Latest news with #WNBACoachoftheYear
NBC Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Evaluating market for WNBA Coach of the Year odds
Vaughn Dalzell analyzes the betting odds for WNBA Coach of the Year, explaining why it's a wide-open race, and the value for some of the current favorites is wearing thin.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Becky Hammon Makes Career Move/Decision Before New WNBA Season
With the WNBA season tipping off this weekend, and some games starting as early as Friday night, the excitement is building fast among fans, players and teams. From standout training camp performances to coaching changes and roster movement, the league has made plenty of headlines throughout the preseason. Among the latest buzz is a move involving a team that won't take the court until Saturday afternoon but is already making waves off it. Advertisement That team is the Las Vegas Aces, and the noise centers around one of the most respected and successful coaches in WNBA history. Klutch Sports Group, the high-profile agency known for representing elite athletes across multiple sports, has announced a major signing in the women's basketball world. "Welcome @BeckyHammon!" Klutch Sports Group posted on X. Hammon, head coach of the Las Vegas Aces, is a former WNBA star and six-time All-Star. She led the league in assists in 2007 and was known for her gritty play and leadership on the floor. As a coach, Hammon has continued to shine. She guided the Aces to back-to-back WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023. The team also won the Commissioner's Cup in 2022, and Hammon was named WNBA Coach of the Year. Advertisement Before taking over in Las Vegas, Hammon served as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs from 2014 to 2021. In August 2023, she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon© Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports Her new partnership with Klutch Sports is expected to help her expand her brand and pursue more opportunities in entertainment, media and business. Klutch represents a wide array of talent, including NBA stars like LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Draymond Green and Aaron Gordon. On the NFL side, clients include DeAndre Hopkins, Bijan Robinson and DeVonta Smith. JuJu Watkins was one of the first college women's basketball players to join Klutch. The agency recently began representing coaches and executives, signing names like Chauncey Billups and Nick Nurse. Hammon is the first WNBA coach to sign with Klutch. Current WNBA stars A'ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Aliyah Boston are also represented by Rich Paul and Klutch Sports. Advertisement Related: Caitlin Clark's Pass to Fever Teammate During Practice Leaves Fans in Disbelief Related: WNBA Team Releases Unexpected Player Days Before New Season
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fans are Upset with Stephanie White's Decision Before WNBA Season
In 2024, the Indiana Fever broke their seven-year playoff drought by finishing 20-20, good for third in the Eastern Conference and a spot in the first round. Rookie guard Caitlin Clark exploded onto the scene, averaging 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game and earning All-WNBA First Team honors. Advertisement Forward Aliyah Boston continued to cement her two-way reputation with 8.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per contest. Head coach Christie Sides guided the team to its best win total since 2015, but the Fever were swept in the first round by the Connecticut Sun. On Wednesday, the Fever's official X account posted a video of the team scrimmaging, accompanied by the caption, 'ball movement leads to an Aliyah Boston bucket 🔥' Within minutes, fans flooded social media with disbelief and frustration, questioning head coach Stephanie White's choice of competition. One user commented, "This is who they practice with ?!? Man we cooked 😂," to which another responded, "Damn. Why are we practicing against them ? 😩". Advertisement Another commenter said, "Worst male practice players every season. Literally the worst," followed up by one user with, "Love her footwork!" responding to Boston. Another user agreed, saying, "Effective screening at its best. Go ahead AB! #NowYouKnow 🔥". One fan said, "Why are the WNBA players forced to practice with HS kids. These are pro women who could compete with the D1 men and one who could make an NBA team. More (expletive) with these fake videos." Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White.© Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK Looking ahead to 2025, the Fever welcomed back White, a homecoming that carries high expectations after she won WNBA Coach of the Year in 2023. Advertisement The front office also added veteran winners such as six-time All-Star and two-time champion DeWanna Bonner, three-time champion Natasha Howard and sharpshooter Sophie Cunningham via trade. With All-Stars Clark and Boston now surrounded by playoff-tested talent, early projections slot Indiana to finish near the top of the league standings. Related: Wings Release Two of Paige Bueckers' Teammates on Saturday Related: Indiana Fever Coach Shares Major Concern About Upcoming Game
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Caitlin Clark's Pregame Interaction With Former Fever Coach is Turning Heads
The Indiana Fever are set to tip off the 2025 WNBA preseason with a battle against the Washington Mystics on Saturday. And they could be without All-WNBA guard Caitlin Clark, who was ruled questionable with a left leg injury. This also marks the first game for Fever coach Stephanie White since she replaced Christie Sides during the offseason. White had coached Indiana for two seasons (2015-16) and won a WNBA Coach of the Year award with her most recent team, the Connecticut Sun. Advertisement Another coaching casualty following Sides' departure was assistant Jessie Miller. She joined Sides' staff in 2023 and, like Sides, also spent two seasons with the Fever before her departure after the 2024 season. In March, Miller was added to the Mystics coaching staff to work under new head coach Sydney Johnson. Before the preseason game on Saturday, Clark and Miller can be seen embracing each other with a big hug and a lengthy conversation. Miller coached Clark during her rookie season, and they both certainly appeared excited about the reunion. WNBA fans appreciated the interaction between Clark and her former coach, taking to social media to leave their thoughts. Advertisement "Love her for what she did to hep cc during her first year. . Glad she land with a team," one fan said. "I love how she wanted to see Caitlin's arm to see if she was as chiseled as online had her looking like!" wrote a second. "Jessie a real one - always good to CC - happy she found a good spot w the Mystics," added another. "Caitlin former assistant coach checking out her guns IRL," commented a fourth. "they never gon stop talking bout her arms," posted a fifth. "Awwwww😍🥰❤️," added a sixth. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) talks with assistant coach Jessie MillerWendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports Following the Mystics game, the Fever will continue their preseason with the second part of a back-to-back on Sunday, facing the Brazil national team at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, home of the Iowa Hawkeyes. Related: Caitlin Clark's First Post After Injury Announcement
