game-recap-liberty-vs-sparks-8-12-25

Game Recap: Liberty vs. Sparks (8/12/25)

game-recap-sun-vs-sparks-8-7-25

Game Recap: Sun vs. Sparks (8/7/25)

game-recap-fever-vs-sparks-8-5-25

Game Recap: Fever vs. Sparks (8/5/25)

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game-recap-sparks-vs-liberty-7-26-25

Game Recap: Sparks vs. Liberty (7/26/25)

game-recap-lynx-vs-sparks-7-10-25

Game Recap: Lynx vs. Sparks (7/10/25)

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&#8211; Fan Festival To Be Held at Mandalay Bay Convention Center as Part of AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star 2023-  
– WNBA Live Presented by U.S. Bank to Feature Viewing Parties, Fan Skills Competitions, Merchandise, Youth Basketball Clinics &amp; More –
NEW YORK, July 10, 2023 – WNBA Live presented by U.S. Bank, returns to WNBA All-Star, when the two-day fan festival, which will celebrate the intersection of the WNBA, fashion, music, and culture, takes place at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas beginning on Friday, July 14 at 12 p.m. PT through Saturday, July 15 at 8 p.m. PT. The event will lead up to the 2023 AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game, which will be held at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Saturday, July 15 at 5:30 p.m. PT (8:30 p.m. EST).
WNBA Live presented by U.S. Bank will allow fans for the second straight year to experience the game of basketball through a celebration of basketball culture, featuring interactive events including meet-and-greets with the WNBA’s biggest stars, live panels, trivia, personalized WNBA merchandise, fan skills challenges, and viewing parties.
WNBA Live presented by U.S. Bank and the AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star 2023 are just two All-Star events taking place over the course of three days in Las Vegas, home of the defending WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces, as 15 WNBA partners and licensees will help celebrate at the league’s midseason showcase.
The following is a detailed schedule of AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star 2023 events:
Thursday, July 13
<ul>
<li>STEM Learning Experience x Microsoft (Donald W. Reynolds Boys &amp; Girls Club of Southern Nevada, 2980 Robindale Rd, Henderson, NV; 2980 Robindale Rd, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. PT) – The WNBA, Microsoft, and 4th Family will host a STEM learning experience, where middle school-aged youth will be introduced to the tools and techniques used by sport-scientists to evaluate athletic performance. The event will consist of stations designed to measure specific basketball attributes – strength, speed, quickness, agility, explosiveness, and skill – using STEM equipment and Microsoft tablets.</li>
</ul>
Friday, July 14
<ul>
<li>The Sports Bra x WNBA (Mandalay Bay, Bayside F, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd; 10:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. PT) – This event marks the first-ever exclusive meeting and hospitality space for corporate partners and invited guests. The Sports Bra, a Portland-based bar founded by Jenny Nguyen, is a unique bar that only shows women’s sports on their screens. The space will offer a premier meeting place for guests at All-Star to meet and network with likeminded industry executives, many of whom will be participating in The BIG Summit x WNBA on Saturday.</li>
</ul>
The Sports Bra x WNBA Event will also offer:
<ul>
<li>Behaviors and Basketball: Understanding the Fans of the WNBA presented by SAP – This interactive display will showcase WNBA fan data and uses SAP’s powered suite of products to explore key behaviors that can unlock better way to connect with WNBA fans.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>The BIG Summit x WNBA – Business Inside the Game (B.I.G.), a platform founded by Baron Davis for entrepreneurs, investors and disruptors in sports, media, technology, business, and culture to create opportunities, connections and collaborate will take place from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. PT on Saturday, July 15. Invitation required.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game 2023 Watch Party – On game day, beginning at tip-off (5:30 p.m. PT) fans not attending the game can come to socialize as they watch the league’s stars compete in the midseason classic, located at The Sports Bra x WNBA space.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>WNBA Live Presented by U.S. Bank (Mandalay Bay, Bayside Hall F; 12 p.m.-8:00 p.m. PT) – For the second year in a row, WNBA Live presented by U.S. Bank is headed to WNBA All-Star weekend in Las Vegas. Fans will have the opportunity to experience the intersection of sport, entertainment, and culture. Open to the general public, attendees can register beforehand using the following link or will be able to register upon entry: <a href="https://www.wnba.com/allstar/wnbalive/register">https://www.wnba.com/allstar/wnbalive/register</a></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>CarMax Fireside Chat with Candace Parker, Sue Bird, and Ari Chambers at WNBA Live (Mandalay Bay, Bayside F, 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. PT) – CarMax, the newest corporate partner addition as a WNBA Changemaker, will host a fireside chat with Candace Parker and Sue Bird on the WNBA Live Court to bring CarMax’s Legends One-on-One social series to life in-person. Open to the public, the conversation, facilitated by Ari Chambers, will focus on Candace and Sue’s personal and professional journey on and off-the-court, including how they built their brands and became household names. </li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Her Time to Play x AT&amp;T (Doolittle Community Center, 1950 N J St, Las Vegas, NV; 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. PT) – The WNBA and AT&amp;T will host a Her Time To Play event focused on continuing the WNBA’s commitment to female empowerment through sports. The clinic, featuring close to 200 young women, will include a panel discussion with WNBA talent, a youth basketball clinic focused on basketball fundamentals, and off-court sessions focused on mental wellness and goal setting. As part of the event, AT&amp;T will be donating new HP Chromebooks to all participants. An invite is required.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>WNBA Live Youth Basketball Clinic (Center Court at WNBA Live presented by U.S. Bank; 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. PT) – The Jr. NBA will host a youth basketball clinic focused on the basketball fundamentals as part of WNBA Live. Open to the public, the clinic will consist of roughly 50 boys and girls, ages 6-14, in the Las Vegas market, and the clinic coaches will consist of the 20 domestic Jr. WNBA/NBA Showcase participants, comprised of 10 boys and 10 girls. 
 </li>
<li>Orange Carpet presented by STARRY® (Delano Hotel; 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. PT) – WNBA players are known to be some of the most innovative and fashion-forward professional athletes, using fashion to express themselves in their pre-game. The Orange Carpet presented by STARRY is a space for these All-Stars to showcase their fashion sense and personality, with photo ops and media present. (Event is not open to the public.)</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>WNBA and NBA x State Farm Assist Tracker Legacy Project Dedication (Grant Sawyer Middle School) &#8212; As part of the NBA and WNBA Assist Tracker Programs, the WNBA, NBA, State Farm and Heart of America will dedicate a new STEM learning center and mindfulness room at Grant Sawyer Middle School (5450 Redwood St, Las Vegas, NV) in Las Vegas in celebration of WNBA All-Star and NBA Summer League. This hour-long event will include an informal press ceremony celebrating the newly renovated spaces, followed by engaging youth and members of the WNBA/NBA Family in activities in the newly renovated STEM Lab and mindfulness room.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Shoot Your Competition Shot on the STARRY Court – WNBA players will go head-to-head for bragging rights in WNBA trivia, 3-Point contests for the daily chance to win $33,333 and other games, presented by STARRY. Fans can take photos and obtain autographs. Event is open to the public on Thursday and Friday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>WNBA on ION Player Meet-and-Greet – WNBA on ION (Center Court, will facilitate a meet-and-greet on Friday afternoon at WNBA Live. The meet-and-greet, taking place at Center Court, located in the center of WNBA Live will allow fans to spend time with some of their favorite players including All Stars Ezi Magbegor and Cheyenne Parker on Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. PT.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Saturday, July 15 
<ul>
<li>The BIG Summit at the Sports Bra x WNBA (Mandalay Bay, Bayside F; 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. PT) – Description above under Sports Bra programming. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. with breakfast presented by Sportradar. Invitation required event. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>WNBA Live Presented by U.S. Bank (Mandalay Bay, Bayside F; Friday, July 14 and Saturday, July 15, 12:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. PT) – WNBA Live presented by U.S. Bank heads into Day 2. Registration is encouraged at the following <a href="https://www.wnba.com/allstar/wnbalive/register">link</a>. It is also available on site. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Deloitte Player Meet and Greet (Center Court at WNBA Live presented by U.S. Bank; 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. PT) – WNBA Changemaker Deloitte, designers of the rebuilt WNBA App and WNBA.com, will host a meet and greet with WNBA stars Jasmine Thomas and Izzy Harrison.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>State Farm Assist Tracker- In-Game (Michelob Ultra Arena; 5:30 p.m. PT) – For the first season, the WNBA and State Farm are coming together to turn on-court assists into off-court assists in communities around the country. For every assist made during the WNBA All-Star Game, the WNBA and State Farm will donate $1,900 to Heart of America.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game 2023 Watch Party (Michelob Ultra Arena, Bayside F; 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. PT) – A place for WNBA fans to come together and cheer on their favorite players.</li>
</ul>
*Doors open at 4 p.m. PT. Ticketed event.
 
Partner Activations Taking Place During WNBA Live Presented by U.S. Bank:
<ul>
<li>WNBA Changemaker AT&amp;T – WNBA Changemaker AT&amp;T is creating a tech-focused space for fans that will enable them to engage with Player Stations inspired by A’ja Wilson and Arike Ogunbowale, and a robotic nail bar with W-themed designs.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>The American Express WNBA All-Star Experience – American Express’ experience will consist of an interactive half-court challenge with prizing, a locker-room themed lounge space featuring All-Star player jerseys, talent appearances including Sabrina Ionescu, and a special exclusive for American Express Card Members and their guests. In collaboration with Rank &amp; Rally, Amex will also offer Card Members a 10% discount on purchases using an Amex Card at participating WNBA retail locations on-site throughout both days of WNBA Live presented by U.S. Bank, WNBA All-Star Friday Night, and the AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game. For terms/details, visit <a href="https://www.wnba.com/ticket-terms-of-conditions">https://www.wnba.com/ticket-terms-of-conditions</a>.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Shoot Your Shot on the STARRY Court – WNBA players will go head-to-head for bragging rights in WNBA trivia, 3-Point contests and other games, presented by STARRY. Fans can take photos and obtain autographs.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>STARRY Style Lounge – Fans will have the chance to view WNBA All-Star A’ja Wilson’s footwear and participate in games to win custom merchandise, take photos at a branded photo booth and sample STARRY products.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Kia WNBA Skills Challenge at W Live – Fans will have the opportunity to showcase their basketball skills in a 30-second passing, dribbling, and shooting competition to win prizes. The activation’s footprint will be powered by the all-electric Kia EV6.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>WNBA Changemaker U.S. Bank has an activation featuring a merchandise customization station, multiple immersive photo ops and fun financial trivia. Also, U.S. Bank will host meet and greets with endorser and WNBA 3x All Star Napheesa Collier, WNBA All Star Aliyah Boston and WNBA 2x All Star Satou Sabally. Endorser Jess Sims will be hosting The U.S. Bank Brick or Bucket Challenge, a finance-focused trivia game at the Queen’s Court.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Mielle On-Site – Mielle, the leading black-founded and women-led beauty brand, will host an engaging on-site activation, in which they will provide samples of their haircare products. WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes will be joining WNBA stars Izzy Harrison and Kahleah Cooper of the Chicago Sky along with Didi Richards for a meet-and-greet for fans on Friday and Saturday.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>WNBA Creator’s Court – WNBA Live attendees can create custom merchandise at the WNBA Creator’s Court product customization station.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>New Era Cap Customization – Long-time WNBA partner New Era will be tailoring New Era caps for WNBA fans for the perfect fit.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>WNBA Changemaker Nike is creating an interactive experience tea garden style that features customization of footwear and apparel, live programming featuring WNBA players and tasty beverages and treats.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>WNBA Changemaker Google – WNBA Changemaker Google will be opening Google House, where fans can utilize the features of Google Pixel phones and Google Search to engage with different W-themed activations in the food, tech, art, and fashion spaces.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>DICK’s Sporting Goods – The sporting goods retail leader will host meet-and-greets with WNBA players and display limited edition merchandise.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Wilson at WNBA Live – Wilson will set up a retail pop-up outlet within WNBA Live presented by U.S. Bank that will showcase their breadth and depth of WNBA basketballs. Within this experience, Wilson will also have player appearances throughout the weekend including its newest Advisory Staff members, Kahleah Copper of the Chicago Sky and Azura Stevens of the Los Angeles Sparks, stopping by for meet-and-greets with fans.</li>
</ul>
Other AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Activities 
Friday, July 14
<ul>
<li>Kia Skills Challenge and STARRY 3-Point Competition (Michelob Ultra Arena; 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. PT). Doors open at 12:00 p.m. PT. </li>
</ul>
About U.S. Bank
U.S. Bancorp, with approximately 77,000 employees and $682 billion in assets as of March 31, 2023, is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association. The Minneapolis-based company serves millions of customers locally, nationally and globally through a diversified mix of businesses: Consumer and Business Banking; Payment Services; Corporate &amp; Commercial Banking; and Wealth Management and Investment Services. Union Bank, consisting primarily of retail banking branches on the West Coast, joined U.S. Bancorp in 2022. U.S. Bancorp has been recognized for its approach to digital innovation, social responsibility, and customer service, including being named one of the 2023 World’s Most Ethical Companies. Learn more at <a href="http://usbank.com/about">usbank.com/about</a>. 
About the WNBA
The WNBA, which tipped off its 27th season on May 19, is a bold, progressive basketball league that stands for the power of women. Featuring 12 teams, the W is a unique sports property that combines competition and entertainment with a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and social responsibility. Through its world-class athletes, the in-game fan experience, TV and digital broadcasts, digital and social content, and community outreach programs, the league celebrates and elevates the game of basketball and the culture around it.
In 2020, the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) signed a groundbreaking eight-year CBA that charts a new course for women’s basketball – and women’s sports overall – with a focus on increased player compensation, improvements to the player experience, expanded career development opportunities and resources specifically tailored to the female professional athlete. Key elements of the agreement are supported through the league’s partnership platform, WNBA Changemakers, with AT&amp;T, the WNBA’s Marquee Partner and inaugural Changemaker, as well as fellow inaugural Changemakers Deloitte and NIKE, Inc, and subsequent additions Google, U.S. Bank, and CarMax. During the 2020 season, the WNBA and WNBPA launched the WNBA Justice Movement forming the Social Justice Council with the mission of being a driving force of necessary change and continuing conversations about race and voting rights, among other important societal issues.

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WNBA Live Presented by U.S. Bank Returns to AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star For Second Year

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One of the greatest parts about basketball is how an environmental change can drastically alter play style. International play, in particular, turns much of what’s known and given on its head. Rosters are different, roles change, and those two monumental shifts redirect the game entirely; it’s awesome!
Where else can we see a team assembled like the United States national team? Every single player on this squad has been an All-Star except lone rookie Shakira Austin. While the star power emanates off the page, this group’s ball movement and collective decision-making stand out for me.
This is a star-studded team, but they’re playing intuitive basketball and with some flair.
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First off, I love using Chelsea Gray as the first screener to make it harder to guard the action with her popping to the corner. She lifts up towards the slot as the play develops and adds some strain to the defense, and Jewell Loyd capitalizes with the type of pass you can’t really plan for. It’s concise, gorgeous, and effective, and that’s all Gray needs to splash effortlessly.
I love their flow offensively in the half-court, progressing through reads and actions fluidly into their best openings.
Where this team’s bread is buttered is on the defensive end. That’s an understatement; where their croissant is doused in ghee? Is lox finished off with capers? You get the point; this defense is insane.
They smothered Belgium, getting out to a monstrous early lead behind an all-out pressure defense, forcing 25 turnovers in the game. Kahleah Copper’s on-ball defense was key on Sky teammate Julie Allemand in particular. Few replicate the way she gets down in a stance and locks in.
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She’s had a bevy of ball-handlers seeing ghosts. What’s made the US’ ball pressure so remarkable is their rotations behind that pressure, as well as the rarity of breakdown. Even if a slight advantage is gained off a screen or with a savvy dribble move, who you then dribble into is mesmerizing as an analyst and terrifying as opposition.
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This sees minute from the outside looking in, a four-five switch on the pick and roll with an eventual miss. Looking at this holistically, you’re getting Breanna Stewart switched off of you, a DPOY candidate, to have the 2022 DPOY switched onto you, to drive into Alyssa Thomas’ help at the nail. That’s three of the five best defensive players in basketball at the moment. That’s insane! One team’s level of defense, length, speed, and aptitude is wild.
The team can routinely run out lineups containing five players that have made All-Defensive teams. This is the type of basketball I yearn for.
Other teams have cleanly stood out as well for their difference in roster construction. The Australian national team is grabbing headlines for Lauren Jackson’s return, which has admittedly been very cool to see.
She’s, of course, not the same player she once was, but she brings a punch with her intersection of size and skill. I think they’re still figuring out how they want to play defensively with Jackson in the game. She has fantastic instincts, which has led to some great plays, but at 41, she’s lost a step (or two) laterally. Some interesting chess match-esque adjustments were going on during the Australia/France game that I think will play out and are worth watching for in the coming games. She did some hedging, played more in drop, and had moments closer to the screen. My guess is they continue to mix and match based on each game and personnel.
As for personnel, can we talk about Bec Allen? I love Bec Allen’s game, and it’s been on full display at FIBA.
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I wouldn’t consider Allen a great passer, her accuracy can be shoddy, but she makes very quick decisions, which is pivotal for her role. She touches the ball a lot, but rarely for very long. She shoots, or she moves the ball and moves herself. This is what makes it so humorous that she soaks up so much of the offense’s touches/usage. She exemplifies what I find funky and fun about this roster.
They lack a true downhill ball-handling threat, so the majority of their looks to set up any sort of paint touches are borne out of weave action, East/West movement, and secondary pick and rolls. They equally thrive and die on their shooting.
The majority of their playmaking reads and ability to manipulate a defense come through pick and roll, and the way a defense adapts to their ability to take and make shots off the dribble. When the shots are falling, they open the gaps that open up Ezi Magbegor on the roll or allow a quick drive and kick to secondary or tertiary action. It’s incredibly fun to watch.
Turnovers and missed shots are killers, though, proving costly as the game closed out against France, and they went cold. They have a ton of quality ball-handlers and defense throughout the team, but if they make a run, it’s going to be reliant on their shot-making.
Shifting to another team showing out; Canada. No longer undefeated after a fantastic game that ended with a loss against the host-nation Opals, Canada has really impressed me. I thought coming in that they’d be fun, but their guard play gives them a verve I’ve really enjoyed early on. Shay Colley is extremely fun!
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I was so hot watching when this didn’t end up an assist! Nirra Fields brings a shiftiness on the ball alongside her shot-making and crafty passing that’s difficult not to admire and appreciate.
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Add Kia Nurse back into the fold, playing currently on a minutes restriction, and you have a trio of players who can all shift on and off the ball to varying degrees. That’s proven difficult for opposing teams to defend.
Canada also has the size in the frontcourt with Kayla Alexander and Natalie Achonwa. South Carolina player Laeticia Amihere brings crucial depth as well and has had really intriguing flashes in spite of some struggles from the field.
While multiple teams have stood out, individual players have shined equally, if not more. French team Gabby Williams is special.
The team at large is in an odd spot, as with Marine Johannes sidelined; they are pretty lacking with respect to ball-handling and playmaking off the dribble.
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Finishing through contact, pull-up jumpers, coast to coast strafes, Williams has had it all as a scorer in international play as the French team has primarily played through her. She runs point in transition and comes off of screens into secondary actions in the half-court. Her stellar all-around play has mitigated many of France’s offensive issues.
Her playmaking has been fantastic, routinely generating paint touches, drawing, and manipulating the defense. Her assist numbers don’t imply her true value as a passer, especially given some of France’s struggles from the field in their latest game against Canada.
Arella Guirantes has played inspired basketball for Puerto Rico. The former Sparks player has dazzled as the hub of the team’s offense, scoring with step-backs, pull-ups, fadeaways, and at-rim finishes. While she doesn’t create separation in a typical sense with speed and acceleration, her strength and handle give her just enough room to get her game off.
She currently leads the field in scoring, averaging 20 points per game across three games on 53.7% true-shooting. Guirantes struggled against the United States, as they really squeezed her with pressure and were adept at forcing her into tough attempts, but she handled aggressive coverages much better against Belgium. Her blend of playmaking and shot creation at the wing spots is incredibly tantalizing.
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Mya Hollingshed has also been impressive for Puerto Rico. She still has some rawness in her defensive feel and how she sees the court, but her rim protection has flashed repeatedly. Her shooting stroke is incredibly smooth, and I love her pick-and-pop game.
The player I probably knew the least about who’s plastered themselves in my mind for the future is Li Meng of China. First and foremost, China traveled incredibly well for last night’s game in Sydney against the USA; that crowd was jam-packed and raucous. Meng has incredibly fun and funky pacing as a wing. She moves well without the ball, which opens her up to be even more effective when she’s on it.
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I really like her dump-offs and flips to the dunker spot when she gets driven to the interior. The shot is for real, by the way, folks!
Last season in the WCBA, Meng shot nearly 50/40/90 (42% from deep), averaging 15 points and nearly 5.5 assists. She possesses really good functional strength, I like her handle for her role, and she hasn’t seemed overwhelmed defensively either. She can flat-out play.
The World Cup has been a joy already, and it’s still in its early stages, be sure to check out the games on ESPN + as the tournament continues to heat up!
WNBA reporter Mark Schindler writes a column on <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="http://wnba.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WNBA.com</a> throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at @MG_Schindler. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs..

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FIBA World Cup 2022: Takeaways and Standouts

Check out the best plays from Sunday&#8217;s semifinal playoff games!

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Sunday's Top Plays

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NEW YORK, Aug. 22, 2022 – Chicago Sky General Manager and Head Coach James Wade has been named the 2022 WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year, the WNBA announced today.  For his work in the general manager role, Wade has earned the honor as the league’s top basketball executive for the first time.
The voting panel to determine the WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year was composed of one basketball executive from each WNBA team.  Each executive submitted a ballot with a first-place vote, second-place vote and third-place vote.  Wade won the award by being named on the most ballots (11).  Atlanta Dream General Manager and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Dan Padover (seven ballots) and Washington Mystics General Manager and Head Coach Mike Thibault (six ballots) finished in second and third place, respectively.
Under the direction of Wade, the defending WNBA champion Sky finished tied for the best record in the WNBA (26-10) in the regular season and posted the highest winning percentage in franchise history (.722).
After entering the past offseason with only one returning starter (Candace Parker) under contract for the 2022 season, Wade and the Sky re-signed 2021 WNBA Finals MVP Kahleah Copper, six-time league assists leader Courtney Vandersloot and two-time Kia WNBA Sixth Player of the Year Allie Quigley.
Wade also added forward Emma Meesseman and rookie guard Rebekah Gardner as free-agent signings.  Meesseman, who joined Parker and Copper to give the Sky three former WNBA Finals MVPs in the starting lineup, averaged 12.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.4 steals and was selected as a WNBA All-Star.  Gardner, who made her WNBA debut this season at age 31, averaged 8.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals.
In offseason trades, Wade and the Sky also acquired guard Julie Allemand from the Indiana Fever, a 2023 first-round draft pick from the Phoenix Mercury and the rights to center Li Yueru from the Los Angeles Sparks.
Behind four 2022 WNBA All-Stars in Copper, Meesseman, Parker and Vandersloot, Chicago led the WNBA in field goal percentage (48.1) and assists (24.3 apg) and ranked second in scoring (86.3 ppg) and blocked shots (4.3 bpg) this season.
The Sky hired Wade as general manager and head coach in November 2018.  In his first season with Chicago, he was named the 2019 WNBA Coach of the Year to become the first Sky head coach to win the annual award.
Below is the list of recipients of the WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award since its inception in 2017.
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Chicago Sky’s James Wade Named 2022 WNBA Basketball Executive Of The Year

Kahleah Copper finished with 23 points and 14 rebounds for Chicago as the Sky defeated the Wings 89-81.

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Game Recap: Sky 89, Wings 81

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Julie Allemand

2022
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<li>Acquired by Chicago Sky in February via a three-team trade with the Indiana Fever and Phoenix Mercury</li>
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2021
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<li>Did not play due to mental health issues and placed on suspended list by Indiana Fever</li>
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2020: Allemand stepped into a starting role to begin the 2020 regular season and never looked back. The 2020 WNBA and Associated Press All-Rookie Team nominee was drafted in the third round by the Fever in 2016, but continued to play overseas before joining the WNBA. She became the first player in league history to make the WNBA All-Rookie Team after being drafted in the third round. Allemand is the fourth Fever rookie to make the AP All-Rookie Team, joining Teaira McCowan (2019), Kelsey Mitchell (2018) and Tiffany Mitchell (2016). Among rookies this season, Allemand finished first in assists (5.8 apg), second in rebounds (4.5 rpg) and three-point field goal percentage (47.8), and fifth in scoring (8.5 ppg). Allemand started all 22 games and became the first rookie in league history to average 8.0 points, 5.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds. Her 47.8 shooting percentage from 3-point range was the fourth best rookie shooting clip in league history. Only Jennifer Azzi (1999, 51.7%), Cathy Joens (2007, 48.9) and Nicky McCrimmon (2000, 48.5) shot better in their rookie seasons, but Allemand ended with more made 3-point field goals than all of them.
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International
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<li>2021-2022: Started for Lyon ASVEL Feminin in France-LFB</li>
<li>2021: Member of Belgium national team that placed 7th in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics</li>
<li>2020-2021: Started for Basket Lattes Montpellier Agglomeration (BLMA) | France-LFB
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<li>Led the league in assists with 7.4 APG</li>
<li>2021 Guard of the Year and Bosman Player of the Year</li>
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CAREER TRANSACTIONS
2020: Signed free agent contract with Indiana Fever on 3/2/20.
2016: Selected with the 33rd overall pick in the 2016 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever.
PERSONAL
Born July 7, 1996

LatestJulie Allemand