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A32 sports
Diamars 7 september 2021

WNBA honors its top 25 players of all-time

nounced the league’s top 25 play- currently ranked among the top 40
ers Sunday. “It’s a huge honor to be named career leaders in at least one major
among the top 25 players in league statistical category; and/or a recipient
The “W25” has 10 current players, in- history and I’m in awe that I’m a part of the WNBA’s season-long Com-
cluding Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Syl- of such a prestigious list,” Bird said. munity Assist Award.
via Fowles, Candace Parker and Bre- “It’s been incredible to experience the
anna Stewart. Former stars Lisa Les- rise in the level of competition in the “Throughout this season, the WNBA
lie, Tamika Catchings, Katie Smith past 25 years and I’m excited to see and our fans are celebrating the im-
and Sheryl Swoopes are among 15 what the future holds for this league.” pact the WNBA has made on sports
retired players selected by a panel of and society over a quarter of a cen-
media members and women’s bas- To be considered for the group, play- tury,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy
ketball pioneers and advocates. ers must have played at least two sea- Engelbert said. “I can think of no bet-
sons and met four of seven criteria: ter way to honor those responsible
It’s the fourth time that the league, in won a major individual award; se- for that impact than by unveiling the
its 25th season, has produced a list of lected to either the All-WNBA First members of this prestigious group,
its top players. Bird, Catchings, Cyn- Team or All-WNBA Second Team; The W25.”
thia Cooper, Yolanda Griffith, Lauren selected to either the WNBA All-
Jackson, Leslie, Smith, Swoopes and Defensive First Team or WNBA All- Fans will be able to vote for their
Tina Thompson also were recog- Defensive Second Team; selected to choice as the greatest of all-time. The
(AP) — The WNBA honored nized on each of the previous anni- the WNBA All-Star Game; a mem- fans’ pick will be revealed during the
its past and present when it an- versary lists. ber of a WNBA championship team; WNBA Finals.

Cantlay delivers another clutch moment to win FedEx Cup

(AP) — Patrick Cantlay he tapped in for birdie and a Cantlay took a two-shot lead while Na (67) picked up $4
was on the verge of losing 1-under 69, waving his cap to with an approach to 6 feet for million. Justin Thomas (70) “It’s exactly why I play golf. I
his two-shot lead on one thousands of fans around the birdie on the 17th hole, and birdied the last hole to finish play golf so I can be in those
hole, with nothing less green. then nearly lost it all. fourth, which was worth $4 moments against the best
than the FedEx Cup, the million. players in the world,” he said.
$15 million prize and his It seems to suit his game, too. He drove to the right on “It’s why I practice so hard.
newfound reputation as the 17th, clipping a tree and “It felt really weird to have It’s why I’m in love with the
“Patty Ice” on the line. Rahm couldn’t get enough dropping down into deep this feeling of disappoint- game because it’s that great
putts to fall. The U.S. Open rough, and then hit a flyer ment of not winning on a day vehicle for competition. It
He was clutch as ever in his champion stayed close all day, over the green and the gal- you are making $5 million,” maybe makes it a little sweet-
biggest moment Sunday in and his shot into the 18th was lery. His pitch back to the Rahm said. er knowing that the guys I
the Tour Championship. equally special. It landed right green came up short and into played against are the best
next to the hole on its second more deep rough, and he had Cantlay started the post- players in the world.”
Cantlay made a nervy 6-foot bounce, rolling through to to make a 6-footer to save bo- season by saying he did not
bogey putt on the 17th hole light rough just off the green. gey and stay ahead. like the format of the Tour Cantlay won for the fourth
to stay one shot ahead of Jon Championship with the stag- time this season — no one
Rahm going to the par-5 18th Cantlay expected him to chip That set up the final hole, gered start depending on a else won more than twice.
hole at East Lake. Then, he in for eagle “because that’s where he could only match players’ FedEx Cup position, One of those victories was
hit his longest drive of the what he does.” Rahm nar- birdies with Cantlay. and no official victory for the Memorial, where Rahm
week — 361 yards down the rowly missed and shot 68, the lowest score at the Tour had a six-shot lead after 54
middle — with Rahm already allowing Cantlay a safe two- “I gave it my all,” Rahm said. Championship. holes and had to withdraw
in the fairway. putt for the win. “It wasn’t enough.” because of a positive COV-
He’s still not a fan, even if ID-19 test result.
The final shot was a 6-iron The victory was worth $15 Rahm was bogey-free over it worked out in his favor.
from 218 yards to 12 feet — million — $14 million in the last 28 holes, but he only All he could do was play the That figures to make Cantlay
the closest of anyone all day cash, $1 million deferred — cashed in on two birdies. hand he was dealt, and he a front-runner for PGA Tour
— that all but clinched the for the 29-year-old Califor- He tied with Kevin Na for played his cards perfectly. player of the year, with Rahm
one-shot victory, the FedEx nian whose rise in golf was the low 72-hole score of the (U.S. Open title, No. 1 rank-
Cup and perhaps even PGA slowed by a back injury that tournament at 14-under 266. Even more satisfying was the ing) and Collin Morikawa
Tour player of the year. kept him out for three years They will split points toward manner in which he won the (British Open, World Golf
and nearly ended his career. the world ranking. last two events — the six-hole Championship title), also
“It was the best shot I hit all playoff against DeChambeau likely to be on the ballot.
week,” Cantlay said. Now he has stamped him- Cantlay started at 10-under when he made one clutch
self among the elite in golf, par as the No. 1 seed and fin- putt after another, and deliv- Rahm won the Vardon Tro-
Cantlay outlasted Bryson boosted by the FedEx Cup ished at 21 under. ering the key moment with phy for the lowest adjusted
DeChambeau in a six-hole postseason. the FedEx Cup on the line scoring average.
playoff at the BMW Cham- “Patrick played great golf, against Rahm.
pionship. One week later, he “It’s fantastic,” Cantlay said. and he was four shots ahead
held off the No. 1 player in “It’s such a great honor be- of me (at the start). And even
the world with his one-shot cause it’s all year. I played though I might have been the
victory over Rahm in the really consistent all year and better man over the week, he
Tour Championship. caught fire at the end. There’s earned it,” Rahm said. “That
a lot of satisfaction consider- up-and-down after miss-
The nickname only surfaced ing all the work I’m put in ing from 17, the second shot
last week, and it’s starting to my whole life.” from 18 to almost make it is
stick. even more impressive.
Rahm, who started the
“To me, it just means cool tournament four shots be- “I think you can say he won
under pressure, and I think hind and went into the final this.”
that suits my personality re- day two back, never caught
ally well,” said Cantlay, who Cantlay. He never let him Rahm earned the $5 million
never changed his expres- breathe easy, either. consolation prize for finish-
sion until a big smile when ing second in the FedEx Cup,