Coronavirus Outbreak: WNBA draft will be virtual event this season due to pandemic
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus Outbreak: WNBA draft will be virtual event this season due to pandemic

Firstpost  

WNBA announced Thursday that its draft will still be held 17 April as originally scheduled, but without players, fans or media in attendance due to the coronavirus pandemic. The league announced Thursday that its draft will still be held 17 April as originally scheduled, but without players, fans or media in attendance due to the coronavirus pandemic. “The WNBA draft is a time to celebrate the exceptional athletes whose hard work and dreams are realized with their selections in the draft,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. “Safeguarding the health and well-being of our prospects, players, employees, and everyone connected to our game as well as the general public is paramount.” Logistics of the draft are still being worked out with ESPN although Engelbert confirmed she would announce the picks that night on the league’s broadcast partner’s network.

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History of this topic

WNBA releases 2025 schedule: The Valkyries’ debut, record games per team and matchups to watch
1 month, 1 week ago

WNBA releases 2025 schedule: The Valkyries’ debut, record games per team and matchups to watch

New York Times  

WNBA teams will play a record 44 games during the 2025 regular season, which begins with a Friday, May 16 slate that includes the Golden State Valkyries’ home debut. In addition to the Valkyries’ first game, the opening weekend of the season features the Indiana Fever hosting the Chicago Sky, the New York Liberty hosting the Las Vegas Aces and …

WNBA mock draft: After Wings win lottery for Paige Bueckers, who goes next?
1 month, 3 weeks ago

WNBA mock draft: After Wings win lottery for Paige Bueckers, who goes next?

New York Times  

The WNBA Draft lottery is in the books, setting the order for April’s 2025 draft. Take a look at the final results for the WNBA Draft Lottery presented by @StateFarm The @DallasWings will have the #1 overall pick in the Draft on April 14th 🙌 pic.twitter.com/l9C6zpL167 — WNBA November 17, 2024 This is the league’s first draft with 13 teams, …

The Dallas Wings win the WNBA draft lottery, earning the No. 1 pick next year
1 month, 3 weeks ago

The Dallas Wings win the WNBA draft lottery, earning the No. 1 pick next year

Associated Press  

The future of the Dallas Wings got a lot brighter as the franchise won the WNBA draft lottery on Sunday and with it the chance to draft UConn star Paige Bueckers with the No. 1 draft picks have done to franchises and in recent years how they’ve changed the trajectory of teams,” said Wings general manager Curt Miller, who got …

WNBA 'adds 15th franchise as it agrees to expand to another West Coast city' amid league's plans to bring new teams to San Francisco and Toronto
4 months, 1 week ago

WNBA 'adds 15th franchise as it agrees to expand to another West Coast city' amid league's plans to bring new teams to San Francisco and Toronto

Daily Mail  

Riding a historic wave of success in 2024, the WNBA will reportedly be expanding to Portland with the league's 15th franchise. Saturday's news is another example of the league's rapid growth amid Caitlin Clark's wildly successful rookie season in Indiana. With the arrival of rookies Clark and Angel Reese, not to mention Sabrina Ionescu's breakout season in New York, the …

WNBA moving high profile game to accommodate NBA Draft is another self-inflicted fumble
6 months, 3 weeks ago

WNBA moving high profile game to accommodate NBA Draft is another self-inflicted fumble

New York Times  

The WNBA’s Commissioner’s Cup is supposed to be the crown jewel of the league’s regular season. Yet on Monday, eight days before the Commissioner’s Cup title game between the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx, the WNBA announced it is moving the contest to UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. Keeping the event in New York was a bet the WNBA …

The WNBA’s challenge: How to translate the Caitlin Clark hype into sustained growth for the league
7 months, 3 weeks ago

The WNBA’s challenge: How to translate the Caitlin Clark hype into sustained growth for the league

Associated Press  

The stars seemingly have aligned for the WNBA with Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese joining the ranks of A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi and others. Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said everyone involved needs to be more innovative in how players and games are marketed and promoted to take advantage of the potential tsunami for both the league and women’s …

WNBA addresses safety concerns by launching full-time charter flight program
8 months ago

WNBA addresses safety concerns by launching full-time charter flight program

LA Times  

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks before the WNBA draft on April 15. Engelbert says the WNBA is planning to use league-wide charter flights “as soon as practical” for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The WNBA will use league-wide charter flights for the first time this season, the league announced Thursday. “We are thrilled to announce the launch of a full …

WNBA training camps open with Caitlin Clark, the rookie class and free agency moves in the spotlight
8 months, 2 weeks ago

WNBA training camps open with Caitlin Clark, the rookie class and free agency moves in the spotlight

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — There is a buzz around the opening of WNBA training camps with the arrival of Caitlin Clark, the rest of her heralded rookie class and major offseason free agency moves that included former All-Stars Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith landing in Seattle. In addition to the league’s success last year, camps open Sunday on the heels of …

What happened at WNBA draft — and what the future of the sport could hold
8 months, 3 weeks ago

What happened at WNBA draft — and what the future of the sport could hold

NPR  

What happened at WNBA draft — and what the future of the sport could hold NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Jemele Hill, contributing writer for The Atlantic, about the 36 new players who were drafted into the WNBA and the future of the sport. Clark is one of the reasons that this year viewership of women's college basketball eclipsed men's …

WNBA Draft grades: Fever earn A for picking Clark, Sky receive C+ even with Angel Reese
8 months, 3 weeks ago

WNBA Draft grades: Fever earn A for picking Clark, Sky receive C+ even with Angel Reese

New York Times  

The most anticipated WNBA Draft in recent memory has come and gone. WILD 😳 pic.twitter.com/OlIxiFEGu5 — Bleacher Report April 16, 2024 Leïla Lacan, Taiyanna Jackson, Helena Pueyo, Abbey Hsu The Sun’s frontcourt is pretty well spoken for with Alyssa Thomas, Bri Jones and DeWanna Bonner all returning. pic.twitter.com/kiuzUGJ4r0 — Big Ten Women's Basketball April 16, 2024 Indiana Fever: A Caitlin …

WNBA will pay for flights for playoffs and back-to-backs. Expansion to 16 teams possible by 2028
8 months, 3 weeks ago

WNBA will pay for flights for playoffs and back-to-backs. Expansion to 16 teams possible by 2028

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — The WNBA will once again pay for charter flights for the entire playoffs as well as for back-to-back games during the upcoming season that require air travel, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said Monday. We need to be in the right financial position,” Engelbert said before the WNBA draft Monday night. “It will happen before the college draft and …

Clark, Reese headline list of 15 players invited to WNBA draft
8 months, 4 weeks ago

Clark, Reese headline list of 15 players invited to WNBA draft

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese headline a list of 15 college players who have been invited to the WNBA draft on Monday, the league announced Thursday. Absolutely.” The Iowa star helped the NCAA Tournament have its highest ratings ever, including 18.9 million people tuning in for the championship game won by South Carolina over Clark’s team. Other …

WNBA Draft moves to Brooklyn and will have space for 1,000 fans to attend
10 months, 1 week ago

WNBA Draft moves to Brooklyn and will have space for 1,000 fans to attend

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — The WNBA Draft will have a new home this year and for the first time in eight seasons have the space for 1,000 fans to attend. “We are focused on creating elevated events that WNBA fans won’t want to miss, at a time when the energy for the WNBA has never been higher,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert …

Potential WNBA expansion team for Portland shelved for now
1 year, 2 months ago

Potential WNBA expansion team for Portland shelved for now

Associated Press  

PORTLAND, Ore. — WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert says a potential expansion team in Portland has been shelved because of uncertainty about the scope of renovations needed at the Moda Center, where the team would have played. The league had been working with a potential local ownership group, as well as city and state officials, on a team that would play …

WNBA Draft 2023: Boston expected to be No. 1 pick, how the draft works, where to watch in India, all you need to know
1 year, 8 months ago

WNBA Draft 2023: Boston expected to be No. 1 pick, how the draft works, where to watch in India, all you need to know

The Hindu  

Aliyah Boston has been the consensus No. “I think Aliyah Boston is a legitimate first pick option,” Fever general manager Lin Dunn said on a conference call. She just brings an enormous amount to the table, and I really think she’s going to have — whether she’s picked first, second or third, she’s going to have an immediate impact on …

2023 WNBA Draft: Indiana Fever select Aliyah Boston at No. 1; Miller, Siegrist round out top 3 picks
1 year, 9 months ago

2023 WNBA Draft: Indiana Fever select Aliyah Boston at No. 1; Miller, Siegrist round out top 3 picks

New York Times  

The Indiana Fever selected South Carolina forward Aliyah Boston as the No. — Merchant GO DEEPER Aliyah Boston came to South Carolina for its sunshine; she'll leave as its star What to make of the Washington-Dallas trade After drafting Soares with their No. Washington Mystics: Stephanie Soares ; draft rights traded to Dallas for a 2025 first-round pick, 2024 second-round …

Women’s college basketball, WNBA mailbag: Is something off with Iowa? Who should Lynx draft?
2 years, 1 month ago

Women’s college basketball, WNBA mailbag: Is something off with Iowa? Who should Lynx draft?

New York Times  

South Carolina is still the class of college hoops, and the Indiana Fever stand to benefit in the draft from the generational talent who’s propelling the Gamecocks in their bid for a repeat. – David H. First, let’s start with a refresher: WNBA free agency begins in January when teams can start negotiating with their own free agents. The doomsday …

Athletes Unlimited signs more WNBA players for new league
3 years, 2 months ago

Athletes Unlimited signs more WNBA players for new league

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — The chance to stay home this winter and work on her craft and get paid was appealing to Indiana Fever center Jantel Lavender. The fifth pick in the 2011 draft is one of five WNBA players who are joining the newly formed Athletes Unlimited basketball league that’s starting this winter. “We talked about how WNBA players don’t …

College players will need to opt-in to upcoming WNBA draft
3 years, 10 months ago

College players will need to opt-in to upcoming WNBA draft

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — The WNBA and the Players’ Association have agreed to an opt-in process for this season’s draft, the league confirmed to The Associated Press on Sunday night. Every eligible player who would like to make themselves available for the draft, which is expected to be held in April, must renounce their remaining intercollegiate eligibility. Women’s players, who are …

NBA, WNBA highlights of 2020: Basketball news, Draft and MVP awards in the coronavirus-hit year
4 years ago

NBA, WNBA highlights of 2020: Basketball news, Draft and MVP awards in the coronavirus-hit year

The Hindu  

The 2019-20 editions of the NBA and WNBA were halted midway due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. February 23: The 2019-20 NBA season's Eastern Conference champion Milwaukee Bucks becomes the fastest team ever to clinch a playoffs spot, both by games and from a calendar perspective, by overtaking previous record-holder -- the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors side. April 17: Four-time …

WNBA set to tip off shortened season after delayed start
4 years, 5 months ago

WNBA set to tip off shortened season after delayed start

The Hindu  

A WNBA season like no other will get underway on Saturday with all 12 teams at a single site. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, league staff and the player’s union worked together on a plan to tip off the league’s 24th season at a single site during the coronavirus pandemic. Wearing masks, washing hands, daily temperature checks.” Engelbert, who just finished …

WNBA announces schedule, season to start July 25
4 years, 5 months ago

WNBA announces schedule, season to start July 25

The Hindu  

The Women's National Basketball Association unveiled the schedule for its truncated 2020 season on Monday, with Seattle Storm and New York Liberty kicking off the action on July 25. The opener between the Liberty and Storm should see the debut of the New York squad's highly touted first overall draft pick Sabrina Ionescu, with matchups between the Los Angeles Sparks …

Seven WNBA players test positive for COVID-19
4 years, 6 months ago

Seven WNBA players test positive for COVID-19

The Hindu  

The Women's National Basketball Association, which plans to begin its 2020 season in late July amid the coronavirus outbreak, said on Monday seven of 137 players tested positive for the virus over the last week. RELATED| “Any player who tested positive will remain in self-isolation until she satisfies public health protocols for discontinuing isolation and has been cleared by a …

WNBA reveals COVID-19 test results and plans to spread Black Lives Matter message
4 years, 6 months ago

WNBA reveals COVID-19 test results and plans to spread Black Lives Matter message

LA Times  

Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike believes WNBA players can be a “powerful force connecting our sisters across the country and in other parts of the world” in the fight for equality. Throughout the season, players will wear shirts reading “Black Lives Matter” and “Say Her Name.” Sports Trump calls for NASCAR’s Bubba Wallace to apologize for noose ‘hoax’ More than two …

WNBA plans to play 2020 season in Florida starting late July
4 years, 6 months ago

WNBA plans to play 2020 season in Florida starting late July

The Hindu  

The WNBA on Monday announced plans to play a reduced season, with a 22-game schedule that would begin in late July without fans in attendance because of the coronavirus pandemic. "There’s a lot to do between now and the tip of the season, now that we’ve selected IMG Academy” as the location to play, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in …

WNBA announces plan for 22-game season in Florida starting in late July
4 years, 6 months ago

WNBA announces plan for 22-game season in Florida starting in late July

LA Times  

The WNBA has announced plans to play a reduced season, with a 22-game schedule that would begin in late July without fans in attendance. Players and team officials for the league’s 12 teams would be housed at IMG and hold training camps there. “There’s a lot to do between now and the tip of the season, now that we’ve selected …

2020 WNBA draft features virtual picks but very real emotion
4 years, 8 months ago

2020 WNBA draft features virtual picks but very real emotion

LA Times  

Prospects traded green rooms for living rooms. Sparks coach Derek Fisher, seen here during the 2019 WNBA playoffs, said the research process was “much more connected and collaborative” ahead of Friday’s WNBA draft that had a virtual format. Sports Sparks select Beatrice Mompremier among three draft picks The L.A. Sparks selected Miami forward Beatrice Mompremier on Friday with their first …

Coronavirus Outbreak: Spotlight on WNBA, as league readies for virtual draft during lockdown
4 years, 8 months ago

Coronavirus Outbreak: Spotlight on WNBA, as league readies for virtual draft during lockdown

Firstpost  

All eyes will be on the WNBA this Friday as it becomes the first major professional league in North America to carry out a “virtual draft” since the coronavirus outbreak that put the start of its season on hold. “If things start to happen on draft night – trade talks, moving up, moving down – those things are a little …

Coronavirus Outbreak: WNBA postpones start of new season indefinitely amid COVID-19 pandemic
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus Outbreak: WNBA postpones start of new season indefinitely amid COVID-19 pandemic

Firstpost  

The WNBA season will not start on time next month because of the coronavirus pandemic, and when it begins is unclear. New York: The WNBA season will not start on time next month because of the coronavirus pandemic, and when it begins is unclear. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement on Friday the league will “use this time …

Covid-19 forces WNBA season to be postponed
4 years, 9 months ago

Covid-19 forces WNBA season to be postponed

The Hindu  

The start of the 2020 WNBA season has been postponed indefinitely because of the coronavirus pandemic, league officials said on Friday. “As developments continue to emerge around the COVID-19 pandemic, including the extension of the social distancing guidelines in the United States through April 30, the WNBA will postpone the start of its training camps and tip of the regular …

Coronavirus: WNBA draft goes virtual this season
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus: WNBA draft goes virtual this season

The Hindu  

The WNBA announced on Thursday that its draft will still be held on April 17 as originally scheduled, but without players, fans or media in attendance due to the coronavirus pandemic. “The WNBA draft is a time to celebrate the exceptional athletes whose hard work and dreams are realized with their selections in the draft,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. …

NFL moves ahead with draft amid coronavirus scare
4 years, 9 months ago

NFL moves ahead with draft amid coronavirus scare

Daily Mail  

The NFL will proceed with its draft but without public events next month in Las Vegas, but the event could be relocated amid the coronavirus outbreak. Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday the draft will take place April 23-25 as scheduled, but under a modified format still being developed. 'While this outcome is disappointing both to the NFL and to the …

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