DIANA TAURASI

Penny Taylor used her induction into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame to call for the release of her former Phoenix Mercury teammate Brittney Griner.

Dottie Pepper recalls being paired with Meg Mallon for the final round of the 1991 U.S. Women’s Open with what she viewed as an impressive $110,000 first-place prize on the line.

WNBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is easily the most prominent American citizen known to be jailed by a foreign government.

Russia Griner WNBA Player Experiences Basketball FILE - Phoenix Mercury's Brittney Griner, left, watches practice with teammate Diana Taurasi on Thursday, May 10, 2018, in Phoenix. "BG" is one of the nicknames for Griner, who remains in Russia after being detained following her arrival at a Moscow airport in mid-February. Her detainment in Russia has highlighted why many top U.S. women's basketball players feel the need to go overseas to supplement their income. In the early 2000s, top WNBA players could boost their incomes to about $125,000 by entering a marketing deal with the league. “I see people all the time, they're like ‘Man, I can’t believe they don't pay those WNBA players.

The Phoenix Mercury are preparing for their WNBA season without teammate Brittney Griner.

For WNBA players, spending the offseason by competing in Russia can be lucrative, with some earning more money than they make back home.

"The reality is, she's over there because of a gender issue ― pay inequity," the head of the WNBA's players union said this week about the basketball star who's been detained in Russia since February.

Russia has been a popular destination for WNBA players like Brittney Griner over the past two decades because of the money they can make playing there in the winter.

Paige Bueckers scored 22 points but went down with an injury at the end of No. 2 UConn’s 73-54 win over No. 24 Notre Dame.

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.

(AP Photo/Chase Stevens) (Chase Stevens)PHOENIX — (AP) — Kahleah Copper scored 22 points, Allie Quigley added 18 and the hot-shooting Chicago Sky opened the WNBA Finals with a 91-77 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday. The Sky withstood Phoenix's fast start and took control with a 21-2 run spanning halftime to go up 17. Courtney Vandersloot had 12 points and 11 assists, helping Chicago shoot 53% and snatch home-court advantage from the Mercury in the best-of-five series. The 2021 WNBA Finals is the first for both franchises since the Mercury swept the Sky in 2014. Parker led the Sky back, scoring 11 first-half points while keying a late second quarter 17-0 run that put Chicago up 46-35 at halftime.

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's daughter: Diana Taurasi had two goals Friday -- to lead the Mercury to the WNBA finals and to see the birth of her second child. (Chase Stevens/Associated Press )PHOENIX — Diana Taurasi helped the Phoenix Mercury reach the WNBA finals Friday night, but then had more pressing matters to -- the birth of her second child. The couple’s second child -- their son, Leo Michael Taurasi-Taylor, was born in 2018, according to Greenwich Time. Taurasi had a plane waiting for her and then took a car to the hospital to see the birth, The Associated Press. Taurasi married Taylor -- her former teammate and Phoenix’s current director of player development and performance -- in May 2017, according to the Time.

Diana Taurasi made it back home in time to see her wife Penny Taylor give birth to a baby girl — the couple's second child. Taurasi flew back to Phoenix from Las Vegas immediately after helping the Mercury beat the Aces in Game 5 of their semifinal series. The league's all-time leading scorer playfully said in a postgame interview to Taylor to “hold it in babe”.

(AP Photo/Chase Stevens) (Chase Stevens)Diana Taurasi has the Phoenix Mercury back in the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2014. It's the first time since the WNBA changed its playoff format in 2016 that neither of the top two teams made it to the finals. GETTING A HEAD STARTChicago decided to fly to Las Vegas on Friday before the finals matchup was set. BIGTIME FANFormer President Barack Obama tweeted his congratulations to the Chicago Sky for making the finals. Congratulations to the (at) ChicagoSky for making it to the WNBA finals, and to the legend, (at) Candace_Parker for making all of us proud.

Mercury Aces Basketball Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi (3) celebrates with teammates after they defeated the Las Vegas Aces 87-84 in Game 5 of a WNBA basketball playoff series Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chase Stevens) (Chase Stevens)LAS VEGAS — (AP) — 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 Friday night to advance to the WNBA Finals. Chelsea Gray and Kelsey Plum scored 22 points each for Las Vegas, and A'ja Wilson added 21 points and 10 rebounds. Taurasi made a 3-pointer with 1:12 left to give the Mercury an 84-81 lead, and Gray responded with a 3 just 6 seconds later to tie it for the Aces. The Aces went on a 14-2 run to begin the third quarter to take a 56-46 lead midway through the period.

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.

Both series are now tied at 1-1 and play will shift to Chicago and Phoenix for the next set of games scheduled to tip off on Sunday. Thomas' game was even more remarkable as she had returned two weeks earlier from a ruptured Achilles' tendon injury she suffered in January. In the opener, a double-overtime thriller, the Sky won 101-95 as Courtney Vandersloot had the second triple-double in WNBA playoff history. The Mercury's 68 points in the first half of Game 2 was a WNBA playoff record. Arenas book events way in advance and there was no way to know the Mercury would be hosting a playoff game on Sunday.

The WNBA semifinal playoff series are knotted at a game apiece and both could go the full five games based on the historic and gritty performances thus far.

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.

WNBA fans can dream of a day when their franchises are treated with as much reverence as Disney on Ice, which is boxing out the Phoenix Mercury.

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.

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

The WNBA honored its past and present when it announced the league's top 25 players Sunday. The “W25” has 10 current players, including Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Sylvia Fowles, Candace Parker and Breanna Stewart. Former stars Lisa Leslie, Tamika Catchings, Katie Smith and Sheryl Swoopes are among 15 retired players selected by a panel of media members and women's basketball pioneers and advocates.

Tokyo Olympics Basketball United States' Sue Bird (6) drives past Japan's Maki Takada (8) and Rui Machida (13), right, during women's basketball gold medal game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) (Eric Gay)SAITAMA, Japan — (AP) — Sue Bird capped off her unblemished 17-year Olympics run with a record fifth gold medal. The Americans are on a 55-game Olympic winning streak dating back to the bronze medal game of the 1992 Barcelona Games. Wilson, who celebrated her 25th birthday on Sunday, made her presence felt in her Olympic debut, scoring 19 points in the gold medal game. The victory also made Dawn Staley, the first Black women's basketball coach for the U.S., the second woman to win a gold medal as a player, assistant and head coach joining Anne Donovan.

Sue Bird capped off her unblemished 17-year Olympics run with a record fifth gold medal.

Olympic women's basketball Britney Griner and Team USA muscled their way to a gold medal on Sunday. The U.S. women’s team has once again returned to the pinnacle of Olympic basketball. >> Read more trending newsBritney Griner scored 30 points Sunday as Team USA defeated Japan 90-75 at the Tokyo Games to capture their seventh straight gold medal. It was a historic day for American teammates Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird, who became the first players to win their fifth women’s basketball gold medals with Team USA. It was Japan’s first appearance in a women’s basketball gold medal.

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.

Day 15 of the Tokyo Games will feature the American women going for gold in basketball, volleyball and water polo.

The new medal standard in Olympic women’s track has been set.

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) — Breanna Stewart scored 20 of her 23 points in the first half to help the U.S. beat Australia 79-55 on Wednesday in the quarterfinals. "Knockout rounds brings out a certain intensity about a team and that played a huge role in it,” Sue Bird said. The teams played in Las Vegas last month in an exhibition game and Australia pulled off the upset victory. Leilani Mitchell scored 14 points to lead Australia, which will host the World Championship next year in Sydney. CHEERING THEM ONThe Australia men's team will face the U.S. men in the semifinals on Thursday.

Breanna Stewart scored 20 of her 23 points in the first half to help the U.S. beat Australia 79-55 on Wednesday in the quarterfinals.

There is definitely a UConn flavor to the women's basketball being played in the Tokyo Games.

Usain Bolt has retired so there will be a new fastest man at the Olympics for the first time since 2008 when the men’s 100-meter dash is held on Day 9 of the Tokyo Games.

(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) (Charlie Neibergall)SAITAMA, Japan — (AP) — A'ja Wilson had 19 points and 13 rebounds in her Olympic debut to help the U.S. beat Nigeria 81-72 on Tuesday in the opener for both teams. The win was the Americans' 50th consecutive victory in the Olympics dating back to a loss in the semifinals of the 1992 Barcelona Games. The Americans scored 23 straight points, the first four by Wilson — one of six newcomers on the U.S. roster. The Americans led 75-55 before Nigeria scored 12 straight points to cut it to eight with 3:19 left. Ezinne Kalu scored 16 to lead Nigeria.

A’ja Wilson had 19 points and 13 rebounds in her Olympic debut to help the U.S. beat Nigeria 81-72 in the opener for both teams.

Dawn Staley says she doesn’t feel any added pressure being the first Black head coach of the U.S. women’s basketball Olympic team.

The U.S. rebounded after dropping consecutive exhibition games for the first time since 2011 with losses to the WNBA All-Stars and Australia earlier this week. After shooting 2 for 18 from behind the 3-point arc in the loss to Australia, the U.S. pounded the ball inside early and often against Nigeria. Williams did play for Nigeria in the exhibition game while Ogwumike and her sister, Chiney, who was approved to play as a naturalized player for Nigeria were on the bench, but not suited up. Erica Ogwumike, the youngest of the four Ogwumike sisters, had five points for Nigeria. Nigeria has been a team on the rise, reaching the quarterfinals of the World Cup in 2018. before losing to the U.S.

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.

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.

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.

(Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP) (Chase Stevens)NEW YORK — (AP) — It may be a long time before anyone joins Diana Taurasi in the 9,000-point club. The next closest active player is former teammate Candice Dupree, who is more than 2,000 points behind Taurasi. Las Vegas (11-4): A huge overtime win over Seattle kept the Aces in the hunt to be the West representative in the Commissioner's Cup championship. PLAYER OF THE WEEK:Sylvia Fowles of Minnesota dominated play las week, averaging 28 points, 16.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocks to help Lynx win both their games. Chelsea Gray returns to Los Angeles for the first time after leaving the Sparks in the offseason as a free agent for Las Vegas.

(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.

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

Storm Fever Basketball Seattle Storm's Sue Bird drives as Indiana Fever's Jantel Lavender defends during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Thursday, June 17, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (Darron Cummings)Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi will try and become the first five-time Olympic gold medalists in basketball as they lead the U.S women's team at the Tokyo Games. The duo was selected for their fifth Olympics on Monday, joining Teresa Edwards as the only basketball players in U.S. history to play in five. Edwards won four gold medals and a bronze in her illustrious Olympic career. “USA Basketball has never been in a better place,” said U.S. head coach Dawn Staley, who won three Olympic gold medals as a player and helped the team win two more as an assistant coach.

Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi will try and become the first five-time Olympic gold medalists in women’s basketball as they lead the U.S. team during the Tokyo Games.

Storm Fever Basketball Seattle Storm's Sue Bird drives as Indiana Fever's Jantel Lavender defends during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Thursday, June 17, 2021, in Indianapolis. The four-time Olympic gold medalist is expected to return to the Phoenix Mercury lineup in a few weeks and should be ready to go for training camp in Las Vegas in July. The former WNBA MVP and 2016 Olympic medalist hasn’t even practiced yet with the Washington Mystics this season. It would be highly unlikely for Delle Donne to be on the roster if she doesn't return with the Mystics before the Olympic break. Nneka Ogwumike played on the 2018 World Cup team as well and is a strong candidate for her first Olympics.

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.

“It’s magnified when it’s some of the elite players,” said Sun coach Curt Miller, whose team moved back to No. With teams only carrying 11 or 12 players on their rosters, the rash of injuries have left them scrambling. Connecticut (8-2): The Sun had victories over Las Vegas and New York last week to move back atop the poll. “We have completed our investigation and generally do not comment on discipline around officiating,” a WNBA spokesperson said. Augustus spent the first 13 years of her career with Minnesota, helping them win four WNBA championships.

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

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich signals to players during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets in San Antonio, Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. The Tokyo Games open July 23, one day after the NBA says is the last possible date for this season’s NBA Finals. AdSerbia will play host to the Dominican Republic, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Italy and Senegal. Croatia will play host to Germany, Russia, Mexico, Tunisia and Brazil. And Canada will play host to Greece, China, Uruguay, Turkey and the Czech Republic.

Taurasi is staying in Phoenix while Alysha Clark is heading across the country to join the Washington Mystics. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)NEW YORK – Diana Taurasi is staying in Phoenix while Alysha Clark is heading across the country to join the Washington Mystics. Unlike Parker, there was no real expectation the 38-year-old Taurasi would leave the team that drafted her No. Clark also led the WNBA in 3-point field goal percentage (52.2) for the second consecutive season. Change is never easy but having teammates and an organization excited to have you join their family makes it better,” Clark said.