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SOURCE SPORTS: Atlanta Dream Selects Rhyne Howard First Overall In The 2022 WNBA Draft

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The 2022 WNBA draft returned to live presentation format after going virtual for two years. The Atlanta Dream selected Kentucky standout Rhyne Howard, number one in the draft.

Howard fills an immediate need for the Dream, which went 8-24 last season. Howard is an elite scorer who can shoot from outside and get buckets in the paint.

The Indiana Fever selected NaLyssa Smith with the second pick in the draft. The Baylor standout averaged 22 points and 15 rebounds last season. The Teas native won the Wade Trophy as the nation’s best player last season.

The Washington Mystics selected Shakira Austin from Ole Miss with the third pick. Austin averaged 15 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks per game last season.

She averaged 15.2 points per game and nine rebounds and is a two-time All-SEC forward. Austin also helped Ole Miss get their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007.

The Fever used the fourth pick to select forward Emily Engstler of Louisville. A transfer from Syracuse, the Queens, N.Y. native was a finalist for the Cheryl Miller Award as the nation’s best small forward and a semifinalist for the Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year award. The senior led the ACC in steals (2.7 spg), was third in rebounding (6.7 RPG), and was an All-ACC First Team and All-Defensive Team selection.

The New York Liberty selected Nyara Sabally of Oregon with the fifth pick. The two-time All-Pac-12 selection was a finalist for the 2021-22 Katrina McClain Award, leading Oregon in scoring (15.4 ppg) and rebounding (7.8 rpg).

That rounds out the top five picks of a very deep draft. The WNBA season tips off on May 6, with training camps opening later this week.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Brooklyn Nets Secure 7th Seed Ahead of Play in Tournament

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Brooklyn Nets Secure 7th Seed Ahead of Play in Tournament

After a controversial season filled with injuries and COVID-19 mandates, the Brooklyn Nets clinched the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference. With the 7th seed secured, the Nets will host the Cleveland Cavaliers for the right to play the 2nd seeded Boston Celtics.

The loser of the Nets vs. Cavaliers game will host the winner of the Atlanta Hawks vs. Charlotte Hornets game in a win-or-go-home game Friday night, with the victor in that game entering the playoffs against the No. 8 seed and taking on the Miami Heat starting next weekend.

The Nets finished the season winning four straight games to avoid playing the play-in tournament on the road. With a win on Tuesday, the Nets will begin a quest to be the first 7th seed to reach the NBA Finals. With a healthy Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the top seeds in the Eastern Conference way do not feel secure with their seedings.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Lakers Reportedly Parting Ways With Head Coach Frank Vogel

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After Los Angeles Lakers played their regular-season finale, it was a matter of when, not if, they would let head coach Frank Vogel go. Well, it appears we have an answer.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers are expected to fire Vogel as soon as Monday. The report came after their 146-141 overtime win over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday to close out the regular season.

After the Lakers’ win, Vogel talked to the media as the Wojnarowski report was Tweeted out. “I haven’t been told s— and I’m going to enjoy tonight’s game, celebrate what these young guys did in terms of scratching and clawing and getting back in this game and getting a W, and we’ll deal with tomorrow, tomorrow,” he told reporters during his postgame media availability.

The Lakers failed to make the playoffs, let alone the play in-game. The team is only two years removed from winning the 2020 NBA Championship. Since then, it was a first-round exit last season and a complete failure of a season this time around. Clearly, the organization is painting Vogel as the scapegoat when the championship roster was scrapped for older veterans who couldn’t hang all season long.

Next for the Lakers’ organization is to begin an extensive such for the team’s next head coach. That next head coach will have to find a way to get the best out of a core that includes LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Ben Roethlisberger Pens a Touching Tribute to the Late Dwayne Haskins

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Ben Roethlisberger Pens a Touching Tribute to the Late Dwayne Haskins

As the NFL world continues to mourn the loss of Dwayne Haskins, someone who served as a mentor during his last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers had some amazing words to say about him.

Recently retired Ben Roethlisberger turned to Twitter. Speaking on behalf of himself and his wife, Ashley, the Pittsburgh icon, talked touchingly about his time with Haskins and also spoke to Haskins’ wife, Ashley.

“He came to work everyday with a smile on his face and energy and love in his heart,” Roethlisberger wrote. “I really enjoyed his passion and love for the game and wanting to learn and be the best. His smile and zeal for life will be missed!

“Wish we had more time together on this earth, but I will cherish the time and the laughs we had! I’ll say it again just like I told you to your face, I still wish I could throw the ball like you!! Love ya pal.”

Roethlisberger served as a mentor to Haskins last season. With Roethlisberger’s final season last year, he was getting the young quarterback ready for life as a Steelers’ starting quarterback. No word yet as to what the Steelers plan to do to honor the late quarterback.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Miami Heat Secure the Number 1 Seed in the Eastern Conference

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The NBA playoffs are a week away and it appears that the Miami Heat has clinched the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. After losses by the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76er, the route towards the NBA Finals must come through Miami.

The Heat came out on top of the competitive Eastern Conference despite stars Kyle Lowry, Jimmy Butler, and Bam Adebayo missing significant time throughout the season. With just two seasons removed from the team’s last NBA Finals appearance, not many have the Heat in this position.

The Heat will have to wait a few more days to see who will be their first-round opponent. As it stands right now, it could be either the Brooklyn Nets, Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, or Charlotte Hornets. The Heat’s opponent will be determined by the league’s play in tournament that is set to start on Tuesday.

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SOURCE SPORTS: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Still Concerned About Star Players Missing Games

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Adam Silver on NYC Mandate Keeping Kyrie Irving Out of Home Games

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is still not a fan of star players sitting out games, especially with the playoffs. During a Wednesday press conference, Silver said he and the league plan to look into “a trend of star players not participating in a full complement of games.”

Silver brought up this issue when asked about the Ben Simmons and the 76ers’ ongoing arbitration. He said he would instead focus on the trend above of various star players missing big chunks of games.

“I’m not standing here saying I have a great solution,” Silver said via ESPN. “Part of the issue is injuries. One of the things we have focused on at the league office and we’re spending—we had begun to spend a lot of time on pre-pandemic—are there things we can do in terms of sharing information, resources around the league to improve best practices, rehabilitation?”

Silver also mentions that the play-in tournament is here to stay. Silver noted that the play in tournaments was also meant for players to want to have more incentive not to miss many games throughout the season.

“The other way we can get at it, in terms of player participation, is creating other incentives,” Silver said. “The Play-In Tournament, I thought, was a beginning of creating renewed incentives for teams to remain competitive and be fighting for playoff position. It may be through in-season tournaments and changes in format where we can get at it.”

While the NBA has seen its share of stars miss significant time this season, Silver and the league may need to look at better ways to limit back-to-back games and space out long road trips for teams.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Kevin Durant Believes the Thunder and Warriors Should Retire His Jersey Number

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Kevin Durant Enters Seven-Day Quarantine After COVID Exposure

Only thirteen NBA players have had their number retired from multiple teams. Kevin Durant believes he should be number fourteen.

In an interview with The Ringer, the 12-time All-Star said he thinks his jersey should be retired in Oklahoma City and San Francisco. 

“OKC has to retire my jersey,” Durant said. “It wouldn’t even be good for the game of basketball if they didn’t. The same with Golden State. I’m still doing what I’m doing here in Brooklyn, but if I continue on what I’m doing four or five years, then I’ll feel the same way about this program. I better have a home. Because I feel like I am basketball. I breathe it. This is my DNA. I put in the time and respect and love for each one of these programs on and off the floor to get that type of recognition. If I don’t do it, then it’s personal.”

Durant is an all-time great talent on the court. He is entitled to have his opinion and could be on to something here. The Golden State Warriors have already gone on record stating they will eventually retire his number. The Oklahoma City Thunder haven’t gone on records about retiring Durant’s number but should consider it. Durant won his first league MVP while with the Thunder. He helped lead the team to its last NBA Finals appearance in 2012. Will the Thunder eventually retire Durant’s number? Who knows, but the case for doing it is a solid one.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks Win Their 2nd Women’s Basketball National Championship

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South Carolina Gamecocks, led by head coach Dawn Staley and their solid defensive pressure, won their second national championship, stifling UConn for a 64-49 victory Sunday night that ended the Huskies’ undefeated streak in title games.

South Carolina guard Destanni Henderson and forward Aliyah Boston were the stars of Sunday’s game. Henderson ended the game with 26 points and Boston with 11. 

“I’ve been thinking about it since last season, everyone had a picture of me crying. But today we’re national champions and I’m in tears,” Boston said, referring to last year’s Final Four loss to Stanford.

It was South Carolina’s night from the start. The Gamecocks (35-2) jumped out to an 11-2 lead, grabbing nearly every rebound on both ends of the court. They led to 22-8 after one quarter, much to the delight of their faithful fans, who made the trip to Minneapolis to be part of the sellout crowd.

This was UConn’s first trip to the championship game since 2016 when the Huskies won the last of four straight titles. Since then, the team has suffered heartbreaking defeats in the national semifinals, losing twice in overtime before holding off Stanford on Friday night. 

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SOURCE SPORTS: Kansas Jayhawks Pull Off Epic Comeback Against North Carolina To Win National Championship

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Kansas Jayhawks Pull Off Epic Comeback Against North Carolina To Win National Championship

The Kansas Jayhawks pulled off the largest come from behind deficit in a national championship game to beat the North Carolina Tarheels 72-69 to win the school’s fourth national championship.

The Jayhawks played like the best team in the tournament until the first half against the Tar Heels. The Jayhawks were down by as many as 16 points and eventually down 40-25 at halftime.

The Jayhawks came out firing after the half, eventually erasing the Tar Heels’ lead with less than 11 minutes to play. A back-and-forth battle ensued, with the game tied 65-65 with 3 minutes remaining. After that, the Jayhawks closed the game on a 7-4 run to a national championship.

David McCormack finished with 15 points and ten rebounds, dueling in the paint all night with ailing Carolina big man Armando Bacot. Martin poured in 11 of his 14 points after the break, while Jalen Wilson had 15 points.

This was the 10th appearance in the title game for Kansas and the third under head coach Bill Self. This is his second title, the other coming in 2008.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Throws Some Criticism Towards LeBron James

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Things aren’t good in Los Angeles concerning the Lakers, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar isn’t happy about it.

Speaking before the Lakers hosted Denver on Sunday afternoon at the unveiling of a social justice trophy bearing his name, Abdul-Jabbar again criticized LeBron James for actions he said “were beneath” James. He said the Lakers star should be “embarrassed” by some of his actions.

“Some of the things he’s done and said are really beneath him, as far as I can see,” Abdul-Jabbar said via Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “Some of the great things that he’s done, he’s standing on both sides of the fence almost, you know? It makes it hard for me to accept that when he’s committed himself to a different take on everything. It’s hard to figure out where he’s standing. You’ve got to check him out every time.”

These comments come just a few months after Abdul-Jabbar criticized James’ on-court celebrations, especially his vaccine hesitancy, calling it “a blow” to LeBron’s “worthy legacy.”

James is the second NBA all-time leader in scoring, only behind Abdul-Jabbar. It seems like Abdul-Jabbar is giving his take of James’ antics on and off the court. James is usually a buttoned-up individual. Hopefully, the two parts can talk things out rather than air each other out publicly.

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