WNBA

WNBA star Angel McCoughtry says Becky Hammon taking the Aces' head coaching job shouldn't be looked at as a "step back" ... telling TMZ Sports both the WNBA and the NBA are on "the same level."

"Why is that considered a step back?" the WNBA forward said at LAX this week.

"She's coaching elite women that are just as good as LeBron, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Steph Curry. These women are just as good."

Hammon became the Las Vegas Aces' HC last month -- and some have perceived it to be a disappointment, considering many believed she deserved to be an NBA HC right now.

After all, she served eight seasons as an assistant coach under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio ... and did have interest from NBA teams with vacant head coaching jobs this past offseason.

But, McCoughtry believes going to the WNBA is by no means a "setback" ... telling us straight up, "The WNBA and NBA are not two separate things."

McCoughtry added that she believes Hammon will ultimately end up being the first female HC in the NBA one day regardless.

The 5x WNBA All-Star added that the 44-year-old's new contract with the Aces -- which made her the WNBA's highest-paid coach in history -- should be groundbreaking for female athletes and coaches moving forward.

"Great thing for our league, for her and breaking barriers with the pay," Angel said. "That's a record because at the end of the day, she's opening it up for players to have record contracts as well."

Candace Parker says she and her wife have a baby on the way ... revealing Tuesday her partner, Anya Petrakova, is pregnant!!!

The WNBA superstar shared the awesome news on her social media page ... gushing over Anya on their wedding anniversary while calling the pregnancy "surreal."

"I LOVE YOU🐞," Parker said in a message to Petrakova. "I appreciate you, I value you and what we have."

"We've always dreamed of growing our family...," Parker continued. "It's surreal that we now have a baby on the way!"

Of course, Parker has been a mother for 12 years -- she and Shelden Williams had their daughter, Lailaa, together back in May 2009.

And, Parker says Lailaa is fired up to welcome the new addition to the family, saying, "Lailaa is pumped to be a big sister!"

Parker added that she's grateful Petrakova has loved "Lailaa as your own" since the two got together.

"You couldn't be more beautiful!" Parker continued in her message to Petrakova. "Glowing, while understanding that I have to constantly love, kiss, and talk to your belly AND yes… play Jay-Z for the baby (Goose knows "Song Cry" already by heart😜!)"

"I can't wait to embark on this next chapter in life with you!"

WNBA players Courtney Williams and Crystal Bradford have been punished over their involvement in a wild brawl in Atlanta back in May ... with both players getting hit with suspensions.

As we previously reported, Williams and Bradford -- who played for the Atlanta Dream at the time -- got in a violent altercation in front of a local food truck.

In the video, you can see CW squaring up and going after several women throughout the scuffle, with Bradford seemingly kicking and throwing punches at the same time.

Williams -- who posted a YouTube vid making light of the situation -- will miss the first 2 games of the upcoming WNBA season as a result of the brawl ... and apologized again for her actions Tuesday.

"It was a terribly unfortunate incident, I know that and I sincerely regret my part in it," the All-Star said in a tweet.

"Definitely was a learning life lesson! As I said before, I have a-lot more growing to do, and I’m committed to doing just that!"

Bradford was suspended one game.

Indiana Fever guard Kysre Gondrezick is opening up on her time away from the WNBA ... saying she needed to focus on her mental well-being.

Gondrezick -- the #4 pick in the 2021 WNBA draft -- posted a letter to Instagram on Monday ... detailing some of the struggles she faced this past season, including the loss of someone extremely close to her.

"My mental health was at a high risk as I was under a lot of stress coping with my own personal traumas," Kysre said.

"After losing my father, the pressure began to mount for what I considered my job as a facet of grieving, I wasn't present to the idea of effectively knowing how to cope," she continued.

Kysre admits she didn't know how to effectively cope with her father's loss ... and that she lost sight of his presence, her focus, and ultimately lost the fun in the game.

Gondrezick knew those emotions -- although she couldn't readily identify them -- were beginning to take a toll on her ... so it was time to put a pause on things in her life that were affecting her mental stability.

Once she realized she couldn't even enjoy the rest and recovery period over the WNBA Olympic break -- something she knew she needed -- that's when the first-round draft pick knew something needed to change.

Kysre sought professional help and put various areas of her life -- like social life and additional activities -- on pause for the last five months.

Lastly, she closes by saying she's a much better person who is comfortable in her skin ... and thanked everyone who showed her love in her time of need.

Amazing news from Asia Durr -- the New York Liberty guard just announced that she got the green light to return to the court ... after missing two WNBA seasons due to COVID-related symptoms.

"I have been cleared to play basketball! Yeaaah! Let's go!!!" Durr said on her IG live on Monday.

Remember, Durr -- the #2 overall pick in the 2019 draft -- was diagnosed with COVID in June 2020 ... and was sidelined for the entire 2020 season.

And, she had serious health issues ... saying on HBO's "Real Sports" earlier this year she lost 32 pounds and major lung problems due to the virus.

The symptoms didn't go away and the 24-year-old also missed the entire 2021 season ... but after an extensive amount of testing, AD is officially good to go for 2022.

"I will be training every single day to play next year. I'm officially cleared to work out," Durr said.

"Man I remember when I was so sick, bro. I remember praying and asking God for this day like 'God, if I can just see one more if I can play again'. Literally."

Her prayers were answered ... and AD gives big credit to her family and fiancée, Ashley, for helping her get through it all -- getting tears in her eyes as she thanked them.

"God has really blessed me with a strong support system. I feel like if I didn't have them, I don't know where I would have been. I'm getting choked up talking about it, for real."

Several WNBA stars like Sabrina Ionescu congratulated Durr on her recovery -- as well as NBA star Donovan Mitchell, saying "YESSSSIRRRRRRR"

Durr was drafted by the NY Liberty in 2019 after four seasons with the Louisville Cardinals, where she was a 2-time ACC Player of the Year.

In the 2019 season, she averaged 9.7 points per game with a 46% shooting percentage.

The Chicago Sky got a presidential surprise after celebrating their WNBA Finals win -- getting a phone call from Barack Obama!!

#44 -- who's a HUGE hoops fan -- hit up the Sky right after the festivities in downtown Chicago on Tuesday via speakerphone ... and naturally, they were stoked!!

"I just want to let you know that Michelle, Malia, Sasha and Barack are all proud, as Chicagoans, to have world champs in our neighborhood," Obama said.

"I saw you guys ball out! I saw Parker doin' Candace Parker things. I saw those hot-shooting point guards and I saw [Kahleah] Copper going to the basket."

BO ain't lying. In fact, Copper -- who was named WNBA Finals MVP -- averaged 17.7 points per game during the playoffs along with Parker's 13.8 points and 8.4 rebounds.

And, this W hits different for Parker ... it's her second title, but the first for her hometown of Chicago.

"I know it's special for you, Candace, bringing the trophy back home," Obama said. "So, thank you for bringing some joy to the city."

"What an amazing team effort and I could not be prouder of you guys!"

Watch out Diana Taurasi, there's another G.O.A.T in town -- so says Vivica A. Fox, who tells TMZ Sports Candace Parker should absolutely be in the conversation of being WNBA's best ever.

The Phoenix Mercury superstar was voted the greatest (by fans) before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals last week ... and four games later, lost the championship to Parker and the Chicago Sky.

Fox -- a HUGE hoops fan -- kept a close eye on the series, of course ... so we had to ask for her take on the end result.

"It was a unbelievable series," Fox said. "They were down by 14 in the 4th and seeing them comeback was absolutely amazing."

The award-winning actress -- who's also an L.A. Sparks sponsor -- is a huge CP fan ... and with Parker winning her 2nd title in two different cities (LA in 2016 and now Chicago), we asked if she should be considered the best.

"Oh my goodness, absolutely! Congratulations Candace!" Fox said, "We're very proud of you here in L.A. We miss you."

BTW -- CP has a ton of accolades -- Finals MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, 6-time All-Star, 2-time Olympic gold medalist and first female to dunk twice in an NCAA game.

Of course, the most recent accomplishment is winning Chicago its first WNBA title -- something Chi-town's own Chance the Rapper has vowed to commemorate with a tattoo.

"It warms my heart to see how much the men have come out to support female sports now," Fox said about the upcoming ink.

"From Chris Paul for Phoenix Mercury to Chance the Rapper in Chicago that's what I've been pushing for."

The Chicago Sky beat Diana Taurasi on Sunday and then they beat down her psyche on Tuesday -- trolling the hell out of the hooper by bringing the door she allegedly broke to their WNBA championship parade.

Taurasi was reportedly so pissed about losing the Finals to the Sky over the weekend, she launched a physical assault on a door in the Chicago arena, nearly breaking it in half.

The Mercury star didn't want to comment on the alleged incident in a meeting with reporters this week -- saying only, "There was a lot of doors in there" -- but the Sky made sure the storyline wasn't forgotten regardless.

The team brought the broken door with them on the stage just behind their DJ, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, showing it off to all the fans that came out to celebrate the Sky's title.

Petty, sure ... but ya gotta admit, it is a perfect troll job.

The Sky's players, meanwhile, are doing more than just rubbin' salt in Taurasi's wounds -- they're currently on buses partying in the streets of Chicago ... with Chance the Rapper!

WNBA superstar Diana Taurasi allegedly took her frustrations out on a locker room door after losing to the Chicago Sky in the 2021 Finals ... with the future Hall of Famer reportedly slamming it until it was completely wrecked.

The incident allegedly happened after the Phoenix Mercury lost 80-74 in Game 4 of the championship series -- with the Sky securing its first title in franchise history.

According to The Next Hoops, Taurasi was apparently so pissed by the loss, she started banging the door ... almost cracking it in half.

If it went down as reported, it's a wild fit of rage from Taurasi, but it's not the first time she had controversy this series -- in Game 3, she shoved a referee while trying to help her teammate, Sophie Cunningham, get off the ground. The 10-time All-Star was fined $2,500.

There may be another fine coming soon ... the Mercury players declined speaking with the media after the Finals loss, which could result in a financial penalty.

However, Mercury head coach Sandy Brondello did speak at the postgame press conference saying, "there's a lot of disappointment in that locker room, as it should be."

"But, I am proud how we worked just to get here."

Diana Taurasi's wallet is now $2,500 lighter -- the Phoenix Mercury star was just fined for shoving a referee during Game 2 of the WNBA Finals on Wednesday.

The incident happened in the 2nd quarter ... when Taurasi's teammate, Sophie Cunningham, missed a layup and went for the loose ball.

Cunningham ended up on the ground trying to corral the basketball ... and that's when Chicago Sky's Kahleah Copper went to tie her up, piling on top of her on the floor.

The two got a little heated -- so referee Tiara Cruse ran in to hold Copper back.

That's when Taurasi jumped into the fracas ... and put her hands on the official TWICE to try to get to Cunningham, who was still on the ground.

The only foul called on the play was on Copper -- and the Mercury went on win in overtime, 91 to 86 ... tying the series at 1-1.

The shove by Taurasi caused a commotion on social media ... with many believing the three-time champ should have at least got a tech or a one-game suspension due to the league's rule book.

All hell broke loose when several WNBA players threw wild punches outside a day club in Atlanta earlier this year ... and now, one of the women involved is apologizing.

The video is insane -- Atlanta Dream All-Star Courtney Williams is seen getting in an all-out brawl in front of a local food truck back in May ... squaring up and going after several women throughout the violent incident.

Williams' teammate, Crystal Bradford, also appears to be in the middle of the scuffle, kicking and throwing punches at the same time.

Another former Dream player, Kalani Brown, was reportedly involved as well ... trying her best to break up the fight.

Williams posted the fight video on YouTube over the weekend ... where she cracked jokes and made light of the situation, before deleting it off her page.

Now, the ex-South Florida star is apologizing for the post ... tweeting out a statement on Monday.

"I want to sincerely apologize for the video posted yesterday," Williams said. "I would never want to represent myself or the organization in a negative way."

"I’m learning everyday so I ask for grace as I’m growing. Again I apologize to all attached, and I will be better moving forward."

The Dream released a response to Insider, saying, "The behavior in the video is unacceptable and does not align with our values as an organization."

WNBA star Angel McCoughtry says she's down to help Odell Beckham Jr. with his ACL recovery ... telling TMZ Sports she's willing to hook him up with the "secret sauce" to an early return.

The Las Vegas Aces baller came back from the horrific knee injury in just 4 MONTHS -- and when we asked her out in L.A. this week if she'd drop an assist to OBJ (who's still trying to make it back to the field after tearing up his knee in 2020) ... she said of course!

... under one condition.

"Tell him if he really, really want the secret, he gotta call me," AM told us. "Holla at me Odell, I'll tell you the secret! The secret sauce."

She added, "There's secret sauce, but you can't give it out. Those who want it will seek it."

All kidding aside, McCoughtry says she's confident OBJ -- who tore his ACL in Week 7 of the NFL season last year -- will make it back to the Browns' lineup sooner than later.

"He knows what to do," Angel said. "He knows how to come back."

L.A. Sparks hooper Erica Wheeler continues to do her opponents dirty with her filthy crossover ... and Atlanta Dream guard Odyssey Sims was her latest victim, getting dropped Thursday night.

... and Wheeler did it in front of the ATL fans.

The Sparks played the Dream in College Park, GA Thursday night ... winning 74-68 in a must win to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Brittney Sykes and Nneka Ogwumike led the Sparks with a combined 32 points -- but the highlight of the game was Wheeler's nasty crossover on Sims.

The 5-foot-7 guard sent Sims flying across the court after a nasty step back and finished it off bankin' in a wide-open jumper.

And, Wheeler recently did the same thing to Sue Bird ... one of the greatest WNBA players ever!

EW broke her ankles Sunday ... sending the Seattle Storm guard to the floor, nearly smacking her head on the hardwood.

Sheesh!!

The Sparks need all the momentum they can get ... they're fighting to make playoffs -- sitting in the ninth spot -- half a game behind Washington Mystic.

Have you ever heard of a pro basketball player returning to the court just 4 MONTHS after a devastating torn ACL injury??

That exactly went down in Atlanta Thursday night ... with 34-year-old star Angel McCoughtry defying the odds and entering the game ... after getting hurt during preseason.

It was a homecoming moment for the Las Vegas Aces forward … who was the 1st overall pick in 2009 by the Atlanta Dream.

Angel spent the first decade of her career with the Atlanta franchise … which, of course, is now co-owned by TMZ Sports co-host Renee Montgomery!!!

BTW -- Renee and Angel were teammates in Atlanta for two seasons ... and RM showed some serious love after McCoughtry's big game.

"That was such an amazing feeling yesterday," Angel wrote on Twitter. "I hadn’t been in front of fans for over three years."

According to the Mayo Clinic, it takes up to a year or more before athletes are usually cleared to play. But, Angel's been rehabbing with this game in mind.

The 2-time Olympic gold medalist only played 7.9 seconds -- and missed the only jump shot she took -- but it was bigger than basketball.

The star was met with a standing ovation from the crowd -- after all, it was initially believed she would miss the entire 2021 season due to the devastating ACL and meniscus tear in her right knee injury during a preseason game.

WNBA superstar Candace Parker is making history again ... she will be the first female ever to be on an NBA 2K video game cover!

The Chicago Sky center and NBA 2K made the announcement Wednesday ... saying the basketball legend will grace the front of one of the editions of this year's NBA 2K22 game.

"I’m honored to work with a company that’s investing in women and betting on us to succeed," the 35-year-old baller said.

"Being a player in 2K was a dream of mine; having the privilege to be a broadcaster in 2K was a goal of mine, and now being on the cover brings it all full circle."

Parker is certainly deserving of the honor -- she's a 2-time MVP, a 6-time All-Star and she owns a WNBA championship plus 2 Olympic gold medals.

And, before going #1 in the 2008 WNBA Draft, she won 2 NCAA championships and completely dominated at Tennessee.

Oh, she's also the first female to dunk twice in a college game!!

"I don’t take any of this for granted and I appreciate all of those who came before me and laid the groundwork for this moment. I’m hopeful there will be many more badass females to follow."

NBA 2K also announced Luka Doncic, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kevin Durant and Dirk Nowitzki will be cover athletes on other editions of this year's game.

WNBA superstar Angel McCoughtry is pleading with Olympic officials to ease their restrictions on political protests at this summer's event ... explaining to TMZ Sports she wants to see Gwen Berry's demonstrations continue.

We got the Las Vegas Aces wing -- who's a two-time Olympic gold medalist herself -- out at LAX this week ... and she made it clear she likes what Berry did during the national anthem last weekend.

The 34-year-old hooper said there's clearly still racism and social injustice in America ... and when Berry turned her back on the flag during the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" to shed light on that, she had no problem with it.

In fact, McCoughtry tells us she's hoping to see more of it when Berry -- a hammer thrower -- arrives in Tokyo later this month ... despite Olympic officials forbidding protests from the field of play, during official ceremonies and at the podiums.

"I think that there shouldn't be penalties," McCoughtry says, adding, "there shouldn't be a penalty for standing up for what's right."

"If someone wants to protest for what's right in our country, there should be no penalties for that."

McCoughtry says as long as Berry doesn't lose a medal for protests ... she's urging her to continue the demonstrations going forward.