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.
Standout guard Kanna Suzuki to resume hoop career at University of South Carolina Aiken - 1 month ago
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Redshirt sophomore point guard Kanna Suzuki (5'2''-PG) is moving on to the University of South Carolina Aiken to begin the next chapter of her college basketball career. This week, the South Georgia Technical College student formally accepted a scholarship offer from the NCAA Division II school. Previously, Suzuki helped guide the South Georgia Tech women's basketball team to the 2017 National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association national tournament. Suzuki, who hails from Hamatsu, was... [read more]
Redshirt sophomore point guard Kanna Suzuki (5'2''-PG) is moving on to the University of South Carolina Aiken to begin the next chapter of her college basketball career. This week, the South Georgia Technical College student formally accepted a scholarship offer from the NCAA Division II school. Previously, Suzuki helped guide the South Georgia Tech women's basketball team to the 2017 National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association national tournament. Suzuki, who hails from Hamatsu, was the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association's 2016-17 Freshman of the Year. She averaged 9.1 points, 4.8 assists and 1.8 steals in 35 games (32 starts). Before the Lady Jets' 2017-18 campaign started, Suzuki suffered a torn ACL and missed the season. She rehabilitated her knee and keep busy in the classroom, earning an associate's degree in sports and fitness management. Suzuki received the SGTC Student of Excellence accolade for October. 'I'm beyond excited for Kanna that she will have her bachelor's and master's degrees paid for now since she has three years of eligibility remaining,' Lady Jets coach James Frey told The Japan Times. Frey said that South Georgia Tech is adding two Japan-born players to the team's roster for the upcoming season, Mari Hill and Rio Yamazaki. As a freshman, the 165-cm Hill averaged 5.9 points and 2.1 assists in 34 games for the Tallahassee Eagles this past season. She scored a season-high 14 on March 23 against Gulf Coast State College. Hill graduated from Asuwa Senior High School in Fukui Prefecture. She prepared for junior college ball by attending IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Like Hill before her, Yamazaki, who is from Chiba Prefecture, attended IMG this academic year to get ready for the rigors of college ball. Courtesy of: japantimes.co.jp
Player of the Year: Ramu Tokashiki (191-C/F-91) of JX-Eneos S. Guard of the Year: Rui Machida (161-PG-93) of Fujitsu RW Forward of the Year: Maki Takada (183-F/C-89) of Denso Iris Center of the Year: Ramu Tokashiki (191-C/F-91) of JX-Eneos S. Defensive Player of the Year: Ramu Tokashiki (191-C/F-91) of JX-Eneos S. Coach of the Year: Kiyomi Sato of JX-Eneos S.
FINAL
JX-Eneos S. - Denso Iris 71-59
JX-Eneos extended their WJBL dominance. They beat Denso Iris to earn the 10th straight League title. The game was mostly controlled by JX-Eneos S.. Denso Iris was better in fourth quarter 26-18. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. They dominated on the defensive end, holding Denso Iris to just 5 points in first quarter and to 14 points in first half. They outrebounded Denso Iris 44-32 including a 21-8 advantage in o... [read more]
JX-Eneos extended their WJBL dominance. They beat Denso Iris to earn the 10th straight League title. The game was mostly controlled by JX-Eneos S.. Denso Iris was better in fourth quarter 26-18. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. They dominated on the defensive end, holding Denso Iris to just 5 points in first quarter and to 14 points in first half. They outrebounded Denso Iris 44-32 including a 21-8 advantage in offensive rebounds. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international power forward Ramu Tokashiki (191-91) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 18 points and 10 rebounds. International point guard Asami Yoshida (165-87) contributed with 12 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists for the winners. The former international power forward Maki Takada (183-89) answered with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 12 rebounds and the former international center Sakura Akaho (182-96) added 14 points and 6 rebounds in the effort for Denso Iris. Top scorers: JX-Eneos S.: R.Tokashiki 18+10reb+1ast, Y.Miyazawa 13+5reb+4ast, A.Yoshida 12+6reb+9ast, M.Onuma 9+3reb, Y.Osaki-Mamiya 8+3reb, S.Miyazaki 6+6reb+1ast Denso Iris: M.Takada 20+12reb+2ast, S.Akaho 14+6reb+2ast, M.Iju 13+3reb+6ast, M.Inai 8+3reb+6ast, H.Akaho 4+4reb, M.Yamada 0
Toyota Alvark nipped Chanson to clinch the Bronze medals. The guests trailed by 7 points after three quarters before their 26-18 charge, which allowed them to win the game. Toyota A. forced 22 Chanson V-M turnovers and had a 22-8 advantage in offensive rebounds. The former international forward Moeko Nagaoka (180-93) fired 14 points and 5 rebounds for the winners. The former international guard Yuko Oga (170-82) chipped in 8 points. Toyota A.'s coach Don Beck used entire bench in such tough game. Guard LiQuan Luohe (165-91) produced 16 points and 7 rebounds and forward Chikae Uchino (176-93) added 13 points and 9 rebounds respectively for lost side. Five Chanson V-M players scored in double figures. Top scorers: Toyota A.: M.Nagaoka 14+5reb+1ast, S.Mizushima 11, M.Minamiminoru 11+2reb+1ast, K.Kondo 9+2ast, Y.Oga 8+4reb+2ast, M.Binge 7+6reb+1ast Chanson V-M: L.Luohe 16+7reb+3ast, S.Motokawa 13+4reb+5ast, C.Uchino 13+9reb+2ast, M.Kawamura 11+6reb+1ast, R.Tanimura 10+1reb+2ast, Y.Kato 6+3reb+1ast
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