Tag Archives: WNBA

Becky G Joins United Nations Human Rights “We All Rise” Campaign on International Women’s Day

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Becky G is commemorating International Women’s Day in a big way…

The 24-year-old Mexican American bilingual rapper/singer has joined the United Nations Human Rights on International Women’s Day (March 8) for the “We All Rise” campaign for gender equality during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Becky G

Becky G appears in the campaign alongside Celine Dion, Cher, Cyndi Lauper and many most stars.

The artists — joined by activist/tennis legend Billie Jean King, TV personality Padma Lakshmi, actors Renée Elise Goldsberry and Terry Crews, WNBA champ Sue Bird and singer/songwriter Amanda Shires — have partnered with the UN to select the 2021 We All Rise female empowerment anthem “Together We Are Stronger.”

The soaring song features KT Tunstall, Lolo, Devyn Lorea and Nikki Vianna, and was written by written by Morgan Dorr, Greg Hansen and Lorea, with production by the Highland Park Collective.

We All Rise aims to reach more than 150 million with its first effort, described in a release as a “celebrity-driven social media campaign promoting gender equality as a fundamental human right essential to achieving a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.” The coalition of celebrities and advocates participating in the effort also includes LeAnn Rimes, Dionne Warwick, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Liv Warfield, Blair Underwood, Gloria Estefan, Naomi Campbell, Bridget Moynihan, and Debbie Allen.

“Gender equality is one of the fundamental values of the United Nations and lies at the very heart of human rights,” said Veronica Birga, chief of the Women’s Rights and Gender Section of United Nations Human Rights in a statement. “That is why we are the global partner of WE ALL RISE, an exciting new initiative committed to promoting, protecting, and advancing the human rights of all women and girls around the world. Because gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, it is essential to achieving a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.”

The effort is one of many across the music world on Monday to celebrate International Women’s Day, including a playlist curated by BLACKPINK‘s Rosé and a remake of “I’m Every Woman” by Chaka Khan and Idina Menzel, among other efforts.

“Gender equality and the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women are fundamental human rights and core values of the United Nations,” added Trish Golden, president of We All Rise. “Together with our Global Partner, United Nations Human Rights, We All Rise is dedicated to promoting gender equality around the world and the human rights of women and girls, in all their diversity. When we support women’s rights, We All Rise together.”

The video for the inspiring “Together We Are Stronger” features images of women from around the world marching for equality and securing a future for girls and young women where they can achieve their goals.

Marta Xargay Leads Spain to Women’s EuroBasket Title

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Marta Xargayhas helped her country earn a special repeat…

The 28-year-old Spanish professional basketball player, who has played for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and Spain’s women’s national basketball team, led her team with 23 points to give Spain an 86-66 win over France in the Women’s EuroBasket championship on Sunday.

Marta Xargay

It was Spain’s fourth title overall in the biennial event, as the Spaniards previously won in 1993, 2013 and 2017. Spain is the first country to win this title back-to-back since the Soviet Union’s run of 17 championships in a row from 1960 to 1991.

Xargay’s teammate Astou Ndourhad four points Sunday but averaged 14.8 for the tournament and was named MVP..

New York Liberty guard Bria Hartley, a former UConn standout, had 17 points and four assists for France. Hartley is among several current WNBA players who’ll be headed back to their teams now that EuroBasket has concluded.

Former WNBA player Sandrine Gruda, who was part of the Los Angeles Sparks‘ 2016 WNBA championship team, led France with 18 points.

With their results at EuroBasket, Spain, France, Serbia, Great Britain, Sweden and Belgium earned the right to represent Europe in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournamentsfor the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Taurasi & Team USA Win Gold in Women’s Basketball at the 2016 Rio Games

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2016 Rio Games

Diana Taurasi is still golden…

The 34-year-old half-Argentinean American basketball player and Team USA defeated Spain in the gold medal game Saturday, 101-72, to give the US its sixth consecutive Olympic gold.

Diana Taurasi

Taurasi, who led the way with a team-high 17 points, two rebounds, three assists and two steals, is now a four-time Olympic gold medalist.

The United States is now a perfect 5-0 against Spain in Olympic play.

This was the first Olympic gold medal for Taurasi’s Phoenix Mercury teammate, Brittney Griner. The reigning WNBA MVP, Elena Delle Donne, also won her first Olympic gold.

The other Team USA star veterans Sue Bird, who sat out with a sprain knee in the semifinal win over France, and Tamika Catchings added another gold medal to their career — matching Taurasi with a fourth in Rio.

Diana Taurasi

This could be the final Olympic appearance for the three WNBA icons.

With the loss, Spain finished with the silver. Serbia won bronze after defeating France earlier Saturday. This marked the first time on the podium for the countries in women’s basketball.

The U.S. women’s basketball Olympic play win streak was improved to an unmatched 49 games.

Lobo & Her 1996 Olympic Teammates Recognized as “Trailblazers of the Game”

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Rebecca Lobo is officially a trailblazer…

The 42-year-old part-Spanish/part-Cuban former WNBA player and her fellow members of the 1996 US Olympic Team were recognized Saturday by the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

1996 US Olympic Team

WBHOF recognized Lobo and her teammates for their contributions to the game in a display at the Hall entitled “Trailblazers of the Game.”

The 1996 Olympic team, which defeated Brazil 20 years ago to clinch the gold medal, has produced 10 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductees, including Lobo.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Atlanta Olympic Games.

The 1995-96 U.S. team went unbeaten on a domestic and foreign tour leading up to the Olympics.

Lobo was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2010.

At the induction ceremony, Lobo was introduced by her college coach, Geno Auriemma.

“No one in all the years that I’ve been there, has had the impact on the court and off the court, that Rebecca has had and has continued both in the WNBA, as being one of the founders, both as a representative of our university, as a member of the board of trustees, continuing to promote the game on ESPN, and all the other things that Rebecca has done to further the role model that she is, for all the young people that looked up to her, emulated what she has always been, a great student, a great athlete, a great person, someone that I’ve cherished to have had the opportunity to work with, and to call my friend, and now to call my boss,” said the former University of Connecticut coach.

Lobo was a member of the team that won the 1995 national championship, going 35–0 on the season in the process.

Lobo is currently working as a reporter and color analyst for ESPN with a focus on women’s college basketball and WNBA games.

Gonzalez Exposes All for ESPN the Magazine’s The Body Issue

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Omar Gonzalez may be a Major League Soccer star…But he’s also a major league stud. And, he’s not afraid to show it.

The 25-year-old Mexican-American soccer star, who plays for the Los Angeles Galaxy, is one of the 22 world-class athletes featured in their birthday suits for the sixth annual edition of ESPN the Magazine’s The Body Issue.

Omar Gonzalez in the ESPN Magazine's The Body Issue

“I don’t really care how much you can lift in the gym,” says Gonzalez about exercise and weightlifting. “I think it’s funny that there are a lot of really buff guys out there. What is all that for? They are just strong for no reason. For me, I have to be strong for my sport, so I can compete at the highest level. I may not have been the biggest, but when it came down to playing, I shut people up.”

Omar Gonzalez in the ESPN Magazine's The Body Issue

Gonzalez, who admits to being horrible at pullups, says he’s not a show-off.

“I don’t have my shirt off whenever possible,” says Gonzalez. “I’m not one to really show myself off like that.

ESPN the Magazine’s The Body Issue, which hit newsstands on July 11, is the magazine’s annual celebration of the athletic form.

“We somehow manage to raise the bar each year,” said ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com editor in chief Chad Millman. “This year’s collection of exceptional athletes and stunning photography showcases an array of sports and body types. It inhabits our mission to pay tribute to these athletes’ bodies and all they are capable of.”

Omar Gonzalez in the ESPN Magazine's The Body Issue01

In addition to Gonzalez, a member of this year’s U.S. soccer team at the FIFA World Cup, the other athletes featured stark-naked in the issue include Olympic gold-medal-winning snowboarder Jamie Anderson, tennis players Venus Williams and Tomas Berdych, Olympic bronze-medal-winning bobsledder Aja Evans, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, professional surfer Coco Ho, boxer Bernard Hopkins, cliff diver Ginger Huber, Olympic hockey player Hilary Knight, WNBA All-Star Angel McCoughtry and the husband-wife team of X Games stars Travis Pastrana and Lyn-Z, and Amy Purdy, a snowboarder who won a bronze medal at the 2014 Paralympics.

In previous years, the magazine featured soccer star Carlos Bocanegra and professional baseball star Giancarlo Stanton.