Bill Laimbeer’s resume brims with championships — two as a power forward with the NBA’s Detroit Pistons and three as a coach with the defunct Detroit Shock of the WNBA.
Aces/WNBA
The Aces waived guards Sydney Colson and Morgan William on Thursday, and temporarily suspended guards Kelsey Plum and Kayla McBride. They also waived forward Valeriane Ayayi, who never reported to training camp.
Notable futures bets on the WNBA’s Aces at the Westgate sports book include a $200 wager at 100-1 to win $20,000, $200 at 50-1 to win $10,000 and $400 at 30-1 to win $12,000.
The league will donate $5 for each ticket purchased to select games during the season to one of six groups as part of the “Take a Seat, Take a Stand” campaign.
The WNBA is extending its partnership with FanDuel for two more seasons.
Las Vegan Sequoia Holmes was among three cuts made by the Aces on Wednesday. They also waived forwards Cierra Burdick and Ivey Slaughter, giving them 13 players in camp.
The Aces signed Shoni Schimmel over the weekend, hoping she can alleviate some of their 3-point shooting woes. She last played for the New York Liberty under Aces coach Bill Laimbeer in 2016 and is a two-time all-star.
The Aces will play their home opener May 27 before a national audience on NBA TV, and are scheduled to play seven other games on the network throughout the course of the regular season
The Aces took their lumps Sunday afternoon in a 68-55 road loss versus the Dallas Wings to close their two-game preseason schedule.
Aces rookie center Ji-Su Park, a 2018 second-round pick out of South Korea, has impressed her coaches and teammates with her skill set while learning American culture.
Basketball star A’ja Wilson is getting a statue at South Carolina.
Veteran wing Tamera Young has 10 years of WNBA experience and is emerging as a leader on a young, inexperienced Aces team.
The Aces waived rookie guards Brooke Johnson of UNLV and Kahlia Lawrence and veteran guard Jacki Gemelos on Wednesday with the season opener 11 days away.
Aces rookie guard Raigyne Louis was the 2016-17 SEC Defensive Player of the Year and has impressed coach Bill Laimbeer with her defense in training camp.
Undrafted rookie Ivey Slaughter models her game after Dennis Rodman, and had 14 points on 7-of-7 shooting in her preseason debut Sunday.