SABRINA IONESCU

New York has long been known as a melting pot.

Alyssa Thomas had the first triple-double in WNBA Finals history to help the Connecticut Sun stave off elimination by beating the Las Vegas Aces 105-76 in Game 3.

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.

Candace Parker had 14 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Chicago Sky over the New York Liberty 90-72 in the deciding Game 3 to advance to the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs.

Seattle Storm forward Breanna Stewart is the first two-time winner of The Associated Press WNBA Player of the Year award.

Liberty Wings Basketball New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) has her shot blocked by Dallas Wings guard Veronica Burton (12) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) (Tony Gutierrez)ARLINGTON, Texas — (AP) — Sabrina Ionescu had 13 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, Sami Whitcomb added 15 points and the New York Liberty stayed in the playoff race with a 91-73 victory over the Dallas Wings on Wednesday night. Ionescu, coming off a season-high 32 points against Dallas on Monday, was scoreless in the first half, going 0 for 4 from the field. Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas’ leading scorer, is out for the rest of the regular season and the first-round playoff matchup after having abdominal surgery on Tuesday. But the Wings only scored five points through the opening seven minutes of the second quarter as New York used a 18-5 run to tie it at 36.

Sabrina Ionescu had 13 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, Sami Whitcomb added 15 points and the New York Liberty stayed in the playoff race with a 91-73 victory over the Dallas Wings.

The assist was her 200th of the season, making Ionescu the first player to record 500-plus points, 200-plus rebounds and 200-plus assists in the 26-season history of the WNBA. In the 𝑺𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒉 zone 💧 pic.twitter.com/udpnxxBZAl — New York Liberty (@nyliberty) August 7, 2022She reached the milestone with four games remaining in the regular season. On July 6, Ionescu tallied 31 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists to post the highest-scoring triple-double in WNBA history. In this season — her first as an All-Star — Ionescu has averaged 17.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game. Ionescu led the Liberty effort with 20 points alongside five rebounds and five assists.

While MVP is atop everyone's minds, there's plenty going on down the ballot for Sixth Player, Rookie, Defensive and Most Improved player awards. And there is one award in particular that poses frustration for this particular voter season after season. Most Improved Player should be scrapped from the ballot. "[Most Improved Player] is not intended to be given to a player who has made a 'comeback,' " the ballot stipulates, and that's a label Ionescu might fall under. WHAT A SEQUENCE 🤯@gabbywilliams15 finds @jewellloyd & the Storm are rollinggg 🔥📺 League Pass pic.twitter.com/cofPzaSCrL — WNBA (@WNBA) August 4, 2022And you know we love a good block party.

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.

Connecticut Sky v Las Vegas Aces LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 02: A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces drives to the basket against Jonquel Jones #35 of the Connecticut Sun during their game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on June 02, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Preseason predictions:Breanna Stewart (2), Kahleah CopperWho else but A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart leading the race for another MVP each? She's second in blocks (2.1 bpg), has the best efficiency rating and is vital to the Aces' league-leading offense. She's averaging 13.8 ppg on 58% shooting (best of any bench player to qualify for the award) and adds 4.6 rpg and 1.2 spg. The sides split the two games in Las Vegas over Memorial Day weekend in May.

WNBA enters final month of the season with 11 of 12 teams in contention for playoff spots and five franchises within three games of each other atop the standings.

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.

Allie Quigley has won the WNBA 3-Point Contest for a record fourth time by putting together a perfect final rack.

Courtney Vandersloot, Kahleah Copper and Emma Meesseman will get a chance to play before their home fans as the trio was selected as reserves for the WNBA All-Star Game on July 10 in Chicago.

Kelsey Plum views her improved play this season to just having more time on the court.

LOS ANGELES — (AP) — Candace Parker set a WNBA record with her third career triple-double Thursday night, leading the Chicago Sky past the Los Angeles Sparks 82-59. Parker finished with 10 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists and accomplished the feat in three quarters. It was her second triple-double of the season and the third of her career moved her past Sheryl Swoopes, Courtney Vandersloot and Sabrina Ionescu, who have two apiece. Parker, playing against her former team in Los Angeles for the first time, also moved into fifth place in league history for blocks (588) and eighth for assists (1,495). Nneka Ogwumike scored 15 points and Brittney Sykes added 13 for Los Angeles (6-10), which was 10 of 40 shooting (25.6%).

Brittney Griner will have a place at the WNBA All-Star Game.

Gabby Williams scored a season-high 23 points in Seattle’s 81-72 win over the New York Liberty in what was Storm guard Sue Bird’s final regular-season game in her hometown.

The Sky went 2-1 on a three-game road trip, edging the Sun and Liberty after a close loss to Washington. Before embarking on the trip, the Sky spent about 20 minutes with Obama at his office in Chicago. He’s a Chicago Sky fan. Connecticut (10-4): The Sun play three games this week with matchups against Atlanta, Seattle and Washington. DOCUMENTING HISTORYA documentary ("Unfinished Business) about the New York Liberty debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival on Monday.

The New York Liberty are a work in progress. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File) (Adam Hunger)NEW YORK — (AP) — The New York Liberty are a work in progress. The Liberty have won two of three games since it was announced that Laney would be out. There's still a lot of basketball to play through.”The Liberty sit near the bottom of the AP WNBA power poll. Minnesota (3-8): The Lynx have had success against New York with two of their three wins coming against the Liberty.

The New York Liberty are a work in progress.

International Players Basketball FILE - China's Han Xu (15) shoots over Serbia's Tina Krajisnik during a women's basketball quarterfinal at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Aug. 4, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. Han feels more ready to play in the WNBA and is one of 21 international players on opening day rosters from countries all over the globe, including Australia, Belgium, Canada and Japan. “During the past few years, she gained a lot of confidence and now is trying not to be in her head when she plays basketball,” Han said via interpreter. First-year Liberty coach Sandy Brondello has seen Han play many times overseas with China and is happy to have her back in New York. She returned to the U.S. earlier than usual this offseason after all the WNBA players left Russia because of the country's invasion of Ukraine.

Han Xu feels much more comfortable in her second WNBA stint with the New York Liberty.

Han Xu feels much more comfortable in her second WNBA stint with the New York Liberty. The 6-foot-10 center from China missed the last two WNBA seasons. Now the 22-year-old Han is back in New York after growing an inch.

Kentucky's Rhyne Howard has become the ninth player in women’s basketball history to earn first-team Associated Press All-America honors three times.

After watching the botched proposal on the Jumbotron, the Liberty star wrote on Instagram that she was "HURT" and offered to sign the fan's jersey.

Las Vegas, Seattle and Connecticut have already created a little separation from the pack as the top three teams in the league. Las Vegas (14-4): The Aces keep rolling, setting a franchise-record for points in a game when they beat Atlanta 118-95 on Sunday. Things don't get any easier for Phoenix with games against Las Vegas and two against Seattle before the break. Other players receiving votes included Tina Charles of Washington, A'ja Wilson of Las Vegas and Brionna Jones of Connecticut. McBride makes her first return to Las Vegas where she starred for the franchise before signing with the Lynx in the offseason.

With less than a week remaining before the WNBA begins its Olympic break, teams are jockeying for position in the standings knowing that it will be a sprint to the finish once play resumes in August following the Tokyo Games and a monthlong hiatus.

Liberty Sky Basketball New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu, left, tries to get past Chicago Sky guard Stephanie Watts, right, during a WNBA basketball game Sunday, May 23, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Eileen T. Meslar) (Eileen T. Meslar)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. New York has won five of its first six games, including a back-to-back on Sunday and Monday. Minnesota (0-3): The Lynx are off to their worst start since 2007 when the team dropped its first seven games. PLAYER OF THE WEEK:Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty had a stellar week, helping the team to wins in three of its four games.

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.

The licensing deal with WNBA is the first pro women's sports agreement for PointsBet.

NEW YORK — (AP) — Sabrina Ionescu made a 3-pointer from the wing with less than a second remaining to give the New York Liberty a 90-87 victory over the Indiana Fever on Friday night in the WNBA's season opener. She scored the final eight points for New York, which trailed 86-82 with 39.7 seconds left. The Liberty were still missing Natasha Howard, who they acquired from Seattle in a trade in the offseason. The game tipped off the WNBA’s 25th season and was the Liberty’s second regular season game ever at their new home Barclays Center. She averaged 2.9 points and 2.7 rebounds last year for the Liberty.

The WNBA will tip off its 25th season on Friday, May 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)NEW YORK — (AP) — The WNBA is back and celebrating its silver anniversary. It was a busy offseason for the longest running women's professional sports league that will tip off its 25th season Friday night. After 14 years with the Lynx, she played her final season with the Los Angeles Sparks last year. VIEWING OPPORTUNITIESThe WNBA will have 100 of its games on national television this season, as well as dozens of games on Twitter, Facebook and Amazon.

The WNBA is back and celebrating its silver anniversary.

The NCAA is promising to bring better resources to the Women's Division I Basketball Tournament after videos and images of the women's facilities sparked outrage among fans and athletes online. Ahead of March Madness, student-athletes and coaches shared comparisons between the men's training facilities and a single rack of dumbbells and one stationary bike for the women. Lynn Holzman, the NCAA's women's basketball VP, said the plan was to provide more space and equipment to teams that further advanced in the tournament. In a call with administrators, NCAA Senior Basketball VP Dan Gavitt said the organization would do better in addressing the disparities between their men and women's leagues. WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu, last year's NCAA player of the year, shared an image of the men's room which appeared to be better-equipped.

The NCAA is promising to bring better resources to the Women's Division I Basketball Tournament after videos and images of the women's facilities sparked outrage among fans and athletes online. Ahead of March Madness, student-athletes and coaches shared comparisons between the men's training facilities and a single rack of dumbbells and one stationary bike for the women. Lynn Holzman, the NCAA's women's basketball VP, said the plan was to provide more space and equipment to teams that further advanced in the tournament. In a call with administrators, NCAA Senior Basketball VP Dan Gavitt said the organization would do better in addressing the disparities between their men and women's leagues. WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu, last year's NCAA player of the year, shared an image of the men's room which appeared to be better-equipped.

According to NBA TV, Ionescu sprained her ankle and underwent X-rays. After the game, Liberty coach Walt Hopkins said Ionescu was still being evaluated. She helped the Ducks win the Pac-12 regular-season and tournament titles as a senior while averaging 17.5 points, 9.1 assists and 8.6 rebounds. She was named the conferences most outstanding player of the tournament and of the regular season. The 5-foot-11 guard was also named AP Player of the Year and won the Wooden Award, the Naismith Trophy and Wade Trophy.

1 pick in the WNBA draft was diagnosed with a Grade 3 left ankle sprain after getting hurt in the second quarter against Atlanta and did not return to action in the New York Libertys 84-78 loss to the Dream on Friday night. A Grade 3 sprain is the most severe and usually requires months to heal fully as it's a full tear of the ankle ligament. Ionescu was bringing the ball up court and rolled her left ankle when she got tangled up with Atlanta's Betnijah Laney with about five minutes left in the opening half. Ionescu played in only 2 1/2 games this season and might be hard-pressed to return with the WNBA playing a truncated season with only 19 games left over the next 6 weeks. New York is short-handed at guard already with Kia Nurse sidelined with a sprained left ankle she suffered in the team's opener.

University of Oregon point guard Sabrina Ionescu, the overall top pick of this year's 2020 WNBA draft, is heading to the New York Liberty. Within the past season, the University of Oregon senior averaged 17.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game. Sabrina Ionescu is headed to the New York Liberty as the No. WELCOME TO NEW YORK, @sabrina_i20! #BrooklynLoud pic.twitter.com/JL2CF20uru New York Liberty (@nyliberty) April 17, 2020.