Diddy leaving the Bad Boy, Wanderluxxe and Heights Entertainment Pre BET Awards special performance by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs at Nightingale on June 24, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jevone Moore/fi360 News)
Busta Rhymes outside of the Bad Boy, Wanderluxxe and Heights Entertainment Pre BET Awards special performance by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs at Nightingale on June 24, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jevone Moore/fi360 News)
Los Angeles, Ca – The event featured a performance by Diddy where he sang old school favorites such as Its All About The Benjamins and Been Around The World followed by a surprise performance by Busta Rhymes, DJ set by Tendaji Lathan.
This event was not lacking talent in attendance, who came out to celebrate the awards weekend such as Jamie Foxx, Christina Milian, Karrueche Tran, WanderLuxxe owners Marti Hines and Lola Wood, Apryl Jones, DeMario Jackson, Brandi Maxiell, Kitty Cash, Ebie Wright, Nafessa Williams, Justin Combs (Diddy’s son), Jamal Woolard, Gina Badhen, Cordell Broadus (SNOOP’s son), El Jay, Rome, Tyra Myricks (Daughter to Jam Master J) and more.
DIDDY and the Bad Boy family were also celebrating the LA premiere and Apple Music debut (June 25) of Can’t Stop Won’t Stop, The Bad Boy Story – an incredible documentary.
Sierra McClain
Nafessa Williams
Erica Ash
Leticia Perez
April Jones
Malaysia Pargo
Christina Millian
Karrueche Tran
Ebie Wright
Bad Boy, Wanderluxxe and Heights Entertainment Pre BET Awards special performance by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs at Nightingale on June 24, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photos by Jevone Moore/fi360 News / Full Image 360)
The Sparks defense was fierce defense during the Phoenix Mercury vs Los Angeles Sparks game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on June 18, 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
Diana Taurasi after scoring layup to now be WNBA All-Time leading scorer during the Phoenix Mercury vs Los Angeles Sparks game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on June 18, 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
Los Angeles, CA – Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi drove down the lane passed Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike to cement her legacy as one of the WNBA’s all-time greats.
With a flick of her wrist, her lay-up at STAPLES Center on Sunday afternoon with 45 seconds left in the first half pushed her passed Tina Thompson to become the league’s all-time leading scorer, but it was the Sparks which had the last laugh with a dominate 90-59 win against the four-time Olympian and three-time league champion and the Mercury.
“When you start thinking about records in different sports, there’s certain numbers that create a lot of attention,” Taurasi said about her record-breaking performance. “I hope the next time this record gets broken – which it will – it’ll be a bigger deal, and I think that will be cool to sit back and watch the next person break it.”
ALL-WNBA second team Chelsea Gray turning the corner at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on June 18, 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
The Sparks’ season-high 53-point first half was the dealbreaker for the rest of the game, spoiling the record-breaker’s afternoon in Los Angeles.
“I’m just sad for (Taurasi) that we didn’t put up a bit of an effort for this history-making game,” Phoenix Mercury head coach Sandy Brondello said. “Unfortunately we’re going to remember a game in which we got our butts kicked, but it is what it is. It doesn’t take away what Taurasi has achieved. She’s a special player.”
The all-time leading scorer also led the Mercury with a game-high, 19-point performance.
“Taurasi is a tremendous player, arguably the best player that’s ever played in the league,” Los Angeles Sparks head coach Brian Agler said about Taurasi’s performance. ”She’s a champion. Her teams have won in college, in this league, in Europe, (and) in the Olympics.”
Four Sparks players scored in double-figures with forward Nneka Ogwumike leading the way with 18 points, while forward Candace Parker wasn’t far behind with 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Candace Parker flipped over the Sparks 53 point first half score at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on June 18, 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
The Sparks scored 15 straight points before the Mercury scored on its seventh shot of the quarter. Los Angeles could not miss in the opening 90 seconds, shooting 6-for-6, capping a 20-2 run in that timeframe. Parker scored 11 of her 13 first-quarter points in that span as the Sparks tallied a season-high 38 points in the quarter – the most the Suns have allowed all season.
As the Mercury settled down in the second quarter and started getting into a scoring groove, so did its storied veteran Taurasi, who added seven points in the frame to become the all-time leading scorer in the WNBA. The Mercury guard was the only Phoenix player to score double-digits in the first half as the Sparks went into the locker room with a 53-36 lead.
The Sparks defense was fierce defense during the Phoenix Mercury vs Los Angeles Sparks game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on June 18, 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
“It was really good to see a couple of things: one, getting off to a good start with our starters and then people coming off the bench contributing and not having a drop off.” Agler said.
The Mercury struggled again to get to the basket in the third quarter, going scoreless in the opening three minutes of the second half while the Sparks strengthened its lead to 20. Though Phoenix battled in the frame, L.A. were able to go toe-to-toe and maintain a lead, with center Jantel Lavender launching a buzzer-beater jumper to close out the third with a 24-point lead.
Kobe Bryant spent part of his Father’s Day watch WNBA at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on June 18, 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
Sparks guard Riquna Williams sank three-consecutive three-pointers to start the final quarter with a comfortable 30-point lead and finish with 15 points.
Oct. 20, 2015 - Los Angeles, CA, USA - The Los Angeles Clippers DeAndre Jordan (6) goes up for opening tip against the Golden state Warrior Festus Ezeli (31) during a preseason playing at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015 (Photo by William Jaye Johnson)
OPEN LETTER FROM LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS OWNER
Dear Clipper Nation,
Since acquiring the L.A. Clippers in 2014, I have been adamant that our players, coaches and staff receive the support they need to do their best work on and off the court. I’ve also committed to giving our fans and their families the NBA’s best game experience.
To date, we have greatly invested in our players, our coaching and support staff, our fan experience and our community.
Today, we are expanding that investment by entering into an agreement to explore an opportunity to build a new arena for the Clippers in the City of Inglewood. I have said from day one that we need to plan for the future. This agreement helps us do that by expanding our options.
The prospect of a new state-of-the-art NBA arena would allow us greater latitude to influence our game schedule, particularly as it relates to weekend games that are so important to our fans. We also want to offer our fans premium experiences in terms of technology, club spaces and other amenities; that’s easier to realize in a new arena.
This new arena would be 100 percent privately funded. No public dollars would be used for this project.
STAPLES Center has proudly been the L.A. Clippers’ home court since 1999. It will remain so until at least June 2024, when our lease expires. AEG, which operates STAPLES Center, remains our valued partner.
During the upcoming planning process, the Clippers and the City of Inglewood will work diligently together to evaluate this project in great detail. Regardless of where the Clippers take the court after 2024, I remain committed to helping the great city of Los Angeles and its citizens thrive. We look forward to sharing our progress as we continue along our journey to deliver championship results for our fans and the entire Los Angeles region.
WESTWOOD, CA - JUNE 06: Attendes at the Premiere of Lionsgate's 'All Eyes on Me' at Westwwod Village Theaters on June 14, 2017 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Jevone Moore/fi360 News)
Tupac – Demetrius Shipp Jr.
Afeni Shakur – Danai Gurira
Suge Knight – Dominic Santana
Westwood, CA – The Untold Story of Tupac Shakur ‘ALL EYES ON ME’ Legends Never Die opens Friday June 16th across the nation.
This is a Codeblack Films a Lionsgate company who let Tupac chronicles of his life be relived on the big screen.
Los Angeles was the sight for the west coast Premiere of ALL EYES ON ME. The Black carpet was sea of folks eager to be associated with a great film on the life and legacy of Tupac. The movie takes through his rise to superstardom as a hip-hop artist, actor, poet and activist, as well as his imprisonment and prolific, controversial time at Death Row Records.
Tupac rose to become a cultural icon all by the age of 25. Now after this movie the next generation will know and see who extraordinary this young talent was a forever will be.
Director Benny Boom
Jeremy Haft & Eddie Gonzalez
Those that lived seem to please with director Benny Boom portray from the films writers Jeremy Haft and Eddie Gonzalez.
“By the time the movie ends, you forgot that you weren’t watching Pac.” The Game
The movies star Demetrius Shipp Jr. as Tupac pulls off a great performance.
“It’s an amazing film,” said Shipp Jr. “I just ready for the world to see it and let’s see how it all turns out.”
Natasha Marc
DeRay Davis
Erica Pinkett
Kat Graham
Rayven Symone Ferrell
Annie Ilonzeh
Jarrett Ellis
Paloma Ford
Tyga
Keisha Cole
Floyd Mayweather
Tyga & E-40
Jena Frumes & Princesa Pilar ALL Images by Jevone Moore Full Image 360
ALL-WNBA Dallas Wings Diggs and Los Angeles Sparks Parker battling at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on June 13, 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
Sparks Chelsea Gray flying through the lane during the Dallas Wings vs Los Angeles Sparks game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on June 13, 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
Los Angeles, Ca – The Los Angeles Sparks climbed into the driver’s seat and cruised to a 97-87 win against the Dallas Wings at STAPLES Center on Tuesday and avenged last week’s heartbreaking loss in Dallas.
The Sparks’ rim penetration and high-pressure defense was key to propelling them to a resounding 23-8 lead at the end of the first quarter on the back of two lengthy runs.
“I liked how our focus was in the beginning of the game,” Los Angeles Sparks head coach Brian Agler said. “We defended well in the first quarter. It’s a tough team to play against.”
Sparks defense collapsing just outside the paint during the Dallas Wings vs Los Angeles Sparks game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on June 13, 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
Chelsea Gray led the Sparks with a team-high 24 points as Los Angeles had five players in double-digit scoring. Skylar Diggins-Smith led both teams with a game-high 28 points, 12 of which came in the final quarter after a slow, first-half start. Wings teammate Glory Johnson finished with a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
L.A. capped a 9-2 run in the opening three minutes of the game and went on another 14-4 stroll midway into the quarter. The Wings couldn’t find a bucket for three minutes, hitting a Sparks’ opponent season-low eight points at the end of the opening frame.
It looked like the Sparks were going to repeat its first quarter run when Ogwumike scored the first five points of the second frame, but the Wings found their scoring groove and struck gold with the three-ball for the second 10 minutes. Dallas missed all five of its first distance shots in the first quarter, but exploded hitting five-of-seven from three to close a once 17-point gap to five.
Nneka Ogwumike taking a charge from Glory Johnson during the Dallas Wings vs Los Angeles Sparks game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on June 13, 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
“It’s just the flow,” Dallas Wings head coach Fred Williams said about the free-flowing three-pointers. “Our main thing was to still try to get to the rim on drives and I thought L.A. shut us down in the first quarter, for sure.”
It didn’t matter to L.A., which closed out the first half with an 8-0 run to lead 48-35 going into the locker room.
“They were trying to make that adjustment and our defense did make that adjustment in the third quarter,” Sparks forward Candace Parker said. “Sometimes it takes a team a quarter to figure out our defense and then it takes a quarter for our defense to make an adjustment of what the other team is doing, and I think we did that in the third quarter. “
Candace Parker all alone at the rim during the Dallas Wings vs Los Angeles Sparks game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on June 13, 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
Just when it looked all but over with the lead at a game-high 22 points, Diggins-Smith mustered up 12 points – eight of which were in the final minute – to keep the Wings within distance and cut the lead to eight points.
“There’s no lead in this league that’s insurmountable,” Agler said. “Everybody can come back on you. If you go up 20 and you relax, you’re going to look up and it’s down to 10. We have to try to find a way to keep our focus, but for the most part it was pretty good tonight.”
LACES celebrate after defeating Arleta in LA City Division II baseball championship at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2017 in Los Angeles. LACES won 7-1. (Photo by Michael Yanow for fi360 News)
LACES infielder Cris Ponse (3) rounds third on his way to score a run in the LA City Division II baseball championship against Arleta at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2017 in Los Angeles. LACES won 7-1. (Photo by Michael Yanow for fi360 News)
Los Angeles, Ca – Los Angeles CES rode the arm of Finn Starzyk, a 6-foot-6 junior pitcher to 7-1 victory over Arleta for the Los Angeles City Division II Championship at Dodgers Stadium.
Arleta outfielder Angel Ruizf (44) is unable to make the catch in the LA City Division II baseball championship against LACES at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2017 in Los Angeles. LACES won 7-1. (Photo by Michael Yanow for fi360 News)
Arleta pitcher Andrew Ortega (11) throws the ball in the LA City Division II baseball championship against LACES at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2017 in Los Angeles. LACES won 7-1. (Photo by Michael Yanow for fi360 News)
Arleta the 14 seed rolled its way to the championship game even defeating No 2 seed Locke. The dream season ended with Starzyk giving them more than they could handle at the plate.
LACES pitcher Finn Starzyk (2) celebrates after the third out in the LA City Division II baseball championship against Arleta at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2017 in Los Angeles. LACES won 7-1. (Photo by Michael Yanow for fi360 News)
“I realize we’re playing at Dodger Stadium and that’s something special, but it’s still 60 feet, 6 inches to the mound,” Starzyk said. “It’s still 90 feet bases and we’re just playing another baseball game. And after that first batter, I got the nerves out of my system and went out and pitched like I know how to do.”
With the victory LACES claimed it’s fourth CIF title and first Division II title.
LACES outfielder James Sarantes (35) rounds third on his way to score a run in the LA City Division II baseball championship against Arleta at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2017 in Los Angeles. LACES won 7-1. (Photo by Michael Yanow for fi360 News)
LACES catcher Jordan Durrell (11) catches a pop up in the LA City Division II baseball championship against Arleta at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2017 in Los Angeles. LACES won 7-1. (Photo by Michael Yanow for fi360 News)
Birmingham players celebrate after the final out during the LA City Division I baseball championship against the Chatsworth at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2017 in Los Angeles. Birmingham won 4-3. (Photo by Michael Yanow for fi360 News)
Birmingham pitcher Eddie Rosales (21) celebrates after the final out during the LA City Division I baseball championship against the Chatsworth at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2017 in Los Angeles. Birmingham won 4-3. (Photo by Michael Yanow for fi360 News)
Los Angeles, Ca – On the big stage players rise or fall under the bright lights. The Birmingham Patriots pitcher Eddie Rosales fighting the elements found a way withstand a late Chatsworth rally for 4-3 victory for the title at Dodgers Stadium.
Rosales had to dig deep after the favorite Chatsworth just delivered a two-run double by Josh Medina in bottom of 7th inn with two-out. You could ask for better spot to be in to show your greatness.
Birmingham catch Johnny Tincherin (4) celebrates after scoring a run during the LA City Division I baseball championship against the Chatsworth at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2017 in Los Angeles. Birmingham won 4-3. (Photo by Michael Yanow for fi360 News)
Birmingham shortstop Alex Ballesteros (16) throws the ball for first base during the LA City Division I baseball championship against the Chatsworth at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2017 in Los Angeles. Birmingham won 4-3. (Photo by Michael Yanow for fi360 News)
“I’m going to Disneyland,” said Rosales “We’re City Champs.”
Birmingham grad night was little more special after leaving Dodgers Stadium with the win.
They always say it’s very tough to beat a team three times in a year. This was their third time meeting up this year being league rivals. Chatsworth would definitely give away one of the regular season wins for the big one.
Chatsworth pitcher Josh Medina (24) throws the ball during the LA City Division I baseball championship against the Birmingham at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2017 in Los Angeles. Birmingham won 4-3. (Photo by Michael Yanow for fi360 News)
Birmingham pitcher Armando Yanez (9) throws the ball during the LA City Division I baseball championship against the Chatsworth at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2017 in Los Angeles. Birmingham won 4-3. (Photo by Michael Yanow for fi360 News)
Birmingham’s title victory was its second in four years. Chatsworth finished a runner-up for the fourth time in six years. So best believe this two teams will have more battles to come.
Birmingham outfielder Daniel Gamboa (25) jumps into the arms of outfielder Dylan Hernandez (7) while celebrating after the final out during the LA City Division I baseball championship against the Chatsworth at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, June 3, 2017 in Los Angeles. Birmingham won 4-3. (Photo by Michael Yanow for fi360 News)
WASHINGTON’S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP MAKES PAC-12 THE FIRST CONFERENCE TO 500 NCAA TITLES Pac-12 is the all-time leader in men’s, women’s, and combined titles
SAN FRANCISCO – With WASHINGTON’s historic win at the 2017 NCAA Women’s Rowing Championships on Sunday morning, the Pac-12 became the first collegiate conference with 500 NCAA Championships.
On a history-making morning for the Pac-12, Washington women’s rowing claimed its fourth NCAA title by becoming the first team to sweep the three major races at the championships – the Fours, the Second Eights Grand Final and Eights Grand Final.
In the Conference’s 101-year history, Pac-12 schools have claimed 500 NCAA titles in 29 different sports with eight programs winning more than 20 NCAA titles in their history. The top-three universities with the most NCAA titles are from the Pac-12 with STANFORD (113), UCLA (113) and USC (104) as the only programs with at least 100. National championships have come in 29 different sports and is the leaders in titles in 14, including baseball, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s tennis, and women’s swimming.
“I am immensely proud of the 500 NCAA Championships won by Pac-12 member schools, and more than that, I’m proud of what this milestone represents about our athletics programs,” said Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott. “Pac-12 athletics departments set a standard of excellence across a broad base of men’s and women’s sports, and for more than 100 years, they have attracted the most talented and driven young people in the nation.”
The Pac-12 has outdistanced all other conferences in total NCAA titles, winning nearly 200 more than the next-closest league (Big Ten – 307, based on current membership). Other conferences also do not come close to the number of men’s (297 vs. 215 – Big Ten), women’s (173 vs. 100 – SEC), and combined (30 vs. 21 – Big 12) NCAA titles of the next-closest conferences.
This year has been no exception with Pac-12 universities winning 12 NCAA titles so far, more than double the number of any other conference this season. Seven different Pac-12 universities have claimed NCAA Championships this season, including four by STANFORD, two by OREGON and USC, and ARIZONA STATE, CALIFORNIA, UTAH and WASHINGTON each winning one. The titles have come in 10 women’s sports, two men’s, and one combined sport (skiing).
It is the ninth time Pac-12 schools have won double-digit NCAA titles, leading the country in 51 of the last 57 years, including the 2016-17 campaign. In the last 36 years, Pac-12 members have won at least four women’s titles 28 times, including 10 this year. The Pac-12 has averaged just over nine NCAA titles per year since 1981-82, the first year the Association began sponsoring women’s sports.
The academic season is not over yet, with Pac-12 teams still vying for NCAA Championships in men’s golf, softball, men’s and women’s outdoor track & field, and baseball.
East View Hollywood Park & Stadium Site on August 9th, 2016 on site in Inglewood, Ca. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
Media Tour of the new Cary Grant Pavilion Hollywood Park Casino on August 9th, 2016 on site in Inglewood, Ca. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
Inglewood, CA – We want to provide an update on the 70,000-seat stadium and 300-acre entertainment district being built on the site of the legendary Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, CA. The stadium will be the home of both the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams as well as feature sporting events, major concerts, and other entertainment year-round.
The development team broke ground last November and since then hundreds of people every day have been working tirelessly on the construction. To date, the stadium bowl is 90-feet deep and fully excavated, with six million cubic yards of dirt removed across the site.
Unfortunately, Southern California experienced record-setting rain this winter. Despite bringing drought relief to the region, the rain fell during the mass excavation period of construction when no other work could proceed in wet conditions. As a result, we experienced significant delays and lost the better part of two months from early January into the beginning of March.
In the best interest of the project, we have decided to move the opening date to summer of 2020. This new target gives us flexibility to accommodate any additional delays that may arise while still delivering an unparalleled experience upon opening. This is a stadium that Angelenos, visitors and world-class athletes will celebrate for years to come, and we are committed to making sure this venue is exceptional from the day it opens.
The development team felt it best to make the decision now, early in the process, to cause the least amount of disruption to our fans, partners and the community later on. We will open the stadium with entertainment and sporting events leading into a full slate of home games for both the Rams and Chargers.
Our promise is to deliver a transformational district that represents a merger of sports, entertainment and real estate that is unparalleled. We owe it to NFL fans, partners of the project, the cities of Inglewood and Los Angeles, and the NFL to get this right. For more information about the L.A. Stadium and Entertainment District at Hollywood Park, visit LASED.com.
WNBA 2017: Los Angeles Sparks Media Day for WNBA Champions at Los Angeles Athletic Club in Los Angeles, Ca on May 16, 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
WNBA 2017: Los Angeles Sparks Media Day for WNBA Champions coach Brian Agler general manager Penny Toler at Los Angeles Athletic Club in Los Angeles, Ca on May 16, 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
Los Angeles, Ca – When you’ve reached the pinnacle of professional basketball earning the coveted championship ring, where do you go from there?
The answer is simple, according to Los Angeles Sparks head coach Brian Agler during the team’s media gathering on Tuesday, May 16 at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
You don’t think about it. Instead, you focus on the present; what’s in front of you.
As the 2017 WNBA season tipped-off for reigning champion the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday with a 78-68 win over the Seattle Storm, the newly crowned royalty of professional basketball addressed the media with one goal and one goal only: to repeat last year’s championship feat.
“We get better day by day,” Agler said. “Training camp helped established culture. I’m a firm believer in staying focused.”
Riquna Williams
Tiffany Jackson-Jones
Odyssey Sims
With a slew of new faces, Agler and the organization’s long-time general manager Penny Toler knows that the veteran core of 2016 league MVP Nneka Ogwumike, forward Candace Parker, center Jantel Lavender and guard Alana Beard must prepare to lead a new pack of wolves if they want a repeat.
To keep it simple, it’s easier said than done.
“It’s all about getting better,” Toler said, “Everything changes. The work we did last year will not be enough this year.”
With a target constantly on the team’s back for the rest of the season, the Sparks are wary of what’s to come, and it’s not going to come easy. Regardless, the focus will always be on the team in order to accomplish the ultimate goal.
Ogwumike and Beard at the Los Angeles Sparks Media Day for WNBA Champions at Los Angeles Athletic Club in Los Angeles, Ca on May 16, 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
“I see concerns and obstacles as challenges,” Ogwumike said, “I don’t think about anybody else. I just think about us.”
Last year’s team were battle-ready with experience coming off the bench, but this time around, it can get a little tricky with some fresh legs dawning the court for the first time in their careers.
With the move of guard Kristi Toliver to the Washington Mystic in the offseason, the team brought in two seasoned guards in Odyssey Sims and Riquna Williams, the latter coming off a season-ending injury. Both players addressed the team’s tight-knit atmosphere and defensive strengths as reasons why they made the move.
Amongst the newcomers are rookies Senegalese international Maimouna Diarra and Sydney Wiese, the 11th-overall pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft from Oregon State. Diarra brings another post player to guard the basket and score on the other, while Wiese’s sharpshooting abilities adds depth to the Sparks’ bench.
Surely, the additions will accommodate the Sparks for the majority of the season. The team knows it’ll take way more than accommodation for another shot at the title, especially when expectations are not only higher because of what was accomplished last year, but because it is and always will be a Los Angeles team.
