Basketball On The Internet.

BOB'S CORNER: As readers here would be well aware, I've been attending the FIBA Women's World Cup in Sydney so did miss this wrap of all things basketball, submitted by our erstwhile US correspondent BOB CRAVEN. It still makes great "catch-up" reading so without further ado...  

THE Las Vegas Aces finished off the Connecticut Sun in four games in the best-of-five series and are this year's WNBA champions.

As the top-ranked team after the end of the regular season, they were the hosts for the first two games in the Finals.  They did not disappoint, winning the first game in a squeaker, then taking the second game in much easier fashion. 

As usual, they were led by league MVP, A'ja Wilson, ably assisted by Chelsea Gray.

In hosting Game 3, Connecticut managed to avoid a Las Vegas sweep by cruising to a 105-76 win as Las Vegas, with the home court advantage secured, just mailed this one in. 

Still, the Sun's Alyssa Thomas' effort in the game was historic - 16 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists, she registered the first triple-double in WNBA Finals history.

In Game 4, the Aces hit the jackpot, winning the game and the title 78-71 in a very close game.  Near the end, Connecticut led 71-70, but Las Vegas finished the game on an 8-0 run to take the trophy. 

Chelsea Gray led a balanced attack with 20 points and, despite the fact she was not an All-Star nor a first team all-league pick during the regular season, she was voted Finals MVP.

IN Europe, Spain defeated France 88-76 in this year's men's EuroBasket championship game. 

It was their fourth championship in the past six years.  This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Spain as their longtime leaders, the Gasol brothers, Pau and Marc, retired from international basketball after a quarterfinal loss to the US at the Tokyo Olympic Games. 

Despite their absence, and the fact that two more veterans, Sergio Llull and Ricky Rubio were unavailable due to injury, the Hernangomez brothers led them to another title. 

Juancho of the NBA's Toronto Raptors led Spain in the Final with 27 points.  Brother Willy of the New Orleans Pelicans added 14 points and was voted tournament MVP.

NBA news now and the Boston Celtics have suspended coach Ime Udoka for the entirety of the 2022-23 season for violations of team policies.  The team also added that they would make a decision on his future at a later date.

He was suspended after an improper intimate and consensual relationship with a female member of the team's staff, which is deemed to violate the organisation's code of conduct, became public. 

Last season, his first as Celtic's coach, he guided the team to an impressive midseason turnaround and a run to the NBA Finals.  They are among the favorites to win the title again in the coming season, which starts in mid-October.