Baylor's Nina Davis Named AP Preseason All-American

WACO, Texas – Nina Davis earned Associated PressPreseason All-American recognition for the second consecutive season. The 5-11 senior forward is one of four Lady Bears named to the AP’s elite preseason squad, including Sophia Young (2005-06), three-time honoree Brittney Griner (2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13) and two-time honoree Odyssey Sims (2012-13, 2013-14).

"Nina is certainly deserving of this recognition,” head Baylor women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey said. “She has had a remarkable career and is deserving of any award that comes her way.”

Davis, a two-time consensus All-American, led the program in scoring as a junior, averaging 16.3 points per game, and shared the rebounding award with post Beatrice Mompremier, averaging 6.1 boards per contest. The Memphis, Tennessee, native was picked 2017 Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year and named to the Preseason All-Big 12 first team.

The Memphis, Tennessee, native is a three-time All-Big 12 first team selection and has also been named to the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team in three consecutive seasons. In 2015 and 2016, she was a finalist for the Wade Trophy and Wooden Award and named to the All-Tournament Team for NCAA Regional play.

Davis, one of four senior captains, has guided the Lady Bears to three-straight Big 12 Conference regular season and tournament championships, in addition to three trips to the NCAA Championship Elite Eight. She has been recognized as Big 12 Player of the Week on seven occasions, five times as a sophomore and twice as a junior, and Big 12 Freshman of the Week seven times en route to 2014 Big 12 Freshman of the Year distinction.

Baylor hosts Langston in its second of two exhibition games inside the Ferrell Center on Monday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. (CT), before opening the regular season at home against Houston Baptist on Friday, Nov. 11 at 3:30 p.m. The opener is a doubleheader with Baylor men’s basketball, which tips off against Oral Roberts at 6 p.m.

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Griner scores 21, Mercury dash Dream

PHOENIX -- Brittney Griner had 21 points, nine rebounds and five blocks to help the Phoenix Mercury beat the Atlanta Dream 86-75 on Sunday.

The Mercury need either one more victory or a loss by Washington to clinch a postseason berth.

Phoenix (14-17), ranked No. 6 in the AP power poll, never trailed and took control during the second quarter with an 18-0 run that made it 47-29 with 1:25 left in the half.

Fifth-ranked Atlanta (16-15) got back to 53-46, but the Mercury rebuilt their lead to 18 at 72-54 and went unchallenged through the fourth quarter.

Diana Taurasi had 17 points, Candice Dupree added 15 and Penny Taylor scored 14 with a career-high six steals.

Tiffany Hayes had 22 points and Bria Holmes added 14 for the Dream, who fell into a three-way tie for fourth place with Indiana and Chicago.

Brittney Griner ejected for second time in July; Cappie Pondexter tossed too

Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner and Chicago Sky guard Cappie Pondexter were both ejected during the third quarter of Tuesday night's game.

Griner and Pondexter collided on a high screen with 9:33 left in the frame, and after teammates got between them, Griner pushed Pondexter in the head. Officials reviewed the play and called Pondexter for a flagrant foul 2.

Chicago would go on to win 79-77 on a Jessica Breland putback with 0.2 seconds left.

This marks the second time Griner has been ejected this month. She was tossed on July 1 for arguing with an official after picking up her fourth foul in a loss to the New York Liberty.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

WNBA’s Brittney Griner was cyber bullied on Father’s Day

Phoenix Mercury’s Brittney Griner is used to getting teased.

In an interview with ESPN last year, the 6-foot 8, 205- pound star said she grew up with people making fun of her size and her voice. “They teased me about everything, my different voice, my stature, my chest,” she told reporter Kate Fagan.

The teasing and taunting haven’t stopped. Sunday, the WNBA center found herself getting Happy Father’s Day messages on social media.

“Happy Father’s Day, bro,” and “Happy Father’s Day, you’re the real MVP” flooded the comments section on her Instagram page:

“HAAPPY FATHER DAY !! Wow you get to celebrate a father day and mommy day at the same time isn’t that cool.”

“Happy fathers day now time to step up and be a father lol”

“Any boy can make a baby…but it takes a man to pay for his girl to be artificially inseminated and then get put on child support!#happyfathersday”

Some of her fans tried to jump in and tell others to stop with the taunting.

One fan commented, “Can you all stop? It’s not funny. She’s been through enough. She doesn’t need this and doesn’t deserve it. She’s beautiful on the inside and out. She’s kind and she’s funny. Homophobia is not a good look on you…just saying.”

Wrote another: “You folks have no respect..leave her alone. Let her live her life…MIND YOUR BUSINESS!”

Another fan scoffed at the bullying: “People are so stupid, all way jumping on the bandwagon. Nothing but a bunch of #followers smh”

Twitter was just as assaultive:

Although Griner has said that she doesn’t like labels, the label of father was one she didn’t care for on Sunday. Griner used some profanity to tweet her frustration: “Everybody plz chill with the Happy FD [s–t!] Tell your own dads because I’m not one.” But her response only fueled the Twitter troll fire in which she found herself later tweeting middle finger emojis and telling a user to kiss her backside. Griner was briefly married to fellow WNBA player Glory Johnson. Less than a week after their mountaintop wedding in Phoenix, Griner and Glory Johnson were suspended by the league for seven games apiece — stemming from a domestic violence incident at their home. Griner filed for an annulment 29 days after they were married. 

[Griner filed for an annulment a month after the ceremony.]

Griner said that she was pressured into having a family with Johnson who was already pregnant at the time of the marriage. Johnson conceived twins through in-vitro fertilization with donated sperm.

In April, Griner agreed to pay Johnson $2,516 per month starting in May. The money is part of a larger settlement package to which they both agreed, according to Bossip. Griner was also ordered to pay 90 percent of childcare costs and $8,505 in back childcare expenses for the two girls to whom she has no biological connection.

Griner and Johnson faced each other on the basketball court for the first time on Sunday since their bitter divorce last year. The Wings beat the Dallas Wings beat the Phoenix Mercury 117-111.

Sunday’s barrage of tweets poked fun at both Griner’s body and her financial status in relationship to the twin girls. The taunting was particularly galling to some because of the killing of 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando on June 12.

Judging from the pictures of those who harassed Griner, they were of multiple ethnic backgrounds. Many were denizens of the amorphous cyber-community known as #BlackTwitter.

Sun blown out by Sky in season opener

Courtney Vandersloot had 14 points and seven assists, Cappie Pondexter added 13 points, and the Chicago Sky beat the Connecticut Sky 93-70 Saturday night in Rosemont, Illinois, in the season opener for both teams.

Chicago’s Elena Delle Donne, who led the WNBA in scoring (23.8 per game) and was named league MVP last season, missed the game with an illness.

Connecticut missed six of its first seven field-goal attempts as the Sky, who never trailed, built a 10-4 lead.

Rachel Banham and Morgan Tuck each hit a 3-pointer to cut the Sun’s deficit to 14-13 with 1:38 left in the first quarter, but Cheyenne Parker scored the final seven points in a 19-5 run that gave Chicago a 15-point lead with 5:57 to go in the first half.

The Sun, who opened the season No. 10 in the Associated Press WNBA Power Rankings, trailed by double figures the rest of the way.

The third-ranked Sky made 31 of 37 free throws and outrebounded Connecticut 46-33.

Alex Bentley led the Sun with 14 points. Banham scored 13.

Lynx 95, Mercury 76 >> At Minneapolis, Maya Moore had 27 points and a career-high 10 assists to help defending WNBA champion Minnesota open the season with a win over Phoenix.

Seimone Augustus added 21 points on 10-of-15 shooting, Sylvia Fowles had 17 points and 14 rebounds for her 100th career double-double and Lindsay Whalen chipped in with 14.

Moore, Fowles, Augustus and Whalen made 33 of their 54 shots and the Lynx finished shooting 54 percent from the field.

Minnesota opened the season with the top ranking in the AP WNBA power poll, receiving 10 of the 14 first-place votes. Phoenix ranked second and garnered the other four votes for the top spot.

Diana Taurasi led the Mercury with 18 points in her return. She sat out last season. Penny Taylor scored 13, Brittney Griner added 12 and DeWanna Bonner 10.

LIBERTY 87, MYSTICS 76 >> At Washington, Tina Charles scored 24 points, including a three-point play that sparked a late run, to help the Liberty beat the Mystics.

With 2:39 left and the game tied at 73, Charles started the spurt with a basket and free throw. Kiah Stokes added a basket and New York had three free throws to make it 81-73. Stefanie Dolson finally ended the drought, hitting a free throw with 27 seconds remaining. The Liberty hit their free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Sugar Rodgers added 19 points for New York, which was fourth in the inaugural Associated Press power poll this week.

Tayler Hill scored 20 points and Bria Hartley added 17 for the Mystics, who opened the season at No. 6 in the poll.

WINGS 90, FEVER 79 >> At Indianapolis, Plenette Pierson scored 17 points and the Wings beat the Fever.

Dallas, formerly the Tulsa Shock, started the season ranked seventh in the AP WNBA Power Rankings. Indiana opened the season fifth.

Odyssey Sims had 14 points, Karima Christmas scored 13 and Theresa Plaisance added 12 for the Wings, who played without star Skylar Diggins. She tore her ACL last season. The Wings said after the game that Diggins was day-to-day. Dallas plays in New York on Sunday night.

Tiffany Mitchell, the ninth overall pick in the 2016 WNBA draft, led the Fever with 18 points in her debut.

NCAA All-Tournament Teams

The NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Teams (the first player listed each year was the Final Four most outstanding player):

2016 — Breanna Stewart, UConn; Morgan Tuck, UConn; Moriah Jefferson, UConn; Talia Walton, Washington; Brittney Sykes, Syracuse.

2015 — Breanna Stewart, UConn; Morgan Tuck, UConn; Moriah Jefferson, UConn; Brianna Turner, Notre Dame; Jewell Loyd, Notre Dame.

2014 — Breanna Stewart, UConn; Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, UConn; Stefanie Dolson, UConn; Kayla McBride, Notre Dame; Jewell Loyd, Notre Dame.

2013 — Breanna Stewart, UConn; Bria Hartley, UConn; Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, UConn; Kelly Faris, UConn; Antonita Slaughter, Louisville.

2012 — Brittney Griner, Baylor; Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame; Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Stanford; Odyssey Sims, Baylor; Destiny Williams, Baylor.

2011 — Danielle Adams, Texas A&M; Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame; Maya Moore, UConn; Tyra White, Texas A&M; Devereaux Peters, Notre Dame.

2010 — Maya Moore, UConn; Tina Charles, UConn; Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Stanford; Kayla Pedersen, Stanford; Danielle Robinson, Oklahoma.

2009 — Tina Charles, UConn; Maya Moore, UConn; Renee Montgomery, UConn; Angel McCoughtry, Louisville; Jayne Appel, Stanford.

2008 — Candace Parker, Tennessee; Shannon Bobbitt, Tennessee; Nicky Anosike, Tennessee; Candice Wiggins, Stanford; Sylvia Fowles, LSU.

2007 — Candace Parker, Tennessee; Matee Ajavon, Rutgers; Nicky Anosike, Tennessee; Shannon Bobbitt, Tennessee; Kia Vaughn, Rutgers.

2006 — Laura Harper, Maryland; Alison Bales, Duke; Monique Currie, Duke; Erlana Larkins, North Carolina; Kristi Toliver, Maryland.

2005 — Sophia Young, Baylor; Steffanie Blackmon, Baylor; Emily Niemann, Baylor; Lindsay Bowen, Michigan State; Kristin Haynie, Michigan State.

2004 — Diana Taurasi, UConn; Jessica Moore, UConn; Ann Strother, UConn; Janel McCarville, Minnesota; Shanna Zolman, Tennessee.

2003 — Diana Taurasi, UConn; Ann Strother, UConn; Alana Beard, Duke; Gwen Jackson, Tennessee; Kara Lawson, Tennessee.

2002 — Swin Cash, UConn; Sue Bird, UConn; Asjha Jones, UConn; Stacey Dales, Oklahoma; Rosalind Ross, Oklahoma.

2001 — Ruth Riley, Notre Dame; Niele Ivey, Notre Dame; Katie Douglas, Purdue; Shalicia Hurns, Purdue; Shereka Wright, Purdue.

2000 — Shea Ralph, UConn; Svetlana Abrosimova, UConn; Sue Bird, UConn; Asjha Jones, UConn; Tamika Catchings, Tennessee.

1999 — Ukari Figgs, Purdue; Stephanie White-McCarty, Purdue; Katie Douglas, Purdue; Michele VanGorp, Duke; Nicole Erickson, Duke.

1998 — Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee; Tamika Catchings, Tennessee; Kellie Jolly, Tennessee; Tamicha Jackson, Louisiana Tech; Chasity Melvin, N.C. State.

1997 — Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee; Kellie Jolly, Tennessee; Ticha Penicheiro, Old Dominion; Nyree Roberts, Old Dominion; Clarisse Machanguana, Old Dominion.

1996 — Michelle Marciniak, Tennessee; Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee; Tiffani Johnson, Tennessee; La

1995 — Rebecca Lobo, UConn; Jamelle Elliott, UConn; Jennifer Rizzotti, UConn; Kara Wolters, UConn; Nikki McCray, Tennessee.

1994 — Charlotte Smith, North Carolina; Tonya Sampson, North Carolina; Vickie Johnson, Louisiana Tech; Pam Thomas, Louisiana Tech; Betsy Harris, Alabama.

1993 — Sheryl Swoopes, Texas Tech; Krista Kirkland, Texas Tech; Nikki Keyton, Ohio State; Katie Smith, Ohio State; Heidi Gillingham, Vanderbilt.

1992 — Molly Goodenbour, Stanford; Rachel Hemmer, Stanford; Val Whiting, Stanford; Kim Pehlke, Western Kentucky; Dawn Staley, Virginia.

1991 — Dawn Staley, Virginia; Tonya Cardoza, Virginia; Daedra Charles, Tennessee; Dena Head, Tennessee; Sonja Henning, Stanford.

1990 — Jennifer Azzi, Stanford; Katy Steding, Stanford; Carolyn Jones, Auburn; Chantel Tremitiere, Auburn; Venus Lacy, Louisiana Tech.

1989 — Bridgette Gordon, Tennessee; Sheila Frost, Tennessee; Vickie Orr, Auburn; Venus Lacy, Louisiana Tech; Deanna Tate, Maryland.

1988 — Erica Westbrooks, Louisiana Tech; Teresa Weatherspoon, Louisiana Tech; Ruthie Bolton, Auburn; Diann McNeil, Auburn; Penny Toler, Long Beach State.

1987 — Tonya Edwards, Tennessee; Bridgette Gordon, Tennessee; Cindy Brown, Long Beach State; Clarissa Davis, Texas; Teresa Weatherspoon, Louisiana Tech.

1986 — Clarissa Davis, Texas; Fran Harris, Texas; Cheryl Miller, Southern Cal; Cynthia Cooper, Southern Cal, Clemette Haskins, Western Kentucky.

1985 — Tracy Claxton, Old Dominion; Medina Dixon, Old Dominion; Teresa Edwards, Georgia; Katrina McClain, Georgia; Lillie Mason, Western Kentucky.

1984 — Cheryl Miller, Southern Cal; Pam McGee, Southern Cal; Paula McGee, Southern Cal; Janice Lawrence, Louisiana Tech; Mary Ostrowski, Tennessee.

1983 — Cheryl Miller, Southern Cal; Paula McGee, Southern Cal; Janice Lawrence, Louisiana Tech; Jennifer White, Louisiana Tech; Anne Donovan, Old Dominion.

1982 — Janice Lawrence, Louisiana Tech; Pam Kelly, Louisiana Tech; Kim Mulkey, Louisiana Tech; Yolanda Laney, Cheyney; Valerie Walker, Cheyney.

Former Kentwood basketball star Vandersloot named finalist for women's Olympic team

Former Kentwood High School girls basketball star and Chicago Sky point guard Courtney Vandersloot has been named as one of 25 finalists for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Team.

The 25 finalists were selected by the USA Basketball Women's National Team Player Selection Committee, which will select the official 12-member U.S. Olympic Team later this year.

The Women's National Team will conduct a training camp Feb. 21-23 at the University of Connecticut. Athletes taking part in the minicamp, which is expected to be the final training before the 2016 U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Team is selected, will be announced at a later date and will come from the pool of finalists.

"Naming the Olympic Team finalists is another step in our selection process," said Carol Callan, USA Basketball Women's National Team director and chair of the USA Basketball Women's National Team Player Selection Committee in a press release. "Because of the quality and talent in the USA National Team pool, every time we pare the list it is a difficult task. Yet, we eventually have to get down to a 12-member team, so we conscientiously look at the present goal of winning a gold medal at the Rio Olympic Games with an eye to sustaining our success in the future. This list of finalists is a mix of veterans, youth, international savvy and USA Basketball experience.

"What adds to the challenge of picking a team is the devotion and commitment all of our athletes have to our USA National Team and representing their country, especially given the year-round play many of them have in the WNBA and on overseas teams."

Vandersloot, a 2007 Kentwood graduate, played for Gonzaga University before being drafted third overall in the 2011 WNBA draft by Chicago.

She averaged 11.4 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game and 5.8 assists per game during the 2015 regular season for the Sky.

Vandersloot currently plays basketball overseas during the WNBA offseason for BGD in Turkey. She played for Orduspor for the first half of the Turkish season.

Other finalists for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team are: Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), Tina Charles (New York Liberty), Elena Delle Donne (Chicago Sky), Skylar Diggins (Dallas Wings), Stefanie Dolson (Washington Mystics), Candice Dupree (Phoenix Mercury), Sylvia Fowles (Minnesota Lynx), Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury), Briann January (Indiana Fever), Jantel Lavender (Los Angeles Sparks), Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm), Kayla McBride (San Antonio Stars), Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx), Chiney Ogwumike (Connecticut Sun), Nnemkadi Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks), Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks), Danielle Robinson (San Antonio Stars), Odyssey Sims (Dallas Wings), Breanna Stewart (University of Connecticut), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury) and Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx).

"I think the committee has a tough decision ahead of it," said USA and Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma, who has directed the USA National Team to an overall 23-0 record and gold medals at the 2012 Olympic Games and the 2010 and 2014 FIBA World Championships. "When I look at this list of athletes, we could split them down the middle and have two very competitive teams. We have a great mix of gold medalists and players who are hungry to play in their first Olympics. There is versatility at all positions. Our posts are the strongest we've seen in years, we have guys who can shoot, guys who can defend, and I'm just happy I don't have to make the decision as to who will be playing in Rio."