cardoso, Paige Bueckers, Watkins, Angel Reese, We’ve, Reese, Stewart, Taylor Swift, –, ’, Clark pandemonium –, Jason Sudeikis, Steph Chambers, MiLaysia Fulwiley, Tessa Johnson, ” Staley, Stanford’s Cameron Brink, Tennessee’s Rickea Jackson, Edwards, “, Serena Williams, ” Reese, ” Kamilla Cardoso, Gregory Shamus Organizations: Manhattanville College, CNN, University of Charleston, Iowa, NCAA, Louisiana Tech, Cheyney, Nykesha, CBS, Pat Summit’s Lady Vols, Tennessee, Auriemma’s Huskies, Gamecocks, US Women’s National, WNBA, Seattle, LSU, UConn, MLB, NHL, MLS, ESPN, Getty, North, Vogue, South Carolina Gamecocks, Indiana Fever, Las Vegas Aces, Fever, Mobile, South Carolina Locations: West Virginia, South, Stanford, South Carolina, Iowa, North America

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

☆ Inside the WNBA's strategy to partner with companies like Deloitte and Google to propel the league — and how it'll leverage that growth in its next rights negotiations
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Margaret Fleming | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

She listened to her players and what they wanted from the league, including a higher salary cap, but knew she couldn't meet all of their needs. One partner, Deloitte, overhauled the WNBA's app, for example. The current rights deal for the WNBA, which is coming off its largest regular-season viewership in more than two decades, runs through 2025. The mid-season Commissioner's Cup is sponsored by league partner Coinbase. The streaming app WNBA League Pass also brought in viewership, as did deals with Meta and YouTube.

Persons: Cathy Engelbert's, Engelbert, It's, Coinbase, Ethan Miller, Engelbert's, Disney, Nielsen, Ion Organizations: WNBA, Business, Deloitte, Nike, Google, US Bank, Companies, NBA, YouTube, Disney, Team, Seattle Storm's, ESPN, ABC, Scripps Ion, CBS, Meta, Scripps Locations: Las Vegas

☆ A lower-cost bet on a year-end rally in Amazon using options
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Jeff Kilburg | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

I'm going to look at a low cost way to bet on a year-end continuation in the comeback in the shares. That $100 million expenditure is on top of the $1 billion per year Amazon (AMZN) is already paying to broadcast 15 or 16 Thursday Night Football games annually until 2033. Amazon revenue for the 12 months ending September 30, 2023 was not too shabby at $554 billion, a 10 percent increase year-over-year. AMZN mountain 2020-12-31 Amazon since 2020 It is also imperative to remember that Amazon has a vast business with multiple categories from e-commerce to cloud computing. DISCLOSURES: (Long the 1x2 vertical spread and AMZN stock) THE ABOVE CONTENT IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY .

Persons: AMZN Organizations: NFL, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Football, New York Yankees, Seattle Storm, League, English Premier League, behemoth, Amazon, Amazon's AWS, Microsoft, Google Locations: Italy, Germany, India

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

☆ Check out the pitch deck the WNBA's Seattle Storm used to sell stakes that raised the team's valuation to a record-setting $151 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Margaret Fleming | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Since 2008, the WNBA's Seattle Storm has been owned by three local businesswomen: Lisa Brummel, Ginny Gilder, and Dawn Trudeau. Their first decade owning the Storm was about learning how to run the business, Brummel told Insider. The ownership group closed in February 2023 a $21 million raise, Brummel said, which will go toward the new $64 million facility and working capital. The Seattle Storm currently practice in the basement gym of Seattle Pacific University, where Brummel said they get four hours of access per day. "What we've actually done is curated a list of people who really care about the team," Brummel said.

Persons: Lisa Brummel, Ginny Gilder, Dawn Trudeau, Brummel, we're, It's, aren't, Gilder, Trudeau, Michelle Cardinal, Cardinal Organizations: Seattle Storm, NBA, SuperSonics, Oklahoma City, Storm, WNBA, Chicago Sky, Las Vegas Aces, Seattle Pacific University Locations: Seattle, Oklahoma

☆ Liberty star Stewart named WNBA MVP
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sep 24, 2023; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) brings the ball up court in the fourth quarter against the Connecticut Sun during game one of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs at Barclays Center. "Stewie’s first season with the New York Liberty has been nothing short of historic on every level," Liberty General Manager Jonathan Kolb said in a statement. Alyssa Thomas, a forward for the Connecticut Sun, finished second in the voting in a close race while last year's MVP, Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson, finished third. Stewart, the Liberty's first MVP, arrived in Brooklyn this season as one of the most highly sought-after free agents following her prolific tenure in Seattle. The twice Finals MVP finished second in scoring and third in both rebounding and total blocks, with a career-best average of 23 points per game.

Persons: Breanna Stewart, Wendell Cruz, Jonathan Kolb, Alyssa Thomas, A'ja Wilson, Stewart, Amy Tennery, Toby Davis Organizations: New York Liberty, Connecticut Sun, Barclays Center, National Basketball Association, Brooklyn, Seattle Storm, WNBA, Liberty, Las Vegas Aces, Thomson Locations: Brooklyn , New York, USA, Brooklyn, Seattle, New 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

The next thing Bird knew, the medal was being passed up and down the aisles so everyone could touch it. FIBA formally introduced Bird, the now-retired U.S. great, on Friday as the global ambassador for the 2026 Women’s Basketball World Cup that will be played in Berlin. Bird takes the role from Pau Gasol, who served as ambassador for the 2022 women's tournament in Sydney. “What’s really symbolic about that moment is when you’re representing your country, it’s not just you,” Bird said in Manila, where the men’s World Cup is wrapping up this weekend. And I’m sure she’ll get others also to join her.”Bird is the only player with four women's World Cup gold medals.

Persons: Sue Bird, Bird, Pau Gasol, “, it’s, ” Bird, “ It’s, It’s, —, ” Gasol, Sue, I'm, she’ll, Andreas Zagklis, ” Organizations: Athens Olympics, FIBA, women’s, USA Basketball's, WNBA, Tokyo, Basketball Hall of Fame, Tokyo Games, Seattle Storm, U.S . Locations: MANILA, Philippines, Berlin, Sydney, Manila, USA, Connecticut

CNN —Nearly five months after she was released from Russian detention, WNBA star Brittney Griner says it feels “a little overwhelming” to return to public life given the widespread interest in her case. Griner spent nearly 300 days in custody before being released as part of a prisoner swap involving Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in December. She has since been reintegrating into life in the United States, meeting with US President Joe Biden, attending the Met Gala on Monday, and preparing for the season ahead with the Phoenix Mercury. “I didn’t think it could get that big,” Griner told reporters during the Mercury’s annual preseason media day on Wednesday. Griner arrives back in the United States in December.

☆ Seattle Storm Share Sale Values Team at WNBA Record $151 Million
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Rachel Bachman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Seattle Storm have sold minority stakes in the team that value the Women’s National Basketball Association franchise at a record $151 million, the team’s owners said. The sale of stakes to 15 investors will help finance a $64 million, 50,000-square-foot practice facility and business office for the Storm, which is set to break ground this month, team owners Ginny Gilder and Lisa Brummel said.

☆ The New York Liberty Sign Breanna Stewart, and Build Their Superteam
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Robert O'Connell | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Breanna Stewart has done just about everything a basketball player can do. In college, at the University of Connecticut, she won four NCAA tournament championships in four years and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player each time. With Team USA in the Olympics, she’s won two gold medals. Over six seasons with the Seattle Storm, she won two WNBA titles and an MVP award. Bringing a championship to a basketball-crazed city that hasn’t seen an NBA or WNBA title since 1973.

☆ 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.

☆ 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.

☆ Storm to retire four-time WNBA champion Bird's number 10 jersey
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 19 (Reuters) - The Seattle Storm will retire four-times WNBA champion Sue Bird's No. 10 jersey, the team said on Thursday, months after the 42-year-old called time on one of the most decorated careers in basketball. "When Sue came to Seattle, they embraced her and obviously she embraced Seattle back," said former team mate Breanna Stewart. The five-time Olympic gold medalist earned a record 13 WNBA All-Star selections during her career and is only the second Storm player to have her number retired after Australian three-time WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson. Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York, editing by Pritha SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ 'She is coming home': WNBA players cheer Griner's release
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 8 (Reuters) - Brittney Griner's Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) team mates and fellow athletes cheered her release from Russian custody on Thursday, months after she was first detained in a Moscow airport. Emma Cannon, who plays for the Indiana Fever and was previously on Griner's Phoenix Mercury, wrote on Twitter. "Thank you to every single person that kept Brittney Griner’s name alive," her Phoenix Mercury team mate Brianna Turner tweeted. The WNBA and its men's counterpart, the National Basketball Association (NBA), had advocated for the release of the eight-times All-Star. tweeted twice WNBA champion and finals MVP Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm, who was among the league's vocal advocates for her release.

☆ Amazon's head of sports video is riding the success of 'Thursday Night Football' and setting her sights on deals with the NBA, college sports, and more
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Colin Salao | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Amazon's VP of global sports video spoke Wednesday on "The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast." The exec described how "Thursday Night Football" is attracting a younger demographic to the NFL. She also said Amazon is targeting deals with more "marquee sports partners," like the NBA. Amazon VP of global sports video Marie Donoghue. She mentioned interest in college sports and the NBA, whose current rights deals with Disney and TNT expire after the 2024-25 season.

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