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USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Lady Vols' WNBA results for July 13
Three former Lady Vol basketball players competed in the WNBA on Sunday. New York (14-6) defeated Atlanta (12-9), 79-72, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Isabelle Harrison totaled nine points, six rebounds and one assist in 16 minutes for the Liberty. She converted 3-of-6 field goal attempts and 3-of-6 free throw attempts. Harrison played at Tennessee from 2011-15 under head coaches Pat Summitt and Holly Warlick. She was SEC Tournament MVP in 2014 and First-Team All-SEC. The former Lady Vol was selected in the first round of the 2015 WNBA draft (No. 12 overall) by Phoenix. Los Angeles (7-14) defeated Connecticut (3-18), 92-88, at Arena in Los Angeles, California. Rickea Jackson started and played 32 minutes for the Sparks. She totaled 19 points, six rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Jackson converted 9-of-16 field goal attempts and 1-of-4 three-point attempts. The former Lady Vol is in her second professional season after being selected in the first round of the 2024 WNBA draft (No. 4 overall) by the Sparks. Rae Burrell totaled seven points, two rebounds and one assist in 17 minutes for Los Angeles. She converted 3-of-3 field goal attempts and 1-of-2 free throw attempts. Burrell played for the Lady Vols from 2018-22 and was selected by Los Angeles in the first round (No. 9 overall) of the 2022 WNBA draft.
USA Today
09-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida basketball's Walter Clayton Jr. named 2025 SEC Male Athlete of the Year
The 2025 Roy F. Kramer Male Athlete of the Year for the Southeastern Conference was named on Wednesday, with former Florida Gators point guard Walter Clayton Jr. getting the nod this year. Clayton, who is originally from Lake Wales, Florida, but arrived in Gainesville by way of the NCAA transfer portal ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, was one of the most prolific players in college hoops this past season, carrying the Orange and Blue on his shoulders to its third-ever national championship. He has amassed a multitude of accolades as a Gator, making him one of the most-decorated Florida hoopster of all time. During the program's championship run, Clayton was a consensus first-team All-American while earning the Final Four Most Outstanding Player, NCAA West Regional Most Outstanding Player and SEC Tournament MVP awards along the way. He was also named to the All-Tournament Team in the three aforementioned postseason events. Additionally, he was named to the First Team All-SEC, Wooden Award Top 5, Cousy Award Finalist and First Team NABC All-District while setting a Florida single-season record with 713 points; Clayton's 117 3-point field goals made ranked second all-time on the team, while his 235 overall field goals made ranked fifth. As a result, the UF alumnus was selected 18th overall pick in the NBA draft by the Utah Jazz. Clayton is the university's sixth male athlete honored, joining Danny Wuerffel (1995, 1996), Ryan Lochte (2005), Tim Tebow (2007, 2008), Caeleb Dressel (2018) and Grant Holloway (2019). It also marks the third straight year that the Gators have earned the award, following Parker Valby's efforts in 2024 and Trinity Thomas' performance in 2023 — both taking home Female Athlete of the Year recognition. Florida leads the SEC all-time with eight male and nine female Athlete of the Year honors. 2025 SEC Male Athlete of the Year nominees Florida's SEC Athletes of the Year history Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
04-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Four former Lady Vols compete in Los Angeles-New York game
Four former Lady Vol basketball players competed in the WNBA on Thursday. New York (12-5) defeated Los Angeles (5-13), 89-79, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Isabelle Harrison totaled seven points, four rebounds, two steals and two assists in 12 minutes for the Liberty. She converted 3-of-5 field goal attempts and 1-of-3 free throw attempts. Harrison played for Tennessee from 2011-15 under head coaches Pat Summitt and Holly Warlick. She was SEC Tournament MVP in 2014 and First-Team All-SEC. The former Lady Vol was selected in the first round of the 2015 WNBA draft (No. 12 overall) by Phoenix. Rickea Jackson started and played 28 minutes for the Sparks. She recorded eight points, four rebounds, two steals and two assists. Jackson converted 3-of-10 field goal attempts and 2-for-4 free throw attempts. The former Lady Vol is in her second professional season after being selected in the first round of the 2024 WNBA draft (No. 4 overall) by the Sparks. Mercedes Russell played seven minutes for Los Angeles. She totaled two points and one assist. Russell converted 1-of-1 field goal attempts. She played for the Lady Vols from 2013-18 and was selected by New York (No. 22 overall) in the 2018 WNBA draft. Rae Burrell played 11 minutes for the Sparks in her return from injury. She totaled five points and two rebounds. Burrell converted 2-of-3 field goal attempts and 1-of-1 three-point attempts. She played for the Lady Vols from 2018-22 and was selected by Los Angeles in the first round (No. 9 overall) of the 2022 WNBA draft. Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Did the Heat Miss Out on the Next Steph Curry?
Did the Heat Miss Out on the Next Steph Curry? originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The pick is in -- and it came as quite a surprise to fans around the NBA world. On Wednesday night at the 2025 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the Washington Wizards swooped in for a decorated, dazzling sharpshooter whose championship grit earned him increasingly feverish comparisons to a different member of the Warriors: Stephen Curry. Advertisement You know, the single greatest shooter of all time. Then, a trade flew in out of nowhere. The Wiz were actually sending this particular hot-handed star to the Utah Jazz. The only problem? All the late momentum had reportedly pointed directly toward the Miami Heat. When the dust had settled, Walter Clayton Jr. of the national champion Florida Gators was the next member of the Utah Jazz. Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. drives on Houston Cougars guard Mylik Wilson in the championship of the 2025 NCAA Tournament Final Four in San Antonio, Texas© Bob Donnan-Imagn Images When it was Miami's turn to select at No. 20, they opted for Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionus. To be totally fair, it was widely considered a surprise to see him still available in the back end of Round 1. Advertisement With every decision comes a handful of opportunity costs, however. Clayton came up in Lake Wales, Florida before ultimately achieving superstar status under coach Todd Golden in Gainesville. Able to play both guard positions, he averaged 18.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists on 44.8% shooting as a senior playing primarily as a point guard. Erik Spoelstra's Heat, in addition to playing ball just three hours southeast of Clayton's hometown, ranked near the bottom of the NBA with barely 110 points per contest last season. They snuck into the 2024-25 NBA Playoffs with the 10th and final seed in the East, crashing out via sweep against the Cleveland Cavaliers. You'd have thought the man who increasingly drew comparisons to the inhumanly clutch Chef Curry would have been an ideal fit to help out the starring trio of Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and Andrew Wiggins in the scoring department. Advertisement It simply was not to be. Walter Clayton Jr. College Stats 2024-25 PPG: 18.3 RPG: 3.7 APG: 4.2 SPG: 1.2 BPG: 0.5 FG %: 44.8 3P %: 38.6 FT %: 87.5 2025 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player 2025 SEC Tournament MVP 2025 First Team All-American 2025 First Team All-SEC 2024 Second Team All-SEC 2023 MAAC Player of the Year 2023 First Team All-MAAC This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Walter Clayton Jr.'s Surprise NBA Draft Destination Revealed
Walter Clayton Jr.'s Surprise NBA Draft Destination Revealed originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Walter Clayton Jr. only wore orange and blue for two seasons, but the mark he made will live on in Gainesville and broader SEC hoops lore forever. Advertisement After arriving from Iona University to man an off-ball role for Todd Golden's Forida Gators as a junior, Clayton elevated his game to rare heights taking over point guard duties for his final college season. All he got for his troubles? Legend status as the face of the Gators' third-ever men's basketball national championship squad. In averaging over 18 points per game with a penchant for long-range daggers in the biggest clutch moments, Clayton not only earned All-SEC First Team honors, but also became the very first player in program history to be named a consensus First Team All-American. His thrilling exploits welcomed the occasional Stephen Curry comparison -- and helped him soar from relative obscurity among NBA scouts right into first-round draft pick potential. On Wednesday night at the NBA Draft in Brooklyn, New York, the dream came true. So, with the pick now officially in, who drafted Walter Clayton Jr. anyway?!? Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. holds up the trophy after winning the 2025 NCAA championship in San Antonio, Donnan-Imagn Images Moments ago, despite all signs reportedly pointing in the direction of the Miami Heat, Commissioner Adam Silver delivered a curveball: With the No. 18 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards selected the Gators' all-timer... Advertisement ...Only to turn right around and deal him to the Washington Wizards. Walter Clayton Jr. College Stats 2024-25 PPG : 18.3 RPG : 3.7 APG : 4.2 SPG : 1.2 BPG: 0.5 FG %: 44.8 3P %: 38.6 FT %: 87.5 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player SEC Tournament MVP First Team All-American First Team All-SEC In the draft night deal, the Wizards reportedly received, per insider Jake Fischer, picks No. 21 and 43 along with two future second-rounders. The late momentum broke plainly in Miami's direction, with Clayton reportedly canceling his remaining scheduled workouts after a final visit with the Heat during draft week. The Lake Wales, Florida native's journey has been nothing short of remarkable, and stands as a testament to how yeoman's work, opportunistic grit, and undeniable swagger come together on the hardwood. Advertisement Welcome to Salt Lake City, Walter Clayton Jr.! This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
