![]() The teams have submitted formal bids and are working closely with the City of Phoenix, Visit Phoenix, Downtown Phoenix Inc, Arizona Commerce Authority, the Phoenix Convention Center and more to host All-Star Weekend. We want more players.The Phoenix Suns and Mercury are hoping to bring the NBA and WNBA All-Star Games to the Valley in the near future. “I’m not sure with NIL that that’s necessarily translating, and it’s not to say that players aren’t good enough, but it would behoove some of these players to understand just how hard it is to make it here. ![]() “The league is older than almost every player that is entering the league now so there’s also the respect aspect of knowing your history and knowing who came before you and knowing the organizations that came before you to understand just how hard it is to play at this level,” Nneka Ogwumike said. With rookies finding it increasingly difficult to break into the WNBA, the high standard might also hinder the league’s growth as new players aren’t able to carry their college popularity directly to the professional level.Īlexis Morris, who was drafted 22nd overall after helping Louisiana State to a national championship this year, sparked controversy on Twitter after getting waived by the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday, posting, and later deleting, “If we can’t make roster spots for rookies, cut the vets,” and “the vets gotta know when to cut the net, and pass the torch bro.”Īs the WNBA enters its 27th season and players push for growth, including charter flights, bigger rosters and more teams, veterans share in the newcomers’ frustrations, but stressed the importance of respecting the pro game. Our game is so different than college.”Ĭooke, the 10th overall pick in last month’s draft, is the lone rookie on the Sparks roster, and the only Sparks first-round draft pick since Nneka Ogwumike in 2012 to still be in the WNBA this season. Because it’s a veteran’s league … the veterans are going to have an advantage because we know the game. “I’m heartbroken for the rookies who don’t get a fair shot. “The mental and emotional labor of doing this job is something that’s hard to tell the average person about what it takes to show up and perform on a nightly basis,” Clarendon said. The team initially cut Karlie Samuelson, a WNBA journeywoman who starred in Australia this past offseason, before bringing her back Thursday on a hardship contract because Thomas (knee) and Stevens (back) are out for Friday’s season opener.Īfter delivering the cut news to Samuelson on Tuesday, Miller grabbed general manager Karen Bryant’s arm and half-jokingly slammed his head on Bryant’s shoulder out of frustration as Samuelson walked off the practice floor with her head bowed. This week, the Sparks waived second-year, former first-round draft pick forward Rae Burrell and rookies Monika Czinano and Yang Liwei. Agreeing to a tryout where any small mistake could have cost them a job required a maddening level of vulnerability, Clarendon said, but while standing in the shower after the Sparks’ first preseason game against Phoenix last week, Clarendon was overcome with emotion realizing that returning to the WNBA was a reality again. ![]() 12 pick in the 2022 draft was waived by the Connecticut Sun, where she played 28 regular-season games for Miller last season.ĭespite earning All-Star honors in 2017 and playing nine consecutive seasons across five different teams, Clarendon had to re-earn a spot in the league after getting waived by the Minnesota Lynx in 2022. With forward Katie Lou Samuelson still on the roster but unable to play this season as she is expecting her first child, the Sparks claimed guard Nia Clouden off waivers after the No. Clarendon, guard Jordin Canada and third-year forward Joyner Holmes survived the uncertainty of non-guaranteed training camp contracts to make the final cut along with rookie Zia Cooke.
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