Latest news with #ChineseNationalTeam
New York Times
23-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
PWHL Vancouver names Brian Idalski first-ever head coach
PWHL Vancouver has named Brian Idalski as its first-ever head coach ahead of its inaugural season, the team announced Monday. 'Brian is a proven winner who knows our sport, the players, and has coached at the highest levels,' PWHL Vancouver general manager Cara Gardner Morey said in a release. 'What stands out in Brian's experience is his ability to build and transform the programs he is a part of, from his work in professional leagues, at the Olympics, and turning collegiate teams into nationally ranked contenders. I'm excited that he will lead our incredible group in Vancouver and can't wait to see his vision and influence shape our foundation.' A PRESENCE on the bench 💪 Brian Idalski has been named the first Head Coach in team history! He brings 20 years of experience to the helm, most recently from St. Cloud State University women's hockey program. 📰 — PWHL Vancouver (@PWHL__Vancouver) June 23, 2025 Idalski was head coach of the St. Cloud State Huskies women's hockey team the past three seasons. He previously coached at the University of North Dakota for 10 seasons and the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point for five. He also coached the Shenzhen KRS Vanke Rays to two ZhHL championships and was head coach of the Chinese National Women's Team for the 2022 Olympics in Beijing. Advertisement 'I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity to join an organization and city like Vancouver and want to thank Cara and the league for their trust and belief in me,' Idalski said. 'The PWHL has had a huge impact on the global game, and to be a part of that — with expansion helping push it even further forward — is an unbelievable feeling. I've been associated with a lot of players across the PWHL, either coaching them personally or against them over the years, so this role brings me full circle with an eagerness to work with the league's world-class talent. The team that Cara has assembled is fantastic and I embrace the challenge that comes with our high expectations.' The PWHL, which launched in January 2024 with six teams, recently announced its expansion to Seattle and Vancouver and held its expansion draft on June 9. PWHL Vancouver will debut this fall at Pacific Coliseum, the former home of the WHL's Vancouver Giants and the NHL's Vancouver Canucks. The 2025 PWHL Draft is set for Tuesday in Ottawa. (Photo of Brian Idalski at the 2022 Olympics: Xavier Laine / Getty Images)
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wings acquire Storm center Li Yueru, who fills immediate roster need
The Dallas Wings are adding some frontcourt help for No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers. The team acquired center Yi Lueru from the Seattle Storm on Saturday in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick and 2027 third-rounder. Lueru, 26, recently requested a trade, dissatisfied with the playing time she was getting with the Storm. Averaging 8.7 minutes, the 6-foot-7 center was scoring 2.8 points and 1.6 points in nine games. Advertisement A third-round selection of the Atlanta Dream in 2019, Lueru has been traded three times during her WNBA career while playing for the Chicago Sky and Los Angeles Sparks. Last season with the Sparks, she averaged 5.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per game while shooting 49% from the floor. During the offseason, Yueru went to the Storm as part of the blockbuster three-team deal that sent Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces and Kelsey Plum to the Sparks. Prior to joining the WNBA, Yueru played nine seasons in the Women's Chinese Basketball Association for the Guangdong Dolphins and Inner Mongolia. Thus far, her production has been far below her performance for the Chinese national team, for whom she tallied 17.7 points and 11 rebounds per game during last summer's Paris Olympics. The Chinese federation reportedly wants Yueru to receive more playing time if she continues playing in the WNBA, according to ESPN. Advertisement That could happen with Dallas, where both centers on the roster have left for a couple of weeks to play in the FIBA EuroBasket tournament. Luisa Geiselsoder is averaging 6.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. However, she left the Wings to play for Germany while Teaira McCowan (5.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg) is playing for the Turkish national team in the tournament. So Yueru fills an immediate need on the roster. Despite their last-place 1-11 record. the Wings average 35.7 rebounds per game, which is good for fifth in the WNBA. Yueru will presumably help with that. Bueckers is scoring 17.4 points with 6.1 assists and 1.9 steals per game, while shooting 42% on 3-pointers. The Wings are also getting 16.6 points per game from Arike Ogunbowale. Dallas has lost seven consecutive games after Friday's 88-84 defeat to the Aces. The Wings are off until Tuesday when they host the Golden State Valkyries.
