s sides MCG clash with the ladder-leading reigning premiers.Deledio has a

There was a moment earlier this season when there was a bit of a strange sound in Nneka Ogwumikes voice when she was asked about the difficulty of facing defending champion Minnesota.Was that a little edge we heard from Ogwumike? She of the perpetually cheerful disposition and easy, bubbling laugh? Yeah, it sounded that way.She wasnt growling or anything like that. But she basically said she was pretty sure the Lynx were focusing on the Lynx, not the Sparks. Thus, the Sparks needed to do the same thing: focus on themselves.Maybe you could call it part of the competitive evolution of Ogwumike, who accomplished a career milestone by being named the WNBAs MVP on Tuesday. She has always been a selfless player, going back to her great career at Stanford, the kind of player who was just concerned with what was best for her team.She has maintained that attitude through her five years as a professional, including some challenging times with the Sparks. Los Angeles has made the playoffs every year since drafting Ogwumike at No. 1 in 2012. But the Sparks have won just one postseason series, 2-0 over San Antonio in her rookie year.Ogwumike has played for three WNBA coaches, if you count executive vice president/general manager Penny Tolers 12-game stint as coach after Carol Ross was fired in July 2014.Ogwumike has had to play out of position at times, especially last year, filling in the gaps depending on the Sparks personnel. She has learned to guard players at different positions, using speed, quickness, leaping ability and those Stanford smarts to try to stop guards, forwards and centers.At 6-foot-2, Ogwumike is what some coaches admiringly call bouncy. Ive compared her to Tigger before, and it seems apt. But there is also an explosiveness to her that seems more refined and effective this year than ever before. Which is saying something, because she has been a very good player from the first time she stepped on a WNBA court.And then, of course, theres the making a ton of shots thing. That reached a new level for Ogwumike this season.Her field goal percentage in her first four seasons: 53.5, 56.6, 52.0, and 52.5. All very respectable, as her scoring average climbed from 14.0 PPG her rookie season to 16.5 last year.This season, shes shooting a ridiculous 66.5 percent from the field (244-of-367). Her efficiency as a scorer leads the WNBA. Its at a historical level, and it was a key factor in her winning the MVP award. She also averaged career highs in scoring (19.7), rebounding (9.1), assists (3.1) and blocked shots (1.2).Statistically, Ogwumikes numbers made a very compelling case for MVP. But you can also point to things like the praise-filled note Los Angeles coach Brian Agler sent out to media members urging them to strongly consider Ogwumike because of everything she does, even when its hard to measure statistically.Sometimes on teams, the glue player is someone whos never going to be an MVP or win any other league honor. But shes the best at keeping everyone light when thats needed, making sure there are no gaps in communication between the players or coaches, and generally taking responsibility even for things that arent her fault.Ogwumike has always done that, and then add to it just that little bit of edge that seemed noticeable -- barely, but there -- this season. It has nothing to do with arrogance or irritation; its about honing a kind of fierce competitiveness that Ogwumike knows the Sparks will need to make a title run.Ogwumike is someone that all the Sparks know they can count on. Her impressive stats were the hard data needed to earn the MVP honor. But the winning personality she brings to the Sparks just adds a layer of evidence that this was an honor she definitely earned.Cheap Air Force 1 Canada . It was Kerbers third final of the year after losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in Monterrey in April and to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in Tokyo two weeks ago. The 10th-ranked German improved her record in finals to 3-5. Wholesale Air Force 1 Canada . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec. http://www.cheapnikeairforce1canada.com/ . LOUIS -- Theres no telling how these wacky World Series games will end. Air Force 1 Clearance Sale . Their experience showed Tuesday as the No. 10 Badgers blunted a Saint Louis surge to win 63-57 and advance to face West Virginia in Wednesdays finals of the Cancun Challenge. Authentic Nike Air Force 1 Wholesale . However, he did make them miss him a little less. Cundiff, who had the unenviable job of replacing Dawson last season, agreed Thursday to a one-year, $1.Richmond seemingly only have pride to play for this AFL season but coach Damien Hardwick wont wrap players in cotton wool.The Tigers sit 13th on the ladder with a 7-9 record that leaves them only a mathematical chance of contesting finals.Regardless of whether Richmond manage a boilover on Sunday against Hawthorn, the reality is 2017 planning will be in full swing soon at Punt Rd Oval.But that wont include having injured players sit out the rest of 2016.Tigers veteran Brett Deledio, after suffering a calf strain in round 17, is set to miss his sides MCG clash with the ladder-leading reigning premiers.Deledio has a history of calf problems but Hardwick insists his latest setback is minor, dismissing the prospect of the gifted playmaker being put on ice.We take every injury on its merits. Hes an important player for us and we still want to win as many games as we can, Hardwick said on Thursday.Bretts firmly part of that picture. The more times Brett plays, the more games we win.Well cerrtainly be making sure his rehab is a speedy one and we get him back out to play.ddddddddddddHardwick was unsure how long Deledio would be on the sidelines, saying only it was highly unlikely the veteran would be fit enough to face the Hawks.Bachar Houli, who is set to return from a wrist injury this weekend in the VFL, is another example of the Tigers approach.Hardwick is keen to see the hard-running defender, who has not played since Richmonds loss to Hawthorn in round seven, back in the AFL this year.It would have been great just to rush him back in but the game of AFL footy is incredibly hard, Hardwick said.The Tigers have some tough calls to make on their squad after this season.But deciding whether to retain restricted free agent Ty Vickery isnt one of them, according to Hardwick.Ty, for mine, is an integral part of our playing future, Hardwick said. ' ' '