The WNBA is the Women's National Basketball Association. The league runs mainly over summer months. It's currently the off-season, but when WNBA news happens it's being posted below, so check regularly. The 2008 WNBA rookie minimum salary was $34,500. The current WNBA maximum salary was $95,000. During the WNBA basketball season we post daily game briefs, exclusive interviews with WNBA players, and more.

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The 2009 WNBA salary cap is $694,800 minimum, $803,000 maximum.

WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS
April 14:

Sparks sign guard Betty Lennox -- The AP reports: The Los Angeles Sparks have signed guard Betty Lennox. The deal with the nine-year WNBA veteran was announced Tuesday.

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April 13:

Sun point guard Jamie Carey retires from WNBA -- The AP reports: Connecticut Sun point guard Jamie Carey has retired from the WNBA to pursue work in coaching and marketing. Carey was a 3-point specialist who mostly backed up Lindsay Whalen. She averaged just more than 3 points a game. She signed with the Sun as a free agent in 2005.

April 10:

Angel McCoughtry, Marissa Coleman and Kristi Toliver were selected with the first three picks of the 2009 WNBA Draft. Read more.

April 9:

The 2009 WNBA Draft is today at 3 p.m. ET. We'll post about it tonight or Friday.

April 3:

Paris, McCoughtry expected to lead WNBA draft -- The AP reports: Although there’s no clear favorite for the No. 1 pick this time like Candace Parker a year ago, there will be plenty of impact players available in the upcoming WNBA draft. Oklahoma’s Courtney Paris, Louisville’s Angel McCoughtry and Connecticut’s Renee Montgomery—all of whom will be playing in the Final Four this weekend— are expected to be among the top selections, along with Maryland’s Kristi Toliver and Marissa Coleman. “I think those are the top five or six players,” said Atlanta Dream coach Marynell Meadors, whose team has the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft on Thursday. Paris holds 18 NCAA records, including the mark for consecutive double-doubles (112), and became the first four-time AP All-American in women’s basketball last week. McCoughtry has averaged 22.9 points and 9.5 rebounds her last three years, and Montgomery is averaging career-bests of 16.2 points and 5.1 assists this season to help Connecticut enter the weekend a perfect 37-0.

March 30:

Silver Stars sign G Snell -- The AP reports: The San Antonio Silver Stars on Monday signed guard Belinda Snell to a free-agent contract... A two-time Olympic silver medalist with Australia, Snell spent three seasons with the Phoenix Mercury. She averaged 3.4 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 80 games.

March 26:

Sparks trade Johnson to Phoenix -- The Ap reports: The Los Angeles Sparks have traded point guard Temeka Johnson to Phoenix in exchange for the Mercury’s 2010 first-round draft pick. Johnson averaged 6.4 point and 4.0 assists in 66 career games with the Sparks, who announced the trade Thursday.

March 25:

Lauren Jackson choosing between Seattle, Phoenix -- The Ap reports: Free-agent Lauren Jackson, the two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player who led the Seattle Storm to the 2004 championship, has decided to play in the league again this summer. For whom? She is not quite sure yet. The 27-year-old Jackson, who has spent her entire WNBA career in Seattle and is the Storm’s franchise leader in scoring, said in a radio interview that was to be aired in its entirety in her native Australia on Thursday night that she will play next either with the Storm or with the Phoenix Mercury.

Spanish guard Marta Fernandez rejoins Sparks -- The Ap reports: The Sparks have re-signed guard Marta Fernandez, bringing the Spanish player back after a one-year absence. Fernandez averaged 8.7 points, 3.0 assists and 2.1 rebounds while starting 20 of 34 games in her first stint with the Sparks in 2007.

March 20:

Monarchs acquire Farris from Mercury -- The AP reports: The Sacramento Monarchs have acquired forward Barbara Farris from the Phoenix Mercury in a trade for forward Kim Smith and guard A’Quonesia Franklin.

March 12:

LA Sparks sign WNBA veteran Tina Thompson -- The AP reports: Tina Thompson was a player without a team. Now, the WNBA veteran is coming home to join the Los Angeles Sparks, and wearing No. 32 in honor of Magic Johnson. Her signing was announced Thursday, 3 1/2 months after Thompson’s former team, the Houston Comets, were disbanded. “It’s a pleasure to be home again,” she said after being greeted by applause at a news conference. “I’ve been away quite a while now. The feelings are a little overwhelming. I never expected to be in this position.” She starred at Morningside High in nearby Inglewood before going on to Southern California, where she and new teammate Lisa Leslie played together. Thompson is the WNBA’s second-leading career scorer behind Leslie.

March 9:

Storm’s Cash has back surgery -- The AP reports: Seattle Storm forward Swin Cash has undergone surgery to repair a disk in her lower back. The team said Monday’s surgery for the two-time WNBA All-Star was a success at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The anticipated rehabilitation time is eight to 12 weeks.

Feb. 23, 2009

Sparks, Milton-Jones agree to 3-year deal -- The AP reports: The Los Angeles Sparks and All-Star DeLisha Milton-Jones agreed to a three-year deal Monday that will keep her with the WNBA team through the 2012 season. Financial terms were not disclosed. Milton-Jones, who helped the U.S. women to a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics, averaged 13.9 points and 6.3 rebounds last year after returning to the Sparks in an offseason trade from Washington.

Feb. 20, 2009

Fever sign veteran C Yolanda Griffith -- The AP reports: The Indiana Fever signed seven-time WNBA All-Star Yolanda Griffith on Friday. The 38-year-old Griffith played for Seattle last season after spending her first nine years in the WNBA with Sacramento. She has career averages of 10.3 points and 7 rebounds a game.

Storm sign C Suzy Batkovic -- Ticker reports: The 6-4 Batkovic played in 29 games for the Storm in 2005, averaging 6.9 points and 3.2 rebounds.

Feb. 18, 2009

Dream sign former Comets center Michelle Snow -- The AP reports: The Atlanta Dream signed free-agent center Michelle Snow on Wednesday, adding a veteran presence to the second-year franchise. The 6-foot-5 Snow averaged 9.7 points and 6.8 rebounds in seven seasons with the Houston Comets after the former University of Tennessee star was selected with the 10th overall pick in the 2002 WNBA draft.

Feb. 13, 2009

Former Comets coach Karleen Thompson sues league -- The AP reports: Karleen Thompson, the coach of the defunct Houston Comets, has filed suit against the WNBA, claiming the league gave her false reassurances about the future of the team and caused her to miss out on other job opportunities. Thompson filed the suit Friday in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York.

Sun sign Latvian G Jekabsone-Zogota -- The AP reports: While playing with the defending FIBA EuroCup champion Moscow Dynamo this season, the 25-year-old Jekabsone-Zogota is averaging a team-high 15.9 points per game while shooting 50 percent (22-of-44) from 3-point range in 10 contests.

Feb. 10, 2009

Storm re-sign Ashley Robinson -- The AP reports: The signing of the 6-4 Robinson comes one day after the Storm inked 6-5 Janelle Burse. “We are pleased to have Ashley return to Seattle this season,” Seattle head coach Brian Agler said. “Ashley is a great competitor and I like the toughness she brings to our frontcourt.”

Feb. 9, 2009

Storm re-sign Janell Burse -- The AP reports: The 6-5 Burse started 29 games for the Storm during the 2007 season, averaging 8.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. She decided to sit out the 2008 season... Burse owns career averages of 6.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game over seven seasons split between Minnesota and Seattle.

Feb. 7, 2009

Mercury coach travels to Russia to woo Jackson -- The AP reports: Free agents in most sports often make rounds visiting teams interested in signing them. WNBA players don’t have that luxury because most are playing overseas during the offseason. So when a marquee player like Lauren Jackson hits the open market for the first time and can’t come to them, teams hoping to woo the two-time league MVP have little choice but to go to her. And in Jackson’s case, that means traveling to Moscow, where the Australian star is playing for Spartak in the Russian League. “I think five or six coaches have been out there,” said Phoenix coach Corey Gaines, who made the visit last month to speak to Jackson and some of his Mercury players. “She’s definitely one of the star players in the WNBA—forget that—star players in the world.” According to the league’s collective bargaining agreement signed last offseason, starting this year teams are allowed to designate only one “core” player—one fewer than before—who is automatically paid $2,500 above the maximum.

Feb. 5, 2009

WNBA approves expansion of instant replay use -- The AP reports: The WNBA Board of Governors has approved expanding the use of instant replay by officials to check if a field goal is a two-point shot or a 3-pointer, and for clock malfunctions at the end of a period.

Feb. 4, 2009

Lisa Leslie to retire from Sparks at season’s end -- The AP reports: Three-time WNBA MVP and four-time Olympic gold medalist Lisa Leslie will call it quits after her upcoming 12th season with the Los Angeles Sparks. The 36-year-old center announced her decision Wednesday, accompanied by her 19-month-old daughter and husband. Leslie, a cornerstone of the league since its start in 1997, guided the Sparks to WNBA championships in 2001 and 2002. “I’m not going to pull a (Michael) Jordan and come back in a year or two,” she said. “For me, I feel good about where I am. … I just know this is a good time. I can still help (the team). I don’t want to be out there when I can’t do it.”

Feb. 3, 2009

Seattle Storm waive 3-time MVP Sheryl Swoopes -- The AP reports: Sheryl Swoopes may have played her last game. The Seattle Storm waived the three-time WNBA MVP and three-time Olympic gold medalist a day before her 2009 contract would have become guaranteed. Swoopes is 37 and might now pursue something she’s talked about since September—coaching and being a full-time mother. Coach Brian Agler says the weekend move was made to clear space under the $803,000 salary cap. Lauren Jackson could be leaving soon as an unrestricted free agent. Center Yolanda Griffith, another former league MVP, turns 39 next month after a season in which she had knee and ankle problems.

Mohegan Sun to be site of 2009 All-Star Game -- Ticker reports: The WNBA announced Tuesday that Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut will be the site of the 2009 All-Star Game. The annual event pitting stars from the Eastern and Western Conference will take place on Saturday, July 25.

Jan. 30, 2009

Lynx trade Harding, Ohlde, Hayden-Johnson -- The AP reports: The Minnesota Lynx traded Lindsey Harding, Nicole Ohlde and Vanessa Hayden-Johnson in three separate deals Friday in exchange for veteran guard Kelly Miller, forward Christi Thomas and two draft picks. Harding, acquired in a draft-day deal with Phoenix in 2007 after the Mercury selected her with the No. 1 overall pick, was sent to Washington for a first-round pick, ninth overall, and a second-round selection, 15th overall, in this year’s draft. The Mystics also received two second-round picks, 23rd overall this year and one next year. Along with their own first-round pick, fourth overall, the Lynx will have three of the first 15 selections.

Jan. 21, 2009

Sun sign trio of forwards -- Ticker reports: The Connecticut Sun on Wednesday signed forwards Barbara Turner, Kerri Gardin and Danielle Page to one-year contracts. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Jan. 12, 2009: Seattle, WNBA Storm agree on 10-year lease -- The AP reports: Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels announced the city and the WNBA Seattle Storm have completed negotiations to keep KeyArena as the Storm’s home court for the next 10 years. Terms of the new lease were not announced. The lease agreement is subject to City Council approval.

Ticker reports: KeyArena has served as the home court for the Storm since the team’s inaugural season in 2000. It also was the home floor for the NBA franchise formerly known as the SuperSonics, who moved to Oklahoma City in the offseason after a messy divorce with the city of Seattle.

Jan. 12, 2009: Silver Stars sign F Young to extension -- The AP reports: The San Antonio Silver Stars on Monday signed two-time All-Star forward Sophia Young to a four-year contract extension. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Jan. 9, 2009: Shock match Sparks’ offer sheet for Kara Braxton -- The AP reports: The Detroit Shock announced Friday they have matched the offer sheet Kara Braxton signed with the Los Angeles Sparks. Coach Bill Laimbeer said in a release that Detroit’s philosophy “is not to allow other teams to steal our players away with money.”

Jan. 9, 2009: Fever waive F Kristen Mann -- The AP reports: The 6-foot-2 Mann was acquired in a trade with Atlanta and scored two points in five games for the Fever last season.

Jan. 7, 2009: Candace Parker expecting baby in spring -- The AP reports: Candace Parker is expecting her first child this spring, and the WNBA star will keep working out leading to the 2009 season. The announcement was made Wednesday by the University of Tennessee, where Parker starred before going on to the Los Angeles Sparks. Her husband is Shelden Williams of the Sacramento Kings.

Jan. 7, 2009: Seattle re-signs G Tanisha Wright -- The AP reports: The Seattle Storm re-signed guard Tanisha Wright, bringing back the versatile guard that had the best season of her career a year ago. The team did not release terms of the deal announced Wednesday.

Jan. 7, 2009: Storm re-sign G Tanisha Wright -- Ticker reports: The Seattle Storm on Wednesday re-signed guard Tanisha Wright, who started 14 games for the team last season. Wright averaged 7.9 points and 2.5 assists per game during the 2008 campaign, her fourth in Seattle.

Dec. 17, 2008: Chamique Holdsclaw returning to WNBA -- Ticker reports: After a two-year hiatus, forward Chamique Holdsclaw is returning to the WNBA. The Atlanta Dream on Wednesday acquired the rights to Holdsclaw from the Los Angeles Sparks for a first-round selection in next year’s draft. The first overall pick in the 1999 WNBA draft, Holdsclaw spent the first six seasons of her career with the Washington Mystics, averaging 19 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.

Dec. 9, 2008: Atlanta Dream get 1st pick in WNBA draft -- The AP reports: The last-place Atlanta Dream will have the top pick in the WNBA draft in April. The Washington Mystics received the second pick in the draft lottery, followed by the Chicago Sky, Minnesota Lynx and Phoenix Mercury, the league announced Tuesday.

Ticker reports: For the first time in league history, the lottery went according to the odds for the first five selectinos. The Washington Mystics will have the No. 2 pick, followed by the Chicago Sky, Minnesota Lynx and Phoenix Mercury.

Dec. 8, 2008: Lyttle goes first in WNBA dispersal draft -- The AP reports: Sancho Lyttle was the first player chosen in the WNBA’s dispersal draft of Houston Comets players Monday, going to the last-place Atlanta Dream. The Washington Mystics chose Matee Ajavon with the second pick and the Chicago Sky took Mistie Willilams with the third selection during a conference call. Teams drafted in inverse order of their regular-season finish this past season... Other players chosen in the dispersal draft were Roneeka Hodges to Minnesota, Sequoia Holmes to Phoenix, Erica White to Indiana and Renae Camino to Sacramento. Unrestricted free agents who were not eligible for selection included Latasha Byears, Mwadi Mabika, Hamchetou Maiga-Ba, Michelle Snow and Tina Thompson.

Ticker reports: The Washington Mystics selected guard Matee Ajavon, and the Chicago Sky chose forward Mistie Williams with the third pick. The Minnesota Lynx selected guard Roneeka Hodges, while the Phoenix Mercury chose guard Sequoia Holmes. Guard Erica White was the sixth overall pick of the Indiana Fever, and the Sacramento Monarchs wrapped up the draft by taking guard Renae Camino. The final six teams chose not to select a player.

Dec. 4, 2008: Lottery, dispersal draft for Houston Comets -- The AP reports: A WNBA lottery and dispersal draft for Houston Comets players will be held Monday, a week after the league announced the franchise will shut down. Atlanta, Washington and Chicago have the best chance of receiving the No. 1 pick for unrestricted free agents Tina Thompson, Mwadi Mabika, Michelle Snow, Hamchetou Maiga-Ba and Latasha Byears. The lottery involves the five teams that did not qualify for the playoffs.

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Dec. 3, 2008: Monarchs F Walker undergoes surgery -- Ticker reports: Sacramento Monarchs forward DeMya Walker underwent a second surgery on her right patella Wednesday to remove a broken screw from a previous procedure. A former fifth overall pick in the 2003 WNBA Dispersal Draft, Walker was playing overseas in Poland with CCC Polkowice before further evaluation showed there was a broken screw from the first surgery. Wednesday’s procedure was done by Monarchs team Dr. Kirk Lewis.


Dec. 1, 2008: Houston’s WNBA team disbanding -- The AP reports: The Houston Comets, a franchise that won the first four WNBA championships, is disbanding. The league-owned team will be shut down because new owners couldn’t be found. “You have to build on strength,” WNBA president Donna Orender told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. “My outlook is to build on the fact that the league has great momentum and in Houston we didn’t have the enough runway to get a deal done in time for the 2009 season. So right now we have to move on.”

Ticker reports: The 13-team league will hold a dispersal draft involving Comets players Monday. Current players, with the exception of unrestricted free agents Latasha Byears, Mwadi Mabika, Hamchetou Maiga-Ba, Michelle Snow and Tina Thompson, are eligible to be selected. Atlanta will have the first selection followed by Washington, Chicago, Minnesota, Phoenix, Indiana, Sacramento, New York, Los Angeles, Connecticut, Detroit, Seattle and San Antonio.

Nov. 20, 2008: Shock re-sign Laimbeer to 2-year coaching deal -- The AP reports: Coach Bill Laimbeer has been re-signed to a two-year contract by the WNBA champion Detroit Shock... The two-time NBA champion as a member of the Detroit Pistons guided the Shock this summer to their third title during his seven years as coach.

Ticker reports: Laimbeer has compiled a mark of 136-90 in seven seasons with Detroit, and has led the franchise to three WNBA titles (2003, 2006, 2008)... A “Bad Boy” on the Detroit Pistons teams that won two straight NBA championships from 1989-90, Laimbeer is the all-time leader in both postseason and WNBA Finals victories.

Nov. 19, 2008: Dream names Ross assistant coach -- Ticker reports: The Atlanta Dream on Wednesday named Carol Ross as an assistant coach. Ross brings over 20 years of recruiting and collegiate coaching experience to the Dream, most recently as the head coach of her alma mater, the University of Mississippi.

Nov. 18, 2008: Lynx name Petersen assistant coach -- Ticker reports: The Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday hired Jim Petersen as an assistant coach. Petersen, who currently is a television analyst for the Minnesota Timberwolves, will join assistant coaches Jennifer Gillom and Ed Prohofsky on head coach Don Zierden’s staff.

Nov. 6, 2008: Mystics hire Julie Plank, 11th coach in 12 seasons -- The AP reports: Once again, the Washington Mystics introduced a new coach, a ritual that happens about once a year. They promised this one would stick around a while. Julie Plank, a longtime college and WNBA assistant, was hired Thursday as the latest hope for a team that has known nothing but change. She becomes the 11th coach of a franchise that begins its 12th season next summer. “I am very committed to staying here in the D.C. area,” Plank said. “I’m not someone who jumps around organizations a lot. I get somewhere, I’m comfortable, I want to build, and I want to win.”

Ticker reports: “Julie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Washington Mystics organization,” Mystics general manager Angela Taylor said. “Her extensive resume includes coaching elite players at the highest levels of women’s basketball during her 20 plus years as an assistant coach."


Oct 15: Monarchs F Kim Smith undergoes ankle surgery -- Ticker reports: Sacramento Monarchs forward Kim Smith underwent surgery on her right ankle on Wednesday to repair damaged cartilage and remove a bone spur. Smith sprained the ankle at practice on August 20, sidelining her for the rest of the season.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR MONDAY, OCT 6

Detroit Shock are champs for third time in 6 years -- The AP reports: A trade for proven veteran Taj McWilliams-Franklin during the Olympic break was just what Detroit needed. It won its last five games of the regular season and six of seven after the monthlong hiatus and carried the momentum into the playoffs. And McWilliams-Franklin, who had 13 points in the Game 3 clincher, was a huge part of the team’s championship drive. On Sunday, she keyed a fourth-quarter run that put the game out of reach. The Shock led 49-45 after three periods, and they extended it to 55-47 on McWilliams-Franklin’s one-hander off the glass 3 minutes into the fourth. She hit a pair of free throws less than a minute later to give the Shock their first double-digit lead of the game... Detroit became the second team in league history to win a third championship. Only the Houston Comets, who won the first four (1997-2000), have more. Los Angeles (2001, 2002) is the only other team with more than one... The 2008 finals MVP was Katie Smith, who had a team-high 18 points on Sunday, including 11 in the fourth quarter... Top scorer Becky Hammon was held in check for much of the series and was a non-factor in Game 3, managing only 5 points on 1-for-10 shooting. Center Ann Wauters led San Antonio with 19 points, and forward Sophia Young added 15.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR SUNDAY, OCT 5

Detroit 76, San Antonio 60 -- The AP reports: With Deanna Nolan not having her best series, the Detroit Shock relied upon Katie Smith, who helped deliver another championship. En route to being name Most Valuable Player, Smith scored 18 points as the Shock completed a sweep of the San Antonio Silver Stars to win their third title in six seasons with a 76-60 victory in Game Three of the WNBA Finals on Sunday afternoon... Smith, who combined to score 47 points on 17-of-33 shooting in the first two contests, was 6-of-10 from the field, including 2-of-2 from the arc in this one for Detroit, which outscored San Antonio, 46-26, in the second half to cement the victory... Becky Hammon scored five points on just 1-of-10 shooting for the Silver Stars, who did not put forth a good performance in their first trip to the championship series in franchise history.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR SATURDAY, OCT 4

Detroit 69, San Antonio 61 -- The AP reports: It will be a happy trip back to Ypsilanti, Michigan for Katie Smith and the Detroit Shock. Smith had 22 points and six assists as the Shock took a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five WNBA Finals with a 69-61 victory over the San Antonio Silver Stars on Friday. Deanna Nolan and Kara Braxton scored 12 points apiece for Detroit, which became the first team to win both Games One and Two on the road since the league expanded the Finals to its current best-of-five format in 2005... Becky Hammon scored 24 points for San Antonio, which has put forth a disappointing performance in its first trip to the championship series. The Silver Stars had the best season in franchise history, which included a league-best 24-10 regular-season record and a 14-0 mark against Eastern Conference opponents.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR FRIDAY, OCT 3

Sparks’ Parker wins WNBA MVP, rookie of the year -- The AP reports: Candace Parker received the WNBA’s most valuable player award Friday, becoming the first player to win the award along with the rookie of the year honors. The Los Angeles star was unanimously selected rookie of the year... Parker edged Connecticut’s Lindsay Whalen and Seattle’s Sue Bird in the MVP race... The all-rookie team, selected by league coaches, included Parker, Minnesota’s Candice Wiggins and Nicky Anosike, Chicago’s Sylvia Fowles, Houston’s Matee Ajavon and Connecticut’s Amber Holt. Ajavon and Holt tied for the fifth spot on the team.

Leslie, Parker headline WNBA first team -- Ticker reports: Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa Leslie and forward Candace Parker highlight the WNBA’s All-First Team which was named Friday. Connecticut Sun guard Lindsay Whalen, Phoenix Mercury guard-forward Diana Taurasi and San Antonio Silver Stars forward Sophia Young also were named to the team.

Parker headlines All-Rookie Team -- Ticker reports: Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker headlined the WNBA’s All-Rookie Team which was announced Friday... Joining Parker on the All-Rookie Team were Minnesota Lynx guard Candace Wiggins, Lynx center Nicky Anosike, Chicago Sky center Sylvia Fowles, Houston Comets guard Matee Ajavon and Connecticut Sun forward Amber Holt. Ajavon and Holt tied for the fifth spot on the team and both were rewarded with a selection.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR THURSDAY, OCT 2

Shock beat Silver Stars 77-69 in Game 1 of finals -- The AP reports: Someone finally figured out how to stop Deanna Nolan. Katie Smith and Taj McWilliams-Franklin were more than enough to help the Detroit Shock make up for it. Smith scored 25 points and McWilliams-Franklin had 24, and they helped Detroit take a first step toward reclaiming the WNBA title by leading the Shock to a 77-69 win over the San Antonio Silver Stars on Wednesday night in Game 1 of the WNBA finals... The Silver Stars, who lost to an Eastern Conference team for the first time this season after 14 wins, were led by Sophia Young’s 21 points and 16 from Ann Wauters. San Antonio’s Becky Hammon, who scored 35 points in the decisive Game 3 of the Western Conference finals on Sunday, scored 13 points on 4-of-10 shooting in Game 1... Detroit didn’t get its first lead until 2:19 into the second quarter when Smith made two free throws to go up 21-20 before the Shock outscored San Antonio 21-12 the rest of the half for the double-digit margin. The Silver Stars went cold, shooting 4-of-16 in the second quarter. San Antonio played without key reserves Helen Darling and Edwige Lawson-Wade. Darling strained her right calf and Lawson-Wade sprained her right ankle during Saturday’s Game 2 victory over Los Angeles in the Western Conference semifinals.

InsideHoops.com Stat Notes: For Detroit, Katie Smith (8-of-17) had 25 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists. Taj McWilliams-Franklin (11-of-16) had 24 points and 7 rebounds. Deanna Nolan (just 5-of-16) had 10 points and 4 assists. Kara Braxton (5-of-9) had 10 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Alexis Hornbuckle shot badly but had 5 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks... For San Antonio, Sophia Young (just 8-of-21) had 21 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Ann Wauters (6-of-13) had 16 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks. Becky Hammon (4-of-10) had 13 points, 5 assists, 2 steals but 4 turnovers. Vickie Johnson (5-of-6) had 10 points and 5 rebounds... Detroit shot 47.1%, San Antonio 42.9%. Detroit hit 4-of-14 three-pointers, San Antonio an awful 1-of-12. Detroit grabbed a few more rebounds and dished a few more assists.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR WEDNESDAY, OCT 1

Detroit at San Antonio -- The AP reports: Detroit’s pursuit of a third title begins Wednesday in Game 1 of the WNBA finals against the San Antonio Silver Stars. The Shock already share a couple of distinctions with the Comets—four trips to the finals overall and streaks of three straight appearances in the league’s 11-year history. Houston won the first four league championships from 1997-2000. “We’re where we expected to be—in the finals,” Detroit coach Bill Laimbeer said. “That’s who we are. That’s all we talk about. Anything else is a lost season for us.” That’s not quite the standard for the Silver Stars, who were 1.3 seconds away from elimination in the Western Conference finals against Los Angeles. Down 1-0 in the series and 66-65 in Game 2, San Antonio forced a deciding game on Sophia Young’s 14-foot turnaround shot at the buzzer. The Silver Stars won the series a day later.

The AP reports: The Silver Stars (24-10) had the league’s best record thanks in part to going 14-0 against the East, including two wins over the Shock. Still, the playoff focus in the West stayed with Los Angeles, the preseason favorite.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR TUESDAY, SEPT 30

Detroit 75, New York 73 -- Ticker reports: Veteran forward Taj McWilliams-Franklin scored 15 of her 19 points in the second half as the Detroit Shock held off the New York Liberty, 75-73, in the decisive Game Three of the Eastern Conference finals on Monday. Deanna Nolan scored 21 points and Katie Smith added 16 for Detroit, which returned to the WNBA Finals for the third straight year. The Shock will square off with the San Antonio Silver Stars, who edged the Los Angeles Sparks in Game Three of the Western Conference finals on Sunday... Janel McCarville scored 21 points for New York, which managed just eight points in the first quarter.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR MONDAY, SEPT 29

San Antonio 76, Los Angeles 72 -- Ticker reports: Becky Hammon scored 35 points and nailed four crucial free throws down the stretch as the Silver Stars held on for a 76-72 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks in Game Three of the Western Conference finals. The hero in Game One, Sophia Young scored 18 points for the Silver Stars, who erased a five-point lead with 1:57 left... Milton-Jones and Candace Parker scored 16 points for Los Angeles.

New York at Detroit -- STATS reports: Playing for another WNBA title has been the ultimate goal for the Detroit Shock this season. But if they plan on challenging for the championship for a third consecutive year, they must first determine their fate in the conference finals. The Shock hope to eliminate the New York Liberty and earn another chance at the league’s crown on Monday, when the teams meet in the decisive Game 3 of the East finals at Eastern Michigan University... Meanwhile, New York is trying to advance to the league finals for the fifth time in team history and make its first such appearance since 2002 - the last time it won the conference crown. Shameka Christon scored 16 points and Janel McCarville added nine, but New York managed just three shots in the fourth quarter - all 3-pointers.

Detroit 64, New York 55 -- Ticker reports: Deanna Nolan scored nine of her 22 points in the fourth quarter to lift the Shock to a season-saving 64-55 victory over the New York Liberty in Sunday’s Game Two of the Eastern Conference finals. Katie Smith scored 11 points for Shock, who staved off elimination with the triumph and will host the decisive third game of the series Monday... Detroit outscored New York, 25-9, in the fourth quarter to erase a seven-point deficit entering the final period... Shameka Christon scored 16 points for New York.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR SUNDAY, SEPT 28

Young’s buzzer-beater saves Silver Stars -- The AP reports: Sophia Young delivered with a 14-foot turnaround shot at the buzzer to lift the Silver Stars to a 67-66 win over the Los Angeles Sparks Saturday, and forced a deciding game 3 in the Western Conference Finals... Young finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead San Antonio... Candace Parker led Los Angeles with 19 points and 17 rebounds. Lisa Leslie, who scored 22 points in game 1, had 17 points and 12 rebounds. Milton-Jones finished with 14 points... Becky Hammon added 19 points and Ann Wauters had 11 as San Antonio is looking for its first trip to the finals. They advanced to the Western Conference finals last year, but lost to the eventual champions, the Phoenix Mercury.

New York 60, Detroit 56 -- Ticker reports: Janel McCarville scored 17 points and Shameka Christon added 11 and 11 rebounds as the New York Liberty defeated the Detroit Shock, 60-56, in Game One of the Eastern Conference finals on Friday... Deanna Nolan, who led the Shock with 22 points, got a good look from the top of the arc, but her shot bounced off the front rim and the loose ball ended up going out of bounds to the Liberty... New York used a 12-1 run - keyed by five points from Ashley Battle - to take a 45-43 edge with 5:29 to play.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR SATURDAY, SEPT 27

-- Ticker reports: Janel McCarville scored 17 points and Shameka Christon added 11 and 11 rebounds as the New York Liberty defeated the Detroit Shock, 60-56, in Game One of the Eastern Conference finals on Friday... Deanna Nolan, who led the Shock with 22 points, got a good look from the top of the arc, but her shot bounced off the front rim and the loose ball ended up going out of bounds to the Liberty... New York used a 12-1 run - keyed by five points from Ashley Battle - to take a 45-43 edge with 5:29 to play.

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WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR THURSDAY, SEPT 25

The AP reports: Lauren Jackson’s post-Olympics surgery on her ankle last month effectively doomed the Storm, leaving them without the low-post scorer and rebounder who has often dominated the league. She watched helplessly Tuesday, nervously pacing the bench area in a black sweater. Sue Bird said she expects her roommate and teammate in Russia during the European season will be with her when their team begins play there Oct. 16, after Jackson goes home to Australia for two weeks. But will Jackson, a two-time WNBA MVP, be back in Seattle in 2009? “I hope so,” Bird said, smiling. Seattle cannot keep Jackson by designating her its core player, giving the club exclusive negotiating rights to her in exchange for a guaranteed, one-year contract at the league’s maximum salary.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPT 24

Shock looking for 3rd straight trip to WNBA finals -- The AP reports: Detroit and Los Angeles opened the season as the popular picks to reach the WNBA finals, and both teams are now one step away from fulfilling those expectations. The Shock, looking for their third straight trip to the championship round, closed the season with six wins in their last seven games to earn the Eastern Conference’s top seed, and then beat Indiana in the first round. Detroit led 41-10 midway through the second quarter through the decisive Game 3 and cruised to an easy victory. “We executed brilliantly and the players deserve all the credit in the world,” Detroit coach Bill Laimbeer said. “The performance we put on is the quality of a championship-caliber team.”

San Antonio at Los Angeles -- The AP reports: The San Antonio Silver Stars are one step away from the franchise’s first trip to the WNBA finals, and after going 14-0 against the Eastern Conference, they’d have to be rather confident heading into a potential championship series. To get there, though, they’ll have to figure out a way to stop Candace Parker. That hasn’t been an easy task for the Silver Stars, who will open the best-of-three Western Conference finals on the road Thursday against the Los Angeles Sparks and their dazzling rookie. San Antonio breezed through its games against the East this season without a loss, giving it the league’s best record and home-court advantage throughout the West playoffs. The Silver Stars were a pedestrian 10-10 within their conference, however, including a 2-2 mark against the Sparks with the home team winning each game.

Los Angeles 71, Seattle 64 -- Ticker reports: Despite a furious finish, the Los Angeles Sparks were able to send the Seattle Storm packing early once again. Candace Parker scored 19 points and Lisa Leslie added 15 before fouling out in the final minutes as the Sparks advanced to the Western Conference finals with a 71-64 victory over the Storm in a decisive Game Three of their conference semifinal series on Tuesday night... Tanisha Wright scored 20 points and Camille Little added 17 for the Storm, who played without former league MVP Lauren Jackson due to ankle surgery.

Detroit 80, Indiana 61 -- Ticker reports: Deanna Nolan scored 21 points and Katie Smith added 15 as the Shock got off to a quick start and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the third straight season with an 80-61 victory over the Indiana Fever in the decisive Game Three of their semifinal series... After a demoralizing first half, Indiana outscored Detroit, 24-11, in the third quarter to cut its deficit to 17 entering the final period but could not make much more of a push. Tammy Sutton-Brown scored 20 points for the Fever.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR TUESDAY, SEPT 23

San Antonio 86, Sacramento 81 (ot) -- Ticker reports: After failing to close out them at home over the weekend, the Silver Stars recovered on Monday night and survived a furious rally by the Sacramento Monarchs to advance to the Western Conference finals with an 86-81 overtime victory... The Monarchs scored the last seven points of regulation to send the game into overtime, but Sophia Young’s gritty play propelled the top-seeded Silver Stars to victory. Young scored seven of her 27 points in the extra period - all from the foul line - and grabbed a pivotal defensive board to help seal it... Nicole Powell led Sacramento with 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting, while Kara Lawson added 12 points and seven assists. San Antonio center Ann Wauters had 15 points and 12 boards.

Liberty beat Sun to advance to conference finals -- The AP reports: Shameka Christon hit a 3-pointer to regain the lead, rookie Essence Carson had a driving layup to stretch New York’s advantage to three points, and the Liberty beat the Connecticut Sun 66-62 Monday night to advance to the Eastern Conference finals... Carson finished scored 15 points, Christon had 13, and Janel McCarville added 12 points and seven rebounds to help the Liberty win a postseason series for the first time since 2004. New York beat Detroit in the first round that year before getting swept by Connecticut... Lindsay Whalen scored 19 points and Asjha Jones added 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Sun. The Liberty shot 51 percent in the first half and finished at 47 percent (27-for-57) for the game. The Sun finished at 34 percent (25-for-74), including 3-for-20 on 3-pointers.

Hoffman’s Game 2 technical upgraded to flagrant -- The AP reports: The technical foul Indiana’s Ebony Hoffman received in Game 2 of the Fever’s first-round series against Detroit was upgraded to a flagrant foul by the WNBA on Monday. Hoffman was also fined for the play in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game in which the Shock’s Plenette Pierson was knocked out of the game with a shoulder injury that is expected to rule her out of Game 3.

Mystics fire GM Hargrove after 10-24 season -- The AP reports: Washington Mystics general manager Linda Hargrove was fired Monday after a 10-24 season that ended with a nine-game losing streak. The Mystics missed the playoffs the past two years, and team president Sheila Johnson had promised changes, saying last month, “We cannot continue on this path.” Hargrove became the Mystics’ GM before the 2005 season. She was a scout and an assistant coach with the team before that.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR MONDAY, SEPT 22

Seattle 64, Los Angeles 50 -- Ticker reports: Sue Bird scored 20 points and Sheryl Swoopes added 16 as the Storm staved off elimination with a 64-50 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks in Game Two of their Western Conference semifinals series on Sunday night... DeLisha Milton-Jones and Lisa Leslie scored 11 points apiece for the Sparks.

Indiana 89, Detroit 82 (ot) -- Ticker reports: Tamika Catchings had 27 points and 10 rebounds as the Fever held off the Shock, 89-82, in overtime in Game Two of their Eastern Conference semifinal series at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Sunday... Facing elimination, the fourth-seeded Fever also got 15 points and 12 rebounds from Ebony Hoffman en route to knocking off a team that went 14-3 at home in the regular season, including 10-0 against Eastern Conference opponents. Detroit guard Deanna Nolan made a 3-pointer with five seconds remaining in regulation to tie the score at 75-75 and force overtime, when the Fever would come alive... Katie Smith scored 15 points and Taj McWilliams-Franklin added 14 to pace Detroit, which erased a nine-point deficit going into the fourth quarter.

The AP reports: After winning Game 1 of their playoff series on the road, the top-seeded San Antonio Silver Stars may have figured they’d cruise past the Sacramento Monarchs and into the Western Conference finals. Instead, their season will be on the line in a decisive Game 3 on Monday, when they’ll look to rebound from a lopsided loss at home and eliminate the Monarchs in the first round for the second straight year. The Silver Stars’ 85-78 win at Sacramento on Thursday appeared to pave their path to the next round, as they needed just one win at home to advance. San Antonio, which had the best overall record in the WNBA in the regular season, went 15-2 at the AT&T Center.

The AP reports: The Connecticut Sun haven’t made things easy for themselves in their Eastern Conference semifinal series with the New York Liberty. Even if they haven’t played their best, they’re still alive heading into a decisive Game 3. A spot in the conference finals will be on the line Monday at Mohegan Sun Arena, where the Sun will try to extend the Liberty’s trouble advancing past the first round. Connecticut fell behind by 13 points after the first quarter of Game 1 on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden and could never recover, losing 72-63. That left the Sun with a pair of must-win games at home if they hoped to advance to the East finals for the fifth time in six years.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR SUNDAY, SEPT 21

Sacramento 84, San Antonio 67 -- The AP reports: Crystal Kelly scored 19 points and Nicole Powell had 17 as the Sacramento Monarchs surprisingly cruised to an 84-67 victory over the San Antonio Silver Stars in Game Two of the Western Conference semifinals on Saturday. Ticha Penicheiro had 12 points and nine assists for the Monarchs, who shot 59 percent (34-of-58) from the field... Becky Hammon scored 14 points to lead San Antonio, which made just 4-of-16 from the arc.

Sun force decisive Game 3 against Liberty -- The AP reports: Asjha Jones scored 16 points and the Connecticut Sun forced a decisive Game 3 against the New York Liberty with a 73-70 victory Saturday night. Tamika Whitmore made two free throws in the final 30 seconds to help the Sun withstand a New York rally in the fourth period. The first-round Eastern Conference series will be settled Monday night in Connecticut. Lindsay Whalen had 15 points for Connecticut and Svetlana Abrosimova had 12. Loree Moore led New York with 16 points, and Janel McCarville and Shameka Christon had 11 apiece.

Sun coach Thibault named WNBA Coach of the Year -- Ticker reports: Mike Thibault of the Connecticut Sun won the WNBA Coach of Year Award, the league announced Saturday. Thibault, who guided the Sun to the second seed in the Eastern Conference this season, also won the award in 2006. He became the third coach to claim the honor multiple times... San Antonio Silver Stars coach Dan Hughes, who won the award in 2001 and 2007, finished second in the voting, which was tallied by a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.

The AP reports: After winning their playoff opener on the road, all the Detroit Shock have to do to advance to another Eastern Conference finals is claim one more victory where no other East team could in 2008. The top-seeded Shock will look to eliminate the Indiana Fever from the postseason for the third straight year on Sunday when the teams face off in Game 2 of their first-round series at the Palace of Auburn Hills. It seemed that for fourth-seeded Indiana to have any chance of knocking off the Shock, it would have to defend its home court in the series opener. Detroit, though, built a 10-point halftime lead and held on for an 81-72 win on Friday.

The AP reports: The Los Angeles Sparks knew they’d have to protect their home court in Game 1 to have a realistic chance of winning their playoff series against the Seattle Storm. They did that without much of a problem - but winning in Seattle could be a much tougher task. The Sparks will get their first chance to close out the Storm and become just the second team to win at KeyArena this season on Sunday as the teams play Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series. Los Angeles came into the playoffs having beaten Seattle twice this season at Staples Center, but having lost four straight to the Storm on the road by an average of 17.3 points dating to their 2006 first-round series.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR MONDAY, SEPT 15

Houston has 18 in Lynx’s win at Washington -- The AP reports: Charde Houston scored 18 points to lead the Minnesota Lynx to a 96-70 win over the Washington Mystics in both teams’ season finale on Sunday. Anna DeForge added 16 points for the Lynx while Nicky Anosike, Lindsey Harding and LaToya Thomas each had 13... Minnesota (16-18) was playing without its two leading scorers Seimone Augustus and Candice Wiggins... Alana Beard scored all of her team-high 17 points in the second half to lead Washington (10-24), which finished the season with a nine-game losing streak. Tasha Humphrey added 11.

Sparks beat Storm 65-48 in WNBA playoff preview -- The AP reports: With most of the big names playing limited minutes or injured, Seattle and Los Angeles hardly looked like a couple of WNBA playoff-bound teams. Marie Ferdinand-Harris scored 14 points, DeLisha Milton-Jones added 12 and the Sparks led all the way in beating the Storm 65-48 Sunday, when Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker played season-low minutes... Starters Sue Bird and Yolanda Griffith played just three minutes each for the Storm, who shot 33.9 percent from the floor, barely better than their season low of 32.8 percent at Houston on June 14.

Nolan, Pierson lead Shock past Liberty in finale -- The AP reports: The Detroit Shock’s main focus was to avoid injuries in its season finale against the New York Liberty. They achieved that goal and came away with their fifth straight victory. Deanna Nolan and Plenette Pierson scored 11 points each to lead Detroit to a 61-59 win Sunday... Erlana Larkins scored 13 points and Lisa Willis added 12 for New York (19-15). Cathrine Kraayeveld had nine points for the Liberty, who have lost three of four.

Tina Thompson leads Comets past Sky 79-76 -- The AP reports: Tina Thompson had 26 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks and the Houston Comets beat the Chicago Sky 79-76 on Sunday. Mistie Williams had 13 points and nine rebounds for Houston (16-17), which won its second straight after dropping its previous five. Reneeka Hodges and Tamecka Dixon each added 12 points for the Comets, who improved to 4-13 on the road... Candice Dupree scored 20 for the Sky (12-22), who finished their season by losing for the fifth time in six games. Jia Perkins scored 13 and Cathy Joens added 12 for Chicago.

Fever top Mercury 103-89, set team scoring record -- The AP reports: Tammy Sutton-Brown scored a career-high 26 points and the Indiana Fever set a franchise scoring record in a 103-89 win over the Phoenix Mercury in the regular-season finale for both teams on Sunday... Katie Douglas scored 24 points, Ebony Hoffman added 20 with a career-high four 3-pointers, and Tamika Catchings had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Fever. Cappie Pondexter scored 23 points and Diana Taurasi added 19 for the Mercury (16-18).


WNBA PLAYOFFS ROUNDUP: In the 2008 WNBA Finals, the Detroit Shock beat the San Antonio Silver Stars 3-0 for the 2008 WNBA championship. East conference finals: the Shock beat the Liberty 2 games to 1. West conference finals: the Silver Stars beat the Sparks 2-1. East first round: Shock 2, Fever 1, and Libery 2, Sun 1. West first round: S.Stars 2, Monarchs 1 and Sparks 2, Storm 1.