2022 WNBA Championship Title Run Complete As Aces Defeat Sun 78-71

The Las Vegas Aces bring Sin City its first Championship

Photo by: Jeff Bottari/Getty Images

Another Season of the WNBA came to a close last Sunday, as the Las Vegas Aces defeated the Connecticut Sun 78-71 in game 4, capturing their first-ever title. The Aces were led by their DPOY and MVP A'ja Wilson and Finals MVP Chelsea grey, who averaged 18.6 and 6 assists. The Magical run of the Aces is one to remember. After securing the #1 seed in the regular season, the Aces swept the Phoenix mercury in the first round before being battle-tested in the semifinals against the Seattle Storm. But the tandem of Wilson, Gray, and Young was too much for Sue Bird and the Storm. The Aces won the series 3-1, sending off Sue Bird in a unique fashion.

Raise the Stakes

Photo by: @LVACES

After a heartbreaking loss in 2020 Bubble, the Aces have had their eyes set up on a championship. After their third appearance, the Aces were victorious. But a large part of the team's success is Coach Becky Hammon. In just her first season with the Aces, Hammon led to team to a 26-10 record. Hammon also received the Coach of the Year award for her outstanding leadership and contributions. Throughout her coaching tenure, Hammon has been surrounded by good company, she was an assistant to the 4-time World Champion Greg Popovich in San Antonio. Hammon led the San Antonio Spurs to a Summer League title. Now Hammon adds some hardware to her unique collection of accolades.

Las Vegas Aces Shuts down Sin City with Championship Parade

Photo by: (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

After completing their championship run, the Aces left their mark not only on history but on the Las Vegas Strip. In all the pro sports team in Vegas no team have ever hosted a parade on the Vegas strip. 48 hours later, the city of Las Vegas celebrated a historic milestone alongside their Aces. The Governor Steve Sisolak has proclaimed September 20th as Las Vegas Aces Day cementing an iconic moment in Vegas sports culture. Ultimately, what does this title mean for the Las Vegas Aces? Finals MVP Chelsea Gray along with Kelsey Plum hold high expectation for their ball club. The two address the crowd at the parade stating that they will be the City of Las Vegas yet another championship. Can the Aces defend their title or will next season crown a new champion?

Written by: Hussein Abdullahi

Featuring: WNBA, Las Vegas Aces

Published by: TGQ Inc.

Rap Superstar J.Cole Signs with the Scarborough Shooting Stars of the CEBL.

The Scarborough Shooting Stars have announced the signing of J. Cole

The Scarborough Shooting Stars of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) have announced the signing of Superstar rapper J. Cole for their inaugural season. Cole has stepped outside the box of your traditional rapper. Last season, J.Cole made his professional debut with the Rwanda Patriots Basketball Club of the Basketball of Africa League (BAL). In three games with the Patriots, the hip-hop megastar averaged 1.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists. Aside from what many have called a lack-lustered performance, Cole openly expressed his passion and desire to play professionally. The BAL brought Cole into the league with the idea of leveraging his unique commercial value and media attention.

Several factors played a part in the growth potential of NBA Africa. Following the BAL's inaugural season, NBA Africa added the former U.S. President Barack Obama to their roster as a strategic partner and minority owner. NBA Africa's market value is nearly $1 Billion with investments from Adam Silver, Dikembe Mutombo, Grant Hill and Junior Bridgeman. The 37-year-old NC native emerged as a standout at Terry Sanford High School. Cole then attended St. John University, where he nearly walked on as a sophomore. After not making the final tryout, Cole decided to pursue his music career full time, putting the hoop dreams on hold.

J.Cole returns to the hardwood, suiting up with the Scarbrough Shooting Stars in the Candian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). The Scarborough Shooting Stars will tip-off their inaugural season on May 26th vs the Guelph Nighthawks. Cole can potentially play five games before heading out on tour on June 10th. Cole will miss a big part of the season to fulfil his career obligations. Will Cole bounce back from his BAL stint?

What does this do for the business of the cebl?

Photo Credit (SPORTSNET)

Superstar Rapper playing in the CEBL changes the entire dynamics of the league. From a marketing standpoint, Cole will now become the official face of the league. The overall brand will become synonymous with the apparent professional sports leagues across Canada. The CEBL commissioner Mike Morreale is pleased with the incremental growth of the league.

“Last night the CEBL Leagure launched into a whole new world. A world that makes #ourgame better and most importanly shines a light on Canada Basketball which has always been our #1 priority.” - Mike Morreale

In its fourth season, the CEBL has become responsible for bringing diverse talents from the NBA, FIBA, and Canada Basketball. The CEBL will see viewership and revenue dollars go through the roof, and the affiliation with a hip-hop megastar will help the CEBL reach a wider targeted audience. The direct results of signing J.Cole has sparked the Scarborough Shooting Stars and the league into a whole new galaxy.

Fans across Canada await Cole's debut in the CEBL, and with extreme demands, ticket prices have skyrocketed to over $550. These implications can cause an increase in ticket sales across the entire league. In more recent years, we’ve seen the intersection of Hip-Hop and sports. This new era of sports culture provides organizations like the CEBL with access to capture a wider diverse audience than the average sports league.

Scarborough Shooting Stars to bring new energy to CEBL

Photo Courtesy (CEBL)

The Scarborough Shooting Stars are one of three new expansion franchises added for the 2022 season. Co-Owner Nicholas (Niko) Carino, one of the founding members of OVO, has leveraged the intersection of music and sports, working alongside global rap star Drake. Carino is responsible for the launch of the OVO BOUNCE basketball tournament. Joining Carino in ownership is Sam Ibrahim, who's a partner of the Playground Global Basketball complex. The Shooting Stars are the only independently-owned franchise in the CEBL.

The Shooting Stars franchise has made some key acquisitions hiring front office staff. The front office staff includes Canadian Basketball icon Jamal Magloire as the VP and Senior Advisor. Magloire played 13 seasons in the NBA and is one of three Canadians to be named an NBA all-star. Brady Heslip, a National team member, will serve as the General Manager for the Shooting Stars. Heslip has a diverse background, with experiences from the NCAA, NBA, and overseas. Heslip is also the nephew of Canada Basketball coach Jay Triano.

Leading the charge for the Shooting Stars will be Head Coach Chris Exilus, a former NCAA player at Virginia Tech and DePaul. In his first season as a head coach, Exilus hopes to impart his basketball knowledge and experience to his ball club. The roster includes forward Kyle Alexander, Danilo Djuricic, Kalif Young, Jean-Victor Mukama, and veteran Olu Famutimi. Will J.Cole provide the Shooting Stars will a well-needed spark? or will this unique buzz fade once Cole departs for his tour? The Scarborough Shooting Stars will be the team of the GTA and will open its doors on June 4th vs. The Hamilton Honey Badgers at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.

Written by: Hussein Abdullahi

Featuring: CEBL, Scarborough Shooting Stars, J.Cole

Published by: TGQ Inc.