A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart unanimous All-WNBA first-team selections. Here's the full list
It is her fifth All-WNBA selection and the third consecutive year she's been on the first team. Plum finished third in MVP award voting after averaging 20.2 points per game (second behind Stewart) and 5.1 assists per game (ninth). Jonquel Jones, the 2021 MVP, is also on the second team after leading the team in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. Ionescu earned her first All-WNBA selection after a comeback season following two years of ankle issues. It's her eighth All-WNBA selection of her 15-season career.
wftv.comIonescu helps New York rally past Los Angeles 64-61
Trailing 50-35 with 5:23 left in the third quarter, New York held Los Angeles scoreless for the rest of the period to cut its deficit to five. After a Los Angeles miss, Ionescu was fouled shooting a 3-pointer with 34.1 seconds left. Los Angeles had one last chance but Lexie Brown missed a 3-pointer from the wing just before the buzzer. Nneka Ogwumike scored 19 points to lead Los Angeles. New York rallied to within seven late in the first half before Los Angeles scored the final four points to take an 11-point lead into the break.
wftv.comNew York Liberty control own destiny in playoff chase
Brondello feels that the Liberty are in control of their playoff chances still. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File) (Mary Altaffer)New York coach Sandy Brondello isn't scoreboard watching with the Liberty two games out of a playoff spot — and may not have too. Los Angeles (12-15): The Sparks need to find consistent offensive help for Nneka Ogwumike to make a run at the playoffs. Skylar Diggins-Smith of Phoenix, Nneka Ogwumike of Los Angeles, Candace Parker of Chicago and A'ja Wilson of Las Vegas also received votes. ANOTHER DIVORCEThe Los Angeles Sparks announced Tuesday that they have agreed to a contract divorce with Liz Cambage.
wftv.comOgwumike, WNBA continue push for Brittney Griner's release
Russia Griner Trial WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted to a courtroom for a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Thursday, July 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (Alexander Zemlianichenko)CHICAGO — (AP) — Brittney Griner is “the fun aunt,” according to Nneka Ogwumike. Speaking Friday ahead of the WNBA's All-Star festivities in Chicago, Ogwumike focused more on Griner's humanity than her playing ability as the league continued to push for Griner's release from her detention in Russia. “BG, Brittney Griner, is an American hero,” said Ogwumike, an All-Star forward for the Los Angeles Sparks. Griner's guilty plea could be an effort by her and her advisers to expedite the court proceedings.
wftv.comSurging Sparks on roll behind play of Ogwumike, Cambage
Sparks Wings Basketball Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike, right, drives to the basket past Dallas Wings forward Kayla Thornton during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Friday, July 1, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News via AP) (Shafkat Anowar)The Los Angeles Sparks have been on roll lately, battling their way to just below .500 after a slow start to the season. Los Angeles (10-11) has won four of its past five games and a big reason why is the play of All-Star Nneka Ogwumike and free agent signee Liz Cambage. 6 in the AP WNBA power poll this week. Phoenix (9-14): Skylar Diggins-Smith has had an All-Star season averaging 19.1 points, but the Mercury have had little consistency on offense besides her.
wftv.comUS women earn first exhibition win, routing Nigeria 93-62
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.
wftv.comParker leads WNBA All-Star team that will face US Olympians
Parker, who was not chosen for the 2016 Olympic team after helping the U.S. win gold medals in 2008 and 2012, was chosen for her sixth All-Star appearance. The WNBA team will be co-coached by Lisa Leslie and Tina Thompson. It's a record 12th All-Star Game for Bird and 10th for Taurasi — tying her with Tamika Catchings for second most all-time. This is the first time that the league has held an All-Star Game in an Olympic year since 2000. The WNBA played an exhibition in New York in 2004 at Radio City Music Hall, but it wasn’t considered an All-Star Game.
wftv.comAnalysis: US women look to add depth on Olympic hoops roster
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.
wftv.comBreanna Stewart, Seattle Storm sit atop AP WNBA power poll
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