They're Playing Basketball: June 2017

The Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport has released some amazing research this morning, on the 45th anniversary of Title IX.

Gender, Race and LGBT Inclusion of Head Coaches of Women’s Teams

Thursday, June 22, 2017

No games? No problem. LOTS to discuss........

WNBA team news:

The Lynx are determined not to let one loss turn into two.

The Liberty activated Epiphanny Prince and waived Cierra Burdick.

WNBA player news:

Mystics owner Ted Leonsis and Elena Delle Donne are plotting to transform the WNBA.

Friendships have opened doors for Chiney Ogwumike.

Q&A with Skylar Diggins-Smith.

Glory Johnson as a featured scorer is become more common for Dallas.

Diana Taurasi and Tamika Catchings are the subject for the latest Around the Rim podcast.

Is Taurasi the best ever?

Phoenix thinks so: they unveiled a Taurasi banner earlier this week.

Sandy Brondello talks about Taurasi.

Leilani Mitchell and Steph Talbot are standing up for the Mercury.

Sue Bird says athletes who don't embrace sports tech are idiots.

Courtney Vandersloot has returned from Hungary.

Sylvia Fowles is ESPN's frontrunner for MVP.

Tomorrow's game schedule:

The Dream are coming off a long road trip to host the Sky.

The hot Sun will bear down to visit the Liberty.

Mystics at Lynx

Wings at Stars

Taurasi, her record and the Mercury visit the Storm

Eurobasket news:

Greece and Balgium made history to reach the semifinals.

It'll be Spain vs. Belgium and Greece vs. France Saturday.

Emma Meesseman and Sancho Lyttle are dominating Eurobasket play.

College player news:

Washington transfer Aarion McDonald has landed at Arizona.

Sources say Te'a Cooper transferred from Tennessee after she instigated a fight with teammate Jamie Nared.

College coach news:.

Niki Reid Geckeler has resigned as Towson's head coach to pursue other coaching opportunities.

And that would be at Georgetown, where she is one of three new assistants.

UMass granted Tony Verdi a contract extension.

Former Cal star Eliza Pierre is a new assistant coach at UC Santa Barbara.

Jerise Freeman is Oklahoma State's new coach.

Kristen Morris is a new assistant coach at UIC.

High school recruit news:

Golden and gloved, Zia Cooke dazzles.

Title IX:

Title IX roundtable with some VIPs.

The 45th anniversary of the measure, tomorrow, is definitely cause for celebration.

How Title IX affects pay to play.

Bonus:

The Women Leaders in College Sport have formed a partnership with the WNBA. Hallelujah.

Tamika Catchings says her jersey retirement ceremony Saturday will be bittersweet.

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Return of the All-Star game three-point contest

All-Star game three point shooting contest is back:

....after an eight-year hiatus.

Today's game result:

Glory Johnson scored 25 points to lead the Wings to an 81-78 comeback win over the Stars. Monique Currie had 29 points for winless San Antonio.

WNBA team news:

The Mercury will host a Diana Taurasi night Friday, for their game against the Lynx.

WNBA player news:

Diana Taurasi is ready to put her scoring record behind her.

Elizabeth Williams is just what the doctor ordered.

Mistie Bass gave birth to a son this morning.

The league's "race to the MVP" list has Sun center Jonquel Jones jumping into the mix.

Alex Bentley has returned to the Sun from overseas, and Feyonda Fitzgerald was waived.

Kia Vaughn also returned to the Liberty, and Ameryst Alston was waived.

Former WNBA player news:

Tamika Catchings' jersey retirement is a fitting end to a storybook career.

No games until Friday.

College team news:

Mississippi State and Morgan William have been nominated for an ESPY.

So has South Carolina.

College coach news:

Tennessee assistant coach Dean Lockwood says words matter.

Jacie Hoyt and former Kansas State player Kindred Wesemann will coach together at UMKC.

Former college coach news:

Tyler Summitt is living another life after his mother's death and his resignation as Louisiana Tech coach.

Title IX:

Mechelle Voepel takes a look at whether women working in athletic departments are welcomed or marginalized.

Nine things to know about Title IX.

Pride month:

Seattle's pro sports teams have come together to support Pride month.

ESPYs:

Several college and pro WBB teams and players have been nominated for an ESPY. Vote here.

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

WNBA All-Star voting taking a humorous turn

WNBA All-Star voting:

From sleek graphics to hilarious video, WNBA All-Star voting brings out the best in promotions.

WNBA rankings polls:

The AP has the Lynx first and the Sun climbing to seventh.

Connecticut is up to fifth in the league's own power rankings.

WNBA team news:

The Sun's teamwork and chemistry are translating to success on the court.

Connecticut has become a successful chemistry experiment.

With one of the most experienced rosters in the league, the Lynx continue to expand their game.

WNBA president Lisa Borders says Minnesota sets an excellent example for the league.

The Lynx had an intense practice after their first loss of the season Saturday.

WNBA player news:

Shavonte Zellous has stepped up for the Liberty lately.

Courtney Williams has found her groove in the WNBA.

Now that Diana Taurasi has the league scoring record, maybe opponents will relax.

Former WNBA player news:

Tamika Catchings talks about her retirement and the Indiana Fever.

Catchings is missing her friends.

WNBA coach news:

Mystics head coach Mike Thibault and assistant coach Eric Thibault will miss this week's Minnesota game due to the death of their father/grandfather.

College team news:

Coach Holly Warlick has formed "Team Up" to bring the Lady Vols closer.

College coach news:

Bob Clark has been elevated to associate head coach at Delaware.

Alex Earl has been promoted to assistant coach at Colorado.

Calamity McEntire joins Dayton as an assistant coach.

Monday, June 19, 2017

When your mentor-turned-friend is still a teacher

“Can you read something for me?”

Jack has heard that from me many times over the last 26 and a half years.

But I don’t ask him to read the final drafts of my stories anymore unless it’s a major endeavor; the kind where I’ve written on it for so long that I need checks and balances to make sure I haven’t lost my perspective.

All writers need that sometimes. I’m just fortunate to have had the same person by my side for almost three decades.

Jack was the editor of a suburban Seattle daily newspaper when I walked into his office looking for a reporting job in January, 1991. My persistence in following up with him eventually won him over, and he hired me. Thus began another kind of schooling than my undergraduate degree had provided.

By the time I met him, Jack had been a writer or an editor in several cities across the United States, as well as Hong Kong, for over three decades. He was highly-regarded because his writing was concise and flawless, and as an editor, he made other people’s work read the same way.

Jack's most sage advice to me was that, "you know the story is ready when not more more word could be taken away" from the copy and have it still make sense. That is a concept to live by, because young and/or inexperienced writers use too many words to say what could be said with far less.

Throughout years as a fulltime journalist I worked for Jack and then other editors, but it was Jack that I always went to for final edits. He kept having less and less to say to me with each year, and then we got to the point where all he would say every so often was something like, "well, the lead could have been more interesting." And of course he was right, so I'd go fix it. Last year he gave me the highest compliment as a writer that anyone could get from him. I was honored.

Jack started out as a mentor, but he evolved into a friend around the time I became 30. Outwardly we didn't have too much in common, as his interests were foreign affairs, world politics, business and government, while mine were sports, psychology, coaching/training and working with teens. But we have similar lenses on life, and we were - and are - writers to the core.

These last two years, I have been surprised to see my friend morph into a women's basketball fan. I took him to some Seattle Storm games in 2001, but I guess he wasn't ready to embrace it at the time. Then Kelsey Plum came to the University of Washington, and Jack was hooked.

True to someone who has lived many years and seen so much, Jack is a keen observer. More than a few times last winter, I'd be driving somewhere and he'd suddenly call me to discuss a Pac-12 or another game he'd just seen on TV. He nailed the personalities of all of the Pac-12 coaches without me saying anything to him about them. I was highly amused.

Jack likes the fact that the women play sound, fundamental basketball. Like me, he views the NBA as more of a stunt show and a star parade than anything else. Jack has also had plenty of questions for me as he destroyed the learning curve in figuring out basketball: How is that a foul? How does the NCAA Tournament work? What's the different between preconference play and conference play? He's been thirsty for knowledge.

I was going through a long explanation one day in March and Jack said "Ah!" as understanding dawned. He laughed.

"Learning is fun!" he said.

I blinked. Then smiled.

Jack turned 80 years old last year. He still works as a writer in Seattle because he loves it. And he's still learning.

"When I stop learning, I die," he elaborated when I asked him.

Jack is teaching and inspiring by example, too.

Now I've just got to get him to come cover a game with me.

It's still poppin' on a no-game day

WNBA news:

Beyond Diana Taurasi's scoring record, the WNBA needs attention.

My "Mock Win Monday" for the week.

WNBA player news:

Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi have remained friends for many years.

The eye of the Storm: Breanna Stewart.

Candace Parker and Jonquel Jones are the Western and Eastern Conference players of the week.

Title IX 45th anniversary is Friday:

How a verbal joust from a men's basketball coach lit a fire under Carol Hutchins.

College program news:

Kentucky had 17 self-reported rules violations this past season, including five in WBB.

College team news:

Kentucky will have another tough schedule this season.

College player news:

Alyssa Jerome is playing at an elite level before arriving at Stanford.

Another big get for Arizona, as they land Purdue transfer Dominique McBryde.

College coach news:

Quinnipiac coach Tricia Fabbri's contract has been extended through 2021-2022.

Martina Wood is Richmond's new assistant coach.

South Dakota's new assistant coach is Jason Jeschke.

Eurobasket:

Live stats and updates.

Sunday, June 18, 2017

Breaking records and commanding upsets

Today's game results:

The Wings rallied to topple the Mystics, 87-83.

Taurasi breaks league scoring record as Sparks blow out Mercury, 90-59.

The Fever came from behind to beat the Sky, 91-79. It was the season's first road win for Indiana.

Seattle welcomes Kelsey Plum, hands San Antonio 11th straight loss.

WNBA player news:

Diana Taurasi said clinching the scoring record was "pretty cool."

Taurasi is more than a scoring phenom.

Father's Day:

Kaela Davis reflects on growing up with a father in the NBA.

College team news:

Robert Morris hopes their Japanese basketball recruit is the first of many.

College coach news:

UConn associate head coach Chris Dailey reminds youth regarding social media: you have one reputation.

Women claiming their power and supporting other women means supporting themselves

I was knocked out by the advertisement for U Kotex Fitness-brand tampons in today's paper, above. The ad featured a large-sized, African American woman with the slogan, "My period is a symbol of my feminine strength."

First, Kotex gets major props for using a more diversified representative of fitness than the standard white woman with no butt. Even more significantly, they've reclaimed something that has been used against women: their menstrual cycle. Over the last 20 years, as views of women in America have retreated backwards, the menstrual cycle has been portrayed as a weakness. Kotex turns that on its ear and claims it as a strength. And rightly so.

The menstrual cycle represents the capability of women to bring life into the world. This is an underrated superpower - especially for basketball players and other athletes - who often return to competition fairly soon after giving birth.

Perhaps due to social media and the constant quest for "likes," America has become a nation of followers. If there's a popular opinion, people are likely to go with it rather than stick with or hatch their own views. That seems to have influenced WNBA consumption.

San Antonio Stars coach Vickie Johnson made an observation in our interview last week that I have written about before:

“For us when we were growing up, we watched a lot of basketball,” she said. “Now they don’t watch basketball. They don’t watch their own league. You don’t watch the WNBA, but you want to be in the WNBA. It doesn’t make sense to me.”

Me neither. But as young men have been allowed to join the NBA sooner, and as play in that league has become more acrobatic and less fundamentals-based, popular opinion has become that NBA play is the way the game should be executed. And it does seem like every young female basketball player has plenty of NBA knowledge but understands very little, if anything, about the WNBA.

The secret is, and always has been, that each person decides their values for themselves. Just because someone says being shy is negative, for example, doesn't mean that you have to think that way. Claim shyness if you're shy. You can only be shamed if you let yourself be shamed.

Women should not feel badly about being women. Differences with men exist: women have different bodies, different ways of processing information and emotions, and different ways of solving problems. But differences don't necessarily equate to one being better than the other; that's merely a value judgement.

Like the recent success of the feature film "Wonder Woman," this Kotex ad gives me hope. Perhaps a better day lies ahead where women will claim their power and strength and support other women, rather than deferring to defeatist viewpoints and impeding their own progress.

Supporting other women means you're supporting yourself.