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☆ Can MLB save the starting pitcher? The search for solutions to baseball’s ‘existential crisis’
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Jayson Stark | Ken Rosenthal | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +20 min

Ten active major-league starting pitchers have won a Cy Young Award — and nine of them have spent time on the injured list in 2024. The issue is not only the health of the modern starting pitcher, but the role those starters play in the sport these days. “You’ve got to get the starting pitcher back. But has the starting pitcher crisis risen to that level? If you’re a dominating starting pitcher in this era, it probably means you throw harder than the average pitcher.

Persons: Tom Seaver, Steve Carlton, Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, ’, Cy Young, Baltimore’s Corbin Burnes, Yu Darvish, Justin Steele, ”, Max Scherzer, “ You’ve, Patrick Mahomes, isn’t, that’s, weren’t, here’s, It’s, they’d, you’re, they’re, David Ortiz, Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Adam Wainwright, they’ve, “, North America aren’t, I’ve, you’ve, ” Scherzer, Corbin Burnes, Patrick Smith, Rob Manfred, we’re, “ You’re, wouldn’t, it’s, “ that’s, He’s, Manfred, Eamonn Dalton, Conrad Williams , Jr, Matthew Grimes Jr Organizations: Cy, Wrigley, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Cubs, Padres, Major League Baseball, Texas Rangers, NFL, Athletic, MLB, American League, of Fame, didn’t, Atlantic League, Red Sox, National League, North America, Orioles, Newsday, Getty Images, Atlanta Braves, Getty

☆ 2024 WNBA season: How to watch as a new era of women’s basketball dawns
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Never before has there been such anticipation ahead of a WNBA season. It’ll be a busy opening day of action, with four games on the slate – including Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever debut at 7.30 p.m. 1 pick in April’s 2024 WNBA draft. But now Clark will lace up her shoes for her WNBA debut when she and her Indiana teammates travel to Connecticut to face the Sun. Angel Reese will look to impress in her debut season for the Chicago Sky.

Persons: Caitlin Clark’s Indiana, Clark, TickPick, Caleb Williams, ” Clark, “, Gregory Shamus, Lin Dunn, Los Angeles Sparks –, –, Cameron Brink, Rickea Jackson, Sparks, Jackson, Angel Reese, Melissa Tamez, Kamilla Cardoso, Reese, Cardoso, A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Alysha Clark, Candance Parker, Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, Courtney Vandersloot, Jonquel Jones, Sandy Brondello, Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, Leila Lacan Organizations: CNN, WNBA, Washington Mystics, New York Liberty, Entertainment, Sports Arena, Mystics, Liberty, ESPN3, ESPN, Amazon Prime, ION, NBA, ABC, CBS Sports Network, CBS, Paramount, NCAA, Iowa Hawkeyes, Chicago Bears, Sun, Mohegan Sun, Aliyah, Los Angeles Sparks, Los, Chicago Sky, LSU, Aces, Las Vegas Aces, Las, Barclays Center . The Liberty, Vegas, Connecticut Sun Locations: Washington , DC, Indiana, Connecticut, Aliyah Boston, Boston, Clark, Boston , Indiana, Brink, Los Angeles, Chicago, Illinois, South Carolina, Las Vegas, New York, Angers, France

☆ Candace Parker: WNBA great announces retirement after 16 seasons
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Homero De La Fuente | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Three-time WNBA champion Candace Parker announced her retirement in a post on social media Sunday. 1 overall pick in the 2008 WNBA draft played 16 seasons in the league with the Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky and the Las Vegas Aces. During her career, Parker was a 10-time All-WNBA honoree and seven-time WNBA All-Star. She led the Sparks to 11 playoff appearances in her 13 seasons with the franchise, culminating in a WNBA championship in 2016. “Although the majority of her career was played in opposing uniforms, we were blessed to have her as part of our championship team a year ago.

Persons: Candace Parker, “, I’d, ” Parker, Parker, Sparks, Parker dribbles, David Becker, NBAE, Candace, I’ve, I’m, ” Organizations: CNN, Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky, Las Vegas Aces, Indiana Fever, Sky, Aces, Tennessee Lady Vols, NCAA, Warner Bros, NBA, TNT, NBA TV Locations: Chicago, Las Vegas

☆ Pro Sports in Las Vegas Aren’t Cheered by Everyone
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Ken Belson | Jenny Vrentas | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The history of Las Vegas has been marked by a relentless churn of hotels, casinos, theaters and restaurants. The Golden Knights of the National Hockey League were the first to start play here in 2017. The Aces of the Women’s National Basketball Association started in 2018, and the National Football League’s Raiders arrived from Oakland in 2020. Last year, Major League Baseball’s Athletics were given the go-ahead to make the same Oakland-to-Las Vegas move, and the National Basketball Association is expected to add a team in the coming years. Las Vegas’s transformation into a pro sports town reflects not just the leagues’ interest in the city and their general embrace of sports betting, but also the power of the region’s primary economic driver, tourism.

Organizations: Golden Knights, National Hockey League, Aces, National Basketball Association, National Football League’s Raiders, Major League Baseball’s Athletics, Allegiant, Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers Locations: Vegas, Oakland, United States

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) — A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces are poised for a possible three-peat as WNBA champions and continue one of the greatest runs in league history. They capped off a history-making regular season with a second consecutive championship and their core group of players — WNBA Finals MVP Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray — are all returning. She stepped up Wednesday when Las Vegas needed her most, playing without Gray and starting center Kiah Stokes. She was a major reason Las Vegas won 34 games in the regular season and went 8-1 in the playoffs. New York should be Las Vegas' biggest obstacle in the Aces bid to three-peat.

Persons: — A’ja Wilson, Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray —, ”, Gray, Candace Parker, Parker, “, ” Wilson, Cynthia Cooper, Dyke, Sheryl Swoopes, Kiah Stokes, “ We’ve, Alysha Clark, Becky Hammon, She's, Van Chancellor, John Kundla, ___ Organizations: Las Vegas Aces, WNBA, Gray, Aces, The Aces, Los Angeles Sparks, Houston Comets, Sparks, Chicago, of Famers, Las Vegas, Van, Comets, Minneapolis Lakers Locations: Vegas, New York, Las

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

BRUSSELS, Oct 17 (Reuters) - European Union leaders aim on Tuesday to settle on a united approach to the crisis triggered by the Hamas attack on Israel after days of confusion, infighting and mixed messaging. Some officials and lawmakers also criticized von der Leyen, who visited Israel on Friday, for not declaring that the EU expects Israel to abide by international humanitarian law in its response to the attack, as other EU leaders did. Von der Leyen stated that position publicly for the first time at the weekend. Commission officials have insisted von der Leyen had already conveyed the message privately to Israeli officials and defended her swift visit to Israel as an important sign of solidarity. The EU leaders are likely to task ministers with exploring potential risks in more detail, according to officials.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel, Von der, von der Leyen, Von der Leyen, der Leyen, Michel, John Irish, Andrew Gray, Howard Goller Organizations: Union, European Council, EU, European, Von der Leyen's, Israel, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Israel, Gaza, Europe

NEW YORK (AP) — Chelsea Gray is out at least for Game 4 of the WNBA Finals after suffering an injury to her left foot Sunday. The Las Vegas Aces star guard was wearing a boot on her foot and had it propped up on a scooter she used to get into practice Tuesday. I'm waiting for more information, it's not good,” said Gray, who was going to wait until she got back to Las Vegas for further evaluation. Las Vegas also will be missing forward Kiah Stokes, who had a boot on her right foot. Political Cartoons View All 1211 ImagesGame 4 is Wednesday night in New York and Las Vegas leads the best-of-five series 2-1.

Persons: — Chelsea Gray, it's, ”, Gray, Kiah Stokes, ” Stokes, “ There's, ” Gray, couldn't, “, Becky Hammon, Stokes, Sydney Colson, Cayla George, Candace Parker, Riquna Williams, hasn't, — Gray, A'ja Wilson, Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum, Dearica Hamby, Hamby, ” Hammon, ___ Organizations: WNBA, Las Vegas Aces, Las Vegas, Liberty, Aces, Sydney, Nevada Equal Rights Commission, Commission Locations: Las Vegas, Vegas, 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

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

☆ 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

Dearica Hamby filed a gender discrimination complaint last week against the WNBA and the Las Vegas Aces, saying her former team and its coach, Becky Hammon, retaliated against her after she informed them she was pregnant. Hamby filed the complaint with the Nevada Equal Rights Commission and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, according to a copy of the complaint obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday. That came after Hamby told the team she was pregnant with her second child. In May, Hammon refuted Hamby’s claims and said the Aces traded the two-time WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year because it was best for the team. Any team can trade any player for any reason or no reason at all.

Persons: Dearica Hamby, Becky Hammon, Hamby, Hammon, “, ”, Hamby’s, ” Hammon Organizations: WNBA, Las Vegas Aces, Nevada Equal Rights Commission, Opportunity, The Associated Press, Los Angeles Sparks, Washington Post, Aces, Sparks, “, Players, Union Locations: 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

NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA once again had strong metrics as the league had its most-watched regular season in 21 years and its highest average attendance since 2018. Viewership was up 21% over last year across its national television partners and the league's average attendance of 6,615 fans was the WNBA's highest since the 2018 season. An expanded schedule to 40 games this season helped the league gain its highest total attendance in 13 years (1,587,488). Las Vegas also hosted the highest-attended game this season, drawing a crowd of 17,406 on Sunday against Brittney Griner and the Phoenix Mercury on the final day of the regular season. That game was played at the bigger T-Mobile Arena as opposed to the Aces regular venue, which seats about 12,000.

Persons: Cathy Engelbert, Brittney Griner, Nikki Fargas, ___ Organizations: WNBA, Aces, Phoenix Mercury, Mobile, ” Aces, ESPN Locations: Vegas

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Chelsea Gray had 20 points and seven assists, Jackie Young added 18 points and the top-seeded Las Vegas Aces beat the Chicago Sky 87-59 on Wednesday night to begin a WNBA playoff series. Las Vegas, which had the best record in the league at 34-6, has won all four matchups with Chicago this season. Alysha Clark added 13 points. Plum had a team-high 13 points in the first half and Young added 10 points as Las Vegas led 53-36. Las Vegas extended it to 80-50 after an 8-0 run, including six straight points from Gray.

Persons: — Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum, A’ja Wilson, Alysha Clark, Kahleah Copper, Courtney Williams, Wilson, Gray, Plum, Young, ___ Organizations: LAS VEGAS, Las Vegas Aces, Chicago Sky, Aces, Chicago, Vegas, Kahleah, Las Vegas Locations: Vegas, Chicago, Las

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

NEW YORK (AP) — A'ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces will have homecourt advantage throughout the WNBA playoffs — a place they only lost once during the regular season. It wouldn't have mattered if the Liberty won that game because the Aces beat Phoenix to finish the regular season 34-6. “If you had said 34-6 to me back in May, I would have jumped at that in a second,” Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon said. The other half of Las Vegas' bracket features fourth-seeded Dallas against No. The two teams played a thriller to conclude the regular season on Sunday that ended when Brittney Sykes put in a lob at the buzzer to lift the Mystics to a 90-88 win.

Persons: — A'ja Wilson, Becky Hammon, Brittney Sykes, “, Natasha Cloud, you’ve Organizations: Las Vegas Aces, Liberty, Aces, Phoenix, Dallas, Minnesota, Connecticut, Washington, Mystics, Los Angeles Locations: Washington, Las Vegas, Vegas, Atlanta, tiebreakers, Seattle, Phoenix , Indiana, Los

There are several playoff spots still up for grabs in the final week of the WNBA's regular season. The Liberty visit Dallas on Tuesday before hosting Los Angeles on Thursday and Washington on Sunday. Los Angeles caps off the season with road games at Connecticut, New York and Seattle. The Lynx became just the second team to start 0-6 and qualify for the playoffs, joining the 2015 Los Angeles Sparks. Dallas, Minnesota and Los Angeles followed the Sun.

Persons: haven't, Kristi Toliver, Eric Thibault, We’re, She's, Napheesa Collier, A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Kelsey Mitchell, Jewell Loyd, ___ Organizations: Connecticut, Aces, Phoenix, Liberty, Dallas, Los Angeles, Washington, Sunday, Wings, Lynx, Angeles Sparks, Indiana, Sparks ., WNBA, Mystics, AP, York, Vegas, Sun, Minnesota, Seattle, Atlanta Locations: Vegas and New York, Los, Chicago, Angeles, Connecticut , New York, Seattle, Dallas, Minnesota, Connecticut, Atlanta, Washington, Sparks . Indiana, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Dallas , Minnesota, Sun . Washington, Indiana, Las Vegas, New York

☆ 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.

☆ Aces coach Hammon denies mistreating pregnant player
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The WNBA suspended Hammon for two games on Tuesday, saying she had violated "Respect in the Workplace" policies. The violation "was related to comments made by Hammon to Hamby in connection with Hamby’s recent pregnancy", the league said in a statement. The league also docked the Aces their 2025 first-round pick for offering "impermissible benefits" related to Hamby's contract extension negotiations. Hammon told reporters that while she did ask about Hamby's pregnancy, she never made derogatory remarks and that their relationship was amicable until she informed the former first-round draft pick that she would be traded. She took the reins in early 2022 after eight years as an assistant coach with the NBA's San Antonio Spurs.

☆ Aces lose 2025 first-round pick, Hammon suspended for WNBA rule violations
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 16 (Reuters) - The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) stripped defending champions Las Vegas Aces of their 2025 first-round draft pick and suspended head coach Becky Hammon for two games without pay for violating league rules on Tuesday. Hammon, who took the reins last year after eight years as an assistant coach with the NBA's San Antonio Spurs, was found to have committed a "Respect in the Workplace" violation with comments regarding Hamby's recent pregnancy. The investigation, however, was not able to substantiate concerns over the Aces' conduct during the off-season. The Next reported in February that The Aces were under investigation by the WNBA for circumventing the salary cap. "The Aces failed to adhere to league rules and regulations and have been disciplined accordingly.

☆ Opinion | What We Lose When We Push Our Kids to ‘Achieve’
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Adam Gopnik | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

I know there are objections to his view: At some moment, all accomplishment, however self-directed, has to become professional, lucrative, real. And surely many of the things that our kids are asked to achieve can lead to self-discovery; taught well, they may learn to love new and unexpected things for their own sake. There are many drugs that we swallow or inject in our veins; this is one drug that we produce in our brains, and to good effect. The hobbyist or retiree taking a course in batik or yoga, who might be easily patronized by achievers, has rocket fuel in her hands. The pursuit of accomplishment, what I call the real work, never ends, and always surprises.

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