Russian Investing in ... WNBA Stars?

Shabtai von Kalmanovic, 60, know for importing WNBA stars

(NEWSER) - A former KGB agent turned sports- and concert-promoter was gunned down today in Moscow, with the submachine gun-toting assailants pulling alongside Shabtai von Kalmanovic’s Mercedes and killing him nearly instantly in a hail of bullets. Kalmanovic, 60, brought stars of the WNBA to Russia during its off-season to play for his Spartak team, winner of the past three European titles. More»

Former deputy mayor, Microsoft execs pay $10 million for franchise

(NEWSER) - Though the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics could be on the way to Oklahoma City, the WNBA's Storm appears set to remain in the Emerald City thanks to a deal by four local women to buy the women's basketball franchise. The foursome, which includes a pair of Microsoft executives, will pay Sonics owner Clay Bennett $10 million, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports. More»

The UT standout, though not a senior, is eligible for the 2007 draft

(NEWSER) - UT women’s basketball standout Candace Parker can declare for the WNBA draft for 2007, even though she's a member of the class of 2008. Parker, who could play her last college basketball game within two weeks, needs only to show she can graduate by December and that she intends to. More»

It's no NBA—but it shouldn't be, argues blogger. Plus, some players are hot.

(NEWSER) - The WNBA finals are going on, which has—in the past—led Sam Greenspan to joke, “Man I hope one of the players lands a one-handed breakaway dunk to seal the best-of-one series!” The league is “universally ripped on,” he writes for 11points.com, but the time has come to give it a break, and here’s why:

• The playoffs don’t go on forever: “As much as I love them, even I find the NBA playoffs to be farcically slow.”

Hall of Famer to play for short-handed Detroit for 7 days

(NEWSER) - Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman is headed back to the WNBA at age 50, reports ESPN, which is losing her from its airwaves to the Detroit Shock, a team she played for and coached. Lieberman signed a 7-day contract to help a team hurt by injury and looming disciplinary action; she’ll be the league’s oldest player ever—breaking a record she set in 1997, at 39. More»