Basketball

WNBA star files for annulment with fellow player

PHOENIX – Brittney Griner filed for an annulment with Glory Johnson-Griner on Friday, a day after Johnson-Griner announced she’s pregnant and a month after the two WNBA players were married.

“Last Wednesday, Glory and I agreed to either legally separate, get divorced, or annul our marriage, Griner said in a statement. “I can confirm that today I filed for an annulment. In the week prior to the wedding, I attempted to postpone the wedding several times until I completed counseling, but I still went through with it. I now realize that was a mistake.”

Griner, the 6-foot-8 Phoenix Mercury star, married Johnson-Griner on May 9, three weeks after they were arrested in Arizona on domestic violence charges for a fight at their home in suburban Phoenix. Both players were suspended seven games after their arrests and Griner agreed to undergo 26 weeks of domestic violence counseling as part of a plea agreement.

Both players apologized for the incident and said they worked out their differences, saying they were happy about the marriage. Johnson-Griner, a two-time All-Star with the Tulsa Shock, announced on Instagram on Thursday that she was pregnant and would miss the WNBA season.

Earlier Friday, a post on Johnson-Griner’s Instagram account showed a photo of Griner and a message about seeing her again: “One day until I’m reunited with my Wife @brittneygriner . . . This is about to be one CRAZY SUMMER!!!”

Griner has appealed her suspension and Johnson-Griner’s will not start until the 2016 season because she will not play this season.

Magic tab Skiles as head coach

Orlando, FL (SportsNetwork.com) – Scott Skiles’ best seasons as an NBA player came with the Orlando Magic. The former point guard will now try to restore the struggling franchise back to glory as its new head coach.

The Magic have announced the hiring of Skiles, a former head coach with Phoenix, Chicago and Milwaukee who’ll be returning to the bench following a two-year hiatus.

Skiles, whose 2,776 assists in a Magic uniform ranks second in club history, owns a 443-433 overall record in 13 seasons as an NBA head coach. The fiery 51-year-old’s most recent stop came with the Bucks and ended when he and the team mutually agreed to part ways 32 games into the 2012-13 campaign.

Skiles’ teams have earned postseason berths six times, reaching the conference semifinals with Phoenix in 1999-00 and Chicago in 2006-07. Milwaukee made the playoffs only once in five seasons under his direction, however.

Prior to taking over the Suns in 1999, Skiles also served as a player-coach with PAOK in the Greek Basketball League.

Hofstra coach Mihalich agrees to extension

“We are very pleased with the work that Joe and his staff has done over the last two years,” Hofstra athletics director Jeffrey Hathaway said. “When Coach Mihalich joined our staff he was the perfect choice and that thought certainly continues today. He has done an excellent job interacting and building relationships with our current student-athletes, prospective student-athletes, donors and members of the Hofstra community. Joe has enhanced our success in the classroom and on the court.

“The future is very bright for the Hofstra Basketball program under Joe’s leadership and I’m thrilled that the contract extension will enable him to be at Hofstra for many years to come.”

Elite Eight field finalized

SYRACUSE, N.Y – Przemek Karnowski had 18 points and nine rebounds and second-seeded Gonzaga used a big run early in the second half to pull away for a 74-62 victory over No. 11 UCLA on Friday night in the South Regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.

The victory puts Gonzaga (35-2) in the Elite Eight for the second time, its first regional final since 1999. The Bulldogs will play Duke on Sunday.

UCLA (22-14) opened the second half with a 6-0 run to get within 35-34. Gonzaga scored the next 12 points, thanks to the powerful inside game of the 7-foot-1, 288-pound Karnowski to make it 47-34.

The Bruins, who lost in the Sweet 16 for the second straight year, were done in by a tough shooting night that included long stretches without scoring. They were led by Norman Powell’s 16 points.

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