The Los Angeles Sparks have acquired guard Chelsea Gray (5'11''-G-92, college: Duke), the 15th and 23rd picks in the 2016 WNBA Draft and the first round pick in the 2017 draft from the Connecticut Sun in exchange for the draft rights to guard Jonquell Jones (6'6''-F-94) and the 17th pick in the 2016 WNBA Draft, executive vice president and general manager Penny Toler announced today. "Gray is an experienced point guard and a natural born leader with exceptional passing skills, who can also knock down the three-point shot," said Toler. In 34 games with Connecticut, Gray averaged 6.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists and shot 42.4% from the field and 81.6 percent from the free-throw line last season. Among all rookies, she ranked second in assists per game (2.7 apg), second in three-point shooting percentage (.348) and fifth in scoring average (6.9 ppg). She holds career highs of 16 points (twice), seven assists and three steals (twice). "We have wanted Chelsea as part of our team for months," said head coach Brian Agler . "She is a point guard with size and is a great competitor who makes everyone around her better. She shoots well from the three-point line and we are excited to have Chelsea join the Sparks." Drafted with the 11th overall pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft by Connecticut, Gray sat out the 2014 WNBA season recuperating from a right knee injury suffered during her senior year at Duke. Jones, a 6-6 forward out of George Washington, was selected by Los Angeles sixth overall in the 2016 WNBA Draft. She is the only player in Atlantic 10 history to average a double-double in three consecutive seasons. Jones finished her career ranked third on the all-time career rebounds list (961), first in single-season rebounds (375), first in single-game rebounds (26) fourth in scoring (15.4 ppg) and fifth in blocked shots (177). In 76 career games, she is just the third Colonial with 1,000 career points, 800 rebounds and 100 blocks. Courtesy of: oursportscentral.com
Zimmerman inks at Minnesota Lynx at the beginning of her pro career - 4 days ago
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Minnesota Lynx added to their roster swingman Camille Zimmerman (185). Zimmerman just graduated from Columbia (NCAA). She has played there for the last four years. She recorded very impressive stats: 21.0ppg, 6.3rpg, 4.0apg and 1.3spg this season. The last season Zimmerman played also at Columbia University where in 26 games she averaged remarkable 22.6ppg, 9.6rpg, 2.5apg and 1.5spg. As mentioned above she is just out of the college and it will be her first season as a pro. Zimmerman was... [read more]
Minnesota Lynx added to their roster swingman Camille Zimmerman (185). Zimmerman just graduated from Columbia (NCAA). She has played there for the last four years. She recorded very impressive stats: 21.0ppg, 6.3rpg, 4.0apg and 1.3spg this season. The last season Zimmerman played also at Columbia University where in 26 games she averaged remarkable 22.6ppg, 9.6rpg, 2.5apg and 1.5spg. As mentioned above she is just out of the college and it will be her first season as a pro. Zimmerman was voted All-Ivy League 1st Team in 2017 and 2018 at her college time.
The Newest Members of the WNBA Shine on Draft Night - 9 days ago
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The WNBA painted Nike's NYC headquarters orange as the women's basketball world descended on the Big Apple for the 2018 WNBA draft presented by State Farm. Ten of the nation's top women's college basketball prospects graced the orange carpet decked in their best threads. Players stepped up to the dj booth and pretended to spin a few tracks as photographers snapped away to catch a glimpse of the women who would go from prospects to professionals in a matter of minutes. Sounds of Beyonce, R... [read more]
The WNBA painted Nike's NYC headquarters orange as the women's basketball world descended on the Big Apple for the 2018 WNBA draft presented by State Farm. Ten of the nation's top women's college basketball prospects graced the orange carpet decked in their best threads. Players stepped up to the dj booth and pretended to spin a few tracks as photographers snapped away to catch a glimpse of the women who would go from prospects to professionals in a matter of minutes. Sounds of Beyonce, Rihanna and various other artists reverberated throughout the venue as players shared some of their best dance moves while striking poses for the camera. The social atmosphere allowed for an intimate, yet exciting experience for the select group of people afforded exclusive access to the league's premier event. 'We're here at Nike headquarters. It shows growth, and I love that about the W,' said three-time SEC player of the year A'Ja Wilson (6'5''-F-96).. 'I love that about the WNBA and we just have--the sky's the limit and we're just going to continue to grow.' The night belonged to Wilson, South Carolina's All-America forward, who the Las Vegas Aces selected with the first pick. The six-foot-five forward swept player of the year awards after averaging 22.6 points and 11.8 boards, a double double, her highest totals in her four years as a Gamecock. 'I just want to have a huge footprint in the league as soon as possible,' said the 2018 Wooden award winner. 'The league is full of phenomenal women that do great things and I want to be a part of it, just to use my platform to help young girls out to know 'hey you can hoop, you can still be a girly girl, you can still do whatever you want to do and love the game of basketball.'' Standout Kelsey Mitchell (5'8''-G) went to the Indiana Fever with the second pick. The usually laid back and relaxed Ohio State guard was anxious until the President read off her name, though she did not have to wait long. She was later joined by Mississippi State guard Victoria Vivians whom the team took with the eighth pick. Among the 36 women selected Thursday night were UConn's Kia Nurse (6'0''-G-96), selected 10th overall by the New York Liberty, and Tennessee's Diamond Deshields (6'1''-G-95, college: Tennessee, agency: LBM Management), taken third overall by the Chicago Sky. Both women have athleticism in there blood-Nurse's father played football in the Canadian football league and her mother played basketball at McMaster University. To top it off, former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb is her uncle. DeShields is the third member of her family to be selected in the first round of a draft. Her father, Delino DeShields, played 13 years in the MLB, and her brother is Texas Rangers outfielder Delino DeShields Jr. '[My father] said 'welcome to the club,' and I guess he meant the club of first-rounders in our family,' she said beaming. 'I've got the bragging rights obviously. I was the highest pick out of the three of us so far so I'm happy about that.' DeShields' brother went 8th overall in 2010 MLB amateur draft and her father went 12th overall in the 1987 MLB amateur draft. As WNBA President Lisa Borders read off the final selections to close out the first round, Monique Billings (6'4''-F-96), the last of the invited draftees sat on the converted 4,000 foot basketball court with her family waiting to hear her name called. As numbers 13 and 14 were announced, Billings' nerves began to rise, but she was reassured that she would end up where she was destined to be. The President took the podium one last time to announce the 15th pick which was held by the Atlanta Dream. The wait was over for Billings. 'I know that wherever I end up that I'll be utilized,' said the UCLA forward. 'I know that there's a reason that I ended up in Atlanta, so I'm excited and I'm ready to bring a championship home to the A.' Billings, like many of her fellow draftees expressed gratitude and thankfulness for their position and elevated platform, offering words of encouragement for those who wish to follow in their footsteps. 'Dream. I was one of those young girls,' said the All-PAC 12 team member. 'I used to go to Sparks games and see my idols, so now I'm in that position. I hope that young girls are able to dream to see that it's possible. If you work hard, put your mind to something, it's possible and just to keep growing and keep evolving the best that you can.' Draft night, though primarily focused on the athletic achievements of the nation's top female talent, was rife with glimmers of hope for the future of women's basketball and women's sports as a whole. 'I think our young people, especially our young girls, are our future and I know that I had great women help raise me and be role models, so now it's my turn and I'm excited,' said Wilson echoing the draftees. The 2018 season kicks off on May 18th with the Dallas Wings taking on the Phoenix Mercury in Arizona. Courtesy of: si.com
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