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sports Wednesday 4 May 2022
WNBA to honor Brittney Griner with league-wide floor decals

By DOUG FEINBERG lief so that they can carry
AP Basketball Writer a replacement player until
The WNBA will honor Phoe- Griner returns home. Griner
nix star Brittney Griner with will be paid her full salary of
a floor decal and allow nearly $228,000.
the Mercury to pay her Engelbert announced at
without it counting against the WNBA draft that there
the team’s salary cap, the would be a league-wide
league announced Tues- charity initiative spear-
day. headed by the Mercury
The All-Star center remains to support Griner’s philan-
in Russia after being de- thropic project, called BG’s
tained following her arrival Heart and Sole Shoe Drive,
at a Moscow airport on which helps the homeless.
Feb. 17. Russian authori- “In conjunction with the
ties said a search of her league, the other 11 teams,
luggage revealed vape and those closest to BG, we
cartridges that allegedly will work to keep her top
contained oil derived from of mind as we tip the 2022
cannabis, which could car- season,” Mercury Execu-
ry a maximum penalty of tive Vice President and GM
10 years in prison. She has a Jim Pitman said. “While we
hearing set for May 19. Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner pauses on the court during the second half of a WNBA await her return, our main
The Biden administration basketball game against the Seattle Storm, Sept. 3, 2019, in Phoenix. Associated Press concern remains for her
determined that Griner is safety and well-being. Our
being wrongfully detained me hope that BG would be people. I coached her for Brittney at the forefront of fans will miss her impact on
in Russia, meaning the Unit- one of the next ones out. I a long time and she’s like what we do through the the court and in our com-
ed States will more aggres- can’t imagine what she’s family. I think it’s a great game of basketball and munity, and this gesture
sively work to secure her going through. Hopefully step.” in the community,” WNBA of including her initials on
release even as the legal she’ll be out sooner than The decal will feature Gri- Commissioner Cathy Engel- every court and our BG’s
case against her plays out, later.” ner’s initials as well as her bert said. “We continue to Heart and Sole Shoe Drive
the State Department said Brondello was happy with No. 42. All 12 WNBA teams work on bringing Brittney activation in every market
Tuesday. the league’s creation of will have the decal on their home and are apprecia- are for them and for her.”
“We just want her home. the decal. home courts starting with tive of the support the Griner had one of her best
I’m glad that they are trying “There’s not a day I don’t the season opener Friday community has shown BG seasons last year — she was
to do something,” said New think about BG. I was trying night. The Mercury open and her family during this the league’s second-lead-
York Liberty coach Sandy to message with her family their season at home that extraordinarily challenging ing scorer and finished sixth
Brondello, who previously yesterday. She’s in every- night against the Las Vegas time.” in rebounds. She helped
coached Griner in Phoenix. one’s mind,” she said. “She Aces. The league also approved the Mercury reach the
“They had that prisoner re- can’t be forgotten. She “As we begin the 2022 giving the Mercury both WNBA Finals, where they
lease last week that gave means so much to so many season, we are keeping roster and salary cap re- lost to the Chicago Sky.q

Cards’ Hopkins suspended 6 games for

violating PED policy

By DAVID BRANDT with my team to investi- big chunk of the upcoming
AP Sports Writer gate how this could’ve season.
The Arizona Cardinals are happened,” the statement Hopkins played in 10
going to have to figure out said. “But even as careful games last season, catch-
a way to score points and as I have been, clearly I ing 42 passes for 572 yards
win games without their wasn’t careful enough. For and eight touchdowns. He
top receiver. that, I apologize to Cardi- missed much of the last
Three-time All-Pro DeAn- nals fans, my teammates, half of the season, includ-
dre Hopkins has been and the entire Cardinals or- ing the team’s playoff loss
suspended without pay ganization. I never want to to the Los Angeles Rams,
for six games for violat- let my team down.” because of hamstring and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins looks to the
ing the NFL’s policy on It’s a stunning blow for the knee injuries. sideline during a timeout in second half of an NFL football game
performance-enhancing Cardinals, who finished with The Cardinals softened the against the Los Angeles Rams, Dec. 13, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz.
substances, the league an- an 11-6 record last season loss of Hopkins by adding a Associated Press
nounced Monday. but faded down the stretch receiver during last week’s
Hopkins issued a statement when Hopkins was out of NFL draft, acquiring Mar- means a bigger role for includes six 1,000-yard
on social media Monday the lineup because of in- quise Brown from the Ra- Brown, veteran A.J. Green seasons. He played his first
night, saying he was “con- juries. Arizona had an 8-2 vens for the No. 23 overall and second-year standout seven seasons with the Tex-
fused and shocked” to record when Hopkins was pick. Brown was a 1,000- Rondale Moore, along with ans before being traded in
learn he tested positive for in the lineup and just a 3-5 yard receiver last season tight end Zach Ertz, during 2020 to the Cardinals.
a banned substance. mark, including the play- and college teammates the season’s first six weeks. Hopkins is allowed to par-
“I am very mindful of what offs, when he was not. with Arizona quarterback Hopkins has been one of ticipate in the team’s
I put in my body and have Now they’ll be without the Kyler Murray when the two the league’s most produc- preseason practices and
always taken a holistic ap- 29-year-old receiver — who were at Oklahoma. tive receivers during his games.q
proach, so I am working turns 30 next month — for a Hopkins’ suspension likely nine-year career, which