Nneka Ogwumike, who led the Los Angeles Sparks to the No. 2 seed in the WNBA playoffs, was named MVP for the 2016 season, the league announced Tuesday.Its the first MVP honor for the 6-foot-2 forward, who averaged a career-high 19.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.2 blocks this season, her fifth in the WNBA. She ranked third in the regular season in scoring and rebounding.As far as goals go, this honor has always been on a list I wrote down in the back of some journal years ago, Ogwumike said. Dreams dont sprout overnight, and triumph doesnt grow from trees. My 2016 season is a reflection of years of being a student of the game, hours of grueling practice, memories favorable and unfavorable, of great teammates and heartbreaking losses on the court.Ogwumike received 31 of 39 first-place votes and 362 points from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. New Yorks Tina Charles received the other eight first-place votes and finished second with 267 points, followed by Minnesotas Maya Moore (197 points), Chicagos Elena Delle Donne (119 points) and Ogwumikes Sparks teammate Candace Parker (30 points). Players were awarded 10 points for a first-place vote, seven points for a second-place vote, five points for a third-place vote, three points for a fourth-place vote and one point for a fifth-place vote.Ogwumike, 26, shot a league-leading 66.5 percent from the field (244-of-367), the second-highest mark in league history. She also shot 16-for-25 from beyond the arc this year after being 7-for-34 in her first four WNBA seasons combined.Ogwumikes true shooting percentage, which takes into account 2-pointers, 3-pointers and free throws, is 73.7. That ranks as the best in WNBA history, according to ESPN.coms Kevin Pelton, a metrics expert of both the NBA and WNBA. He points out that the only player who has finished at 70.0 or better in a season in which she played at least 500 minutes is Phoenixs Candice Dupree (70.0) in 2010.[Ogwumike] has had a season of extreme efficiency for the ages, and Nneka has worked extremely hard to expand her game, Sparks coach Brian Agler said. Not only has she been dominant at the offensive end, but also she has developed that defensive stopper mentality and is one of our key team leaders -- and will be for the WNBA in the future.The No. 1 overall draft pick and Rookie of the Year in 2012, Ogwumike set league records this season for consecutive field goals made (23) and most field goals in a game without a miss (12). She had 18 double-doubles in 33 appearances.Ogwumike is the third Sparks player to win MVP, joining teammate Candace Parker (2008, 13) and Lisa Leslie (2001, 04, 06).The Sparks (26-8) host Chicago on Wednesday in Game 1 of their WNBA semifinal series (ESPN2, 10 p.m. ET). http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Kelvin-Beachum-Jersey/ . Sgt. Eric ONeal says most of the arrests at Monday nights game were for public drunkenness, though one person was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to steal a seat from the stadium. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Darron-Lee-Jersey/ . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Morris-Claiborne-Jersey/ . Carey Price didnt, but he still came out on top against one of his rivals for the No. 1 job at the Sochi Games. The Anahim Lake, B.C., native was stellar in making 39 saves in his home province and Lars Eller got credit for a bizarre short-handed winner as the Canadiens defeated the Canucks 4-1. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Ardarius-Stewart-Jersey/ . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Jermaine-Kearse-Jersey/ .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open. ST. LOUIS -- Two days after losing his childhood friend, Miami Marlins ace Jose Fernandez, in a boating accident, Cardinals shortstop Aledmys Diaz hit the first grand slam of his career Tuesday in his teams crucial 12-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds.Its amazing, you know, Diaz said. To come back and hit that grand slam, I cant explain that. Im very grateful.After getting the ritual splash of water to the face from Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez, Diaz emerged to acknowledge a curtain call from the relatively small crowd -- announced as 34,286 -- at Busch Stadium that nonetheless was roaring its approval. Diaz doffed his batting helmet, then jabbed it at the sky and looked up at the stars.Every time I put on a uniform, I want to think of him and the way he played baseball. He gave everything every day, Diaz said. I think thats his legacy for every MLB player, especially for the Cuban players. He was living the American dream. He made it, so every time I come here to this clubhouse and put on the uniform, I want to think of him.The Cardinals trail the New York Mets by 1? games for the first wild card and the Giants by one game for the second.?Diaz, 25, grew up just a few houses down from Fernandez in Santa Clara, Cuba. Fernandez defected to the United States when he was 15, eight years before Diaz left the island in 2014.Diaz spent Monday back in Florida with his family and Fernandezs mother and grandmother. Fernandez told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in 2015 that Diazs father, Rigoberto, was the reason he became a baseball player.The Cardinals were hesitant to use Diaz in the preceding games, in part due to his grief. He was due to pinch hit in Sunday nights game in Chicago but never got the chance because Aroldis Chapmman struck out Jose Martinez?and stranded?Diaz in the on-deck circle as the game ended.dddddddddddd.Tuesdays blast off Reds right-hander Robert Stephenson came in Diazs second at-bat since Fernandezs death. Diaz said he feels he can best honor Fernandez by playing the game with passion and joy and competing as fiercely as Fernandez did.Even now, I cant believe it, Diaz said.Stephenson was aware of Diazs relationship with Fernandez.I thought that was real unfortunate timing for me, Stephenson said. But really, a special moment for him.Watching him cross the plate and watching his reaction as he [shook hands] with the guys, [it] really hit me on how much that meant to him, St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. You can never understand what each persons going through when they suffer a loss like that. The show goes on, and so does life. But its a tough thing for anyone to go through.Diaz and Cardinals catcher Brayan Pena, a fellow Cuban, taped a No. 16 Fernandez jersey to the Cardinals dugout wall before the game. Pena predicted Diaz would hit a home run in Tuesdays game. Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright compared it to Mondays home run by Marlins leadoff batter Dee Gordon, who cried after going deep against Bartolo Colon in the teams first game since Fernandezs death.I felt some serious goose bumps when he hit that, you know, Wainwright said. I almost got choked up. I know he was and we were all excited for him, and he wanted to make some good swings for Jose, Im sure. I dont know if theres a spot all year we needed that more than we did tonight.The Associated Press contributed to this report. Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China Stitched Jerseys China Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Store Youth NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Discount NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL Camo Jerseys Wholesale NFL White Jerseys Wholesale NFL Camo Jerseys White NFL Jerseys Cheap Camo China NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Jerseys NFL China ' ' '