OK – now for some on-court news

THERE’S A BASKETBALL GAME TOMORROW!!!!!

USA Basketball National Team exhibition games will be live streamed on Facebook. Four women’s games will be available on the USA Basketball and NBA Facebook pages. 
Here’s a schedule

• July 25, 10 p.m.: U.S. women vs. USA Basketball Select Team, Galen Center, University of Southern California
• July 27, 7:30 p.m.: U.S. women vs. France, Bob Carpenter Center, University of Delaware
• July 29, 7 p.m.: U.S. women vs. Canada, Webster Bank Arena, Bridgeport, Connecticut
• July 31, 4 p.m.: U.S. women vs. Australia , Madison Square Garden, (I’ve got my tix, do you?)

Follow the team’s prep: Road To Rio: Team USA Practices

Team USA is officially journeying to Rio, beginning with the team’s first practice. Headlined by MVP candidates Tina Charles and Maya Moore, future Hall of Famers Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, and Tamika Catchings, and rookie sensation Breanna Stewart, Team USA is seeking a sixth-straight Gold Medal, and eighth since 1984. They’re led by UConn head coach and 11-time NCAA national champion, Geno Auriemma, who led Team USA to Gold in 2012 by an average of 34.4 points.

In 2012, Team USA led all countries in scoring, field-goal percentage, defensive field-goal percentage, rebounding, defensive rebounding, rebounding margin, blocks, assists, steals and assists-to-turnover ratio. With the 2016 Summer Games officially here, take a look into the sights, sounds and images of Team USA’s Road To Rio:

Speaking of international basketball:

Liz Cambage says she’s grown from turbulent 12 months and would love to bring home Olympic gold

ELIZABETH Cambage has travelled so far in such a short space of time even she can joke about the turbulent past.

This week Opals basketballer Cambage jetted out of Australia exactly a year on from her greatest controversy. Cambage was dropped for the Rio qualifiers by coach Brendan Joyce after attending the Splendour in the Grass rock concert rather than an Opals team camp.

She joked this week that she wasn’t even tempted to jump flights to head to Byron Bay, instead soaring across the ocean to a Dallas training camp.

Soaring is an appropriate metaphor, according to Joyce.

He has become Cambage’s mentor and confidante and believes she has never been mentally or physically stronger.

Nurse, Canadian women’s basketball team look to keep momentum going

“Obviously we were really fortunate to have those two tournaments last year on home soil,” Nurse told Olympic.ca. “We performed extremely well and we were able to show everybody in Canada what women’s basketball was all about. Since then, the support that we’ve gotten from people has been tremendous and I couldn’t be more thankful for it.”

Whalen, Lynx are ready for Olympic play

Lindsay Whalen is honored and excited to be chosen to the U.S. women’s basketball team for a second-straight Olympic games.

But the Minnesota Lynx star and former University of Minnesota standout is approaching next month’s competition in Rio de Janeiro as a business trip, as well.

Guess this is why the USA Basketball teams will be on a boat:

Statement for Australian Team Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller

TEAM: Due to a variety of problems in the Village, including gas, electricity and plumbing I have decided that no Australian Team member will move into our allocated building (B23).

I will reassess the situation this evening. 

For over a week now AOC staff have been working long hours to get our section of the Village ready for our athletes.

Problems include blocked toilets, leaking pipes, exposed wiring, darkened stairwells where no lighting has been installed and dirty floors in need of a massive clean.

John Altavilla at the Hartford Courant: As WNBA Takes Hiatus For Olympics, Let’s Look Back (And Forward)

The rise in social activism and of two great teams has characterized the course of this WNBA season as it reaches its monthlong Olympics break.

Here’s a look at some highlights as the league prepares to take its nap.

Taking a stand: Players from the league decided to have their voices heard after the outbreak of shootings by and of police around the nation.

But while the league may have supported the rights of the players to speak out, it did not like the decision of some to wear warmup shirts with slogans, deeming them in violation of the league uniform policy that prohibits the altering of uniforms.

Hansen: WNBA right on pace with NBA through 20 years

“The WNBA doesn’t even compare to how popular the NBA is.”

Right now, that may seem true, imaginary person.

But I am here to tell you why you are wrong when saying that.

The National Basketball Association, which was established in 1946, just concluded its 70th season as a league. Meanwhile, the Women’s National Basketball Association, which was established in 1996, is celebrating its 20th year as a league.

When a league that has 30 teams, almost 450 players and has been around almost four times longer than a league with 12 teams and almost 150 players, you will see further advancement.

The TrifectaPodcast:

Swin Cash joins the ladies and addresses the WNBA players wearing “Black Lives Matter” shirts, who were then fined by the league for not adhering to the dress code.

Did you catch this?

As part of espnW’s bi-weekly poetry series, Tai Allen recites his tribute poem to Chicago Sky’s Elena Delle Donne — ‘The Definition’

Poem, ‘Lady Liberty’ Tina Charles

Poem, What we are made of — an ode to women’s basketball

We are made of follow through. Fade away jump shots. Hail Mary buzzer beaters. Double rims. Metal backboards. Pick-up games with grown men on Sundays. Made of tomboy in our blood. Asphalt covered hands. Of, No dresses, please Mom. Just shorts. Baggy. Loose enough to crossover a boy. Made of sports bras. Street slang. Chewed gum. Of ladylike lookin’ like cornrows. Of cornrows. Shaved heads. Side pony tails. Hair weaves. New perms. We stay ready to play.

Made of worthy. Grit. Grind. Pat Summitt mentality. Cheryl Miller work ethic. Of everyone saying No to little girls, with big dreams, and Nike headbands, who are picked last at recess. Of recess rebounds. Desk sweat in study halls. First one to take the shot. Last one to leave the gym. Made of, play me. I dare you. Bet you 20 I’ll win. Bet you by senior year I’ll dunk. Of, lost bets. Ankle weights. Jump to the rim until the moon gets closer. No failure. Just hustle.

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Breaking News: All is Fine

AP Sports ‏@AP_Sports  BREAKING: WNBA withdraws fines for teams that showed support of citizens and police involved in recent shootings

I’m sure Doug will have more on this soon (welcome to your “day off,” friend!). Hoping for a huge mea/wea culpa from the league.

Update from Doug: Here ya go (more of a recap of the situation)

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Dear WNBA…

“There comes a time when silence is betrayal” – MLK

Stop being a stupid, tone-deaf idiot. 

WNBA president talks about fining players over warmup shirts

“We’re sick and tired of waking up every morning and seeing something like this (shootings) happen,” Mystics player Ivory Latta said after her team played its final game before the Olympic break. “We need change and we have a platform to speak. Don’t tell us we have a platform and then you penalize us for our platform for speaking and showing our actions. That’s not right.”

Dave Zirin: WNBA Teams Show What Black Lives Matter Solidarity Looks Like: The white men in sports could learn something from these women.

In 2010, the entire Phoenix Suns team wore shirts that read Los Suns as a statement of solidarity with the Latino people in Arizona threatened by the brutal anti-immigrant bill, SB 1070. That was the first time, according to my own research, that a professional US sports team undertook a united political stand that was sanctioned—or at least not shut down—by both coaching staff and upper management. Then in 2012, the Miami Heat posed in hoodies to protest the killing of Trayvon Martin at the hands of George Zimmerman. In 2014, several NBA teams wore shirts emblazoned with the slogan “I Can’t Breathe,”the last words of Eric Garner as he was being choked to death. Management may not have sanctioned these acts, but it sure as hell was not going to stop them.

Now two more teams have come together to make a political statement. The Minnesota Lynx and the New York Liberty of the WNBA have chosen to advocate an idea that really should not be radical but somehow is, in the United States of 2016: the idea that black lives matter. 

“There comes a time when silence is betrayal” – MLK

Tina Charles: 

Today, I decided to not be silent in the wake of the @wnba fines against @nyliberty, @indianafever & @phoenixmercury due to our support in the #BlackLivesMatter movement . Seventy percent of the @wnba players are African-American women and as a league collectively impacted. My teammates and I will continue to use our platform and raise awareness for the #BlackLivesMatter movement until the @wnba gives its support as it does for Breast Cancer Awareness, Pride and other subject matters.

Washington Mystics: The Mystics wore “Black Lives Matter” shirts, participated in WNBA “media blackout”

After the game, Mystics players did not speak to the media about basketball. In fact, multiple WNBA teams have decided to wear black warm-up shirts and refused to answer any questions about basketball. In this video below from My Mind on Sports, center Kia Vaughn stated that the Mystics will continue to wear the shirts until there is some resolution.

“There comes a time when silence is betrayal” – MLK

Mother Jones: These WNBA Players Were Fined for Shirts Supporting Black Lives Matter—and They’re Not Going to Take It

“We don’t want to let anybody silence us,” says Liberty guard Tanisha Wright.

Protest against WNBA fines grows as Washington Mystics refuse to take questions about basketball

Excelle: Sue Bird: We want to be part of the change

“It’s a way where we can positively use our platform and our voice to make a statement, and to do it in the right way. Obviously, with the fines that have now been assessed, we didn’t warm up in the shirts, but we wanted to stand with the rest of the league,” Bird said. “Solidarity is going to be huge moving forward, because we all feel so very passionately about this. We want to bring awareness and be part of the change,” she continued.

“There comes a time when silence is betrayal” – MLK

“There comes a time when silence is betrayal” – MLK

Audio from Benny Bonsu: GIRLS IN SPORT | WNBA PLAYERS “WILL NOT STAY SILENT” AND THEY NEED YOUR SUPPORT

“There comes a time when silence is betrayal” – MLK

Nina Mandell,  USAToday: 

“We definitely wanted to show our support for those teams that did get fined for wearing just plain black Adidas shirts,” Mystics guard Natasha Cloud said. “We’re allowed to wear whatever we want to the games, to and from the games, so if they’re going to take away our right and our voice to advocate for something so important to 70 percent of the league which is African American, we’ll find other ways to do it and other ways to do it is to wear our shirts to and from the game and use the media to (express ourselves).”

“There comes a time when silence is betrayal” – MLK

Parker, Ogwumike vehemently disappointed about WNBA fines

So is the league choosing not to stand by its players? When posed the question, Ogwumike said, “That’s what it appears.”

“Everyone has their own opinion,” she continued. “But for me, at the end of the day, it’s about the ethical nature of everything. The reason why we wanted to do this or why we wanted to come out and express ourselves as a lot of other athletes do is because of what’s going on in our world. And a majority of our league is African-American.”

“I’m a little disappointed, because looking back, obviously in the NBA when separate players had made statements and worn shirts they were not fined,” Parker said. “So I think definitely it’s something we need to communicate about and figure out things, and you know how open communication. I think that will help the situation.”

Carmelo Anthony displeased with fines from WNBA

“There comes a time when silence is betrayal” – MLK

Chiney Ogwumike ‏@Chiney321  Jul 21

Worried about a cause that speaks to 70% of our league? Yes, we might lose a little. But ever think we might gain more… Respect? #WNBA

From Gregg Doyle, Indianapolis Star: Why black T-shirts matter

Players on the Indiana Fever are not racists. They do not support cop-killers. Hard to believe those sentences need to be written — but apparently they do. Because these were among the many sentences written to me, by IndyStar readers, after the Fever joined two other WNBA teams in wearing black warm-up shirts to support the Black Lives Matter movement:

“Hopefully,” wrote one reader, “all those against racism will boycott these teams that side with cop killers and vandals.”

Wrote another: “FEVER wearing Black Lives Matter shirts … get the hell out of town. NEVER EVER will I support racists…”

“There comes a time when silence is betrayal” – MLK

The fact that some Indiana fans wrote these ignorant, ill-informed comments simply underscores the need for action, conversation and education.

WNBA: You TOTALLY screwed up. You’re TOTALLY making it worse by not acknowledging you screwed up. FIX THIS. If it’s a corporate sponsor issue –

“We want the players to know that we have supported them in the past, support them today and will continue to support them in the future,” she said. “We’re not trying to stop them from expressing themselves.”

The league just doesn’t want them to do it on the court if it violates the WNBA uniform rules. The shirts that the players were fined for wearing were the Adidas brand — the official outfitter of the league. WNBA rules state that uniforms may not be altered in any way.

“The Adidas black shirts are not regulation,” Borders said. “They are sponsor appropriate, but the Adidas plain black shirt would not be a regulation-issued shirt.”

-throw Adidas under the bus… Acknowledge the shirt are not “regulation” and say YOU will pay the fines out of the WNBA coffers because, damn it, BLACK LIVES MATTER!

“There comes a time when silence is betrayal” – MLK

April 4, 1967
Riverside Church, NYC

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Open mouth, insert foot…fall down the stairs.

Whoa, someone was an idiot in the WNBA offices. How do you let this happen?

AP: Social activism is coming at a cost for WNBA players.

“We are proud of WNBA players’ engagement and passionate advocacy for non-violent solutions to difficult social issues but expect them to comply with the league’s uniform guidelines,” WNBA President Lisa Borders said in a statement provided to The Associated Press on Wednesday night.

MPR: In WNBA, $5,000 is the price of social conscience

Outside The Lines ‏@OTLonESPN  13m13 minutes ago

The WNBA is fining players for protests, something the NBA has not done. That and more, 1 PM ET on ESPN.

Deadpan: WNBA Fines Teams And Players For Speaking Out Against Violence

Sporting News: WNBA players, teams fined for T-shirts commemorating shooting victims

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Just a quick shout out to…

the MSG employee (and her fabulous family) who offered me a seat with her “group” so that I could be near the two South Korean students who I escorted to their first Liberty game. She’s a two-time cancer survivor, with three young children who are GREAT company. So. Much. Fun. And so much generosity of spirit. A classic WNBA experience.

Of course, it helped that the Liberty won. Not to be a party pooper, but when it takes the ferocious effort of the soon-to-be-retiring Swin to inspire your team to to a close win over a struggling team... I’m not impressed.

On the flip side, a shout out to the “Not in MY house” Dream who stopped the Sparks.  With authority. Admit it – you lost money on that bet.

“We just wanted it,” McCoughtry said. “I told the team this was the game that could be the turnaround for our season. If we can beat them, we can beat anybody in this league. I hope the girls take this win and build their confidence so we can contend in this league and do some damage.”

Sucky Sancho news, though.

In case you haven’t notices, Elena is DAMN good. Delle Donne Brings Versatility To Life In MVP-Caliber Performance

As the Sky make their push for the playoffs over the last dozen games, they’ll need EDD at her MVP-best. Which is right where she was on Sunday in Seattle. 

Delle Donne poured in 35 points on a neat 14-for-24 shooting, grabbed 11 rebounds, and drained the game-winning three right over Breanna Stewart’s outstretched arm with just one second remaining.

For the geeks amongst us: Free Basketball: Analyzing The Historic Number Of WNBA Overtime Games

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Tryin’ to break a record start

in Hotlanta. Big crowd on hand as LA goes for the record. (Chasing History: A Closer Look at the Sparks’ Incredible Run). I can’t cheer for L.A. I’m a Liberty fan… and.I.just.can’t.

I can, though, cheer for my friend Maria, who’s the best L.A./Basketball fan ever. So…. go Maria’s Sparks!

Around the Rim podcast: Making a statement

On this week’s “Around the Rim,” women’s basketball analyst LaChina Robinson breaks down the midway point of the season with espnW contributor Michelle Smith.

The two discuss which teams have surprised them most at the halfway mark, why New York shouldn’t be underestimated in spite of its losses against Los Angeles and if Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike is the favorite in the race for MVP.

Plus, in this week’s Players’ Perspective segment, Robinson is joined by three-time WNBA champion and Liberty forward Swin Cash. Cash talks about her retirement at season’s end, her plans after basketball, the team’s recent success and her views and opinions on athlete activism, specifically the WNBA players who have spoken out against gun violence and police brutality.

Pittsburgh celebrates her own: Pride of McKeesport: WNBA Star Swin Cash – During her final season of professional basketball, Cash remains ferocious on the court and selfless everywhere else.

Speaking of celebrations… LJ!

From Kevin: Storm retire jersey, finally able to give Lauren Jackson send-off she deserved

Lauren Jackson and Seattle had never gotten a chance to say goodbye to each other.

When Jackson last walked off the KeyArena court four years ago, her tying 3-pointer had just helped the Seattle Storm beat the Minnesota Lynx in overtime in Game 2 of their playoff series. At that point, Seattle fans were hoping to see Jackson the following week in the Western Conference finals. Alas, the Storm lost the deciding Game 3 in Minnesota when Jackson missed at the buzzer, and a series of injuries prevented her from returning to the WNBA — or to Seattle.

Jayda’s back! Covering Storm star Lauren Jackson: There never will be another No. 15

Allow me to tell you a tale about Lauren Jackson.

I realize “you” will be interpreted as the thousands who will gather at Key­Arena on Friday night for the retirement ceremony to retire Jackson’s No. 15 Storm jersey. But really I mean you, Breanna Stewart.

More:

Lauren Jackson is greatness personified

Sue Bird on Longtime Teammate Lauren Jackson’s Jersey Retirement

Lauren Jackson On Her Return to Seattle, Storm Career
Australian basketball legend Lauren Jackson has jersey retired by WNBA club Seattle Storm

USA Basketball:

From Richard, S.I.: Olympics preview: US women’s basketball the heavy favorites in Rio

From Doug: US women look to win sixth consecutive basketball gold medal

No team has been more dominant at the Olympics over the past 20 years then the U.S. women’s basketball team, winning five straight gold medals.

They’ll try and keep that streak going in Rio.

“Training time is always our biggest challenge,” said three-time gold medalist Sue Bird. “When you get to the medal rounds it’s one and done, but we have a lot of experience in those games and look to continue our recent success.”

USA U18 Women Surge Past Puerto Rico 104-36 Into Gold Medal Game (Tonight, 8:15 v. Canada)

More than just basketball: 

From SlamOnline: ‘The WNBA Changed My Life’ – How the WNBA helped shape one man’s views on inclusion, equality and acceptance.

From Jon Krawczynski at the AP: With league support, players make voices heard

Addressing such a sensitive topic in such a public fashion can be tricky — particularly for the league — and the players say they do so with the comfort that WNBA President Lisa Borders and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver have encouraged them to speak their minds when social issues are important to them.

“We appreciate like crazy the support we’ve gotten, particularly from the league,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. “For Rebekkah (Brunson) to feel like when you’re going to work and the people around you support you and not just in things that benefit them, it makes you proud to go work for that organization.”

Silver has long been an advocate of players standing up for issues they believe in and the league has been vocal in addressing issues of race, gender and equality in society.

From Seattle’s Matt Calkins: Bravo to Breanna Stewart for being a 21-year-old willing to take a stand

You could tell she was nervous as she walked to the stage, and who among us wouldn’t be? 

Storm rookie Breanna Stewart was known solely for her athleticism, not her activism, but that was about to change. 

When the 21-year-old won the ESPY for Best Female Athlete on Wednesday, she planned to give more than just a cliché thank-you or two. The four-time national champion was going to champion a cause.

From the Tribune: ‘Stick to sports’ or speak up? Minnesota stars talk risk, power

A few hours before the freeway protest began, Lindsay Whalen, Maya Moore, Rebekkah Brunson and Seimone Augustus of the three-time WNBA champions stood on a stage in a media room at Target Center, wearing black shirts over their jerseys. “Change Starts With Us” read the front. On the back, support for two black men killed by police, Black Lives Matter and Dallas police officers gunned down in retaliation.

Photos of the event hit social media, where 10 reactions quickly became 100 and 100 became 1,000,000. That’s how it works now: shirts, then photos and video and tweets, then a streaking sound wave of reaction bolting across all forms of media. Faster, it seems, each tragedy.

The Lynx were everywhere, instantly, reaching ears and eyes that might not have ever heard of their basketball dynasty.

What about other athletes?

The Star Tribune asked nine people who have significantly touched Minnesota sports — from Hall of Famers to high school coaches and those in between — what they, personally, make of all this. Should athletes and others in sports use their voice? Or should they, to use a phrase repeated by some in recent days, “stick to sports”?

We thank them for sharing their personal thoughts and experiences.

Pat Borzi: Rebekkah Brunson: ‘The important thing is, we’re talking about it’

The whole point was to create conversation. In that regard, the Minnesota Lynx succeeded.

In the six days since Lynx players donned black warm-up shirts memorializing Alton Sterling, Philando Castile and the five slain Dallas police officers while asking for dialogue and healing, their message has been applauded, denounced, misconstrued and debated from coast to coast.

Subsequent news that four Minneapolis police officers on security detail Saturday night at the Target Center left the building in protest gave national legs to a story that might have fizzled by Monday afternoon.

Minneapolis police chief Janee Harteau criticized the officers for walking off the job, and Mayor Betsy Hodges lambasted Lt. Bob Kroll, head of the Minneapolis police union, on Facebook for “jackass remarks” about the Lynx, including a condescending, inaccurate putdown of their attendance.

“The silver lining in that is, it got people talking,” Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson said of the police walkout.

Hartford Courant: WNBA Players Feel Obligation To Stand Up And Be Heard On Nation’s Racial Matters

When NBA superstars Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James opened Wednesday night’s ESPY Awards by addressing the recent racial tensions across the country, the message seemed clear.

“The urgency to create change is at an all-time high,” Anthony said.

From her vantage point, Connecticut Sun forward Chiney Ogwumike saw a bold and brave gesture.

“It was great to see them lend their voice to the issue and not be afraid,” Ogwumike said. “Those guys are [popular], and what they say has the potential to affect their lives, but it’s important to get out in your community and encourage positive change, especially when times are tough. That’s when people look to [athletes] more. You have a bigger responsibility.”

Like their predecessors in the 1960s, modern-day professional athletes seem to be growing more aware of their potential to impact thought and change.

Reminder: FIBA’S RULES ON HEAD COVERINGS ARE SCREWING OVER ATHLETES AND BASKETBALL

From Tamika: It Is Well With My Soul… Tribute to Pat

The last few days have been a whirlwind, but my current situation involves me lying on my living room floor, icing my knees after just waking up from a nap. I believe we all dream more often than not, but a lot of times we don’t remember what our dreams consist of. Well, mine definitely woke me up searching and looking…

The stage set up : ) —

A reminder from Sally: PatSummitt didn’t want flowers, she wanted you to give to her #Alzheimers clinic. Click below. https://etf.givingfuel.com/psf 

NY Times: Pat Summitt’s Public Fight Spurs Research Support

 

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“Where ya goin’?” “Underwater.”

Oh.

Barracuda 

Lion Fish

Spade Fish

Trunk Fish

Trumpet Fish

Trumpet Fish

Nurse Shark (napping)

Red Hind (I think)

Parrot Fish (Spotlight, I believe)

Schoolmasters (I believe)

Spotted Eagle Ray

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Quoting “Hamilton” again: “I’m willing to wait for it…”

(“Wait For It”)

From Sally Jenkins: Pat Summitt’s last great gift was sharing her fight with Alzheimer’s

Pat Summitt is not gone. She’s free. The balloons were orange for Tennessee and purple for Alzheimer’s, and everyone who loved Pat held one by a ribbon while a lone bagpiper played. At first they were supposed to be released by her family, but then Pat’s niece Casey started handing them all around, saying, “Everybody is family,” which was so right and so true to Pat. The balloons rose together in a cluster fast into the cloudless air, faster than the hurt breath escaped your throat. Finally you had to shade your eyes against the sun to see them. A lone orange one started drifting sideways on its own, an outlier.

“That’s Pat,” somebody said, and everyone laughed.

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