Skip to main content

Mercury in good shape after 3rd WNBA title

By WTOP Staff

JOHN MARSHALL
AP Sports Writer

PHOENIX (AP) — When the Phoenix Mercury used their No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 draft to select Brittney Griner, they became instant favorites to win the next WNBA championship.

Phoenix already had a roster full of All-Stars. Adding the 6-foot-8 star from Baylor, a dunking and shot-blocking sensation, likely would make the Mercury unstoppable.

The title bid came up short in 2013 as the Mercury struggled with injuries and Griner adjusted to the rigors of the professional game.

A year later, the Mercury got their championship and could be in line for many more after an 87-82 win Friday night over the Chicago Sky capped a three-game sweep in the WNBA finals.

“They are a phenomenal team,” Chicago’s star Elena Delle Donne said. “They have been amazing all year.”

After being swept out of the Western Conference finals by Minnesota last season, the Mercury appeared to be on a let’s-make-history mission this year.

Phoenix got off to a solid start and ran away from the rest of the league with a 16-game winning streak, two short of the WNBA record. The Mercury finished the regular season 29-5 to break the WNBA record for victories and stretched their home winning streak to a franchise-long 15 games.

Phoenix swept Los Angeles in the opening round of the playoffs and knocked off rival Minnesota in the conference finals with a dominating Game 3 performance.

The Mercury opened the finals by running through the record book while winning the first two games by a combined 50 points and closed the series out by showing off their versatility, holding off the Sky without Griner, who suffered a scratched eye in Game 2, for the franchise’s third championship.

“At the beginning of the year, I sensed that we wanted it, but wanting it is not enough — every team wants it,” said Diana Taurasi, the finals MVP. “But there was something extra, a mental fortitude that we had when we were all on the court together that’s hard to get.”

It starts with Taurasi.

She’s been one of the WNBA’s best players since winning three NCAA titles with Connecticut, leading the league in scoring five times and earning the 2009 MVP award.

Taurasi led the league in scoring last season and assists this season — a first in WNBA history — to finish second in MVP voting to Minnesota’s Maya Moore. She’s had a knack for making big plays at big moments and did throughout the playoffs, most notably in the clinching game, when she scored 14 of Phoenix’s last 20 points, including a running three-point play with 14.3 seconds left.

“That’s exactly what everyone saw: The world’s best, doing what she does best,” Delle Donne said. “Just putting her team on her shoulders.”

With Taurasi at the helm and Griner in the middle, the Mercury could be set up to add to their trophy case.

Griner returned to the Mercury this season stronger and more confident after working on her post moves in China during the offseason. Known primarily for her dunking ability, she also developed a more well-round offensive game, including a hook shot, to average 15.6 points.

Griner also honed her defensive skills, setting a WNBA record with 129 blocked shots while using her agility to cover high pick-and-rolls and still get back to defend the rim. She was selected the WNBA’s defensive player of the year and joined Taurasi on All-WNBA first team.

Former All-Star Penny Taylor came back from missing most of the past two seasons with a knee injury to show she can still play at 31, averaging 10.5 points while shooting 47 percent from the floor.

Younger stars Candice Dupree, who had 26 points in the finals opener, and DeWanna Bonner are proven scorers who are difficult matchups because of their size and athletic ability.

And then there’s Taurasi. She signed a multiyear contract extension during the season and shows no signs of slowing at 32.

“I should just ride off into the sunset right now,” Taurasi said. “This is such a good feeling.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote