Seattle Storm Star Earns Third MVP Honor of Career

NEW YORK, Sept. 2, 2010 – Seattle Storm forward-center Lauren Jackson was named the 2010 WNBA Most Valuable Player presented by Kia Motors, the league announced today.  Jackson, who received 323 points (22 first place votes) from a national panel of 39 sportswriters and broadcasters, previously earned MVP honors in 2003 and 2007.  Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings ranked second with 262 points (10 first place votes) and New York Liberty guard Cappie Pondexter finished third with 207 points (five).  Phoenix Mercury guard-forward Diana Taurasi, the 2009 WNBA Most Valuable Player presented by Kia Motors, finished fourth with 73 points.  

Players were awarded 10 points for each first-place vote, seven points for each second-place vote, five for third, three for fourth and one for each fifth-place vote received.

In honor of being named the WNBA Most Valuable Player presented by Kia Motors, Jackson will receive $15,000 and a specially-designed trophy from Tiffany & Co.

Rounding out the top eight vote getters were Washington Mystics forward-center Crystal Langhorne with 54 points, Atlanta Dream forward Angel McCoughtry with 41 points, Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles with 19 points, and Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird with 14 points.  

En route to her third MVP award, Jackson helped propel the Storm to the best record in the WNBA at 28-6, which equaled the most wins in league history (by the 28-4 Los Angeles Sparks in both 2000 and 2001).  Seattle also posted the first 17-0 home record in WNBA history.

The Australian native captured the WNBA Western Conference Player of the Month presented by Kia Motors honors in May, June and July of this year.  She also set a single-season record (later equaled by New York’s Cappie Pondexter) for most Conference Player of the Week presented by Kia Motors awards with five, all coming in the first nine weeks of the season.  In the process, Jackson increased her total haul of weekly honors to 19, the most in WNBA history.  

The 10-year pro started all 32 games in which she played and ranked among the WNBA’s top 10 in numerous categories, including finishing fourth in points (20.5 ppg) and seventh in rebounds (8.3 rpg).  She also ranked fourth in free-throw percentage (.910), fifth in blocks (1.19 bpg) and seventh in double-doubles (nine).

Jackson finished the season with 656 total points (tallying double figures in all but one game), 264 rebounds (including 175 defensive boards), 38 assists, 38 blocks, and 30 steals. She made 220 of her 476 shots from the field, including 54 of 156 from three-point range.

Jackson, whose Seattle team hosts the Mercury in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals tonight, led the Storm to a 5-0 mark against Phoenix during the regular season.  It was against the Mercury that Jackson logged her best performances of the year.  She first recorded her top rebounding effort of the season at Phoenix, pulling down 18 boards and contributing 31 points in a 111-107 triple overtime victory on July 14.  In their next meeting she posted a season-high 33 points and added 11 rebounds in a 91-85 home win over the Mercury.
                 

This marks the second season that Kia Motors, an official WNBA marketing partner, has presented four of the league’s most illustrious season-ending awards – the WNBA’s Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player of the Year, and Sixth Woman of the Year – grouped under the banner of “The WNBA Performance Awards presented by Kia Motors.”

For more information on this year's WNBA Performance Awards presented by Kia Motors, visit www.wnba.com/awards.
                 
Below are the complete results of the 2010 WNBA Most Valuable Player of the Year award presented by Kia Motors votes and a list of past recipients:

2010 WNBA MOST VALUABLE PLAYER PRESENTED BY KIA MOTORS RESULTS

        Points                Player        Team
        323                Lauren Jackson        Seattle Storm
        262                Tamika Catchings        Indiana Fever
        207                Cappie Pondexter        New York Liberty
        73                Diana Taurasi        Phoenix Mercury
        54                Crystal Langhorne        Washington Mystics
        41                Angel McCoughtry        Atlanta Dream
        19                Tina Charles        Connecticut Sun
        14                Sue Bird        Seattle Storm
        6                Tina Thompson        Los Angeles Sparks
        3                Penny Taylor        Phoenix Mercury

ALL-TIME WNBA MOST VALUABLE PLAYER PRESENTED BY KIA MOTORS WINNERS
        2010        Lauren Jackson        Seattle Storm
        2009         Diana Taurasi        Phoenix Mercury
        2008        Candace Parker        Los Angeles Sparks
        2007        Lauren Jackson        Seattle Storm
        2006        Lisa Leslie        Los Angeles Sparks        
        2005        Sheryl Swoopes        Houston Comets
        2004        Lisa Leslie        Los Angeles Sparks
        2003        Lauren Jackson        Seattle Storm
        2002        Sheryl Swoopes        Houston Comets
        2001        Lisa Leslie        Los Angeles Sparks
        2000        Sheryl Swoopes        Houston Comets
                1999        Yolanda Griffith        Sacramento Monarchs
                1998        Cynthia Cooper        Houston Comets
                1997        Cynthia Cooper        Houston Comets

About Kia Motors America
Kia Motors America (KMA) is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 700 dealers throughout the United States. For 2008, KMA recorded its 14th consecutive year of increased U.S. market share and more recently achieved its best quarter of sales ever in 2009. Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline “The Power to Surprise.”

Kia Motors America is the “Official Automotive Partner of the NBA.” Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its Web site –www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.

About the WNBA
The WNBA is a unique global sports property combining competition, sportsmanship, and entertainment value with its status as an icon for social change, achievement, and diversity.  Now in its 14th season, the WNBA features 12 teams and is the most successful women’s professional team sports league in the world.  Following a 2009 campaign that saw regular season attendance increase for the third consecutive year and increased viewership on ESPN2 for the second straight summer, the 2010 season tipped off with tremendous momentum on May 15.  

Through WNBA Cares, the WNBA is deeply committed to creating programs that improve the quality of life for all people, with a special emphasis on programs that promote a healthy lifestyle and positive body image, increase breast and women’s health awareness, support youth and family development, and focus on education. For more information on the WNBA, log on to www.wnba.com.

FC GOLD PRIDE TO HOST WPS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH 

                                                                      Tickets for the WPS Championship match are now on sale

HAYWARD, CA (August 30, 2010) – After clinching first place in the regular season, FC Gold Pride will host the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) Championship Match presented by CITI on Sunday, September 26 at Pioneer Stadium on the campus of California State University, East Bay in Hayward, CA.

Based on the WPS playoff format, the top four teams in the WPS standings at the conclusion of the regular season will advance to the WPS Playoffs presented by MedImmune, which consists of a unique format that heavily rewards the team that finishes atop the WPS Regular Season table. The top team during the regular season will become WPS Regular Season Champion and earn an automatic place as host of the WPS Championship presented by Citi, the league’s championship game. 

In the First Round of the playoffs, the No. 4 team in the regular season will face the No. 3 team at No. 3’s stadium on Sept. 19. The second place team in the regular season will receive a bye into the Super Semifinal and host the winner of the First Round on Sept. 22/23. The winner of the Super Semifinal will then travel to the top-seeded team for the WPS Championship presented by Citi on Sept. 26.

In a complete 360 from the inaugural season, the Pride who finished last in the 2009 standings will play in the team’s first WPS Championship game.  The team hopes to cap its record-breaking season by bringing a professional championship to the Bay Area. 

In the unifying spirit of soccer, the Pride is extending a special offer to sports fans holding season tickets to any Bay Area professional sports team. FC Gold Pride will extend its own special season seat holder rate to all Bay Area sport season seat holders wishing to purchase tickets to the WPS Championship game.  To take advantage of this offer fans should call 888-541-3511.

Fans can now purchase tickets to the culminating match of the 2010 WPS season by calling 888-541-3511 or visiting FCGoldPride.com.

Google Blogs Search 3 new results for Italy Women Athlete

Pro Wrestling Digest » Blog Archive » SHIMMER Women Athletes 8/27/10

By jerzy
SHIMMER – WOMEN ATHLETES is pleased to announce the continuation of our sponsorship agreement with 39TEN Lounge & Fabulous Freddies Italian Eatery, located at 3910 S. Harlem Avenue in Lyons, IL. 39TEN will be the location for post-show ...
Pro Wrestling Digest - http://www.prowrestlingdigest.com/
Ny Times Article: Female Athletes Are Still Upset About Caster ...

By orvillelloyddouglas
Brussels will be her fourth meet of the season, and the plan after that is to race twice in Italy and perhaps once in South Africa before heading to New Delhi for the Commonwealth Games as part of the South African team. ...
GayBlackCanadianman - http://orvillelloyddouglas.wordpress.com/
Women's Health News: ECG not much help for screening athletes' hearts

By Marc Onigman
Some earlier studies, particularly from Italy, had indicated that 12-lead ECG screening could identify athletes with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, putting them at risk for sudden cardiac death. Making such screening routine in Italy was ...
Women's Health News - http://womenshealthnewstoday.blogspot.com/ 

UCLA Women's Soccer Edges Wisconsin, 1-0
Freshman Richmond scores game's only goal in the 56th minute.

Madison, Wisc. - Freshman Jenna Richmond broke a scoreless tie in the 56th minute on Friday, helping the third-ranked UCLA women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over No. 20 Wisconsin in the opening day of the Wisconsin Tournament at the McClimon Soccer Complex. The Bruins improve to 2-0 on the year, while the Badgers fall to 0-1-1.

After managing just one shot in the first half, UCLA struck at the 55:14 mark of the second half on Richmond's first collegiate goal. Senior Lauren Barnes provided the assist.

After being out-shot 3-1 in the first half, UCLA ended up out-shooting Wisconsin, 9-5 on the night. Bruin goalkeeper Chante' Sandiford played the entire 90 mintues in goal, making two saves. Friday marked the first-ever meeting between UCLA and Wisconsin.

UCLA rounds out play at the Wisconsin Tournament on Sunday, facing Northwestern at 11:00 a.m. (CST).

Danny Harrington, Assistant Sports Information Director . UCLA Athletic Department

U.S. Women Golden at FIVB World Grand Prix after Defeating Japan

 A follow-up story will come out later on Sunday to include podium pictures, quotes, final stats, etc.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 29, 2010) - Jordan Larson (Hooper, Neb.) scored a team-high 15 points to lead the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team to a 26-24, 25-20, 25-23 victory over Japan Sunday afternoon to secure the gold medal at the 18th FIVB World Grand Prix Final Round being played at Ningbo, China. The FIVB World Grand Prix is the premier annual international women's volleyball event.

The U.S. finished the six-team, five-day round-robin Final Round with a 5-0 record and 13 points to capture its third FIVB World Grand Prix title. The Americans, who have won 11-matches in a row, also won the event in 1995 and 2001. In addition, Team USA had not reached the tournament's medal podium since back-to-back bronze finishes in 2003 and 2004.Further, the U.S. has now medal in all three of its 2010 tournaments including a silver at the 26th Montreux Volley Masters and bronze at the Pan American Cup both played in June.

During the Final Round, the U.S. rallied from a two-set deficit to defeat Poland in five sets in the opener on Aug. 25. The Americans followed with a convincing three-set victory over Italy on Aug. 26, then a thrilling five-set victory over two-time World Grand Prix defending champion Brazil on Aug. 27. Team USA topped host China in three sets on Aug. 28. The U.S. reached the Final Round by finishing second in the nine-match preliminary round with a 7-2 record, including the final six matches that had wins over Italy and China among the Final Round participants.

Entering its final match of the tournament, the U.S. needed a win over Japan or at least reach the fifth set to guarantee the gold medal despite having a two-match advantage over Brazil. An American loss in three or four sets could have allowed Brazil (2-2, 8 points), who plays host China (2-2, 6 points) at 7 p.m. (4 a.m. Pacific Time) later today, to back-door into the title through the complicated point system being utilized for the tournament. Teams earn three points for a three- or four-set victory, two points for a five-set victory and one point for a five-set loss. In addition to the Brazil-China match, Italy (1-3, 4 points) faces Poland (1-3, 4 points) at 3:30 p.m. (1:30 a.m. Pacific Time).

The U.S. recovered from an early 12-7 deficit in the opening set with an 8-1 scoring run to take a 15-13 lead, but needed to overcome a late 23-21 deficit and a set point to win 26-24. Team USA overcame a 4-1 deficit in the second set to tie the score at 6-all, then used an 8-2 scoring spurt to take a 16-11 advantage en route to a 25-20 victory. The U.S. overcame a 16-14 deficit in the third set with a 10-3 scoring run to reach match point at 24-19, then weathered Japan saving four match points before winning 25-23.

"I'm really proud of my team, not only for winning this tournament, but also for the way they were playing," U.S. Women's National Team Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) said. "It's a tough match against Japan. We were happy we won. I'm very happy with our performance at the tournament. This is a great start for us, but we clearly know we need to make improvement."

The U.S. featured a balanced offense on the final day of the tournament as all five starting hitters reached double-digit scoring. Larson was credited with 11 kills on 34 attacks and four blocks for 15 points. Destinee Hooker (San Antonio, Texas) notched 10 kills on 32 swings and two blocks for 12 points to conclude her first international volleyball tournament with the U.S. Women's National Team. Logan Tom (Salt Lake City, Utah) hammered nine kills on a team-high 35 attacks to go with an ace for 10 points, Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.) chipped in five kills on 11 attacks, four blocks and an ace for 10 points. Heather Bown (Yorba Linda, Calif.) pocketed six kills on 12 swings, three blocks and an ace for 10 points. Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.) rounded out the scoring with two kills and two blocks for four points.

For the complete press release, visit usavolleyball.org/news/article/38280.