Tony Lippett for a starting job, and depth at corne

LOS ANGELES -- After winning a championship in Turkey last spring, Jantel Lavender couldnt wait for the WNBA season to get started.The 6-foot-4 Los Angeles Sparks center has had a ton of success overseas -- in Poland and Italy as well as Turkey -- and played in the WNBA All-Star Game in 2015. Her confidence was absolutely soaring.And then ... she found herself coming off the bench for the Sparks. It made sense, with Los Angeles starting three guards along with post players Nneka Ogwumike and Candace Parker. It just didnt feel that great for Lavender, initially.She had been a reserve her first three seasons in the WNBA, then started most of 2014 and all of last season. It was hard to not feel like she was going backward.But Lavender quickly made a crucial decision for herself and the Sparks. Not only would she accept being a reserve with positive attitude; she would be the best darn bench player in the WNBA this season. And thats exactly what happened.I just changed my perception, Lavender said. I think our team can be great when you have good players coming off the bench who can try to be game-changers.I think a lot of times, ego gets in peoples way. I want the best for my team, and whatever position I need to be in for that to happen, Ill do that.Lavender won the WNBAs Sixth Woman of the Year award, and was presented her trophy Wednesday before the Sparks beat Chicago 95-75 in the opener of their semifinal series. That game was the perfect example of why this setup has worked so well for Los Angeles: Ogwumike, the leagues MVP, Parker and Lavender combined for 69 points and 23 rebounds, while shooting 75 percent (28 of 37).The Sky will try to do something to slow down those three on Friday in Game 2 of their series at Staples Center (ESPNews, 10 p.m. ET).Shes very essential to our success, Parker said of Lavender. I call her the microwave, because she comes in and immediately heats up. Im proud of the reward she got for what she sacrificed.Lavender averaged 14.5 points and 8.3 rebounds while playing 33.8 minutes per game last season. This year, shes averaging 9.6 points and 3.6 rebounds in 19.4 minutes.It just takes somebody extremely unselfish and team-oriented, Sparks coach Brian Agler said. I dont know if theres anybody better about that, who Ive been around, than Jantel is.Its not been easy, Im sure. Because there have been times after games when I look at her stats and say, How come we didnt play her more? But we have Nneka and Candace, and its hard to take minutes away from them, too. But when Jantel comes into the game, we dont drop off at all.Agler has followed Lavenders career from well before he was coaching her; theyre both from Ohio, and Agler knew what a standout Lavender was in her high school days at Cleveland Central Catholic.Lavender went to Ohio State, where she became the schools all-time leading scorer (2,818 points) and the Big Tens career leader in rebounding (1,422). She was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame earlier this month, making it to the ceremony in Columbus in between games at home against Atlanta and on the road at Seattle.Proud Buckeye that she is, Lavender also acknowledges that things werent always pleasant at Ohio State for her, especially early in her career. In her first season, 2007-08, she replaced the Buckeyes previous star post player, Jessica Davenport. But she didnt feel welcomed by some of the older Buckeyes who werent keen on a freshman being the teams best player.Lavender ended up being the Big Ten player of the year all four seasons at Ohio State. Now a WNBA veteran, she has found the atmosphere around the Sparks to be supportive.This team is so mature and happy for everyones success, she said. We want the ball to go to where the hot hand is. We like and respect each other.Lavender was the WNBAs No. 5 pick in 2011, and the Dallas Wings organization likely wishes it could go back in time and have a do-over with that draft. Then the Tulsa Shock, they took Australian center Liz Cambage as the No. 2 pick behind Maya Moore. Cambage has played just 53 games in the WNBA, none since 2013, and its uncertain if shell ever return.Chicago took Courtney Vandersloot No. 3, and that has worked out; she played a key role in getting the Sky to this semifinal series. Minnesota, which already had hit the jackpot with Moore, missed with the No. 4 pick, center Amber Harris. But that mistake hasnt hurt the Lynx, whove since won three WNBA titles. However, missing on Lavender certainly hurt Tulsa/Dallas.Its her range at her size, and her ability to spot up, that can really make her hard to stop, Chicago coach Pokey Chatman said of Lavender. I remember when she was in Italy, and I was coaching in Russia, and she torched us. And its never changed. Its nice now that shes getting recognized, because shes been pretty spectacular for a few years now.Overall, 2016 has been a good year for Lavender in many ways: She won a title in Turkey (where shell be returning this winter), she won the Sixth Woman award and she celebrated her hometown Cavaliers finally ending Clevelands 52-year title drought.Oh, my gosh, I am so happy for our city, she said. People dont realize how much that means to us, and thats why I was so emotional about it. Im always rooting for anything Cleveland.Although in the WNBA, shes all purple and gold. In her six years in Los Angeles, Lavender has appeared in all of the Sparks games but one, and that was back in her rookie season. Her durability and flexibility have been huge for this organization.I just love this group so much, Lavender said. I feel like we can win a championship here.Fake Jerseys .5 million, one-year contract on Friday. Hawkins, who turns 41 in December, will compete with Rex Brothers for the closers role at spring training. Fake Jerseys Cheap . Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the crease on the right side. https://www.fakejerseysfromchina.com/ . The parade and rally were held to celebrate the Saskatchewan Roughriders 45-23 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday in the CFLs championship game. Fake Jerseys For Sale . Collaros, 25, was solid last season, posting a 5-2 record as the starter while incumbent Ricky Ray was injured. Collaros also started Torontos 23-20 regular-season finale loss to Montreal — Ray didnt dress because the Argos had already clinched first in the East Division — but was one of three quarterbacks to play that day. Fake Jerseys China . Thousands of fans at Mosaic Stadium will be cozying up to each other in an effort to stay warm in chilly temperatures and block the Prairie wind that locals say can knock your socks off.DAVIE, Fla. -- On a typically steamy summer day in South Florida, first-year Miami Dolphins coach Adam Gase wore two layers of T-shirts -- short sleeves over long sleeves -- and jeans. With his first subtropical training camp about to begin, hes unfazed by the weather.Im a little disappointed, to be honest with you, said Gase, a Michigan native who began his coaching career at Louisiana State. Baton Rouge is way hotter than it is down here. So if I hear anybody complain about weather, Im going to be severely disappointed.When camp opens Friday, it will be about as grueling as the collective bargaining agreement allows. Gase said his No. 1 goal will be to test the mental fortitude of his players, all of them new to him.What are we going to do when it gets tough? Gase said Tuesday. Because its going to be tough in camp. Theres not going to be any special treatment. Were going to make it hard, and were going to see when it really gets tough whos going to rise to the top, and whos going to fall off.Gase takes that approach mindful he inherited a team perennially chasing New England in the AFC East. Miami hasnt finished above .500 since 2008 and is starting camp with a new coach for the sixth time since 2004.We need to get better, Gase said. We were 6-10 last year. Weve got a lot of work.Gase acknowledged health will determine how hard he can push. If injuries mount, hell be compelled to let up.Some players will need careful monitoring. Defensiive end Cameron Wake and newly acquired running back Arian Foster are returning from Achilles tendon surgery.dddddddddddd Second-year receiver DeVante Parker has had health issue since joining Miami. Rookie running back Kenyan Drake hurt his hamstring in June minicamp.All are expected to be on the field Friday. But rookie cornerback Xavien Howard will be absent -- hell start camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list following arthroscopic knee surgery.Howard was competing with second-year pro Tony Lippett for a starting job, and depth at cornerback is thin.Its great for Tony -- its more reps for him, Gase said. And it gives a bunch a guys a chance to step up and see who wants to make this team.Another camp priority will be for quarterback guru Gase to mesh with his new protege, Ryan Tannehill, who has had a busy summer. Tannehill became a first-time father last week, and also has been absorbing Gases playbook.The new coach is confident Tannehill has a firm grasp of the offense.He has showed me he can handle what were doing and hes ready to go, Gase said. Its going to be about the rest of the guys hanging with him.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Steven Wine on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Steve-Wine . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/steven-wine ' ' '