Ogunbowale 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.