NBA Finals: Why there should be an asterisk for winner (but not the one you think)
Olympic love: Olympians winning more than just medals at the games
XFL follows suit, shut down season as coronavirus fears grow
Sha'Carri Richardson disqualified from Tokyo Olympics over marijuana
Crystal Dunn and USWNT want historic back-to-back World Cup championship and Olympic gold
MLB midseason review: Are Yankees done? Is Manfred botching sticky situation?| Sports Seriously
2021 NBA Finals: What does each team need to do to win?
The Bucks-Suns NBA Finals matchup is great for league and its future
NBA Finals Predictions: Will Suns or Bucks win the championship?
What to be done about swim caps for Black hair being barred from Tokyo Olympic swim events
Caroline Marks on the moment she qualified for the 2021 Olympics
Former IndyCar driver stands for first time in 21 years
How to make the perfect grilled hot dog
Bucks finally reach NBA Finals, but title hopes rest on Giannis Antetokounmpo
Is MLB, Manfred botching the 'sticky situation'?
USA TODAY SPORTS Logo
USA TODAY SPORTS Logo
USA TODAY SPORTS Logo
Load Error
The 14-year-old just so happens to be dual-threat as both a student and athlete. A basketball prodigy, Zaila holds three Guinness World Records for her ability to dribble multiple basketballs at a time. And she hopes to one day play in the WNBA.
Avant-garde is actually one of the best 8th grade girls basketball players in the country, according to ESPN. In a profile with the outlet, she said her next big goal is to make the 2022 USA Basketball under-16 national team. She listed James Harden, Diana Taurasi, Kevin Durant and Maya Moore as some of her favorite players.
a person standing in front of a blue wall: Zaila Avant-garde, 14, from Harvey, Louisiana celebrates after winning the finals of the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee at Disney World Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Her impressive hoop skills had new followers in awe. Scholarship time, Geno Auriemma?
One video shows the Harvey, Louisiana, native going through some drills with an strong handle and jump shot.
Another video is of her handsy defense on display.
In addition to the spelling bee crown, Zaila holds the Guinness World Records title holder for most bounce juggles in one minute. Her three World Records include:
That hand-eye coordination and smarts combo ... again, scholarship, Kim Mulkey?
Zaila outlasted a field of 11 finalists to win the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee title and the first-place prize of $50,000 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.
Slide 1 of 19: Zaila Avant-garde, 14, from Harvey, Louisiana holds up the championship trophy after winning the finals of the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee at Disney World Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Slide 2 of 19: Zaila Avant-garde, 14, from Harvey, Louisiana is covered with confetti as she celebrates winning the finals of the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee at Disney World Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Slide 3 of 19: Zaila Avant-garde, 14, from Harvey, Louisiana celebrates after winning the finals of the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee at Disney World Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Slide 4 of 19: Chaitra Thummala, 12, from Frisco, Texas, left, slap hands with Zaila Avant-garde, 14, from Harvey, Louisiana during the finals of the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee at Disney World Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Slide 5 of 19: US First Lady Jill Biden sits with finalist Ashrita Gandhari's family during the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Orlando, Florida on July 8, 2021.
Slide 6 of 19: Bhavana Madini, 13, from Plainview, New York, center, is comforted by family members after she was eliminated from the finals of the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee at Disney World Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Slide 7 of 19: Vihaan Sibal, 12, from Waco, Texas competes during the finals of the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee at Disney World Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Slide 8 of 19: Chaitra Thummala, 12, from Frisco, Texas compete during the finals of the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee at Disney World Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Slide 9 of 19: Akshainie Kamma, 13, from Rockround, Texas competes during the finals of the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee at Disney World Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Slide 10 of 19: Vivinsha Veduru, 10, from Keller, Texas competes during the finals of the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee at Disney World Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Slide 11 of 19: Zaila Avant-garde, 14, from Harvey, Louisiana reacts after correctly spelling a word during the finals of the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee at Disney World Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Slide 12 of 19: Dhroov Bharatia, 12, from Plano, Texas reacts after correctly spelling a word during the finals of the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee at Disney World Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Slide 13 of 19: Sreethan Gajula, 14, from Waxhaw, North Carolina competes during the finals of the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee at Disney World Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Slide 14 of 19: Avani Joshi, 13, from Roscoe, Illinois competes during the finals of the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee at Disney World Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Slide 15 of 19: Ashrita Gandhari, 14, from Ashburn, Virginia competes during the finals of the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee at Disney World Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Slide 16 of 19: Bhavana Madini, 13, from Plainview, New York competes during the finals of the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee at Disney World Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Slide 17 of 19: Roy Seligman, 12, from Nassau, The Bahamas competes during the finals of the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee at Disney World Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Slide 18 of 19: The 11 finalists of the Scripps National Spelling Bee sit on stage as the Finals begins, during a visit by US First Lady Jill Biden, in Orlando, Florida on July 8, 2021.
Slide 19 of 19: First lady Jill Biden speaks during the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee Finals in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Thursday, July 8, 2021.
Post a Comment