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SPORTS Friday 29 September 2023

Versatile forwards including Stewart, Wilson in WNBA playoffs

reflect growth of women’s game

By DOUG FEINBERG “I’ve got to be prepared
AP Basketball Writer for pretty much anything
NEW YORK (AP) — The because I’m going to see
WNBA game has changed a lot of different things.”
and its evolution can be The 6-4 Stewart, who was
seen in the WNBA semifi- honored as the league’s
nals. From Lisa Leslie and MVP on Tuesday after be-
Tina Thompson to Lauren ing named the AP Player
Jackson, Candace Parker of the Year, credits her dad
and Elena Delle Donne, for getting her started at
there have always been an early age to be more
one or two post players than just a post player. “He
with the ability to step out made sure I wasn’t just a
and shoot the 3 or be a back to the basket player
playmaker away from the or a run to the block play-
basket. They changed the er because of my height,”
way the game has been Stewart said. “My height
played over the 27-year didn’t define what position
history of the league. I played, but only made it
Today, WNBA rosters list so I could play more. ... The
those coveted forwards ability to do multiple things.
withe versatile skillsets. “When you have multiple
The top six finishers in the Connecticut Sun guard Tiffany Hayes (15) and forward Olivia Nelson-Ododa (10) guard New York tools in your tool box it’s
MVP race were forwards Liberty forward Breanna Stewart, center, during the second half of Game 2 of a WNBA basketball harder to defend.”
and the top three vote get- playoffs semifinal Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, in New York. Associated Press Stewart also is a strong play-
ters Breanna Stewart, A’ja maker, bringing the ball up
Wilson and Alyssa Thomas Aces coach Becky Ham- ball up the court and shoot range. In her first four years the floor at times to help
as well as fifth place finish- mon said. “A’ja is big, ath- 3s to go along with their re- she took just two 3-point alleviate pressure defense
er Satou Sabally have led letic and highly skilled. Her bounding and scoring. attempts. She’s taken 112 that teams have thrown at
their teams to the semifinals efficiency has been off the Wilson has expanded her combined over the past New York. Her 6-6 Liberty
that continue Friday night. charts. It’s crazy how effi- game since she entered two seasons and made 40. teammate Jonquel Jones
“You saw it on the men’s cient she’s been. I think the the league in 2018. She “The game grows every is another versatile post giv-
side. You go back to Tina league as a whole kind of was always able to attack single year, so my influence ing New York two threats,
Thompson and Lauren took a step forward with the basket on drives and is I’ve had to stay ahead of who can play inside or out.
Jackson. Breanna Stewart spacing, scoring.” finish on the break, running the game at all aspects of The Liberty forward isn’t the
fits in that slot where it’s It’s more common now to the floor well. Now she’s my game,” said the 6-foot- only facilitator from the po-
just big and highly skilled,” see forwards bringing the extended her shooting 4 Wilson. sition. q

Cabrera’s 511th home run lifts Tigers over Royals 8-0 in completion

of suspended game

By DAVE HOGG Detroit has pitched 14 shut- Jonathan Bowlan (0-1), a able out there than I ex- the fifth on Cabrera’s bas-
Associated Press outs. At 54-104, the Royals 26-year-old right-hander pected it felt like home,” es-loaded walk and Iba-
DETROIT (AP) — Miguel Ca- have their most losses since who allowed one run and Bowlan said. “I was just ñez’s RBI forceout.
brera hit his 511th home run 2018. three hits over two innings zoned in and pitching like I Jake Rogers hit a two-run
and scored twice, and the Cabrera homered lead- in his major league debut. have all my life.” homer in the eighth off
Detroit Tigers beat the Kan- ing off the second against “I was a lot more comfort- Cabrera’s homer, his fourth Jackson Kowar.
sas City Royals 8-0 Thursday this season, would have Parker Meadows made
in the completion of a sus- hit the out-of-town score- a leaping catch at the
pended game. board before this season’s center-field wall for the fi-
Cabrera, who is retiring renovations lowered the nal out, denying Nelson
after the season, tied Mel fence in right-centerfield. Velazquez .
Ott for 25th on the career “It’s meaningful, because Detroit right-hander Saw-
home run list. The 40-year- he wants to win games,” yer Gipson-Long (1-0, 2.40)
old has 373 homers for De- Tigers manager A.J. Hinch was to start the scheduled
troit, tying Norm Cash for said. “Is it his last homer? I game against left-hander
second behind Al Kaline’s don’t know, but that was Cole Ragans (7-4, 3.11).
399. Play was suspended vintage Miggy. That’s how MOTHER NATURE
because of rain after four he hits.” Most of the completion
innings and an 80-minute Cabrera singled in the was played in light showers,
wait on Wednesday night. fourth for his 3,170th hit, but rain grew heavier dur-
Miguel Díaz (1-0) pitched took second on Andy Iba- ing the fourth inning. Crew
two innings for the win. ñez’s double, and scored chief Marvin Hudson called
Kansas City was held to Detroit Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera hits a fly ball for an out against the on pinch-hitter Tyler Nevin’s for the tarp after a lengthy
four hits for the 25th time Kansas City Royals during the sixth inning of a baseball game three-run homer. attempt to get the field
Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, in Detroit.
this season. Associated Press Detroit added two runs in playable to start the fifth.q