WNBA

NBA commissioner Adam Silver addressed the league's punishment of Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury managing partner Robert Sarver during a Wednesday press conference.

Silver told reporters he was in "disbelief to a certain extent" regarding the Suns' workplace culture, adding the punishment was appropriate for the "totality" of the situation.

On Tuesday, the NBA announced it suspended Sarver for one year and levied a $10 million fine after an independent investigation found he "engaged in conduct that clearly violated common workplace standards":

The investigation was conducted by the Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz law firm and included interviews with 320 people and a review of more than 80,000 documents. The probe was sparked by a November 2021 article from ESPN's Baxter Holmes detailing Sarver's history of racism and misogyny.

The investigation's findings were summarized in a 43-page report and determined Sarver "said the N-word in repeating or purporting to repeat a Black person on at least five occasions during his tenure, including after being advised not to do so" and "made many sex-related comments in the workplace."

It also found that he "made inappropriate comments about the physical appearance of female employees and other women" and "frequently engaged in demeaning and harsh treatment of employees—including by yelling and cursing at them."

The NBA responded with Tuesday's punishment, although the league did not go far enough in the eyes of some, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

"Fining a billionaire $10 million is nothing but a speeding ticket," the organization's president, Derrick Johnson, said in a statement, per Ben Golliver of the Washington Post. "They have failed to adequately address this man’s history of racism, sexism, and his years-long nourishment of a toxic culture. … This is far from accountability."

Tamika Tremaglio, who is the executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, released a statement as well, saying Sarver "should never hold a managerial position within our league again."

Silver addressed concerns about the punishment Wednesday and said, "the conduct is indefensible, but I feel like we dealt with it in a fair manner."

Sarver escaped the same level of punishment levied against former Los Angeles Clippers governor Donald Sterling, who was banned for life from the NBA and fined $2.5 million in 2014 after he was heard making racist comments on tape.

That happened during Silver's first year as commissioner, and players threatened to boycott playoff games if no action was taken. The commissioner ultimately received plenty of praise for that decision.

Silver explained why the league decided not to use such a punishment with Sarver's case:

The commissioner also addressed why the standard for Sarver may be different from a league employee who would be fired if they engaged in the same behaviors, saying, "there are particular rights here to someone who owns an NBA team as opposed to someone who is an employee. It's different than holding a job."

NBA spokesperson Mike Bass clarified Silver's comments in a statement:

While the Suns issued a statement Tuesday that said, in part, the organization will "implement the workplace improvements the NBA has identified," ESPN's Holmes and Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sarver was "unaccepting of [the] idea he deserved a one-year suspension and $10M fine for his behavior. The punitive part of [the] process became largely acrimonious."

The Las Vegas Aces pulled away in the second half for a 85-71 win over the Connecticut Sun in Game 2 of the 2022 WNBA Finals on Tuesday at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. With the victory, the Aces hold a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

Las Vegas was led by the star-studded trio of A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Gray.

Wilson, this year's league MVP, was her usual outstanding self with 24 points, 18 of which came in the first half. She also grabbed 10 rebounds for her fifth straight double-double. Gray poured in 21 points, eight assists and three steals. Plum, who was held to six points on 1-of-9 shooting in Game 1, was a difference-maker on Tuesday and dropped 20 points with seven assists.

The Sun fought hard to keep things close and cut the lead to three early in the third quarter. But the Aces closed out the period on a 19-8 run to pull away and take a 14-point lead into the final frame.

Connecticut is known for its defense and held Las Vegas to 67 points in Game 1, but the Aces surpassed that total in the third. Las Vegas pounded the ball inside, shooting 51.6 percent from the field on Tuesday night.

Much of that can be credited to Wilson, who shot 10-of-13. She set the tone early with her strong effort around the rim.

But it was Plum who was the X-factor for the Aces. The 28-year-old didn't let her past struggles affect her and remained aggressive all game.

The Sun need to make some major changes as the series heads to their home floor. Connecticut started the game with high energy but just couldn't keep up with the aggression from Las Vegas in the second half.

The Aces will have the chance to close things out and claim their first WNBA championship in franchise history in Game 3 on Thursday.

Phoenix Suns and Mercury team governor Robert Sarver will work with the NBA to identify an interim replacement while he serves his one-year suspension, according to ESPN's Baxter Holmes.

The league announced Tuesday it suspended Sarver, who also owns the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, and fined him $10 million following an independent investigation into the Suns' workplace culture that found he "engaged in conduct that clearly violated common workplace standards."

The law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz handled the investigation. The firm's report outlines how Sarver's "conduct included the use of racially insensitive language; unequal treatment of female employees; sex-related statements and conduct; and harsh treatment of employees that on occasion constituted bullying."

The NBA noted that the investigation found that Sarver used the N-word on at least five instances and "engaged in demeaning and harsh treatment of employees."

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz said he "used language and engaged in conduct demeaning of female employees":

Among other examples, he told a pregnant employee that she would be unable to do her job upon becoming a mother; berated a female employee in front of others and then commented that women cry too much; and arranged an all-female lunch so that female employees at Western Alliance Bank, where at the time he was CEO, could explain to female Suns employees how to handle his demands.

However, the report said there was "no finding that Sarver’s conduct was motivated by racial or gender-based animus."

Suns Legacy Partners LLC released a statement following the report's release. The group said it's "committed to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment."

Suns Legacy Partners LLC also claimed Sarver is "taking responsibility for his actions" and "recognizes at times during his 18 years of ownership, his conduct did not reflect his, or the Suns' values, and was inconsistent with the advancements the management team has taken with Robert's full support."

Holmes and colleague Adrian Wojnarowski, on the other hand, reported Sarver "was unaccepting of [the] idea he deserved a one-year suspension and $10M fine for his behavior."

As part of his suspension, Sarver is prohibited from being at any Suns or Mercury team facility or office. He must also refrain from involving himself in the team's business and basketball operations and cannot represent either organization at league-wide gatherings.

The 60-year-old has held majority control of the Suns since 2004, when he led a group that purchased the team.

LAS VEGAS—Becky Hammon's mind was reeling. The Las Vegas Aces coach sat at the podium frustrated following WNBA Finals Game 1 against the Connecticut Sun. Her team had struggled offensively. They were stagnant, they shot poorly and they had gotten outworked on the glass.

Adjustments needed to be made, and quickly.

"Tonight we struggled a little bit, and we'll be better in Game 2," she said. "I already know what we're going to do."

Contrary to Hammon’s tone, the Aces didn’t lose. They defeated the Sun 67-64, but she knew that their opponent had imposed its style upon the game. Connecticut outrebounded Las Vegas and earned more second-chance points, highlighting its advantage in the hustle statistics.

Though they came away with the victory, why were the Aces getting outhustled for rebounds in the Finals on their home floor? Was it because of the Sun's size and their three All-Star post players? According to Hammon, that had nothing to do with it.

"When the shot goes up, you go find a body and you put yours on it, and then go grab the ball," she said. "You have to have a mindset that I'm going to go get the ball. I'm going to block you out. ... I'm going to go get the ball, that's it. You don't have to be the biggest and baddest. Be smart. Play with your feet. Be intentional about what you're doing and then at the end of the day, it's all of us."

In the other locker room, the Sun came out of Game 1 disappointed but encouraged. Connecticut held Las Vegas, a team that averaged a league-leading 90.4 points per game during the regular season, under 70 points.

While the Sun mustered just 11 fourth-quarter points, 2021 MVP Jonquel Jones doesn't believe her team has reason to be concerned. Imposing their low-scoring, gritty style of play is exactly how the Sun advanced past the Chicago Sky in the semifinals.

"I don't think it ever felt tight," Jones said following the loss. "We were shooting shots, and they weren't going in. But ultimately, we were playing great defense as well, and that's one of the things I talked about, finding the wins within the game. Yes, we weren't hitting the shots we know we can hit, but we were also playing good D. Ultimately, we'll be all right."

Will the Sun prove Jones right? Can the Aces address their stagnant, inefficient offense? In Game 2 on Tuesday, both teams will look to counter the punches of their opponent.

For Las Vegas, everything starts with getting its high-flying offense back on track. The Aces opened Game 1 by hitting five straight shots, but it was it was a slog from there. They put up just nine points in the second quarter on the way to four-point halftime deficit and ended the afternoon at 39.7 percent from the field, including just 5-of-24 on three-pointers.

Kelsey Plum, who went 1-of-9 from the field with six points and two assists, was far from the only player who struggled against Connecticut's defense, but her stat line was representative of the challenge Las Vegas faced. Like Hammon, Plum was frustrated and hardly satisfied with the win, feeling like her team barely walked away with the victory.

"They pack the paint, they make it stagnant," Plum said. "You have to give them credit. Defensively, they've always been one of the best teams in the league. They switch a lot. They trap a lot. They kind of get you out of your rhythm."

Although the Sun finished the game with 18 assists to the Aces' eight, the Sun weren't in rhythm either, especially in the second half. Following an impassioned halftime speech from Hammon—"I was lit," she said—the Aces turned the tide. They switched to a zone to counter Connecticut's larger lineups that featured 6'4" wing DeWanna Bonner alongside some combination of Jonquel Jones, Brionna Jones and Alyssa Thomas.

"I thought, at times, we got their zone to shift the way we wanted it to," Sun head coach Curt Miller said. "But didn't always take advantage or at least certainly didn't make some shots.”

Miller noted that guard Natisha Hiedeman made a corner three midway through the fourth quarter, and because of the zone, Aces guard Jackie Young was late to contest the shot. Connecticut just didn't get enough of those zone-exploiting shots to fall.

The Sun also missed offensive opportunities in transition, an area where they’ve excelled all season.

"We just couldn't take three on three, four on three, three on two," Miller said. "We didn't find baskets when we did have those opportunities to run."

Connecticut also committed three shot-clock violations, which according to Sun assistant coach Chris Koclanes was a function of how loud the sellout crowd of 10,135 was at Michelob Ultra Arena on Sunday afternoon.

"We'll have to have better clock awareness," he told B/R. "It's loud in here."

The Sun's guards, namely veterans Bonner and Courtney Williams, will also have to demonstrate improvement in Game 2. Both were cold on Sunday, combining to score eight points on 3-of-18 shooting. Connecticut is going to need more from both of them to have a chance at claiming the title.

Las Vegas and Connecticut came away from Game 1 with differing mindsets about the result, but which one will lead to victory in Game 2? Will it be the Aces' angst and anger, or the Sun's confidence and calm?

On Tuesday night, we'll find out.

Prediction: The Sun even the series at 1-1 before traveling back to Uncasville for Game 3. Williams moves a bit more without the ball and finds open spaces, while the Aces double-team the Sun’s most efficient players in Jonquel Jones and Brionna Jones. Kelsey Plum finds her shot in Game 2, but it won't be enough.

The Las Vegas Aces survived a tough challenge from the Connecticut Sun in Game 1 of the 2022 WNBA Finals, earning a 67-64 win Sunday at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.

A'ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray led the way for the Aces. Wilson dropped a double-double, scoring 24 points and collecting 11 rebounds. Gray chipped in with 11 points and provided a lifeline for a Las Vegas offense that shot 39.7 percent from the floor.

DeWanna Bonner had an opportunity to tie the game in the final seconds but watched her three-point attempt hit the front rim.

In the first two rounds, the Aces simply overwhelmed the Phoenix Mercury and Seattle Storm. Per WNBA.com, they led all teams in postseason offensive rating (114.7) and true shooting percentage (61.5) entering Sunday.

But stout defense has been a hallmark of the Sun under head coach Curt Miller. Connecticut succeeded in stifling Las Vegas and slowing down the pace of Game 1.

Still, it wasn't enough to stop the individual brilliance of Gray and the post presence of Wilson.

For Gray, Game 1 continued one of the hottest-shooting postseasons ever in the WNBA.

Wilson, meanwhile, accepted her MVP trophy before the game and showed why she collected the league's highest individual honor.

The Sun have time to right the ship in the best-of-five series. The trouble for Miller and his staff is that so much went right Sunday, but Connecticut is nevertheless staring at an 0-1 deficit.

Kelsey Plum shot 1-of-9 from the field and 1-of-7 from long range. Gray had three turnovers. Las Vegas as a team recorded just eight assists. The Sun could be in serious trouble if the No. 1 seed starts resembling the best and most lethal team in the WNBA again.

The Aces and Sun will return to the court Tuesday for Game 2.

The Las Vegas Aces and Connecticut Sun will square off in the 2022 WNBA Finals for the chance to be crowned champion.

Both are looking to claim their first title.

The Aces have made the Finals on two occasions—in 2008, when they were known as the San Antonio Silver Stars and lost to the Detroit Shock, and in 2020, when they fell to the Seattle Storm. They were swept in both instances.

The Sun have made the Finals three times—in back-to-back seasons in 2004 and 2005 and in 2019. They were defeated by the Storm in 2004 and the Sacramento Monarchs in 2005. In 2019, they fell to the Washington Mystics.

There's a lot on the line for both teams entering the Finals, which are slated to begin on Sunday at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. Here are three reactions to the upcoming Finals matchup.

Aces' A'ja Wilson Can Add to WNBA Legacy with Title

A'ja Wilson, who has starred in the WNBA since being selected first overall by the Aces in the 2018 draft out of South Carolina, won her second WNBA MVP award this season and was also named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. She is also a four-time All-Star.

Wilson is the seventh player in WNBA history to win more than one WNBA MVP award, joining Lauren Jackson, Lisa Leslie and Sheryl Swoopes, who are three-time winners, and Cynthia Cooper, Elena Delle Donne and Candace Parker, who have won it twice.

Wilson's historic resume is missing just one thing that all of those other players have—a WNBA title.

There's little doubt the 26-year-old will add a title to her resume before retiring, but can she do it this year?

Through 36 regular-season games, Wilson averaged 19.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.9 blocks while shooting 50.1 percent from the floor and 37.3 percent from deep.

She has been even better in the playoffs, averaging 20.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.3 blocks in six games while shooting 55.4 percent from the floor.

The Aces are the team to beat this year, and if Wilson can continue to produce at a high level, the franchise will likely take home the title.

Becky Hammon Has Gone Above and Beyond in First Year as Head Coach

This is Becky Hammon's first year as a head coach in the WNBA, and she has her team on the brink of winning a WNBA title, which is impressive, though not hard to believe.

The 45-year-old starred in the WNBA from 1999 to 2014, playing for the New York Liberty and the then-San Antonio Silver Stars (now the Aces). She earned six All-Star selections but never won a title.

After retiring, she was hired as an assistant coach for the NBA's San Antonio Spurs in 2014, and in 2015, she became the first-ever female head coach in the NBA's summer league. She led the Spurs to the summer-league title that year.

In 2016, she became the first woman to be part of an NBA All-Star coaching staff, and in 2020, she became the first female acting head coach in NBA history when Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich was ejected from a game.

Hammon was hired as head coach of the Aces in December 2021 and led the team to a 26-10 record this season, the best mark in the Western Conference and tied with the Sky for the best record in the WNBA.

She was named 2022 WNBA Coach of the Year, becoming the first former WNBA player to win the award in her debut coaching season, beating out the Atlanta Dream's Tanisha Wright and the Sky's James Wade.

The Aces went on to defeat the Mercury in two games in the first round of the playoffs and the Storm in four games in the semifinals.

If Las Vegas wins the 2022 WNBA title, Hammon will become the first first-year head coach to win an WNBA championship since Van Chancellor in 1997.

Can Jonquel Jones Help the Sun Capture First WNBA Title?

Jonquel Jones has spent her entire six-year WNBA career with the Sun, earning four All-Star selections and an MVP award. Will this be the year she leads the franchise to its first-ever WNBA title?

Jones entered Thursday's Game 5 against the Chicago Sky averaging 14.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 blocks through seven playoff games while shooting 49.4 percent from the floor and 41.2 percent from deep.

The 28-year-old wasn't as involved offensively in the semifinals against the Sky and their tough defense. In Games 3 and 4 of the series, she scored six and nine points, respectively. However, she was much more involved in Game 5 when it was all on the line, finishing with 15 points to help send the Sun to the Finals.

Connecticut will need to find ways to get Jones a little more involved against the Aces, but that might not be a problem. The 28-year-old was solid in two appearances against Las Vegas this season, averaging 14 points, 10 rebounds and one assist.

Jones has all of the tools to help the Sun get over the hump.

The performances of DeWanna Bonner, Brionna Jones and Alyssa Thomas will be critical as well for the team to win the trophy.

Connecticut Sun forward Brionna Jones was named the WNBA's 2022 Sixth Player of the Year on Thursday.

The two-time All-Star was the runaway favorite for the award after averaging 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in the regular season. She claimed 53 of the 56 first-place votes.

The fact Jones comes off the bench for the Sun speaks to their depth in the frontcourt.

The 2017 first-round pick was a peripheral figure in her first three years before Jonquel Jones' absence in 2020 paved the way for her to become a regular starter. She averaged 11.2 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 60.5 percent that season.

Alyssa Thomas' Achilles injury in 2021 allowed Jones to continue featuring in the starting rotation, and she showed her breakout was no aberration. She was third on the team in scoring (14.7 points) and second in rebounding (7.3 boards) en route to winning the WNBA's Most Improved Player.

Although Jones was relegated to the second unit with Connecticut at full strength again for 2022, it did little to lower her overall impact. The Sun had an 11.3 net rating with Jones on the floor and a 7.3 net rating when she was on the bench, per WNBA.com. Her 3.7 points per game in the fourth quarter trailed only DeWanna Bonner.

An unrestricted free agent, Jones has played her way into a big contract, the kind that could complicate a possible return to Connecticut.

The Sun have $847,500 tied up in just the quartet of Bonner, Jonquel Jones, Alyssa Thomas and Jasmine Thomas, which limits their financial flexibility. Given how much she has grown her game, Jones might also relish the chance to assume the kind of starring role that may be more achievable elsewhere.

Becky Hammon did not have to wait long to find success in her first head coaching job.

The Las Vegas Aces coach was named WNBA Coach of the Year on Friday in her first season with the franchise.

The Aces went 26-10 during the regular season, earning the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference for the third straight yeah. They swept the Phoenix Mercury in the first round and await the Seattle Storm in the conference semifinals.

Hammon received 27 out of 56 first-place votes. Atlanta Dream coach Tanisha Wright finished second with 18 first-place votes, and the Chicago Sky's James Wade recieved eight first-place selections.

Hammon was hired as the Aces' head coach and general manager last December, taking over for Bill Laimbeer. She largely focused her efforts on retaining Las Vegas' talent-laden roster, inking extensions with Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, Dearica Hamby and Kelsey Plum to fortify the future.

Young instantly made a leap under Hammon, earning her first All-Star berth and winning WNBA Most Improved Player. The Aces had an WNBA-high four players named to the All-Star team, with Young joining Plum, A'ja Wilson and Hamby.

Hammon previously served as an assistant coach under Gregg Popovich for the NBA's San Antonio Spurs from August 2014 until her hiring in Las Vegas. She has been considered by far the likeliest candidate to become the first woman to coach an NBA team.

2K Sports is continuing to widen the WNBA's footprint in NBA 2K23, announcing Tuesday the updates it made to The W for the upcoming New Gen versions of the game.

The All-Star Game and Commissioner's Cup will both be featured in The W's MyPLAYER mode.

To the delight of WNBA fans everywhere, gamers will also have the opportunity to expand the league by two franchises. With the benefit of full customization, you can either build a new team or bring a defunct franchise back from the dead. Maybe you'd want to build another Houston Comets dynasty.

Also as part of MyPLAYER mode, NBA 2K23 is adding Contact Challenges, where players are instructed by WNBA players, coaches and legends to complete specified objectives in order to earn player boosts.

WNBA content will be weaved into other aspects of NBA 2K23 as well. Users can collect jersey, logo and coach cards in MyTEAM, rewards that can be obtained only through The W.

NBA 2K23 is scheduled to be released Sept. 9. The Seattle Storm's Sue Bird and Phoenix Mercury's Diana Taurasi share cover honors for the "WNBA Edition" of the game.

Sue Bird's swan song will continue in the semifinals.

The Seattle Storm point guard showed out yet again Sunday, notching a double-double (18 points, 10 assists) in her team's 97-84 win over the Washington Mystics.

With the victory, the Storm swept the Mystics, 2-0, and will face the Las Vegas Aces in the next round.

Unsurprisingly, Bird was the talk on Twitter after another stellar showing:

Bird came out firing in the first quarter, putting up nine points.

Her scoring slowed down from there, but her ability to pick apart the Mystics defense with her playmaking and pinpoint passing continued to keep Seattle's offense flowing:

It helped that her teammates consistently made those open looks, led by Breanna Stewart (21 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists) and Jewell Loyd (19 points). That spoiled a solid performance from Washington's Natasha Cloud (21 points, 5-of-8 from three), while Elena Delle Donne had a tough afternoon from the field (5-of-14 for 12 points).

But Sunday was all about Bird. She isn't ready to ride off into that sunset just yet.

Game 1 of the semifinals between the Storm and Aces will take place August 28 at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN.