Latest news with #25thAnniversaryTeam
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tamika Catchings' heartfelt message to Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton after NBA Finals loss
The post Tamika Catchings' heartfelt message to Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton after NBA Finals loss appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Indiana Pacers fell one game short of their goal of an NBA championship, but a fellow Indiana basketball legend had some encouraging words for the team. 2012 WNBA champion Tamika Catchings sent her support to the Pacers and their injured star, Tyrese Haliburton. Advertisement 'No matter what I'm proud of this @Pacers team!' she wrote on Sunday via X. 'Fought til the end! Prayers up @TyHaliburton22 🙏🏽🥰Congrats to the @okcthunder!' The Pacers fell, 103-91, to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. To make matters worse, Haliburton suffered a torn right achilles tendon during the game and has since undergone surgery. His recovery could keep him out all of next season. Catchings played 15 seasons in the WNBA, all with the Indiana Fever, but it took until her 11th year before she won a championship. A 10-time All-Star, Catchings was also 2012 WNBA Finals MVP and named to the league's 25th Anniversary Team in 2021. The Fever retired her No. 24 in 2017. Catchings isn't the only Indiana legend who has sent their support to Haliburton, who averaged 17.3 points, 8.6 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game during the 2025 playoffs. Advertisement 'I felt the gut punch to Pacer Nation, not only from the loss, but the loss of our fearless leader @tyresehaliburton. The man upstairs always has a master plan and 'this to shall pass,'' Reggie Miller wrote on Instagram. 'I'm very grateful of the @pacers TEAM for bringing so much pride, grit and togetherness back to Indiana basketball.. Masterful job on the sideline Coach Rick Carlisle, and let's not forget about all the men and women who work in the Front Offices who sacrifice a lot of their time to make things happen.. #OGProudPacer' Haliburton, for his part, broke his silence in a lengthy post via X, in which he showed his appreciation for Pacers fans and promised to 'do everything in my power to get back right.' Related: How Fever-Aces game made ESPN history Related: Sophie Cunningham rocks 'Tres Leches' shirt in support of Caitlin Clark, Lexie Hull
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Elena Delle Donne, 2-time WNBA MVP, retires from basketball
Elena Delle Donne, 2-time WNBA MVP, retires from basketball Two-time WNBA MVP and 2019 champion Elena Delle Donne announced her retirement from basketball on Friday. Delle Donne, 35, was the No. 2 pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft out of Delaware and went on to have one of the most accomplished careers for a player of her generation. Advertisement In addition to her title and MVPs, the former Chicago Sky and Washington Mystics forward made seven All-Star appearances, four All-WNBA first-teams and won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2016 Olympics. In 2021, Delle Donne was named to the WNBA 25th Anniversary Team. She sat out last year's WNBA season and was currently unsigned. Back surgeries and other injuries limited her availability during her final seasons. Delle Donne will serve as a special adviser to Monumental Basketball, the parent company of the Mystics, according to a release. 'One of my favorite children's books asked, 'How did it get so late so soon?' ' Delle Donne wrote in her Instagram post announcing her retirement. 'I have asked myself that over and over again in the process of coming to the decision to retire from playing basketball. Being able to say that out loud was one of the hardest parts of my career. My body seemed to make this decision before my mind accepted it but I now truly know this is the right thing for me at the right time.' The Mystics used their core designation on Delle Donne ahead of free agency last offseason, but she declined to accept the offer, which would have entailed a one-year deal and the league maximum salary. As a result, she sat out. Washington did not use its core designation on Delle Donne this offseason, leading some to wonder whether she would retire. Advertisement Delle Donne entered the WNBA after back-to-back seasons as a first-team All-American at Delaware in 2011-12 and 2012-13. She won WNBA Rookie of the Year honors in 2013 with Chicago and led the Sky to the playoffs in all four of her seasons with the franchise. Chicago traded her to Washington before the 2017 season. 'Elena Delle Donne has been a transformative force for the Washington Mystics and women's basketball,' Monumental Sports & Entertainment chairman and CEO Ted Leonsis said in the statement. 'A champion and MVP on and off the court, her legacy as a player, leader, and ambassador will leave a permanent mark on the game, and on generations of young women, for years to come. We'll miss her on the court. But we're glad she'll still be with us, shaping the next chapter for Monumental Basketball and all we're building.' After leading Washington to the 2019 WNBA championship, the franchise's first, she continued to play at a high level until injuries curtailed the latter part of her career. She played only three games in 2021 after undergoing a pair of back surgeries. She was limited in 2022, playing in only 25 games and missed time in 2023 with ankle and hip injuries. She appeared in only 55 games, including the playoffs, since leading the Mystics to a title. 'Words cannot adequately express how thankful I am to my family, all of my incredible teammates, friends, executives, sponsors, staff and most importantly the amazing fans that have accompanied me on this journey,' Delle Donne said. 'This game has been my life and I am grateful for the memories and how much it's given me.' Advertisement Washington holds the Nos. 3, 4 and 6 picks in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Not only will Delle Donne no longer be with the franchise, but the Mystics hired a new coach and general manager this offseason, Sydney Johnson and Jamila Wideman, respectively. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Washington Mystics, WNBA 2025 The Athletic Media Company
