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LAS VEGAS (AP) — The famous fountains at the Bellagio won't be very visible this week amid the roar of Formula One racing on the Las Vegas Strip, and gondoliers won't be serenading tourists at the Venetian resort. They hope Las Vegas will join Monaco on the leader board of host cities for Grand Prix events around the world. Green remembered Las Vegas Boulevard casino-hotels including the Dunes, Barbary Coast, Frontier, Silver Slipper, Sands, Desert Inn and Stardust. Huge properties new to the resort corridor include Resorts World, which opened in 2021, and Fontainebleu Las Vegas, due to open next month. “I think what what is happening is Las Vegas is becoming the epicenter of the 'fun economy,'” Feldman said.

Persons: Michael Green, ”, Green, “, They’re, Joshua Guray, Charles Flexer, Clark, Jim Gibson, Gibson, it’s, ” Vanessa Anthes, Andrew Walsh, Walsh, Wynn, Evel Knievel, Alan Feldman, Bo Bernhard, ” Bernhard, ” Feldman, Ty O'Neil Organizations: LAS VEGAS, Bellagio, Las, gondoliers, University of Nevada, ”, Vegas, Monaco, Grand Prix, MGM Resorts International, selfies, Las Vegas, One Las Vegas, Police, NHL Vegas Golden Knights, WNBA Las Vegas Aces, NASCAR, Vegas Motor, NFL, Allegiant, Hollywood, Cosmopolitan, International, Seminole Tribe, Caesars, Villa, Caesars Palace, International Gaming Institute, UNLV, Tourism Council Locations: Las Vegas, Long Beach , California, Williamsport , Pennsylvania, Clark County, ” Clark, Vegas, Harrah’s, Flamingo, Horseshoe, Paris Las Vegas, Florida, Barbary Coast, Sands, Los Angeles

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Defending national champion and No. 1 LSU lost to No. 20 Colorado 92-78 on Monday night in the Hall of Fame Series. Mikaylah Williams led LSU with 17 points, Angel Reese had 15 points and 12 rebounds, Sa'Myah Smith scored 16 points and noted Louisville transfer Hailey Van Lith and had 14 points. Also in attendance was Hall-of-Famer Grant Hill, Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams, former major-league veteran Dexter Fowler and members of the two-time WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces.

Persons: Frida Formann, Aaronette Vonleh, Jaylyn Sherrod, Mikaylah Williams, Angel Reese, Sa'Myah Smith, Hailey Van Lith, Famer Shaquille O'Neal, Famer Grant Hill, Davante Adams, Dexter Fowler, Kim Mulkey, Reese, Moyne Organizations: LAS VEGAS, —, LSU, of Fame, UConn, Louisiana Tech, ESPN, Huskies, NCAA, Buffaloes, The Buffaloes, Famer, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Aces, Tigers, Wednesday, AP, womens Locations: Colorado, Louisiana, Louisville, Las, Vegas

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Sky promoted Jeff Pagliocca to general manager Tuesday after hiring Naismith Hall of Famer Teresa Weatherspoon as coach nearly three weeks ago. Pagliocca spent the past four seasons assisting with player development and advising the head coach. Pagliocca also owns Evolution Athletics in suburban Deerfield, Illinois, where he works with high school, college, WNBA and NBA players. “I’m very proud to partner with Coach Weatherspoon and the Sky front office to shape a championship-caliber roster," Pagliocca said in a statement. But the team announced after the season it would separate the positions like every other team in the WNBA now has done.

Persons: Jeff Pagliocca, of Famer Teresa Weatherspoon, Pagliocca, “, Coach Weatherspoon, James Wade, Emre Vatanseyer wouldn’t, Wade, Vatanseyer, Weatherspoon, Adam Fox, ___ Organizations: CHICAGO, Chicago Sky, Naismith, of Famer, Athletics, WNBA, NBA, Sky, GM, NBA’s Toronto Raptors, Chicago, Las Vegas Aces Locations: Deerfield , Illinois, Chicago

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

☆ 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

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

☆ The Las Vegas Aces Win Their Second Straight WNBA Championship
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Robert O Connell | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Midway through what would become a title season, A’ja Wilson—the reigning Most Valuable Player for the reigning WNBA champions—disputed any claim that her Las Vegas Aces were a “superteam.”If Superman himself suited up for Vegas, Wilson cracked, she might allow the label. “But we don’t wear leotards, so no, we’re not.”

Persons: A’ja Wilson —, Wilson, ” Organizations: WNBA, —, Las Vegas Aces Locations: Vegas

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

☆ 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

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

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Sky announced they have hired Naismith Hall of Famer Teresa Weatherspoon as the team's coach on Thursday, two days after her agent confirmed she agreed to take the job. “I’m excited to be a part of the Chicago Sky Family,” Weatherspoon said in a statement. Chicago announced at the end of the season, after it was eliminated from the playoffs by the Las Vegas Aces, that interim coach Emre Vatanseyer wouldn’t return. New York is back there now for the first time since then and trails Las Vegas 1-0. Half of the WNBA’s coaches are now former players, including both finals coaches, Las Vegas’ Becky Hammon and New York’s Sandy Brondello.

Persons: Naismith, Naismith Hall of Famer Teresa Weatherspoon, “, ” Weatherspoon, James Wade, Emre Vatanseyer wouldn’t, Wade, Vatanseyer, Teresa, Nadia Rawlinson, Weatherspoon, Becky Hammon, Sandy Brondello Organizations: CHICAGO, Chicago Sky, Naismith Hall of Famer, NBA’s Toronto Raptors, Chicago, Las Vegas Aces, GM, WNBA, NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans, New York Liberty, Liberty, mater Louisiana Tech, Phoenix Mercury Locations: Chicago, . New York, Las

The Chicago Sky have an agreement in place with Teresa Weatherspoon to make her their next coach, according to her agent, Richard Gray. Chicago announced at the end of the season, after it was eliminated from the playoffs by the Las Vegas Aces, that interim coach Emre Vatanseyer wouldn't return. New York is back there now for the first time since then and trails Las Vegas 1-0. Weatherspoon was a head coach in college, leading her alma mater Louisiana Tech from 2009-14. Half the WNBA's coaches are now former players, including both finals coaches, Las Vegas' Becky Hammon and New York's Sandy Brondello.

Persons: Teresa Weatherspoon, Richard Gray, James Wade, Emre Vatanseyer wouldn't, Wade, Vatanseyer, Naismith, Weatherspoon, Becky Hammon, Sandy Brondello, Andrew Seligman, ___ Organizations: Chicago Sky, Associated Press, NBA's Toronto Raptors, Chicago, Las Vegas Aces, Weatherspoon, GM, WNBA, NBA's New Orleans Pelicans, Naismith Hall of Famer, New York Liberty, Liberty, mater Louisiana Tech, Phoenix Mercury, AP Locations: . New York, Las, Vegas

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

☆ ‘The Best Pass I Have Ever Seen’: The Growing Legend of the Las Vegas Aces’ Point Guard
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Robert O Connell | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Las Vegas Aces stay prepared. Midway through their 99-82 win over the New York Liberty in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, Sunday afternoon in the desert, point guard Chelsea Gray caught a pass at the top of the 3-point arc from Jackie Young. As soon as she touched the ball, Gray rifled it off the floorboards toward the basket.

Persons: Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Gray Organizations: Las Vegas Aces, New York Liberty, WNBA

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert joked Sunday she'll have to get new shoes now that the league has added one expansion team, with another most likely on the way soon. Engelbert has a pair of high heels with all of the WNBA team logos on them. The shoes will become a collectors' item in 2025 when the expansion team owned by the Golden State Warriors starts playing. “The goal is to add a second one, or 14th team, by 2025,” Engelbert said before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. Portland had a WNBA team from 2000-02, playing its games at the Rose Garden before the franchise folded.

Persons: Cathy Engelbert, Engelbert, “, ” Engelbert, I've, Charlotte ,, Dearica Hamby, Becky Hammon, “ wasn't, ” Organizations: WNBA, Golden State Warriors, Oregon State, Los Angeles Sparks, Las Vegas Aces, Commission Locations: Denver, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Charlotte , North Carolina, Nashville , Tennessee, Portland , Oregon, Portland, Oregon

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

☆ 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

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

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

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