Catching up in the lull between games…

Screwing with the constant “WEEEEEE’RE DOOOOOOOMED” narrative: WNBA’s 20th season produces strong numbers and ratings

NY Times: Quiet Protest Helped Tina Charles Find the Voice of Her Conscience

“Of course, as an individual, I do have goals to be one of the best players in the W.N.B.A.,” Charles said Thursday. “But when you reach a goal, nothing compares to the person you become along the way.”

Hartford Courant: Breanna Stewart: Transition From UConn Sheds Light On Gender Discrepancies In Athletics

Okay: Harry Potter and the WNBA Power Rankings cast

Aussie! Aussie! Don’t! Go! Phoenix Mercury guard Penny Taylor to retire at season’s end

How WNBA star Tamika Catchings is flipping the script on the athlete farewell tour

One part elaborate marketing promotion, one part performance art and all parts exhausting, the season-long athlete retirement tour has seen a rebirth in recent years.

Derek Jeter earned half a year’s worth of #RE2PECT at ballparks across the country. Nike gave Kobe Bryant his own holiday. Forty-year-old David Ortiz is currently making his long trek around league, picking up plenty of interesting parting gifts along the way.

Indiana Fever star Tamika Catchings didn’t want anything of the sort. No elaborate branding campaign, no pregame ceremony celebrating her many accomplishments, no odd presents from opposing teams. Instead, Catchings, a league champion, MVP, 10-time All-Star and five-time Defensive Player of the Year who is going for her fourth Olympic gold medal, is flipping the script.

Like Jeter before her, Catchings is doing it her way, and her way means instead of honoring herself, she’s using her 15th and final go-around the league to give back. league’s 12 cities.

Excelle: Phoenix Mercury’s Diana Taurasi defines WNBA era, playing her way

Nice: WNBA’s Alex Harden returns to Springfield for skills camp

Port City Daily: WNBA veteran, Laney grad Tamera Young continues work on and off the court

The argument for or against professional athletes being role models to the youth of today’s society has many different viewpoints, but when talking about Laney High School alum Tamera Young, she’s been able to utilize her platform as a veteran in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) to make an impact in the two communities she calls home.

 Yes, Nneka is havin’ a hecka! Nneka Ogwumike having historic WNBA season
and The Rise — And Rise! — Of Nneka Ogwumike

The Sparks haven’t wanted for star power since Candace Parker arrived in 2008, but the team has struggled to capitalize on her greatness, topping out in the playoffs with a trio of conference final losses. That could change this year, however, thanks to an out-of-this-world breakout season by 26-year-old forward Nneka Ogwumike. Ogwumike has always been good, but she’s currently putting on one of the greatest single-season performances in WNBA history, and it has the Sparks finally playing like champions.

Hello, Spoon: WNBA legend Weatherspoon trains, eyes local hoopsters

Yea! (but I would have been campaigning for a visit with Audra McDonald – swoon!) After a long social media campaign, WNBA rookie Imani Boyette finally met 50 Cent

And when everyone gets back: New WNBA format sets up playoff chase after Olympic break

NCAA:

Carp: Tennessee loses Carter, Cooper for upcoming season

Nice: West Virginia’s women’s basketball team exhibition to benefit flood victims

WATN? Former Hawkeye women’s basketball player Sam Logic hosts Camp 22 in Davenport

Did you catch this? Miami Women’s Basketball Coach Blasts Texas A&M

Miami women’s basketball coach Katie Meier was not happy with the sexist slides from the Texas A&M football women’s clinic, which have gotten the Aggies criticized nationally and led to the suspension of two staff members.

Last night, Meier blasted A&M on Twitter for the slides. She also expressed disapproval for only punishing offensive line coach Jim Turner and special teams coordinator Jeff Banks with two-week suspensions.

Keeping an eye on this: 3 black players file discrimination suit against Cottey College

NCAA & WNBA: Olympics: Double the coaching, double the threat

“Playing for both Coach Auriemma and Coach Reeve has been a blast,” said Moore. “They’re both very competitive, both very detailed oriented, but both enjoy the game, enjoy their teams, so I’m just getting double the coaching trouble here with having them both here.”

Bob Kravitz – WTHR/NBC: Fever’s Tamika Catchings prepares to say farewell to the Olympic world stage

“What are you doing?’’ I asked Tamika Catchings.

She was alone, sitting on the edge of a press-conference room stage, having previously done interviews with Indianapolis-area media members like your humble correspondent.

After a short round of interviews – and Tamika is the only Indy athlete who insists on hugging all members of the local media – she was alone. No national media talking to her. No international media talking to her. In fact, the press-conference room, which was filled for the U.S. men’s basketball team just one day earlier, was maybe one-sixth filled.

“Just hanging,’’ she said. “Waiting to go back (to the boat where the basketball teams are staying).’’

This is nuts. And this is wrong. And this is completely expected. 

USA Today: Serial survivor Seimone Augustus key for US women’s basketball team

Geno Auriemma’s team will be a prohibitive favorite in Brazil, befitting a group that has a 41-game Olympic winning streak and has won the last five gold medals. It is a roster overstuffed with big names and world-class stars, none of whom has a story quite like Seimone Augustus. Her basketball resume includes two national player of the year awards at LSU and a WNBA Finals MVP trophy with the Minnesota Lynx, and her health resume qualifies as a medical horror story.

“With all the stuff she’s been through, she has always stayed the same person,” said longtime teammate Diana Taurasi. “She’s has this even keel about her. That’s impressive. She’s (been) one of the biggest pieces of this team for a long time.”

Also: Seimone Augustus proud of WNBA player activism

USA Today: Elena Delle Donne outgrew gymnastics dream, targets basketball gold

Elena Delle Donne — who at 6-5 is a guard in a pivot player’s body and the pride of Delaware — brings her unique gifts to Rio, a 26-year-old Olympic rookie whose first five-ring dream, alas, never quite materialized. It was hatched in Atlanta 20 years ago, when young Elena watched from home in Wilmington as 4-foot-8 Kerri Strug stuck a vault with an injured ankle to help the U.S. women’s gymnastics team win gold.

“I wanted to be a gymnast,” Delle Donne told USA TODAY Sports with a laugh. “It was all about (Strug.) I should’ve known there was no chance.”

Yakima Herald: Bird, Stewart bring exuberance to US women’s Olympic basketball team

Breanna Stewart can tell you where she was, what she did, and how she felt when she got the call notifying her she made the 2016 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team.

“You’re supposed to keep it under wraps, but the first thing I did was call my parents,” said the first-time Olympian of sharing the news while standing in the lobby of her Seattle apartment building. “My dad started crying on the phone.”

NY Post: Sue Bird, Tina Charles follow similar path to Olympic glory

 

The Advertiser: SA pair Phillips and Hodges to help lead Opals

Rio from afar: Aussie WNBA player has right attitude about disaster Olympics

The Summer Olympics begin this week, and tales of poop-filled water, human body remains on the shore, petty crime, serious crime, terrorism with a topping of the Zika virus have beset the Rio Games.

Sign me up.

Star-Telegram staffer Charean Williams will be covering this event, Erin Phillips of the WNBA’s Dallas Wings will be playing for her Team Australia … and I am green with envy.

Australian basketballer Marianna Tolo has overcome an ACL injury to feature in her first Olympics

EVEN as Marianna Tolo fell to the floor in agony last August her mind started the mental mathematics.

She had just torn her ACL in her first season of WNBA basketball and yet the only thing that really mattered was the 2016 Rio Olympics.

One of the last two players cut from the London 2012 squad, Tolo has made a remarkable recovery to get back to the court in the nick of time.

LA Times: US women’s basketball veteran Sue Bird is helping to pass on legacy of excellence

“My first Olympics, we had players like Dawn Staley, Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes,” Bird said. “They showed us what it meant to be a part of USA basketball. How to carry yourself. How to play. How to play within the team. How to put the gold medal before anything else.

“… When you get older, you want to pass that on to the new crop coming in. Not only are you honored to be a part of the tradition, you want to make sure you’re keeping it up.”

History! An Oral History Of The First US Olympic Women’s Basketball Team

Forty years ago this summer, a team of 12 women laid the foundation for the future of women’s basketball in the United States, competing as part of Team USA in the first-ever Olympic women’s basketball tournament at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.

There was no WNBA at the time, nor any professional women’s league in the U.S. at all. But for most of the group, this wasn’t their first high-stakes basketball tournament, as nine of the 12 women on the team had also played for Team USA at the Pan American Games the year before. Given the strength of the international competition, however, Team USA wasn’t expected to even qualify for the 1976 Olympics, let alone win a medal. But, led by coach Billie Jean Moore and co-captains Juliene Simpson and Pat Summitt (then known as Pat Head), they ended up going very far, eventually taking home the silver medal. 

For an inside look at the 1976 team’s historic run, The Huffington Post spoke with head coach Billie Jean Moore, players Nancy Lieberman, Ann Meyers and Juliene Simpson, who all played for the 1975 team, too, and Gail Marquis and Trish Roberts, who were newcomers in 1976. 

Who knew? World Military Women’s Basketball Championship Begins

Along with athletes getting to know their counterparts from other nations, CISM also provides opportunities for officials to engage at the highest levels, Dinote said. “These can lead to training engagements down the road,” he added.

This week’s championship is the culmination of a “long process of trying to get women’s basketball on the map,” said Dinote, who also serves as secretariat of U.S. Armed Forces Sports.

Wow: Oklahoma high school: All-State girls basketball notebook: Official calls last game due to ALS

Phelps was diagnosed with ALS in April 2015. Within six months he lost his ability to speak. In January, he was forced to eat and drink using a feeding tube.

But he continued officiating games around the state, using an orange hand-held whistle and LCD board to convey his thoughts if needed at the scorer’s table.

Players even took notice.

“It was a blast tonight, but being able to see Carl was even more amazing,” said Cache star Jamie Bonnarens, who delivered a personal letter to Phelps between games. “I got emotional before my game.”

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After the picks,

the “pick apart” and “prep part” starts.

After Michelle writes that the Seed, site of opener puzzle Stanford Cardinal receive No. 2 seed — and play first-round game in Ames, Iowa

When Cardinal coach Tara VanDerveer entered the media room Monday night after the brackets were revealed, one of the assembled reporters wished her a happy St. Patrick’s Day.

“I am part Irish,” VanDerveer said dryly, “but I don’t feel lucky.”

Mechelle and Michelle say to Stanford, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”

Melanie Jackson has the Women’s tourney power rankings

After editing Charlie Creme, Graham Hays, Michelle Smith and Mechelle Voepel this season (and covering the women’s NCAA tournament the past 15 years), it’s easy to pick up tidbits about the top teams around the country. So here’s one editor’s take on the women’s field of 64:

Newsday’s Marcus Henry is Breaking down the women’s NCAA Tournament and Jordan Rinard from the Miami Student explains Why I’ll be watching the women’s tourney

Mel offers Guru’s NCAA/WNIT Musings: Louisville Seed Not in the Cards

Well while the Guru didn’t get into the actual seeding forecasts, the countdown of where things were in terms of locks and bubbles pretty much played out.

But some of the Guru’s kitchen cabinet who have been in power centers in the past couldn’t help but wonder at some of the moves made by the committee.

Doug offers 6 players to watch in the NCAA women’s tournament and posits: Here’s what could happen in NCAA women’s tournament

As Colorado State women welcome fresh start in WNIT, Graham and Charlie debate: Are Conference Tournaments Good for the Women’s Game?

Ramona Shelburne offers up New glory days for Cooper-Dyke, USC

Charlie Springer at the Card Game explains: Louisville women’s basketball team latest to pay a price

Scott Wolf at the Los Angeles Daily News adds: USC women’s basketball eager for first NCAA Tourament game since 2006

Ruey Yen at the California Golden Blogs says A 7 seed for Cal Women’s Basketball means it’s off to Waco, TX to face Fordham and likely Baylor

Though West Virginia women are not happy with NCAA draw, the Mountaineers could have career season in 2013-14

From the AP’s Stephen Hawkins, Young Baylor still No. 2 NCAA seed, Big 12 champs

Everything seems pretty much the same for perennial national power Baylor, with another Big 12 title and a No. 2 seed in hand headed into the NCAA women’s tournament.

But this is a much different group than the Lady Bears had two years ago for an undefeated national championship and was an overwhelming favorite to repeat last season before an unexpected regional final loss to Louisville.

Patricia Babcock McGraw says the DePaul women ready to go against Oklahoma

While traveling to North Carolina last March to watch DePaul play in the NCAA Tournament, Megan Rogowski’s family from Prospect Heights rolled in some sightseeing and college visits.

“My parents and my little brother and sister visited Duke and North Carolina and North Carolina State,” said Rogowski, a star at Hersey and now the best 3-point shooter in the Big East Conference. “They had a lot of fun, and they’ll know what to expect for this year.”

Hopefully, the Rogowskis have more items on their “Tobacco Road must-see list” because Megan and DePaul are headed back this year.

In preparation: Offensive rebounds, turnovers primary focus for Lady Tigers – Lady Tigers have been working with scout team to fix mental errors

From Mark Carmin: Akron women’s basketball rides dynamic duo into Mackey Arena to face Purdue

Jodi Kest doesn’t remember giving Akron seniors Rachel Tecca and Hanna Luburgh the nickname “Bread and Butter.”

Tecca swears by it.

“That’s what coach Kest called us,” she said.

The 6-foot-1 forward, though, prefers “dynamic duo” when describing her and Luburgh’s exploits on the court for the Zips, who make their first NCAA tournament appearance Saturday against No. 17 Purdue at Mackey Arena.

“I’m Batman. She’s Robin. I’m Batman because I was here first and I’m taller,” Tecca said.

Ward Gossett notices that Former Chattanoogan Mike Bradbury has Wright State in new place

Wright State women’s basketball fans are celebrating, thanks in large part to former Chattanoogan Mike Bradbury.

Before Bradbury arrived, Wright State had enjoyed only one winning womeon’s season. Since he got to Dayton five years ago, the Raiders have had three 20-win seasons and this year added the school’s first Horizon League championship and its initial invitation to the NCAA women’s tournament.

“It’s been a good week. In my professional career this is probably the highlight,” said Bradbury, a late-1980s basketball player and sprinter at East Ridge High School before moving on to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Jennifer Gish from the Times Union: U Albany women plan March Madness surprise – In third straight trip to tournament, Danes aim to get first victory

“The third time’s a charm,” said the team’s leading scorer, sophomore Shereesha Richards. “So you never know. This might be the year we get an upset.”

Coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson said the team has seen the game film of last year’s NCAA Tournament loss a couple of times, and now knows the importance of boxing out, especially in free-throw situations, and making critical layups.

She says West Virginia is a “super-athletic” team. That’s very much like North Carolina, which beat UAlbany 59-54 in the first round last year after trailing the Great Danes for much of the game.

The UConn Women’s Staff Moves Quickly To Scout Prairie View because the UConn Women’s Path To National Title Begins With Prairie View

Chloe Pavlech blogs on selection Monday: The Terps are Ready to Dance.

Iowa State’s Jadda Buckley is Excited to be Playing at Home

Duke’s Rebecca Greenwell writes Anything’s Possible in Postseason.

Chiney warns A Hungry Team Can Be Dangerous

Shelly Stallsmith previews Penn State vs. Wichita State; Maryland vs. Army in NCAA women’s basketball openers

Gene Wang writes Maryland women’s basketball will host Army in NCAA tournament first round

“I never will take the NCAA tournament for granted,” Maryland Coach Brenda Frese said. “Like I told our team today, when you miss out on an opportunity to go, you’ll never take it for granted. We’ve had a few years, not too many, of those, so it’s truly an honor. These guys have put in a ton of hard work, and now we want to represent Maryland.”

Lisa Leslie is impressed by Saniya Chong’s spirit

Skylar explains What makes No. 2 Notre Dame so tough and Al Lesar writes Notre Dame’s Allen plays her own game

When she looks in the mirror, Lindsay Allen likes the face smiling back at her.

The Notre Dame women’s basketball team’s freshman point guard never tried to be the next Skylar Diggins.

Her only goal was to be the best possible Lindsay Allen.

“I have to make my own path; not worry about what (Diggins) did, what she accomplished,” said Allen. “Just play my game and play my role.”

It’s going to change (apparently) but Flag controversy blocks South Carolina home court advantage

The South Carolina women’s basketball team made history Monday night, earning its first ever number one seed in the NCAA basketball tournament.

The team will travel to Seattle over the weekend, where they’ll face Cal State Northridge in first round action.

A far cry from what some feel could have been.

Of the four number one seeds in this year’s NCAA Women’s basketball tournament, South Carolina will be the only top seed without a game in-state.

The Gamecocks were never in the running to host a regional game this season, in light of an NCAA boycott against South Carolina.

From Walt Moody at the Centre Daily: Third-seeded Lady Lions to face Wichita State in NCAA Tournament opener

You could call Penn State’s draw in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament a bit of a “shocker” in a couple of different ways Monday night.

Crowded around several flat screen televisions in the Founders Room at the Bryce Jordan, the Lady Lions saw they landed a No. 3 seed, a number that was somewhat of a surprise to most prognosticators and even to members of the team.

Well, yeah: Lady Vols eager to end their Final Four drought. Dan writes Lady Vols to be watchful for foul play in NCAA tournament

From Texas: Women’s Basketball Takes on Penn in the First Round

From Lady Moc Land

“This time of year, you’re going to play a good team, regardless of your seed, because all of the bad teams are at home,” UTC coach Jim Foster said. “I like the geography of where we’re going, and I think we’re going to have a good crowd in attendance.”

From Kentucky: Lady Tops enjoying title as NCAA looms

The Western Kentucky women’s basketball team returned to Bowling Green on Sunday evening with weary eyes, but with smiles that hadn’t faded since Saturday night.

Yup, the Beavers go dancing for first time since 1996

When Scott Rueck took over the Oregon State women’s basketball program in late June of 2010, he was met by a large contingency of fans and supporters in the Loge of Reser Stadium.

The Beavers were coming off an 11-20 season that saw them go 2-16 in the Pac-10 Conference.

Players had left and Rueck would have to somehow cobble together a roster after holding open tryouts.

He never could have imagined another similar crowd a mere 45 months later.

Oh, and Freshman point guard Sydney Wiese leads Beavers’ resurgence and OSU realizes Middle Tennessee has plenty of NCAA experience

From Green Bay: Patience, persistence pay off for UWGB’s Zastrow

Sam Zastrow could have quit or moved on from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay women’s basketball team.

She wasn’t getting many minutes and could have transferred to another school to get more. The former Algoma standout has been asked a lot over the years why she didn’t.

“I’ve always wanted to play here,” Zastrow said. “The fact that I wasn’t getting to play the first couple of years, I took that as a challenge. I’m like, ‘I’m not going to leave. I’m not going to let people bring me down.’

From the Salt Lake Tribune: BYU ‘happy to go dancing’ in NCAA tournament

Coach Jeff Judkins said the Cougars aren’t just happy to be in the tournament this year.

“As we talked about before [the bracket] came out, we are not here just to get to the tournament. We really want to play our best basketball and represent this university and this conference the best that we can.”

Over at SportsBlog: Tanisha Wright covers March Madness

What’s showing when? Coverage maps: Saturday & Sunday Who’s announcing when? 2014 NCAA women’s basketball tournament TV schedule on ESPN and ESPN2

You think you know who’s going to win? Play the Brackets.

In non-tourney NCAA news: TCU loses women’s basketball coach Jeff Mittie to Big 12 rival Kansas State and the Topeka Journal writes: Mittie finds perfect fit with K-State women’s basketball program – New Wildcat coach likes facilities, team potential

And yup, it’s not really a surprise, but LaTech is looking for a new coach.

In W news: Ruth Riley’s Passion for Sports Meets Her Passion for Helping Children

Need a little Becky Hammon Coaching Fix?

Speaking of coaching: Seattle Storm Names Shaquala Williams Assistant Coach

From Nate: Swish Appeal’s preliminary 2014 WNBA Draft Board and Evaluating 2014 mid-major WNBA draft prospects: How do we adjust for strength of competition?

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So, much has happened since the “Fall of the Ranked”

Blizzard!

Snow day! (but not for me!) and a trip to D.C. for an Early Childhood Symposium.

Frozen doors on the Amtrak train up and back.

Leading my first “STEM” infused professional development with some amazing early childhood teachers (STEM and Storytelling – a match made for teaching!).

There was a Polar (Bear) Vortex.

I walked into a room and got a(nother) grant.

My mom called to say that the next time we have an argument, she’s going to order a traffic jam in my neighborhood. (Lucky for my neighborhood, we don’t argue much.)

Oh, and some basketball with more “TIM-BERRRRRS.”

#11 Oklahoma State lost to West Virginia, 71-67, giving the Cowgirls their first loss of the season. When the Mountaineers went up against Baylor, though, they couldn’t beat Sims.

NC State took down #20 Syracuse. That got the Wolfpack ranked 20th, but a horrible first half doomed them against #13 UNC. Even so, they’ve earned attention from  the AP and Mechelle: Wolfpack off to winning start

Florida took down then #6 Kentucky (and made the players cranky). And then #10 South Carolina added to the #9 Wildcat’s misery, defeating Kentucky 68-59.

Ignore’em at your peril: Texas A&M defeated #12 LSU, 52-48. Can I just say “Ick.” Aggies shot 34% , Tigers shot 26%.

They had a close call against Pacific, but #24 (ranked for the first time in program history) San Diego righted the ship and got a win. Not so lucky against Portland, which stomped the Toreros 72-52.

Michigan State took it to #16 Nebraska, 70-57.

Missouri defeated #25 Georgia. Yes, the Dawgs over-indulged on cupcakes.

Northwestern over #21 Purdue by a whisker.

Oh, and just a reminder… there are no upsets in women’s basketball…..

In other news, UConn continues to roll with wins over Memphis and Houston. Temple is next, but I’m sure folks are looking ahead to the Baylor game IN Waco.

The Irish are smiling. The Terps are too, probably ’cause they don’t face Notre Dame until the 27th.

Duke rolled the Orange.

Howard’s 27/18 helped Florida State escape Miami, 68-63.

Yes, that’s the Dons at 7-7.

Is anyone paying attention to the job coach Austin Parkinson is doing at IUPUI?

Hey! VCU looks to have recovered from the loss coach Cunningham. They’re at 14-2 (cause they lost to LaSalle?!?!).

Delaware hasn’t collapsed into nothing with EDD’s graduation. They’re now 10-3.

Army is putting together a nice season. As is Navy. Oh, oh…look out on January 11th!

Gosh, “my” Penguins are missing their old coach Bob Boldon. Who is, but the way, 6-7 over at Ohio. That matches their win total last year but, more importantly, they’re 3-0 at home, which is cool.

And yes, 3-9 San Diego State misses Beth Burns.

And yes, 1-14 UNC-Wilmington misses Cynthia Cooper.

How long will T-Spoon stay a Louisiana Tech?

Maine is 7-8. I’m just sayin’: Richard Barron.

Even though I’m still not sayin’ nothin’ about Fordham and Erin Rooney, the Rams did slip up v. Duquesne. But it’s lookin’ like a showdown with the Hawks is looming’.

Rutgers may have found their footing.

Ditto with Texas.

Look at that! The Quakers are atop the Ivy League. Princeton is up next. (Dum de dum, dum)

Debbie missed her game of the week: St. Francis (PA) v Central Connecticut State, 106-97.

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Remember when…

playing UTEP would be an automatic win for Kansas State? Not so much anymore: Miners 84-39.

Other intriguing early trends:

Looks like it might be a tough year for the Hatters. They were defeated by North Carolina A&T, who became the first HBUC to win consecutive games in the preseason WNIT. (Speaking of the WNIT: The Championship game will feature a lot of red: Louisville v. Oklahoma, 4pm EST, CBSSports.)

Ditto for Western Carolina, who got stomped by the Fightin’ Camels (coach Watkin’s 500th win).

See above for St. Francis (PA), who got brushed off by Colgate.

LaTech is 0-2, which makes me wonder how long it will be before the W calls Spoon. Or vice versa: (Hello, Sandy? Hello, Jenny?)

Not a good sign for BU – the just escaped Rhode Island, 52-49.

UNC-Wilmington can’t get no respect. ESPN’s scoreboard says they beat Northern Kentucky, but won’t register the win in the record.

Yah, yah, it’s early, but…

Maine is 3-0.

Temple is 3-0.

St. John’s is 3-0.

St. Mary’s is 3-0.

NC State is 3-0.

Loyd scored a lot of points for Notre Dame.

Yah, they went to overtime, and Tennessee-Martin’s Jasmine Newsome scored a WNIT record 44tpts, but Quinnipiac is 0-2 on the road.

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SUUUUUUEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

More WBHOF stuff:

From Mechelle: Wicks reflects on satisfying career – Former Liberty, Rutgers star part of Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame’s 2013 class

For Wicks, the feeling was at its peak when she played in Madison Square Garden with teammates like Teresa Weatherspoon and Vickie Johnson, and against foes like Cynthia Cooper and Tina Thompson.

She knows they all felt it. In those early years of the WNBA, so much seemed groundbreaking and even breathtaking.

“I think you just experience it, and you don’t know how to really talk about it,” Wicks said. “But even now, if I see Spoon or Vickie — they know exactly what it is, and we don’t say anything. Or even Cynthia or Tina. There’s a great deal of love there, and respect, even between fierce competitors. Because it brought something out of each one of us.”

From KBTX: Blair to be Inducted into Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame

“I have had the great opportunity to interact with the other inductees having either coached or coached against them and it will be an honor to stand beside them as we are inducted this weekend,” Blair said. “When you begin your career you do not even think of the Hall of Fame, you dream of NCAA Tournament appearances, Final Fours or the ultimate dream of a National Championship. The Hall of Fame is never one of your goals, because nobody can make the Hall without great teammates or assistant coaches. The honor is mind-boggling because of who is already in the Hall of Fame and to think that some of my former players or assistants will hopefully be able to join me in Knoxville really makes me appreciate how fortunate I am to have had their support throughout my career.”

From Dan Fleser: Signature moment epitomized Jennifer Rizzotti’s play – Fame is another move for Rizzotti and Mike Anthony from the Hartford Courant adds: Rizzotti Touched By Warm Reception At Pre-Hall Of Fame Gala

“A number of years ago, we took our basketball team to Italy,” said Sullivan, who will escort Rizzotti to the stage for her induction. “I ran [every morning] by this building in Rome. I didn’t even notice it the first two days. The third day, I stopped. The statues, the window work, the details. Because Rome is so saturated with all these iconic things, I hadn’t even noticed the building. Sometimes I feel like that’s what life with Jen is like. She’s gotten so much done and accomplished so many things, that if you’re not constantly looking at it you’ll miss some things.

“When the things you’re really great at transcend basketball, then you know you’re going to be a hall of fame daughter, a hall of fame sister, a hall of fame mother, a hall of fame wife. That’s why, wherever she goes, she’s been able to do whatever she’s done. Although I run by that building a little too often, I assure you, I promise you, that I know how beautiful it is.”

Dan also notes, Peggy Gillom-Granderson surprised to be Women’s Hall inductee

Peggie Gillom-Granderson’s accomplishments speak volumes on her behalf.

Just as well, since she still struggles to grasp the sum of her women’s basketball career at Ole Miss. The 2,486 points and 1,271 rebounds she amassed added up to phone call last summer from long-time acquaintance Eddie Clinton, informing Gillom-Granderson that she will be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. She called him back the next day just to make sure it was true.

From the Times Free Press: UTC’s Foster ready for Women’s College Basketball Hall of Fame induction

“I’m sure it will hit me when I’m there,” Foster said. “But I’m not going to predetermine what my feelings are. I have to experience things. I’ve been asked about a lot of things, but I have to experience them.”

From the Daily Progress: Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame to honor Wayland Baptist Flying Queens

The Flying Queens are only the fourth “Trailblazer of the Game” to be recognized, joining the All-American Red Heads, Edmonton Grads and the Former Helms/Citizens Savings/Founders Bank. Each group has a display at the Hall of Fame.

The five teams, then known as the Hutcherson Flying Queens – carrying the name of their sponsor, Claude Hutcherson, a local fixed-base operator who flew the teams to their games in his fleet of Bonanza aircraft – also won four consecutive AAU championships during the streak. Texas Monthly magazine did a feature on the streak in March and a company in Denver is planning a documentary on the same subject.

From TexasSports.com: Smith-Knight to be inducted into Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2013: Texas’ all-time leading scorer becomes the fifth member of the Women’s Basketball family to earn Hall of Fame induction.

“In the most simple words, we built the Texas Women’s Basketball program on the back of Annette,” UT Women’s Athletics Director Chris Plonsky said. “We have probably never had a more humble, yet effusive, superstar. In her prime, Annette was great because of her sheer-natural talent. Her competitiveness and her zest for playing were unmatched. Every great player that came to play at Texas came because of Annette.”

Smith-Knight was a first-team All-American (1984) and a two-time Southwest Conference Player of the Year (1983, 1984) as a sophomore and junior who also won a gold medal for USA Basketball at the 1983 World University Games. She paced Conradt’s squad to a runner-up finish at the 1982 AIAW Championship in addition to a pair of NCAA “Elite Eight” showings (in 1983 and 1984).

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Last call for Maggie Dixon tickets….

As most of you know, it’s become an annual thing with me: get as many people as possible to join me at the Garden for the Maggie Dixon game.

We usually get a group rate ($40 each) and the seats have been super. I purchase the tickets, then mail’em out to you — and then you send along a check or hand me the big bucks at the game.

Details:
Sunday, December 9th. First game starts at 11am.
Louisiana Tech vs. Rutgers
Duke vs. St. John’s

If you want tickets, drop me a line at womenshoopsblog@gmail.com. I’m looking to put in an order this Friday.

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A little WATN?

with Jackie Stiles: Coaching. (So, when’s that book coming out, Mechelle?)

A little USTYPT (You stay put) in Cincinnati: Elliot Signs Extension

A little, it closes the book, but it doesn’t end the pain: Memphis native gets 29 years in stabbing death of her MTSU roommate, Tina Stewart

A little “congrats” to the Miami Sol fan’s favorite oh, so black-and-blue player: Former Saint Joseph’s Standout Debbie Black To Be Inducted Into Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame. Have not been able to confirm rumors that Teresa Weatherspoon will introduce her at the ceremony…. *evil grin*

A little Bears and ‘bama at the White House.

A little, “I’m not done yet!” Cheryl Ford continues basketball comeback – Former Lady Techster to give back to Ruston this weekend.

A little, no, I’m not surprised: Pilypaitis emerges as leader on Canadian women’s basketball team and Gloucester’s Courtnay Pilypaitis is reviving Canada’s hoop dreams

An industrious athlete recognized more for her exceptional work ethic and all-around game rather than star power, Pilypaitis, 23, raised her game to an unprecedented level during the FIBA world Olympic women’s qualifying tournament in Ankara, Turkey earlier this summer. In doing so, she orchestrated her team’s return to the Olympic women’s basketball tournament for the first time in 12 years.

But Pilypaitis almost didn’t make it to Turkey to help land Canada a fifth-place finish and the final berth in the 12-country Olympic tournament.

 

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I’m making a list and

checking it twice.

Yup, it’s that time of year: planning for the Maggie Dixon Classic. Held at the Garden, this year’s double-header (11am, 1pm) features: La Tech (Spoon) v. Rutgers (CViv) and Duke (Coach P) and St. John’s (thenewguy).

I’m putting together a list of folks and will send out a “ya want?” email later on in the year. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with an awesome MSG person (oddly enough, not an oxymoron) who’s gotten us great seats at a generous group rate.

How it works: It’s an honor system. I collect a list of folks, and when it nears purchase time I send out a “confirming you do/don’t want tickets and how many?” email. When I get a total, I purchase a group of tickets. I then mail’em out (or hand deliver, in some cases) and you respond with a check or slip me some cash the day of.

If you’re interested in being part of the WHB Maggie Dixon Classic Horde (last year I think we numbered 53), drop me a note at Womenshoopsblog @ gmail.

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Some West Coast news stolen

from Jayda: Washington coach Kevin McGuff debuts radio show

Playing an inherited schedule from former coach Tia Jackson that’s easier than he lined up in his days a Xavier, McGuff’s Huskies are 6-2 for the program’s best start since 2005. UW has an extended break after defeating Portland 61-49 on Friday, hosting Houston on Dec. 18 and Southern on Dec. 20 to conclude nonconference play.

On the East Coast, Mel has an interesting review of possible candidates for the Maggie Dixon Coach of the Year award. Rookie D-I Coaches Not Finding Life Easy As The Boss

Whoever wins the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Maggie Dixon Rookie Coach of the Year Award this season is probably going to have to earn his or her stripes in conference competition.

By the Guru’s count among the musical chairs coaching changes in the offseason 21 have become Division I head coaches for the first time making them eligible though if the award were given today the selection committee might call the whole thing off for a year.

Just as good a time as any to reflect on past winners and their current state:

2006–07 Krista Kilburn-Steveskey at Hofstra: 26–8 — Currently 8-2

2007–08: Jeff Walz at Louisville: 26–10 — Currently 9-2

2008–09: Kelly Packard at Ball State: 26–9 — Currently 5-5

2009–10: Teresa Weatherspoon at Louisiana Tech: 23–9 — Currently 5-6

2010–11: Stephanie Glance at Illinois State: 24–10 — Currently 5-4

Also, odd fact of the review: three out of five of the MDRCOY winners work on teams that feature red birds….

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It took a while, but

the Lib are collaborating with St. John’s.

If you email thomas.berman10@stjohns.edu or call 718-990-6502 you can get tickets that include a Meet & Greet with Teresa Weatherspoon after the double-header on Dec. 17: 1 PM St. John’s v. Prairie View (wouldn’t it have been fun if Coop still coached them?) and 3PM LaTech v. American.

And no, we haven’t heard anything about *edit fix. thx tara* Nadirah McKenith’s (not Eugeneia McPherson) knee injury.

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Flashback, 1997

Vin writes: WNBA Reaches A Milestone With Its 15th Anniversary

Lisa Leslie remembers her surprise at the big arenas and luxurious locker rooms. Rebecca Lobo, Penny Toler and Teresa Weatherspoon recall the excitement of finally getting to play before family and friends. For everyone involved in the WNBA’s first game in 1997, there was also plenty of nervousness to go around.

With the New York Liberty facing the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday, the matchup falls on the anniversary of the game the teams played to begin the league’s inaugural season. Now in its 15th year, the WNBA has outlasted an early rival, endured a struggling economy and overcome naysayers perennially predicting its doom.

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What I like about Jere’s NYTimes

article (yah, it was printed a couple of days ago, but somehow the post stayed a draft) is the accompanying photograph. For some reason, Northern Iowa has become my favorite “team most people don’t know.” A Field of 64 Teams, With 4 Heavy Favorites

These No. 1 seeds, announced Monday, have won a combined 18 national championships, are coached by the nation’s highest-profile coaches and have clearly separated themselves from every other team in the country without being able to dominate one another. During the regular season, UConn beat Baylor, which beat Tennessee, which beat Stanford, which beat UConn.

“I don’t feel there’s a clear No. 1 this year as there was the past two years,” said Stanford Coach Tara VanDerveer, who has won two national titles and whose Cardinal halted UConn’s record 90-game winning streak in December. “But I think there’s been clearly a top four.”

Also at the Times, Joanne Gerstner writes: Underdogs Duke, Ohio State Look to Make Waves

Jimmy Watson at the Shreveport Times talks about the risks inherent in hosting: Women’s NCAA event offers special subplots

With the LSU women a perennial tournament participant and the Lady Techsters a resurgent enterprise under Teresa Weatherspoon, landing a Louisiana team with a strong following seemed a foregone conclusion at the beginning. But the Lady Tigers had one of their worst seasons in recent memory and missed the 2011 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship for the first time in 14 seasons. And by losing in the finals of the WAC Tournament, the Techsters had to depend on plucking an at-large bid away from a BCS conference school. Otherwise local organizers would have been left holding an event where nobody came.

Not only did the organizers luck out with the Techsters being given a 10-seed, they landed teams with some great subplots that should attract some local sports enthusiasts a reason to watch on Sunday and Tuesday.

A couple of sidebars to the above:

LSU’s women’s basketball team is stunned they’re not in the NCAA Tournament

Techsters land NCAA bid

Kim has lots and lots of reaction articles on her Daily News page. Looks like Marist and Xavier are a tad cranky and UCLA is puzzled.

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I’m thinkin’ that

since Houston lost and McNesse State won, the WHB curse was neutralized. (Yes, I’m using my escape goat.)

It’s the Cowgirls first trip to the NCAAs, and there’s a great story behind it:

Twin sisters Ashlyn and Caitlyn Baggett led McNeese State to the Southland Conference tournament championship and its first NCAA tournament berth on Friday night.

As they celebrated the 71-50 victory over Central Arkansas, the pair reflected on a time not too long ago when it looked as though they might never suit up for the Cowgirls again. After both had successful freshman seasons in 2009, they decided to leave the team and soon began dealing with health problems that threatened their athletic careers.

A year away from the court got them healthy and happy, and they combined for 38 points in the championship game.

Meanwhile, Houston ran into a Green Wave that has recently seemed to regain its footing. Their 70-60 upset of the #22 Cougars puts Tulane in the finals against UCF, who are riding a 10-game win streak.

No surprise, it’s UCLA v. Stanford in the Pac-10 finals, and Baylor v. Texas A&M in the Big 12.

Green Bay continues their run, and Graham continues his coverage.

Bowling Green moved past Central Michigan, 80-72, to move into the MAC finals. #1 seed Toledo got surprised by Eastern Michigan, and so it’s the Eagles, not the Rockets who’ll face the Falcons.

Prairie View A&M has recovered from their coach’s move last season, and are in the SWAC finals. Their former coach has taken her new team, UNC- Wilmington, into the CAA semis.

LaTech’s 1000th program win moves Spoon’s team into the WAC finals. Writes Mechelle: Life is grand for Lady Techsters

When sleeved jerseys were still the norm, box scores were run off on mimeograph machines and most “big” universities cared little for their women’s basketball programs, Louisiana Tech was winning games.

The sleeves are gone (even holdout Tech finally abandoned them), Twitter sends messages worldwide in a blink and there is significantly more money/effort now put into supporting the sport by most Division I schools.

And Louisiana Tech … is still winning games.

Friday, in fact, the Lady Techsters claimed their 1,000th victory, a milestone only Tennessee has reached among Division I programs.

“It means a lot to me because of them,” Tech coach Teresa Weatherspoon, one of the school’s playing legends, said of the current players. “I’m proud of where they’ve come from.”

Check out the finals on ESPNU today at 1pmPT.

Yup, I was right – you DON’T want to meet Delaware in the CAA tourney. The Fighting Blue Hens took down ODU, 72-55. EDD: 31pts, 10rebs, 4 blocks.

Okay, did my flashback make the Sycamore cranky? Indiana State (8/10 in the MVC) upset Stephanie Glance’s Illinois State Redbirds (12-6) 80-51 in the quarters.

Whoops! The Utes (7-9/MWC) used an exciting buzzer-beating shot to upset BYU, 50-49, so the Mountain West finals will feature Utah and soon to be Big East member, TCU.

It will be Portland State and Montana in the Big Sky finals.

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Stupid stuff

post-game between Fresno State and La Tech.

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From ESPN.com

Graham has his mid-major poll (‘ware the owls. Especially if they’re long-eared). Hello, ‘spoon!

Chris Hansen has news of a top recruit going to UConn. HoopGurlz lasho has the Powerade Fab 50 rankings – Week 9.

Charlie chatted about brackets and such.

Mechelle tweets that Tangela Smith is going to the Fever.

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In other games…

West Virginia’s gentle out of conference schedule is showing, as is DePaul’s quiet strength. The Blue Demons took the Mountaineers down. With authority, 78-55.

Marist is still unbeaten in the MAAC.

In spite of a key injury, the Princeton Tigers are still rolling. And, their coach is feeling honored to be in charge.

Maybe flashbacks are good? Texas has won three in a row, and the WATN? for the 1985 undefeated team continues.

The Terriers, with their 9th straight win, are getting more local coverage.

Note to Wolverines: Do not overlook a Gopher.

Th sweet shooting Nittany Lion Lucas helped send Ohio State to another loss.

More press for Suzie: Duquesne’s McConnell-Serio has success at many levels

Oooo, this is a pretty tortured trying-to-be-cute headline: Broncos weathered by Techster storm: Former WNBA star coaches La Tech to victory against BSU

UCLA is off to its best start in 30 years.

Tennessee continues to be the class of the SEC, but you have to wonder how hard Georgia is going to have to work to earn a NCAA bid, as they go down to LSU.

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Yup, we noticed this, too (too)

From Ethan Conley at the News Star: From player to coach, Tech recruit a winner – Former coach remembers the birthday recruiting gig

Tech went 118-14 during Weatherspoon’s four years. She was a two-time Kodak All-American and the 1988 Wade Trophy winner. She went on to play on two Olympic teams, make five WNBA All-Star teams, and win the WNBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award twice.And now Weatherspoon is Techsters’ head coach.

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LaTech flashback time

Hogg, Taylor Recall Techsters Beginning at National Championship Reunion Luncheon – Packed house hear about the very beginnings of the storied program

A sense of nostalgia filled the banquet room at Squire Creek Country Club Saturday afternoon as hundreds of Louisiana Tech basketball fans turned out for a luncheon honoring members of the Lady Techsters three national championship teams.

Memorabilia filled two tables taking Lady Techster fans old and new back three decades to the first of the three national championship titles when LA Tech defeated Tennessee 79-59 on March 29, 1981.

Original footage from all three national title games rolled off a projector against a screen in the room, which included game footage as well as postgame interviews with players such as Jennifer White, Angela Turner, Teresa Weatherspoon and more.

BTW, thanks to Spoon, the LaTech program has a future: they’re unbeaten in the WAC.

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MV blogs about the Garden

Liberty: Looking forward instead of back?

This weekend at Madison Square Garden, the Liberty games had that “old-fashioned” feel to them. Mind you, in this case I’m referring to “old-fashioned” being the late ’90s-early 2000s.

The atmosphere at MSG hasn’t been as good in recent years as it used to be, back when the Liberty had several players who were fan favorites for a variety of reasons. There were the Becky Hammon worshippers, the Teresa Weatherspoon devotees, the Kym Hampton group, the Vickie Johnson backers, the Sue Wicks posse. And we don’t want to leave out those Lib fans who picked Crystal Robinson or Tamika Whitmore as their favorite, either.

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On today’s Dishin’ & Swishin’

Interviews with La Tech coach Teresa Wetherspoon and Mystics GM Angela Taylor.

Listen in at www.wstrradio.com

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