NEW YORK -- Renee Brown has been at the WNBA since its inception. Twenty years after joining the league, the WNBAs chief of basketball operations and player relations is stepping down this month.Its probably one of the most difficult decisions I made in my life, Brown told The Associated Press in a phone interview Monday. I love the WNBA and was fortunate 20 years ago that Val [Ackerman], David [Stern], Russ [Granik] and Adam [Silver] allowed me to come in at the start of this league. Walking away, its sad but yet joyful at the same time.Brown is one of a handful of people who have remained involved in the league since its beginning in 1997.Twenty years in, people didnt think wed be here, Brown said. I knew we would be. Its been fun watching the talent grow. I think the WNBA has been in great shape from the minute we came here. A lot to do with what the NBA gives the WNBA. From the beginning, I was very confident once the NBA allowed us to put the W in front of its name, wed be well taken care of.In her current role and through her work with the WNBAs competition committee, Brown has directly influenced how the game is played. This season, teams set records for points per game, field goals made and attempted, field goal percentage, free throws made, free throw percentage, and assists.Brown has also been involved with USA Basketball since 1996. She has served on its board of directors and chaired the selection committee of the senior national team.Renee has selflessly served USA Basketball as a coach, committee member and passionate supporter, said Carol Callan, director of womens basketball for USA Basketball. She first served as an assistant coach during the historic 1995-96 USA national teams yearlong preparation for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.The U.S. hasnt lost in the Olympics since Brown got involved, winning six consecutive gold medals.Any time I put on a USA T-shirt or a sweatshirt, I put it on with so much pride recognizing were all representing our country, she said.Brown said she let WNBA president Lisa Borders know of her decision at the start of this season.Renees contributions to the WNBAs growth have been immeasurable, Borders said. It has been a pleasure working alongside her during this landmark season, and I will continue to rely on her expertise. She will always be part of the WNBA family.Brown said she will continue to be involved in basketball, joining the Jr. NBA Leadership Council. The Nevada native plans to stay in New York for now.My goal is to stay in New York and look for other opportunities involved in the game, sports or women empowerment, Brown said. Take the skills Ive learned here and use them somewhere else. Its an exciting time for me. I thought Id be here three to four years. Twenty years later, Im here and its been great. Im looking forward to my next journey. JuJu Smith-Schuster Jersey . Instead of dwelling on the negative, Oates focused on what was good about the clubs recent play. It worked. Hines Ward Womens Jersey .S. -- Nikolaj Ehlers registered a hat trick for the third straight game and Jonathan Drouin had a goal and five assists as the Halifax Mooseheads hammered the host Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 10-1 on Tuesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. http://www.steelerspronfl.com/Youth-Devin-Bush-Elite-Jersey/ . The Dutchmans tenure got off to a poor start when referee Guido Winkmann awarded a penalty within two minutes for Niklas Starks clumsy challenge on Alexandru Maxim. Benny Snell Jr. Youth Jersey . Fred Couples, captain of the U.S. side, put it all into perspective. "We know whos in charge," he said. Jerome Bettis Youth Jersey . He says so-called TRT is only one problem and he wants to go even further than the ban. "Its about time," St-Pierre told reporters at a promotional event in Montreal on Friday. "I think its a good thing. LOS ANGELES -- NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown has accepted a $600,000 offer from video game maker Electronic Arts to end a lawsuit alleging the company illegally used his likeness in its NFL Madden games.A law firm representing Brown announced the deal on Tuesday. EA had no comment.Brown said in the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County in 2013 that he declined to license his likeness to EA, but EA usedd it anyway.dddddddddddd He accused the company of violating his right of publicity.Brown also sued EA in federal court, but a judge dismissed the case.Brown repeatedly led the league in rushing as a running back for the Cleveland Browns in the late 1950s and early 1960s. ' ' '