So the brands adapted. With an impeccable roster headlined by Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi and Jewell Loyd, Nike began releasing their player’s exclusive colorways to the public. 

Bird and Loyd, each known for their affinity with Kyrie Irving’s former Nike signature shoes, received a number of colorways in the marketplace, with Bird headlining the “Keep Sue Fresh” collection that spanned from the Kyrie 4 Low to the Kyrie Infinity. 

Out in Phoenix, DT began repping ‘Bron’s signature series, from the LeBron 9 and LeBron X to the LeBron 19—she even had compiled an extensive Mercury-colored collection of LeBron PEs, including the LeBron 18 “La Cabra”—which translates to the GOAT in Spanish.

In Washington, six-time All-Star Elena Delle Donne was paying homage with her PE rotation, dawning a Swoopes I-inspired colorway of the Nike Hyperdunk 2017 alongside a steady influx of KD 12s. But at the tail end of the 2019 season, Delle Donne flipped the script, electing to wear a lace-less model, the Nike Air Zoom UNVRS. Constructed around the brand’s newest technology, Flyease provided wearers with a hands-free, easy-access design geared toward those with disabilities. The latter would serve as a three year-long smoke signal of what was to come. 

In October of 2022, Nike and Elena Delle Donne officially released the Nike Air Deldon. While the high-top model wasn’t specifically marketed as a signature offering, the silhouette was as close to one as you could get. Built with Flyease technology at its foundation, the Air Deldon was inspired by the two-time MVP’s younger sister Lizzie, who is disabled. The model represented several aspects of Delle Donne’s personal journey, detailing her battle with Lyme disease on one colorway while joining Nike’s BE TRUE initiative that heralds the LGBTQIA+ community with a rainbow-treated installment.  

Then there’s Sabrina Ionescu. Before the legend of Caitlin Clark arose, Ionescu captivated the nation in college—breaking national and school records at the University of Oregon with a flashy play style and an unstoppable pull-up three. 

While standing on the shoulders of the legends that came before her, Nike announced Ionescu would be the eighth women’s signature athlete in Nike Basketball history. After 17 years, The Swoosh had returned in full to the women’s game and they flooded Sabrina’s business with support. An expansive marketing campaign, a full release schedule featuring more than a dozen colorways, a full unisex apparel collection and intricate storytelling that ran throughout the model. 

Touted as the first-ever unisex signature basketball shoe, the Nike Sabrina 1 sold out the first handful of colorways during the late summer. Then it took things to another level when the model was added to Nike’s customizable Nike By You platform. With layers of detailed fabrics, stitching and panels, the Sabrina 1 brought out the platforms’ full potential, allowing fans of the already praised silhouette to create their own 1-of-1 versions.

Custom Nike Sabrina 1s engulfed social media in the following months, with creators drawing inspiration from their favorite colorways of past signature models like the “Bruce Lee” Kobe 5. Some designs even stuck and were replicated at mass, like the titular rendition dubbed the “What The” colorway—inspired by Nike Basketball’s mid-2010s run of taking every colorway from one signature shoe and compiling it into one loud, expressive and surprisingly cohesive ensemble.

From the W and the NBA to men’s and women’s college basketball and the G-League, the Nike Sabrina 1 exploded in popularity. As soon as the 2023-24 season tipped, the low-top model quickly became a go-to for many Nike-endorsed NBA players with Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Tyler Herro and others customizing their own PEs at a frantic pace.

This time around, Sabrina’s sneaker won’t be a one-and-done: she confirmed during this year’s New York Liberty training camp that her second signature is currently in the works. 

And then there’s the long awaited announcement of the Nike A’One. As the first Black woman to receive a signature shoe with the brand since Sheryl Swoopes, A’ja Wilson continues to cement her legacy as not only a great, but a player deserving of the utmost recognition and respect. After headlining the Nike Cosmic Unity last season and dawning a regal black and gold LeBron 21 PE during the 2023 Finals, two-time WNBA Champion and New York Times Best-Selling Author A’ja Wilson has been positioned for an insanely bright future, and arrival of the A’One in the Spring of 2025 was met with top-tier marketing: Wilson posted a flick of herself wearing an iconic hoodie that read, Of Course I Have a Shoe Dot Com with the caption: “The answer to the question.” It was just as iconic as Wilson and her illustrious career. 

Wilson and Nike aren’t just only releasing a signature sneaker though—the two-time WNBA champion and MVP has been working for over a year now on a full apparel collection and signature slides, too. She’s been heavily involved in each step of the process, consistently checking in with the brand and going as far as to suggest satin-lined hoods so women wouldn’t have to wear a bonnet during travel days. 

As for other stars, in the summer of 2021, Jordan Brand announced the largest women’s roster in the brand’s history, signing Dearica Hamby, Satou Sabally, Jordin Canada, Aerial Powers, Te’a Cooper, Crystal Dangerfield, Arella Guirantes and Chelsea Dungee. Joining an established core of Kia Nurse and Asia Durr, the Jumpman went out and put pen to paper with Rhyne Howard, Dana Evans, Isabelle Harrison and Gabby Williams over the next year and a half. 

Picking up the legacy of the since-retired Moore, Jordan’s revamped athlete roster has brought a fresh perspective to the brand’s once-reserved approach to the ladies’ side of the game. Player Exclusive colorways have flooded WNBA hardwoods as a result. Kia Nurse’s Toronto Raptors-treated Tatum 1, Satou Sabally’s international-inspired Air Jordan 37 and Isabelle Harrison’s butterfly-coated Jordan Luka 2—in homage to her late sister—have each extrapolated a piece of the respective athletes’ journeys. In turn, sneaker blogs and team social media accounts have begun to add another element of storytelling to the WNBA’s atmosphere. 

Even though signature silhouettes and exclusive colorways continue to draw headlines, both Nike and Jordan have been cultivating their next generation of partners in the backdrop through the new possibilities presented by NIL. Mirroring the selectivity of their signature lineup, Nike has signed reigning National Freshman of the Year Juju Watkins, former AP Player of the Year Paige Bueckers and top high school sophomore Jerzy Williams to NIL deals. 

In the same realm, Jordan Brand has signed Rutgers-bound guard Kiyomi McMiller, LSU’s SEC Freshman of the Year Mikaylah Williams and UCLA point guard Kiki Rice. 

While it’s yet to be officially announced, Caitlin Clark has reportedly signed an endorsement deal with The Swoosh as well. Clark was one of the brand’s first NIL signings before her senior year at Iowa. 

This is just the beginning, and with investment, attention to detail, and unwavering support for women’s basketball, the renaissance continues.

Feeling nostalgic? Here’s a history lesson on how past WNBA legends paved the way in the sneaker game.

The post Today’s WNBA Legends Are Shifting Sneaker Culture  appeared first on SLAM.

While W players have long been showing out in the tunnel, Harrison and Austin are continuing a movement of women’s hoopers in the high-fashion space. Thanks to the visionary work of renowned stylist Sydney Bordonaro—who credits the weekend’s success to the help of writer and strategist Kirsten Chen (@hotgothwriter)—Harrison, a dynamic forward on the Sky and Austin, a standout center/forward for the Mystics and ’22 All-Rookie Team honoree, looked stunning in pieces by Kim Shui, DAILY PAPER and more.

To give us the inside scoop, Bordonaro joined the latest episode of hoop(ish) to talk about their recent WNBA NYFW takeover.

Bordonaro was in charge of working around the outfits given by the shows with flashy accessories that best complemented their looks and personality. She says Harrison’s sister, @dolledbydorie, also worked her magic with both players’ makeup, too.

It was Harrison’s second show since her appearance for Kim Shui two years ago and a first for Austin. “Izzy and Shakira ate,” Bordonaro says. “The girls just did what they needed to do.”

On Friday and Saturday, Harrison and Austin both rocked elegant, flowy designs by Collina Strada while accessorizing with handbags.

Then, on Saturday, they took things to another level with more edgier looks. Harrison’s outfit included a Jumpman original with a beaded-corset overlay, while Austin rocked designs by KidSuper. They both also wore more looks by DAILY PAPER.

After an eventful weekend, Bordonaro hopes this was a much-needed wake up call for the fashion world to include even more women’s hoopers. “It was a good introduction for the fashion space to get basketball girls,” Bordonaor said. “They handled themselves like they were stars. So many people when they saw them were taken back.”

This is just the beginning, too. From the tunnel to the runway, we’re hyped to see more looks by Bordonaro this upcoming season and to watch Harrison and Austin show out on, and off the court.

Check out the entire episode of hoop(ish) below:

Photos by Dominique Oliveto (@dommyo).

The post WNBA Stars Isabelle Harrison and Shakira Austin Takeover New York Fashion Week appeared first on SLAM.

What happens when you look to blend the best of speed and flight? Jordan Brand asked that question, and the answer was the Air Jordan 37.

Jayson Tatum and Satou Sabally are what we call, in the new age of positionless hoops, the ultimate hybrid. The Prince of Boston coupled with that suave demeanor is smooth yet shifty. He’ll cross you with ease and bully you on the block with his 6-10 frame, fresh out of bed.

Sabally, third-year forward for the Dallas Wings, is brilliantly versatile; her game reads like poetry. The J? Silky. Handles? Filthy. Spin cycle? Gracefully elegant. Chase down blocks? Loads of ’em. 

Two of the most multifaceted hoopers on Jordan Brand’s expanding roster of basketball brilliance not only have the type of games that general managers salivate over, they’re leading the Brand into a new era of sustainability and peak performance.

Built for the future of the game and its athletes’ multi-directional play, Jumpman has always kept the visceral sense of rising through the air with blistering speed at the forefront of its discussions when dropping one of the most coveted performance sneakers on the market. The 37th iteration of Jordan’s signature line isn’t any different in that respect. 

“We wanted to create this pretty much one-of-one system that really no other basketball player could feel other than in the shoe; that really celebrates the best of speed, and the best of flight,” Chad Troyer, Senior Product Line Manager at Jordan Brand, tells KICKS.

And with a roster featuring players of nearly every build in men’s and women’s professional basketball, the 37 needed to be able to blend a myriad of properties to support their athletes; from the debut of a Jordan-only foam, evolving the Leno-weave upper and delving into the three phases of a jump, all while maintaining their commitment to sustainability (but more on that later). 

Nearly four decades of basketball history and heritage reside in Jordan Brand’s upcoming hybrid. So when constructing a lightweight support system that functions with the natural movements of the foot, Troyer and the Brand swung their gaze straight to the Air Jordan VII’s interior make up. 

While serving as a wink to the VII during its 30th anniversary, the buffed-up ankle collar, underlying forefoot pattern and familiar geometric color blocking on the outsole all seek to evoke 1992 nostalgia. 

Bam Adebayo, Rui Hachimura and Dearica Hamby all need both distinctive and effective support while wreaking havoc on the block and drawing defenders out to the midrange. The Leno-weave upper takes direct inspiration from the exoskeleton construction of the famous Nike Air Huarache and the targeted areas of protection of ankle straps and tape. 

Blending Tinker Hatfield’s past innovations with modern-age performance served as an empowering anchor of inspiration throughout the 37’s process. “We’re just wanting to make it newer and better now,” Troyer adds.

From the inner paneling of the VII to the carbon fiber shank’s return for the first time since the 32, the new aesthetic created by merging the structural design with the Leno-weave upper has excited Troyer the most.  

Yet the evolution of the upper is seen in a whole new space with the 37, “allowing the structure to be very strong where you need it,” says Troyer, “and then opened up and lightweight and flexible when you don’t.”  

Allowing varying light and colors to poke through the panels of the forefoot, the introduction of a specialized TPE yarn amidst the tooling of the zoned upper– crafted out of a single fiber of monofilament called Arkema—pays direct homage to the meticulous craftsmanship displayed in West African basket weaving.

“You can really see inside, you can see your sock, you can see the insole. It’s just going to become a unique aesthetic where we haven’t been before,” Troyer adds.

We’re not talking about picking and pulling random ideas and influences just to be sorted 
out later down the line here, we’re talking going into the deepest depths of the bottomless bag of Jumpman’s creative and technological capabilities.

The bevy of His Airness’ insurmountable athletic feats on the hardwood provide Nike’s Sport Research Lab in Beaverton with a scientific treasure trove of jumping sequences to dissect and translate toward designing footwear for the future. The result was an amalgamation of modern sports research and a contemporary treatment of reductive layering. 

The basis of Jumpman’s newest modernization is rooted in NSRL’s study of the three stages of jumping: load, launch and crash. So while the ultimate goal is to create lightweight products, Troyer and the Brand knew in order to achieve their ultimate realization, a little bit of additional weight and structure was necessary—enabling them to remove copious amounts of weight from the upper by way of the Arkema threads. 

The Load Phase acts as a conduit for transferring motion from the heel through the forefoot. By way of the AJ XI’s staple carbon fiber shank underneath the midfoot and the inclusion of Formula 23 foam, which is being debuted in the Jordan Luka 1, the users’ second-long movement of loading is instantaneously softened. 

“It’s more responsive, more comfortable, and also more sustainable than any foam that we’ve been able to use,” Troyer tells KICKS. “So it has performance properties that are great just to provide new solutions.”

The Launch Phase may mistakenly feel like the final stage of the process, but by creating additional protection for the heel and landing, athletes are much more inclined to “engage the rest of the system and ultimately jump higher,” Troyer says. 

Affixed with full-length Zoom Strobel alongside an additional Zoom Air unit in the forefoot for increased responsiveness and the sensation of a double-stacked propulsion, the inserted rebound technology is placed as close to the foot as possible.

The Crash Phase, the instantaneous deceleration of the jump, is an aspect rarely traversed within performance sneakers, but no longer. 

“It’s really integrating those aspects and creating the system based on the insights and asking if we can help athletes crash harder, meaning protecting their heel and allowing them to put more force into their jump, then they’re going to be able to engage the rest of the system and ultimately jump higher,” Troyer says.

The sleek and structured heel features a TPU mold that encases the Brand’s proprietary foam technology, ultimately acting as a crash-landing pad for the energy and force the wearer exudes when striking the court. 

“It’s totally a balance,” Troyer adds.

His Airness was the ultimate hybrid on the court. Just like his game, his 37th signature is a quintessential blend of strength and grace, of dominance and modernism. 

Beefing up their roster with the additions of Paolo Banchero, Rhyne Howard and Isabelle Harrison this summer, the Brand is able to bring their young athletes behind the curtain of crafting the model early in their careers. “They’re really along with us on the journey throughout, before it’s even done,” Troyer says. 

And among the first few flavors of the silhouette to drop—including “Beyond Borders” in September and “The Hare” this Fall—are both Tatum’s and Sabally’s PEs. 

“Now that we have this new roster of young exciting talent,” Troyer says, “we’re really learning from them as well to help inform what the ultimate hybrid means.” 

Photos courtesy of Nike.

The post Light Show: An Exclusive Look at the Air Jordan 37 appeared first on SLAM.

The first-round series between the Sun and Wings was full of double-digit wins, with no win being more impressive than Connecticut’s 15 point Game 3 win. The Sun put on a defensive clinic after they held the Wings a season-low final score of 58 points, including holding Dallas to 22 points on 6-27 shooting from the field during the secone half. Connecticut also forced Dallas to commit 11 turnovers during the final 20 minutes of Wednesday’s contest.

“I think the biggest thing they learned is they’re very good,” Johnson said per ESPN. “I told them when Arike went out to just believe in themselves. Play together, play with energy and effort, and that’s what we did.”

Dallas’ troubles began after Isabelle Harrison suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter that was severe enough to make Dallas hold her out for the remainder of the game. Not even Arike Ogunbowale’s short-lived return from abdominal surgery could spark Dallas’ stagnant offense. The former national champ went scoreless in six minutes, going 0-3 from the field and 0-2 from beyond the arc.

The loss led to interesting postgame introspection from Dallas, specifically from Marina Mabrey and Veronica Burton about the culture and the kind of team that the Wings are looking to build.

“I feel like we’re growing here in Dallas,” Mabrey (team-high 20 points) said. “We had so many fans and they’re always so supportive. They know we gave it our all, we put our hearts in it so they’re always super proud of us and I can’t thank them enough from our whole team.”

Sentiments that Burton echoed, going on to say that the fans “supporting us means the world” and the Wings appreicate the consistency of the fans in the building too.

We’re building something special, and we couldn’t do it without you, fam pic.twitter.com/GN1htO2F4u

— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) August 25, 2022

The Wings have now made their first back-to-back playoff appearence since 2017-2018 where they lost in the first round to the Mystics and Mercury, respectively. After consecutive stinging losses to end their season, Dallas will look to make the next step towards winning a playoff series, than on to becoming a Finals threat. The Wings haven’t won a WNBA title since moving from Detroit to Tulsa and now Dallas as of 2016.

The original Detroit Shock franchise won three titles during the 2000s, taking home the Finals Trophy in 2003, 2006, and 2008.

“When you see yourself do something, you believe it more,” Mabrey said. “Not that we didn’t believe before but watching this horn go off and winning in COnnecticut, (it’s) just a confidence booster. Now we know we can do it and (now) it’s back to work.”

“We played a veteran team that’s lost plenty of times, they won so they know exactly what it feels like, they know exactly what to do with their backs gainst the wall and we lacked that a litle bit so that’s okay. It comes with experience so take the good with the bad.”

“When you see yourself do something, you believe it more.”

– @mmabrey1 pic.twitter.com/2wbDKxGAUa

— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) August 25, 2022

The post Dallas Wings ‘Believe it More’ Despite Season-Ending Game 3 Loss appeared first on SLAM.

HOW DOES IT FEEL, SUN FANS??? #CTSun pic.twitter.com/3twme5dlRy

— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) August 25, 2022

DeWanna Bonner led all scorers with 21 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Alyssa Thomas followed up with 13 points, eight rebounds, and two assists. Jonquel Jones dropped 11 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists, and Natisha Hiedeman rounded out Connecticut’s double-digit scorers with 11 points, two boards, and two dimes.

Bonner also became the 10th player in WNBA history to knock down 300 career field goals and passed Angel McCoughtry in the process of doing so.

“Our team is incredibly confident in what they do and who they are,” Sun Coach Curt Miller said, per ESPN. “We’re back to the semis for four straight years. This group wants to take another step, and there’s not one person that’s going to pick us to beat Chicago. So we’re going to go with the underdog mentality and give it our best shot.”

.@DEEBONNER24 with a BIG 21-5-5 Game 3 to lead the @ConnecticutSun to the Semifinals of the #WNBAPlayoffs presented by @google pic.twitter.com/eJAZpTCFrM

— WNBA (@WNBA) August 25, 2022

Marina Mabrey posted a team-high 20 points, Veronica Burton contributed 10 points, six rebounds, and four dimes, and Teaira McCowan followed up with eight points, 12 boards, and two blocks.

The Sun won Game 3 after holding the Wings to perhaps the worse scoring effort of the season. Connecticut held Dallas to 22 points in the second half, and their final tally of 58 was a season-low. Dallas shot just 6-27 from the field in the second half and turned the ball over 11 times.

Part of Dallas’ offensive struggles could be attributed to Isabelle Harrison suffering an ankle injury in the first-quarter that she wouldn’t come back from. Not even Arike Ogunbowale’s short-lived return from abdominal surgery could spark Dallas’ stagnant offense. The former national champ went scoreless in six minutes, going 0-3 from the field and 0-2 from beyond the arc.

Bonner credited Connecticut’s defensive clinic to second-year guard DiJonai Carrington. The 35-year-old forward believed Carrington’s “defensive pressure was unbelievable,”, especially in the last 20 minutes of the game.

Carrington was so successful as a defensive pest that she got into a squabble with Mabrey midway through the fourth. The two guards were jaw-jacking as Mabrey set up to inbound the ball from the sideline.

“Forget all that; the credit to this game goes to DiJonai Carrington,” Bonner said. “I think she was the difference maker for us this whole game. Her defensive pressure was unbelievable; she kinda jump-started us the whole game. So take the ball out of my hands and give it to her cause tonight was all about her and her pressure. She definitely jump-started us that second-half, and (I’m) definitely so proud of her.”

The semifinal matchups will start on Sunday, with Las Vegas and Seattle kicking off the action at 4 p.m EST on ESPN. The Sun and Sky will play at 8 p.m. EST on ESPN 2. The Sky swept their regular-season series with the Sun, 4-0, winning by an average of 4.5 points per game.

The post Connecticut Advances to Second-Rounds After 73-58 Rout Over Dallas appeared first on SLAM.

“To join such an elite company is amazing,” Howard said in a statement. “Overall, just super stoked to be a part of a family that cares about you on all levels in life.”

BREAKING: WNBA #1 pick Rhyne Howard of the Atlanta Dream has signed a multi-year shoe deal with Jordan Brand. pic.twitter.com/uMXYtimf7x

— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) May 5, 2022

Isabelle Harrison of the Dallas Wings and Dana Evans are the other two recent Jordan Brand signees. Evans is the first NBA or WNBA player that has won a championship in Chicago to sign with the brand since Jordan himself.

“I was always a sneakerhead, and now understanding that Jordans are a symbol of excellence and being a part of the Jordan Brand Family is everything I thought it would be and more,” Evans said.

Howard will make her professional debut on May 7, when the Dream takes on the Wings in College Park Center.

The post No.1 Overall Pick Rhyne Howard Signs Multi-Year Deal With Jordan Brand appeared first on SLAM.

“It’s dope. It’s amazing in a league where there are so many great players—like, players you’ve seen growing up and watching while in college—to be considered one of the top players for the future, that’s important,” says the 24-year-old Dallas Wings guard.

“I can be the future [of the League] but I am also taking advantage of my time right now and not wasting any time,” she continues. “I want to be one of the top players now and in the future.”

And she’s willing to do whatever it takes to be the best—on and off the basketball court—in everything she does.

WSLAM 1 featuring Arike Ogunbowale, Diamond DeShields and Betnijah Laney is OUT NOW!

Take, for example, a recent toasty 95 degree Sunday afternoon in Dallas. Inside the Singing Hills Recreation Center is Ogunbowale, a mere two weeks after winning WNBA All-Star MVP honors and returning from vacation.

Hair pulled back in a long ponytail and wearing a white Nike headband, she stands with a basketball in the corner of the large, empty gym. She’s there on her off day for a photo shoot for Red Bull.

There’s Arike dribbling the ball with both hands. There’s Arike twirling the ball, first on one hand, then on one finger. There’s Arike shooting the ball and showing off her handles. There’s Arike posing. She’s laughing. She’s smiling, that wide, toothy grin we’ve all grown accustomed to, and chatting with the camera crew.

Dressed in a white T-shirt, blue shorts, black tights, white Nike socks and orange, black and white Nikes, she walks confidently down the gym floor near a basketball hoop. She chats with her trainer, Melvin Sanders of SandersFit Performance Center in downtown Dallas, before he begins passing her the ball. She effortlessly puts up a bucket. Then another. And another. She hits 10 straight before she misses. 

There’s no one there but me, a handful of Red Bull staff, Arike and her trainer. But she’s as focused as if she were in College Park Center where the Wings play their home games. She’s tending to business, but watching her up close and on the court alone, you can see how at one she is with the ball, how shooting baskets is second nature. She’s always working on her craft, always trying to get better, always trying to improve, even taking a photo shoot with seriousness. And it’s this work ethic, grit and determination that has propelled her in just three short years to become one of the unquestioned faces of the WNBA.

You just knew she would be.

You knew it when she led her Notre Dame team to the 2018 National Championship on a last second shot. 

You knew it when she passed fellow Irish alum Skylar Diggins-Smith to become the Notre Dame’s all-time leading scorer. 

You knew it when her name was called at No. 5 overall in the 2019 WNBA draft. 

You just knew the 5-8 walking bucket was going to take the League by storm. And in a way, so did she.

“I have a lot of confidence in myself. So I knew whatever I brought to Dallas, I would help the team for sure. No matter what it was, off the court, on the court,” she shares with WSLAM. “I knew I would help the team however I could and make a name for myself in Dallas.”

And throughout the League. 

And what a name.

She was a unanimous All-Rookie selection and WNBA Rookie of the Year runner-up after finishing third in the League in scoring (19.1 ppg) and leading her team in scoring. With a total of 630 points (third in League history in rookie points), she tied Maya Moore’s record of 30 or more points in four straight games. 

For her sophomore year, Ogunbowale—who admires the game of legends Seimone Augustus, Lisa Leslie, Maya Moore and Diana Taurasi—won the WNBA scoring title (22.8 ppg), recording four 30 point games in back-to-back years.

This year, a few games left in the regular season, she is averaging 18.8 ppg and is on pace to reach career bests in three-point and free-throw shooting. She was also named the All-Star MVP in her first All-Star Gajme after dropping 26 points.

“I want to be one of the top players now and in the future.”

– Arike Ogunbowale

But it’s not just on the court where Arike is making her name known. Recently, she joined some big names, including Kevin Durant, Elena Delle Donne and Kelley O’Hara, as investors in Just Women’s Sports, a growing media platform. 

“As you get more into the League, you want longevity and want to start investing in things,” she says. “What better way to start investing than in women’s sports? I’m involved in women’s sports. It’s what I do. If I have daughters, this is what I want them to do, and I just want to inspire young kids.”

“This is really putting my money where my mouth is, elevating women and all that they do, so why not invest in it and have a part in helping it grow? That was really important to me.” 

Ogunbowale, who’s signed with Nike and most recently partnered with Red Bull, also has her hand in uplifting young people. She recently worked with the Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation to give away clothing and other gear to young girls. 

“I have a lot of things in store. Whatever I am doing, I am definitely trying to make young girls and our community the focal point. That’s what I’m big on.”

Get your copy of the first all-women’s issue of SLAM!

She’s also big on basketball, and getting into the playoffs remains her top priority; something she’s yet to experience after a 10-24 finish her rookie year; 8-14 in the shortened 2020 wubble season, and currently 10-13 this season, one game out of the playoffs.

“I’m good. I’m locked in and getting ready for the second part of the season,” she answers with trademark confidence when asked about her current state of mind. 

And she has to be. 

Although there are other talented veterans on the Wings, including Olympic Gold medalist Allisha Gray, defensive stalwart Kayla Thornton and Isabelle Harrison, it’s Ogunbowale who’s the face of the franchise and the leader of the team. She has been since she was drafted and named starting point guard in the absence of Diggins-Smith. How challenging has it been for her to step into the role of leader and help put the Wings in the best possible position to succeed? 

“I wouldn’t say challenging, it’s just a process, especially with me being young myself,” she explains. “I already had to be more of a leader even in year one when I was starting point guard. I’m not even done with year three and I’m already considered a leader, and that’s just who I am and what I add to this team.

“In order to be a top player, you have to lead as well, so I think I’m growing in that and learning and that’s still a process, too. I’m not the best leader yet,” she admits. “But I’m definitely working at it. And it helps to have teammates and coaches who trust you, trust what you say; believe in you as a leader. That definitely elevates my confidence as well.”

Wings teammates Harrsion and Bella Alarie, who have played alongside Ogunbowale for three and two years respectively, have seen the growth and evolution of their teammate and see no limits on her ascension to the top of the League.

“My favorite thing about Arike is how talented she is, but still has a listening ear,” says Harrison. “Even when she got here her first year, she was our leader. Arike was the person we were going to give the ball to at the end of the game so she stepped up a lot. This is her third year now, I think she is just getting more comfortable in her role as far as being vocal, leading off the court, encouraging  people and holding herself to a standard defensively. She wants to grow. I don’t know if people see that about Arike. She wants to grow and she wants to be better.  

“So any Arike slander, I don’t listen to it. I don’t care who it comes from,” Harrison says laughing, but also very seriously. “That girl wants to be better. And I love that about her. She is just so humble. She is just putting herself on the next level. She can only go up. She is pushing herself to be good.”

Alarie calls Ogunbowale, “a fantastic player, playmaker and extremely confident. And that’s something I look up to her for. She’s not afraid to take those last second shots that make or break the game. I really admire that.”

“The way she’s grown into herself, she’s done a great job of carrying us along with her,” she continues. “I really love playing with her. She brings a great attitude to the court. She plays hard and she is only going to get better.”

One area Ogunbowale is striving to improve upon is reading defensive schemes other teams are throwing at her as they try to make it more difficult for the bucket-getter to score.

“Everyone knows I can score, but every night it’s a different defense. The hardest thing is being able to adjust every game to different defenses because teams throw different things at me,” she says. “Being able to adjust and read the right plays—you know, if I’m getting trapped, I gotta swing it quick—just being able to get up on those things faster.”

There’s no doubt she’ll improve defensively and in any other way she desires. Ogunbowale has that kind of will, dedication and focus—much of which comes from her family, whom she calls the source of her inspiration and motivation and with whom she connects with every day. “My support system is really big and definitely keeps me going.”

What also keeps her going is her competitive nature and her desire to take her team further than they’ve ever gone. 

“I’m locked in. We’ve got some important games. We’ve gotta get these wins in order to make this playoff push. I’m really locked in right now.” 

Go behind the scenes with Diamond, Betnijah and Arike for their WSLAM 1 cover shoot!

Portraits by Raven B. Varona. Follow Ravie B. on Instagram, @ravieb.

Action photos via Getty Images.

The post Arike Ogunbowale Continues Making Her Presence Felt On and Off the Court appeared first on SLAM.

The past two matchups have seen game-tying and game-winning shots by Seattle’s Jewell Loyd but, last night, the basketball gods evened the score as Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale hoisted a high-arching last second three-pointer for the win.

Take another look at this @Arike_O game-winner pic.twitter.com/QBWaHoxXNS

— WNBA (@WNBA) June 7, 2021

Ogunbowale, now in her third season with the Wings, scored 24 points and grabbing six boards in a stunning 68-67 win over the Storm. Dallas—who trailed the entire second half—went on a 8-0 run strung together by Ogunbowale (who scored the final eight points for the team).

The Wings successfully curtailed a third straight overtime contest between the two teams, which Seattle won last Friday’s contest and on May 22 by a combined six points.

In each of their five losses this season, Ogunbowale has willed the Wings with 20+ points.

Last night’s game-winning 3-pointer finally rang poetic justice for the Wings who have lost their past five by six or less points. Both Marina Mabrey and Ogunbowale have stepped up their game against the defending champs, each averaging 25.0 points per game in their three games against the Storm.

This combo crossover and deep three from Arike Ogunbowale is not fair pic.twitter.com/DbkKUngl48

— WNBA Got Game (@wnbagotgame) June 5, 2021

Mabrey added 15 points (on 7-12 shooting), seven rebounds, two steals and a block, while Isabelle Harrison chipped in 14 points, eight boards and a block off the bench. Dallas (3-5) is now in sole possession of ninth place, 0.5 games out of the final playoff spot.

Midway through a five-game road series, Dallas travels to Phoenix to face the Mercury on Tuesday and Friday, their respective final matchups of the season.

The post Arike Ogunbowale, Wings Hand Storm Second Loss of Season appeared first on SLAM.

Entering its 23rd season, the WNBA has more talent than ever before, making final roster cuts even more excruciating for teams.

The WNBA season will tip off tonight with the Wings visiting the Dream at 7:30 p.m. EST. Check out the 12-player, opening-night rosters for every WNBA team below!

(NOTE: Some opening-night rosters do not include players on the temporary suspended list while injured, sitting out or fulfilling overseas commitments.)

ATLANTA DREAM

Alex Bentley (G)
Monique Billings (F)
Jessica Breland (F)
Maite Cazorla (G)
Nia Coffey (F)
Marie Gülich (C)
Tiffany Hayes (G)
Angel McCoughtry (GF)
Renee Montgomery (G)
Haley Peters (F)
Brittney Sykes (G)
Elizabeth Williams (C)

CHICAGO SKY

Kahleah Copper (GF)
Diamond DeShields (G)
Stefanie Dolson (C)
Jamierra Faulkner (G)
Chloe Jackson (G)
Jantel Lavender (FC)
Astou Ndour (C)
Cheyenne Parker (F)
Allie Quigley (G)
Katie Lou Samuelson (GF)
Courtney Vandersloot (G)
Gabby Williams (F)

CONNECTICUT SUN

Kristine Anigwe (FC)
Rachel Banham (G)
Bridget Carleton (GF)
Layshia Clarendon (G)
Bria Holmes (G)
Jonquel Jones (FC)
Brionna Jones (C)
Shekinna Stricklen (GF)
Alyssa Thomas (F)
Jasmine Thomas (G)
Morgan Tuck (F)
Courtney Williams (G)

DALLAS WINGS

Kaela Davis (GF)
Skylar Diggins-Smith (G)
Allisha Gray (G)
Isabelle Harrison (F)
Tayler Hill (G)
Glory Johnson (F)
Brooke McCarty-Williams (G)
Imani McGee-Stafford (C)
Arike Ogunbowale (G)
Theresa Plaisance (FC)
Azura Stevens (FC)
Kayla Thornton (F)

INDIANA FEVER

Natalie Achonwa (FC)
Candice Dupree (F)
Shenise Johnson (G)
Paris Kea (G)
Betnijah Laney (G)
Stephanie Mavunga (F)
Erica McCall (F)
Teaira McCowan (C)
Tiffany Mitchell (G)
Kelsey Mitchell (G)
Asia Taylor (F)
Erica Wheeler (G)

LAS VEGAS ACES

Liz Cambage (C)
Sydney Colson (G)
Dearica Hamby (F)
Kayla McBride (G)
JiSu Park (C)
Kelsey Plum (G)
Sugar Rodgers (G)
Carolyn Swords (C)
A’ja Wilson (FC)
Tamera Young (F)
Jackie Young (G)

LOS ANGELES SPARKS

Alana Beard (GF)
Kalani Brown (C)
Chelsea Gray (G)
Alexis Jones (G)
Marina Mabrey (G)
Nneka Ogwumike (F)
Chiney Ogwumike (FC)
Candace Parker (FC)
Tierra Ruffin-Pratt (GF)
Maria Vadeeva (FC)
Sydney Wiese (G)
Riquna Williams (G)

MINNESOTA LYNX

Seimone Augustus (G)
Lexie Brown (G)
Karima Christmas-Kelly (F)
Alaina Coates (C)
Napheesa Collier (F)
Damiris Dantas (F)
Sylvia Fowles (C)
Danielle Robinson (G)
Jessica Shepard (F)
Odyssey Sims (G)
Stephanie Talbot (F)
Shao Ting (F)

NEW YORK LIBERTY

Rebecca Allen (G)
Tiffany Bias (G)
Brittany Boyd (G)
Tina Charles (C)
Asia Durr (G)
Reshanda Gray (F)
Bria Hartley (G)
Kia Nurse (G)
Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe (FC)
Tanisha Wright (G)
Han Xu (C)
Amanda Zahui B (C)

PHOENIX MERCURY

DeWanna Bonner (F)
Essence Carson (G)
Arica Carter (G)
Sophie Cunningham (G)
Brittney Griner (C)
Briann January (G)
Camille Little (F)
Sancho Lyttle (F)
Alanna Smith (F)
Diana Taurasi (G)
Brianna Turner (F)
Yvonne Turner (G)

SEATTLE STORM

Sue Bird (G)
Jordin Canada (G)
Alysha Clark (F)
Natasha Howard (F)
Anriel Howard (F)
Crystal Langhorne (FC)
Jewell Loyd (G)
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (F)
Courtney Paris (C)
Mercedes Russell (C)
Sami Whitcomb (GF)
Shavonte Zellous (G)

WASHINGTON MYSTICS

Ariel Atkins (G)
Natasha Cloud (G)
Elena Delle Donne (F)
Tianna Hawkins (F)
Myisha Hines-Allen (F)
Kiara Leslie (G)
Emma Meesseman (F)
Kim Mestdagh (G)
Aerial Powers (F)
LaToya Sanders (FC)
Kristi Toliver (G)
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (G)

The post WNBA Opening-Night Rosters Set for 2019 Season ✅ appeared first on SLAM.

The two parties had been nearing a deal since at least Monday when SB Nation’s Brady Klopfer suggested that a trade was imminent.

The 27-year-old averaged 23.0 points and 9.7 rebounds per game for the Wings in 2018, her first WNBA campaign since 2014, and will immediately form a historic frontcourt with 2018 Rookie of the Year A’ja Wilson.

The Aces finished one game out of the postseason in 2018 and will have plenty of opportunities to gain ground in 2019, not only because of their new All-Star on the roster, but also turnover and injuries throughout the rest of the league.

The 2019 campaign may be a slightly more difficult one for Dallas. When preseason began on May 9, the Wings braced for life without their superstar. This in addition to the news that star guard Skylar Diggins-Smith would miss an indefinite chunk of the year on maternity leave.

For months, Cambage insisted on a trade to the Los Angeles Sparks, though that scenario grew less likely when L.A. acquired Chiney Ogwumike late last month instead. Now, with Cambage’s not only likely to sit but off the roster altogether, the club will attempt to replace her lofty production elsewhere.

Related: Sparks acquire Chiney Ogwumike

Dallas-bound in this trade are Isabelle Harrison, Moriah Jefferson and Vegas’ first and second-round picks in 2020. Harrison, another center, averaged 11.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game for the then-San Antonio Stars in 2017 while 25-year-old guard Jefferson played sparingly for the Aces in 2018.

The post Liz Cambage Traded To Las Vegas Aces appeared first on SLAM.

Some WNBA franchises have taken the gamble, however, to find it has paid off—and sometimes, in spades.

In many cases, good athletes are more than worth the wait.

Early 2014 wasn’t kind to two of the college game’s top seniors.

In January, Duke point guard Chelsea Gray tore her ACL. During an NCAA Tournament Elite Eight game that April, Notre Dame forward Natalie Achonwa incurred the same injury. But come WNBA draft time, both went in the first round, as originally projected: Achonwa to Indiana with the ninth pick and Gray to Connecticut at 11.

Achonwa had contemplated sitting out the draft and waiting until the following year, but after talking to WNBA representatives, she decided to throw her hat in. Being chosen in Round 1 caught her off guard.

“I had a lot of emotions, but I was honestly shocked, and I was excited,” Achnowa said. “I couldn’t believe there was a team willing to take a chance on me.”

Gray was similarly taken aback.

“I was surprised when I got the call to go to the draft, and when I heard my name, it was unbelievable,” Gray said. “It was definitely a blessing for a team to be able to have that faith in me to rehab for a year and come back the next year.”

Achonwa rehabilitated at Notre Dame, where she was also the director of operations for women’s basketball that season. The following February, she reported to nearby Indianapolis to begin preparations for her WNBA rookie year. Gray completed her recovery in time to play in Israel during the winter, where her confidence grew.

Both athletes established themselves as solid reserves for their teams in their rookie seasons that summer, with Achonwa starting 17 games for Indiana.

Kelly Krauskopf, who has been the Fever general manager since the organization was founded in 2000, said she took a calculated risk in choosing Achonwa in the first round.

“We knew we wouldn’t be able to get her in the second round, and we could afford to wait because we didn’t need a post player that year,” Krauskopf said. “I was looking at our roster and our salary cap three years out, and at the depth of our roster.”

Achonwa has turned out to be a great fit for a team that is close enough to her former college to draw Notre Dame fans to games at times. Krauskopf is satisfied.

“It has paid off,” she said of the wait for Achonwa.

Sun vice president and GM Chris Sienko said the franchise was in a good position last year to be able to draft Gray.

“We had multiple draft picks in the first round, and we used that one knowing she would have been a top-five player if healthy,” he said. “We thought it was good insurance for the future to have a quality player like Chelsea.”

In contemplating drafting Gray, Sienko’s only hesitation was whether or not she would be ready by the next year. So he did his research.

“We had spoken many times with one of her former coaches, (Duke assistant coach) Al Brown, and he had a lot of positive things to say,” Sienko said. “And when we watched her games, it was clear that when she was healthy, she was a very capable player.”

So successful was her return, that the Sun traded her to the Los Angeles Sparks on draft day this year.

“She was one of our most consistent players, but there were some greater needs for the long-term that had to be considered,” Sienko said. “Trading Gray was a necessary part of addressing those needs. She is a great person and we wish her well.”

Last year the Phoenix Mercury decided to take a risk of their own by drafting Tennessee center Isabelle Harrison in the first round, with the 12th pick of the first round. A prolific scorer and defender, Harrison had torn her ACL in February.

Mercury general manager Jim Pitman said he was looking at the big picture for the organization in deciding to select Harrison.

“We didn’t have to draft for right then, but for the future,” Pitman said. “Izzy was a top-three or four pick before she went down. To get someone at 12 with her value was big for us.”

Phoenix did their research on Harrison, to make sure she was a good investment.

“Obviously we needed to know about her injury, what university was doing the surgery, and what kind of person we’re talking about,” he said. “Are they going to be diligent, are they willing to work hard to reach that goal?”

The organization did the same kind of investigation this spring before drafting Oregon forward Jillian Alleyne 20th overall. They checked up on Alleyne, who was projected as a top-five pick before tearing her ACL in February. They also flew her to Phoenix last month to see how her rehab is going.

“We’ve been fortunate to have high-quality young women, and we knew both of them would be incredibly diligent in doing their rehab,” Pitman said. “That’s the most important thing. Value is important, but if you have a player who doesn’t want to be great or who doesn’t want to work, then it’s not good value.”

Harrison said being drafted in the first round by the Mercury made her want to work even harder to recover from injury.

“I started off with four hours of rehab every day, and slowly there was more and more I could do,” she said. “It made me re-appreciate playing basketball. Something I love was taken away; that’s my motivation now.”

Harrison has been a solid reserve for Phoenix, which struggled to find rhythm at the beginning of the season. Sienko said she has proven herself.

“Izzy has exceeded my expectations,” he said. “She hadn’t played for 12 months, and now to see her playing at the level she has been, her athleticism is as good as ever. She’s not afraid on the court and is not afraid of contact.”

Alleyne, who broke several school and Pac-12 conference records before her injury, seems set to follow in the footsteps of her predecessors. She acknowledged that rehabilitation is “arduous,” but is maintaining her usual positive attitude throughout the process. Like Harrison, she has a new appreciation for the game. Like Achonwa, she is staying at school to heal.

“The plan is to do all of my rehab here at the University of Oregon, and by December I should be back to playing basketball,” Alleyne said. “Then, depending upon how my knee and body feels, I can go overseas and play to get my legs back under me before Mercury training camp next year.”

“Or I can stay, rest, and continue to develop my game and stay with the team here at Oregon. It all boils down to how my knee and body are feeling in December.”

#RehabEveryday

— Jillian Alleyne (@SuperrJaay) June 16, 2016

Alleyne keeps herself going by focusing on her larger goals.

“The way I motivate myself is to remind myself of what the big pictures is, and that’s getting back to playing and preparing myself for training camp next year,” she said. “What also keeps me motivated is God, my family, friends and supporters.”

“I know this is a chapter in my storybook, and I’m motivated to overcome this!”

The WNBA has a tremendous precedent in a drafted, injured player making a successful comeback.

In 2001, the one-year-old expansion teams Seattle Storm and Indiana Fever had the first and third picks, respectively, in the draft. Tennessee four-year All-American Tamika Catchings was projected to be the No. 1 pick until halfway through her senior year, when she tore her ACL in a game.

When draft time came, the Storm chose Australian star center Lauren Jackson. The Fever snapped up Catchings, and waited for her to rehabilitate from not only the ACL injury but a torn meniscus. Then in 2002, it was Catchings’ time.

She was Rookie of the Year that season, and went on to win Defensive Player of the Year an unprecedented five times. Catchings has been league MVP, Finals MVP, and she guided the Fever to a Championship in 2012. She has averaged 16.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.4 steals per game during her career—all 15 years of which have been spent with the Fever. When she retires at the end of this season, she will be the only WNBA player to have spent as long as of a career with one franchise.

Catchings is the WNBA’s all-time steals leader, ranks second all-time in both scoring and rebounds, and is sixth in assists and 11th in blocks. She will make her fourth trip to the Olympics this summer, and she inspires her entire team year after year with her work ethic. Besides being the team leader and mentor, Catchings became the face of the Indiana franchise, an ambassador for the WNBA, and a sterling example of good character.

Krauskopf acknowledged that drafting Catchings was a roll of the dice. When it was time for their pick, they had the choice of either Catchings or the highly touted All-American from Southwest Missouri State, Jackie Stiles.

“We were a new franchise, and that was only our second draft,” Krauskopf said. “It was obviously about building long-term success, and we ended up taking this injured player from Tennessee who was out of sight, out of mind for many other teams. We were hedging a bet.”

But Krauskopf was confident because she had done plenty of research on Catchings, and knew that her work ethic was second to none.

“You have to do your homework,” Krauskopf said. “I knew much more about her than that she had a torn ACL.”

Catchings, typically, takes the philosophical view of having to wait for her league debut.

“It ended up being a blessing in disguise, because I could sit outside the game that year and see how much it was evolving,” she said. “I was also able to work out during the offseason and get focused on what I needed to do. I was so determined to get back.”

Catchings said it is important when facing injury to maintain an optimistic outlook and keep working.

“You’ve got to focus on the support system around you, and keep your head up,” Catchings said. “The minute you begin to have a pity party for yourself, it’s over.”

Ironically, Catchings was able to bestow this advice on Achonwa, when Indiana drafted her, and on Harrison, as a fellow Tennessee alumni. Both found her support invaluable.

“Tamika was one of the first people that contacted me after [the injury] happened,” Harrison said. “She continued to talk to me, and encouraged me. She’s a true mentor.”

But though there have been several examples of success in drafting injured athletes, it doesn’t always work out in the player’s favor.

Last year the Los Angeles Sparks took Central Michigan forward Crystal Bradford with the seventh pick in the draft, and then had to wait for her rehabilitation from a torn meniscus. She played in 16 games, averaging 2.7 points.

This season, however, Bradford was cut in training camp. She went home to Michigan, where she is training and preparing for overseas play this winter. She plans to give the WNBA another shot next summer.

“I wasn’t what they were looking for, but I am absolutely capable of being a pro,” Bradford said. “In being with the Sparks, I got a taste of how it works. I get it now.”

Pitman said drafting an injured player is something the Mercury would consider again.

“There’s no question, if it’s something that can help us long term, we’re willing to take that risk,” he said.

The post Worth the Wait appeared first on SLAM.

Notre Dame’s Jewell Loyd went first overall to the Seattle Storm, and Minnesota’s Amanda Zahui B. was selected second by the Tulsa Shock. Loyd, a junior, and Zahui B., a redshirt sophomore, faced criticism for coming out early, but were ultimately the best and most promising talent in the draft class.

Players must turn 22 by the end of the WNBA Draft year in order to be eligible. Most players choose to graduate because of the lower pay compared to the men’s game, and the necessity of a career after basketball. Loyd and Zahui B. will play internationally during the WNBA’s “offseason,” and will make six-figure salaries.

Here’s how the rest of the draft played out:

Round 1
1. Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm
2. Amanda Zahui B., Tulsa Shock
3. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Seattle Storm
4. Elizabeth Williams, Connecticut Sun
5. Cheyenne Parker, Chicago Sky
6. Dearica Hamby, San Antonio Stars
7. Crystal Bradford, Los Angeles Sparks
8. Ally Malott, Washington Mystics
9. Brittany Boyd, New York Liberty
10. Samantha Logic, Atlanta Dream
11. Kiah Stokes, New York Liberty
12. Isabelle Harrison, Phoenix Mercury

Round 2
13. Brianna Kiesel, Tulsa Shock
14. Cierra Burdick, Los Angeles Sparks
15. Natasha Cloud, Washington Mystics
16. Reshanda Gray, Minnesota Lynx
17. Betnijah Laney, Chicago Sky
18. Alex Harden, Phoenix Mercury
19. Brittany Hrynko, Connecticut Sun
20. Vicky McIntyre, Seattle Storm
21. Chelsea Gardner, Indiana Fever
22. Aleighsa Welch, Chicago Sky
23. Amber Orrange, New York Liberty
24. Zofia Hruscakova, Phoenix Mercury

Round 3
25. Mimi Mungedi, Tulsa Shock
26. Nneka Enemkpali, Seattle Storm
27. Laurin Mincy, New York Liberty
28. Michala Johnson, New York Liberty
29. Ariel Massengale, Atlanta Dream
30. Dragana Stankovic, San Antonio Stars
31. Andrea Hoover, Los Angeles Sparks
32. Mrica Gajic, Washington Mystics
33. Nikki Moody, San Antonio Stars
34. Lauren Okafor, Atlanta Dream
35. Shae Kelley, Minnesota Lynx
36. Promise Amukamara, Phoenix Mercury

The post Jewell Loyd Selected First Overall in 2015 WNBA Draft appeared first on SLAM.

ATLANTA – The nation’s top 20 high school senior girls’ basketball players have been selected to participate in the 2011 WBCA High School All-America Game presented by Nike, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced today.

The 20th annual All-America Game, which is held as part of the WBCA National Convention, will be played Saturday, April 2, 2011, at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., site of the 2011 NCAA® Women’s Final Four®. Tipoff is 4:30 p.m. ET. The game will be played on the NCAA Women’s Final Four court for the second straight year.

“Indiana, the Hoosier state, is synonymous with high school basketball; so, it’s only fitting that the WBCA showcase its High School All-America Team there,” said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. “What a great platform for this game to be held in Indianapolis.”

The 20 players will be divided into two teams of 10 players each for the game, which will be played according to NCAA rules. The game is free to the public; however, a special VIP ticket package that includes preferred seating, a “chalk talk” by an NCAA® Women’s Final Four® coach and a complimentary flipchart can be purchased for $15 from the WBCA by downloading and submitting the order form available at wbca.org. The deadline for advance ticket orders is March 14.

Here are the 20 players selected to participate in the 2011 WBCA High School All-America Game presented by Nike:

Name (School/ Hometown) Signed
Cierra Burdick (Butler HS/ Matthews, N.C.) Tennessee
Briyona Canty (Trenton Catholic Academy/ Willingboro, N.J.) Rutgers
Ariya Crook-Williams (L.B. Polytechnic HS/ Los Angeles, Calif.) Southern Cal
Krystal Forthan (Georgetown HS/ Georgetown, Texas) Louisiana State
Bria Goss (Ben Davis HS/ Indianapolis, Ind.) Kentucky
Taylor Greenfield (Ballard HS/ Huxley, Iowa) Stanford
Justine Hartman (Brea Olinda HS/ Fullerton, Calif.) UCLA
Amber Henson (Sickles HS/ Odessa, Fla.) Duke
Morgan Jones (Lake Mary HS/ Altamonte Springs, Fla.) Northwestern
Betnijah Laney (Smyrna HS/ Clayton, Del.) Undecided
Samantha Logic (Racine J.I. Case HS/ Racine, Wisc.) Iowa
Ariel Massengale (Bolingbrook HS/Bolingbrook, Ill.) Tennessee
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (Mater Dei HS/ Anaheim, Calif.) Connecticut
Eliza Normen (Monarch HS/ Louisville, Colo.) Arizona State
Amber Orrange (Westbury Christian HS/Missouri City, Texas) Stanford
Shakena Richardson (Neptune HS/ Neptune, N.J.) Rutgers
Bria Smith (Christ the King HS/ Massapequa, N.Y.) Virginia
Kiah Stokes (Linn-Mar HS/ Marion, Iowa) Connecticut
Alexyz Vaioletama (Mater Dei HS/ Fountain Valley, Calif.) Southern Cal
Elizabeth Williams (Princess Anne HS/ Virginia Beach, Va.) Duke

The inaugural WBCA High School All-America Game was played April 17, 1992, at Oman Arena in Jackson, Tenn. The 2011 class of WBCA High School All-Americans joins a long list of well-known past participants including Tamika Catchings, Chamique Holdsclaw, Katie Smith, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Alana Beard, Maya Moore and Brittney Griner.

“In continuing to elevate women’s basketball and the future growth of the game, we at Nike are proud to be the presenting sponsor of the 2011 WBCA High School All-America Game,” said Lauren Westendorf, Nike’s Women’s College Basketball Manager. “Each and every year, the country’s best young talent is put on display to showcase their abilities and to provide a preview into tomorrow’s great basketball stars.  Nike recognizes the importance of providing opportunities for girls in sport and these 20 selected All-Americans are the future of women’s basketball.”

Any graduating senior can be nominated for the WBCA High School All-America Team by a high school or AAU coach who is an active WBCA member. College coaches are not eligible to nominate a player for consideration. The 20-player All-America team and a 20-player honorable mention are selected from the nominees by a selection committee composed of WBCA-member girls’ high school basketball coaches who represent nine geographical districts across the country.

“Congratulations to the members of the 2011 WBCA High School All-America Team on their selection,” said St. Louis (Mo.) Metro Academic & Classical High School head coach Gary Glasscock, who chairs the WBCA High School All-America Selection Committee. “This is just one of the first steps of many that each of these young ladies will take in their potentially highly successful basketball careers.”

Joining Glasscock on this year’s selection committee are Stacy Bilodeau, Walpole (Mass.) High School; Pat Diulus, Regina (Ohio) High School; Angie Hembree, Norcross (Ga.) High School; Gail Hook, Monarch (Colo.) High School; Bob Mackey, Christ the King (N.Y.) High School; Teri Morrison, Ralph H. Poteet (Texas) High School; Brian Robinson, Bishop McGuinness (N.C.) High School; Jeff Sink, Brea Olinda (Calif.) High School; and Brad Smith, Oregon City High School, who is past chair. WBCA Manager of Events, Awards & Office Administration Daniella Trujillo is staff liaison to the committee.

“I commend the members of the selection committee for their undying effort in canvassing the country to find the top girls high school basketball players,” said Glasscock “Such an incredible array of talent will be on display in this year’s game.”

Here are the 20 players receiving WBCA High School All-America honorable mention:

Name (School/ Hometown) Signed
Promise Amukamara (Apollo HS/ Glendale, Ariz.) Arizona State
Rachel Banham (Lakeville North HS/ Lakeville, Minn.) Minnesota
Brianna Banks (Fayette County HS/ Newnan, Ga.) Connecticut
Krystal Barrett (Skyline HS/ Dallas, Texas) N.C. State
Megan Buckland (Bishop McGuinness HS/ High Point, N.C.) North Carolina
Madison Cable (Mount Lebanon HS/ Pittsburgh, Penn.) Notre Dame
Syessence Davis (Neptune HS/ Neptune, N.J.) Rutgers
Nneka Enemkpali (Pflugerville HS/ Pflugerville, Texas) Texas
Temi Fagbenle (Blair Academy/ London, England) Harvard
Raven Ferguson (Columbus Africentric HS/ Columbus, Ohio) Ohio State
Reshanda Gray (Washington Preparatory HS/ Los Angeles, Calif.) California
Sarah Hammond (Rockcastle County HS/ Mount Vernon, Ken.) Louisville
Isabelle Harrison (Hillsboro HS/ Nashville, Tenn.) Tennessee
Rachel Mitchell (Atascocita HS/ Houston, Texas) Texas A&M
Hasina Muhammad (Ridgeway HS/ Memphis, Tenn.) Auburn
Brittany Roundtree (Potters House Christian/ Jacksonville, Fla.) North Carolina
Bonnie Samuelson (Edison HS/ Huntington Beach, Calif.) Stanford
Tori Scott (John Ehret HS/ Marrero, La.) Texas A&M
Alexia Standish (Colleyville Heritage HS/ Colleyville, Texas) Texas A&M
Kaylon Williams (Midwest City HS/ Midwest City, Okla.) Oklahoma

# # #
About Nike:
NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world’s leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly owned Nike subsidiaries include Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Cole Haan, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand; and Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, visit www.nikebiz.com.

About the WBCA:
Founded in 1981, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association promotes women’s basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls. For more information on the WBCA, please visit wbca.org.

The post WBCA HS All-America Game Rosters Announced appeared first on SLAM.