WNBA – nrxhb.shop | OG News //nrxhb.shop/news Inspiring every gambler in the world to beat the odds Thu, 04 Aug 2022 19:23:28 +0000 en-US hourly 1 //wordpress.org/?v=5.4.16 WNBA – nrxhb.shop | OG News //nrxhb.shop/news/brittney-griner-sentence-russian-judge-gives-9-years-to-wnba-star/ Thu, 04 Aug 2022 19:23:28 +0000 //nrxhb.shop/news/?p=90667 Brittney Griner is facing nine years in prison after a Russian court convicted the basketball star of drug possession and smuggling on Thursday. Judge Anna Sotnikova announced the sentence, which also included a fine of one million rubles ($16,700). Griner sentence prelude to further negotiation Legal observers expected Griner to […]

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Brittney Griner is facing nine years in prison after a Russian court convicted the basketball star of drug possession and smuggling on Thursday.

Brittney Griner sentence Russia
Brittney Griner received a nine-year sentence from a Russian judge on Thursday for drug possession and smuggling. (Image: Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP/Getty)

Judge Anna Sotnikova announced the sentence, which also included a fine of one million rubles ($16,700).

Griner sentence prelude to further negotiation

Legal observers expected Griner to receive a guilty verdict and jail time as a necessary step before any potential prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States. The verdict was relatively harsh by Russian legal standards: it came near the maximum punishment of ten years in prison, while most Russians spend up to five years in prison for possessing small quantities of illegal drugs.

Russian police said they found vape cartridges with cannabis oil in Griner’s luggage when she landed at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport on Feb. 17. Griner was traveling to Russia to play for UMMC Ekaterinburg in Yekaterinburg, where she competes in the WNBA’s offseason.

US President Joe Biden released a statement decrying the verdict.

“Today, American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence that is one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney,�Biden said in the statement. “I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates.�/p>

US officials have offered a prisoner exchange with Russia. Many have speculated that the United States would send Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in exchange for Griner and Paul Whelan, who has remained in Russian custody since an arrest in December 2018 on espionage charges.

Russia looks for leverage in prisoner swap

The guilty verdict also opens up other avenues for Griner’s release. She could appeal the verdict, or appear to Russian President Vladimir Putin for an appeal. However, a prisoner swap remains the most likely outcome, something Griner tangentially acknowledged in court.

“I made an honest mistake, and I hope that in your ruling, that it doesn’t end my life here,�Griner said on Thursday. “I know that everybody keeps talking about ‘political pawn’ and ‘politics,’ but I hope that is far from this courtroom.�/p>

Griner’s trial proceeded quickly for a politically charged case involving a foreigner, raising hopes that Russia may move for an exchange sooner rather than later. However, the severity of Griner’s sentence could also be a tactic to gain leverage against the United States.

“I think that the harsher the sentence, the more pressure there will be on the Biden administration to make a deal,�lawyer Tom Firestone told the Associated Press. “Obviously they like leveraging that pressure.�/p>

Griner is a seven-time WNBA All-Star and a two-time Defensive Player of the Year who has spent her entire professional career with the Phoenix Mercury. She has twice led the league in scoring, and is the all-time career leader in blocks per game, averaging 2.8 for her career.

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WNBA – nrxhb.shop | OG News //nrxhb.shop/news/wnba-championship-odds-aces-remain-favorites-at-all-star-break/ Tue, 12 Jul 2022 04:07:33 +0000 //nrxhb.shop/news/?p=88877 The Las Vegas Aces no longer resemble the unstoppable force they appeared to be when they roared out of the gate to a 13-2 start. But despite some recent losses, oddsmakers still see the Aces as the team to beat in the WNBA this season. DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Aces […]

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The Las Vegas Aces no longer resemble the unstoppable force they appeared to be when they roared out of the gate to a 13-2 start. But despite some recent losses, oddsmakers still see the Aces as the team to beat in the WNBA this season.

WNBA odds championship Aces
Las Vegas remains the favorite to win the WNBA Championship, but the rest of the league has closed the gap with the Aces. (Image: Steel Brooks/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Aces as the +175 pick to win the 2022 WNBA Championship as of Monday night.

Defense letting Aces down in recent slump

Las Vegas has gone just 2-5 since that torrid start under new head coach Becky Hammon. The Aces no longer hold the best record in the WNBA �the Chicago Sky have surpassed them by a game �and only lead the Seattle Storm by a half-game in the Western Conference.

Still, Las Vegas is far from panic mode. Star forward A’ja Wilson is scoring 18.5 points per game and averaging over 10 rebounds, leading DraftKings to make her the +140 favorite for WNBA MVP this year. The team has added depth �their main weakness early in the season �and can run out a lineup with five All-Star quality players that leads the league in most offensive categories.

However, the Aces have struggled lately on defense. Las Vegas is only sixth in defensive rating and 10th in points allowed. That could hurt the Aces come playoff time when key defensive stands down the stretch often spell the difference between wins and losses.

The good news for Las Vegas is that there’s plenty of time to get things back on track.

“I don’t think we’ve played our best basketball yet,�Hammon said, via the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “And really, nor do I want to be. I want to be playing our best basketball in August and September.�/p>

The defending champion Chicago Sky (+225) rate as the second choice to win the WNBA Championship this year. Their 16-6 record now leads the league, and Chicago is coming off hosting the WNBA All-Star Game where Sky guard Allie Quigley won her fourth three-point contest.

Sky, Storm, Sun all eying WNBA Championship

Chicago is scoring 85.9 points per game, second only to the Aces. However, their defense has been stouter, allowing opponents an average of just 80.1 points. Six Sky players are scoring in double figures, a balanced attack that’s difficult for opposing defenses to deal with.

The Seattle Storm (+400) continue to be a threat to win another title as well. At 15-8, the Storm have closed the gap with the Aces in the Western Conference and will be in the hunt for the top seed come playoff time. Seattle has won 10 of its last 13 games and is heading in the right direction down the stretch.

“We’re right where we want to be,�Seattle guard Jewell Loyd told reporters after a Thursday win over the Sparks. “We’re excited. The hunger and the focus is to get better every day and work on our goals to win a championship.�/p>

The Connecticut Sun (+400) share the same odds as the Storm, but have muddled along as of late, losing four of their past six games. While the Sun started the year as one of the best offensive teams in the league, they’ve struggled to score during their recent skid. However, with three All-Stars in the lineup â€?Brionna Jones, Jonquel Jones, and Alyssa Thomas â€?Connecticut should be able to get its offensive woes figured out before the playoffs.

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WNBA – nrxhb.shop | OG News //nrxhb.shop/news/las-vegas-aces-find-winning-hand-early-in-2022-wnba-season/ Tue, 21 Jun 2022 19:48:52 +0000 //nrxhb.shop/news/?p=87828 Becky Hammon came to the Las Vegas Aces with the intention of coaching her team to a WNBA Championship. So far, the Aces are on track to meet that goal. Las Vegas is off to a 13-2 start this season, and DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Aces as the +120 favorite […]

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Becky Hammon came to the Las Vegas Aces with the intention of coaching her team to a WNBA Championship. So far, the Aces are on track to meet that goal.

Las Vegas Aces odds
The Las Vegas Aces hold the best record in the WNBA and are the favorites to win the league championship in 2022. (Image: Ethan Miller/Las Vegas Aces)

Las Vegas is off to a 13-2 start this season, and DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Aces as the +120 favorite to win the WNBA title this year.

Aces starters carrying the load

The Aces hold the best record in the league, 2.5 games better than the Connecticut Sun, who told the Eastern Conference with a 12-5 record.

Las Vegas jumped out to its hot start based on star power rather than depth. Kelsey Plum leads the team in scoring with 20.1 points per game, while A’ja Wilson contributes 18.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per contest. Fellow starters Jackie Young, Dearica Hamby, and Chelsea Gray are all scoring in double figures as well.

Beyond that, few players are contributing significantly. Other than Theresa Plaisance, who started twice while Young was out with a sprained ankle, nobody else has gotten a start for the Aces. The Las Vegas bench averages just 9.8 points per game �the lowest total in the WNBA �and the team has won three times without scoring a single bench point.

That’s a result of a change in tactics that Hammon instituted this year. Hamby and Plum are playing more minutes as starters rather than competing for more Sixth Women of the Year honors. In other words, Hammon put her best players on the court as much as possible â€?not a revolutionary strategy, but one that’s paid dividends.

Las Vegas excelling with Hammon, without Cambage

The Aces lead the league in point differential, outscoring opponents by 9.7 points per game. They’ve done all this without four-time All-Star center Liz Cambage, who moved to the Los Angeles Sparks in the offseason via free agency.

“They’re playing a different style because they don’t have to clog the middle going to the post,�Westgate SuperBook oddsmaker Jeff Sherman told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “Becky Hammon has got this team playing more of an NBA-style perimeter game. It’s definitely an improvement from where they were last year.�/p>

The only real concern for the Aces is that lack of depth. If more injuries crop up, or if fatigue becomes a factor in the playoffs, then other teams could surpass Las Vegas in the title race.

The Sun (+350) rank as the second choice to win the title, ahead of the defending champion Chicago Sky (+450). The Sky will take on the Aces in the second edition of the Commissioner’s Cup on July 26, which carries a $500K prize pool for participating players.

The Seattle Storm (+650) also rate highly as a title contender. Seattle started the year 10-6, second in the Western Conference behind Las Vegas.

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WNBA – nrxhb.shop | OG News //nrxhb.shop/news/wnba-championship-odds-las-vegas-hammon-favored-in-2022/ Fri, 06 May 2022 03:58:59 +0000 //nrxhb.shop/news/?p=85571 The Las Vegas Aces built themselves into a perennial contender under head coach Bill Laimbeer. Now, former San Antonio Spurs assistant Becky Hammon will try to lead them to their first WNBA Championship in 2022. The Aces come into the 2022 season as the +350 favorite to win the WNBA […]

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The Las Vegas Aces built themselves into a perennial contender under head coach Bill Laimbeer. Now, former San Antonio Spurs assistant Becky Hammon will try to lead them to their first WNBA Championship in 2022.

2022 WNBA Championship odds
The Las Vegas Aces enter the 2022 season as the favorites to win the WNBA Championship under new head coach Becky Hammon. (Image: Ethan Miller/Getty)

The Aces come into the 2022 season as the +350 favorite to win the WNBA Championship, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.

Hammon finds her place in Las Vegas

Las Vegas has finished first overall in the WNBA regular season in each of the past two seasons. But the Seattle Storm swept them in the final in 2020, while the Phoenix Mercury beat the Aces in five games in the semifinals last year.

Now, Hammon will try to take perhaps the most talented team in the WNBA and deliver a title to Las Vegas.

“They know the past, they know the present and they have a clear vision for the future,�Hammon told the Las Vegas Review-Journal, speaking of the Aces organization. “At the end of the day, I knew this was the place for me.�/p>

The Connecticut Sun (+400) rate as the second choice to win the WNBA Championship. They bring back a deep squad led by defending WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones. Like many teams, however, the Sun have struggled with the hard salary cap, which led to Connecticut �and several other franchises �only carrying 11 players in total on their roster.

In the case of the Sun, that means cutting rotation member Kaila Charles, among other moves.

“What the general public forgets at times, it’s not always about the best 11 players, it’s the best 11 players that fit under your salary cap,�Sun head coach and general manager Curt Miller told The Hartford Courant. “The best 11 players aren’t always the best 11 that fit under the salary cap.�/p>

Sky seeks to defend WNBA Championship

The Chicago Sky enter as a +450 pick to defend their WNBA Championship. They added 2019 Finals MVP Emma Meesseman to a team that had already won a title, making them even more dangerous heading into the 2022 season.

“When you have success, everyone comes back wanting more individually and not wanting to sacrifice and not wanting to do the things that you did previously to win a championship,�Chicago forward Candace Parker told reporters. “I think that’s kind of the barrier that we’re going to have to talk about and have to overcome.�/p>

The Seattle Storm (+500) have won the WNBA Championship in two of the past four years, with Breanna Stewart winning Finals MVP on both occasions. Stewart comes into the season healthy, and the team is back in its permanent home of the Seattle Center. The Storm will attempt to make one more title run with Sue Bird, who could finally retire at the end of the season.

Finally, no discussion of the WNBA Championship contenders can wrap up without talking about the Phoenix Mercury (+600). The Mercury will start the season without center Brittney Griner, who is currently in detention in Russia for allegedly carrying vape cartridges with hashish oil into a Moscow-area airport.

The WNBA is showing support for Griner by installing decals in her honor on all 12 home courts throughout the league.

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WNBA – nrxhb.shop | OG News //nrxhb.shop/news/wnba-mvp-odds-wilson-jones-stewart-all-looking-for-2nd-trophy/ Wed, 04 May 2022 18:38:58 +0000 //nrxhb.shop/news/?p=85469 In each of the past six seasons, a different woman has won the WNBA MVP award. Oddsmakers don’t expect that trend to continue and are pegging a trio of former winners as the top picks to earn MVP honors in 2022. FanDuel Sportsbook lists Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson […]

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In each of the past six seasons, a different woman has won the WNBA MVP award. Oddsmakers don’t expect that trend to continue and are pegging a trio of former winners as the top picks to earn MVP honors in 2022.

2022 WNBA MVP odds
Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson enters the 2022 season as the favorite to win the WNBA MVP award. (Image: Chase Stevens/AP)

FanDuel Sportsbook lists Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson as the favorite to win the MNBA MVP in 2022, offering +300 for her to take home her second career trophy.

Jones wants title, not second MVP trophy

Wilson won the WNBA MVP award in 2020 and has made the All-Star Game in three of her first four seasons. Last year, she averaged 18.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, finishing among the top 10 in both categories.

The Aces and new head coach Becky Hammon will likely lean on Wilson as the top offensive option in Las Vegas this season, which could give her the stats needed to win another MVP award. But she’ll have plenty of competition across the league.

Jonquel Jones (+430) won the 2021 WNBA MVP by averaging 19.4 points and 11.2 rebounds per game for the Connecticut Sun. The 6-foot-6 forward led the Sun to a 26-6 regular-season record. Connecticut came up short in the playoffs, losing 3-1 to the eventual champion Chicago Sky in the league semifinals.

That means that while Jones would love to win another MVP award, she’s more concerned about how her team performs this year.

“We’ve been talking about championship or bust. Last year was a bust because we didn’t get a championship,â€?Jones told reporters during training camp. “This year is the year to finish things and we feel that and we know that.â€?/p>

Breanna Stewart won her WNBA MVP back in 2018. She missed 2019 due to injury, but has once again taken her place among the best players in the league. In 2021, she scored 20.3 points per game and averaged 9.6 points for a Seattle Storm team that lost its second-round playoff game to the Phoenix Mercury in overtime. Stewart stands as a +500 pick to win the award again in 2022.

Perennial contender Griner remains in Russian detention

After the top three contenders, the odds lengthen significantly for the second tier of contenders. Arike Ogunbowale (+1000), Tina Charles (+1400), and Candace Parker (+1400) all loom as serious MVP possibilities, as does two-time winner Elena Della Donne (+1600), if she can stay healthy.

But one name is conspicuously missing from all of these lists: Brittney Griner. The US government has recently reclassified Griner as “wrongfully detained�by the Russian government. Russian law enforcement arrested Griner at a Moscow airport in February, alleging she illegally brought vape cartridges containing hashish oil.

“As we begin the 2022 season, we are keeping Brittney at the forefront of what we do through the game of basketball and in the community,�WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said via a statement. “We continue to work on bringing Brittney home and are appreciative of the support the community has shown BG and her family during this extraordinarily challenging time.�/p>

Griner averaged 20.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game for the Phoenix Mercury last season. The WNBA will install floor decals featuring Griner’s initials and her number 42 on the home-court sideline of all 12 teams.

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WNBA – nrxhb.shop | OG News //nrxhb.shop/news/2022-wnba-draft-fever-reloading-with-four-first-round-picks/ Mon, 11 Apr 2022 20:52:00 +0000 //nrxhb.shop/news/?p=84433 The Atlanta Dream will pick first in the 2022 WNBA Draft, but it’s the Indiana Fever who may get the most out of their selections on Monday night. Indiana holds four of the 12 first-round picks, including the second overall selection in the 2022 WNBA Draft. Howard, Smith among top […]

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The Atlanta Dream will pick first in the 2022 WNBA Draft, but it’s the Indiana Fever who may get the most out of their selections on Monday night.

2022 WNBA Draft odds
The Atlanta Dream will likely take Kentucky’s Rhyne Howard as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft. (Image: AP)

Indiana holds four of the 12 first-round picks, including the second overall selection in the 2022 WNBA Draft.

Howard, Smith among top prospects

Atlanta picked up the No. 1 overall pick from the Washington Mystics in exchange for the No. 3 and No. 14 overall picks. The Dream will likely draft Kentucky wing Rhyne Howard with the first overall choice.

Howard scored 20.5 points and pulled in 7.4 rebounds per game in her senior season. At 6-foot-2, Howard possesses both enough size to post up defenders and a deft touch from the outside.

Once Howard comes off the board, Indiana will officially take over the draft. The Fever will likely take Baylor forward NaLyssa Smith with the No. 2 pick. A strong interior defender, Smith scored 22.1 points per game while grabbing 11.5 rebounds a night with the Bears in her senior year.

“She’s a WNBA athlete,�Baylor head coach Nicki Collen, who took over for the legendary Kim Mulkey, told ESPN. “Her game translates immediately. And she proved this season she will get down and guard people.�/p>

Smith says she could easily be the No. 1 overall pick, despite projections that Atlanta will take Howard.

“I’m one or two,�Smith told ESPN. “So I feel like I’m still slept on if you don’t think I’m one off the bat.�/p>

As with any professional sports draft, the picture becomes more muddled after the first couple of picks. One thing is for sure: the Fever will walk away from the draft with plenty of talent.

Indiana loading up with WNBA Draft picks

After the Mystics pick third, Indiana will choose again with the fourth selection. The New York Liberty select fifth, before the Fever pick yet again. Indiana also holds the 10th overall pick, rounding out their first-round bounty.

Among the players who expect to find teams in the first round are Ole Miss center Shakira Austin, Louisville forward Emily Engstler, Michigan forward Naz Hillmon, and NC State center Elissa Cunane.


2022 WNBA Draft Order – First Round
No. 1: Atlanta Dream
No. 2: Indiana Fever
No. 3: Washington Mystics
No. 4: Indiana Fever
No. 5: New York Liberty
No. 6: Indiana Fever
No. 7: Dallas Wings
No. 8: Las Vegas Aces
No. 9: Los Angeles Sparks
No. 10: Indiana Fever
No. 11: Las Vegas Aces
No. 12: Connecticut Sun

Indiana has a total of seven picks over the three rounds of the WNBA Draft. That should help the Fever reshape their roster for the 2022 season. However, Indiana won’t be contending for a title with its new, younger roster. DraftKings lists the Fever as a +8000 pick to win the 2022 WNBA Championship, tied for the longest odds in the league with the Dream.

The Las Vegas Aces currently stand as the +350 favorite to win the title this year. However, even the Aces have worked this year’s WNBA Draft in order to improve their roster. On Sunday, the Aces added the No. 8 and No. 13 overall picks from the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for first- and second-round picks in the 2023 draft. Las Vegas now holds five total picks, including three of the top 13.

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WNBA – nrxhb.shop | OG News //nrxhb.shop/news/becky-hammon-makes-las-vegas-aces-favorites-to-win-wnba-title/ Fri, 07 Jan 2022 01:13:08 +0000 //nrxhb.shop/news/?p=79347 Becky Hammon didn’t get a head coaching job in the NBA, something she and many basketball fans had dreamed of for years. But she has landed a job as the coach of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, a move that could lead to titles in her immediate future. DraftKings Sportsbook […]

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Becky Hammon didn’t get a head coaching job in the NBA, something she and many basketball fans had dreamed of for years. But she has landed a job as the coach of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, a move that could lead to titles in her immediate future.

Becky Hammon Aces odds
Becky Hammon will take her NBA coaching experience to the WNBA to become the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces. (Image: Logan Riely/NBAE/Getty)

DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Las Vegas Aces as the +350 favorite to win the 2022 WNBA Championship, ahead of other contenders like the Chicago Sky (+400) and Connecticut Sun (+400).

Hammon sees Aces job as important step

While there are several women serving as assistant coaches in the NBA, Hammon emerged as the most prominent.

Hammon made six WNBA All-Star teams during her professional career. She also won a bronze medal representing Russia at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. After retiring as a player, Hammon spent eight years as an assistant coach for Gregg Popovich on the San Antonio Spurs, a role which made her the first full-time female assistant coach for any major men’s North American professional sports team.

Hammon earned a number of head coaching interviews with NBA teams thanks to that resume, but she says that experience still stood out as an issue when she talked to potential suitors.

“I sat in [NBA] head coaching interviews and people said two things: ‘You’ve only been in San Antonio and you’ve never been a head coach,’�Hammon told the Associated Press. “NBA jobs are hard to get. In some ways, I feel like the NBA maybe is close. In other ways, I feel like they’re a long ways off from hiring [a woman as a head coach]. I don’t know when it could happen.�/p>

That led Hammon to the WNBA. The former member of the San Antonio Stars �the team that is now the Aces �says that running a team will be key to her future career, whether that’s in the WNBA, NBA, or elsewhere.

“Being the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces is a step forward and a step in the right direction for myself and for women’s basketball,�Hammon said. “I cannot emphasize enough the importance of this opportunity that I have. There’s something to being a head coach.�/p>

Las Vegas knocking on door of WNBA title

Wilson will take over for former coach Bill Laimbeer, who will stay on in the organization and share in the general manager duties.

Even if Hammon didn’t land an NBA job this time around, her resume still commands respect. She will become the highest-paid coach in the WNBA, with sources telling The Athletic that she earned a record-setting contract for the league.

Hammon’s experience and the Aces roster bodes well for Las Vegas. The Aces finished first in the Western Conference in each of the past two seasons. They lost to the Seattle Storm 3-0 in the 2020 WNBA Finals, and lost to the Phoenix Mercury 3-2 in the semifinals last season. Las Vegas should return stars like A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, and Kelsey Plum for the 2022 season.

That means Hammon has plenty of tools to work with on her new team.

“I do feel like implementing my offensive system and defensive system is something that I’m really looking forward to,�Hammon told reporters. “And I think that a championship is well within reach.�/p>

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WNBA – nrxhb.shop | OG News //nrxhb.shop/news/wnba-schedule-2022-regular-season-expands-to-36-games/ Fri, 10 Dec 2021 02:15:41 +0000 //nrxhb.shop/news/?p=78145 The WNBA will play more games than ever before in 2022 as the league implements its longest-ever season and eliminates single-elimination playoff games under a reimagined format. Each WNBA team will play 36 regular-season games in 2022, up from 32 in 2021. WNBA expanding season after shortened campaigns The league […]

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The WNBA will play more games than ever before in 2022 as the league implements its longest-ever season and eliminates single-elimination playoff games under a reimagined format.

WNBA schedule 2022 season
The WNBA will implement an expanded 36-game schedule for its 2022 regular season. (Image: Paul Beaty/AP)

Each WNBA team will play 36 regular-season games in 2022, up from 32 in 2021.

WNBA expanding season after shortened campaigns

The league has generally played a 34-game season since 2003. The COVID-19 pandemic shortened the 2020 bubble season to just 22 games. Last year, the WNBA restored most of its schedule, but still played a slightly condensed slate.

“The 36-game schedule will provide fans greater opportunities to see the best players in the world compete at the highest level,�WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement.

The WNBA will also bring back its Commissioner’s Cup tournament. In the 2021 version, each team counted 10 of its regular-season games �two against each conference opponent �toward the cup standings. The top teams in each conference then faced off in a one-game final featuring a $500,000 prize pool, including $30,000 for each winning player.

The WNBA will host the second Commissioner’s Cup championship game on July 26. The WNBA All-Star Game will take place two weeks earlier, on July 10.

“Year two of the Commissioner’s Cup brings added incentive to the first half of the season for players and teams while offering fans conference rivalry competition through which to support their favorite teams,�Englebert said.

League eliminating single-elimination playoff games

The longer regular season will now lead into a playoff format that the WNBA announced last month. Starting in 2022, lower-seeded teams will no longer compete in single-elimination games in the early rounds. Instead, the top eight teams in the league, regardless of conference, will be seeded by record. In the first round, teams will play a best-of-three series. The league semifinals and finals will be best-of-five matchups.

“The new format was something players, coaches, business operations and even fans were hoping for as a series provides more opportunities for developing and showcasing rivalries,�Minnesota Lynx GM and coach Cheryl Reeve said, via ESPN. “It will also allow for greater development of storytelling of all eight teams in the playoffs, highlighting the depth of the league’s talent, on the league’s biggest stage.�/p>

The new format reduces the advantage of earning a higher seed. Previously, the top two seeds in the WNBA playoffs enjoyed two byes and a direct spot into the semifinals, while the other six teams faced either one or two single-elimination games to reach that stage.

That could lead to a much more dynamic postseason, with dramatic and intriguing series from the first round on. DraftKings Sportsbook currently lists the Las Vegas Aces (+350) as the favorite to win the 2022 WNBA Championship, just ahead of the Chicago Sky (+400), Connecticut Sun (+400), Phoenix Mercury (+500), and Seattle Storm (+550).

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WNBA – nrxhb.shop | OG News //nrxhb.shop/news/sports-nfts-candy-topps-panini-and-nba-top-shot-drops/ Wed, 27 Oct 2021 22:02:44 +0000 //nrxhb.shop/news/?p=76146 Whether you think that NFTs are the future of collectibles or something between a fad and an outright scam, sports NFTs aren’t going away anytime soon. More products are hitting the market every week, with new and established companies distributing offerings from a variety of sports over the last few […]

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Whether you think that NFTs are the future of collectibles or something between a fad and an outright scam, sports NFTs aren’t going away anytime soon. More products are hitting the market every week, with new and established companies distributing offerings from a variety of sports over the last few days.

Sports NFTs Topps Panini NBA Top Shot Candy
NBA Top Shot finished off its 2021 WNBA drops with the release of the In Her Bag legendary set. (Image: NBATopShot.com)

Which �if any �of these products will stand the test of time is anyone’s guess. Here’s a look at a few of the notable sports NFTs to hit the market in the past few days.

NBA Top Shot finishes first WNBA collection

Over the course of the 2021 WNBA season, NBA Top Shot dropped common cards celebrating the top moments from this year, as well as a rare “Run It Back�set that featured highlights from the history of the women’s professional basketball league. On Tuesday, the site finished off its WNBA content for the season with a legendary set filled with moments from the 2021 WNBA playoffs.

The In Her Bag packs sold for $599 each and featured legendary moments numbered to just 120. Not surprisingly, the 2,000+ packs available sold out quickly and produced a profitable market for flippers. While investors could buy the cheapest In Her Bag moments for around $500 on Wednesday, others featuring Diana Taurasi and Candace Parker started at around $1,200.

Candy moves to sell MLB NFTs in packs

While Candy has already been selling various sports NFTs in recent months, it had never offered a randomized product in which users could buy packs. That changed on Tuesday with the release of its All-Star MLB Icon Packs. These packs of three moments each featured MLB All-Stars, with moments in five rarities ranging from common to one-of-one legendary pulls.

The drop featured problems common to new NFT releases. Users encountered a variety of errors, including the site temporarily charging buyers’ credit cards for failed purchases. Candy will give this another shot on Thursday when it releases its Uncut Diamond Packs featuring MLB prospects. Candy is limiting collectors to just one pack purchase in an attempt to get these moments into the hands of more people.

Topps, Panini creating instant content

Two old hands �relatively speaking �in the sports NFT space have tried something new over the past two weeks by creating NFTs in reaction to on-field moments. Panini began dropping instant NFL NFTs last week, allowing users to either purchase individual cards or buy weekly passes to get a base version of every moment from that week.

Meanwhile, Topps released its first batch of World Series NFTs on Wednesday. Packs retailed for $25 each and will contain one of five moments from Game 1. New packs will be dropped after each game. With only 1,000 packs available after each game, there’s the chance for these moments to be in high demand �though there may also be skepticism over the Topps NFT platform after a lackluster MLB Series 2 release.

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WNBA – nrxhb.shop | OG News //nrxhb.shop/news/wnba-finals-odds-chicago-sky-take-home-court-advantage-for-game-3/ Fri, 15 Oct 2021 23:30:20 +0000 //nrxhb.shop/news/?p=75630 The Chicago Sky earned a split in Phoenix against the Mercury, and will now get to play in front of a sellout crowd for Game 3 of the WNBA Finals on Friday night. Chicago nearly swept the first two games in Phoenix, but the Mercury escaped with a 91-86 overtime […]

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The Chicago Sky earned a split in Phoenix against the Mercury, and will now get to play in front of a sellout crowd for Game 3 of the WNBA Finals on Friday night.

WNBA Finals odds Game 3 Sky Mercury
The Chicago Sky will enjoy home-court advantage against the Phoenix Mercury in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals on Friday night. (Image: Mike Mattina/Getty)

Chicago nearly swept the first two games in Phoenix, but the Mercury escaped with a 91-86 overtime win in Game 2 on Wednesday.

Taurasi, Griner lead Mercury to OT win

That game featured at least one controversial moment. Diana Taurasi scored 20 points, with 14 of those coming in the fourth quarter and overtime. But the WNBA also fined Taurasi $2,500 for pushing a referee during a second quarter incident involving Courtney Vandersloot and Chicago’s Kahleah Cooper.

Referees did not assess any penalty to Taurasi at the time, though many felt she deserved a technical foul for making intentional contact with an official, as the WNBA rulebook dictates.

In the aftermath, Phoenix choose to focus on its important win, which tied up the best-of-five series. Taurasi’s performance was paired with a dominant day by Brittney Griner, who scored 29 points and recorded the first dunk in WNBA Finals history.

“We know who our bread and butter is,�Taurasi said after the game. “BG is just playing at a different level right now, and there’s really nothing anyone can do. We knew coming into this game it was going to be a big focus: Got to get BG down low early and often.�/p>

Meanwhile, Chicago found fault with the officiating throughout the game. The Sky attempted just four free throws in Game 2, while the Mercury took 11 attempts from the stripe.

“I think when you attack the rim and you get fouled, it should be called,�Sky coach and general manager James Wade said, via The Chicago Tribune. “I don’t understand what ‘let them play’ means. I’ve never heard that in a game. If they’re going to the free-throw line, then we should too.�/p>

Sky slight favorites in WNBA Finals

Chicago enters Game 3 as a slight 2.5-point favorite over Phoenix, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Chicago also rates as a -135 favorite in the series overall, thanks in large part to having two of the final three home games at Wintrust Arena.

If the Sky want to win the series, they will need to find answers for Griner. But Chicago’s post players believe they can do enough to slow down the all-world center, even if they can’t stop her completely.

“We have gone up against a plethora of different post players that we have had to adjust to, but it has prepared us for this matchup,�Sky center Azura Stevens told The Chicago Tribune. “We are able to throw multiple defenders with different size, length and styles at different players. Going against BG, she is going to have to face a lengthy defender in me, a more physical player with Stef [Dolson] and sometimes Candace [Parker]. It just speaks to the depth of this team.�/p>

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