WNBA Articles - Page 137

They did it. They finally did it. The United States government has successfully negotiated a prisoner swap with the Kremlin that will finally see the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner from a Russian penitentiary. This is long overdue, no doubt, but the most important thing right now is that Griner is now heading home. […]

Brittney Griner is on her way back home after being wrongfully detained in Russia since last February. President Joe Biden announced the news Thursday morning, speaking with Griner by phone from the Oval Office along with her wife, Cherelle, and Vice President Kamala Harris. Griner was released by Russia in a prisoner swap for convicted […]

Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons had a controversial reaction to the news that the U.S. would be bringing Brittney Griner home from Russia in a prisoner swap exchange, rather than former Marine Paul Whelan. Parsons took to Twitter to share his disbelief over the prisoner swap exchange, expressing his disappointment that Joe Biden and the […]

Brittney Griner is coming home. The United States and Russia agreed to a one-for-one prisoner swap which will see Russia release Griner into U.S. custody while the “Merchant of Death” will be granted his return to Russia. Paul Whelan, the former U.S. Marine who is also being held in Russia, was not included in the […]

A thorn was removed in the hearts of everyone in the basketball community after it was announced on Thursday morning that Brittney Griner, after being detained in Russia since February 17, was released in a prisoner swap, ending what was surely a harrowing experience for the Phoenix Mercury center. While there are some contrasting voices, […]

A huge specter loomed over the 2022 WNBA season after Brittney Griner’s detainment in Russia seemed to have no resolution in sight. Griner is not only one of the most decorated players in the WNBA, she is also universally beloved among the basketball community. Thus, Griner’s detainment and later conviction became tough to bear for […]

Former United States marine Paul Whelan was not included in a prisoner swap with Phoenix Mercury forward Brittney Griner that was seen as an “all-or-nothing” release between the United States and Russian governments, according to a tweet from ESPN Investigative Reporter T.J. Quinn. “Sources are saying the US had been pushing to bring Griner and […]

Brittney Griner’s release from a Russian penal colony on Thursday morning drew a heartbreaking response from the family of Paul Whelan, a Canadian-born United States marine who was arrested in a Moscow hotel in 2018 and was convicted of espionage charges and sentenced to 16 years in prison two years later. “There is no greater […]

Phoenix Mercury forward and seven-time WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner has officially been freed from Russian detention on Thursday. Griner’s release is a major sigh of relief for fans and well-wishers, though no one is more excited to hear the news than her wife, Cherelle. With United States president Joe Biden and vice president Kamala Harris […]

Brittney Griner is officially freed from Russian detention. The news broke Thursday morning that Griner is in United States custody after getting swapped for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. U.S. President Joe Biden took to Twitter with a message about Griner’s release, saying he just spoke with the Phoenix Mercury star and that she’s on […]

It may have taken over nine months, but WNBA star Brittney Griner is back in American soil. On Thursday morning, it was announced that Griner, who was detained by Russian authorities back on February 17 due to vape cartridges in her luggage, has been released in a prisoner swap, ending what had been an emotional […]

Brittney Griner is free at last. The WNBA star who was sentenced to a Russian prison, has been freed from detention and is officially in the custody of the United States, according to Steven Portnoy of CBS News. In exchange for the release of Griner from a Russian prison, the United States released notorious arms […]

Sue Bird wasted no time getting back to work after retiring from the WNBA. The future hall of famer is starting a new company with her wife and USWNT superstar Megan Rapinoe that will focus on bringing stories of underrepresented people to the forefront in media. Bird and Rapinoe released a statement to Variety about the launch […]

The WNBA season inched a step closer to starting after the league announced its schedule for the 2023 season. For the first time in league history, each WNBA team will play 40 games in the regular season. The rosters will look different by the time teams tip off in May but the intrigue is palpable. […]

When the WNBA released its schedule for the 2023 season, the Las Vegas Aces weren’t thrilled when they found out they would be starting the year on the road. They had just won the first professional sports championship in the city’s history and thought they would be able to close last year’s chapter with their […]

After winning last year’s WNBA Finals, the Las Vegas Aces expected to open the season at home like past champions. Instead, they will open their first two games on the road and two of the faces of the franchise aren’t happy with it. “Someone looked at this schedule — not saying any names — but […]

Reports emerged on Wednesday that Brittney Griner’s release from prison before the end of the year had become a real possibility. This was after a Russian diplomat revealed that negotiations between Russia and the United States government on a potential prisoner swap could come to fruition before 2022 ends. Unfortunately, the Kremlin has poured some […]

Brittney Griner remains imprisoned in Russia, and it’s looking a real possibility that the WNBA star spends Christmas and the New Year in prison. According to a Russian diplomat, however, there’s still a chance for Griner to be released before the end of the year. But it will depend on how the US will negotiate […]

On a recent podcast appearance, Las Vegas Aces all-star guard Kelsey Plum explained some of the flaws around the discourse over equal pay in professional basketball. The former sixth woman of the year said she “doesn’t think she should be paid as much as LeBron [James]” but wants WNBA players to receive comparable shares of […]

There are plenty of WNBA teams who need affordable top-end talent when free agency opens up in 2023. The Chicago Sky showed last season thinking outside of the box is vital when building on the fringes of a roster. Rebekah Gardner, who ended up being one of the best perimeter players in the league last […]

Angel McCoughtry has been one of the most dominant scorers in the WNBA since she started playing in 2009. However, the five-time all-star is missing one thing from her hall of fame resume: a championship. McCoughtry told Just Women’s Sports she is ready to change that. “I definitely want to go to a contender,” McCoughtry said. […]

Vin Diesel was in attendance for one of the Los Angeles Lakers’ games in the Crypto.com Arena. The Hollywood superstar then decided to use one of his photos from the occasion to send a message on Instagram involving Britney Griner. In his post, Diesel stated how he’s supporting the cause for Griner’s release from a […]

As women’s college hoops inches towards conference play, the top prospects in the 2023 WNBA draft continue to make their cases to lottery teams for why they should be selected. Just as important is the situations those prospects end up on. The WNBA is one of the most competitive leagues when it comes to roster […]

The Connecticut Sun have come close to standing on top of the mountain top over the last seven years. New head coach Stephanie Whites believes she and the rest of the organization have the tools to get there. During her introductory press conference, White touched on various topics, referring to Alyssa Thomas as a potential […]

A lot has been said about the potentially harsh conditions that WNBA star Brittney Griner could face in a Russian penal colony. Now after her transfer to IK-2 Mordovia, things could actually be much worse for her. Survivor and activist Nadya Tolokonnikova, who served time in Russian penal colony, called IK-2 the “harshest” in the […]

Ahead of their primetime matchup, South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley and Stanford head coach Tar VanDerveer wore long-sleeved shirts with Brittney Griner’s face. It came following the moment of silence for the WNBA star who, according to the United States government, has been wrongfully detained in Russia for 277 days. After the game, where […]

Phoenix Mercury forward Brittney Griner is one step closer to coming home. The prospects of a Russian-US prisoner swap were expected to strengthen, according to a Friday report from Interfax. Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, considered the “world’s most wanted man” prior to his arrest in 2008, is on the list of potential prisoners who […]

Brittney Griner has been transferred to a Russian penal colony, sparking outrage among fans and popular figures who expressed concern over the condition of the WNBA star. To recall, Russia previously refused to disclose the location of Griner when she was being transferred to a penal colony. Even her lawyers were unaware of her whereabouts […]

There was a lot of fear and uncertainty surrounding Brittney Griner’s prison sentence after the WNBA star was moved to a Russian penal colony to serve her nine-year sentence. This was after Russian officials refused to disclose her exact location. At one point, the United States government was unaware of Griner’s actual whereabouts, which obviously […]

Earlier today on “Sports Media w/Richard Deitsch,” Candace Parker said that, at this time, she is planning on returning for another season in the WNBA. What she did not say is whether it would be with the Chicago Sky (her home the last two years) or if she would test the market. Sky head coach/general […]

After saying last season could be her final act in the WNBA, Candace Parker indicated during a recent podcast appearance she is planning on returning for her 16th season. The two-time WNBA champion said on the “Sports Media With Richard Deitsch” she is “game” for coming back at the moment. “Right now, yeah, I’m game,” […]

The Mike Thibault era is almost officially over. Washington Mystics Associate Head Coach Eric Thibault will take his dad’s place as head coach after spending a full decade on the Mystics bench, including four as the team’s lead assistant, according to a Tuesday afternoon report from ESPN. “I’m really excited,” Eric Thibault said Tuesday. “My […]

A’ja Wilson has accomplished some much in just a short amount of time in the WNBA. She has won rookie of the year, MVP, defensive player of the year and a championship since being drafted No. 1 overall by the Las Vegas Aces in 2018. Now, she has her eyes on one of the most […]

The United States Women’s National Team celebrated its historic new collective bargaining agreement that will ensure equal pay and resources for years to come. The CBA went into effect this past May and the USWNT found itself in a position it had been fighting for as long as their dominance was a global topic. The […]

When the news came out that six people were killed and 81 were injured in Istanbul following a bomb explosion, the WNBA community found itself worrying about another one of their own being taken from them. Brittney Griner has been in Russian prison for over 260 days and her whereabouts are unknown after she was […]

Yesterday afternoon, a bomb went off in Istanbul that killed six people and injured 81. There are 11 WNBA players who play in Istanbul itself and none appeared to be injured during the explosion. Chicago Sky players Azurá Stevens and Dana Evans both play on teams in Istanbul but were unharmed, according to the team’s […]

New York Liberty all-star Sabrina Ionescu had one of the best careers in NCAA basketball history when she was at Oregon. Now, she is returning to the program that put her in the national spotlight. The program announced that the former WNBA first overall pick will be joining the staff as the director of athletic […]

The WNBA draft lottery commenced yesterday, paving a clearer picture for front offices preparing for April when they get to choose from the best women’s basketball prospects in the country and abroad. The Indiana Fever landed the first overall pick for the first time in franchise history while the Minnesota Lynx nabbed the second selection […]

The 2023 WNBA season won’t start for another six months but teams are already thinking about who to select in the draft. Here is how we think the first round will look. 1. Indiana Fever: Aliyah Boston, South Carolina After perennially finishing in the bottom half of the standings, the Fever finally got the top […]