Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Friday 14 September 2018

WNBA title eight consecutive points
and pulled away.
“We were up at halftime,
Continued from Page 17 but we knew D.C. was go-
ing to come back,” Stewart
Stewart was the league said. “It was how we coun-
MVP and was selected tered that when things got
the Finals MVP after av- close. That’s what really
eraging 25.6 points in the separated us again.”
three games. She scored This is likely just the be-
17 points in the first half as ginning for the dynamic
the Storm raced to a 47-30 24-year-old forward, who
lead. won the NCAA Champi-
“Stewie was just amazing,” onship during each of her
Storm coach Dan Hughes four seasons at the Univer-
said. “She truly was the sity of Connecticut.
MVP of this league. She “It didn’t feel like my first
truly was the MVP of these WNBA finals closeout
Finals. God blessed me with game,” the poised Stewart
an opportunity to coach said.
her and I will be forever “This is probably going to
grateful.” be one of the most defin-
Bird, also a member of a Se- ing moments of my ca-
attle’s championship teams Seattle Storm forward Breanna Stewart poses with the finals mvp trophy and the WNBA championship reer,” Bird said.
in 2004 and 2010, was cer- trophy after Game 3 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Washington Mystics, Wednesday, TIP-INS
Sept. 12, 2018, in Fairfax, Va. The Storm won 98-82 and the title.
tainly appreciative of the The location, George Ma-
title — and the growth of and Jewell, we knew we’d like we peaked and this is need a lot tonight.” son University, marked
the Storm’s younger play- get to the other side, but it for us,” Delle Donne said. Alysha Clark had 15 points the third arena Washing-
ers. Seattle landed Jewell how do you know you’re Washington reached the for Seattle. ton has called home this
Loyd and Stewart, both All- going to get to the other Finals for the first time in Washington battled Se- season and the second in
Stars in 2018 with Bird, with side this fast?” franchise history. attle and history. Since the the playoffs. ... Washing-
the No. 1 overall picks in The coach sensed some- “There’s been a huge trans- league went to a best-of- ton starting center LaToya
2015 and 2016 respectively. thing brewing early in his formation with the culture five format in 2005, four Sanders sprained her left
“Each (championship) is first year with the franchise. of this team,” said Delle teams trailed 0-2. Each lost ankle diving for a loose ball
special in its own way, but Following the Phoenix loss, Donne, who was acquired Game 3. The Mystics joined in the third quarter. She
this one is probably go- Seattle won five in a row. by Washington before the that unwanted club. Poor was carried to the locker
ing to have a different “I think this was our year,” 2017 season. “Last year we perimeter shooting contrib- room and did not return.
meaning for me,” said the Hughes said. “All year you were brand new. I didn’t uted. Washington finished 8 ... Among those in atten-
37-year-old point guard could just see the escala- know (Toliver’s’ favorite) of 23 on 3-pointers in Game dance were Washington
who had 10 points and 10 tion.” beer. That’s a pretty impor- 3 and 11 for 60 (18.3) in the Wizards guards John Wall
assists. “There is probably Elena Delle Donne scored tant thing to know about series. and Bradley Beal, Univer-
no comparison to be hon- 23 points for the Mystics. Panda. Now I can go to Despite the misfires, Wash- sity of Connecticut coach
est. I didn’t know if I’d be Kristi Toliver had 22 points. the bar and order her ev- ington rallied from down 18 Geno Auriemma, University
playing at this point. Our “Obviously, this finals didn’t erything she needs. points to trailing 72-67 with of Maryland coach Bren-
team went through a re- go the way we wanted it. Toliver, seated next to the 6:49 remaining. Starting da Frese and Washington
build and yes, I decided to The great thing is we can first-team All-WNBA player, with a Stewart 3-point play, Redskins running back Der-
stay. Once we got Stewie still improve. We don’t feel chimed in. “I’m going to Seattle countered with rius Guice.q

Celtics’ Heyward: Rehab was

‘most difficult thing I’ve done’

By JIMMY GOLEN the Oct. 16 opener against Kreme doughnuts from a
AP Sports Writer the Philadelphia 76ers. “I road trip and drove them
BOSTON (AP) — The Celt- think you find the fight with- over to Hayward’s house.
ics were in sunny Los Ange- in yourself.” “There’s so many days
les, it was another sub-zero The Celtics’ top free-agent where I wake up and it’s
winter day back in Boston, acquisition of the 2017 sum- like, ‘Man, here we go
and Gordon Hayward was mer, Hayward was injured again,’” he said. “It was
stuck in rehab, shooting in the first quarter of the first the most difficult thing I’ve
baskets from a chair and game of the season when done.”
picking up marbles with his he landed awkwardly on Speaking at the new prac-
toes to work his surgically his left leg, breaking his tice facility named for Red
repaired ankle back into tibia and dislocating his Auerbach, Hayward said
shape. ankle. He may have been he celebrated each bit
“The hardest part of the able to return before the of progress — the walking
whole process has been end of the season, but then boot coming off, or shoot-
the mental challenge,” he needed more surgery in ing baskets standing up,
Hayward said Thursday, re- May. Other players did their instead of sitting in a chair. Boston Celtics’ Gordon Hayward waves as he steps off the
porting that he is 100 per- best to keep up his spir- Within the past two weeks, basketball court after speaking with members of the media
cent healthy and prepar- its: One time, Aron Baynes he has been able to play and taking part in a photo shoot, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, at the
ing to be on the court for brought back some Krispy five-on-five basketball.q team’s practice facility, in Boston. Associated Press