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Posts tagged as “Sabrina Ionescu”

Ionescu, Plum, and Mitchell Among Stars “Cored” for 2026 WNBA

April 8, 2026

Alexa Philippou, writing for ESPN;

Ten of 15 WNBA teams have extended core qualifying offers to players since free agency started Monday.

Players who have been “cored” — akin to being given the NFL’s franchise tag — include Sabrina Ionescu, by the New York Liberty; Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx); Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever); Kelsey Plum, (Los Angeles Sparks); and Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas Wings).

The core designation gives a team exclusive negotiating rights to a player and comes with a baseline contract of a fully guaranteed one-year deal worth the supermax ($1.4 million in 2026), though the player can negotiate different terms.

Here’s the full list of cored players, via @alexaphilippou

  • Atlanta: Allisha Gray
  • Chicago: Ariel Atkins
  • Dallas: Arike Ogunbowale
  • Indiana: Kelsey Mitchell
  • LA: Kelsey Plum
  • Minnesota: Napheesa Collier
  • NY: Sabrina Ionescu
  • Portland: Bridget Carleton
  • Seattle: Ezi Magbegor
  • Toronto: Marina Mabrey

USA Basketball Women’s National Team Unveils the 15-Woman Roster for April Training Camp

April 1, 2026

USA Basketball just announced the 15 players who will participate in a training camp set for April 1-3 in Phoenix.

  1. A’ja Wilson
  2. Azura Stevens
  3. Brittney Sykes
  4. Cameron Brink
  5. JuJu Watkins
  6. Kayla Thornton
  7. Mikayla Blakes
  8. Monique Billings
  9. Napheesa Collier
  10. Paige Bueckers
  11. Rae Burrell
  12. Rickea Jackson
  13. Sabrina Ionescu
  14. Stefanie Dolson
  15. Veronica Burton

2025-28 USA Basketball Women’s National Team head coach Kara Lawson (Duke University) will lead training camp and will be assisted by court coaches Niele Ivey (Notre Dame), Natalie Nakase (Golden State Valkyries), Shea Ralph (Vanderbilt University), Nate Tibbetts (Phoenix Mercury) and Stephanie White (Indiana Fever).

USA Women’s National Team managing director Sue Bird is set to evaluate the current roster pool ahead of the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin. This assessment will include players from the recent qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico as the U.S. prepares to pursue its fifth consecutive gold medal from September 4–13.

A Liberty Sweep: Winners of the 2025 WNBA All-Star 3-Point Contest and Skills Challenge

July 20, 2025

The 2025 WNBA All-Star, hosted by the Indiana Fever, is in the book and it was a Liberty Sweep as both the winners of the 3-Point Contest and Skills Challenge are NY Liberty teammates Natasha Cloud and Sabrina Ionescu.

Skills Challenge

For the Skills Challenge, NY Liberty Natasha Cloud took the prize for having the fastest time in both rounds of the contest; just 34.1 secs in the first round and 35.5 secs in the final round. Erica Wheeler was just 1.1 seconds slower in the finals.

1st Round

  • Natasha Cloud – 34.1 secs
  • Erica Wheeler – 36.5 secs
  • Allisha Gray – 39.4 secs
  • Courtney Williams – 42.0 secs
  • Skylar Diggins – 44.3 secs

Finals

  • Natasha Cloud – 35.5 secs
  • Erica Wheeler – 37.5 secs

You can watch full 2025 WNBA Kia Skills Challenge including Natasha Cloud’s performance below;

3-Point Contest

In the 3-Point Contest, Sabrina Ionescu took home the title after tying with defending champ, Allisha Gray with 25 points, but in the Finals, Sabrina Ionescu scored 30 points of a possible 40 points and ran away with the title.

Here’s Sabrina after winning the contest;

1st Round

  • Sabrina Ionescu – 25 points
  • Allisha Gray – 25 points
  • Kelsey Plum – 22 points
  • Lexie Hull – 20 points
  • Sonia Citron – 19 points

2nd and Final Round

  • Sabrina Ionescu – 30 points
  • Allisha Gray – 22 points

    • You can watch the full 2025 WNBA STARRY 3-Point Contest including Sabrina Ionescu’s performance below;

    Participants for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Friday Night Events

    July 17, 2025

    WNAB just release the names of participants for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Friday Night Events; 3-Point Contest and Skills Challenge.

    The 3-Point Contest is headline by Superstar Caitlin Clark and last two champion of the contest; Sabrina Ionescu (2023) and Allisha Gray (2024), and for the Skills Challenge we have last year’s winner Allisha Gray with Natasha Cloud and Courtney Williams.

    WNBA;

    ESPN will broadcast the Kia WNBA Skills Challenge and the WNBA STARRY® 3-Point Contest from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, home of the Indiana Fever, on Friday, July 18 (8 p.m. ET). The events are a prelude to the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game, which will be played on Saturday, July 19 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse (8:30 p.m. ET on ABC, Disney+ and ESPN+).

    Below are the participants for the 2025 WNBA Skills Challenge:

    PLAYER TEAM POSITION
    Natasha Cloud New York Liberty Guard
    Skylar Diggins Seattle Storm Guard
    Allisha Gray Atlanta Dream Guard
    Erica Wheeler Seattle Storm Guard
    Courtney Williams Minnesota Lynx Guard

    Below are the participants for the 2025 WNBA 3-Point Contest:

    PLAYER TEAM POSITION
    Sonia Citron Washington Mystics Guard
    Caitlin Clark Indiana Fever Guard
    Allisha Gray Atlanta Dream Guard
    Sabrina Ionescu New York Liberty Guard
    Kelsey Plum Los Angeles Sparks Guard

    NY Liberty routs Indiana Fever Sans Caitlin Clark (98 – 77)

    July 17, 2025

    The New York Liberty did defeat the Indiana Fever with a score of 98-77. The Fever were without their star point guard Caitlin Clark due to a right groin injury she sustained the previous night against the Connecticut Sun.

    It was a close game at the start until Liberty ran way with the game building a 15-point lead by the end of first half and never look back. Liberty’s largest lead was 26 points (48 – 74) in the 3rd quarter.

    Breanna Stewart lead the NY with 24 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists, Sabrina Ionescu added 15 points and 9 assists.

    Fever’s leading scorer is Kelsey Mitchell with 16 points, followed by Sophie Cunningham, who moved up to start the game with 12 points and Damiris Dantas added another 11 points. NY Liberty’s win halt’s Indiana’s 3 game winning streak against the Atlanta Dream, Dallas Wings and Connecticut Suns.

    This will be Fever’s last game as they prepare for the WNBA All-Star Weekend. After the break, they will face the Liberty once again, Wednesday night.

    Nike introduces the Sabrina 3

    July 11, 2025

    Nike and NY Liberty Star PG Sabrina Ionescu just announce the Sabrina 3, Ionescu’s 3rd signature shoes.

    The Sabrina 3, Sabrina Ionescu’s latest signature basketball shoe, evolves from the success of its predecessors by blending high-performance features with a design deeply rooted in her Romanian heritage. The sneaker showcases exceptional craftsmanship, drawing inspiration from textile weaving and embroidery to create a silhouette that’s both artistic and reliable.

    Key features include mesh pleats on the upper, which not only give the shoe its distinctive style but also integrate cables across the midfoot for superior containment, strength, and support. This innovative system is paired with the familiar comfort of a forefoot Air Zoom unit and a Cushlon 3.0 midsole, ensuring the consistent ride and court feel that fans have come to expect.

    Design elements such as the returning vertical, off-axis Swoosh on the medial side symbolize Sabrina’s ongoing efforts to break barriers. A new concentric “S” traction pattern further personalizes the shoe, celebrating her identity and achievements.

    Together with the Sabrina 3 shoes, Nike will also release Sabrina’s third signature collection of Dri-FIT apparel, which includes a unisex pant; hoodie; full-zip sweatshirt; and reversible short and top; as well as T-shirts for women, men and kids.

    The Sabrina 3 will be available July 24 at nike.com and select retail locations with a $135 price tag.

    Source: Nike

    WNBA announces the 2025 WNBA All-Star Starters

    July 1, 2025

    The two All-Star captains, Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier will draft their respective rosters by selecting first from the remaining eight players in the pool of starters and then from the pool of 12 reserves.

    WNBA is scheduled to announce that 12 All-Star reserves on July 6, and looking at the fan voting results, I have a good idea on who the 12 All-Star reserves will be.

    Here are the number of vote that each All-Star starters received;

    1. Caitlin Clark (IND) – 1,293,526
    2. Napheesa Collier (MIN) – 1,176,020
    3. Aliyah Boston (IND) – 1,174,669
    4. A’ja Wilson (LVA) – 986,662
    5. Breanna Stewart (NYL) – 972,434
    6. Paige Bueckers (DAL) – 805,471
    7. Sabrina Ionescu (NYL) – 583,428
    8. Satou Sabally (PHX) – 456,025
    9. Allisha Gray (ATL) – 441,346
    10. Nneka Ogwumike (SEA) – 398,608

    Indiana Fever hand New York Liberty their first loss in the season (102 – 88)

    June 15, 2025

    It was Caitlin Clark’s first game since being sidelined due to a left quadriceps strain injury, and it was the return that a lot of CC fans had been expecting. Caitlin Clark was flirting with a triple-double; with 32 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists, she accounted for 54 of Indiana’s points through her scoring and assists.

    In a two-minute stretch in the first quarter, she scored a total of 12 points: an and-1, followed by three straight triples—a 33-footer, a 27-footer 21 seconds later, and then a 31-footer 22 seconds after that. This brought the Gainbridge Fieldhouse sellout crowd (17,274) to a frenzy.

    Clark got a lot of help from fellow superstar Kelsey Mitchell, who added 22 points. Lexie Hull contributed 14 points, and Aliyah Boston had a double-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists. Sydney Colson was big off the bench with 10 points and 6 assists.

    The win is payback for their 90-88 loss to the Liberty on May 24th, the last game Caitlin Clark played before sitting out the next five games. The New York Liberty are now 9-1 for the season.

    On the Liberty side, Sabrina Ionescu led the team with a season-high 34 points and 4 assists. Breanna Stewart added 24 points and 5 rebounds. New York is missing the services of Jonquel Jones, who is out with an ankle injury, and Leonie Fiebich due to her overseas commitment for Germany in the EuroBasket competition.

    Checkout the game highlights below;

    The Indiana Fever will host the Connecticut Sun this Tuesday, while the NY Liberty will be hosting the Atlanta Dream, also this Tuesday.

    Fever suffer their second home loss to the Liberty (90 – 88)

    May 25, 2025

    The Indiana Fever suffered another heartbreaking home loss, falling to the New York Liberty after clawing back from a 15-point deficit. Despite a dominant third quarter where the Fever outscored the Liberty 30-13, they couldn’t maintain the momentum, managing only 12 points in the fourth quarter while the Liberty scored 22. Sabrina Ionescu sealed the win for New York with two crucial free throws at the end of the game. The win will keep the Liberty unbeaten 4 games into the season, while the Fever will have a 2 – 2 standing.

    Jonquel Jones led the Liberty with a double-double of 26 points and 12 rebounds. Sabrina Ionescu contributed 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Breanna Stewart and Natasha Cloud each added 16 points.

    For the Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark had another challenging shooting night, going 6-of-19 from the field, including 2-of-12 from three-point range. Despite her struggles, she spearheaded the third-quarter surge with a four-point play and a buzzer-beating shot to end the quarter. Clark finished with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 10 assists. Aliyah Boston delivered another stellar performance, tallying 27 points and 13 rebounds. Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull each chipped in 15 points. Natasha Howard, the hero of their previous game, was limited to 6 points and 8 rebounds.

    The Indiana Fever will travel to Washington this Thursday evening, while the Liberty will host the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday night.

    Nike collaborates with Titan 22 to launch the Nike Sabrina 2 X TITAN

    March 4, 2025

    Nike and Titan 22 just launch the Nike Sabrina 2 X TITAN, a version of the Sabrina Ionescu’s signature shoes but with a Filipino twists.

    On titan22.com;

    Designed by Filipina visual artists Aila Torre, Lari Gazmen and TITAN’s own Alessah Papa, the Nike Sabrina 2 X TITAN is predominantly covered in a light bone tone for a neutral look, and accented with purple, emerald, and blush as a nod to the TITAN Show Her Love tournament; while touches of seafoam honor Sabrina’s growing legacy with the New York Liberty.

    Also woven into the vibrant design are three key graphic elements that capture the foundation of the partnership. The Fire Spinner plant inspired the pink-to-yellow gradient Swoosh, and is also imprinted on the right insole. A reflection of Sabrina’s fiery passion and ice-cold game, it also represents the resilience of women’s basketball in the Philippines. On the left insole, it features an illustration of empty bleachers in an arena: a poetic reminder of all the people who are not yet here, and all the space TITAN and Sabrina are making for them once they arrive.

    Completing the design are the ‘Make Space’ typography and the Sabrina-esque silhouette graphic on the heel that’s inspired by Tangram puzzles and Bauhaus shapes. Designed to symbolize a brighter future built together, each shape represents the collective efforts of the women’s community.

    The release of the Nike Sabrina 2 X TITAN is part of the Sabrina Ionescu Asia Tour, she will be in the Philippines this March 10th to 12th, then in Guangzhou, China on March 13th to 15th then in Hong Kong on the 16th of March.

    The Nike Sabrina 2 X TITAN retails for ₱8,095.00 and will arrive in Women’s US Size 5 to 16.5 (Men’s US 3.5 to 15). It will be released first at TITAN and NBA Store Philippines on March 11, 2025.

    A limited drop will follow on March 15, 2025, at Sabrina Ionescu’s Asia Tour stops in Guangzhou and Hong Kong, as well as on Nike.com SEA. The global launch will take place on March 22, 2025.

    TITAN Members will get exclusive early access before the official release date in the Philippines.

    Sabrina Ionescu and Nike announces Asia Tour

    February 18, 2025

    Sabrina Ionescu and Nike has announced the first Sabrina Ionescu Asia Tour. From Nike, “Ahead of Sabrina’s campaign to defend her first WNBA title, she’s embarking on her first Asia tour, visiting the Philippines and China to share this message of empowerment with young hoopers and further introduce herself to the global basketball community.”

    Sabrina’s Asia tour kicks off in Manila, Philippines, a basketball country and love Nike kicks. She’ll be hosting youth clinics, launching a special Nike Sabrina 2 collaboration at the Nike Fort retail store in Bonifacio Global City, and showcase top Filipino talent at the iconic Araneta Coliseum.

    Then in Guangzhou, China, Sabrina will join local athletes, run a girls’ basketball camp, and empower female players at a Nike Rise store, addressing barriers to proper sports gear. Her last stop will be in Hong Kong with its streetball culture, inspire students at local schools, and energize young athletes at the Nike All Hong Kong Schools Jing Ying Basketball Tournament.

    Sabrina Ionescu is arguably the one of the biggest WNBA star and this Asia Tour will not only make her name bigger and more recognized amongst Filipino ballers but across Asia.

    Watch this Nike Super Bowl Ad Featuring Women Basketball stars Caitline Clark, A’ja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu and Juju Watkins

    February 10, 2025

    There’s one guarantee in sport. You’ll be told you can’t do it. So do it anyway.

    You can’t win. So Win.

    Here are the athletes featured in the ad (alphabetically);

    • Indiana Fever Guard Caitlin Clark
    • American Gymnast Jordan Chiles
    • New York Liberty Guard Sabrina Ionescu
    • USC Guard JuJu Watkins
    • Portland Thorns Forward Sophia Wilson
    • Las Vegas Aces Center A’ja Wilson
    • Barcelona Midfielder Alexia Putellas
    • American Sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson
    • Belarusian Tennis Player Aryna Sabalenka

    Looks like Women’s sports is on the rise!

    New York Liberty defeats Minnesota Lynx in OT to win their first WNBA Championship (67 – 62)

    October 21, 2024

    New York Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx in a classic Game 5 OT to take home the franchise first WNBA Championship. It was a low scoring ballgame, which is understandable, since both team have a defensive mindset right out of the gate. By the end of regulation, both team only managed to score 60 points, compare to the last 4 games, where the winning team scores at least 80 points.

    Breanna Stewart has a chance to tie the game but misses both of the free throw with 38 secs remaining in regulation but Minnesota Lynx failed to capitalize on the possession and gave Breanna Stewart another chance to redeem herself by sinking bother of her free throw to tie and send the game to over time. Then in OT, Liberty took over by limiting Lynx to just 2 points while scoring 7 points; a 23-footer three point jumper by Leonie Fiebich, a two point lay-up by Nyara Sabally of a steal and a 2-for-2 free throw by Breanna Stewart to seal the game.

    Like in the previous game, Minnesota Lynx was able to limit New York Liberty’s stars; Breanna Stewart just scored 13 points but was a monster on the boards, grabbing a game high 15 rebounds. Sabrina Ionescu just scored 5 points but impacted the game by keeping her teammates involved in the game by dishing 8 assists with 7 rebounds and 2 steals. Jonquel Jones, who won the WNBA Finals MVP, scored a team high 17 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.

    Prior to the 2024 WNBA season, NY Liberty is one of the eight original franchises of the league that has yet to win a championship and the team have been in the WNBA Finals 5 times before winning it all this year.

    NY Liberty takes Game 3 behind Sabrina Ionescu’s step-back 3 with 1 sec left (80 – 77)

    October 17, 2024

    If Minnesota Lynx stole Game 1 from the New York Liberty, it appears that NY Liberty did the same to the Lynx by stealing Game 3 of the WNBA Finals behind Sabrina Ionescu’s step-back 3 dagger. Liberty came back down-15 in the first qtr and crawl their way back for more than three qtr.

    But before Sabrina Ionescu heroics took place, it was Breanna Stewart to anchored Liberty’s comeback scoring 30 points, 11 rebounds and blocking 4 shots. Jonquel Jones and Leonie Fiebich added 13 points a piece. Sabrina Ionescu ended the game with 10 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists, before burying the Lynx with that dagger three, Ionescu was 2-7 from behind the line.

    Before the game, WNBA named Sabrina Ionescu as part of the All-WNBA second team.

    Four Minnesota Lynx players scored double-digits point; Napheesa Collier lead the Lynx with 22 points, 9 rebounds and 5 steals. Bridget Carleton scored 14 points, Kayla Mcbride added 19 points and Courtney Williams, the hero of Game 1, contributed 12 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists.

    Game 4 will be this Wednesday, Oct 16, 2024 at the Target Center Minneapolis. NY Liberty will have a chance to wrap-up the finals for the franchise’s first WNBA Championship.

    WNBA announces 2024 All-WNBA First Team headline by Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier

    October 17, 2024

    Just hours before Game 3 of the 2024 WNBA Finals, the league announced the 2024 All-WNBA First Team which is headline by the Caitlin Clark, who was named the 2024 Rookie of the Year; A’ja Wilson, the first unanimous MVP and Napheesa Collier, who was named as the 2024 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.

    Caitlin Clark is the first rookie since Candace Parker in 2008 to be selected to the All-WNBA First Team, and the fifth rookie so honored since 2000, joining Sue Bird (2002), Tamika Catchings (2002) and Diana Taurasi (2004).

    Joining Clark, Wilson and Collier, the league also named Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart as part of the 2024 All-WNBA First Team.

    The 2024 All-WNBA Second Team consists of Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu, Phoenix Mercury guard-forward Kahleah Copper, Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike, Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale and Liberty center Jonquel Jones.

    New York Liberty evens the series behind Stewart and Laney-Hamilton (80 – 66)

    October 14, 2024

    Doug Feinberg – AP Basketball Writer via WNBA;

    Breanna Stewart wasn’t going to let history repeat itself.

    With the Minnesota Lynx making another fourth quarter run, the two-time league MVP refused to let the New York Liberty lose again.

    Stewart scored 21 points and had a WNBA Finals record seven steals to help the Liberty beat the Lynx 80-66 on Sunday in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals.

    Just like Game 1, New York built a double-digit lead in the first half, only to see it evaporate. This time they didn’t completely collapse, holding on to even the series 1-1 as it shifts to Minnesota for Game 3 on Wednesday night.

    New York Liberty made sure that Minnesota Lynx won’t be stealing this game, even after the Lynx erasing the Liberty’s 9-point lead early in the 4th qtr, to just 2 points. But from the 3:40 mark in the final qtr the New York Liberty went on a 12 to nothing run to build a 14-point cushion to end the game.

    There are four Liberty players who scored double-digits points, you have the regulars like Breanna Stewart who lead the team in almost every category, she had 21 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 7 steals and 1 block. Sabrina Ionescu, because of the “Caitlin Clark” treatment that she received, was not able to score in the 2nd half but was a big contributor in the first half. She added 15 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists.

    Then you also have the towering Jonquel Jones who was also a monster on the boards and got some timely tip in to help secure the W for the Liberty. Jones scored 14 points, a game-high 9 rebounds and 2 steals. Then there’s Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, who was the unlikely-hero of the team by draining 4 pressure packed three-pointers, she end up with 20-points with 2 rebounds and 2 assists.

    The next two games of the WNBA Finals will be hosted by the Minnesota Lynx. Game 3 will be this Wednesday, Oct 16, 2024 at the Target Center Minneapolis.

    NY Liberty eliminates LC Aces to advance to the WNBA Finals (76 – 62)

    October 7, 2024

    ESPN;

    Ionescu rebounded from a rare off game to score 22 points, and nearly a year after the Aces ended the Liberty’s dream of a championship, New York returned the favor Sunday afternoon by defeating Las Vegas 76-62 to advance to the WNBA Finals.

    It was a masterful performance by the New York Liberties, the team was able to keep their composure and lead despite their key players, Jonquel Jones and Leonie Fiebich, being in the foul trouble for most of the game.

    The Liberty was lead by Sabrina Ionescu who scored a team high of 22 points and 7 rebounds, followed by a double-double from Breanna Stewart, who scored 19 points and 14 rebounds. They will face the winner of Game 5 of the Lynx-Sun series this Tuesday, 8th of October. Game 1 of the WNBA Finals is scheduled this Thursday, October 10, 2024 hosted by the NY Liberty in Barclays Center.

    New York Liberty sweeps Atlanta Dream, advances to 2nd round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs (91 – 82)  

    September 25, 2024

    ESPN News Services;

    They moved one step closer as Sabrina Ionescu tied a franchise playoff record with 36 points to help the Liberty beat the Atlanta Dream 91-82 on Tuesday night and advance to the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs.

    The Liberty shouldn’t have any problem advancing to the 2nd round, since the Dream barely qualified for the playoffs. They need to move past the Las Vegas Aces to advance to the 2024 WNBA Finals.

    The first game of the 2nd round of the WNBA Playoffs will on Sunday, September 29, 2024 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.

    US Women’s Basketball Team Narrowly Escapes France for Women’s Basketball Gold at 2024 Paris Olympics (67 – 66)

    August 12, 2024

    It was a rematch of the Tokyo Olympics medal game, but the US Women’s Basketball team took care of business and claimed the gold medal in the Women’s 5×5 Basketball Tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Unlike their male counterparts, the US women needed a bit of luck to secure the gold, as Gabby Williams’ buzzer-beating shot was just inches inside the three-point line, potentially sending the game to overtime.

    A’ja Wilson led the team with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Wilson also took have the MVP awards for the tournament. Kahleah Copper and Kelsey Plum contributed 12 points apiece, both going 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.

    After clawing back from a 10-point deficit early in the third quarter, France kept the game close. However, Kelsey Plum’s offense and the team’s defense in the fourth quarter created a 3-point lead, ultimately securing the gold medal.

    Gabby Williams led France with 19 points and 7 rebounds. Valeriane Ayayi and Marine Johannes added 9 points each, but no other French player scored more than 8 points. Fast break points (6-15), points in the paint (20-30), and bench points (20-29) were significant factors in France’s defeat.

    Game stats;

    Advance Stats from FIBA

    Box Score from ESPN

    Just like with the men’s basketball team, the United States and France could become regular rivals in Olympic women’s basketball medal games.

    Team USA Women’s Basketball Roster for 2024 Paris Olympics now Official

    June 12, 2024
    Team USA Women’s Basketball Roster for 2024 Paris Olympics now Official

    After being leaked a couple of days ago, the official roster for the Team USA Women’s Basketball for 2024 Paris Olympics have been officially announced.

    As previously leaked and now official, below are the official roster of Team USA Women’s Basketball for 2024 Paris Olympics;

    Player WNBA Team Position
    Napheesa Collier Minnesota Lynx Forward
    Kahleah Copper Phoenix Mercury Guard/Forward
    Chelsea Gray Las Vegas Aces Guard
    Brittney Griner Phoenix Mercury Center
    Sabrina Ionescu New York Liberty Guard
    Jewell Loyd Seattle Storm Guard
    Kelsey Plum Las Vegas Aces Guard
    Breanna Stewart New York Liberty Forward
    Diana Taurasi Phoenix Mercury Guard
    Alyssa Thomas Connecticut Sun Forward
    A’ja Wilson Las Vegas Aces Forward/Center
    Jackie Young Las Vegas Aces Guard/Forward

    USA Women’s National Team head coach Cheryl Reeve with the assistance of Kara Lawson, Joni Taylor and Mike Thibault.

    Here is what USA Basketball Women’s National Team Committee chair Jen Rizzotti said in the official statement;

    “On behalf of USA Basketball, I’m excited to announce the 2024 USA Women’s National Team, We have selected a team that we are confident will represent our country to the highest standard in Paris. Basketball in the United States boasts unparalleled depth, making this a challenging and competitive process. The commitment these athletes have shown to USA Basketball is unmatched and I look forward to watching them take on the World in Paris.”

    This is what USA Women’s National Team head coach Cheryl Reeve said regarding the roster;

    “This roster features some of the best basketball talent our country has to offer and I’m excited to lead this team with the goal of winning an eighth straight Olympic gold medal in Paris, I’m looking forward to getting together in Phoenix and starting the journey to Paris.”

    Team USA Women’s Basketball Roster for 2024 Leaked sans Caitlin Clark – Shams Charania

    June 9, 2024

    The roster for the 2024 USA Basketball Women’s National Team have been leaked. In a tweet, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported that “Indiana Fever rookie sensation Caitlin Clark is expected to be left off the 12-player Team USA women’s basketball roster for the upcoming Summer Olympics”

    Charania then added and named the 12 players in the roster. Except for Kahleah Copper, Sabrina Ionescu, Kelsey Plum and Alyssa Thomas. All other players have Olympic experience. Fans also pointed out that rookie phenom Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever is missing from the roster. Despite receiving an invitation to the USA Basketball Women’s National Team training camp last April, Iowa Hawkeyes standout Caitlin Clark couldn’t attend due to her team’s Final Four run.

    Player WNBA Team Position
    Napheesa Collier Minnesota Lynx Forward
    Kahleah Copper Phoenix Mercury Guard/Forward
    Chelsea Gray Las Vegas Aces Guard
    Brittney Griner Phoenix Mercury Center
    Sabrina Ionescu New York Liberty Guard
    Jewell Loyd Seattle Storm Guard
    Kelsey Plum Las Vegas Aces Guard
    Breanna Stewart New York Liberty Forward
    Diana Taurasi Phoenix Mercury Guard
    Alyssa Thomas Connecticut Sun Forward
    A’ja Wilson Las Vegas Aces Forward/Center
    Jackie Young Las Vegas Aces Guard/Forward

    The final USA Women’s Basketball roster and list of potential alternates must be submitted to FIBA by June 24th. While no official announcement has been made by the USA Basketball on their official website or social media accounts.

    Watch the Steph Curry versus Sabrina Ionescu Three Point Challenge

    February 18, 2024

    If you missed the Steph Curry versus Sabrina Ionescu Three Point Challenge, then just hit the PLAY button from the video bellow to watch the entirety of the contest. Spoiler alert, Steph Curry barely won the event after rallying at the end.

    Sabrina Ionescu, who won the WNBA’s 3-point shootout at its All-Star Weekend last year with a record 37 points, breaking Curry’s NBA shootout record of 31 points. Since then the challenge was issued and a plan to meet at the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend was made.

    Since the Three Point Challenge was positively received, it’s not surprising if the NBA and WNBA keep the event for next year.