Women's National Basketball Association

Wade Davis, Megan Rapinoe, Orlando Cruz and Seimone Augustus were among the athletes who came out gay in 2012. Wade Davis, Megan Rapinoe, Orlando Cruz and Seimone Augustus were among the athletes who came out gay in 2012. Davis, whose professional football career ended in 2003 when he dislocated his kneecap and tore his patella tendon at a Washington Redskins training camp, came out gay over the summer in an interview with Outsports.com. Davis told CNN that he regrets not coming out while in the NFL. ?It would make a difference because youth can actually watch someone on television who's just like them. I wish I had the courage back then to come out,? he said. ?If I could do it all over again, I would come out ? while I was playing.? Olympian Megan Rapinoe, 27, came out gay in an interview with gay glossy Out shortly before heading to the Olympics, making her one of less than two dozen openly gay athletes to compete in the summer Olympics. ?I think it's just nice to be open, there's no

Minnesota Lynx star Seimone Augustus hopes her coming out gay helps others. Minnesota Lynx star Seimone Augustus hopes her coming out gay helps others. The 28-year-old Augustus, who earned MVP honors while leading the Lynx to the 2011 WNBA championship, over the summer began discussing her engagement to longtime girlfriend LaTaya Varner, marking her public statements on her sexual orientation. Varner is given credit for nudging Augustus to speak out against a proposed constitutional amendment which would define marriage as a heterosexual union in Minnesota. In an August cover story for Twin Cities guide Vita.mn, Augustus discussed her decision to come out. ?You've got to be a role model, and that means letting people into your life and letting them in on the happiness and the joy,? she said. ?And right now, I just finished a championship season and decided to propose to the love of my life.? Augustus also served as co-grand marshal at Ashley Rukes GLBT Pride Parade in downtown Minneapo

Dianna Agron, Reba McEntire and Shaquille O'Neal are among the celebrities going purple for Spirit Day. ?Dianna Agron, Reba McEntire and Shaquille O'Neal are among the celebrities going purple for Spirit Day. Friday's show of support for efforts to combat the bullying of LGBT teens also included landmarks such as Times Square, JFK and LAX airports, the New York Stock Exchange and the Welcome to Las Vegas sign taking on a purplish hue. Many morning news hosts are also participating, including those at CNBC, CNN, MSNBC, Good Morning America, TODAY and Live! With Kelly and Michael. The icons on the White House's official Facebook, Twitter and Google+ pages were turned purple. All major professional sports teams are also participating, including NBA, WNBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, MLS, WWE and NASCAR. All MLB teams turned their team twitter photos purple. ?From sports leagues to faith institutions to national monuments, schools and celebrities, millions of Americans will unite this week in an extrao

Minnesota Lynx star Seimone Augustus is hoping to marry her girlfriend in Minnesota. ?Minnesota Lynx star Seimone Augustus is hoping to marry her girlfriend in Minnesota. The 28-year-old Augustus, who earned MVP honors while leading the Lynx to the 2011 WNBA championship, is speaking out on a proposed constitutional amendment which would define marriage as a heterosexual union in Minnesota. Augustus' May proposal to her longtime girlfriend LaTaya Varner also marked her first public statements on her sexual orientation. ?I felt like it was the perfect time for me, being on a platform where I can make a change with my voice and my situation,? she told the AP. ?Maybe inspire someone else to come out and be comfortable with themselves. Or maybe someone else's parents will see my parents saying that it's OK to be with your child and love your child unconditionally regardless of your sexual preference.? ?I told her it's a very huge step,? Varner said. ?Not everybody can do it. ? It's a major

Extending their Olympic dynasty run to a fifth gold medal in a row, the United States women's basketball team overpowered France 86-50 in Saturday's championship final.

Candace Parker scored a game-high 21 points and the United States won their fifth Olympic women's basketball gold medal in a row by overpowering France 86-50 in Saturday's championship game.

Olympic all-time women's basketball scoring leader Lauren Jackson found that taking home a bronze for Australia as a winner feels much better than settling for silver with a defeat.

Olympic all-time women's basketball scoring leader Lauren Jackson found that taking home a bronze for Australia as a winner feels much better than settling for silver with a defeat.

Australia and the United States, opponents in the past three Olympic women's basketball finals, will meet in a semi-final showdown after impressive triumphs on Tuesday.

Australia's Lauren Jackson became the all-time leading scorer in Olympic women's basketball history on Tuesday, powering the Opals to a 75-60 victory over China and into the Olympic semi-finals.

Diana Taurasi scored 22 points and the US team of Women's NBA (WNBA) stars routed China 114-66 on Sunday, stretching their Olympic win streak to 38 games and taking a top seed for the medal playoffs.

A betting controversy has marred the naming of basketball superstar Lauren Jackson as the Australian team's flag-bearer at Friday's London Olympic Games opening ceremony.

Australian basketball officials on Friday said they would review travel policies after stinging criticism that the men's team travelled to the London Olympics in business class but the women in economy.

The duel between the best amateur male boxers from the United States and their counterparts from bitter enemies Cuba will take a backseat at the Olympics as women's boxing enters the fray for the first time.

Asjha Jones, a 10-year Women's NBA forward who helped the United States win the 2010 world title, was named on Monday to fill the final roster spot on the US London Olympic squad.

USA Basketball Friday named the first 11 members of the 12-woman squad that will seek a fifth straight Olympic gold at the London Games, a group that includes a trio of two-time Olympic champions.

The United States Tuesday unveiled a sports diplomacy program, with current and former NBA and WNBA players working with young people from 11 countries to foster teamwork and understanding.

(Reuters) - The heavily-favored U.S. Olympic women's basketball team will have a lethal mix of talent, experience and youth, according to the list of 21 players competing for selection to the London Games, USA Basketball said on Monday.

A pool of 21 players, nine of them Olympic gold medalists and most from the Women's NBA, were named by USA Basketball on Monday as finalists for spots on the 2012 London Olympic roster.

SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - Owners of businesses that thrive on NBA games are watching the contentious labor negotiations between the league's billionaire owners and millionaire players with a mixture of fear and frustration.