Latest news with #UConn
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Paige Bueckers Gets Major Boost Before Golden State Valkyries Game
Paige Bueckers Gets Major Boost Before Golden State Valkyries Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Dallas Wings return to action Tuesday night as they host the Golden State Valkyries. The Wings are desperate to snap a seven-game losing streak, including five straight losses at home. Advertisement Dallas is coming off a tough 88-84 loss to the Las Vegas Aces on Friday night. The Wings, who have yet to beat a Western Conference opponent this season, are clearly in need of a spark. Paige Bueckers, in her first WNBA season, has been one of the bright spots for Dallas. Although she has missed four of the team's 12 games, she leads the Wings in scoring at 17.4 points per game. Dallas hopes a special boost on Tuesday night can help her and the team secure a second win of the season. On Monday, UConn coaching legend Geno Auriemma had a noteworthy announcement made about his presence: "Geno Auriemma says he'll be in Dallas tomorrow night for the Golden State-Wings game." It'll be the first time the 71-year-old head coach has attended one of Bueckers' professional games. Auriemma, who has guided the UConn Huskies to 12 NCAA tournament titles, coached Bueckers throughout her collegiate career. Advertisement His first championship came in 1995, and his most recent was earlier this year in 2025, the Huskies' first since their run of four straight titles from 2013 to 2016. Auriemma boasts 1,250 career wins as a head coach. He has been named Naismith Coach of the Year eight times and AP Coach of the Year nine times. Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers.© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Bueckers played at UConn from 2020 to 2025. She earned several major awards in 2021, including AP Player of the Year, the Naismith Award, the USBWA Award and the John R. Wooden Award. During UConn's championship run in 2025, Bueckers appeared in 38 games and averaged 19.9 points per game, slightly down from the 21.9 she posted in the 2023–24 season. Advertisement The Wings host the Valkyries at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday. Related: Caitlin Clark's Former Teammate Lands New Team After 0 Minutes with Indiana Fever Related: WNBA's Historic Announcement Means Bad News for Indiana Fever Star This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA Mock Draft Predicts Timberwolves Will Pick UConn's Liam McNeeley
NBA Mock Draft Predicts Timberwolves Will Pick UConn's Liam McNeeley originally appeared on Athlon Sports. As the 2025 NBA Draft approaches, the Minnesota Timberwolves continue to evaluate which prospect they'll add to the roster. Their decision-making also includes consideration of how that roster might change via trades and free agency. Advertisement Rumors swirled about Kevin Durant getting traded to the Timberwolves, but those were recently shut down with reports KD wasn't interested in playing for them. Meanwhile, the team could still make a trade or two. Their young backup guard, Rob Dillingham, center Rudy Gobert, and Donte DiVincenzo were all mentioned as possible trade assets. The Wolves could also lose roster members via free agency. Naz Reid is one individual mentioned as possibly exploring his options. Julius Randle seems less likely to leave right now. With the NBA Draft, the Timberwolves hold the No. 17 pick, giving them another trade asset. However, they may opt to keep the pick and gamble on finding a gem for their roster. University of Connecticut forward Liam McNeeley drives to the Donnan-Imagn Images According to a recent NBA Mock Draft from SI's Nick Crain, University of Connecticut's Liam McNeeley will be available at No. 17, allowing Minnesota to select him. Advertisement McNeeley was a highly-touted five-star recruit who played high school ball alongside Cooper Flagg, among other first-rounders this year. In his freshman campaign at UConn, he averaged 14.5 points, six rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. The 6-foot-7 forward was an essential part of UConn's season and postseason, which featured a near-run to the NCAA Final Four under Dan Hurley. He showed a variety of skills on the court, including potential for high-scoring games, with a 38-point outburst in UConn's win against Creighton in February. While SI's mock draft displayed McNeeley at No. 17, the other predictions for his draft spot differ vastly. A mock draft from Yahoo! Sports' Kevin O'Connor earlier this week suggested McNeeley might go as high as the No. 11 pick for the Portland Trailblazers. Advertisement Other drafts show the UConn Huskies star dropping to No. 20 for the Miami Heat or No. 23 where the Boston Celtics could take him. The 19-year-old ranks as the sixth-best small forward available in the draft, per They tout McNeeley as 'one of the most polished and dependable offensive wings' in the draft, and a great shooter with deep range. The knocks against him could be "speed and burst," possibly raising concerns about his future upside. However, contends McNeeley could provide a solid shooter and long-term floor spacer for a team's rotation. The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft is on Wednesday, June 25 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Other potential picks that the Timberwolves could take at No. 17 include BYU's Egor Denim or Georgia's Asa Newell, who is McNeeley's former high school teammate. Related: NBA Mock Draft Sees Timberwolves Pick Forward Who Compared Himself to Chris Bosh This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dallas Wings React to Paige Bueckers' Move on Wednesday
Dallas Wings React to Paige Bueckers' Move on Wednesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Paige Bueckers is quickly becoming one of the biggest sports stars in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The Dallas Wings rookie has made a solid impression so far during her first season in the WNBA, and she seems to only be scratching the surface of her potential. Advertisement On Wednesday, she threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Texas Rangers game against the Kansas City Royals at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers lost, 6-3, and dropped to 36-38 on the season, but it was a fun outing for Bueckers. The Wings took to their official X account to highlight this special occasion for the standout guard. "No stage too big for 5," the caption read. So far this season, Bueckers is averaging 17.7 points and 5.7 assists a game while shooting 47.2% from the field. After struggling in the first few games of the year, she has picked up her play more recently, and she poured in 35 points on 13-of-19 shooting last Wednesday against the Phoenix Mercury. Advertisement The Wings have a dismal 2-11 record, which is the worst mark in the WNBA, but in Bueckers, they have some tangible hope for the foreseeable future. Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers© Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images She was a big-time star at UConn during her time there. Despite missing all of the 2022-23 season with a torn ACL, she finished her college career with averages of 19.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists a game, and she shot 53.1% overall and 42.3% from 3-point range. This past season, the Huskies won the women's NCAA championship thanks largely to Bueckers, and she won her second Nancy Lieberman Award and her third Big East Player of the Year award. Advertisement Related: Angel Reese Had Four Words for Former LSU Teammate on Wednesday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Seattle Signs Forward Natalie Snodgrass for Its Inaugural PWHL Season
Seattle signed forward Natalie Snodgrass to a one-year contract, the PWHL expansion team said Wednesday. The 26-year-old Snodgrass spent the past two seasons with the Ottawa Charge, appearing in 44 regular-season games while recording eight points on two goals and six assists. Prior to joining Ottawa, Snodgrass spent one season with the Minnesota Whitecaps of the Premier Hockey Federation, with whom she tied for the team lead with 20 points. Prior to playing professionally, Snodgrass captained the University of Connecticut team during her final year in school. Snodgrass racked up 139 points on 70 goals and 69 assists across her collegiate career. She also represented the US at the IIHF U18 Women's World Championship, earning gold medals in both 2015 and 2016. 'Natalie is a strong skater with the versatility to play in a number of different roles,' Seattle general manager Meghan Turner said in a statement. 'She competes hard every shift and brings a consistent work ethic that makes her a valuable addition to our group. Her ability to adapt in all situations will make her an important piece of our lineup.'
Washington Post
a day ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Seattle signs forward Natalie Snodgrass for its inaugural PWHL season
SEATTLE — Seattle signed forward Natalie Snodgrass to a one-year contract, the PWHL expansion team said Wednesday. The 26-year-old Snodgrass spent the past two seasons with the Ottawa Charge, appearing in 44 regular-season games while recording eight points on two goals and six assists. Prior to joining Ottawa, Snodgrass spent one season with the Minnesota Whitecaps of the Premier Hockey Federation, with whom she tied for the team lead with 20 points. Prior to playing professionally, Snodgrass captained the University of Connecticut team during her final year in school. Snodgrass racked up 139 points on 70 goals and 69 assists across her collegiate career. She also represented the United States at the IIHF U18 Women's World Championship, earning gold medals in both 2015 and 2016. 'Natalie is a strong skater with the versatility to play in a number of different roles,' Seattle general manager Meghan Turner said in a statement. 'She competes hard every shift and brings a consistent work ethic that makes her a valuable addition to our group. Her ability to adapt in all situations will make her an important piece of our lineup.' ___ AP women's hockey:
