WNBA playoff picture still muddled, 2 weeks left in season
(Sean D. Elliot/The Day via AP) (SEAN D. ELLIOT)The WNBA playoff race is still very much undecided with just two weeks left in the regular season. Five teams have clinched postseason berths with only three games separating Chicago, Las Vegas and Connecticut at the top of the standings. They have a four-game homestand before finishing the season on the road, including a matchup against the team chasing them — Las Vegas. Las Vegas (22-8): The Aces have three games left — all on the road. Connecticut (20-10): The Sun have two losses since the All-Star break, those setbacks were against Las Vegas and Chicago.
wftv.comAllie Quigley wins WNBA 3-Point Contest a record fourth time
WNBA All Star Basketball Basketballs sit in a rack during practice for the WNBA All-Star basketball game in Chicago, Saturday, July 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) (Nam Y. Huh)CHICAGO — (AP) — Allie Quigley won the WNBA 3-Point Contest for a record fourth time Saturday, putting together a perfect final rack. Going last in the final round, Quigley easily turned away Washington Mystics guard Ariel Atkins and Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard. It was one sweet victory for Quigley, who is from nearby Joliet, played college ball at DePaul and helped the Chicago Sky win the WNBA title last season. Sky teammate Candace Parker cheered her on in an Quigley DePaul jersey, and Quigley's wife, Courtney Vandersloot, another Sky guard, also clapped excitedly courtside.
wftv.comQuigley, Parker help Sky beat Mercury 91-75
CHICAGO — (AP) — Allie Quigley scored 19 points to lead five Chicago players scoring in double figures, Candace Parker added 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and the Sky never trailed in their 91-75 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday. The game was a rematch of last season's WNBA Finals that Chicago won. The Sky have won both meetings between the teams this season. Diamond DeShields added 21 points and nine rebounds in 22 minutes of action and Sophie Cunningham finished with 12 points. The Sky are 12-3 this season when scoring at least 80 points.
wftv.comOgunbowale leads WNBA All-Stars over US Olympic team 93-85
(AP Photo/John Locher) (John Locher)LAS VEGAS — (AP) — Arike Ogunbowale scored 26 points and the WNBA All-Star team beat the U.S. Olympic team 93-85 on Wednesday night in the league's All-Star Game. The WNBA team led 75-73 midway through the fourth quarter before Ogunbowale had a four-point play to extend the advantage to six. No team they will face has nearly as much talent as the WNBA All-Star team they faced. She is on Australia’s Olympic team and the Opals played Nigeria in an exhibition contest on Tuesday. The current U.S. Olympic team presented their predecessors with flowers, while the 1996 team gave personal notes of encouragement to the current squad.
wftv.comUS Olympic team expects competitive game vs WNBA All-Stars
WNBA All Star Basketball Betnijah Laney drives up the court during practice for the WNBA All-Star Basketball team, Tuesday, July 13, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) (John Locher)Both the U.S. Olympic team and the WNBA All-Stars expect a competitive game in the league's showcase Wednesday. “It’s not so much an All-Star game for us, but a preparation game for the Olympics," said Breanna Stewart. It's the first time since 2000 the WNBA has held the All-Star game during an Olympic year. Lisa Leslie, who helped win the first four golds, will co-coach the WNBA team with Tina Thompson.
wftv.comFinally healthy, Chicago Sky climbing WNBA standings
(AP Photo/Eileen T. Meslar) (Eileen T. Meslar)NEW YORK — (AP) — The Chicago Sky are at full strength and moving up the WNBA standings after injuries got them off to a slow start. Chicago (7-7) has won five in a row heading into Tuesday night's road game in New York. Buoyed by the winning streak, the Sky vaulted up to third from 10th in the AP power poll this week. Chicago (7-7): Courtney Vandersloot is averaging 12.1 points and a WNBA-best 8.5 assists. She’s played in just four games this season, averaging 15.8 points, 3.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds9.
wftv.comGlobe-trotter Candace Parker returns home to play for Sky
(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)CHICAGO – Candace Parker talked about seeing her grandmother hold up the newspaper during their call, thrilled she is coming home to play for the Chicago Sky. “I'm so excited to be home and I say that from the bottom of my heart,” Parker said during a Zoom conference Tuesday. “When she decided, she told me even before, ‘If I come, I’m coming to ball,'” he said. She said she started thinking about playing for the Sky a few weeks ago and would not have left Los Angeles for any other team. “(I) have obviously evolved, and a lot of it had to do with me living in Knoxville and me living in Los Angeles and Russia and Istanbul and China.
AP sources: Parker headed to Chicago, McBride to Minnesota
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Wednesday, Jan. 27, because no official announcement is allowed until Feb. 1. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)Candace Parker is headed home and Kayla McBride is getting a fresh start in Minnesota. that she would be signing with the Lynx once free agents can officially ink deals Monday. Nearly 75% of the players on the Sparks' roster are free agents. That’s led to increased player movement from our roster.”Two players who are free agents but won't be moving are Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi.