By: Nina Samone
On Tuesday, the WNBA announced its 22-player roster, team captains and co-captains for the upcoming game on Sunday July 10th at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart were selected as captains after receiving the most fan votes and will select from the pool of all-stars during the WNBA All-Star Draft on Saturday, July 2nd.
Sue Bird and Sylvia Fowles were named co-captains – both having announced their retirement at the end of the 2022 season.
The captains and co-captains will be starters, along with Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty), Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces), Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces), Jonquel Jones (Connecticut Sun), Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks) and Candace Parker (Chicago Sky).
Among the reserves for this all-star game are Ariel Atkins (Washington Mystics), Kahleah Copper (Chicago Sky), Skylar Diggins-Smith (Phoenix Mercury), Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream), Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm), Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas Wings), Courtney Vandersloot (Chicago Sky) Dearica Hamby (Las Vegas Aces), Natasha Howard (New York Liberty), Brionna Jones (Connecticut Sun), Emma Meesseman (Chicago Sky) and Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun).
Eleven of the 12 teams have at least one all-star, the exception being the Indiana Fever. A fever guard with All-Star skill is Kelsey Mitchell – fourth in the league in scoring and arguably one of the biggest snubs in the league this year.
Four players will make their debut as all-stars this year, including rookie Rhyne Howard with the Atlanta Dream. Among the others are Sabrina Ionescu, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young.
Sources:
ESPN. June 2022. ESPN. “WNBA 2022 All-Star Game: Biggest roster surprises and snubs.” <https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/34162615/wnba-2022-all-star-game-biggest-roster-surprises-snubs>
Maloney, Jack. June 28th, 2022. CBS Sports. “2022 WNBA All-Star Game player pool: Finals MVP Kahleah Copper, No. 1 pick Rhyne Howard highlight reserves.” <https://www.cbssports.com/wnba/news/lynxs-moriah-jefferson-makes-triple-double-history-vs-wings-just-weeks-after-they-waived-her/>
By: Nina Samone
On Friday, June 24th in a 5-4 decision, The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade – a landmark ruling that established the constitutional right to abortion in the United States in 1973.
This ruling gives states the power to set their own abortion laws.
Almost instantaneously, five states made abortion illegal. In over twenty other states, the rights to abortion are likely to be restricted or threatened soon.
Currently, the states with abortion bans are South Dakota, Utah, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama and Kentucky – according to The Guardian.
A ban on abortion would mean criminal penalties for both abortion providers and patients.
Numerous “blue states” pledged resistance and expansion, deeming themselves as “safe havens” for those seeking abortion. Many of these states also said they would resist extradition requests from other states who had laws against abortion.
Protests have already broken out all over the United States.
Sources:
Mangan, Dan & Breuninger, Kevin. June 24th, 2022. CNBC. “Supreme Court overturns Roe. V Wade, ending 50 years of federal abortion rights.” <https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/24/roe-v-wade-overturned-by-supreme-court-ending-federal-abortion-rights.html>
Olander, Olivia & Berg, Matt. June 27th, 2022. Politico. “The major abortion news in the 4 days since Roe v. Wade was overturned.” <https://www.politico.com/news/2022/06/27/abortion-news-roe-v-wade-overturned-00042536>
IMAGE SOURCE: Politico.
By: Nina Samone
Recent news on Kyrie Irving states that he will be exercising his player option with the Brooklyn Nets, but what does that mean?
What is a Player Option?
In simple terms, according to the NBA, a player option allows the player to decide if they would like to remain with their team for another year or become an unrestricted free agent. If the player decides to exercise their player option, the contract would extend through that season. If it is not exercised, that player then becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Player options cannot be conditional (based on other factors) or revoked.
Irving Player Option Details
On Monday, Irving told The Athletic that he will be opting into his $36.5 million player option with the Brooklyn Nets for next season.
This makes Irving no longer eligible for a sign-and-trade deal – which may not be too much of a con as the only team that reportedly was interested were the Los Angeles Lakers. Irving will have until June 30th of next year to figure out an extension with Brooklyn before he would become an unrestricted free agent.
Irving is a seven-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection, averaging over 27 points, 6 assists and shooting 49% from the field over the past three seasons.
Due to injuries and his refusal to get vaccinated, Irving has only played 103 regular-season games during that time.
What Does This Likely Mean?
With Irving set to begin next season in Brooklyn, it has likely ended any Kevin Durant trade speculation.
Losing Irving after having recently lost James Harden to Philadelphia may have caused tension on the Nets team as far as Kevin Durant goes – who came to the Nets in 2019 with Irving – and may have eliminated them entirely from the conversation for a ring next season.
Irving’s decision to stay potentially puts the Nets in a great position for next season as being one of the better teams in the Eastern conference. Durant, Irving and a healthy Ben Simmons working together next season could spell great success and excitement for Brooklyn fans and the franchise.
Sources:
June 2022. “Free Agency explained.” NBA. <https://www.nba.com/news/free-agency-explained>
Friedell, Nick. June 2022. ESPN. “Kyrie Irving says he’s opting in to $36.5 million option with Brooklyn Nets.” < https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34158320/kyrie-irving-says-opting-365-million-option-brooklyn-nets>
Quinn, Sam. June 27th, 2022. CBS Sports. “Kyrie Irving will opt into final year of $37 million deal with Nets.” <https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/kyrie-irving-will-opt-into-final-year-of-37-million-deal-with-nets/>
IMAGE SOURCE: NetsDaily
By: Nina Samone
More than four months after being arrested at an airport in Moscow for the discovery of hash oil in her luggage, Brittney Griner finally has a trial start date – July 1st.
If convicted, charges could result in up to 10 years in prison. According to ESPN news services, fewer than 1% of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted – and acquittals in Russia can be overturned.
The U.S Department of State categorized Griner as “wrongfully detained” back in May and said in a statement that “the welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad is among the highest priorities of the U.S. government.”
Griner’s detention was extended for another six months on Monday and is to last for the duration of her trial. Despite U.S. efforts to get her home, it’s not likely to happen any time soon.
There has been talk of a prisoner exchange, but it would require Griner to be convicted of the crime and then receive a presidential pardon.
Griner was named an honorary WNBA All-Star for the 2022 season and has received a lot of love and support from fellow WNBA players and others in hopes that more can be done to get her out of this situation.
Sources:
ESPN News Services. June 2022. ESPN. “Brittney Griner’s trial in Russia on alleged cannabis possession to begin July 1.” <https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/34155876/brittney-griner-appears-russian-court-preliminary-hearing>
Conway, Tyler. June 27th, 2022. Bleacher Report. “Brittney Griner’s Trial Set for July 1 in Russia; WNBA Star Facing 10 Years in Prison <https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10040067-brittney-griners-trial-set-for-july-1-in-russia-wnba-star-facing-10-years-in-prison>
IMAGE: KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images
By: Nina Samone
The 2022 NBA draft has come to a thrilling conclusion – but as expected, there were some interesting turn of events.
For starters, the Orlando Magic shocked nearly the entire NBA fanbase by choosing Paolo Banchero – a Duke forward – as their No. 1 overall pick, despite never having hosted Banchero for an interview or formal workout.
Suspected No. 1 pick Jabari Smith was the third pick, taken by the Houston Rockets. Seven-footer Chet Holmgren out of Gonzaga was No. 2 as expected and ended up with the Oklahoma City Thunder – a team he could mesh into very well.
Yet another shocker was the Sacramento Kings choosing Keegan Murray out of Iowa as pick No. 4 over Jaden Ivey. The Detroit Pistons were not complaining as they scooped up Jaden Ivey in the fifth spot, adding to their backcourt.
Detroit appears to have come out on top as the apparent winner of this year’s draft with that No.5 steal of Jaden Ivey, while also participating in a three-team trade that involved the Hornets and Knicks. Detroit received Jalen Duren – originally the 13th pick by the Charlotte Hornets – and Kemba Walker from the Knicks in the trade.
This could spell a bright future for Detroit, with a young talented core of players to build around and Cade Cunningham leading the way.
The No. 6 pick saw the Pacers select Bennedict Mathurin, No.7 was Shaedon Sharpe with the Trail Blazers and Dyson Daniels was selected by the Pelicans as the No. 8 pick.
Daniels spent a season with the G League Ignite and has excellent playmaking ability and an efficient style of play that will nicely compliment Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum and the hopeful return of Zion Williamson.
Sources:
Kaskey-Blomain, Michael & Maloney, Jack. June 2022. CBS Sports. “2022 NBA Draft results, takeaways: Magic trick experts by taking Paolo Banchero at No. 1, setting off chaos.”
Adams, Luke. June 23rd 2022. HoopsRumors. “Jalen Duren, Kemba Walker, To Pistons In Three-Team Trade.” <https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2022/06/hornets-trading-no-13-pick-jalen-duren-to-pistons.html>
The Ringer Staff. June 24th, 2022. The Ringer. “The Winners and Losers of the 2022 NBA Draft.” <https://www.theringer.com/nba-draft/2022/6/24/23181161/the-winners-and-losers-of-the-2022-nba-draft>
By: Nina Samone
The draft is tonight, and NBA fans all over the world are wondering who the No.1 pick this this season will be. Could it be Jabari Smith, scoring machine out of Auburn? Or how about 7-footer Chet Holmgren, with both a wingspan and wing-playing prowess? Will the Knicks try and trade up? There are a lot of uncertainties and excitement surrounding this year’s draft, but all questions will be answered tonight in the Barclays Center at 8pm.
For many fans, there may be the question: where can I watch the draft?
The first round of the 2022 NBA draft can be viewed on both ABC and ESPN, but the second round will be exclusively on ESPN.
If you’re a streamer, the draft will be available to be streamed on both the WatchESPN and ABC apps – directly from your mobile device. The draft can be viewed via the web on both ESPN and ABC’s sites.
If you haven’t already tried a free trial of Sling TV, you could sign up and view the draft free of charge that way as well.
Now that we have how to view the draft out of the way, let’s talk about the current order. As of now, the NBA teams are choosing in this order:
NBA Draft First Round
- Orlando Magic
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Houston Rockets
- Sacramento Kings
- Detroit Pistons
- Indiana Pacers
- Portland Trail Blazers
- New Orleans Pelicans (from Los Angeles Lakers)
- San Antonio Spurs
- Washington Wizards
- New York Knicks
- Oklahoma City Thunder (from Los Angeles Clippers)
- Charlotte Hornets
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Charlotte Hornets (from New Orleans)
- Atlanta Hawks
- Houston Rockets (from Brooklyn Nets)
- Chicago Bulls
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- San Antonio Spurs (from Toronto)
- Denver Nuggets
- Memphis Grizzlies (from Utah)
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Milwaukee Bucks
- San Antonio Spurs (from Boston Celtics)
- Houston Rockets (from Dallas)
- Miami Heat
- Golden State Warriors
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Oklahoma City Thunder (from Phoenix)
NBA Draft Second Round
- Indiana Pacers (from Houston via Cleveland)
- Orlando Magic
- Toronto Raptors (from Detroit via San Antonio, Washington and Chicago)
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Orlando Magic (from Indiana via Milwaukee)
- Detroit Pistons (from Portland)
- Sacramento Kings
- San Antonio Spurs (from Los Angeles Lakers via Chicago and Washington)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (from San Antonio via Utah)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (from Washington via Cleveland)
- New Orleans Pelicans
- New York Knicks
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Atlanta Hawks
- Charlotte Hornets
- Portland Trail Blazers (from Detroit via Brooklyn)
- Memphis (from Cleveland via New Orleans and Atlanta)
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Sacramento Kings (from Chicago via Memphis and Detroit)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (from Denver via Philadelphia)
- Golden State Warriors (from Toronto via Philadelphia)
- New Orleans Pelicans (from Utah)
- Boston Celtics
- Washington (from Dallas)
- Golden State Warriors
- Cleveland Cavaliers (from Miami via Indiana)
- Portland Trail Blazers (from Memphis via Utah)
- Indiana Pacers (from Phoenix)
Sources:
Scott, David. June 23rd 2022. New York Post. “How to watch the NBA Draft 2022: Time, channel, order, more.” <https://nypost.com/2022/06/23/nba-draft-2022-how-to-watch-channel-and-start-time/>
