Tag: Nia Clouden

WNBA players set to participate in FIBA Africa Women’s Basketball League

Nia Clouden recently signed with Rwanda Energy Group to participate in the FIBA Africa Women’s Basketball League.

Los Angeles Sparks guard Nia Clouden recently signed with Rwanda Energy Group women’s basketball team to participate in the FIBA Africa Women’s Basketball League (AWBL). 

Clouden was selected No. 12 overall in the 2022 WNBA draft by the Connecticut Sun. She played college basketball at Michigan State and was claimed off waivers to join the Sparks for the 2023 season.

Point guard Tiffany Mitchell of the Minnesota Lynx also recently signed with REG. Mitchell was drafted ninth overall in the 2016 WNBA draft out of the University of South Carolina. Mitchell recently had her jersey retired at South Carolina and was the first jersey retired under head coach Dawn Staley.

Rwanda is currently ranked 74th after the FIBA Women’s Continental Championships, but they are steadily moving up the rankings. With the addition of Mitchell and Clouden, the Rwandan team is looking to make a splash at the tournament and vying for a medal.

The tournament will take place in Cairo, Egypt, from Dec. 11-19.

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MSU star Nia Clouden drafted by Connecticut Sun in 1st Round of WNBA Draft

Michigan State women’s basketball star Nia Clouden has been selected by the Connecticut Sun in the first round of the WNBA Draft

Michigan State women’s basketball star Nia Clouden has been selected by the Connecticut Sun in the first round of the WNBA Draft.

Clouden went No. 12 overall in Monday’s draft, landing at one of the historically best WNBA franchises.

Clouden started and played in all 117 games during her four years with the Spartans, and ended her career as the No. 2 all-time scorer with 1,882 career points.

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Michigan State women’s basketball star Nia Clouden declares for WNBA draft after earning First Team All-Big Ten honors

Michigan State women’s basketball star Nia Clouden declares for WNBA draft after earning First Team All-Big Ten honors

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Michigan State women’s basketball’s most prolific scorer since Aerial Powers will look to follow Powers to the WNBA. On Tuesday, Nia Clouden announced that she will be declaring for the 2022 WNBA draft.

Clouden averaged 20 points, 4.2 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game on her way to earning First Team All-Big Ten honors.

Clouden will leave MSU as the second-leading scorer in the history of the program and the record holder for most points in a single game with 50 against Florida Gulf Coast. She could have returned thanks to an extra year of COVID eligibility, but will instead test the pro waters.

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Michigan State Women’s Basketball G Nia Clouden drops 50 points against FGCU

Michigan State Women’s Basketball: Nia Clouden drops 50 points against FGCU

It ended up being a loss, but Michigan State Women’s basketball guard Nia Clouden showed once again on Monday why she is one of the best players in program history, dropping 50 points in an 85-84 double overtime loss to Florida Gulf Coast.

Clouden’s 50 point scoring outburst tied the MSU basketball record, for both Men’s and Women’s play, tying Terry Furlow’s 50-point game in 1976 against Iowa.

Clouden went 17 for 28 from the field and hit 15 of 17 free throws on the way to her historic performance.

The Spartans are now 7-5 on the season.

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Michigan State Women’s Basketball guard Nia Clouden named to Preseason All-Big Ten Team

Michigan State Women’s Basketball guard Nia Clouden named to Preseason All-Big Ten Team

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Nia Clouden has emerged as a star for Suzy Merchant and the Michigan State Women’s Basketball team over the past few seasons, taking the mantle as MSU’s best weapon on the court. Because of her achievements on the court, Clouden has been named to the 2021 Preseason All-Big Ten Team.

This is no surprise, as Clouden was named to the All-Big Ten team at the end of last season, and the Preseason All-Big Ten Team last year as well.

Clouden averaged 18 points per game last season to go along with 4.2 assists and 3.9 rebounds.

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Michigan State women’s basketball listed in ESPN’s ‘Way-Too-Early Top 25’

Michigan State’s women’s basketball squad is expected to enter the 2021-22 season ranked, according to Charlie Creme of ESPN.

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Michigan State’s women’s basketball squad is expected to enter the 2021-22 season ranked, according to Charlie Creme of ESPN.

ESPN released their “Way-Too-Early Top 25” rankings on Monday, and the Spartans cracked the list. Michigan State was listed at No. 21 in Creme’s rankings.

Here’s what Creme had to say about the Spartans:

Sophomore guard Nia Clouden (18.7 PPG) will appear on some preseason All-American teams next year. Freshman guard Alyza Winston (11.1 PPG) has all-Big Ten potential. The Spartans’ backcourt will be one of the best in the conference and gives coach Suzy Merchant a solid foundation of what should be a veteran team.

Michigan State was one of six Big Ten teams to be listed in Creme’s rankings. Click here to see the complete rankings.

Michigan State was knocked out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament this past season.

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MSU Women’s Basketball upsets 2-seed Indiana to advance in Big Ten Tournament

Michigan State has advanced in the Big Ten Tournament after knocking off 2-seed Indiana.

Fans of Michigan State Basketball did get some great news on Thursday after all. The MSU Women’s Basketball team was able to upset No. 2 seed Indiana to advance in the Big Ten Tournament behind a 27-point second half from Nia Clouden. The final score was 69-61.

Clouden finished with 30 points, overcoming a tough first half to lead her Spartans to victory. Alyza Winston added 13 points.  Alisia Smith led the team with 8 rebounds to go along with 6 points. Head coach Suzy Merchant was also able to get 13 strong minutes from the injured Taiyier Parks, who scored 4 points and added 5 rebounds, much of which came in crunch time.

The Spartans will now face either Iowa or Rutgers as they continue to advance in the Big Ten Tournament.

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Michigan State Women’s Basketball beats Penn State, advances in Big Ten Tournament

Michigan State Women’s Basketball will advance in the Big Ten Tournament after knocking off Penn State.

The No. 7-seed Michigan State Women’s Basketball team is moving forward in the Big Ten Tournament.

The Spartans beat No. 10-seed Penn State 75-66 behind the heroics of Alyza Winston, who scored 23 to lead MSU to the next round of play. Nia Clouden was also able to shake off an awful three-game stretch to score 18 points. Moira Joiner and Taiyier Parks also scored in double digits.

This was a close game for most of the contest, until Winston broke out to lead the Spartans on a 12-2 run to lead them to a match-up against No. 2 Indiana at 6:30 p.m. ET on Thursday.

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Nia Clouden named to All-Big Ten Women’s Basketball First Team

The women’s All-Big Ten first team was announced today and Michigan State guard Nia Clouden made both the coaches and media first team.

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The women’s All-Big Ten first team was announced today and Michigan State junior guard Nia Clouden made both the coaches and media first team. She is the first Spartan to make both the media and coaches first team since Tori Jankoska did in the 2016-17 season.

Clouden averaged 18 points per game on 46.2 percent from the field and 31.8 percent from beyond the arc. She also averaged 3.9 rebounds per game and 4.2 assists per game this season. Clouden was previously named to the second team in 2019-20 and honorable mention in her freshman season in 2018-19.

Clouden has had a memorable and accomplished career so far at Michigan State. She looks to have a bright future in basketball and could perhaps play in the WNBA one day.

What is also notable is that Suzy Merchant, over her 14 seasons as head coach of MSU, has had 46 All-Big Ten selections and had at least two players earn All-Big Ten honors in 13 of 14 seasons.

The No. 7-seeded Spartans will take on the No. 10-seeded Penn State Nittany Lions in the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament on Wednesday, March 10 at 6:30 p.m. EST at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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WATCH: Highlights from MSU Women’s Basketball’s 94-62 win over Wisconsin

You can watch all the highlights from Michigan State’s decisive win over Wisconsin here.

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The Michigan State Women’s Basketball team was sidelined since Jan. 10 with a COVID-19 breakout, but they were back today and didn’t seem to miss a beat. MSU played on the road against Wisconsin on Sunday, and they came away with a decisive 94-62 win over the Badgers.

The Spartans are now 9-2 behind a 19 point, 5 rebound effort from Alisia Smith and a 15 point, 5 assist game from Nia Clouden. Taiyier Parks also added 15 points, 6 rebounds, and an assist.

You can watch all the highlights from the win below:

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