BRITTNEY GRINER

WNBA Finals Basketball Phoenix Mercury's Brittney Griner (42) shoots against Chicago Sky's Azura Stevens (30) during the first half of Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Chicago. Allie Quigley scored 26 points and Parker added 16 points, 13 rebounds and five assists and Chicago beat the Phoenix Mercury 80-74 on Sunday in Game 4. Chicago scored the next nine points to take a two-point lead on Stefanie Dolson's layup. “Their defense went to another level trapping BG,” Phoenix coach Sandy Brondello said. ... Phoenix had been 4-0 in the WNBA Finals after losses until Sunday's defeat.

WNBA Finals Basketball Phoenix Mercury's Brittney Griner (42) shoots against Chicago Sky's Azura Stevens (30) during the first half of Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty) (Paul Beaty)CHICAGO — (AP) — Candace Parker returned home to bring Chicago a championship. Allie Quigley scored 26 points and Parker added 16 points, 13 rebounds and five assists and Chicago beat the Phoenix Mercury 80-74 on Sunday in Game 4. Chicago scored the next nine points to take a two-point lead on Stefanie Dolson's layup. ... Phoenix had been 4-0 in the WNBA Finals after losses until Sunday's defeat.

Allie Quigley scored 26 points and Candace Parker added 16 points, 13 rebounds and five assists to help Chicago win its first WNBA championship with a 80-74 victory over the Phoenix Mercury.

Chicago also took Diana Taurasi out of the game, holding to her five points on 1 of 10 shooting. She finished a 3-point play to put Chicago up 20-11 at the end of the first quarter. The 22-point halftime lead matched the biggest ever in the WNBA Finals, equaling the mark held by Phoenix which the Mercury did in 2014 in Game 1 against Chicago. The Sky hosted the WNBA Finals for the first time since they played in the finals in 2014 . Before the game, Sky head coach James Wade had no comment regarding the incident.

Kahleah Copper scored 20 of her 22 points in the first half and Chicago used a dominant defensive effort to reach a record rout of the Phoenix Mercury 86-50, moving the Sky one victory away from the franchise’s first WNBA title.

WNBA Finals Sky Mercury Basketball Chicago Sky forward Kahleah Copper (2) and Phoenix Mercury guard Sophie Cunningham (9) compete for a loose ball during the first half of Game 2 of basketball's WNBA Finals, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) (Rick Scuteri)PHOENIX — (AP) — Brittney Griner dunked while scoring 29 points, Diana Taurasi had eight of her 20 points in overtime and the Phoenix Mercury evened the WNBA Finals with a 91-86 win over the Chicago Sky on Wednesday night in Game 2. “I mean BG was so big for us the whole game,” Taurasi said. The Mercury had more prep time and Cunningham back in the lineup after missing three games, but was disjointed early. The Sky knocked 'em down early, hitting 7 of their first 12 shots to take an early nine-point lead.

Kahleah Copper scored 21 points, Allie Quigley added 18 and the hot-shooting Chicago Sky opened the WNBA Finals with a 91-77 win over the Phoenix Mercury.

Diana Taurasi scored 14 of her 24 points in the fourth quarter, and Brittney Griner had 28 points and nine rebounds as the Phoenix Mercury beat the Las Vegas Aces 87-84 to advance to the WNBA Finals.

Mercury Aces Basketball Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi (3) calls a play as she brings the up court against the Las Vegas Aces during the second half of Game 2 in the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker) (David Becker)LAS VEGAS — (AP) — Diana Taurasi scored a playoff career-high 37 points and the Phoenix Mercury overwhelmed the Las Vegas Aces 117-91 on Thursday night to even the best-of-five WNBA semifinal series at a game apiece. Brittney Griner scored 25 points, 16 of them in the first quarter, to go with seven rebounds and five assists. Taurasi scored 12 points in the second quarter, and had 11 more in the third. Kelsey Plum, honored as the league's Sixth Player of the Year on Thursday, led the Aces with 25 points.

Diana Taurasi scored a playoff career-high 37 points and the Phoenix Mercury overwhelmed the Las Vegas Aces 117-91 on Thursday night to even the best-of-five WNBA semifinal series at a game apiece.

Jonquel Jones is no stranger to winning Associated Press WNBA awards.

The WNBA enters the final week of the regular season with many playoff positions still to be decided as well as the final postseason berth.

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy) (Michael Conroy)NEW YORK — (AP) — The WNBA playoff chase may come down to the final day of the regular season on Sept. 19. Six teams have already clinched postseason spots, although where they will finish in the standings is still up for grabs. Connecticut (21-6): The Sun have four of their five remaining games against teams that are under .500 in the standings. Brittney Griner sprained her ankle in one of the victories over New York in the game's final 70 seconds. This game could go a long way to determine the playoff fate for one of these two teams.

The WNBA playoff chase may come down to the final day of the regular season on Sept. 19.

Elena Delle Donne and Chiney Ogwumike will have a major impact on the Washington Mystics and Los Angeles Sparks playoff chances now that they're back on the basketball court.

The U.S. women have not lost a game at the Olympics since the 1992 Games in Barcelona, a remarkable stretch of 55 straight victories and seven gold medals.

Sue Bird’s impressive 17-year Olympic journey will come to an end this weekend.

SAITAMA, Japan — (AP) — Brittney Griner had 15 points and 12 rebounds to help the U.S. beat Serbia 79-59 on Friday to advance to the gold medal game of the Olympics. The Americans are now one win away from a seventh consecutive gold medal which would match the U.S. men's team that won seven Olympic titles in a row from 1936-68. It would also give Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi five gold medals — the most ever by a basketball player in the Olympics. Trailing 4-3, they went on a 20-4 run to take control with a berth in the gold medal game on the line. Serbia rested its starters for most of the second half with the bronze medal game roughly 24 hours away.

Brittney Griner had 15 points and 12 rebounds to help the U.S. beat Serbia 79-59 to advance to the gold medal game of the Olympics.

(AP Photo/Eric Gay) (Eric Gay)SAITAMA, Japan — (AP) — A'ja Wilson scored 20 points and Breanna Stewart added 15 to help the U.S. beat Japan 86-69 on Friday in the women's basketball tournament. The U.S. had its dominant group of bigs led by the 6-foot-9 Brittney Griner. Despite the size disadvantage, Japan was able to consistently beat the Americans off the dribble, get to the basket and score early on. With the game tied at 36, the Americans scored scored seven straight to start a 13-4 run to close the half. Japan cut the deficit to five in the third quarter but couldn't get any closer as Wilson, Stewart and Griner dominated inside.

A’ja Wilson scored 20 points and Breanna Stewart added 15 to help the U.S. beat Japan 86-69 in the women's basketball tournament.

The U.S. has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to talented post players, possibly the best ever assembled. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) (Charlie Neibergall)SAITAMA, Japan — (AP) — The U.S. has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to talented post players, possibly the best ever assembled. The quintet combined for 56 of the team's 81 points and 45 rebounds in the nine-point opening win over Nigeria. Griner and Fowles, who are probably the most traditional of the post players have also developed mid-range shots. Japan's coach Tom Hovasse said that he’s going to have one of his “taller” players guard Griner when the two teams play on Friday.

The U.S. has five of the best post players in the world.

“This Olympic Games has not only had a conversation about mental health, but now has movement in the right direction of mental health support," U.S. swimmer Allison Schmitt said after the Americans won silver in the 4x200 freestyle relay. “When people describe what depression looks like or battling mental health issues, sometimes I think back like, ‘Man, I had a couple of those moments. A gymnast for most of his 28 years, Mikulak said he's considering a career as a mental health professional. But McIlroy says hearing from people like Biles and swimmer Michael Phelps about mental health makes an impact — a positive one. You see that with Simone Biles putting her mental health ahead of everything, and it’s opening up a conversation about how important mental health is for athletes — and everyone else.

Mental health has been a discussion in sports the past year but became the topic of these Olympics when gymnast Simone Biles chose self-care over sporting success.

Arike Ogunbowale scored 26 points and the WNBA All-Star team beat the U.S. Olympic team 93-85 in the league’s All-Star Game.

Both the U.S. Olympic team and the WNBA All-Stars expect a competitive game in the league’s showcase.

No team has been playing better than Minnesota the past few weeks as the WNBA enters its monthlong Olympic break.

The Chicago Sky are at full strength and moving up the WNBA standings after a slow start due to injuries.

The U.S. women’s basketball team has a few questions surrounding its roster as the Americans to make a run at a seventh consecutive gold medal in the Olympics.

The WNBA season is only a few weeks old and there already have been five games that have decided in overtime.

The WNBA season isn’t even two weeks old and the New York Liberty have already doubled their win total from last year and are off to their best start since 2007.

Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner said she is not immune to social media criticism about her height, deep voice, sexuality or anything else.

The New York Liberty acquired Natasha Howard from the Seattle Storm as part of a tree-team trade Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)NEW YORK – The New York Liberty acquired Natasha Howard from the Seattle Storm as part of a three-team trade Wednesday. 1 pick didn't stay in Seattle long as the Storm traded it to Dallas for Katie Lou Samuelson and the Wings’ second-round pick in 2022. “We have the privilege of welcoming multiple-time WNBA champions Natasha Howard and Sami Whitcomb to Brooklyn,” general manager Jonathan Kolb said. “I am very excited to be a part of the New York Liberty organization,” she said.

NEW YORK The Seattle Storm are healthy to begin the season with Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird back in the lineup and sit atop the preseason Associated Press WNBA poll. 1 in the preseason since the AP has been doing the poll. You have to go out there and play the games, said Bird, who missed last season while recovering from knee surgery. Connecticut and Washington, who met for the WNBA title last year, were sixth and seventh in the poll. The first regular season power poll will be released on Tuesday, July 28___Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg

WNBA player Brittney Griner will be suspended without pay for seven regular-season games after being arrested with her wife, Glory Johnson, in a domestic violence incident. Griner later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor.