WNBA

Enes Freedom Says He’d Put Up Ridiculous Numbers In The WNBA During Anti-Trans Rant

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NBA journeyman Enes Freedom has become something of a Fox News regular in recent weeks. Born Enes Kanter, Freedom changed his surname to protest the government of his birth nation of Turkey. However, Freedom doesn’t believe that certain other people should be afforded that same right. He was on Fox News this week to fearmonger about trans athletes.

“I’m 7-foot, 270 pounds,” he said. “And, if I decided to identify myself as a woman and decided to play in the WNBA. Would that be fair to all the women who have been chasing their dreams since they were a little kid? “If I am allowed in, I will average 60 points and 30 rebounds. I will break records. Men do not belong in women’s spaces,” he said. “Restrooms, locker rooms or sports. Everybody knows we are bigger, stronger, taller, more muscular,” he added. “It’s just not fair. It’s just not fair, period.” Kanter later posted trolling images with a similar message on social media.

Read More: Nine-time WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner vocally advocates for the inclusion of trans athletes

What Enes Freedom (And Right Wing Media) Gets Wrong About Trans Athletes

Firstly, it’s very telling that Freedom, a career 11.2/7.8 player, believes that his stats would nearly sextuple in ppg and more than triple in rpg if he joined the WNBA. It’s a very common idea that the WNBA’s quality is so bad that even mediocre players, like Freedom, would be unto gods in the league. Of course, it’s wrong. The WNBA is the best women’s league in the world. Furthermore, comparing the WNBA and NBA is folly because who would do that in a serious context? Additionally, it’s interesting that Freedom chooses to bash a women’s league by talking about how utterly dominant he would be as a way of explaining why it needs to be “defended”. It’s a common trope found in right-wing media, exaggerating feminity fragile to make trans women seem like monsters.

Additionally, the ignorance on display in Freedom’s comments is staggering, if unsurprisingly for a right-wing commentator. Due to the exact scenario that Freedom is described, you cannot simply declare yourself a woman and demand to play in the WNBA. The WNBA implemented a gender policy in 2016, requiring hormone testing and legally-binding medical testimony from certified professionals. This is very similar to pretty much every other level of professional sport, which has similar regulations. Lia Thomas, the right’s go-to trans villain in the sports world, sat out for a year to ensure compliance with the NCAA’s own policy. Once again, the right is trying to fearmonger about trans athletes without the slightest clue what they are talking about. For the record, there are currently zero trans women playing in the WNBA.

Read More: Enes Freedom sets aside LeBron beef to wish Bronny well and dogwhistle vaccine conspiracies

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Liz Cambage Blasted By Former Teammates Over WNBA Retirement Claims

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Australian women’s basketball star Liz Cambage is a controversial figure. While her talent cannot be doubted, she has often found herself at the center of controversy and drama. That legacy came to a peak last year when Cambage abruptly retired from the WNBA. “I’m hopeful that the WNBA will do their part in creating safer environments and a stronger support system for their players. While I’ll miss rocking the purple and gold, I’ll be taking this time to focus on my healing and personal growth before providing clarification on past rumors,” Cambage said in a 2022 Instagram post announcing her retirement from the league.

However, Cambage has recently re-emerged with a bombshell interview with Bleacher Report about why she left the league. Currently playing professionally in Israel, Cambage sat down with Taylor Rooks to seemingly spill the tea about her retirement. Speaking on her dramatic exit from the LA Sparks hours before they were meant to play a game, Cambage recalled “a few disrespectful teammates yelling at me because they didn’t know how to throw a lob pass to me.” Essentially, Cambage’s entire interview boiled down to how she left the team because they didn’t know how to play with her and made her the scapegoat. However, the clip left some people calling cap on the situation.

Read More: Paul George calls Devin Booker’s clapback to podcast beef a “weak-ass response”

Cambage Called Out By Former Teammates

One of the biggest voices calling out Cambage’s interview was Jordin Canada, who was also part of that 2022 Sparks team. “I usually keep to myself and mind my business but Bleacher Report if y’all want the REAL TRUTH, call me. #IYKYK 🤥,” Canada wrote as a quote tweet of the Bleacher Report interview. Rumors about Cambage’s exit have swirled since it happened last July. Multiple team sources have claimed that Cambage’s version of events was untrue or at the very least, reframed to make her look better.

However, former teammates are not the only ones calling out Cambage. Many fans pointed out Cambage’s long history of drama in the WNBA in response to the interview. In 2019, Cambage forced her way out of Dallas through a trade. She later wrote in the Player’s Tribune that she had “lost all her support there.” Additionally, many pointed to Cambage’s long-standing “diva” status. Despite being the second-overall pick in 2007, Cambage didn’t come to the WNBA until 2011 and has only played in six WNBA seasons. Furthermore, many pointed to the allegations of racism leveled at Cambage. Cambage reportedly used racial slurs during a scrimmage with Nigerian players, something she has repeatedly denied. Despite this, we will only have Cambage’s side of the story until someone sits down with Canada and others about their claims.

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WNBA’s Riquna Williams Arrested On Domestic Battery Charges

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Las Vegas Aces guard Riquna Williams has reportedly been arrested on nine counts of domestic battery in Nevada. The charges include five felony charges and four misdemeanors. The felonies include multiple counts of domestic battery by strangulation, coercion with the threat or use of physical force, and assault with use of a weapon.

Williams was released without bail on July 26, the day after her arrest. However, she was hit with a no-contact order regarding her alleged victim. Furthermore, she must also comply with an alcohol monitoring program. Williams will return to court for another hearing on August 2. Williams’ public defender acknowledged the charges and said there would be no issues in complying with the no-contact order. The guard has been in the WNBA since 2021 and played for the Aces since 2021. However, Williams has not yet appeared in the 2023 season due to injury.

Read More: Tyreek Hill says he is looking to “move on” from the marina assault incident

Williams Arrested

Riquna Williams
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 04: Riquna Williams #2 of the Las Vegas Aces shoots against the Seattle Storm during the third quarter in Game Three of the 2022 WNBA Playoffs semifinals at Climate Pledge Arena on September 04, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

“The Las Vegas Aces were made aware of domestic violence charges against a member of our team, Riquna Williams,” a statement from the team read. “As an organization, we condemn domestic violence of any kind. At this time, Riquna Williams will be precluded from participating in team activities. Our thoughts are with the parties involved in this situation. We are currently gathering more information, and as such we will not have any further comments at this time.” However, at the time of writing, Williams remains on the Aces’ roster. A similar statement was made by a representative of the WNBAPA. “We are aware of the alleged incident and are in the process of gathering more information,” the WNBA added in a statement of their own.

Williams’ alleged victim has not been named. Prosecutor Glen O’Brien referred to “violence and damage to the victim.” Meanwhile, Justice of the Peace Rebecca Saxe stated that the alleged acts occurred over an “extended period of time.” However, it’s also not Williams’ first run-in with the league’s domestic violence policy. In 2019, Williams was suspended for 10 games by the league after she was arrested on domestic violence charges against her then-partner in Florida. This is a developing story.

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Kehlani’s WNBA All-Star Game Performance Had Fans And Players Alike Swooning

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Kehlani Sept 22
Getty Image

With the WNBA’s profile higher than it’s ever been, the league’s All-Star Game halftime performance this past Saturday needed to be someone equally attention-grabbing who could fit the league’s mission of highlighting women being excellent in their field. Enter Kehlani, who performed their song “Distraction” to the rapt attention of both fans in attendance at the game and those watching at home on ABC/ESPN. They couldn’t help swooning as Kehlani — who was universally acknowledged as the perfect choice to fill the role — sang the ballad. Even the players were grabbing their cameras to capture some footage.

https://twitter.com/eden_laase/status/1680389949038919682a

The weekend saw some landmark moments in basketball history — women’s or otherwise — as the New York Liberty’s point guard Sabrina Ionescu won the 3-Point Challenge Friday night with the most points anyone has ever scored since the introduction of the money ball, 37. That means she only missed two of a possible 27 shots.

Earlier this year, Kehlani teased that they were back working on music after the tremendously successful Blue Water Road Tour, referencing breakout album SweetSexySavage on Instagram. Kehlani is billed as the headliner of Northern California’s Sol Blume festival, which was recently rescheduled due to flooding in Sacramento.

Kehlani is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

SOURCE SPORTS: Jordan Brand Jumpman Logo to Appear on WNBA Jerseys for First Time at 2023 All-Star Game

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Jordan Brand Jumpman Logo to Appear on WNBA Jerseys for First Time

The Jordan Jumpman logo will appear on the WNBA jersey for the first time during the 2023 WNBA All-Star Game.

The Jumpman will make its WNBA premiere on Saturday during the game in Las Vegas, where the jerseys will feature an outer space motif. The uniforms also feature Nike’s top performance material, Dri-FIT ADV, in a data-mapped pattern to meet the unique needs of the female body in motion. They have iridescent colors inspired by space travel, diagonal lines drawn from the tail end of a shooting star, and tapering lines in the game star and belt buckle that represent Earth’s horizon.

The jerseys will be available on WNBAStore.com and at WNBA Live presented by U.S. Bank at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Michelob ULTRA Arena, and NBA Store 5th Avenue.

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The post SOURCE SPORTS: Jordan Brand Jumpman Logo to Appear on WNBA Jerseys for First Time at 2023 All-Star Game first appeared on The Source.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Jordan Brand Jumpman Logo to Appear on WNBA Jerseys for First Time at 2023 All-Star Game appeared first on The Source.

WNBA Reveals All-Star Rosters

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The WNBA has revealed the results of its all-star roster draft. The game is set to take place on July 15 in Las Vegas. League superstars A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart served as team captains. The teams will be coached by Becky Hammon and Stephanie White. While there was little in the way of surprises come the all-star voting, there was one major headline. 2023 first-overall pick Aliyah Boston was named as an all-star starter. That made Boston the eighth rookie, and first since 2014, to start in the all-star game. At the time of writing, Boston is averaging 14.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.

When it came to the draft, the captains exercised a fair amount of team loyalty. While Stewart was the only player from the New York Liberty named as a starter, she did draft her teammates Sabrina Ionescu and Courtney Vandersloot as reserves. Meanwhile, Wilson drafted her Vegas teammates Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young to start alongside her. Furthermore, Wilson drafted teammate Kelsey Plum as a reserve. Aliyah Boston is the only debut starter. However, Kelsey Mitchell, Ezi Magbegor, Allisha Gray, and Cheyenne Parker are all also first-time all-stars.

Read More: Fans call for WNBA expansion

Full WNBA All-Star Rosters

Team Stewart (Head Coach: Stephanie White)

Starters:

Jewell Lloyd (Seattle Storm)

Satou Sabally (Dallas Wings)

Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty)

Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks)

Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury)

Reserves:

Kahleah Copper (Chicago Sky)

Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty)

Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever)

Courtney Vandersloot (New York Fever)

Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx)

Ezi Magbegor (Seattle Storm)

Furthermore, Brittney Griner is the most decorated player at the game, with nine all-star appearances.

Team Wilson (Head Coach: Becky Hammon)

Starters:

Chelsea Gray (Las Vegas Aces)

Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces)

Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas Wings)

A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces)

Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever)

Reserves:

Allisha Gray (Atlanta Dream)

Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces)

DeWanna Bonner (Connecticut Sun)

Elena Delle Donne (Washington Mystics)

Cheyenne Parker (Atlanta Dream)

Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun)

Who are you rooting for? Let us know in the comments.

Read More: A’ja Wilson signs a two-year extension with the Las Vegas Aces

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Air Jordan 38 WMNS “Center Star” Officially Revealed

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Fans of Michael Jordan and his series of trademark sneakers have certainly been anticipating the Air Jordan 38 for some time. Overall, even now, the Jordan Brand core line continues to enjoy tremendous popularity. Over the years, there have been a ton of hits despite the fact that there have undoubtedly been some misses. The Jordan 37 is one of the best Air Jordan models in recent memory. Sneakerheads have automatically assumed that the Jordan 38 is a Jordan 8 homage as the Jordan 37 was a tribute to the Air Jordan 7.

Jordan Brand’s recent venture into creating shoes for the WNBA is a game-changer for the sneaker community. By extending their iconic brand to women’s basketball, they are providing more options and representation for female athletes and fans. This move not only promotes inclusivity but also offers a wider range of styles and designs for sneaker enthusiasts to enjoy. It’s a win-win situation that brings excitement and diversity to the sneaker community.

Read More: Air Jordan 3 Craft “Ivory” Exclusive Mock-Up Photos

“Center Star” Air Jordan 38 WMNS

Air Jordan 38
Image via Nike

The all-orange colorway is to pay homage to the orange WNBA logo. Also, this sneaker is made with 20% recycled materials. This sneaker features premium materials and is built for high performance on the basketball court. The sneakers feature a Cushlon 3.0 wedge and a Zoom Strobel, which provide maximum comfort and performance for women during athletics. The right sneakers’ tongue features the Jumpman logo while the left features the WNBA logo, both in black and orange. Overall, this sneaker will be a hit for the female ballers out there and is definitely built with the right materials.

More Photos

Sneaker Bar Detroit reports that the Air Jordan 38 WMNS “Center Star” is releasing on September 25th, 2023. Also, the retail price of the sneakers will be $200 when they release. Further, make sure to let us know what you think about these kicks in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the most recent updates and news from the sneaker community. We’ll make sure to offer you the newest products from the most notable brands.

Center Star
Image via Nike
Air Jordan 38
Image via Nike

Read More: New Balance 550 “White/Turtledove” Official Photos

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Las Vegas Aces Sign A’ja Wilson To Two-Year Extension

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Two-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson will remain with the defending champion Las Vegas Aces through at least 2025. Wilson signed a two-year extension on June 30, keeping her with the team that drafted her first overall in 2018. Wilson has consistently been one of the league’s best players since she joined the league. She won league MVP in 2020 and 2022, while also leading the Aces to their inaugural title last season.

“When the Aces made me their first-ever draft pick, they entrusted me with a lot,” added Wilson. “I’m happy to still be in Las Vegas, winning games, playing at a high level, but also being a part of a community that has embraced me and my teammates over the past six years, and made this city a second home for me.” Meanwhile, the Aces were happy to keep her around. “A’ja Wilson is a generational talent and a huge foundational piece to our team and organization,” Aces general manager Natalie Williams said in a statement. “We are thrilled to have her re-sign and be here in Las Vegas for the next two years.”

Read More: Brittney Griner harassed by right-wing YouTuber at airport

Wilson Signs Extension After Superteam Blowout

Wilson’s extension comes the day after the Aces faced off against the league’s other superteam, the New York Liberty. Both teams entered the game leading their respective conferences. However, it would be the Aces that proved themselves to be the better outfit with a blowout. The two sides kept it close in the first half before the Aces outscored the Liberty 27-14 in the third quarter. The final score was 98-89, with the Aces improving to a 14-1 record. That mark ties the record for the best start to a season through 15 games.

All the Aces starters hit double-digit points, with Wilson recording a 16/3/3 stat line. Fellow Ace Kelsey Plum led all scorers with 18 points. Meanwhile, the Liberty saw many of their biggest stars struggle. Sabrina Ionescu went 7/6/7, marking the third time in the last four games that she failed to reach 10 points. Breanna Stewart led the Liberty with a 16/5/3 line. Next up for the Liberty are the Seattle Storm on July 2. Meanwhile, the Aces host the Eastern Conference-leading Connecticut Sun on July 1.

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Brittney Griner Harassed By YouTuber At Dallas Airport

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A condition of Britney’s Griner return to the WNBA after nearly a year spent in Russian detention concerned her in-season travel. The WNBA has long-held an anti-charter position to ensure fairness for all teams and their owners. However, fears for Griner’s safety, the WNBA allowed Griner to travel via charter flight for road games.

Despite this, the incident has once again been thrown into the spotlight after an incident at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. After two games against the Dallas Wings, members of the Phoenix Mercury were moving through DFW ahead of a Sunday game in Indiana. There, they were confronted by right-wing YouTuber Alex Stein, who has become well-known for his videos harassing politicians. In an excerpt of the video that Stein posted to his Twitter page, he is heard yelling “Do you still want to boycott America?” at Griner. After he is detained by team security and called “weird” by one of Griner’s teammates, Stein replies, “Why I am weird? She hates America.” It is unknown why Griner was not traveling via charter to Indiana.

WNBA Criticized For Griner Incident

Brittney Griner during a WNBA game
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – MAY 21: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury reacts after hitting a three-point shot against the Chicago Sky during the second half of the WNBA game at Footprint Center on May 21, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The WNBA released a statement soon after the incident was first reported. “As we gather additional information about today’s incident at the Dallas airport, it has come to our attention that this was orchestrated by a social media figure and provocateur. His actions were inappropriate and unfortunate. The safety of Brittney Griner and all WNBA players is our top priority. Prior to the season, the WNBA worked together with the Phoenix Mercury and BG’s team to ensure her safety during her travel, which included charter flights for WNBA games and assigned security personnel with her at all times. We remain steadfastly committed to the highest standards of security for players.”

In her owner statement, Griner’s teammate Brianna Turner argued that the incident should have never happened in the first place. “”Player safety while traveling should be at the forefront. People following with cameras saying wild remarks is never acceptable. Excessive harassment. Our team nervously huddled in a corner unsure how to move about. We demand better.” It’s unclear what, if any, changes the league will make as a result of this incident. This is a developing story and we’ll have any updates here at HotNewHipHop.

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Former LSU WBB Star Apologizes For WNBA Comments

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WNBA preseason is rough. With a hard cap of 144 roster spots available, it’s incredibly hard for rookies to secure a spot in the league. This year, just 15 of the 36 players selected in April’s draft made an opening-day roster Furthermore, several high draft picks from recent years were also released.

Among those cut was Alexis Morris, who was taken at #22 by the Connecticut Sun. Morris played for four college teams between 2017 and 2022. However, she is best remembered for the two seasons she played at LSU. Furthermore, she ended her college career with a National Championship. But Morris’ reaction to her cutting earned her backlash.

Morris Apologizes

In now-deleted tweets, Morris put WNBA veterans on blast after being cut by the Sun. “The vets gotta know when to cut the net, and pass the torch bro,” she wrote. “If you knocking at 35, hang it up and I mean WIRED HANGER ‘Hang it up,” Morris wrote. However, her comments earned her swift and fierce backlash from players across the league. “Don’t speak on someone else to make yourself feel better,” longtime veteran Kayla McBride wrote. “We all got stories. Just go write yours. As a whole the WNBA (is) fighting for respect and each of our stories look different. And should be respected,” she wrote. Furthermore, she added, “Respect the grind. Respect those around you. It’ll get you a long, long way.”

Morris has now apologized for her comments. “To the veterans of the WNBA, please accept my sincerest apologies. I never thought joining the W family would be easy, but now I understand just how hard it is to do that. My energy would have been better served directed toward league executives who have a say in expansion and other logistics. I look forward to celebrating your individual and collective careers and giving you all the flowers you deserve.” She continued, “I hope you can empathize and find it in your hearts to forgive me. I will continue to work hard in hopes of joining you all one day soon.” Additionally, Morris apologized to the fans. Furthermore, follow all the latest sports news here at HotNewHipHop.

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