The defending WNBA champion Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday signed Japan native Yuko Oga (170-G-82) to a training camp contract.
If the 25-year-old Oga makes the team, she will become the second Japanese player in league history. The other was Mikiko Hagiwara, who played in the WNBA in 1997-1998.
Oga, who lived in Los Angeles when she was a child, is recognized as one of the top female athletes in Japan. She became a member of the JOMO Sunflowers in 2001 and has led the team to four Womens Japanese Basketball League titles.
Oga was named the leagues Most Valuable Player this season, leading the WJBL in assists (7.1) and steals (2.4) and ranking fourth in scoring (15.6).
Yuko is a point guard who will thrive in our up-tempo offense, Mercury coach Corey Gaines said. Her experience playing international ball and her quickness will help her fit in with our system.
USA - Japan 110:64 Team USA eased into the semifinal stage in Rio de Janeiro. They fired past Japan in the quarterfinal battle. Maya Moore (183-SG-89, college: Connecticut) and Diana Taurasi (182-SG-82, college: Connecticut) scored 19 points each to lead the winners. Japan tried hard to stay in the contest throughout the first half. Team USA built a 30:23 lead after ten minutes. They sank 26 points in the second frame to take a 10-point halftime lead. The North Americans started to clea... [read more]
USA - Japan 110:64
Team USA eased into the semifinal stage in Rio de Janeiro. They fired past Japan in the quarterfinal battle. Maya Moore (183-SG-89, college: Connecticut) and Diana Taurasi (182-SG-82, college: Connecticut) scored 19 points each to lead the winners. Japan tried hard to stay in the contest throughout the first half. Team USA built a 30:23 lead after ten minutes. They sank 26 points in the second frame to take a 10-point halftime lead. The North Americans started to clear off in the third period. Team USA secured a 22-point advantage at the final intermission. They ignited a 29:5 run in the fourth quarter to ice the win. Angel McCoughtry (187-SF-86, college: Louisville) netted 13 points for the winners. Ramu Tokashiki (191-F/C-91) responded with 14 points for Japan. Mika Kurihara (178-F-89) and Sanae Motokawa (175-F-92) netted 12 points each in the loss.
Taiwan A, Japan, S Korea post wins at William Jones Cup - 1 month ago
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Japan and South Korea enjoyed big wins in second-day William Jones Cup action, with Japan's female cagers routing a toothless US side 92-53, while South Korea thrashed Thailand 60-41 at the Sinjhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City yesterday. In the domestic derby last night, the nation's senior side schooled the junior side, with Taiwan A defeating Taiwan B 70-51. The US' Overtake Team tasted their own bitter medicine, coming out on the losing end of a lopsided scoreline when they were rout... [read more]
Japan and South Korea enjoyed big wins in second-day William Jones Cup action, with Japan's female cagers routing a toothless US side 92-53, while South Korea thrashed Thailand 60-41 at the Sinjhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City yesterday. In the domestic derby last night, the nation's senior side schooled the junior side, with Taiwan A defeating Taiwan B 70-51. The US' Overtake Team tasted their own bitter medicine, coming out on the losing end of a lopsided scoreline when they were routed by a well-organized, attacking Japanese side. The US had come in looking as if they would have the advantage after blowing away Thailand 93-44 the day before, whereas Japan just scraped by Taiwan A by 73-68 in their opening-day game. Japan put on an impressive display with teamwork and solid defense, and spread out their scoring with contributions from key players. Starting guard Saki Hayashi (171-G-95) led with 14 points, followed by 11 for Evelyn Mawuli (180-C/F-95), the Japanese power forward born in Toyohashi City of Aichi Prefecture to parents from Ghana, while three other teammates posted 10 points each. Shooting accuracy deserted the US cagers, as they only shot 30 percent through the game, while Japan shot 64.6 percent and netted nine three-pointers, while the US team did not sink any threes. South Korea's Incheon Shinhan Bank S-Birds cruised past Thailand, going in front 36-22 at halftime, before pulling of a 19-point victory. Taiwan A forward Hsi-hua Liu had an outstanding evening in leading her side in the domestic derby to the win over Taiwan B, who are the junior squad preparing for the Summer Universiade hosted by Taipei next year. Starters Lin Hsien-Fang (168-G-91) and Peng Shih-ching also put in fine displays, chipping in nine and eight points respectively for Taiwan A. Center Wang Wei-Lin (180-F-93) was the best player for Taiwan B, pocketing nine points and grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds in a losing effort. Taiwan B started the better side by going ahead 15 to 14 at the end of the first quarter, but Team A rallied for 21 points to surge in front 35-23 at halftime. Team A scored another 35 points in the second half, compared with 28 for Team B, for the victory. Courtesy of: taipeitimes.com
Brazil - Japan 87:74 Brazil overcame Japan in the exhibition clash. Clarissa Dos Santos (184-C-88) and Erika De Souza (197-C-82, agency: Josep and Nicolas) posted 20 points each lead the winners. Japan sank 24 points in the opening quarter to gain a 5-point lead. Brazil picked up the tempo in the second frame. They poured in 25 points to eke out a 44:43 halftime lead. Brazil extended the gap in the third term. They arrived at the final intermission up by 6 points 64:58. Brazil followed... [read more]
Brazil - Japan 87:74
Brazil overcame Japan in the exhibition clash. Clarissa Dos Santos (184-C-88) and Erika De Souza (197-C-82, agency: Josep and Nicolas) posted 20 points each lead the winners. Japan sank 24 points in the opening quarter to gain a 5-point lead. Brazil picked up the tempo in the second frame. They poured in 25 points to eke out a 44:43 halftime lead. Brazil extended the gap in the third term. They arrived at the final intermission up by 6 points 64:58. Brazil followed with a 23:16 run in the fourth term to seal the victory. Damiris Dantas (191-C-78) had 11 points for the winning side. Mika Kurihara (178-F-89) and Ramu Tokashiki (191-F/C-91) answered with 12 points each for Japan.
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