WNBA honors greats with Women's Hall of Fame induction
The post WNBA honors greats with Women's Hall of Fame induction appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Four WNBA legends were inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame over the weekend, as the league celebrated Sylvia Fowles, Sue Bird, Cappie Pondexter and Alana Beard for their contributions to the sport.
Advertisement
'Game changers, history makers,' the WNBA posted on social media, honoring the Class of 2025. The four players combined for more than 30 All-Star selections, 11 WNBA championships, and numerous Olympic and international titles.
Sylvia Fowles, a two-time WNBA champion and four-time Olympic gold medalist, reflected on her career during an interview with Yahoo Sports' Cassandra Negley.
'I'm still in awe at my career that I had,' Fowles said. 'You're pretty much on autopilot (when you're playing)… When I retired and had a chance to go back and see some of the things that I did, I'm still in awe of myself.'
Fowles said entering the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame felt different than her upcoming Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame induction.
Advertisement
'The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame appreciates what you've done throughout your career as a whole,' she said. 'As far as Naismith, I think that's like top tier and harder to get in … to get in on the first ballot also says a lot.'
Sue Bird also received high praise, both from fans and former teammates. A four-time WNBA champion, Bird used her speech to highlight the influence of UConn coaches Geno Auriemma and Chris Dailey. She also acknowledged her place in the larger UConn legacy, becoming the seventh former Husky inducted into the Hall.
'You assisted me in ways that went far beyond X's and O's. You developed my character,' Bird said. 'Coach Auriemma, you taught me that basketball is not a game of how to, it's a game of when to, and that wisdom became my North Star both on and off court.'
Advertisement
Rounding out the 2025 class were Pondexter, a 2007 Finals MVP and two-time champion, and Beard, a four-time All-Star and two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. All four were honored Saturday in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Related: WNBA exposed for excluding players from media rights deal
Related: Tempo hilariously calls on WNBA teams for mascot tips ahead of 2026 debut
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Yankees bring back Jazz Chisholm after cautious approach to groin issue
Yankees bring back Jazz Chisholm after cautious approach to groin issue originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Jazz Chisholm Jr. was back in the New York Yankees lineup Saturday night at Fenway Park, starting at third base and batting fifth. It marked his first appearance since leaving Wednesday's game in Kansas City with tightness in his left groin—a lingering concern that kept him out of the lineup for two straight nights. Advertisement The Yankees had downplayed the severity of the injury, and Aaron Boone said postgame Wednesday that strength tests had come back clean. But Boone also admitted that Chisholm was only available in an 'emergency' capacity for the series finale against the Royals and wouldn't commit to his status for the series opener in Boston. Chisholm's absence had come just days after he returned from an oblique injury that sidelined him for a month. His week was marked by back-to-back early exits—Tuesday for a neck tweak after a headfirst slide into third base, and Wednesday for the groin issue. New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm, Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images Through 38 games this season, Chisholm is hitting .215 with nine home runs, 24 RBI, and a .770 OPS. When he's healthy, the energy is unmistakable. But availability has been the issue. Advertisement Chisholm missed nearly a month with an oblique strain already this season. There's also no question the organization has been cautious. His return to the lineup Saturday wasn't rushed. Even as the Yankees dealt with thin infield depth, they resisted throwing Chisholm back in before he was ready. Boone told reporters Friday that he remained 'hopeful' Jazz could play during the Boston series but didn't necessarily expect him to be ready for the opener. A full day later, Chisholm proved he was. Now, it's about staying on the field. The Yankees need his bat. But more than that, they need him healthy enough to keep it in the lineup. Advertisement Related: Red Sox Network Mocks Boone After Ejection Calls Him 'Tantrum Artist' Related: Jazz Chisholm Jr. Turns A Throwaway Line Into Off-Field Bling This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jasson Dominguez hesitates in huge moment and fans erupt
Jasson Dominguez hesitates in huge moment and fans erupt originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It only took one moment to flip the mood at Fenway—and it wasn't the scoreboard. It was Jasson Domínguez. And Yankees fans let him have it. Advertisement In the seventh inning of Saturday's loss to the Red Sox, Trent Grisham struck out swinging at a 2-1 fastball from Boston reliever Justin Wilson. At least, that's what Domínguez thought. Standing on second, the 21-year-old froze in no-man's land. He told reporters after the game he made a mistake, "no excuses." By the time he realized Grisham had only whiffed, not struck out, it was too late. Domínguez never advanced, and instead of having runners at second and third with one out and Aaron Judge on deck, the inning turned into a wasted opportunity. © Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images "What the Hell was that?' one fan posted within seconds. 'He just stood there! Inexcusable. Took the bat out of Grisham's hands and potentially lost a chance for Judge to come up with the bases loaded.' Advertisement The replies didn't cool off. 'Do the Yankees coach baserunning? Or do Volpe and Domínguez think they're invisible?' 'Talk about embarrassing. These guys can't get up for the Red Sox. Shameful.' It wasn't just a mistake. It was a moment that triggered the frustration fans have been sitting on for weeks. 'Am I the only one that feels like Jasson Dominguez needs a wake-up call lately?' another fan asked. 'Sit his butt down, Booney!!!' Yankees manager Aaron Boone had defended Anthony Volpe for making the first out of the 10th inning when he got thrown out trying to steal third base. So fans, lumped it in together and blamed the manager, who was visibly furious. Advertisement "Yesterday completely unnecessary and now this again," one fan tweeted. "Signs of a terribly coached team is that they lacking fundamental baseball skills! Terrible baserunning is at the top of the list !!! BaBoone needs to go!" Related: Yankees Fans Get Encouraging Jazz Chisholm Update Before Fenway Game Related: Red Sox Network Mocks Boone After Ejection Calls Him 'Tantrum Artist' This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
J.J. Spaun Proudly Represents His Parents' Filipino and Mexican Heritage
J.J. Spaun Proudly Represents His Parents' Filipino and Mexican Heritage originally appeared on Athlon Sports. J.J. Spaun leans on his parents' Mexican and Filipino heritage as the golfer proudly represents his family's nationality on the PGA Tour. J.J.'s success on the PGA Tour could help open doors for others as the organization continues to aim to diversify the sport. Advertisement As J.J. impresses at the U.S. Open, the golfers' parents, John and Dollie, paved the way for his success. J.J.'s dad, John Spaun, is happy his son gave up his original dream of being a skater. As his passion for skating grew, J.J. getting hit by a car while skating likely pushed him back to golf. Thankfully, J.J. was not hurt, but his father was not a fan of the short skating stint. J.J. Spaun tees off during the second round of the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa. on June 13, Maxson / For The Beaver County Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images 'Luckily, none of the wheels went over him, but he had this streak of oil all the way down his body,' John told NBC Golf's Brentley Romine back in March. As for J.J.'s mom, Dollie was an avid golfer and helped in her son's development in the sport. Dollie even played golf while pregnant with J.J., and it appears to have helped. J.J.'s mom's family has both Filipino and Mexican roots. "So my grandfather on my mom's side, he's from -- he's not from the Philippines, but his parents were," Spaun remarked at the Valero Texas Open during an April 3, 2022, interview. "But they moved to California and he was born there, but he spoke Ilocano, which is like a dialect of Tagalog. Advertisement "It's from a very small island; I wish I remember what it was. My whole mom's side, they're all half Filipino and half Mexican, so that's what makes up my heritage. Sadly, he passed a few years ago, but he was -- he was kind of the main Filipino person in our family." Related: J.J. Spaun's Clear Message on Wife Melody Spaun This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
