|***WNBA***|
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Tiffany Hayes to retire from WNBA after 11 seasons
Tiffany Hayes, an 11-year WNBA veteran and 2017 All-Star, announced Wednesday she is retiring from the league. Hayes, 34, was drafted No. 14 overall in 2012 by the Atlantic Dream, where she played 10 seasons before being traded this past offseason to the Sun. Hayes averaged 13.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists across 317 career WNBA games while reaching the postseason six times, including most recently with the Sun, whom she helped advance to the semifinals. The 5-foot-10 Hayes was an All-WNBA first-team selection as well as an all-defensive second-team pick in 2018, while compiling an extensive overseas playing career featuring stints in China, Turkey and Spain. Hayes won national championships with UConn in 2009 and 2010.Click Here For Full Story
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NEW AGE POSTING
WNBA mock draft 2024: Clark No. 1 to Fever, Pili enters chat at No. 10
Aliyah Boston and Catlin Clark won national Player of the Year honors in 2022 and 2023, respectively, and their teams met in the Final Four last season. Now might the two superstars become professional teammates in 2024? For the second consecutive year, the Indiana Fever will pick No. 1 in the WNBA draft. The Fever had the best odds, and that came through for them in Sunday's 2024 draft lottery. Iowa's Clark could join Boston, the Fever's No. 1 pick out of South Carolina in the 2023 draft, in trying to get Indiana back into the playoffs for the first time since 2016.The Los Angeles Sparks will pick second, the Phoenix Mercury third and the Seattle Storm fourth. The draft is April 15. That said, there is no guarantee Clark will be available in the 2024 draft. Like several other potential draftees, she is eligible to return for a fifth college season in 2024-25 because of the COVID-19 waiver. Players can wait to declare for the draft until after they have completed this college season. Clark has said when the time comes, she will trust her gut instinct about whether to stay another season at Iowa.
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Sources: Alex Rodriguez, Marc Lore to acquire majority of Timberwolves, Lynx
Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez are expected to exercise their option to acquire controlling ownership interest of the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA's Lynx as soon as Thursday, sources told ESPN. Lore and Rodriguez, who have a Dec. 31 deadline, will be formalizing an intent to purchase a final 40% of the NBA and WNBA franchises from Glen Taylor -- giving Lore and Rodriguez 80% total of the two teams by early 2024, sources said. Lore and Rodriguez still have more time to raise the necessary money to complete the majority purchase, which will be subject to NBA board of governors approval.Click Here For Full Story
blackfoot NAP
King Of Bling
aliyah, rhyne howard part of wnba's player marketing agreements
Players can make up to $250,000 each as they serve as brand ambassadors for the league and its partners that include Skims, Google and haircare company Mielle. The 2020 collective bargaining agreement requires the league to spend $1 million total on player marketing agreements per year. If the league doesn't meet that payout in one season, it gets carried over to the next season.
Players can make up to $250,000 each as they serve as brand ambassadors for the league and its partners that include Skims, Google and haircare company Mielle. The 2020 collective bargaining agreement requires the league to spend $1 million total on player marketing agreements per year. If the league doesn't meet that payout in one season, it gets carried over to the next season.
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King Of Bling
source: jordin canada likely seeking sign-and-trade from sparks
Considered one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, Canada has averaged 8.8 points, 4.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game across her six-year career and was a candidate for Most Improved Player last season, where her 13.3 points and 6.0 assists per game were both career highs, as was her 33.3% clip from 3.
veteran g jasmine thomas retires after 13-year wnba career
An All-Star in 2017, Thomas averaged 9.0 points, 3.5 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 390 career games (309 starts) with the Washington Mystics (2011-12), Atlanta Dream (2013-14), Connecticut Sun (2015-22) and Los Angeles Sparks (2023). She averaged just 2.7 points and 1.3 assists in 32 games (seven starts) with the Sparks last season.
Considered one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, Canada has averaged 8.8 points, 4.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game across her six-year career and was a candidate for Most Improved Player last season, where her 13.3 points and 6.0 assists per game were both career highs, as was her 33.3% clip from 3.
veteran g jasmine thomas retires after 13-year wnba career
An All-Star in 2017, Thomas averaged 9.0 points, 3.5 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 390 career games (309 starts) with the Washington Mystics (2011-12), Atlanta Dream (2013-14), Connecticut Sun (2015-22) and Los Angeles Sparks (2023). She averaged just 2.7 points and 1.3 assists in 32 games (seven starts) with the Sparks last season.
blackfoot NAP
King Of Bling
wnba mock draft 2024: clark, brink hold tight at 1-2 pili up to seventh pick
The question for Brink, Clark and several other players is whether to declare for the 2024 draft or exercise the COVID-19 waiver and come back to college for a fifth season. With an NCAA title already under her belt, Brink might be ready to move on.
Top 5
No.1: (PG)Indiana - Catlin Clark, Iowa
Iowa is selling out home and away games; tickets are going for big bucks on the secondary market; and the cereal named after Clark sold out almost immediately in Iowa grocery stores. (Now it's being sold on eBay.) Analyst Debbie Antonelli refers to the Iowa star's impact as "Clarkonomics," and the Fever would love to be part of it. Clark is averaging 31.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.7 assists.
No.2: Los Angeles - (PF) Cameron Brinks, Stanford
The Sparks got a franchise-changing player in Nneka Ogwumike in 2012, and they might look to Brink as that type of player for the next generation. In the past year-plus, the Sparks have been focused on remaking themselves as a franchise. Brink -- averaging 17.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.3 blocks -- has the skill level to be star player, which could help a lot with that process. (Could return to college for 2024-25.)
No.3: Phoenix - (PG) Paige Bueckers, UConn
Bueckers has been outstanding in her return from a knee injury that kept her out last season, showing the scoring ability (19.8 PPG) and efficiency (55.9 FG%) that makes her such an enticing WNBA prospect -- especially for a team such as Phoenix, which could benefit from a dynamic young guard. However, some of the things Bueckers has said about her stay-or-go decision make you think she's leaning more toward staying at UConn. (Could return to college for two more seasons.)
No.4: Seattle - (C) Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina
The Storm are trying to retool around star guard Jewell Loyd. Seattle's biggest need, admittedly, is point guard, although that might be addressed in free agency. Even if it isn't, Cardoso's size, strength, defensive prowess and potential make her hard to pass up. She's averaging 13.1 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.9 blocks for the undefeated No. 1 Gamecocks. (Could return to college for 2024-25.)
No.5: Dallas - (PF) Rickea Jackson, Tennessee
Injury has limited Jackson (19.4 PPG, 9.0 RPG) to eight games this season. That has made it even clearer how vital she is to Tennessee, which struggles without her. Jackson is just 7-of-25 from 3-point range this season, and for her career is 71-of-238 (.298) from behind the arc. That percentage needs to improve, but at least Jackson has shown she has legitimate range as part of her potential pro game.
The question for Brink, Clark and several other players is whether to declare for the 2024 draft or exercise the COVID-19 waiver and come back to college for a fifth season. With an NCAA title already under her belt, Brink might be ready to move on.
Top 5
No.1: (PG)Indiana - Catlin Clark, Iowa
Iowa is selling out home and away games; tickets are going for big bucks on the secondary market; and the cereal named after Clark sold out almost immediately in Iowa grocery stores. (Now it's being sold on eBay.) Analyst Debbie Antonelli refers to the Iowa star's impact as "Clarkonomics," and the Fever would love to be part of it. Clark is averaging 31.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.7 assists.
No.2: Los Angeles - (PF) Cameron Brinks, Stanford
The Sparks got a franchise-changing player in Nneka Ogwumike in 2012, and they might look to Brink as that type of player for the next generation. In the past year-plus, the Sparks have been focused on remaking themselves as a franchise. Brink -- averaging 17.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.3 blocks -- has the skill level to be star player, which could help a lot with that process. (Could return to college for 2024-25.)
No.3: Phoenix - (PG) Paige Bueckers, UConn
Bueckers has been outstanding in her return from a knee injury that kept her out last season, showing the scoring ability (19.8 PPG) and efficiency (55.9 FG%) that makes her such an enticing WNBA prospect -- especially for a team such as Phoenix, which could benefit from a dynamic young guard. However, some of the things Bueckers has said about her stay-or-go decision make you think she's leaning more toward staying at UConn. (Could return to college for two more seasons.)
No.4: Seattle - (C) Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina
The Storm are trying to retool around star guard Jewell Loyd. Seattle's biggest need, admittedly, is point guard, although that might be addressed in free agency. Even if it isn't, Cardoso's size, strength, defensive prowess and potential make her hard to pass up. She's averaging 13.1 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.9 blocks for the undefeated No. 1 Gamecocks. (Could return to college for 2024-25.)
No.5: Dallas - (PF) Rickea Jackson, Tennessee
Injury has limited Jackson (19.4 PPG, 9.0 RPG) to eight games this season. That has made it even clearer how vital she is to Tennessee, which struggles without her. Jackson is just 7-of-25 from 3-point range this season, and for her career is 71-of-238 (.298) from behind the arc. That percentage needs to improve, but at least Jackson has shown she has legitimate range as part of her potential pro game.
blackfoot NAP
King Of Bling
usa basketball sets women's training camp roster with 18 players
Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi, Aliyah Boston and four Las Vegas stars headline USA Basketball's 18-person roster for its upcoming training camp ahead of the 2024 FIBA women's Olympic qualifying tournament. The training camp will take place Feb. 2-4 at Barclays Center in New York. A 12-person team will then be determined for the Olympic qualifying tournament, which runs from Feb. 8-11 in Antwerp, Belgium. The United States women's team already qualified for the Paris Olympics by virtue of winning the FIBA World Cup in the fall of 2022. The team has won seven consecutive Olympic gold medals dating to 1996.
Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi, Aliyah Boston and four Las Vegas stars headline USA Basketball's 18-person roster for its upcoming training camp ahead of the 2024 FIBA women's Olympic qualifying tournament. The training camp will take place Feb. 2-4 at Barclays Center in New York. A 12-person team will then be determined for the Olympic qualifying tournament, which runs from Feb. 8-11 in Antwerp, Belgium. The United States women's team already qualified for the Paris Olympics by virtue of winning the FIBA World Cup in the fall of 2022. The team has won seven consecutive Olympic gold medals dating to 1996.
blackfoot NAP
King Of Bling
blackfoot NAP
King Of Bling
aces reach deals with kiah stokes, megan gustafson
The two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces are making moves to bolster the supporting cast surrounding their All-Star core, reaching deals with two centers.
The two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces are making moves to bolster the supporting cast surrounding their All-Star core, reaching deals with two centers.
blackfoot NAP
King Of Bling
2024
Draft
lynx semd tiffany mitchell, pick to suns fot natisha hiedeman
Mitchell, the No. 9 pick by the Indiana Fever in the 2016 draft out of South Carolina, averaged 7.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in Minnesota. - Hiedeman has spent five seasons with the Sun, averaging 7.4 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists.
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The deal sends Mitchell and the No. 19 selection in the 2024 WNBA draft to Connecticut, which now has the Nos. 10, 19, 22 and 34 picks this year.
storm trade kia nurse, no. 4 draft pick to sparks for '26 1st-rounder
Nurse, a former UConn Huskies star, was the No. 10 pick in the 2018 draft by the New York Liberty. she averaged 5.9 points and 2.3 rebounds.[/size]
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Both the Sparks (17-23) and the Storm (11-29) missed the WNBA playoffs last season.
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King Of Bling
aerial powers headed to dreams on 1-year deal, sources say
Powers spent the past three seasons with the Minnesota Lynx, averaging 14.4 points per game in 2022 before her playing time and production dipped in 2023, when she averaged 5.2 points and 9.7 minutes per game across 20 contests. She was with Minnesota on a three-year deal.
courtney williams to sign two-year deal with lynx , sources say
Williams, a 5-foot-8 point guard, comes to Minnesota following a standout season in Chicago, she averaged 10.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and a career-high 6.3 assists
Powers spent the past three seasons with the Minnesota Lynx, averaging 14.4 points per game in 2022 before her playing time and production dipped in 2023, when she averaged 5.2 points and 9.7 minutes per game across 20 contests. She was with Minnesota on a three-year deal.
courtney williams to sign two-year deal with lynx , sources say
Williams, a 5-foot-8 point guard, comes to Minnesota following a standout season in Chicago, she averaged 10.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and a career-high 6.3 assists
blackfoot NAP
King Of Bling
suns bringing back free agents jones, bonner
Brionna Jones, a two-time All-Star who was averaging career-high marks of 15.9 PPG, 8.2 RPG and 1.8 SPG when she suffered a season-ending Achilles rupture on June 20. - DeWanna Bonner was an unrestricted free agent after averaging 17.4 PPG last season, her highest average since 2020,
ex-wnba mvp nneka-ogwumike signs with seattle storm
The former Los Angeles Sparks star, who averaged 19.1 points and 8.8 rebounds last season, chose the Storm after a whirlwind free agency tour in which she also met with the Phoenix Mercury, Chicago Sky, Atlanta Dream and New York Liberty.
Brionna Jones, a two-time All-Star who was averaging career-high marks of 15.9 PPG, 8.2 RPG and 1.8 SPG when she suffered a season-ending Achilles rupture on June 20. - DeWanna Bonner was an unrestricted free agent after averaging 17.4 PPG last season, her highest average since 2020,
ex-wnba mvp nneka-ogwumike signs with seattle storm
The former Los Angeles Sparks star, who averaged 19.1 points and 8.8 rebounds last season, chose the Storm after a whirlwind free agency tour in which she also met with the Phoenix Mercury, Chicago Sky, Atlanta Dream and New York Liberty.
blackfoot NAP
King Of Bling
2024
Draft
sky trade kahleah cooper to mercury for wnba draft picks, players
Copper is coming off a career season with the Sky, averaging 18.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game as Chicago eked into the playoffs with an 18-22 record.
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The Sky will also receive the Mercury's 2026 first-round pick, 2025 second-round pick and rights to a 2026 second-round pick swap with Phoenix. The Mercury also gets forward Morgan Bertsch in the deal.
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King Of Bling
sparks, g lexie brown agree on 2-year contract extension
Brown, 29, averaged 12.4 points with 2.4 assists in 12 games (11 starts) for the Sparks last season, her second with the club. She had two separate pauses during the 2023 season due to a non-COVID illness and missed the final 26 games.
two-time mvp candace parker returning to aces
Parker, who turns 38 in April, last played for the Aces on July 7. She averaged 9.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 18 games for Las Vegas in 2023. She will rejoin the Aces' core stars, all of whom are returning, led by another two-time MVP, Aja Wilson, as Las Vegas will go for a three-peat.
Brown, 29, averaged 12.4 points with 2.4 assists in 12 games (11 starts) for the Sparks last season, her second with the club. She had two separate pauses during the 2023 season due to a non-COVID illness and missed the final 26 games.
two-time mvp candace parker returning to aces
Parker, who turns 38 in April, last played for the Aces on July 7. She averaged 9.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 18 games for Las Vegas in 2023. She will rejoin the Aces' core stars, all of whom are returning, led by another two-time MVP, Aja Wilson, as Las Vegas will go for a three-peat.
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King Of Bling
mystics' elena della donne taking break from basketball, sources say
It is not clear how long the 34-year-old Delle Donne, who led the Mystics to their only title in 2019, intends to stay away from basketball, sources said. If Delle Donne were to sit out the entire season, the Mystics could again place the core designation on her.
wings sign former fever forward emma cannon
Cannon, 34, averaged 5.8 points and 3.1 rebounds in 30 games (three starts) for the Indiana Fever in 2023.
It is not clear how long the 34-year-old Delle Donne, who led the Mystics to their only title in 2019, intends to stay away from basketball, sources said. If Delle Donne were to sit out the entire season, the Mystics could again place the core designation on her.
wings sign former fever forward emma cannon
Cannon, 34, averaged 5.8 points and 3.1 rebounds in 30 games (three starts) for the Indiana Fever in 2023.
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NEW AGE POSTING
2024
Draft
Sky trades Kahleah Copper to Mercury for WNBA draft picks, players
A seismic trade shook up the WNBA on Tuesday morning with the Chicago Sky sending Kahleah Cooper to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for four draft picks, including the No. 3 overall pick in 2024, and two players -- Brianna Turner and Michaela Onyenwere. The Sky will also receive the Mercury's 2026 first-round pick, 2025 second-round pick and rights to a 2026 second-round pick swap with Phoenix. The Mercury also gets forward Morgan Bertsch in the deal.
Copper, the 2021 WNBA Finals MVP, was the sole remaining core member of the Sky's title run just three years ago, with her departure marking the entrance into a new era for Chicago, which just brought in new leadership in Teresa Weatherspoon as head coach and Jeff Pagliocca as general manager. Phoenix, meanwhile, solidifies itself as a contender after an aggressive offseason.
Copper is coming off a career season with the Sky, averaging 18.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game as Chicago eked into the playoffs with an 18-22 record. After starting the league in Washington in 2016, Copper went from being a reserve player for the Sky for several years to emerging as a top two-way wing in the league, helping propel Chicago to its first championship in 2021.
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King Of Bling
2024
Draft
sky land No. 8 pick in 2024 wnba draft with sparks
The Chucago Sky obtained the No. 8 pick in the upcoming 2024 WNBA draft from the Los Angeles Sparks on Monday in exchange for guard Julie Allemand, the rights to center Li Yueru and a 2025 third-round selection. Chicago now has the Nos. 3 and 8 picks in the first round, along with the top pick in the second round (No. 13 overall) in the April 15 draft.
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King Of Bling
stephrn curry beats sabrina ionescue by three in all-star shootout
Stephen Curry might be considered the greatest shooter in basketball history. But Sabrina Lonescu certainly made him prove it Saturday night as part of NBA All-Star Weekend. The Golen State Warriors guard edged the New York Liberty guard 29-26 in an NBA vs. WNBA 3-point contest -- the first of its kind.
Stephen Curry might be considered the greatest shooter in basketball history. But Sabrina Lonescu certainly made him prove it Saturday night as part of NBA All-Star Weekend. The Golen State Warriors guard edged the New York Liberty guard 29-26 in an NBA vs. WNBA 3-point contest -- the first of its kind.