Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese record-setting seasons continue to fuel WNBA Rookie of the Year debate
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese both have been having history-making rookie seasons on and off the court and their performances continue to fuel debates around the WNBA Rookie of the Year race.
LeBron James selected as Team USA male flagbearer for Paris Olympics opening ceremony
LeBron James wasnโt totally sure what the opening ceremony was all about when he was picked for his first Olympics in 2004.
Magic Johnson, Dwyane Wade, Tom Brady among the former pro athletes who have become WNBA owners
Magic Johnsonโs love of basketball motivated him to save the Los Angeles Sparks a decade ago from folding and also put him on the forefront of what is now a growing WNBA trend.
Stewart helps New York top Indiana 91-80 despite strong game from Caitlin Clark, who scored 22
Breanna Stewart scored 24 points to lead a balanced New York offense as the Liberty beat Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever 91-80 in front of a sellout crowd of more than 17,000 at the Barclays Center.
Caitlin Clark, much like Larry Bird, the focus of talks about race and double standards in sports
WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark, like NBA Hall of Famer Larry Bird was 45 years ago, is involuntarily the focus of discussions about race and her transition to professional basketball.
Two WNBA players were among a dozen Americans who played in Russia after Brittney Griner's arrest
Two WNBA players were among a dozen Americans who opted to play in Russia this past offseason following Brittney Grinerโs incarceration in 2022.
Caitlin Clark's presence draws comparisons to two Birds as Indiana Fever contemplate playoff run
Indiana Fever general manager Lin Dunn started media day being asked to compare Caitlin Clark to two Birds โ Sue, who Dunn took as the WNBA"s top overall draft pick in 2002, and Larry, who turned the Boston Celtics into an immediate title contender.
Jewell Loyd steps into more prominent role with rebuilding Seattle Storm
For more than 20 seasons, Sue Bird was the face of the Seattle Storm and for two separate stretches she was joined by arguably the best players in the world at that time in Lauren Jackson and Breanna Stewart.
Minus suspended coach Becky Hammon, Aces rout Storm 105-64 to open title defense
Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum both scored 23 points, and the Las Vegas Aces opened defense of their WNBA championship with a 105-64 win over the Seattle Storm.
Golden board: Durant, Bird, Azzi helping lead USA Basketball
When Kevin Durant was asked about the notion of him and some other Olympic gold medalists potentially getting seats on USA Basketballโs Board of Directors, he liked the idea.
Stewart, debuting Thomas help US beat Belgium in WCup opener
Breanna Stewart scored 22 points and Alyssa Thomas had 14 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in her debut for the United States, which beat Belgium 87-72 in its World Cup opener.
Sue Bird's career ends as Aces top Storm to reach to Finals
Sue Birdโs career came to an end as Chelsea Gray scored 15 of her 31 points in the fourth quarter, and the Las Vegas Aces advanced to the WNBA Finals with a 97-92 win over the Seattle Storm in Game 4 of their semifinal series.
Young beats buzzer, Aces top Storm 110-98 in OT in Game 3
Jackie Young sent the game in overtime with a buzzer-beating basket and then Chelsea Gray and Kelsey Plum hit big shots in the extra session to help the Las Vegas Aces beat the Seattle Storm 110-98 to move within a victory of advancing to the WNBA Finals.
Stewart, Bird help Storm beat Mystics 97-84 to sweep series
Breanna Stewart had 21 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, Sue Bird added season highs of 18 points and 10 assists, and the Seattle Storm beat the Washington Mystics 97-84 to sweep their opening-round series.
Trio of Chicago Sky players headline WNBA All-Star reserves
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.
Williams helps Storm beat Liberty in Bird's New York finale
Gabby Williams scored a season-high 23 points in Seattleโs 81-72 win over the New York Liberty in what was Storm guard Sue Birdโs final regular-season game in her hometown.
EXPLAINER: Why WNBA players go overseas to play in offseason
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.
![Bromell looks to replace Bolt atop Olympic 100-meter podium](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/JGOldq_xjt8KSdZ8WcDj40Fa-v0=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/3I52I4ZDMZDYLJYHLFB2DRWPRY.jpg)
Bromell looks to replace Bolt atop Olympic 100-meter podium
Usain Bolt has retired so there will be a new fastest man at the Olympics for the first time since 2008 when the menโs 100-meter dash is held on Day 9 of the Tokyo Games.
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Where's Ruthie? Nigerian assistant watches US win from hotel
Nigeria assistant coach Ruthie Bolton could only watch and yell at the television in a Japanese hotel room as the Nigerians battled the U.S. women's basketball team.
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LEADING OFF: Alvarez carries U.S. flag, big rivalries abound
Miami Marlins infielder Eddy Alvarez and four-time Olympic womenโs basketball gold medalist Sue Bird will be the U.S. flag bearers for the opening ceremonies of the Tokyo Games.
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Bird, Alvarez chosen to carry US flag at opening ceremony
Four-time Olympic womenโs basketball gold medalist Sue Bird and baseball player Eddy Alvarez have been chosen as USA flag bearers for the opening ceremony of the Olympics.
![Bird, Taurasi earn spots on fifth US Olympic basketball team](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/xfI2QiY0J0jBMBtUvlO90_awqY8=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/PQF5R4BHMZFODKX5KJ2TKM3BHE.jpg)
Bird, Taurasi earn spots on fifth US Olympic basketball team
Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi will try and become the first five-time Olympic gold medalists in womenโs basketball as they lead the U.S. team during the Tokyo Games.
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Analysis: US women look to add depth on Olympic hoops roster
The U.S. womenโs 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.
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FIBA holds draws for Olympic basketball tournaments
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 seasonโs 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.
![Rapinoe returns to US national team after nearly a year](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/15B9XPygDf5kit1eQPej0Hp0TNQ=/1600x1032/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JBPIQZG3PVE5XG7LYTATXTUPY4.jpg)
Rapinoe returns to US national team after nearly a year
That's changing now that Rapinoe has returned to the U.S. national team for its January training camp in Florida after sitting out most of last year. The last time Rapinoe played for the national team was on March 11, when she scored in a 3-1 SheBelieves Cup victory over Japan. The national team settled its dispute with the federation over unequal working conditions in December, leaving the pay dispute still unresolved. Rapinoe, 35, has scored 52 goals with 68 assists in 168 appearances with the national team since her first call-up in 2006. She scored on a penalty kick in the United States' victory over the Netherlands in the 2019 World Cup final.
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Stewart and Storm could be poised to win more WNBA titles
Breanna Stewart and the Seattle Storm never really got a chance to defend their 2018 championship because of key injuries. โI donโt know if any of us are thinking that way,โ Stewart said after the Storm completed a three-game sweep of the Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday night by setting a WNBA Finals record with a 33-point win. The 26-year-old won a second WNBA Finals MVP as a unanimous choice and was nearly unstoppable in the championship round. Bird, who turns 40 next week, has been a part of all four of the Storm championships during three decades. I just kind of start working out and see how I feel,โ said Bird, who averaged 11 assists in the WNBA Finals.
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Stewart leads Seattle to 2nd WNBA title in 3 years
Stewart scored 26 points and Seattle completed a sweep of the Las Vegas Aces with a 92-59 rout Tuesday night. It was the biggest margin of victory in WNBA Finals history. Seattle had pretty much the same core group that won the 2018 championship back for this year, led by Stewart, Bird and Jewell Loyd. Seattle has now won a record 11 games in a row in the WNBA Finals, dating to the team's first championship in 2004. She led the Dream to three WNBA Finals appearances but the team was swept in each one.
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Stewart, Bird help Storm rout Aces; go up 2-0 in WNBA Finals
Las Vegas couldn't respond. A'ja Wilson had 20 points to lead Las Vegas while Angel McCoughtry and Emma Cannon added 17 each. The Aces led 65-64 with 3:22 left in the period before the Storm closed with a 11-3 burst. The Storm, who had 17 assists on their 18 baskets, built the lead to 13 before Las Vegas rallied to the six-point halftime deficit. ... Stewart had her fifth consecutive 20-point game in the WNBA Finals spanning back to the 2018 season.
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Stewart lifts Storm to Game 1 WNBA Finals win over Aces
Seattle Storm forward Breanna Stewart (30) celebrates after the team defated the Las Vegas Aces during Game 1 of basketball's WNBA Finals Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)BRADENTON, Fla. โ The Seattle Storm's lead down to two with a quarter left, Breanna Stewart took over. The big-game player scored the first 11 points of the fourth quarter and finished with 37 to help the Storm beat the Las Vegas Aces 93-80 on Friday night in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. She was a point short of the WNBA Finals record set by Angel McCoughtry. McCoughtry scored 20 points to lead Las Vegas, which was playing in the WNBA Finals for the first time since the franchise moved to the Nevada city three years ago. Eight players had reached 11 assists in a finals game before Bird's record performance.
![Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm sit atop AP WNBA power poll](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/8NknfjihVoV1swPLmgoJeaGU1vo=/1600x1016/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/RYBKSDQ3ZRC27HLLOMHOUSFTLA.jpg)
Breanna 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
![WNBA players adjusting to life in their Florida bubble](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/slQeJEu4RNO2GvmvCc2fB4taPTo=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/A23IXUNHJRG7RD5BE754DL4TDU.jpg)
WNBA players adjusting to life in their Florida bubble
Sue Bird has seen a lot in her storied playing career in the WNBA, overseas and the Olympics. While nothing the 39-year-old Seattle Storm guard experienced has prepared her for life in the WNBA bubble, she is making the best of the situation. The bubble is part summer camp, mixed in with the Olympic village, playing overseas and an AAU tournament with a little bit of college life thrown in, Bird said in a phone interview. Two weeks into the experiment, players and coaches have been adjusting to their temporary homes. The WNBA has gone far and beyond what I thought would happen.Even with the WNBA in the bubble, the virus is still on everyones mind.
![2020 ESPYS: Russell Wilson, Megan Rapinoe & Sue Bird Address Black Lives Matter in Powerful Opening](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/RSKQk45PGQY8vIMWDJs5IjsJb8Q=/1280x720/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/XG7RXWJ6LBCEZMPXWOXXD4SCG4.jpg)
2020 ESPYS: Russell Wilson, Megan Rapinoe & Sue Bird Address Black Lives Matter in Powerful Opening
The trio of superstar athletes served up a powerful opening, championing the Black Lives Matter movement and its importance. Black Lives Matter." "This is our moment to prove that we know a better world is one where Black lives are valued. "But do Black lives matter to you when they are not throwing touchdowns? There will also be "a powerful segment from various athletes addressing the Black Lives Matter movement," as well as "a love letter to Kobe Bryant from the people of Los Angeles, featuring a performance by Snoop Dogg."
![2020 ESPYS: The Complete Winners List](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/PkbT4AToWdWLGAaF7hPMaUbkaIc=/1280x720/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/KVJZPTM5ARGNJDWXLLYQSJZSO4.jpg)
2020 ESPYS: The Complete Winners List
Some of the biggest stars in the world of sports came together -- virtually -- for this year's remote ESPY Awards. Hosted by Russell Wilson, Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe, ESPN's annual celebration of sports honored some of the most deserving athletes, while also addressing the most pressing social issues of the day. The show this year was quite a bit different than any in the past -- and the awards presented were focused largely on humanitarian triumphs and accomplishments. From athletes doing their part to help fight coronavirus to those who are speaking up about the importance of mental health, the 2020 ESPY Awards might be the most powerful and emotional in the show's history. See below for a full list of this year's ESPY winners and honorees.
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Rights groups, athletes ask NCAA to move tourney from Idaho
(AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)BOISE, Idaho Groups that advocate for civil rights and womens rights have joined notable athletes in asking the NCAA to move 2021 mens basketball tournament games out of Idaho after the state passed a law banning transgender women from competing in womens sports. The first and second rounds of the men's tournament are scheduled for next March at Boise State University. Transgender athletes deserve the same dignity and respect entitled to all NCAA athletes. A girls or womens team will not be open to transgender students who identify as female. Backers said the law, called the Fairness in Womens Sports Act, is needed because transgender female athletes have physical advantages.