April | 2017 | Women's Hoops Blog

Archive for April, 2017

AAAAAAAAND, we’re back!

Posted in NCAA Division I on April 30, 2017|

And so am I – just had some parental visits bookending a couple of full weeks – plus a drop in from a mid-west guest. Wheeee! Of course, the weather has finally turned for the better, so birding may cut into my time until the W season really gets going…and then there’s July SCUBA. Ah, life…

Did manage to catch some of the foolishness around the Plum-inator. I guess there’s something to be said for “there’s no such thing as bad publicity,” but I gotta believe that your agent throwing shade at your future coach is not a good work plan. That being said, folks will make their own judgments on players – some based on observations, some based on interactions. They’re entitled to them. I’m just amazed how much energy folks can spend on disdain/dissing. Seems exhausting. But that’s just me.

Moving on the the court or, in a couple of cases, NOT on the court.

We knew this, but it’s a reminder from Summitt Hoops: 2017 WNBA Preview: How big can Atlanta Dream without Angel McCoughtry?

Oh, dear: New York Liberty coach Bill Laimbeer: Shoni Schimmel is taking time off

Also: Dallas Wings guard Aerial Powers does not expect to be ready for season opener

And: Injured Ogwumike Signs Contract, Then Suspended So Sun Can Pursue Another Player

Gulp: Sue Bird will miss start of training camp after undergoing knee scope

San Antonio: .com: Five Reasons To Watch The Stars Work This Season

.com: Kelsey Plum Leads San Antonio to Victory With 19 Points in Preseason Debut. And yes, No. 1 pick Kelsey Plum could help out some NFL teams with her rocket arm. Liked the media buzz around this, but do folks not understand that women basketball players are, you know, athletes, and that other players could do the same thing?

Dallas: .com: Five Reasons To Watch The Wings Work This Season

Dallas News: Thoughts from Dallas Wings’ preseason opener: Mixed bag for rookies, defense struggles in loss

More Dallas News: Wings’ large rookie class trying to make impact on Dallas as it adjusts to WNBA

And MORE Dallas News: Dallas Wings rookie Kaela Davis talks ‘juggling act’ of transition to WNBA, finishing South Carolina Degree

Yes! MORE Dallas News: Wings rookie Evelyn Akhator on how she spent draft night, transition to WNBA, keeping in …

In case you want more on the Wings: PODCAST: Dallas Wings GM/president Greg Bibb talks WNBA Draft, Skylar Diggins and more

From The Bend Bulletin: Hamblin’s journey from Corvallis to Dallas to Australia … to Tokyo?

Excelle: Don’t call her a “female athlete”: How Skylar Diggins really sees herself on and off the court

Indiana

Indy Star: Fever notebook: Coaching job (at Arizona State) doesn’t mean Briann January done as player. Also: Veteran guard Briann January ready to step up as Fever’s leader

Seattle: .com: Five Reasons To Watch The Storm Work This Season (which is why I’m hoping for a west coast trip this summer…)

Interesting: How Seattle Storm’s Ramu Tokashiki turned women’s basketball into one of Japan’s most popular sports

FanRag: 2017 WNBA players to watch | Jewell Loyd

Connecticut: .com: Five Reasons To Watch The Sun Work This Season

The Day: Hamson standing out in a crowd for the Sun

The Day: Sun outlook is brighter … even without their best player

WNPR: WNBA’s Connecticut Sun Hoping For 2017 Playoff Return

Norwich Bulletin: With ‘Core Four’ in place, Miller says to ‘trust the process’

Washington: .com: Five Reasons To Watch The Mystics Work This Season

Washington Post: After 10 seasons in the WNBA, Ivory Latta remains Washington Mystics’ bundle of energy

Summitt Hoops: 2017 WNBA Preview: Elena Delle Donne brings Washington Mystics one step closer to contention

Minnesota

Twin Cities-Pioneer Press: For veteran Lynx point guard Lindsay Whalen, less is more

CBS Minnesota: Shao Ting, China’s Top Player, Is Training With The Lynx

Also: Cheryl Reeve: WNBA’s Popularity Is About ‘Society Changing Views About Women’

Chicago

ESPN: Texas two-step: How WNBA’s Imani Boyette and her NFL draft-prospect husband power through

Atlanta

More FanRag: 2017 WNBA players to watch | Tiffany Hayes

Phoenix: .com: Five Reasons To Watch The Mercury Work This Season

Balancing act: Mercury Coach Brondello Named Australia WNT Head Coach

Other Stuff

It’s a numbers game: WNBA Record Watch: All-Time Records That Will Be Challenged This Season

Summitt Hoops: The Money Line: Odds, Prediction for WNBA Rookie of the Year

Hard pass? Liz Cambage open to WNBA return, plans to visit Erin Phillips and Dallas Wings

This is a nice trend, no? PODCAST: New York Liberty’s Swin Cash on New Wave of Executives, Post-Playing Life. For instance: Liberty Name Weatherspoon Director Of Franchise Development

Well done! WNBA star Tina Charles visits four NY schools to donate AEDs

College:

The State: As a senior, A’ja Wilson wants to go back-to-back with young teammates

Also: Letters: Dawn Staley should be paid like Frank Martin

Devils in the Details: ASU Basketball: A Look at Next Season’s Women’s Frontcourt

Lincoln Journal Star: Eichorst has high expectations for Nebraska women’s basketball program

Hookem.com: Texas hires sports performance coach for women’s basketball team

ESPN: With a motor and a mentor, elite basketball recruit Cate Reese moves forward with diabetes

Reese has been a starter since her freshman year, when she helped lead Cypress Woods to its only state title. She averaged 22.3 points and 13.2 rebounds this past season, making first-team all-state.

Not even the life-altering news she got a year ago has been able to stop her.

On April 4, 2016, Reese was told she had Type 1 diabetes, a diagnosis that stunned her even though her older sister, Ali, has dealt with the same disease for the past eight years. Cate had hoped to avoid that fate.

Champaign/Urbana News-Gazette: Sunday Conversation: New Head Coach Nancy Fahey

The Setonian: Bozzella ‘excited’ for women’s basketball class

Bozeman Daily Chronicle:As MSU’s Binford hopeful upward trend can continue, the Bobcats women extend recruiting net

To bolster her program, Tricia Binford has looked east.

The Big East and Minnesota, to be specific. The Montana State women’s head coach announced last week the addition of two Seton Hall transfer forwards, signaling an apparent victory for a mid-major looking to attract greater talent.

Junior Claire Lundberg and sophomore Martha Kuderer did not just stumble upon the Bobcats, though. Both are products of the AAU club Minnesota Fury, which bills itself as a marquee program in the Midwest.

On the move: Ohio State women’s basketball | Ohio State one of five possible transfer destinations for Wise

On the road again: UConn’s Natalie Butler to transfer to George Mason

Bye: IUWBB: Laken Wairau leaves women’s basketball program, intends to stay at IU as a student

In case you missed it: Two more Louisville women’s basketball players to transfer

Leaving: Sole, Hernandez Pepe Complete Their Transfers From UMaine Women’s Basketball Team

Landing: William & Mary women’s Basketball Adds Georgetown Transfer Harper Birdsong

Don’t be an idiot: K-State women’s basketball player Eternati Willock arrested in Manhattan

Congrats: Baranczyk Tabbed as 2017 USA Basketball Women’s U19 World Cup Team Trials Court Coach. Also: Adair Named Court Coach for USA Basketball Women’s U19 World. They’ll work with the 35 Athletes who Accepted Invitations To USA U16 National Team Trials.

I also know one very happy USA Basketball person: USA Basketball Announces Plan To Keep Headquarters In Colorado Springs

Welcome: Kevin Baker to become Miners’ next women’s basketball coach and ESPN El Paso thinks: Kevin Baker is an Exceptional Hire for UTEP Women’s Basketball

Welcome, too: Belmont hires DePaul assistant Bart Brooks as women’s basketball coach

Thank you! University of Delaware women’s basketball Tina Martin coach retires

Thank you! Nancy Funk, women’s basketball coach at Johns Hopkins for 31 years, to retire

As the Eagles welcome new head coach Lynette Woodard, The Herald asks What happened to Winthrop women’s basketball and former coach Kevin Cook? I still wonder at his exit from Gallaudet.

Speaking of stories, oh, to be a fly on the wall: Mark Trakh back as USC women’s basketball coach and Back on Trakh: Mark Trakh returns as USC women’s basketball head coach

Yes, it sure seems like Transfers Rampant in Women’s Basketball, but I refer you (again) to coach Yo’s periscope. Also, though it’s about the men’s side, you might want to check out this piece:

High School

Cool! Glory days: Krissi Davis, 1987 Noblesville High School girls basketball team earn ultimate honor

Missouri: Mercer girls basketball coach Owens no stranger to success (Note to news sites – put your full physical address on your website, please!)

Mercer girls basketball coach Dan Owens is no stranger to success.

But with a 243-20 record over his eight-year coaching career and a district championship every season he’s coached, there was only one painfully absent stamp on his resumé that he needed: a Class 1 State Championship.

With a 30-1 record and a 43-34 victory over Walnut Grove, the 2016-2017 Cardinals squad finally brought him one.

Thank you! Successful Kenton Ridge girls coach calls it a career

In the 33 years that Ed Foulk has coached girls basketball at Kenton Ridge, the program has been one of the most consistently successful in the state. The Cougars set dozens of state and national records and advanced to the district finals 20 times.

But if the success will continue, it will be under new leadership. Foulk told the team Monday night that he is retiring, and assistant coaches Stephanie Bennett and Laaci Farris Miller are also stepping down.

Foulk began his coaching career in 1973 and has been at the helm of the Cougars’ girls basketball team since 1984, six years after the school opened. He amassed a career record of 619-176 at Kenton Ridge and is in the top 10 in all-time wins in Ohio.

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Take it from a Stage Manager/Director…

Posted in NCAA Division I on April 14, 2017|

If you don’t rehearse your production, make sure you’ve collaborated with all the stakeholders, and actually, you know, PLAN it in ADVANCE, it’s likely your big event will be a hot mess.

But the W don’t care what we think, so let’s move on to the draft, shall we?

No surprise who went number one, but everyone’s mock draft was quickly busted. Here’s some Friday morning quarterbacking (Which will be reviewed when the opening day rosters come out, right?)

ESPN Mechelle: Five observations from the 2017 WNBA draft

It was sort of odd that with the WNBA draft taking place at Samsung 837 in Manhattan, just a little over a mile from Madison Square Garden, the Liberty were not a draft story.

New York didn’t have a first-round pick, and neither did Indiana, Phoenix or Seattle. Instead, three teams — San Antonio, Chicago and Dallas — had seven of the 12 picks and set the tone for the draft. There were rumors right up until the draft started that there would be a trade or two, but as of the evening’s end, none had happened.

After missing NCAA title run, Alaina Coates hears named called early in WNBA draft

AP Doug: Kelsey Plum goes No. 1 in WNBA draft

Kelsey Plum went first in the WNBA draft Thursday. Then, South Carolina took over.

Plum was taken No. 1 by the San Antonio Stars. The Washington guard finished her college career with an NCAA-record 3,527 points. The Stars had the worst record last season and held the top pick for the first time in franchise history.

“I’ve been dreaming about it for so long,” Plum said. “I’m really excited and grateful for the opportunity and will make the most of it.”

USA Today Nina Mandell: Kelsey Plum broke the NCAA record for points in a season. On Thursday, she was the top WNBA draft pick.

“That kid just works hard,” said former South Carolina player Kaela Davis. “She keeps you guessing. As a defender you can never expect one thing. You never know what’s coming next and I think that stuff’s always hard to guard.”

But the pick put her on a team that selected another scoring guard, Moriah Jefferson, in the 2016 draft, leaving questions about what her role would be or if she would be traded. Jefferson was the 2016 Rookie of the Year runner-up.

.com: San Antonio Stars’ Kelsey Plum Has Proven She Can Take Her Team to New Heights

The Seattle Times:Going No. 1 in WNBA draft caps unprecedented run for Washington’s Kelsey Plum

Daily UW: Plum and Osahor get drafted into WNBA

NY Times: Kelsey Plum Is a Lot Like James Harden. But Is It a Left-Handed Compliment?

.com: WNBA Draft 2017 – Player Quotes

Bleacher Report: 2017 WNBA Draft Results: Complete Round-by-Round Selections and Twitter Reaction

The State: The WNBA Draft through Dawn Staley’s eyes

Excelle: Relive the 2017 WNBA draft with a breakdown of all 36 picks

Summitt Hoops: Howard and Imani break the draft down.

My San Antonio: Stars get a Plum … and more

Chicago Tribune: Sky pick South Carolina center Alaina Coates 2nd in WNBA draft

The State: Gamecocks post record haul in WNBA Draft

Corvallis Gazette Times: OSU women’s basketball: Wiese drafted by Los Angeles Sparks

Minnesota: Lynx Select Alexis Jones

Oooooo movement! JUST ANNOUNCED: #Lynx acquire draft rights to forward Chantel Osahor, sending Keisha Hampton to Chicago.

Seattle: Seattle Storm adds a shooter and some size with two WNBA draft selections

LA: 2016 WNBA Champion Los Angeles Sparks Select Sydney Wiese 11th Overall in 2017 WNBA Draft

Atlanta Journal Constitution: Sandersville’s Allisha Gray embodies women’s basketball

Fort Worth Star:Dallas Wings draft South Carolina teammates in first round

UTA The Shorthorn :Dallas Wings adds 3 first-round picks for draft day

Live: Former Freeland, MSU star Tori Jankoska taken ninth in WNBA draft

WOAI: Exclusive: One-on-one with San Antonio Stars 2017 WNBA draft pick Nia Coffey

Daily Northwestern: Women’s Basketball: Coffey taken fifth overall in WNBA Draft

North by Northwestern: Nia Coffey selected fifth overall in WNBA draft

Star Tribune: WNBA draft pick Nia Coffey makes brother and Gopher Amir Coffey proud

Syracuse.com: Ex-Syracuse star Brittney Sykes makes school history as Atlanta’s top pick in WNBA draft

Syracuse.com: Atlanta Dream coach Michael Cooper on Brittney Sykes: ‘She reminds me of me’

Dayton Daily News: Dayton Flyers’ Grant-Allen selected in WNBA Draft

K State Sports: Surrounded by Teammates and Coaches, Lewis Relishes WNBA Draft Moment

SF Gate: Stanford’s McCall picked by Indiana in 2nd round of WNBA draft

Journal News: Saniya Chong selected 26th overall by Dallas

Knoxville News Sentinel: Lady Vols’ Reynolds, Nunn picked in WNBA draft

NDU: ND’s Allen selected in 2nd round of WNBA Draft by New York Liberty

Journal News: Shamoya McKenzie: Liberty honor slain teen at WNBA Draft

News & Observer: WNBA president and Duke graduate discusses bright future of league

USA Today For the Win: New commercial perfectly answers all questions about why you should watch women play hoops

Coaching news:

Washington, being smart and staying “local”, picks Jody Wynn as head coach.

USC strikes out as Smesko decides not to fly the coop.

Enjoy! Longtime Stanford top assistant coach Amy Tucker retiring | USA …

Other stuff:

Long term planning:Maryland women’s basketball set for series with national champion South Carolina

History:

Deadspin: The Stars Of Women’s Basketball’s First Dynasty Just Want To Be Remembered

The Flying Queens were women’s basketball’s first true dynasty, a perennial powerhouse based in Plainview, Tex., that won 131 games in a row from 1954 to 1958. They were also an anachronism, a group of women living in the heart of conservative Texas that enjoyed a level of freedom and comfort that not even their male counterparts could claim. They sported custom uniforms and matching travel outfits, ate at the finest restaurants, and traveled to games by plane.

The team was started in the late 1940s by Wayland president Dr. James “Bill” Marshall, who set out to attract students to the school through innovative marketing means—including women’s basketball.

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Gettin’ close to Draft Day

Posted in NCAA Division I on April 12, 2017|

You stay put: Carolyn Kieger’s contract extended through 2022-23 (Anyone else a little freaked out by the concept of 2023?).

Both of you – you both stay put! Frank Martin, Dawn Staley to receive new contracts

You get a new job: Nicole Powell named GCU Women’s Basketball coach. Longtime readers will recall Grand Canyon as a for-profit institution that tried to become a non-profit institution.

Letters to the Editor at Cincinnati.com: Letters: Invest more in women’s basketball, see what happens

David Cloninger at The State: Coates ready to bring Columbia to the WNBA

“You know, I think Dallas would love to get Alaina Coates,” analyst Rebecca Lobo said last week on a pre-draft conference call. “She would be an ideal fit for them, in terms of kind of having a rim-protector inside, an offensive player who can provide a lot.”

Cool: Columbia mayor names part of street after South Carolina coach Dawn Staley (Though, I’d never want that. Wouldn’t want folks to mutter, “Geez, the traffic on Wheelock is awful!)

Keepin’ busy: A’ja Wilson scheduled to speak at North Augusta girls’ basketball celebration

Twitter says a player is transferring from Colorado. Why does twitter know before the program releases the information?

ND Insider: Lesar: What are Muffet McGraw’s options after Notre Dame’s departures?

Outsports: Openly gay player wins top award in women’s junior college basketball

Insider NU: Probable first-rounder Nia Coffey prepares for the WNBA Draft

Mechelle: Is Northwestern’s Nia Coffey the answer for Chicago’s No. 2 draft pick?

.com: Inside the Numbers: WNBA’s No. 1 Pick Has Made Instant Impact

Syracuse.com:Syracuse players make in the WNBA, and what will they do with their money?

MLive: Former Freeland, MSU star Tori Jankoska anxious to make WNBA history

Waco-Tribune: Where Lady Bears are projected to go in WNBA mock drafts

From Mechelle: After Kelsey Plum at No. 1, the rest of the WNBA draft is tough to predict. Just as well that fans can’t attend and ESPN is wandering off after the first round…

You left? WNBA’s Dallas Wings CEO Mary O’Connor Resigns.

You COO:Cool jobs in sports: Jay Parry, WNBA COO

Parry has been the league’s COO since last spring, and she is no stranger to the basketball court. She spent seven seasons as Phoenix Mercury president, won titles in 2007 and 2009, then joined the Phoenix Suns as a senior vice president for two years before working as CEO of the Arizona Super Bowl XLIX host committee.

Although Parry spent the bulk of her past trying to grow women’s basketball at the local level with the Mercury, her mission is to expand the sport’s national profile from league headquarters in New York City. She works with all 12 team presidents and her staff to create strategies to further develop and better the WNBA as it heads into its 21st season.

Oooooo, Jay – we should talk. (And I’m cautiously optimistic, because the Merc have been one of the best teams at engaging their with their fan base.)

Excelle: Why do great female athletes always get compared to men? Our take on why these compliments are actually insidious. I got involved in this discussion in the twitter-sphere, if you have any interest.

Also from Excelle: How Cheryl Reeve transformed the Lynx with one smart draft pick and a distinctive formula (though I would have said picking Maya was a no-brainer.)

A cool WATN? Candace Futrell named Howard County Police Department Officer of the Year.

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Sorry, got distracted by…..

Posted in NCAA Division I on April 10, 2017|

Ok, so what’s happening….. TRANSFERS!!!!!

Before I lay out the list of new exits, take a some time to listen to coach Yo(let McCuin) of Jacksonville University on Periscope. Faithful readers of the blog will recognize the Dolphins as a program that’s been making some positive moves up the conference ladder. While I’ve not had the pleasure of meeting Coach Yo, we’ve had some twitter exchanges that made me think she would be a great basketball person to hang with and talk about the game. Her Periscope session proved me right. Really. If you’re a college coach, high school/AAU coach, high school player interested in being recruited or the parent of that player, WATCH THIS. If you’re honest – as coach Yo is – and listen with open ears, you might hear something that could help a young person make the right decision.

BTW: If you’re interested, you might want to take a peek at articles I wrote for the WBCA’s Coaching Women’s Basketball & Women’s Basketball magazine a while back. They support some of the things coach Yo discusses. (And I realize some of the old pieces are missing…and typos… hmmm. Summer project!)

CIVIL WARS: Keeping the Recruiting Battles Clean (WBCA)
HIGH SCHOOL: THE RECRUITING BASICS (WB)
JUNIOR COLLEGES: Where Opportunities Knock (WBCA)
CULTURE CLASH: High School and AAU Basketball – tensions between scholastic and non-scholastic coaches. (WB)
FUNDAMENTALS: The Reality of High School Coaches (WB)

Now… TRANSFERS!!!

Notre Dame loses two: Erin Boley, Ali Patberg

Florida State: A’Tyanna Gaulden

ODU: Brown, Jones to transfer

Diamondback: After Destiny Slocum’s departure, Maryland women’s basketball faces a tough rebuild

Kentucky.com: Is Kentucky rebuilding? ‘I’m not looking at it that way at all,’ Mitchell says

Won’t transfer? Coach Adia Barnes remains committed to Cats despite opening at Washington

Might fly the aerie? FGCU coach Karl Smesko could be USC’s frontrunner

Bloomington Pantagraph: ISU’s Gillespie born to be a coach

Columbia Missourian: Missouri basketball’s rise started with Robin Pingeton

Michigan Daily: Season in Review: Women’s Basketball

Cincinnati.com: Oscar Robertson to UC: Find a better solution for women’s basketball team

The Undefeated: Dawn Staley has always had a special relationship with Philadelphia

“Philly has a way of rubbing itself on people and it sticks. When I was [the head coach] at Temple [University] and I used to recruit players, they initially turned their nose up at Philly. And then they found themselves in Philly 10 years after graduating from Temple. It’s amazing. The city has a certain pulse about it. It’s real. It’s authentic. It’s genuine. I’m not saying that it’s always positive, but you know what you’re getting, and that’s appealing. We don’t have layers to us. We are who we are.”

The State: The first woman to be an NBA head coach? Why not Staley?

Newsday: Exciting NCAA women’s basketball tournament bolsters interest in women’s sports

You’re out! Iowa State’s Bill Fennelly removed from former player’s lawsuit filed in 2016

WNBA DRAFT!!!

Mechelle: Vickie Johnson and Ruth Riley are on the clock as head coach, GM in San Antonio

Vickie Johnson and Ruth Riley had countless times in their basketball careers when they had the ball in their hands, knowing they needed to make a big play.

But now as the San Antonio Stars’ coach and general manager, respectively, they have a different kind of big play to make. The Stars have the No. 1 overall pick in Thursday’s WNBA draft (ESPN2/WatchESPN, 7 p.m. ET), and various ways they can use it.

The Stars also have the No. 5 pick, while their fellow Texas team, Dallas, has three selections in the first round, at Nos. 3, 4 and 10.

Jeff Metcalfe, Arizona Central: Sydney Wiese, Chantel Osahor, Sophie Brunner await WNBA draft

Lots of stuff over at Shattered Backboard. Check’em out.

Percy Allen at the Seattle Times: Washington’s Kelsey Plum will likely be top pick in WNBA Draft

Eric Nemchock at FanRagSports offers his detailed 2017 WNBA Mock Draft

Howard at Fansided/Sumitt Hoops: Projecting the 2017 WNBA Draft: It Starts with Kelsey Plum

At the .com, Bearded Ben York has: Young, Exciting Sun Ready for Draft, Training Camp

Curt Miller had a detailed, inspiring vision for the Sun when he was named head coach in December of 2015.

“Build the program into a championship team,” Miller reflected with confidence and a smile. “It sounds cliché, but that’s been our goal from day No. 1. We also want to build sustainable success. When I took over, the longest-tenured player on our team was heading into her fourth season. We want our core to mature and grow together in the prime of their careers.”

That’s exactly what the franchise is doing, and it has Sun fans buzzing.

New Haven Register: UConn’s Saniya Chong likely to be selected in WNBA Draft

KTSP.com: Former Hopkins Star Nia Coffey Looks Ahead to Thursday’s WNBA Draft (and if anyone can figure out how to YouTube the fabulous Coffey game promo Northwestern put together, holler, ‘kay?)

GW Hatchet: Schaible, Washington eye professional basketball careers

Owee: Alaina Coates Had Ankle Surgery, Will Miss At Least Part of WNBA Season

.com: WNBA Draft 2017: Prospect Profiles

Of those who jumped: Imani Boyette: Jewell Loyd, Amanda Zahui B Reflect on Leaving Early for the WNBA

Recently, two redshirt juniors, Allisha Gray and Kaela Davis, declared for the WNBA draft. Of course, like anyone who chooses to step off the beaten path, there have been mixed reviews of this decision.

My initial opinion of leaving school early for the WNBA? I thought it was a bad decision if they hadn’t already graduated, although it is important to acknowledge how our own realities sway our opinions. I discourage everyone younger than me from rushing to grow up and I also take pride in my Accounting degree from the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin.

Fun: What could we do with victory but what she has done? — an ode to Maya Moore

Writing from one of my favorite Twitter follows: Moving The Chains: Shireen Ahmed On Sports, Politics And Activism

Speaking of which: White, Peck speak at Equal Pay, Equal Play session

Oh, Canada! Pro basketball player Nirra Fields trains, inspires girls during weekend clinic

History! @JenniferAzzi Grateful to be heading to the Warriors game tonight to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the ABL with Joe Lacob!

Thank you: Avella’s Matalik to step down as girls basketball coach, be honored at banquet

“This is my fourth year fighting cancer,” Matalik explained. “I need to focus on my health. I will miss it.”

And Matalik’s everyday presence will be missed by the Avella athletes.

He coached the Eagles for 18 years. He continues to assist Fogg with the Avella baseball team and previously coached baseball for 25 years at Burgettstown. He was an assistant there for seven years. In all, Matalik has coached high school baseball for 51 years.

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Looks at calendar drums fingers

Posted in NCAA Division I on April 8, 2017|

More leaving: ODU women lose Brown, Jones to transfer

Lanie Page leaving K-State women’s basketball team

Can’t find confirmation, but there’s talk of a sophomore leaving Kansas…

Reno NBC: Catching up with Reed’s Gabby Williams

Congrats: UW women’s Kelsey Plums wins Wooden Award – is there anything she HASN’T won?

Dawn Staley returns to Dobbins Tech to share national title

“Dawn Staley helped put women’s basketball on the map,” Kenney said. “We couldn’t be more proud.”

After graduating from Dobbins in 1988, Staley went on to become a two-time national college player of the year at Virginia. She won three Olympic gold medals as the U.S. team’s point guard.

The State: Key things to know about Sunday’s parade for USC women’s basketball champions

Hartford Courant: UConn Women’s Basketball: Recapping Historic Season That Fell A Bit Short

SEC Country: Mississippi State did women’s college basketball a favor by beating UConn

Starkville Daily News: Super Bulldog Welcome: Droves of fans show love for MSU Women’s Basketball

For Whom the Cowbell Tolls: Way Too Early Women’s Basketball Top 25

TechSideline: Assessing Virginia Tech Women’s Basketball: Part I, a Season in Review and Assessing Virginia Tech Women’s Basketball: Part II, Looking to the Future

About that thing that’s happening that fans can’t attend…

WNBA announces 10 players attending next week’s Draft

The State: Three Gamecocks invited to WNBA Draft

UMTerps: Jones, SWK to Attend WNBA Draft

Baylor Bears: Jones Selected to Attend 2017 WNBA Draft

OregonLive: Oregon State’s Sydney Wiese to attend WNBA Draft

Could Baylor, Irving MacArthur star Alexis Jones come home to play for Dallas Wings?

Mechelle: South Carolina players could provide much-needed help for Wings

.com: WNBA Draft 2017 Preview: Atlanta Dream
.com: WNBA Draft 2017 Preview: Phoenix Mercury
.com: WNBA Draft 2017 Preview: Seattle Storm
.com: San Antonio Stars WNBA Draft Throwback
.com:WNBA Draft 2017 Preview: Indiana Fever
etc.

Norwich Bulletin: Connecticut Sun coach/GM doing homework on team’s next move

“Non-stop,” Miller said with a sigh. “I’ve worked hard all year keeping in touch with college coaches that have potential WNBA players on their roster. It has really accelerated over the last two weeks. My day consists of talking to college coaches to get opinions on their players, their pros and cons, hear the intangibles and look into their character. We don’t have the luxury of a combine where we can interview everyone in one place. A lot of the legwork is on your own.”

Bleacher Report: 2017 WNBA Mock Draft: Analyzing Elite Prospects and Hidden Gems

Newsdays’ Mike Rose: WNBA mock draft 2017

Old friend Ailene Voisin at the Sacramento Bee: Ranadive and Kings owners seemed to want a WNBA team, so where is it?

Syracuse.com: Breanna Stewart will be a WNBA friend and foe for Syracuse’s Brittney Sykes

Dallas News: How Dallas Wings guard Skylar Diggins connects to next generation through Shoot 4 the Sky camp

Look who’s back with the Fever! What I Know: Tully Bevilaqua Of The Indiana Fever

Shattered Backboard: Dream Head Coach Michael Cooper Makes His Own Luck

Interesting: Mobile Coaching App Just Play Sports Solutions Signs Two WNBA Teams As Clients

Georgetown Voice: Offensive Foul: Fighting International Basketball’s Religious Headgear Ban

For former Georgetown women’s basketball player Ki-Ke Salihu Rafiu (COL’16), a headscarf was a normal part of her uniform. Tied snugly around her head, the Georgetown-gray fabric was a way for her to live out her Muslim faith while playing the sport she loved.

Rafiu, now a graduate assistant on the team, decided to begin wearing a headscarf during games and practice during her sophomore year. She was permitted to do this thanks to the NCAA’s non-restrictive policies regarding religious headgear.

But such accommodation isn’t the norm at every level of basketball. The International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the worldwide governing body of professional basketball, currently restricts players from wearing any religious headgear on the court.

Worth a revisit: Is it fair for UC women’s basketball, volleyball teams to play at St. Ursula?

The next time the University of Cincinnati women’s basketball team plays a home game, it will be in a high school gym.

The team, which drew 4,000 spectators for its matchup against the University of Connecticut Huskies this year, will play at St. Ursula Academy, which has about 1,000 seats. Fans won’t be cheering from behind the bench because there’s only one set of bleachers.

The UC men’s team will play its home games at Northern Kentucky University’s BB&T Arena, which holds more than 9,000 people.

Buff Zone: After strong debut season with Buffs, Payne looks to ‘raise the bar’

Howard interviewed a former Red Head: Peps Neuman Was Told She Was “Stupid” For Wanting to Play Basketball

An excuse for a Women’s Basketball Magazine flashback:

The death of Lorene “Butch” Moore, 76, this past April in Caraway, Arkansas marked the passing of an important link in the slender chain of women’s basketball history. Moore amassed 35,426 points in 11 seasons with the All-American Red Heads – a team that barnstormed across the United States between 1936 and 1986.

Moore and her husband, Orwell, 84, joined the Red Heads in 1948 – she as a player, he as coach. The Red Heads played full court basketball by men’s rules, playing 175-200 games a season.

Interesting: The college sports racial and gender report card shows a reversal of progress

March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year in college athletics. As the son of a basketball Hall of Famer, for me, the road to the Final Four is always filled with joy. And I was glad that the recent studies published by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES) indicated the continued positive progression of graduation success rates and academic progress rates for NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball student-athletes. This is good news for college sports student-athletes.

Coincidentally, we are now publishing the 2016 College Sport Racial and Gender Report Card. For those who care about equity in sport, there is little, if any, good news. Colleges not only remain the worst employer for women and people of color in sport, but things may even be worse than ever. The results are startling.

Lauren Jackson, Libby Trickett, Barry Hall, Matthew Mitcham reveal battle with depression

SOME of Australia’s biggest sports stars have revealed they battled depression after their careers ended.

Lauren Jackson, Libby Trickett, Barry Hall, and Matthew Mitcham have broken their silence to tell of being plagued by mental health demons for months after retirement.

Jackson and Trickett have said that they can understand how other champions like Grant Hackett and Ben Cousins have gone off the rails.

The revelations come in a two-part special edition of SBS’s Insight program hosted by Jenny Brockie.

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Landed and about to take off again… but…

Posted in NCAA Division I on April 5, 2017|

Listen up! Around the Rim: Crowning Glory; WNBA Is Next. LaChina Robinson closes out the NCAA season with coach of the 2017 National Champions Dawn Staley. Plus, AP Player of the Year Kelsey Plum and Stars GM Ruth Riley join.

Check it out: Shadow League: Dawn Staley Finally Cuts Down Her Own Net

Staley is the embodiment of women’s basketball and its incremental rise as a viable and marketable American sport. She has done it all. She’s in some way been an integral part of every watershed moment in the women’s basketball over the past three decades.

Philly Proud, Mike Jensen: Dawn Staley is never far from Philly

The words on Staley’s phone screen are more than geographical. Her answer to ESPN pregame when asked about the emotions she would show if her Gamecocks won the national title was, “I don’t cry. I’m from North Philly.”

Her mother once did, riding the No. 33 bus going east on Market Street in 1996, when she caught sight of her daughter on a nine-story mural at Eighth and Market. Estelle Staley had blurted out, “Oh, my God!” By herself on the bus, she started crying.

More goodness: Mentor gets to savor Dawn Staley’s success

Inasmuch as she planted the seeds, it was only fitting that Debbie Ryan could see her coaching tree in all of its splendor.

Ryan, the women’s basketball coach at Virginia from 1977-2011, was at the American Airlines Center in Dallas as South Carolina, under Ryan protege Dawn Staley, defeated Mississippi State in the NCAA championship game.

“I wasn’t going to go to this one,” Ryan said Tuesday. “I actually had another trip planned. I got a feeling on Sunday before the Final Four, before [South Carolina] even played in the final eight.

“I just had a feeling that I needed to be there. I had a feeling she was going to win it. I went without any hotel. I didn’t have any tickets, but everything worked out.”

More good news: More than 3.8 Million Viewers for the NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship; Three-Game NCAA Women’s Final Four Up Nearly 20%

Bye: Freshmen Tori McCoy and Kiara Lewis to leave Ohio State women’s basketball program

Crap, but not surprising, even as ACL recovering time has shrunk: McGraw on Turner: “She could miss the year.”

A clarification? Jay Tust tweets: Heard from Destiny Slocum last night. She said “homesickness” is not the reason she’s transferring, but rather UM “wasn’t the right fit.”

Steve Jones, PressBox: Graduations, Transfers Change Maryland Women’s Basketball Outlook and Testudo Times: Destiny Slocum’s transfer from Maryland women’s basketball thrusts the roster into uncertainty and Maryland women’s basketball lost the next face of its program in Destiny Slocum. Wonder if Boise State is thinking good thoughts…

Dan Fleser: Stats only part of story about return of Diamond DeShields, Mercedes Russell

More future looking: Can South Carolina repeat as national champ? 2 Alabama players will try to make it happen

More future looking: Georgia Women’s Basketball Makes Progress During Joni Taylor’s Sophomore Tenure

Congrats (and good health): Amy Vachon named UMaine women’s basketball interim head coach as coach Richard Barron would be taking an extended medical leave.

Welcome: Gillespie introduced as Illinois State’s new women’s basketball coach

So long: Theresa Grentz let go as Lafayette women’s basketball coach

So, this seems to put a cap on an odd sequence of events, dontcha think? FAU to hire Jim Jabir as new head coach

You stay put: Oregon’s Graves awarded $4M contract extension

You stay put, too: Iona Announces Contract Extensions For Tim Cluess and Billi Godsey

Oh: FAMU women’s basketball coach Gibson accused of bullying

Ah, renovations. Ask Liberty fans about’em: Is it fair for UC women’s basketball, volleyball teams to play at St. Ursula?

Analysis: Geno Auriemma’s Comments, Contributions to Women’s Basketball

Listen up! Locked on has San Antonio Stars GM Ruth Riley Talks 2017 WNBA Draft

Speaking of the WNBA, check out this fun and thoughtful preview of the 12 teams by Leisl Veach: WNBA Astrology

Adam of the Dallas news has 5 prospects for Dallas Wings fans to know before the WNBA draft

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Ahh, time for a little R&R before the W sea… What?!?!

Posted in NCAA Division I on April 4, 2017|

So, back at work and recovering from a nice little lung thingy, and suddenly women’s basketball’s “dead” period is mighty lively.

FALSE: Connecticut Sun coach puts the kibosh on reports that he interviewed for the USC (CA) job: @CurtMillerWBB :Flattering to have name linked to the USC job but reports are UNTRUE about interviewing. Excited about training camp & our young SUN roster

TRUE: Destiny Slocum is transferring from Maryland. Big impact.

TRUE: Kiah Gillespie is transferring from Maryland

TRUE: Jenna Staiti is transferring from Maryland

TRUE: Top 3 scorers among 4 to transfer from Rutgers women’s basketball with new look coming

TRUE(?): Kaela Davis and Allisha Gray are declaring for the WNBA draft (though they can un-declare)

TRUE: That was Doris Burke’s last Women’s Final Four. She joins Dishin & Swishin’s Podcast to put a wrap on the college season with Doris Burke

From the Undefeated: Carolyn Peck elated for Dawn Staley as second black coach to win women’s basketball title

Carolyn Peck was so focused on her players after Purdue beat Duke in the 1999 women’s basketball championship that when a reporter asked her what it meant to be the first African-American coach to win a title, Peck realized that she’d never thought about it.

She recalled the coaches who came before her: Marian Washington (Kansas), Marianna Freeman (Syracuse) and C. Vivian Stringer (Rutgers). Then she thought about her English teacher at Jefferson County High School in Dandridge, Tennessee.

“She said to me, ‘When you do an outline, you never have a one unless there’s going to be a two,’ ” said Peck, now an associate head coach at Vanderbilt. “When I was described as the first, that meant there was going to be a second.

Thirteen years ago: Kara Lawson: Sacramento Kings Called Me Distraction, Kept Me Out Of Practice

So you go back 13 years ago and I say, what if they had let me in? Where am I now? Who knows? Maybe I’m an assistant on a staff. Maybe I’m in a front office. Maybe I’m still doing TV. But when you deny the opportunity for somebody, and then you sit back and say there are no candidates—when people say to me, when people ask me if I think things will change—people need to say yes to someone who’s interest in learning, who’s interested in growing, who’s interested in being a coach.”

Still reflecting: Tiffany Mitchell pours her heart out: ‘The sacrifices were unbelievable’

This story has more legs than it should. Kind of distracts from Dawn/South Carolina’s accomplishment: Mississippi State’s title-game benching of ‘Itty Bitty’ causes big stir.

Sue weighs in: Vic Schaefer is quite capable of running his team

And then there was this: Alaina Coates issues statement addressing ‘unprofessionalism’

BTW: NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship Overnight Up 20%, Most-Streamed Women’s Basketball Finale Ever; Three-Game NCAA Women’s Final Four Overnight Up Double Digits

Congrats: Michigan women’s basketball assistant Megan Duffy named head coach at Miami (Ohio)

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There’s a new sheriff in town, y’all…

Posted in NCAA Division I on April 3, 2017|

Welcome, Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks. In a sold out arena that seemed full of Mississippi State fans, the Gamecocks coaxed out a lead, then steadfastly beat back every run the Bulldogs made. In the end, MOP A’ja Wilson took over the game on both ends and sealed USC’s first NCAA Women’s Basketball championship.

Graham: South Carolina finally wins its first NCAA championship

It turns out there was a team here that Mississippi State couldn’t beat.

Not in January in the regular season. Not in March in the SEC tournament. Not in any of the 10 most recent meetings prior to Sunday. And not in the national championship game, either.

It doesn’t seem that South Carolina has much left to prove on that count. Nor on this court.

Michelle Smith: Hometown hero A’ja Wilson helps deliver South Carolina’s first NCAA title

A’ja Wilson is, as teammate and roommate Allisha Gray put it, “a celebrity” in Columbia, South Carolina.

The Gamecocks center sticks out not only because she is 6-foot-5 but also because she is a local girl playing for her hometown university as one of the most prominent, heralded female athletes in the country.

That scenario comes with its perks: the built-in support system, dinners at home with family, a lot of friendly faces, and words of encouragement and advice.

“Everybody in the grocery store is a basketball coach,” Wilson said.

Charlie Creme: How South Carolina beat Mississippi State to win its first national championship

NY Times: South Carolina Defeats Mississippi State to Win Women’s Title

In the final seconds on Sunday, Dawn Staley gave a group hug to her assistant coaches. As confetti showered South Carolina’s first women’s basketball title winners, she put on a championship cap she had waited a career to wear.

Later, she wore a net like a necklace.

The 67-55 win over Mississippi State, a fellow member of the Southeastern Conference, was a victory that represented a diversity of opportunity, both for coaches and for teams playing for a championship.

The State: Coronation! Gamecocks bring home national championship

“It feels great. You want to visualize it. You’re so close. I was anxious waiting all day to get to this moment,” Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley said. “It’s still unbelievable. I don’t know how to celebrate. I don’t know how to act. I don’t know what a national champion is supposed to look like. I know it feels incredible.”

The State: Staley finally gets her trophy

Dallas News: South Carolina wins first national title in school history; defeats Mississippi State 67-55

Once the final buzzer sounded, Staley grabbed the trophy and paraded it around the court high over her head.

“You have to give tribute to the former players,” Staley said. “Go back to my Temple days, they believed in our vision. We took that vision to South Carolina and that vision was we’ll be national champions. If you stick with us and if you’re disciplined, if you believe all these players believed in that. Happy our words came true to them.”

Richard at Sports Illustrated: Home cooking: South Carolina’s own A’ja Wilson leads Gamecocks to first championship

There is no bigger advocate for the state of South Carolina than Gamecocks junior center A’ja Wilson. She grew up in Hopkins, S.C., a 20-minute drive from the University of South Carolina campus in Columbia and a town Wilson described as “chill, with a bunch of woods, and nice and quiet.” Anytime over the weekend when Wilson was asked why she stayed home to play basketball, you might as well have been talking to a member of the state’s tourism division. She could not hype the state of South Carolina enough.

NPR: South Carolina Takes Its First Women’s NCAA Basketball Title

Philly.com: Dawn Staley coaches South Carolina to NCAA women’s title

Denied a title in three straight trips to the Final Four (1990-92) as a collegian with Virginia, two in heartbreaking rejections, Staley was able to realize the culmination of a nine-year construction project, having built the Gamecocks (33-4) from the ground up after leaving Temple in 2008.

“I can check off the box because it’s something I wanted to do in my career,” Staley said afterward. “Opportunities that I saw women play when I was younger – national championship games and Olympics. Those were the things I held near and dear to me when I was growing up because that’s what I saw, that’s what I was shooting for, and when I couldn’t get it done in college, I thought that was it, because I never wanted to be sitting where I’m sitting.”

Bleacher Report: South Carolina Wins 1st-Ever NCAA Women’s Championship over Mississippi St

NCAA.com: South Carolina tops Mississippi State for first national championship

NCAA.om: Women’s Final Four: Staley’s ascent is dawn of a new era in women’s basketball

Philly’s Bob Vetrone, Jr tweeted out a great “Throw Back Sunday Special” on coach Dawn in High School.

Sue Favor: Staley’s success has been paved by growth

“She’s hilarious – they love her,” said associate head coach Lisa Boyer after the team’s National Championship win Sunday. “Even in the huddle today they were messing with her. She dances with them, she hangs out with them. She can get on their level.”

But expressing that side of herself with her players was something Staley had to learn. Doing so helped pave the way for the program’s first national title.

SECcountry: Steve Spurrier, Magic Johnson and countless others congratulate Gamecocks

Live 5 News: Locals fans proud of South Carolina women’s basketball first national championship win

The State: Columbia preparing parade to honor USC women’s basketball team

Summitt Hoops: Women’s Basketball Belongs to Dawn Staley, A’ja Wilson and South Carolina Now

In the end, when Dawn Staley won the right to coach A’ja Wilson three years ago, she set into motion the process that led to Sunday night’s 67-55 win over Mississippi State to win the Gamecocks their first national title.

In Bianca Cuevas-Moore, the Gamecocks possessed a junior capable of bodying up Morgan William, denying her the space to operate and keeping her from controlling the offensive flow as she had against both Connecticut and Baylor over the past two games. The Bronx is very present in her game, not to mention her appraisal of it as she reflected upon a championship in the locker room: “I mean, we just played hard. I’m a great defender, and we wanted to make it hard for them.” She did, making William a relative non-factor.

Speaking of the MIA William, from Mechelle: Morgan William on sitting late in NCAA final: I wasn’t bringing enough energy

Guard Morgan William sat in the Mississippi State locker room hunched over in a chair Sunday night. Her fingers kept pinching at her legs, as if she were trying to wake herself from a bad dream.

This is how it goes sometimes in the NCAA tournament. You have the biggest moment of your playing career one night, and less than 48 hours later you feel crushed. What usually doesn’t happen, though, is that a player who was the star in two consecutive victories over No. 1 seeds — whose jump shot ended UConn’s 111-game winning streak — sits on the bench for the fourth quarter of the national championship game.

Fort Worth Star Telegram: South Carolina denies Mississippi State, reigns in women’s basketball for first time

The Reflector: Bulldogs drop National Championship to Gamecocks

We were up 7-3 at the beginning,” Dillingham said. “They made a run and then we weren’t executing offensively.”

Mississippi State had trouble establishing an offensive presence, costing them to be behind 10 points entering the second half. Besides not scoring until two minutes into the game, Mississippi State had trouble defending South Carolina’s flowing offense. In the second quarter alone, Mississippi State was 4-11 from the floor. Dillingham agreed that the team’s usual grace on offense was absent early after the 7-3 start in the game.

“There’s no way to really put it,” Dillingham said. “We weren’t putting the ball in the basket and we weren’t getting stops which isn’t a good recipe.”

For Whom the Cowbell Tolls: To the Mississippi State Women’s Basketball Team: Thank You

There will be time to ask questions about how the Mississippi State Women’s basketball team played in the National Championship game. There will be time to ask questions about some of the coaching decisions Vic Schaefer made.

Tonight is not that time.

From a fan who paid little attention to the Women’s Basketball team before the arrival of Vic Schaefer, I think I can speak for all who are similar. You made us love you.

Swish Appeal: After heartbreaker, Mississippi State has new loss to avenge

Other News

So long? UW women’s basketball coach Mike Neighbors nearing return to Arkansas

Winning is the best medicine: After NCAA snub, Michigan feels a sense of redemption with WNIT championship

The ball went into the air, a split second passed and a whistle blew.

Kim Barnes Arico could not watch.

Michigan’s head women’s basketball coach has been through plenty this season. And now, her team was on the verge of losing the WNIT title via two foul shots with less than a second to play.

Maybe it was luck, maybe it was something else. Maybe it was redemption. But those free throws rimmed off. And three overtimes later, Michigan walked out of Calihan Hall in Detroit with a trophy, a net and some pretty strong redemption after winning the WNIT title.

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A couple of more tidbits before tonight’s feast….

Posted in NCAA Division I on April 2, 2017|

Rob Knox: Mississippi State Still Needs to Beat SEC Foe to Become Cinderella

A season that started for Connecticut dodging a bullet at Florida State concluded by taking one to the heart against Mississippi State.

This is why sports are powerful and a reminder of why the games are played.

The most unexpected team ended the game’s most improbable winning streak in a breathtakingly stunning way.

Rick Cleveland: Before Itty Bitty, there was Debbie Brock, and she was itty bitty-er

Before Morgan William, the one they call Itty Bitty, there was Debbie Brock, and she was even smaller than William when she helped Delta State win three straight national championships in 1975, ’76 and ’77.

Brock, who was all of 4 feet, 11 inches tall when she dribbled and passed the Lady Statesmen to national prominence, watched on TV Mississippi State’s historic, 66-64 overtime victory over UConn late Friday night.

“Oh, it was great, just so great,” Brock said by telephone from her home just outside Jackson. “I woke up this morning and had to ask myself, ‘Did that really happen? Did State really win that game? Did I dream that?”

Sally Jenkins: Now in the Final Four pantheon: A 5-foot-5 guard they call ‘LittleBit’

Mississippi State’s Final Four defeat of Connecticut so blitzed the senses that the impressions were still sorting themselves out a day later. Whatever comes next, the record book is stamped, and so are the eyes of everyone who saw tiny Morgan William rise up and drop that soft-handed jumper through the net at the buzzer in overtime to end the longest winning streak in basketball history. How could any national championship game top that? It’s almost with reluctance that you turn away from the replays and look forward and say that there is one more to play against South Carolina.

“It felt like we won it all when we won that game,” William said, “but we know we didn’t.”

Howard @ SportsonEarth, ‘ITTY BITTY’ STANDS TALL FOR BULLDOGS ‘ITTY BITTY’ STANDS TALL FOR BULLDOGS

A week ago, Morgan William was just a college kid who played basketball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, unknown in most of the country. Never mind that her listed 5-foot-5 height is more aspirational than real (her coach, Vic Schaefer, flagged this from the podium earlier this week in Dallas, urging that she be re-measured).

The point guard teammates call “Itty Bitty” has turned herself into a folk hero.

More Howard: Mississippi State Beats Connecticut: An Opportunity For Women’s Basketball

538: Mississippi State Earned Every Bit Of That Upset Over UConn

AP: Huskies have all the pieces to start another long streak

“When we started Oct. 15 to where we are today … these kids were way older than they were supposed to be,” Auriemma said. “They should have shown their age early on in the season, November, December, at some point. We just kept playing like older, older players, more mature players.”

They will be next season.

First-team All-Americans Katie Lou Samuelson and Napheesa Collier will be juniors. Gabby Williams, who made the second team, and Kia Nurse, who made a record 22 3-point shots during the NCAA Tournament, will be seniors.

Crystal Dangerfield, who shared point guard duties with Chong, will be a sophomore.

So, there’s this: Homophobia is elephant in room in women’s basketball, gay Final Four assistant says

An openly gay assistant women’s basketball coach at the University of South Carolina says homophobia is one reason the number of female coaches in women’s college sports is declining.

A New York Times A1 story on women college coaches focused in part on Dawn Staley, the South Carolina head coach who has the Gamecocks in the Final Four against Stanford tonight.

And there’s this: HRC Highlights LGBTQ Visibility in NCAA Women’s Basketball

Every March millions of eyes fall on 64 men’s and women’s college basketball teams as sports fans from across the country revel in the “madness” of the NCAA basketball tournaments.

The NCAA has committed itself to equality and inclusion throughout the event selection process, moving 2016-17 championship and tournament games out of North Carolina due to the discriminatory HB2.

In honor of Women’s History Month, HRC highlights five courageous women who are using their voices to bring LGBTQ visibility to college basketball. As fans enjoy March Madness, it is important to keep in mind these players and coaches and their brave decisions to live openly and authentically.

And if you haven’t read “Strong Women, Deep Closets,” you should.

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All Sing Thunder and lightening, OH, yeah!

Posted in NCAA Division I on April 2, 2017|

Couple of great claps of thunder and flashes of lightening this morning. All in anticipation of tonights matchup, I’m sure.

Grab some coffee and prepare…. I’m off through the storms to grab some brunch!

Philly. com: Dawn Staley one win away from her first NCAA title
The State: Staley letting herself imagine winning a national title

NCAA.com: Women’s Final Four: Staley finally defeats VanDerveer, title game awaits

NCAA.com:Women’s basketball: South Carolina has built its reputation on defense
WLTX: Gamecocks Want A Championship For Staley

WLTX: USC’s Will And Desire are The X-Factor In Women’s National Final

WLTX.Dawn Staley Tells Team to ‘Shock the World’ Sunday

WLTX

USAToday: A’ja Wilson saw chance to shine at South Carolina

NY Post: How Bronx native beat odds to reach women’s NCAA title game

Dallas News: Fans, now foes: S. Carolina’s focus turns to SEC rival Mississippi State after stunning upset of UConn

Dallas News: Mississippi State-South Carolina final a reminder of SEC’s strength in women’s basketball

Garnet and Black South Carolina vs. Mississippi State – 2017 NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship: Preview

The State: Gamecocks not surprised to be facing Bulldogs instead of Huskies

Sports Illustrated : After Final Four stunner, women’s title game matchup both wildly unexpected, familiar

UConn Daily News: Women’s Basketball: Mississippi State takes on South Carolina in National Championship game

ESPN: Five reasons to tune in to Sunday’s championship game

Fort Worth Telegram: After giant upset, Mississippi State faces SEC rival South Carolina for NCAA title

Jackson Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State shifts focus to title, South Carolina

NCAA.com: Mississippi State’s Teaira McCowan is the center of attention
ESPN: Whatever happens in NCAA title game, SEC comes out a winner

ESPN: Short memory key for two top shooters in NCAA title game

ESPN: After two epic performances, what’s in store in Morgan William’s final game of the season?

ESPN: Allisha Gray is South Carolina’s ‘silent assassin’

BTW: Vote: What’s the biggest upset in NCAA tournament history?
NY Times: A Small Guard Upends UConn and ‘Breathes a Little Life’ Into Her Sport

OTHER News

Staying put: Lady Vols’ Diamond DeShields says she’s returning for senior year
Continued congrats, Pluminator! Washington’s Kelsey Plum named 2017 Naismith Trophy winner

SUPER Congrats to Michigan! Michigan Captures WNIT Title with Triple-OT Victor and Michigan women’s basketball team beats Georgia Tech 89-79 in triple-overtime thriller to win WNIT and Flaherty, Michigan women outlast Georgia Tech in 3 OTs to win WNIT – Detroit Free Press

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All Sing Ring My be-e-e-ell, Ring My Bell!”

Posted in NCAA Division I on April 1, 2017|

I was going to go with “YEEEEHAAAWWW” but Anita Ward came to mind in honor of my co-attendee who brought HER co-worker’s MSU mini-cowbell to the game with her.

How. Much. FUN. Was. THAT!!

It’s funny that both games had similar-ish scores, but Mississippi State v. UConn felt more fraught and intense (and tight) v. Stanford v. South Carolina which felt, at times, plain frustrating.

Can’t wait for the ESPN ratings to come out. :-) Ooooo, they’re out! And, btw: Miss. State’s buzzer-beating upset of UConn is talk of Twitter and Mississippi State Shocks UConn In Women’s NCAA Tourney: 10-Best Twitter Reactions To Historic Upset

My take away – sure, I admit I’m a UConn fan. Have been since 2000/01 when I wrote my first “for pay” piece on Shea Ralph. But I also love women’s basketball – and while I don’t want UConn to lose, I DO want other programs to win. And the feeling – the SOUND – in that arena – holy smokes! It was primal – the roar for their teams, the roar of approval for the fight happening on the court. UConn folks have one aplenty – even the young pups on the court last night have already won more than most. So, it was fabulous to feel that earth-rooted holler that exploded though the arena when that final shot fell. Kids, you need to get yourself to a Final Four and bear witness.

Plenty of other folks who bore witness (and, again, I’d love a count of credentialed media – bet UConn & the Streak brought folks out of the woodwork. AND, guessing ESPN ratings reaped the benefit of the late start.) Show them that you appreciate their work – and you want it to continue. CLICK THROUGH AND READ!

Friend of the game Richard at Sports Illustrated: Richard Deitsch‏ @richarddeitsch: Last night was one of the great games I’ve watched in person. Writes: UConn’s record streak ends at hands of resolute Mississippi State

The slayers were Mississippi State, an athletic, tough-minded team from the Southeastern Conference that did something few UConn opponents have ever done over the last couple of years: They took it to the four-time defending champs right from the opening tip.

Hours later, at 11:10 p.m. Central Time, Mississippi State junior guard Morgan William hit a 14-foot pull-up jumper as time expired for a 66–64 overtime victory. If you looked at UConn coach Geno Auriemma’s face at that exact moment, he had a broad smile. It was as if he knew the end of the streak was coming. William’s face registered pure joy.

Dallas News: Redemption: How Mississippi State turned 60-point embarrassment into fuel for historic upset over UConn
NCAA.com: UConn women’s basketball: Record winning streak falls against Mississippi State in Final Four
Newsweek: Not An April Fool’s Joke: The UConn Women’s Historic 111-Game Win Streak is Over
CBS News: Mississippi State pulls off shocking victory over UConn in Final Four
Indiana Gazette: COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Mississippi St. ends UConn’s run at 111

NPR: Mississippi State Drops Powerhouse UConn, Will Face South Carolina For Title
WL:Shocker! UConn streak ends to team it beat by 60 last year
Fox Sports: Ring that Cowbell! Mississippi St shocks UConn in Final Four (Apr 1, 2017)
Bleacher Report: UConn’s 111-Game Win Streak Ends with OT Buzzer-Beater Loss to Mississippi State
CBSSports: Women’s Final Four: UConn’s 111-game streak is over, is a new era on the way?

ABC: It’s all SEC for women’s title after Mississippi St stunner
Washington Post –U-Conn. vs Mississippi State was unforgettable — because the Bulldogs never forgot
Starkville Daily News: Redemption secured: Bulldogs upset mighty Huskies
The Big Lead: Streak Over! Mississippi State Upsets UConn Women’s Basketball Team In Overtime
The FanSided: Mississippi State upsets UCONN at the buzzer

Mississippi News Now: Lady Bulldogs craze
HERO Sports: Mississippi State Ends UConn Win Streak on Overtime Buzzer-Beater in Final Four
The Comeback: Morgan William, Mississippi State’s hero against UConn, is driven by memory of her father
AL.com: Birmingham’s Morgan William, Mississippi State end UConn’s 111-game winning streak
Washington Post: Mississippi State alum Dak Prescott went nuts in the stands as his school shocked U-Conn.

USAToday: Mississippi State upset UConn and no one was happier than Dak Prescott
Charleston Post Courier: Robin Roberts visits USC locker room after beating Stanford, stars flock to American Airlines Center for Final Four
Syracuse.com: UConn loses in stunning OT upset to Mississippi St., 66-64, in NCAA women’s Final Four
Arkansas Online: They did it
SB Nation: UConn vs. Mississippi State final score: Morgan William’s buzzer-beater snaps Huskies’ 111-game winning streak

Dallas News: Security nearly stops Mississippi State coach from taking floor; UConn could be even better in 2017-18
Yahoo Sports: Why Geno Auriemma was smiling after the buzzer-beater that ended UConn’s 111-game win streak
Comeback y’all: Video: Legendary ESPN broadcaster Robin Roberts visits Mississippi State women after huge upset
CT Post: Mississippi State beats UConn in OT, snapping Huskies’ 111-game win streak
SlamOnline: Mississippi St. Bulldogs Beat the UConn Huskies in OT, Ending 111-Game Winning Streak

Hartford Courant: Jeff Jacobs: Classy Geno Auriemma Takes It In Stride; Salutes ‘Itty Bitty’ Star After UConn’s Shocking Defeat, Courant
Hartford Courant: Jeff Jacobs: A Great Game, A Great Upset, Courant
NH Register Mississippi State stuns UConn in overtime, ends record win streak at 111
CT Post: Five takeaways: UConn loses a game, finds its heart, Post
UConn Daily Campus: DWomen’s Basketball: Mississippi State stops UConn’s win streak with buzzer-beater victory