Latest news with #Commissioner'sCup
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
WNBA Fans In Disbelief Over Angel Reese's League-Worst Stat
WNBA Fans In Disbelief Over Angel Reese's League-Worst Stat originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Chicago Sky have won two straight games, giving them a 2-4 record during the 2025 WNBA season. After losing their first three games by a combined 73 points, the Sky have responded by rising to fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings. Advertisement 2024 WNBA All-Star Angel Reese got off to a rough start this season, as she only made five of her 22 shots in the Sky's first two games. Since then, however, her shooting percentage has improved from 22.7% to 31.1%. Still, Reese has one of the lowest shooting percentages in the WNBA, especially on layups. She is currently third in the league in layups attempted with 54, but her 31.5% mark is by far the lowest among any other player in the top 10. In fact, Reese ranks dead-last in the WNBA among all players who have attempted at least 35 layups. When WNBA fans got a hold of this statistic, they began to criticize Reese for her performance. Several took to social media to call out her play through six games. Advertisement "31% on layups is diabolical," one fan replied. "Does that (expletive) say 31% while shooting the 3rd most layups in the league?" a fan asked. "That is crazy." "31.5% on lay-ups lmao," another fan commented. Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5).Chris Jones-Imagn Images "32% is just nasty," a fan responded. "Why is someone that is converting on only 3 out of 10 of their layup attempts taking the 3rd most in the league?" another fan questioned. "Coach Marsh is either directing her to do this or just passively allowing it to happen." "A big should never shoot 31% on layups," one fan chimed in. "31% on LAYUPS?!?!?!?" one asked. Reese had a game earlier this season in which she missed all eight of her shots. Reese is averaging 10.0 points and a league-leading 12.3 rebounds per game in 2025. Her assist and steal numbers are both improved too, as she is contributing 2.7 assists and 1.8 steals per contest, up from 1.9 and 1.3 a year ago. Advertisement Chicago is back in action on June 7, as it will take on the Indiana Fever in its first game of the 2025 WNBA Commissioner's Cup. Indiana, who is 2-4, may be without 2024 First-Team All-WNBA guard Caitlin Clark, who had a 20-point triple-double in the teams' previous matchup. Related: Chicago Sky Pass Indiana Fever in WNBA Ranking After Caitlin Clark News Related: Cameras Catch Angel Reese's Reaction After Scoring on DiJonai Carrington This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
WNBA Team Announces Major Roster Decision on Monday
WNBA Team Announces Major Roster Decision on Monday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Entering 2025 under second-year head coach Nate Tibbetts and general manager Nick U'Ren, the Phoenix Mercury aimed to recover from the loss of franchise icons Diana Taurasi (retired February 2025) and Brittney Griner (signed with the Atlanta Dream in free agency). Advertisement So far, Phoenix has posted a 5-2 record and is off to a 1-0 start in Commissioner's Cup play following an 85-80 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday. Through the first seven games of the season, Phoenix has leaned on newcomers Satou Sabally (21.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game) and Alyssa Thomas (15.3 points, 8.0 assists and 7.6 rebounds per game). On Monday, the Mercury made another pivotal move to its roster, announcing that it had waived guard Sevgi Uzun. Uzun, a 5-foot-10 point guard from Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey, carved her reputation in Europe before arriving in the WNBA. After beginning her pro career in 2013 with Beşiktaş, she played for Çukurova Basketbol (2018-19), Fenerbahçe (2019-21), Ormanspor (2021-22) and Botaş SK (2022-23). Advertisement In 2023-24, Uzun returned to Fenerbahçe and captured a EuroLeague Women championship, a Triple Crown (Turkish League, Turkish Cup, Turkish Super Cup), two consecutive FIBA Europe SuperCup Women titles (2023, 2024) and multiple Turkish league titles (2021, 2024, 2025). Her transition to the WNBA came in 2024 with the Dallas Wings, where she appeared in 40 games (19 starts) and averaged 4.4 points, 3.0 assists and 1.6 rebounds over 20.5 minutes per contest. Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) and Dallas Wings guard Sevgi Uzun (1).Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports via Imagn Images After being traded to Phoenix in February, Uzun appeared in all seven games, averaging 1.6 points, 2.0 assists and 0.9 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game. Advertisement The Mercury chose to waive her contract to clear her roster spot and allow Uzun to focus on Turkey's EuroBasket 2025 campaign, running June 18-29. Related: Lexie Hull's Mother Sends Indiana Fever Message After Third Straight Loss Related: Angel Reese Sends Message After Announcement on Friday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
WNBA Reacts to Warriors Guard Making Appearance at Sunday Night Game
WNBA Reacts to Warriors Guard Making Appearance at Sunday Night Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Golden State Valkyries are the newest team to enter the WNBA, a league that is suddenly a hot and growing commodity. They have given the league 13 teams, and they're off to a not-too-shabby 2-4 start two weeks into the 2025 season. Advertisement They were fairly competitive on Sunday at home versus the Minnesota Lynx, the team that narrowly lost the championship to the New York Liberty last year, even though they ended up losing, 86-75. It was Golden State's first Commissioner's Cup game, and there was a special fan in attendance. Brandin Podziemski from the NBA's Golden State Warriors, as well as the rapper known as Common, were at Chase Center for Sunday's game. The Warriors schlepped their way through the first half of the NBA season, but the midseason acquisition of six-time All-Star forward Jimmy Butler revitalized them, and in particular, Stephen Curry. Advertisement Once Butler made his Warriors debut, they went 23-8 through the rest of the regular season. By the time the playoffs started, they were being tabbed as legitimate championship contenders. May 12, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) is introduced before the start of the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves during game four of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images Unfortunately, Curry injured his hamstring in Game 1 of the second round of the playoffs versus the Minnesota Timberwolves, and they ended up falling in five games. On Sunday, second-year guard Kate Martin got hot with 14 points in 19 minutes off the bench. Veronica Burton led the Valkyries in scoring with 21 points, while four-time All-Star forward Napheesa Collier paced Minnesota with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Advertisement With a 7-0 record, Minnesota is tied with the defending champion New York Liberty for the best record in the WNBA. Related: Angel Reese Receives Punishment for Actions in Chicago Sky Game This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Liberty Coach's Blunt Response to Sabrina Ionescu's Behavior During Blowout
Liberty Coach's Blunt Response to Sabrina Ionescu's Behavior During Blowout originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The New York Liberty are sending a message that they're perhaps primed to win their second straight WNBA championship this season. Advertisement On Sunday, they pulverized the Connecticut Sun by a final score of 100-52, and they equaled their league-record of 19 made 3-pointers in a game, and four of them came from Sabrina Ionescu, who scored a team-high 18 points on 6-of-9 overall shooting. Even though the Liberty were flying high in the third quarter, they challenged a foul that was called on Ionescu when Marina Mabrey of the Sun attempted a 3-pointer. They won the challenge, and Ionescu reacted with an exuberant celebration. She explained the challenge and her celebration, and head coach Sandy Brondello immediately had a response. "I was just really in the moment, but I knew I didn't foul her," Ionescu said. "So very thankful for my coaches and entrusting me with the fact that I asked for a challenge because I know I didn't. My ponytail was sideways. She hit me. Obviously, we were up by a lot, so it was a great opportunity for us to challenge and make sure that I can continue to earn Sandy's trust to be able to continue to challenge." Advertisement "She has my trust," Brondello said. New York jumped out to a 31-13 lead at the end of the first quarter, and it never looked back. It had an incredible 29 assists on 33 made field goals, and it held Connecticut to just 31.1% shooting while forcing 21 turnovers, which helped it score 29 fast-break points. Along with the Minnesota Lynx, New York is the only remaining undefeated team in the WNBA. Jun 1, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) drives past Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles (31) during the second half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images So far this season, Ionescu is averaging 17.8 points, 4.7 assists and 4.7 rebounds a game. The guard seems to be on her way to her fourth straight All-Star game selection and possibly her fourth All-WNBA nod. Advertisement Sunday's contest was the first Commissioner's Cup contest for the Liberty. They will visit the Washington Mystics on Thursday as the in-season tournament continues. Related: Angel Reese Receives Punishment for Actions in Chicago Sky Game This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Valkyries can't continue first-half success, fall to unbeaten Minnesota
For the second time in as many games, the Golden State Valkyries faltered in the second half to fall short of an improbable upset. This time, though, instead of late mistakes, the Golden State offense went cold Sunday night while the Minnesota Lynx shredded a porous Valkyries' perimeter defense in an 86-75 loss at Chase Center. Four days after nearly defeating the defending-champion New York Liberty, the Valkyries held their own against the Lynx for the first half before a dismal eight-point third quarter. Against the Liberty, turnovers and late errors stopped the upset bid. Against the Lynx, it was 26.6% second-half shooting that did in the Valkyries (2-4). A career-high 14-point performance from Kate Martin — all of it coming in the second quarter — buoyed the Valkyries to a one-point halftime lead against last year's WNBA runners-up., But the Lynx lit up the scoreboard with a 42.3% percentage from distance (11 of 26), the second consecutive game in which the Valkyries allowed at least 40% 3-point shooting. Golden State shot 26.5% (9 of 34) from deep. Veronica Burton led the Valkyries with 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Napheesa Collier, who was a game-time decision with a knee injury, led the Lynx (7-0) with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Minnesota jumped out to an eight-point lead less than two minutes into the second quarter with a 16-3 run that began at the end of the first frame against the Valkyries' second unit. After a pair of Tiffany Hayes free throws, Martin scored all of her points as a part of a 16-5 run, including a four-point play, to put Golden State up 42-37 with 4:33 to play in the second. By the third quarter, though, the Valkyries' offense disappeared. The Lynx went on an 8-0 run over 91 seconds to take a nine-point lead late in the third quarter. The Valkyries then went scoreless from the 1:28 mark of the third quarter to 6:58 in the fourth, when Burton made a free throw. Golden State inched back to an 11-point deficit with 1:28 to go, but never got closer. Briefly: The Valkyries' injury report was clean entering Sunday's game for the first time this season. … Hayes (nine points) was back after a nose injury that cost her three contests, but she took a hit to the face early in the fourth quarter and exited the game. … Sunday's was the Valkyries' first in the Commissioner's Cup, a six-game in-season tournament against Western Conference foes for the chance to face the Eastern Conference winner in a title game for a $500,000 pool. … Golden State will travel to Phoenix on Thursday for their first regular-season matchup with the Mercury (5-2).
