WNBA Wonder Woman -Caitlin or Angel

 The surge in popularity for the WNBA can be directly related to two members of the 2024 Rookie Class. Those players are Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.These two players came in the league with history.They played against each other in consecutive years during the Womens NCAA Basketball Tournament. In the first meeting, Reese led her LSU Lady Tigers to a win over Clark's Iowa Lady Hawkeyes in the National Championship Game of 2023.Clark's team won the rematch when the two met in the Elite Eight in 2024.Each of those games set records for viewership for a womens college basketball game.

Those trends have followed both players into the WNBA.Clark plays for the Indiana Fever while Reese plays for the Chicago Sky. The attendance in any arena that Clark or Reese plays in is generally a sell out or at least 80% capacity. Teams have moved to larger venues to accomodate the demand for tickets in some cities.Their teams are presently in the last two playoff positions.Each team has approximately 15 games left in the regular season.

The head to head records when the teams have met is 2-1 in favor of the Fever. When you look at their head to head stats and compare them to their regular season total,there is a noticeable difference. Reese averages 1 more point and 3 more rebounds against the Fever. Clark averages 1.5 more rebounds and 1.3 more assists against the Sky.

Clark and Reese have parlayed their sucess on the court to the world of endorsements. Clark has endorsement deals with Nike,Gatorade and State Farm Insurancw.In an unprecedented move,Clark signed a sponsorship deal with Wilson. She isthe first athlete to do so since Michael Jordan. Reese has landed deals with Reebok,Wingstop,Amazon ,Pepsi,PlayStation  and Beats by Dre. Reese appeared in Vogue Magazine for a photoshoot and made her announcement to play in the WNBA.The fashion world is now paying attention.

Here are some of the designer looks of all the WNBA Players that participated in the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game.

The highest selling jerseys in the WNBA right now are worn by  Clark and Reese. The Fever and the Sky are also the top sellers in team apparel. There is a correlation between the players and the teams regarding sales. This is similar to Larry Bird and Magic Johnson in so many ways. Both of them were college rivals and that rivalry propel the NBA toanother level. These are some ofthe celebrities that came to watch the WNBA All Star Game that featured Clark and Reese on the same team.

The Fever and Sky play again on August 30th.Check out this clip that ask who would play Wonder Woman? I 've got two people that could assimilate into the part.

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WNBA- ALL Star Game and Mid Term News

 The WNBA All Star Game featured the USA Womens Basketball against Team WNBA last weekend. Team WNBA defeated USA Basketball 117-109.Team WNBA was led by Arike Ogunbowale with a WNBA All Star record 34 points. Ogunbowale was named MVP. Breanna Stewart led USA Basketball with 31 points and 10 rebounds.Caitlin Clark finished the game with 10 assists, one short of the WNBA record in an ALL Star Game held by Sue Bird. Angel Reese became the first WNBA rookie to record a double double performance in an ALL Star Game. The WNBA All Star Game drew a record number of viewers. Over 3.44 milion people watched the game. The previous record was set in 2003.

The WNBA embraced the history of the league in having Cheryl Miller, Hall of Fame Basketball player and WNBA legend coached Team WNBA. She invited Ann Meyers Drysdale to assist her when she spotted saw Meyers, a fellow Hall of Famer sitting in the crowd. This connected the current players to the previous generation that started the idea of the WNBA,

The top teams in the WNBA at the midway of the season are the New York Liberty,Connecticutt Sun,Minnesota Lynx,Seattle Storm and Las Vegas Aces. If the playoffs started right now,the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever would qualify. Imagine the first round ratings with Clark and Reese participating in seperate matchups.

The growth of interest in the WNBA has added endorsement opportunities. The players are now wearing design outfits, getting shoe deals and appearing in major periodicals. There will be a 3-on-3 league,founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier ,starting in January 2025. This will allow the players another option to playing overseas  in the off season. Angel Reese has committed to playing in the league. The games will be played in Miami in a 10 week window. Several high profile investors are involved and the league will pay 6 figure salaries to the participants. The timing of the league is as the NFL is winding down and as March Madness is heating up. 

Here is a clip about the new league.

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The Olympics: 5 Athletes to watch

 The Summer Games are days away and I want to bring you up to speed on some of the athletes you should be watching and rooting for over the next two weeks. The commitment to just get through the trials is a test.As I did research for this post, I found that many of the athletes do not have sponsors. This means that they have to subsidise their raining. This is inaddition to maintaining a job,attending school and balancing family obligations. So shout out to all of the athletes participating in the Summer Games in Paris,France for their persistence.

A'ja Wilson- A'ja is the star forward for the two time defending WNBA Champions Las Vegas Aces. She is currently leading her team in scoring and rebounding. She was the WNBA Finals MVP in 2023.A'ja is an outstanding defensive player as well. Her off the court reume is quite impressive. Wilson was on Time Magazines list as one of the top 100 Influential People in 2024. She wrote a best selling book entitled 'Dear Black Girls:How to be True to You'.The book made A'ja a New York Times best selling author in February 2024. She has major endorsement deals with Nike and Gatorade. This is her 2nd Olympics and she won a gold medal in 2020.

Hezly Rivera and Quincy Wilson-Hezly and Quincy are getting accolades for being two of the youngest members of the United States Olympic Team. Rivera is a member of the gymnastic team and trains at the World Olympics Gymnastics Academy where she is one the world's top gymnast.Wilson is taphenom and his track event is the 400 meters. He has set world record times in 3 occassions over the past 6 months.Wilson is the youngest male to ever make the USA Track and Field Olympic Team. Rivera and Wilson are 16 years of age.

Sha'Carri Richardson-Richardson is a comeback story that many everyday people can relate to. She qualified for the Summer Olympic Games in 2020 after breaking the collegiate record for 100 meters.At 19 years old, she was one of the 10 fastest women in history. Sha'carri tested positive for cannabis use following her US Trials, andwas inelgible to compete in the 2020 Games. She enterd a counseling progtam and accepted a one month period of inelgibility. She is in her own words,"I am not back,I am better."  Richardson has set records in the past three years at the World Championships and is expected to win the Gold Medal in the 100 Meters and as a member of the Women's 4x100 relay team.

Simone Biles- Biles is known for her epic performances during the Olympics Games. She has also become a public advocate on for mental health. After dominating the 2016 Rio Games,she limited her participation in 2020 as she dealt with mental health issues. She took time away from gymnastics but has returned to her 2016 level of dominance. Simone is considered one of the greatest gymnast of all time and made ESPN top pro athletes since 2000 list. She is ranked at number 7. Biles is a hero to so many people and whatever she does in this year's Games will not deter her legacy. 

Here is a clip of A'ja showing off her dance moves! Just another one of her talents,

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WNBA All Star Weekend

 The WNBA All Star Weekend will feature the Game  between Team WNBA and Team USA. Team USA will have the players picked to represent the United States in the Olympics.They are led by A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. Team WNBA is led by Jonquel Jones,Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.Team USA is tavored by 6.5 and the total is189.The game starts at 8:30PM and is shown on ABC.

Here is a video of the WNBA Skills  and # Point Competition yesterday. It highlights a record setting performance.

There. are many storylines associated with the game this year.Diana Taurasi is preparing for what may be her final ALL Star Game and certainly, her last Olympic Games at the age of 42. Who will be voted MVP of the Game is stirring wagers and conversation.But the fans that are new to the WNBA are tuning in to see Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Their rivalry goes back to college and is continuing in the pros. Now we have the pleasure of seeing them play together. 

Here is a clip of Reese talking about playing with Clark and the Olympic Games in Paris.

Here are three players to watch.that you may not know. Kahleah Copper,Nyeka Ogwumike and Arike Ogunbowale are all pro lific scorers than can shoot well from distance. Copper would be my choice of an under the radae MVP. Most of the bets on the game are on Team USA because of they have practiced together during the Olympic Trials.

Enjoy the Game!

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WNBA-Week Eight

 The news of thd week is centered around an injury to Minnesota Lynx Star Forward Napheesa Collier. Collier injured  her foot during a 78-63 loss to the Commecticut Sun.Collier was the MVP of the Cmmissioner's Cup Final,beating the New York Liberty. She is already a member of the USA Womens Olympic 5-5 team.The speculation has already started about who would replace her if she is out for an extended period and not able to go to the Oympic Games in Paris.

The alternates are Indiana Fever Guard Caitlin Clark and Sun Forward Brionna Jones. The popular choice would be Clark for obvious reasons. Much of the attention the WNBA has recieved this season was predicated on Clark.Jones is a perennial All Star and plays the same position as Collier. If thechoice is based on fit,Jones is the choice. If the dynamics of economics,marketing and media are involved,Clark gets the nod. Here's hoping Collier can participate and make this a mute point.

Two streaks ended on Friday as the Los Angeles Sparks defeated the Las Vegas Sun in overtime by a score of 98-93,The victory snapped a 6 game winning streak for the Aces. The Sparks ended a 8 game losing streak. The Sparks were led by Dearica Hamby with 28 points and 14 rebounds. A'ja Wilson led the Aces with 35points and 12 rebounds.

Chicago Sky's forward Angel Reese, continued her record shattering double-double streak.In the Sky's upset 88-84  road win over the Seattle Storm,Reese scored 27 points and had 10 rebounds in the victoty.Reese notched her 12th consecutive double-double,tying her with Candace Parkerfor the WNBA record. Reese holds the rookie record that was 7 straight prior to this season. Reese will be in the WNBA All Star Game on 7/20 in Phoenix,Arizona.

Here are the WNBA Weekend Selections. 

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WNBA-Week Seven

 The Commisioners Cup was held this week in the USB Arena between the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx. The Lynx won the contest by a score of 94 to 89.The Lynx's leading scorer was Bridget Carleton with23 points. Breann stewart led the Liberty with 23.Each player on the Lynx recieved  around $40,000 for being on the winning team. Napheesa Collier was named MVP.

The WNBA All Star Voting is taking place right now. So far,the leader in votes is A'ia Wilson with over 200,000 votes. Since Wilson and 11 other players have been selected to the USA Olympic Team,they are automatically All Stars.Voting by the fans closes on June 29th. To obtain one of the remaining roster spots,the fans votes will account for 50% ,with the media and the players accounting for 25% each.

 The teams will be designated as Team USA and Team WNBA. The 5 players I think should be on the team  are Jonquel Jones,Dijonai Carrington,Angel Reese,Caiylin Clark and Arike Ogunbowale. Reese and Clark should be in the game because they are having good seasons and would bring more attention to the contest. I envision Team USA as a 6.5 favorite over Team WNBA.

The hottest teams in the W right now are the Liberty,Lynx, the Phoenix Mercury and the Seattle Storm over their last 10 games. The coldest team is the Los Angeles Sparks who have lost 6 straight.and the Dallas Wing who are 1-9 in their last 10 games.

Here are my WNBA Weekend Selections!

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