WNBA Player Accused of Rape
 

Former Sparks Player Investigated For Allegedly Sexual Assaulting Teammate
Player Allegedly Raped By Attackers With Suspect

LOS ANGELES -- Former WNBA player Latasha Byears, who helped lead the Los Angeles Sparks to two championships, is under investigation for allegedly sexually assaulting a former teammate, it was reported.

Byears and three men who have no connection to the Sparks allegedly raped the victim at a party following a June 5 game against the Sacramento Monarchs at Staples Center, according to broadcast reports.

The men allegedly raped the player and Byears allegedly penetrated the player with an object described as a sex toy, media reports stated.

Pictures of the alleged attack were taken by a cellular telephone camera and e-mailed to other people, one source said. No one has been arrested, but the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said Wednesday there is an investigation involving several male and female basketball players.

Sheriff's Deputy David Cervantes would only say a report was taken in the case.

The Sparks waived Byears on June 10, five days after the alleged incident. She did not play in a June 7 game against the Monarchs in Sacramento because she was dealing with a personal matter, team officials said at the time.

Sparks spokeswoman Kristal Shipp said Wednesday the team has been contacted by authorities and is cooperating.

"We are aware of the serious nature of the police investigation and we are cooperating in every way," she said in a statement. "We don't know the facts so until the investigation and the judicial process, if there is one, are completed, it would not be appropriate for us to make any comment."

Byears, 30, was traded to the Sparks in 2000 from Sacramento. She spent four years with the Monarchs but had troubles on and off the court.

She pleaded no contest to reckless driving in 2002 and was suspended for one game. Later that year she was suspended for two games after throwing a ball at Michelle Marciniak's face during a game against the Seattle Storm.

Byears, who is no longer playing in the WNBA, ranks eighth in all-time field goal percentage (.514) and is among the top 10 rebounders in league history. She averaged 5.6 points and 4.2 rebounds this season.

Known as "Tot," a nickname given by her grandmother, Byears played at DePaul University in Chicago where she was named first-team AP All-America in 1995-96 and second-team All-America in 1994-95.

In an article published in the July issue of GQ magazine, Byears referred to herself as the toughest player in the WNBA and said she wanted to open a restaurant or a nightclub when her playing days ended.

"I been in this league six years now. I came in through the back door," she told the magazine. "But I'm leaving through the front, side and middle. Man, roll the red velvet out for me, 'cause I'm the boss."

WTF!
 

This is a DAYUM shame. :o :eek:

Seems like you'd only read about (something like) this in a Zane book.

Maybe the victim was "down" but when it was shown all over, she became embarrassed. :confused:

this sickens me!!!

I am grossed out by this story....

what REALLY threw me was it being photographed and distributed using the cell phone. technology is really something, huh?

I read about this yesterday, all I can do is shake my head.

One word......
 

NASTY!!!!!!!

Re: One word......
 

:eek:

Re: Re: One word......
 

Oops....no offense meant Nupe4life.....lol

Ok so I wanted to see a pic to check out what we were working with...all I can say is EW.

http://images.usatoday.com/sports/ba...ead-byears.jpg

http://www.wnba.com/media/act_latasha_byears.jpg

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew @ her pic.

I have seen her play since she first came into the league, and she is a very mannish girl. I mean she really looks, and her mannerism say nothing about being a female.

Is that a gold tooth or is it just funny looking? Either way, like everyone else, EWWWWWWW

It looks like a rotten tooth to me. :o

It is very sad day when a WOMAN has the freaking audacity to rape another WOMAN. How could she even think that she could not have been a victim herself? Or even think about the victim? At what point did she think about the word NO comming from the victims mouth? THis is just pitiful...I hope her a** rots in jail.:( :mad: