sports

After Brittney Griner was chosen first in this week's WNBA draft, she sat down with Sports Illustrated to talk openly about sports and sexuality. While pro men's sports are still struggling with acceptance, it seems the women's game has tolerance down. Brittney said it really wasn't difficult to go public as a lesbian, since she's always been open about her sexuality. And she hopes being comfortable with herself will inspire others, explaining: "If I can show that I'm out and I'm fine and everything's OK, then hopefully the younger generation will definitely feel the same way."

When asked why she thinks there's a greater level of acceptance of gay female athletes, Brittney said she really couldn't answer that. But she did provide this advice that everyone can use, regardless of their sexuality:

"Being one that's out, it's just being who you are. Again, like I said, just be who you are. Don't worry about what other people are going to say, because they're always going to say something, but, if you're just true to yourself, let that shine through. Don't hide who you really are."

It's hard to ignore the fact that if the NBA's top pick came out as gay, it likely would be a much bigger story. The New York Times spoke with LGBT advocates in the sports world about why gay female athletes are more accepted. The story uncovered another, perhaps unexpected, difference between men's and women's sports. Patrick Burke, the founder of You Can Play, identified two stereotypes: that there are no gay male athletes and that every female athlete is gay. He said when trying to get athletes to talk about tolerance, "We've had tremendous success in getting straight male players to speak to the issue; we're having a tougher time finding straight female athletes speaking on this issue because they've spent their entire careers fighting the perception that they're a lesbian." Maybe everyone involved could use Brittney's advice to not worry so much about what other people think.

March Madness is officially in full swing! For anyone who's feeling a little clueless about the rules of basketball, you'll be glad to know that the game is relatively easy to follow. Once you understand the basics, you'll be feeling like a pro in no time.

The General Game
Two teams have five players on the court at all times. The game starts with a tip-off, where two opposing players attempt to gain control of the ball after it is tossed up into the air in between them by an official. Once a team gains possession of the ball, it has 35 seconds to take a shot. If the shot is made, the other team starts with the ball and a new shot clock. If the shot is missed, the team that rebounds gets a new shot clock.

Depending on who has control of the ball, each team takes turns playing offense or defense. The offense moves the ball up and down the court by dribbling or passing; the defense does everything they can to make sure the offense doesn't shoot and score. Either the offense makes a basket and the defense takes possession of the ball, or the defense steals the ball from the offense. Whoever has the most points at the end of the game wins.

Every college basketball game is played 40 minutes total; each half is played for 20 minutes. At the start of the second half in a college basketball game, the teams change baskets, shooting at the opposite end from the one they shot at during the first half. If there's a tie at the end of 40 minutes, the game goes into a five-minute overtime.

The Court
The game is played on a rectangular court with a 10-foot-high hoop at each end. The court is divided in half by the midcourt line, where the tip-off takes place to start the game. The three-point line is the designated arc surrounding the basket, and the free-throw lane (commonly referred to as the key or the paint) is the colored area underneath the basket. Although it's a small section of the court, the majority of the action takes place in the free-throw lane.

How to Score
When one player makes a traditional basket, they score two points. Then the ball goes to the other team to give them a chance to score. If a basket is made outside of the three-point arc, that basket is worth three points. A free throw, shot from the top of the free-throw lane, is worth one point.

Keep reading for the most common fouls and violations that stop the game.

Organizers of most anticipated tennis match of the year, the US Open, knows fans can't spend the workday in the dark about the competition. So they created an app to bring you point-by-point scoring updates to help you keep up with the action of this star-studded event on the go. Download US Open on the Go (available for all mobile devices and tablets) for the latest news — both on and off the court — throughout the tournament.

With new photos, schedules, and draws, this app has you covered for one of the sport's biggest events. Join in on the conversation and stay connected to the US Open via social media and US Open Radio. Have a favorite athlete? Watch full-length videos of athletes like Roger Federer or the Williams sisters. The courts stay in action until Sept. 9, so it's time to get up to speed on the current standings.