This and that

She’s baaaaaa-ack: Cheryl Miller to Coach Langston Women

Local girl makes good: From the Lancaster Online: Elizabethtown grad Sarah Fairbanks is stepping up her game at St. Joseph’s

St. Joe’s coach Cindy Griffin wanted Fairbanks. In fact, Griffin said last week, “We knew we needed her.’’

Fairbanks wasn’t entirely sure why.

She wasn’t an all-state high-school player. At 6-1, she was a bit undersized for a major-college post player. Her prep stats, 15 points per game as a junior, 19 as a senior, were very good but not spectacular.

E-town is not a traditional girls’ basketball power, and in Fairbanks’ senior year lost in the first round of both the Lancaster-Lebanon League and District Three playoffs.

“I was hesitant at first,’’ she said last week. “They were the highest (level) school that recruited me.’’

A well-deserved “You stay put, please:” UNH Announces Contract Extension for Women’s Basketball Head Coach Maureen Magarity

The WNBA to host first preseason tourney at Disney

The WNBA is bringing its first preseason tournament to Florida.

The defending league champion Minnesota Lynx, Chicago Sky, Indiana Fever and Phoenix Mercury are set to tip off the four-game tournament May 9 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World.

Winners from the opening games will meet May 11, with the other two teams playing in a consolation game. 

Out of Minny: Though they’ll open training camp short-handed, the Lynx hope to copy Sparks, repeat as WNBA champions

Tulsa is, again, a Liz-Free zone. Guess I’ll have to wait until October/Istanbul to see her: Cambage gives priority to Opals. Meanwhile, Shock first-round pick Odyssey Sims introduced to Tulsa and the Tulsa World offers up Who to watch, roster, schedule and more

Love me a little flashback history: Central High girls won first state basketball title

The Blackman High girls’ basketball team made history in March 2014 winning the school’s first state team championship. This convincing display of athletic dominance came exactly 90 years after the girls of Central High School (CHS) brought Rutherford County its first state basketball title.

As a precursor to the state championship, the CHS 1923 team won the Middle Tennessee Athletic Association championship. The coach was W. R. Romine, who doubled as the CHS manual training instructor. The team was captained by Ida Lee Byrn; India Gannaway served as the team manager.

Mabuhay, Tina: WNBA legend Thompson to help select jr cage All-Stars

WNBA Legend Tina Thompson arrived in Manila yesterday to lead the Jr.NBA/Jr.WNBA Presented by Alaska National Training Camp.

She will help coach participants from all over the country vying to become Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA All-Stars.

Finally, as BU and Butler try and “move on,” they should remember it’s not simply about hiring a new coach. They should read this from Beverly Breton Carroll, the mother of an athlete: Rutgers athletics: When sorry seems to be the hardest word

Watching your son and his Rutgers basketball teammates in a headline-making video shown on ESPN is akin to the moments before a car crash. The coach is hurling balls at the players, shoving them hard enough to send them sprawling on the court and spewing vile insults. Time crawls as you view a reality too disturbing to process.

You’ve been operating on high alert for several months now, muscles tensed, anticipating the next upsetting chapter in this saga. All the Rutgers basketball games you watched, your gut twisting at the dynamics between coach and players, one of whom is your son. All the times you wanted to spew about a horribly wrong situation when friends asked, “How’s Austin doing at Rutgers?”

Your son imparts only the barest of information. You do not have a full picture of the environment these kids are being subjected to every day, but you’ve heard disturbing stories about what happens at practice and you know a lot of players are depressed — a common symptom of emotional abuse. Yet you feel helpless. Speaking up will only make you sound like a whiny, entitled mother complaining about the coach’s treatment of her son. Ditto for the other families. Triple ditto for the players.

But here, finally, is justification for your emotions. This video confirms your fears. The car crash is real.

And they should also read the comments…..

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What’s the balance between motivation and bullying?

Clearly it’s a discussion that needs to be had:

From the Boston Globe: BU coach Kelly Greenberg out after bullying accusations

From BU Today: Women’s Basketball Coach Resigns from Boston University – Review panel finds conduct inconsistent with University standards

Todd Klipp, senior vice president, senior counsel, and secretary of the Board of Trustees, says that although the review panel found that many of the complaints raised by the four players could not be substantiated, “a compelling case was made, based on interviews with the team as a whole, that the manner in which Coach Greenberg interacted with many of her players was incompatible with the expectations and standards for University employees, including our coaches.” Klipp adds that “when we shared these conclusions with Coach Greenberg, she determined that it would not be possible for her to continue coaching at Boston University.”

In a similar vein: Butler fires women’s basketball coach Beth Couture

From the Butler Collegian: Former players allege verbal abuse, mistreatment

Nine student-athletes have transferred from Butler University’s women’s basketball program over the past four academic years.

Additionally, four coaches have left the program and five players have chosen not to return over the last five seasons.

Four of those student-athletes— juniors Taylor Schippers and Liz Stratman, sophomore Haley Howard and freshman Ashton Feldhaus—announced their intention to transfer from the program within the last month.

Some players are now alleging verbal abuse, a lack of team control by the coaching staff, and players being required to participate in practices and games while injured or sick.

The allegations come from former players who were with the program as far back as 2007.

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Back from NashVegas….

and what a great trip. The landing, though, was a tad tough, what with having to jump deep back into work. What is it about taking a break seems to make work want to take it out on you…

So, about that championship game. Yah, it was a while ago, and ya, the final score says comfortable blowout, but it was a fun game, with Notre Dame showing a lot of heart (after a lot of nerves). I sure hope the ridiculousness between the two coaches/programs fades like so many family blowups.

Some of the good news: ratings.

Now, for those who are moaning, “oh, here we go again, UConn is “bad” for women’s basketball,” I simply say: don’t ignore what happened with the REST of the teams this past season. Lots of parity. Lots of young coaches. Next step: demand excellence from them. Raise expectations. Identify best practices. Stop complacency. Push for Title IX compliance. And hope for a little bit of luck and courage in the recruiting wars.

Case in point: From Mechelle –  A’JaWilson decision a big win for Staley – Nation’s top prospect averaged 35 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks as senior

....even though South Carolina was regarded as the favorite to land Wilson — a 6-foot-5 forward from the Gamecocks’ own backyard in Columbia, S.C. — the fact that she really did stay put is a big victory for coach Dawn Staley’s program.

It matters from a national perspective, as does the fact that UCLA has signed what’s considered the top-ranked recruiting class for 2014. The Bruins are also underdogs in women’s hoops that fans of the sport in general will root for to provide more diversity at the elite level of Division I.

I keep using terms like “fans of women’s basketball in general,” which might sound nebulous. But after so many years of following the sport, I think I have a pretty good handle on who they are.

Intriguing case in point: Diamond DeShields’ decision to transfer from North Carolina. Clearly, the actually reasons behind her move is still to be revealed, but it’s hard not to speculate (homesickness? looming NCAA sanctions?). Mechelle reflects on her interviews with Deshields this past season.

Remember when the news broke in May 2012 that four blue-chip juniors all decided to commit to North Carolina’s women’s basketball team?

Diamond DeShields was the point person in bringing them together, and it appeared to be a lottery-jackpot day for the Tar Heels. DeShields, Allisha Gray, Stephanie Mavunga and Jessica Washington — ranked third, eighth, 15th and 17th, respectively, in their 2013 recruiting class — were all headed to Chapel Hill, N.C.

What could go wrong?

Well, it might have crossed your mind that day — it did mine — that when a group of teens makes long-range plans to do something complicated together, it might go awry. Not being ageist; it’s just that kids are kids. We’ve all been there.

Good news for Purdue: Hamby, Bays on the mend.

Interesting news for a CSU team that had a resurgent season: Four women’s basketball players are transferring

I was saddened to hear the news of coach Joe Curl’s passing. Most within the basketball world knew of his health struggles. They forced him to step away from his position as Houston Cougars’ coach. He came into national prominence during the 2003-04 season, where he and three-time C-USA Player of the Year, Chandi Jones, led  the Cougars to the second round in the NCAA tourney and earned AP National Coach of the Year honors. I remember him smiling as he picked up the award, almost embarrassed at being surrounded by press and the “elite” of basketball — Alana Beard was the AP’s NPOY. 

I was not surprised by Terri Mitchell’s dismissal from Marquette — she never quite seemed to be able to break through within the recruiting ranks.  I wonder if she’ll thrive better on different soil. We shall see if the Anonymous Eagles’ impression (Marquette has decided that being middle of the road in team sports is no longer acceptable.) is correct.

The Bulldogs didn’t look far to find their new coach, appointing longtime assistant Lisa Fortier as Gonzaga’s next leader. She’s going to have to find some new assistants, though.  I don’t know about you, but if Kelly Graves can do in Oregon what Scott Rueck has done at Oregon State, the west coast will be wicked fun to watch. (Interesting that associate head coach Mark Campbell left the Beavers to join the Ducks.)

Congrats to Natasha Adair, who’s moved from the College of Charleston back to Georgetown. Here’s hoping she can grow a program that seems to have lost the ground that Terri Williams-Flournoy seemed to have gained. Does the athletic department triply give a hoot about women’s basketball?

I remember Maren Walseth from the first Final Four I attended (2000 in Philly). She’s now the head coach at North Dakota State University. Interesting tidbit: Walseth’s sister, Annika, played for NDSU during the 2007-08 season.    

Nice to see Yolanda Moore move up the ranks. She’s now head coach at  Southeastern Louisiana University. “Moore spent the 2013-14 season as the head coach at LSU Eunice. Taking over a program that had won 17 games combined in the previous two seasons, Moore led the Lady Bengals to a 26-3 overall record and the program’s first-ever Miss-Lou Conference championship.”

Keep Fresno State on your “watch list,” as they plucked Jaime White from Northern Colorado.

More on the “WTF list:: Women’s basketball player appeals K-State transfer denial

 Leticia Romero has known she wanted to transfer for several weeks, but she will have to wait a little longer to find out if Kansas State will grant her a release from its women’s basketball program.

Romero, a rising freshman from Las Palmas, Spain, decided she wanted to leave K-State after the Wildcats fired Deb Patterson, the coach she signed on to play for, but the athletic department denied her initial transfer request. On Wednesday afternoon, she took her case to an appeals committee led by K-State Vice President of Student Life Pat Bosco. As of Wednesday night, the committee had not informed Romero of its decision.

Fashion Week in Illinois: Illini women’s basketball first in country with new jerseys

In WNBA news, Nate ranks has his 2014 Draft recap: The big winners and great value drafts (Spoiler alert: Connecticut, New York and Seattle do well).

Don’t miss Swish Appeal’s other musings:

• 2014 WNBA draft recap: Steals, sleepers and surprises
• 2014 WNBA Draft recap: Top undrafted players
• 2014 WNBA draft tracker: Pick-by-pick analysis of the selections
• 2014 WNBA Draft recap: Three statistical trends among prospects drafted

Take a listen to Dishin & Swishin’s 04/17/14 Podcast: Anne Donovan & Fred Williams discuss Connecticut and Tulsa’s draft picks and offseason moves

Have you read Griner’s book “In My Skin” yet? Did you read Kate Fagan’s piece on Griner: Held Up n Customs: Live in China Gave Brittney More Than She Bargained For. 

THE NUMBER OF moving obstacles at a busy intersection in China can feel paralyzing for a pedestrian. None of the cars, mopeds or bikes appears to be following the traffic laws, which makes stepping off the curb a game of chance, like real-life Frogger.

And Brittney Griner is about to step off the curb.

“I’ve been hit once,” she says, seemingly unfazed at a busy corner in Zhejiang. “A moped ran into me from behind, but it wasn’t going that fast. It was my fault. I was trying to avoid traffic.”

Wait … what? Trying to avoid traffic is bad? “Totally wrong here,” Griner says. “You can’t stop walking. If you’re in motion, they’ll flow around you. It’s when you stop, when you freeze, that it becomes dangerous.”

Brittney Griner talks about her experience in China to ESPN’s Kate Fagan

In other news, Pokey is optimistic surgery won’t stop Fowles (as in, back mid-season?)

Welcome to Chicago, Markeisha Gatling. And be careful!

It’s been tough sledding for Chicago Sky centers lately.

Gatling, a 6-foot-5 rookie center out of North Carolina State, was selected by the Sky Monday with the 10th pick in the WNBA Draft.

What seemed at the time to be a rather nondescript addition, compared to last year’s blockbuster selection of superstar forward and eventual rookie of the year Elena Delle Donne, could now be a key piece to the puzzle for the Sky, which opens its season on May 16 with a home game against the Indiana Fever.

Gatling could be counted on heavily. And right away.

As a counter to the seemingly never ending “Will the W fail” articles: For The WNBA, Jersey Sponsorships Signal Corporate And Community Support

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Holy carp!

Diamond DeShields to transfer from UNC

In other changes: Women’s Basketball Coaches Association to make only 2nd CEO transition in its history

For only the second time in its 30-year history, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) will transition to a new chief executive. Beth Bass, who succeeded founding CEO Betty F. Jaynes in 1996, has announced her decision to resign.

“I’m one of those lucky, rare individuals who, for almost 20 years, has gotten to serve in a job that aligned perfectly with one of my greatest loves in life, women’s basketball,” said Bass. “But the time is right for someone who not only loves the game as much as I do, but who also has a fresh perspective and new ideas. While the decision to leave has been difficult, I’m convinced that the future of this organization and the sport of women’s basketball is extraordinarily strong.”

Board president Sue Semrau, head coach of the Florida State University women’s team, said that the board accepted Bass’ resignation and expressed thanks for all that their longtime CEO has accomplished during her tenure.

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Well, wasn’t THAT an interesting night!

While “Trader Joooooeeee, Trader Joe” was running through my head at the Tina Charles-to-NY news, other actions just made me shake my head. Truly, it’s going to be an interesting season in the W as all these moves shake out.

Now, time for folks to try and anticipate what it will all mean.

Swish Appeal’s Lee is breaking down the Washington Mystics’ Draft Night and the Crystal Langhorne trade

On the same night when the Washington Wizards soundly defeated the Miami Heat, 114-93 at Verizon Center, Mike Thibault and his staff were in the same building, busy at work trying to improve the Mystics for the future. In a video interview with Monumental Network’s Casey Phillips which you can see above (click here for the video if you cannot see the embed above), Thibault gives his breakdown of what their first round draft pick, Stefanie Dolson, and their acquisition of Bria Hartley and Tianna Hawkinsbring to D.C. this summer.

From Nate: Connecticut selects Chiney Ogwumike first overall

More from Lee: New York Liberty acquires Tina Charles and Tim adds, Sun trade former MVP Charles to Liberty, select Ogwumike No. 1 in 2014 WNBA Draft

Pre-draft, they had  their WNBA draft: Top prospects by tiers

Finding the right comparison for Alyssa Thomas

WNBA draft profile: How good can McBride become?

and WNBA draft profile: Shoni Schimmel, Louisville

Finally, just in case you’re still looking,  here are the 2014 WNBA Draft recap: Top undrafted players

At Full Court, Lee Michaelson wonders, Could Gray be the steal of the 2014 WNBA Draft? and discusses Bria Hartley’s brief tenure with the Seattle Storm

At ESPN, it’s Kate Fagan writing: Chiney follows in Nneka’s footsteps – Stanford star drafted No. 1, two years after older Ogwumike was picked first by L.A

Mechelle had her red pen out: Draft grades: East leads the way

The Western Conference has tended to grab a lot of the headlines in the WNBA and currently boasts the defending champion — and still formidable — Minnesota Lynx. But at Monday’s WNBA draft, most of the intrigue came in the Eastern Conference.

That involved both veterans and draftees finding new homes. None bigger than Connecticut’s Tina Charles — the 2012 MVP — who is going to New York, her hometown. This was a move the Sun said Charles forced, and it added to the youth movement at Connecticut.

Want video? Here ya go:

• Ogwumike Is No. 1 Pick In Draft 
• Ogwumike Sisters Looking Forward To Showdown 
• Sims: ‘I’m Gonna Take It Right At B.G.’s Throat’ 
• Stars Take McBride With Third Pick 
• Dolson, Hartley To Play Together In Washington 
• Schimmel Excited To Join McCoughtry In Atlanta 
• Crazy Night For Alyssa Thomas 
• Dolson Heads To The Mystics 
• Gray Excited To Play With Ogwumike And Thomas 

I’m sure Richard in England stayed up way too late and is, at this very moment, working up his assessment of the draft. Until that is posted, you’ll have to make due with this: WNBAlien Special – Grading the Trade: Three-way deal sends Lawson to D.C., Bentley to Connecticut, and confusion to Atlanta (with Matee Ajavon)

USA Today did some stuff on the draft, too: Behind the scenes with Chiney Ogwumike, the WNBA’s top draft pick

Before getting primped for the night, Chiney relaxes on a couch overlooking ESPN’s draft setup with Baylor point guard Odyssey Sims, who was taken No. 2 by the Tulsa Shock.

They talk about all the things they’ll do once they’re in the WNBA, like putting their paychecks into their savings account and changing their eating habits.

“You can eat what you want, just in moderation,” Chiney said. “Do you cook?”

“Yeah, but it takes too long,” Sims replied. “When I’m hungry, I’m hungry.” They both laugh.

“I’m right there with you,” Chiney said.

Later, after the two were selected 1-2, they hug each other in the hallway outside the draft set. Sims sheds a few tears.

From other folks:

Sun Draft Chiney Ogwumike, Then Trade Tina Charles To Liberty, Courant
Jeff Jacobs: Bitterness Is In The Air With Tina Charles’ Departure Courant

This is a total face-lift, a total eclipse of the Sun. Yet before UConn fans and Sun fans go crazy about Connecticut’s WNBA team trading away one of the greatest players in State U. history, a league MVP only two years ago, this much you should know:

Tina Charles refused to play for the Sun anymore.

“We were told [by Charles’ agent] that if she was not traded, she would sit out,” Mohegan Sun CEO Mitchell Etess said Monday night after the Sun sent Charles, 25, a restricted free agent, to the New York Liberty for Alyssa Thomas, Kelsey Bone and the 2015 No. 1 pick.

WNBA draft: Dolson to Mystics, Hartley to Storm, Post

UConn’s Dolson, Hartley picked back-to-back in WNBA Draft first round, Register
UConn’s Dolson, Hartley will be WNBA teammates, Register
Dolson, Hartley To Play Together For Mystics, Courant
Dolson and Hartley to be teammates again in Washington, Daily Campus

WNBA Draft Facts, Figures, Courant
Pictures: UConn’s Presences In The WNBA, Past, Present, Future, Courant

Maryland’s Alyssa Thomas goes No. 4 in WNBA draft; Washington Mystics take U-Conn.’s Stefanie Dolson, trade Crystal Langhorne, Washington Post

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Still in Nashville!

And may I be this first (WHB blogger) to put in a request that Nashville host again… SOON! There’s just too much to see and do and I only have two feet and 24 hours in a day.

So, after a Holiday Inn breakfast that included bacon (!) and scrambled eggs (!) and biscuits (!), the rest of Monday morning was spent plotting and planning with two fellow basketball nuts. The brainstorming and opinionating was fast and furious (is there any better kind?) and we even managed to extract a couple of doable action steps. Watch this space for future actions in support of building women’s basketball attendance.

I then joined a small cohort of friends from the midwest and we *tried* to take in the Country Music Hall of Fame. There’s just too much stuff (and, said my Nashville friend, I didn’t push enough of the buttons). I’m not sure why I didn’t know about Bakersfield and the music business, nor why I didn’t connect the impact of the Dust Bowl on west coast music and filmmaking, but I’m glad that significant gap was filled.

Lunch/Dinner time followed at Jack’s barbecue (FOB Sue can now rest easy) ’cause that’s required dinning in Nashvegas. Love their potato salad…

Then came the games.

As always, it’s fun to see women’s basketball history walking the hallways of the (lovely) Bridgestone arena. Jody Conradt, Tina Charles, Lisa Leslie, Pokey Chatman, Lin Dunn, Andy Landers…. the list goes on. We watched the game next to the Best Uncle Ever – he brought his niece to the game as a present (she’d played basketball against TN’s Harrison, but softball is her love). A landscaper by trade, soccer coach by avocation, BUE had a great eye for spotting former players as they wandered by…

As for the games: I don’t know if it came across on TV, but there was a golden, glowing ball surrounding McBride. What a sight to see. It was not so fun watching Maryland’s matador defense in action nor their stationary offense. Que paso?

In the second game, Stanford came out confident and with a clear plan to slow the game down. And it worked beautifully, as Connecticut’s offense continued to stutter and start. But then that three rimmed out, and there was a missed layup, and before you knew it, I’m sure the phrase “patented Connecticut run” was being used by the game announcers. Unfortunately, having slowed down the game, the Cardinal couldn’t speed it up when they needed to catch up.

Highlights: The Firecrackers, a fabulous group of jump ropers, the marching band from local TSU, and Kiah Stokes – who was my “player on which the game turned” nominee. McBride’s performance was THE highlight, though.

We exited the arena into a drizzling rain (boo!) and hustled our way to the fancy, shmancy Omni for a post-game beverage and game dissection – only to find there were no late-night beverages available. Luckily, the staff was susceptible to my subtle NY charm and hangdog puppy face. Five minutes later we were sipping lovely martinis and leaning up next to a fireplace de-damping. Ahhhh….

Monday morning I put on my “yah, I’m on vacation, but I can do a little of my ‘real’ work if ya want.” Met friend Lattie to lead a session on questions and questioning with some fabulous teaching artists who work under the auspices of the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. Far too little time — and SO much fun to be with them — but Lattie did treat me to some yummy Asian fusion and a walk through the extraordinary Nashville Public Library. And I do mean extraordinary. A new building that fits it seamlessly with the surrounding architecture — it reads 1930s — it manages to be “classical” without dominating or overwhelming. Best of all, it has a PUPPET THEATRE!!!! The library has a tradition of puppetry – initiated by a gentleman to loved to use puppets to engage young children. The new library honored that tradition is a delightful way. I had a chance to meet the amazing puppeteers and see their exquisite puppets. Oh, to have seen their show String City: Nashville’s Tradition of Music and Puppetry.

Squeezed in another meeting of mind — this time “women’s basketball history” nuts. What a delight to meet FOB Ellyn and talk history and research and ethnography and Susan Cahn and oral history and… well, just talk history. What more could you ask? So, if anyone reading is a good grant writer – or just has some extra cash they’ve been wanting to invest in a great cause – this is what we want: $50,000 to help capture the oral histories of women’s basketball. (Sort of a “StoryCorps of Women’s Basketball.)” We want to take advantage of reporters or educators and their love of stories and say, “Here’s $250 – go spend a couple of hours with this person (perhaps an area/neighborhood person) and get them to talk about what it was like to play, organize, officiate, manage, advocate and legislate for women’s basketball.” We’d then have them upload it and have the interview magically transcribed and catalogued.” (About $250 an interview). Simple, no?

Oh – and all this plotting and planning happen in the exquisite Hermitage Hotel. A kind staff member  gave us a thirty-second tour, that turned in to a discussion of NCAA, unions, the women’s suffragette movement with, of course, a little women’s basketball history tossed in for good measure. Wheee!

The day continued with delicious food (are you noticing a recurring theme on this trip?) at City House in Germantown. Knowledgable and friendly staff, intriguing beverages, too much food (meaning, there was no room for desert! *sad face*) Since friend Lattie was our guide, we got to make another too-quick pass through another part of the oh, so impressive Centennial Park — I really liked the timeline.

We capped off the evening with a Nashville tradition: the Time Jumpers at Third and Lindsley. Wow. Just wow. And the verse they added to Henry Strzelecki’s Long Tall Texan? Priceless… Thanks Vince and company!

A quick look at the basketball news before turning out the lights made my head spin and my eyes go wide. When I randomly wondered if some reporter would be ridiculous enough to ask Geno and Muffet the “If you were driving and saw the other coach on the side of the road with a flat tire would you stop question” I was KIDDING. What on earth happened in the bowels of the Bridgestone during the off-day media circus?

Honestly, coach McGraw – hush, now. It’s about the players. Because What’s Happening Tonight in the Women’s NCAA Final Has Never Happened In Any Other Sport

• Will Achonwa’s absence hurt Irish?
• Can Irish keep up with Jefferson?
• Creme: NCAA title game preview
• espnW’s NCAA title game picks
• Irish, Huskies will meet after all
• Notre Dame, UConn to finally meet
  NCAA.com
• UConn, Notre Dame set up battle of the unbeatens for NCAA …
  Los Angeles Times
• Notre Dame-UConn perfect matchup for women’s NCAA title
  In-Depth–Chicago Tribune
• Notre Dame-UConn: 10 fast facts
  Blog–ESPN
• As Kayla McBride Boldly Goes, Notre Dame Follows Suit, NY Times
  Two Rivals. Zero Losses. One Trophy.NY Times
• UConn, Notre Dame set up blockbuster women’s title game
  In-Depth–USA TODAY
• UConn women’s game day: Monday night vs. Notre Dame, Post
  Notre Dame vs. UConn women: The matchups, Post
  Big Date For UConn-ND, But One Will End Up With Ugly Blemish, Courant
  UConn-Notre Dame Biggest Women’s Game In 20 Years, Says One Expert, Courant
  Title Capsule: No. 1 Seed Notre Dame vs. No. 1 Seed UConn, Courant
  For Notre Dame’s McBride, A Shot At Redemption, Courant
  UConn, Notre Dame rivalry gets chippy heading into title game, Register
  Huskies a win away from basketball history, Day
  Geno and Pat: Similiar results, different paths, Day
• Clash of Notre Dame, Connecticut women’s teams is ‘epic’, South Bend Tribune
  Tennessee fans likely to be in Notre Dame’s corner
  UConn’s Stewart presents a challenge to Notre Dame unlike any other
  Fouls always on Dolson’s mind 
• The Tennessean

 

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Have arrived in Nashville!

Wicked early flight meant getting up wicked-er early, so I’m looking forward to a nap soon.

It’s chilly-greening-spring here in Tennessee – 40 or so when we landed, but the Final Four greeter promised us 64 by noon. When you’re in the sun, yes….when you’re not? Brrrrrr!

Easy car pick up, then headed to East Nashville for some breakfast at Marche Artisan Foods. Great service, yummy food…

With time to kill before the hotel opened up, drove into, through and around downtown Nashville. Small and bustling at the center. Different, more concentrated vibe than when I was in Knoxville for the WBHOF induction ceremony a while back. Strong mix of old and new architecture.

Continued our wandering exploration and end up driving past Vanderbilt (yes, as we researched, started by THAT Vanderbilt – hence the “Commodores” nickname.) Did you know the campus was also an arboretum? Did a quick drive through – really, really lovely. Also stopped by Centennial Park to visit the Parthenon and did some walking. Yup, it’s big. Nearby lake is being dredged/cleaned, so that wasn’t so scenic.

It’s early for birds – but there is a list: Robins, Blue Jays, a lone Turkey Vulture, cackling Grackles, some beautiful Bank Swallows, noisy Northern Mockingbird, a gregarious Carolina Wren, and an early Hermit Thrush.

Next on the agenda, the aforementioned nap, then a return to East Nashville to partake of the fare at the Eastland Cafe. Then, we’re off to the Grand Ole Opry!

Phew!

Hoping tomorrow features a visit with a WBHOF inductee, coffee, brunch, barbecue and two fabulous games.

Until them, some more reading (and listening): First, make sure you check out the Tennessean’s coverage:

Fans show love early in Women’s Final Four

Kara Lawson: No favorite between Pat, Geno

Rebecca Lobo: UConn is beatable

Legendary lady Pat Summitt: Pride of Cheatham County

WOOT! WOOT! WBB HISTORY!! Nashville Business College: Champions before their time – LONG BEFORE TENNESSEE AND UCONN, THESE FARM GIRLS DOMINATED WOMEN’S BASKETBALL AND THEIR RECORD IS UNMATCHED TODAY.

Final Four teams have fun at Ryman

UConn’s Dolson, Hartley old hands at Final Four, Post
More Than Anything, Geno Demands Sweat From UConn Women, Courant
More Awards For Stefanie Dolson, Courant
Capsule: No. 1 Seed UConn Women Vs. No. 2 Seed Stanford, Courant
Pictures: Behind The Scenes With UConn Women In Nashville, Courant
It’s a Great Time to be a Husky, Stefanie Dolson

Stanford’s supporting cast stepping up to help Ogwumike, Register
ESPN analyst touts Ogwumike’s pro potential, SFGate
Lawson Says Stanford Has Best Shot At UConn, Hartford Courant

U-Md. abuzz as women’s basketball team heads to Final Four, Washington Post
Nashville already full of Maryland fans, ABC
Majoring in Chemistry, Chloe Pavlech

Before UConn, ND should fear Terps, Observer
Notre Dame Women: Save Your Pity, Blue & Gold
Irish must prove doubters wrong, Kate Fagan
Geno (And USA Basketball) Love Kayla McBride, Hartford Courant

Dishin & Swishin 04/03/14 Podcast: Breaking down the Final Four with coaches Doug Bruno, Lindsay Gottlieb & Coquese Washington, HoopFeed

Duke coach’s analysis of women’s Final Four, Bradenton Herald

In Women’s Final Four, Jousting Before the First Jump Ball, yea! It’s Harvey at the New York Times

Beating UConn rarely leads to title – Most teams that beat UConn in NCAA tourney don’t win NCAA championship, Mechelle Voepel

Rematches story of women’s Final Four, AP Teresa M. Walker

Five minutes with ESPN analyst Kara Lawson, Nashville Business Journal

NCAA hosting women’s hoops summit at Final Four, AP Doug

 

As coach Mitchell cuts to assistant coaches, Sea of Blue is Taking a Moment To Celebrate The Season That Was

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Packing for Nashville and still digesting

the Elite Eight. Two honest battles, one recovery  and an oddly timed TO that nearly capped an amazing comeback. Ah, it was FUN. Thank you to all the teams that made it so.

LSU women’s basketball coach Nikki Caldwell calls her team ‘courageous’ during 2013-2014 season

Shoni Schimmel’s Career Comes to a Close in Electrifying Fashion

Louisville moves on without G Shoni Schimmel, but that doesn’t mean she’s not still winning: Schimmel Captures Women’s, Overall 3-Point Championship

Run to Elite Eight showed Texas A&M women’s basketball program back on rise and After defeat in Elite Eight, A&M women’s basketball team looks to future

Young Tar Heels accomplish plenty, aim for more

Now, on to Music City.

So, about those four participants:

Women’s Basketball Final Four Loaded With Stars, AP Doug Feinberg
Talented group of coaches lead Final Four teams, AP Doug Feinberg
Final Four coaches ready to get to Nashville, The Tennessean

Final Four: Breaking Down Each Team, Observer Online
Doris, Kara and Rebecca Offer Thoughts on 2014 NCAA Women’s Final Four Matchups

Women’s Final Four may be full but not orange, The Tennessean
Final Four Flashback, Courant

Don’t Forget About Teams Joining UConn, N.D. In Final Four, Courant

Characters fuel Stanford women’s basketball’s Final Four run, Stanford Daily
Stanford stares down Huskies as it prepares for Final Four, Stanford Daily
Fears of a Stanford women’s basketball letdown unfounded, Stanford Daily
Stanford women’s basketball fights ‘bad’ image, Mercury News
Amber Orrange is Stanford’s quiet leader, Mercury News
Congressional reps place bet on Stanford-UConn women’s basketball game, San Francisco
Stanford women hope a second shot at UConn won’t miss, Palo Alto
Stanford tries to stop the UConn juggernaut, San Francisco Chronicle

Final four notebook: Reimer steps into big role for ND in Achonwa’s spot, Post
Achonwa ready to lead from the bench, ABC News
Notre Dame’s Reimer embracing her big chance, AP Tom Coyne
Notre Dame women’s basketball team begins Final Four trip to Nashville, Fox 28
Irish Not Ready To Fold, Stacey Page Online
Irish resiliency again being tested, Daily Herald
Grosse Pointe North’s Ariel Braker seeks better fortune for Irish in Final Four, The Detroit News
Notre Dame has matchup problem with Maryland
VIEWPOINT – Here’s to Muffet McGraw, NDSM Observer
It’s Braker’s time to shine for Irish, South Bend Tribune
Now is the time for Reimer to step up for Notre Dame women, South Bend Tribune
McGraw, Notre Dame women love the underdog role, South Bend Tribune

Maryland Women’s Basketball By the Numbers: 2005-06 VS. 2013-14, Press Box
After grueling turning point, women’s basketball ready for Notre Dame, Final Four, The Diamondback
As Terps rally toward Final Four, they hope fans follow, Baltimore Sun
Earlier comeback against Notre Dame helped position Maryland for Final Four run, Baltimore Sun
Underdog women’s basketball has chance to make major statement on national stage, The Diamondback
Thomas eager to excel for Maryland in Final Four, Washington Post
Alyssa Thomas continues to shatter Terps records and no one can keep track, Washington Post
Maryland look to be spoilers at women’s Final Four, AP Teresa M. Walker

UConn Women Have Company On Top Of Basketball World, Courant
Jeff Jacobs: Cherish The Moment, Connecticut: Something’s Happening Here, Courant
UConn women have eyes on cutting down Nashville nets, Register
How the UConn women could win or lose NCAAs, Post
UConn Knows First Win Vs. Stanford Means Nothing Now, Courant
UConn-Stanford: The Last Time They Met, Courant
UConn Looks To Sell Itself With Both Teams In Final Four, Courant
UConn women don’t take Final Four trip for granted, Register
Bria Hartley, Moriah Jefferson have been dynamic backcourt duo, Register
Over last 15 years UConn is unrivaled, men and women, Register
UConn men and women both won national titles 10 years ago, Register
Two UConn Final Four teams means merchandising opportunities, Register
Final Four could be a block party for No. 1 Connecticut, AP article from Lansing State Herald
UConn’s Stewart unanimous first-team All-America, Post
Kevin Duffy: UConn, where there’s plenty to cheer, Post
Auriemma, UConn not overlooking Stanford in national semifinal, Register
Breanna Stewart 7th Husky To Be Named Wooden All-American, Courant
A Guard in a Center’s Body at Forward for UConn, NY Times
Husky Nation Divided? Teams Have Different Followers On Twitter, Courant
Geno Auriemma Marches Toward Coaching Immortality With the University of Connecticut, Newsweek

Chicago Now’s Token Female offers her Final Four picks.

Stuff from the ESPN crew:

Creme: Women’s Final Four Primer

Quick Dish: Soundbites from Final Four coaches

espnW’s Final Four picks

A little video:

• Stanford-Connecticut Preview 
• Maryland-Notre Dame Preview 
• The Low down On Chiney 
• Mechelle & Michelle: Maryland Surprises All 
• Heading To Nashville 

Need your live basketball fix?

The WNIT concludes this Saturday: UTEP women’s basketball: Keitha Adams, Rutgers coach face off

After 13 years as a Division I coach, Keitha Adams has been on the opposite bench from some all-time greats and Rutgers coach Vivian Stringer, whose 929 wins are the third most in NCAA women’s history, nears the top of any list.

Adams even had a chance to meet her a year ago.

“I’ve been so fortunate to have my relationship with coach (Don) Haskins,” Adams said. “I talked with coach Stringer at the Final Four last year, I wanted to figure out how we could do a home-and-home and get her team down here. We had a conversation about coach Haskins, the 1966 team. We talked about that, now one year later she’s going to be here.

“I respect all she’s done for our game, for her as a role model for all players. It’s awesome and I respect her a great deal.”

Need more?

ESPN Classic NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship Schedule, Sunday, April 6th

DateTime (ET) Game
Sun, Apr 67 a.m.2002 NCAA National Championship: Connecticut vs. Oklahoma
9 a.m. 2009 NCAA National Championship: Connecticut vs. Louisville
10:30 a.m.2010 NCAA National Semifinal: Connecticut vs. Baylor
12:30 p.m.2010 NCAA National Championship: Connecticut vs. Stanford
2:30 p.m.2012 NCAA National Semifinal: Baylor vs. Stanford
4 p.m.2012 NCAA National Championship: Baylor vs. Notre Dame

 

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Carp. Carp. Carp.

Curt Rallo ‏@rallo_NDinsider 9m
ND source tells S.B. Tribune that Natalie Achonwa @NatAchon has ACL tear in left knee and will not play in Final Four for @ndwbb.

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Union News out of New York

New York, April 1 (AF) – A group of prominent women’s college basketball players has announced that they have formed a union and will ask the National Labor Relations Board to grant them the right to seek a player vote as to whether the union will be authorized to bargain with the NCAA. The announcement was made at the offices of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association in New York City. It follows a recent determination by the Chicago regional office of the NLRB that the College Athletes Players Association can conduct a union election among Northwestern University football players.

***

Thomas said that the key goals of the union were two-fold. The first goal is “to help create a level playing field for women’s basketball as other sports seem to be reaching for more resources.” Dolson explained this goal in more specific terms: “We want to make sure the new football union doesn’t grab all of the money.”

Second, according to Thomas, the union wants to prevent coaches and educational institutions from imposing unreasonable demands on players. These demands range from difficult travel schedules to practices that conflict with classes and exams to more unusual obligations. “I mean, I love the twins to death,” Thomas said, “but if I’m going to be babysitting them all the time, I should at least get paid as much for it as a 14 year old instead of hearing that paying me would be a violation of NCAA rules.”

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Is it too much to ask

that “knee” and “injured” struck from the women’s basketball lexicon?

MRI today for Natalie.

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