User talk:Kcollier1996/sandbox

Latasha Nashay Byears (born August 12, 1973) is a former American professional women's basketball player. She played in the WNBA for the Sacramento Monarchs, the Los Angeles Sparks, the Washington Mystics, and for the Houston Comets. Byears ranked eighth all-time in the WNBA in field goal percentage (.514) and was among the top 10 rebounders in the league's history as of 2003. Nicknamed "Tot", Byears usually played the position of power forward. --Kcollier1996 (talk) 15:24, 24 March 2017 (UTC)However, the openly lesbian Byers became associated with legal controversy outside of her basketball career.'

After the 2000 season ended, Byears was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks, where she excelled. However, following a June 5, 2003 Sparks game, Byears and three men unconnected to the Sparks were investigated for an alleged rape of a WNBA player. Byears was cut by the Sparks a few days after the alleged incident. Four months later, in light of Kobe Bryant's rape allegations and how the Los Angeles Lakers, who owned the Sparks at the time, supported Bryant during the controversy, '''Byears sued the Lakers, accusing the team of double standard. Byears felt that it was unfair that she was never charged and was cut while Bryant's case was settled, yet he still continued to play and represent the team in media.''' The criminal proceedings were closed in August 2005 due to insufficient evidence, and Byears' lawsuit against the Lakers was settled months later. Shortly after settling the lawsuit, Byears returned to the WNBA after a two-year absence, signing with the Mystics.[1]