sport world

INDIANAPOLIS >> Tamika Catchings was known as a hard worker during her playing career. But as hard as she worked in 16 seasons for the Indiana Fever, she had a tough time keeping up with her dad on Saturday night. Former NBA player Harvey Catchings helped his daughter raise a banner with her N...

LONG BEACH >> The second-seeded Sparks are hoping that the WNBA playoffs end with a championship team trophy. Wednesday night at Long Beach State’s Walter Pyramid, they began the postseason with some individual hardware. Nneka Ogwumike was awarded the WNBA’s MVP trophy in a pregame ceremony and then spent the next 40 minutes proving why she deserved it as she led the Sparks to a 95-75 win over the fourth-seeded Chicago Sky. “It was great,” she said. “It’s been nothing but love the last few...

LOS ANGELES >> The best basketball player in Los Angeles began Friday night’s game with a steal and a layup. She ended Friday night’s game with a simple rim-run, from baseline to baseline, so she could finish a fast break, when her team led by only one point. The Sparks beat San Antonio, 71-65, and ended the WNBA regular season with a 26-8 record. Coach Brian Agler was asked his choice for MVP of the league by people who already knew the answer was Nneka Ogwumike. “First, she’s having a hi...

ROSEMONT, Ill. — Nneka Ogwumike had 20 points and 11 rebounds, Candace Parker added 11 points, seven rebounds and nine assists, and the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Chicago Sky 77-67 on Wednesday. Ogwumike was 10 of 11 from the field for her fifth consecutive game with at least 20 points. She also had four blocks as the Sparks tied a season high with eight. Kristi Toliver had 13 points, Jantel Lavender added 12 points and Essence Carson scored 10 for Los Angeles (19-1), the top-ranked team in the...

Ogwumike, Sparks too much for Sky 77-67 AP Photo ILNH111, ILNH110, ILNH109, ILNH108, ILNH107, ILNH106 ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) — Nneka Ogwumike had 20 points and 11 rebounds, Candace Parker added 11 points, seven rebounds and nine assists, and the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Chicago Sky 77-67 on Wednesday. Ogwumike was 10 of 11 from the field for her fifth consecutive game with at least 20 points. She also had four blocks as the Sparks tied a season high with eight. Kristi Toliver had 13 points, Jant...

VENICE BEACH >> The Orlando Magic’s Aaron Gordon is no stranger to the art of elevation. Arguably one of the most electrifying dunkers in the NBA, Gordon was in Venice Sunday afteoon for the first Venice Basketball League (VBL) Dunk Fest. VIDEO: Highlights from VBL’s Dunk Fest Gordon’s presence brought out a record number of 5,000 spectators for the league said VBL CEO Nick Ansom. “This has been a spectacular day,” Ansom said. “This is the most people we’ve ever had out here for an event. ...

LOS ANGELES >> Nneka Ogwumike had 27 points on 11-of-16 shooting, and Candace Parker scored on back-to-back possessions late to help the Sparks beat the Connecticut Sun 80-73 on Sunday at Staples Center. The win moves the Sparks (13-1) into first place in the Weste Conference, a half-game ahead of the Minnesota Lynx (13-2), who lost to the Washington Mystics 87-63. The Sparks handed the Lynx their first loss of the season 94-76 on Friday night. Parker and Essence Carson scored 10 points ap...

Nneka Ogwumike had 27 points and 12 rebounds for her sixth double-double, and the Los Angeles Sparks set a franchise record with their 10th straight season-opening win in a 98-85 victory over the Chicago Sky on Tuesday night. Ogwumike was 6 of 6 from the field in the first half to extend her WNBA record to 23 straight made field goals over the past three games. She missed her first shot of the second half, a 3-pointer from the wing, and finished 12 of 14. She entered as the league leader in fiel...

TORONTO — Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine outlasted Orlando’s Aaron Gordon in an epic final round of the dunk contest, posting four straight perfect 50s to win for the second straight year. LaVine and Gordon matched each other dunk for dunk for the first two tries in the final round. Then needed two rounds of tie-breakers to decide a winner. Gordon got a 47 with a Harold Miner-style jackknife dunk on his fourth dunk, which opened the door for LaVine in one of the most memorable competit...