Stanford’s Williams gets drafted by Seattle in WNBA
From one championship team to another, Stanford point guard Kiana Williams landed with the Seattle Storm on Thursday night in the WNBA draft.
Williams was taken 18th overall as the sixth pick in the second round by the defending WNBA champion Seattle Storm. Williams helped guide the Cardinal to its third national championship earlier this month in her hometown of San Antonio.
Williams finished the season leading the team in points (14.0), assists (3.1), 3-pointers (82) and minutes played (32.3). Her name is littered throughout the record books, most notably setting Stanford’s career 3-point mark, finishing her time on The Farm with 311.
The Dallas Wings had the first two picks and selected Texas’ Charli Collier and Finland’s Awak Kuier.
Arizona’s Aari McDonald, the Pac12 player of the year, was selected third by the Atlanta Dream, and UCLA’s Michaela Onyenwere went sixth to the New York Liberty. The Los Angeles Sparks grabbed USC’s Stephanie Watts with the 10th pick.
NFL
RAIDERS DROP TWO DEFENSIVE LINEMEN>> Two defensive linemen from coach Jon Gruden’s first draft class paid the price for the Raiders’ problems on defense last season as tackle Maurice Hurst Jr. and edge rusher Arden Key were waived, the club announced.
During free agency, the Raiders signed Quinton Jefferson and Solomon Thomas. The Raiders also made Yannick Ngakoue, an edge rusher, their big-ticket free agent during the offseason and return incumbents Clelin Ferrell, Maxx Crosby and Carl Nassib at end.
LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER ‘VIRTUAL’ OFFSEASON FOR THE RAIDERS >> At the behest of the NFL Player’s Association, the Raiders voted to go “virtual” again when it comes to the offseason. That means teaching and organized team activities and the like will be done via “Zoom” video conference rather than in-person.
Offseason programs can begin on Monday.
ALDON SMITH TO JOIN SEAHAWKS >> The Seattle Seahawks and free agent defensive end Aldon Smith have agreed on a one-year contract, NFL Network reported Thursday. Smith enjoyed a renaissance with the Cowboys, starting all 16 games and recording five sacks and 14 quarterback hits, 48 tackles and two fumble recoveries, including one returned for a touchdown. Smith was suspended by the NFL in November 2015. He wasn’t reinstated until last May.
CAESARS, DRAFTKINGS AND FANDUEL PARTNER WITH NFL >> The NFL named Caesars, DraftKings and FanDuel as its first-ever U.S. betting partners. Specific terms of the agreements were not announced, but the negotiations reportedly involve five-year deals that will pay the league just shy of $1 billion.
Caesars, DraftKings and FanDuel will have permission to use the NFL logo and team marks on their platforms. Additionally, the three companies receive the right to integrate sports betting content directly into NFL Media properties, including NFL.com and the NFL app.
Golf
CAMERON SMITH FIRES CAREER-LOW 62 TO LEAD RBC HERITAGE >> Australia’s Cameron Smith fired a blistering 9-under 62, his lowest competitive round on tour, at Harbour Town Golf Links to grab a one-shot lead over Stewart Cink at the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head, S.C.
Cink opened his round with a tee shot into a water hazard but rebounded with seven birdies and an eagle. He had four birdies and the eagle on his back nine.
Tied for third at 6-under are Englishman Matt Wallace and Cal’s Collin Morikawa, while Charles Howell III, Billy Horschel and Harold Varner III shot 66 and are tied for fifth.
Men’s college basketball
PROBATION, FINE FOR USC >> The NCAA hit USC’s men’s basketball program with two years’ probation and a $5,000 fine because a former assistant coach violated NCAA ethical conduct rules when he accepted a bribe to steer players to a business management company.
The Division I Committee on Infractions announced the penalties. The probation, which does not include a postseason ban, runs until April 14, 2023.
Tony Bland, the former associate head coach under coach Andy Enfield, wasn’t mentioned by name in the NCAA report. He was fired by the school in January 2018 and later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery.
USC is the fourth school involved in the federal investigation to be punished by the NCAA.
CINCINNATI HIRES UNC GREENSBORO’S WES MILLER >> Cincinnati has hired UNC Greensboro coach Wes Miller to replace the fired John Brannen.
Miller, regarded as one of the top young coaches in college basketball, won 185 games in 10 seasons at UNC Greensboro. Over the past five years, the Spartans have five-straight 20win seasons, two NCAA Tournament appearances, two NIT appearances and two Southern Conference tournament championships.
College football
KEYES, GOLD STANDARD OF PURDUE FOOTBALL, DIES >> Leroy Keyes, a twotime consensus All-American running back and one of the greatest football players in Purdue history, died Thursday. He was 74.
He died at his home in West Lafayette, Indiana, surrounded by his wife and children, the family said in a statement.
Keyes had been in poor health recently, suffering from congestive heart failure and a cancer recurrence. He previously had prostate cancer.
Keyes was third in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 1967 and was the runner-up to O.J. Simpson in 1968.
He finished his career as the school’s career leader in touchdowns (37), points (222) and all-purpose yards (3,757). The Philadelphia Eagles drafted Keyes in 1969. Injuries forced him out of the NFL after just five seasons.
Tennis
TOP-RANKED DJOKOVIC OUSTED IN MONTE CARLO >> Top-ranked Novak Djokovic lost 6-4, 7-5 to Dan Evans in the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters for his first defeat of the year.
No. 3 Rafael Nadal had no such problems, breezing past Grigor Dimitrov 6-1, 6-1 to reach the quarterfinals of a tournament he has won a record 11 times.
Evans will play his first Masters quarterfinal against 11th-seeded David Goffin.