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.
Courtesy of Yahoo
Japanese University National Team 2017 - 30 days ago
Fujioka shines as Japan stuns China to make final - 2 months ago
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Japan's women's national team has continued its meteoric rise at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup, beating 11-time champion China on Friday to set up a meeting with Australia in Saturday's final. All looked lost for Japan when China opened the first four minutes of the final period on a 12-4 run to take a nine-point lead. But a series of super plays by Manami Fujioka (168-G-94) brought Japan back into the game, and then defense carried it over the line for the 74-71 win. Fujioka has proved a rea... [read more]
Japan's women's national team has continued its meteoric rise at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup, beating 11-time champion China on Friday to set up a meeting with Australia in Saturday's final. All looked lost for Japan when China opened the first four minutes of the final period on a 12-4 run to take a nine-point lead. But a series of super plays by Manami Fujioka (168-G-94) brought Japan back into the game, and then defense carried it over the line for the 74-71 win. Fujioka has proved a real find for coach Tom Hovasse at this tournament in Bangalore, India, and she again proved her worth, finishing with an incredible 19-point, 14-assist, eight-rebound effort to help the Japanese escape the semifinal round. At just 170 cm, the 23-year-old point guard has personified two-time reigning champion Japan's ball movement-focused offense, showing such promise that she has all but usurped Asami Yoshida (165-PG-87)'s place on the team. In the semifinal, Fujioka played point from the opening tip and took the majority of the minutes, with Rio Olympic star Yoshida not seeing the court. Moeko Nagaoka (180-F-93) scored 14 points and again played a vital part in a Japan win, as did Yuki Miyazawa (181-F-93, college: Queens, NY) whose 16 points and four boards were key. Ting Shao (183-F-89) led China with 16 points and five assists, while Gao Song scored 13, as did the team's go-to option, Li Yueru. In the other semifinal, Australia beat South Korea 81-64. The world No. 4 and five-time Olympic medalists overwhelmed the Koreans, with Kelsey Griffin (188-F-87, college: Nebraska) leading the way with 16 points and nine rebounds. Courtesy of: japantimes.co.jp
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