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SPORTSThursday 17 September

Elena Delle Donne wins WNBA Most Valuable Player award

DOUG FEINBERG

AP Basketball Writer

Elena Delle Donne was

announced as the WNBA’s

Most Valuable Player on

Wednesday for the first

time in her young career.

“Sounds pretty crazy

hearing that,” the Chicago

Sky star said. “It’s been

an incredible season. My

teammates are the ones

that have the credit, the

coaches as well. We had

so much fun this year. Just

want to keep it going.”

Delle Done averaged 23.4

points per game to lead

the league this season and

help Chicago secure the

second seed in the Eastern

Conference.

“It’s such a humbling thing

with all the superstars

in the league for me

to be named MVP this

season,” Delle Donne

said in a phone interview

Wednesday night. “It’s

really special and really

hard to put words to it. The

crazy thing to think was

that one day I had put In this Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015, file photo, Chicago Sky’s Elena Delle Donne gestures during the second half of a WNBA basketball
game against the Connecticut Sun in Uncasville, Conn.
the basketball down and
Associated Press
might never have picked it

up again.”

Delle Donne was a season. more than double her total than just an offensive challenge I took to heart.
“I’m glad I took this type of from the previous year. She scorer,” Delle Donne I’ve worked much harder
remembering when she road to get here, it makes also blocked two shots a said. “Obviously scoring this season to improve
it that much sweeter,” game. The 2013 Rookie of is something the team defensively. I take pride
transferred from UConn she said. She plans on the Year had a career-best needed, but they also in being an all-around
bringing the trophy home 45 points early in the season needed me to do more. player.” She received 38
to Delaware before her to Delaware. and shot 95 percent from Pokey (Chatman) talked of the 39 first-place votes
The 26-year-old forward the free throw line. to me last offseason about from a national media
freshman year of college averaged 8.4 rebounds — “It showed I was more rebounding. That was a panel of sportswriters and
broadcasters. Minnesota’s
citing homesickness and Maya Moore, who won the
award last year, received
burnout. She didn’t decide the other first-place vote.
New York’s Tina Charles
to play basketball again finished third. Phoenix’s
Brittney Griner was fourth
until her sophomore year, and LA’s Candace Parker
was fifth.
after playing volleyball for Delle Donne is the first
Chicago Sky player to win
Pacquiao Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao gestures as he answers ties who did not allow him the award and just the
questions from reporters during an interview in suburban Pasay, to take medication for his fourth from the Eastern
Continued from page 17 south of Manila, Philippines on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015. rotator cuff injury before Conference in the league’s
Pacquiao said boxing is not his main focus these days and a the fight. 19 years.
“I’m OK. Whether there is rematch with Floyd Mayweather may not happen because the On Mayweather’s IV, he As excited as Delle Donne
a second (bout with May- American champion said he was retiring. said: “What I want to know was to win the award, she
weather), it’s not a prob- and clarify is if he commit- has loftier thoughts.
lem,” he said. “I heard he Associated Press ted an offense, how will “The WNBA championship
has retired, so it doesn’t the rules be applied?” is by far the biggest goal,”
matter.” to which he disclosed the prohibited substances. Regarding the Philippines she said. “That would be far
For his next fight, he said he infusion beforehand. The Pacquiao’s camp was criti- general election in May the most amazing thing to
will take on any other con- USADA said it contained no cal of anti-doping authori- 2016, Pacquiao refused to bring home to Chicago.”
tender, “because I do not disclose his plans. He told Chicago faces Indiana
choose my opponents.” reporters he will soon an- in the opening round of
Pacquiao also said he was nounce whether he will run the playoffs that begin
waiting to see if U.S. box- for re-election or governor Thursday night.q
ing authorities will sanction of his province, or seek a
Mayweather for taking an seat in the Senate.
IV drip after the weigh-in He is expected to make
for their fight in Las Vegas. his announcement, and
Punishment seemed un- the presidential candidate
likely, as Mayweather has he will support, before the
been supported by the Oct. 16 deadline for filing
U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, of candidacy papers.q