Israeli police prevented a WNBA player from leaving Israel after she was arrested on assault charges. Deanna Jackson, a 6’2″ forward for the Chicago Sky, spent the summer playing for Anda Ramat Hasharon in the Israeli league, one of 17 WNBA players to play in Israel during the off-season. She was arrested after punching out Elitzur Ramle guard Ina Gourevitch after the league’s championship game Wednesday night, which Ramle won 81-68, according to espn.com. The two players got into a scuffle during the game, and afterward Jackson sought out and punched Gourevitch in the parking lot outside the arena, breaking her nose. Jackson will have to stay in Israel until at least May 3, and will miss the opening game of the Chicago Sky’s preseason, if not more. Jackson apologized in a statement released by her Israeli team. “I did not mean to harm Ina Gourevitch and I apologize to her,” she said. “I’ve never acted this way. It’s uncharacteristic of me and I hope that it is now behind me.”It doesn’t appear to be, however: The Sky suspended Jackson indefinitely, and Gourevitch filed suit against her, seeking nearly $20,000 in damages.
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