BookMaker Sports News - Latest US and International Sporting News

Mystics sign All-Star Katie Smith

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:05:48 GMT

Terms of the deal for the seven-time All-Star were not disclosed.

Smith is an 11-year WNBA veteran who has also played for Minnesota and Detroit.

Storm re-sign Jackson to multi-year deal

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:09:45 GMT

Jackson, a two-time league MVP, holds career averages of 19.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game during her nine-year career, spent entirely in Seattle.

"It is a very special connection that I share with the city of Seattle and I am honored to be playing my 10th WNBA season in front of the very fans that welcomed me to the Storm in 2001," said Jackson. "I feel healthy and re- energized and I'm looking forward to another successful season with Coach [Brian] Agler and the rest of my teammates." In 26 games last year, the 28-year-old Australia-native posted 19.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per contest.

Silver Stars acquire Snow from Atlanta

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:32:03 GMT

Also, Atlanta has the rights to swap second round picks with San Antonio in the 2011 draft to Atlanta.

Originally selected by the Houston Comets in the first round (10th overall) of the 2002 draft, Snow has averaged 9.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.0 blocks per game over 266 games with Houston and Atlanta.

Silver Stars re-sign G Crossley

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:35:49 GMT

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"We are excited that Shanna continues her career here in San Antonio," said team general manager Dan Hughes. "She is one of the best shooters this league has seen, and we are looking forward to having her healthy and back on the court with the Silver Stars in 2010." Crossly played in 19 games last season after missing 11 contests due to a torn left meniscus and averaged 5.7 points.

WNBA's Shock signs Marion Jones

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:41:03 GMT

Jones, a guard, was put through a workout Saturday in Tulsa, then accepted an offer to join the team. The 34-year-old played basketball in college, helping North Carolina win the 1994 NCAA Championship.

"Watching her go through drills, I saw a player who's perfect for our system," Shock head coach Nolan Richardson said. "The one thing I do know is she can run, and any player on my team who wants to be successful needs to be able to run." Jones is most noted for her rise and fall in track and field. She won five medals -- three gold -- at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and became known as one of the greatest female athletes in the world.

Brondello named San Antonio coach as Hughes steps down for GM job

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:50:58 GMT

Brondello served as Hughes' long-time assistant coach . A one-time WNBA All- Star, she spent five seasons in the league. Her husband, Olaf Lange, has been named associate head coach after also serving as an assistant under Hughes.

"I am very excited to be given the opportunity to be the next head coach of the Silver Stars," said Brondello. "I would like to thank the organization and especially Dan Hughes in having faith in my ability to lead our team forward alongside my husband, Olaf Lange.

Lynx ship Hodges to Silver Stars

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:54:56 GMT

Hodges played in 33 games last season for the Lynx, starting 27 of those filling in for the injured Seimone Augustus.

The five-year veteran posted averages of 9.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists in a career high 27.3 minutes per game during her first season in Minnesota.

Maiga-Ba signs with Lynx

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:50:30 GMT

A native of Mali, Maiga-Ba has spent parts of the last eight seasons with Sacramento and Houston.

The 10th overall pick in the 2002 draft by Sacramento, she has averaged 5.6 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists over 241 games.

Lynx release F Tasha Humphrey

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:00:48 GMT

The former first-round (11th overall) pick of Detroit in 2008 played in 19 games for the Lynx last year, averaging 7.9 points and 3.1 rebounds in 17.9 minutes.

The Georgia product appeared in nine games for Washington to start the season before being waived.

Sparks sign Penicheiro

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:26:22 GMT

Penicheiro has spent her entire 12-year WNBA career with the Sacramento Monarchs and won a league championship with the team in 2005. She has career averages of 6.4 points, 5.9 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game.

Taken second overall in the 1998 WNBA draft by the Monarchs, Penicheiro is a four-time All-Star and is the league's all-time leader in assists (2,178) and steals (685).

Augustus officially returning to Lynx

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:27:01 GMT

Augustus, the WNBA's all-time leader in points per game (21.2), entered the 2010 season as a restricted free agent.

Terms of the contract were not disclosed, but the St.

Augustus to re-sign with Minnesota on Tuesday

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:42:09 GMT

Augustus, the WNBA's all-time leader in points per game (21.2), tore her ACL last season after just six games.

According to a Minnesota newspaper, Augustus' new contract is a multi-year deal with an annual salary of $101,500, the veterans' maximum.

Mercury re-sign head coach Gaines

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:57:41 GMT

Last season, the Mercury finished the regular season with the best record in the WNBA at 23-11 and won the league title for the second time in three seasons, defeating Indiana in five games.

"Coach Gaines has been a tremendous contributor to our championship success over the past few seasons," said general manager Ann Meyers Drysdale. "With him at the helm and with the return of our proven core of players, we're confident that the pieces will be in place to bring home a third championship in 2010." In his two seasons as head coach at Phoenix, Gaines' team has posted a record of 39-29. Before replacing Paul Westhead as head coach, he was the team's top assistant.

Connecticut signs Lawson; re-signs Jekabsone-Zogota

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:31:42 GMT

Lawson spent the past seven seasons with the Sacramento Monarchs, averaging 9.3 points in 217 games -- 54 starts.

"This is a great signing for us," Sun vice president and general manager Chris Sienko said. "Kara is the kind of accomplished veteran you always find on the roster of successful teams in any sport. She can do so many things well, and she has so much experience playing in big games." Jekabsone-Zogota played in 27 games with 16 starts in her first WNBA season last year in Connecticut, topping the team with a shooting percentage of 39.4 from behind the arc.

Silver Stars re-sign C Riley

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:23:03 GMT

Riley, who San Antonio acquired via trade from the Shock in February 2007, has spent nine seasons in the league and owns career averages of 7.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.

"We are pleased to announce that Ruth Riley will remain a key member of the San Antonio Silver Stars," said the team's general manager and head coach Dan Hughes.

WNBA All-Star Game gets a makeover

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:11:34 GMT

This year's All-Star event will take place July 10 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The first nine All-Star contests were staged in traditional fashion with a team from the Eastern Conference against one from the Western Conference.

Sun, Lynx swap guards and draft picks

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:48:06 GMT

Montgomery averaged 9.0 points and 2.1 assists over 34 games last season, her first in the league.

"By trading Lindsay and second draft pick to Minnesota, we are able to acquire a young point guard in Renee Montgomery who, in time, can become one of the best guards in our league, as well as acquiring the first pick in this year's college draft," said Sun head coach Mike Thibault.

Silver Stars exercise option on Harper through 2011

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:52:17 GMT

"We are thrilled to have Laura in San Antonio through 2011," Stars General Manager and head coach Dan Hughes said.

San Antonio, which drafted Harper in the WNBA's dispersal draft of Sacramento players in December, posted averages of 5.0 points, 3.7 rebounds in 15.2 minutes in 67 contests over two seasons with the Monarchs.

Sparks name Gillom head coach

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:43:45 GMT

Gillom, who was elected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in September, replaces Michael Cooper, who took the head coaching job of the Southern California women's basketball squad.

"Jennifer is a great person who I believe will be an exceptional coach in the WNBA," said Sparks general manager Penny Toler. "Her experience as a player and as a coach will prove to be beneficial in her future success here. I believe that she will be able to lead our team into the next era of championship Sparks basketball." Gillom was an assistant with the Minnesota Lynx in the 2008 campaign and took over the team on an interim basis in 2009. As a player, Gillom spent her first six seasons with the Phoenix Mercury before concluding her playing caree

Liberty make Powell first selection in Dispersal Draft

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:07:58 GMT

In late November, it was revealed the Maloof family would no longer operate the Monarchs, one of the original eight franchises of the WNBA. The league then announced a dispersal draft of Sacramento's players that took place on Monday.

After the Liberty took Powell -- Sacramento's leading scorer (16.7 ppg) -- the Minnesota Lynx selected forward Rebekkah Brunson.

Cheryl Reeve named head coach of Lynx

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:09:40 GMT

Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Reeve most recently was with the WNBA's Detroit Shock, where she served as an assistant coach before being promoted to the team's general manager position just three games into last season.

WNBA sets dispersal draft of Sacramento players

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:30:54 GMT

One of the original eight franchises of the WNBA, on November 20 it was revealed that the Maloof family would no longer operate the team.

All current Monarchs players, except for free agents Kara Lawson, Hamchetou Maiga-Ba and Ticha Penicheiro, are eligible to be selected in the Dispersal Draft.

WNBA to expand replay use in 2010

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:21:36 GMT

At any point during the game, referees will now be allowed to use instant replay in a situation involving a 24-second shot clock violation.

Also, replay can be used to in the last minute of regulation and overtime to determine the last player to touch the ball prior to it going out-of-bounds.

Liberty remove interim tag from head coach Donovan

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:10:26 GMT

Donovan took over for the fired Pat Coyle in the middle of the 2009 season and went 7-10 during the remainder of the campaign. She becomes the fourth head coach in the team's history.

"There's no question that Anne is one of the most respected coaches in our game," said team president and general manager Carol Blazejowski.

WNBA talking about Monarchs move

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:22:32 GMT

The league released a statement Friday revealing it is actively pursuing investors in that region, since Maloof Sports and Entertainment -- which also owns and operates the NBA's Sacramento Kings -- will no longer operate the Monarchs.

"The Bay Area has been a desirable market for the WNBA and the availability of the Monarchs provides an opportunity to move a well-known franchise and broaden its fan base within northern California," said league president Donna Orender.