Today's game results:
The Sky beat the Dream, 85-68, to clinch first place in the Eastern Conference.
The Lynx routed the Storm, 97-74.
The Sparks defeated the Silver Stars, 80-67.
San Antonio's loss means the Storm have clinched their tenth straight playoff berth. They might have to play at the Tacoma Dome, as Key Arena is booked in late September.
The Mercury bested the Sun, 76-68.
Team news:
Mercury....Candice Dupree has stepped it up since the arrival of interim coach Russ Pennell.
Liberty....Katie Smith edges closer to retirement.
Tomorrow's game:
Liberty at Shock
Saturday, August 31, 2013
It's almost balloting time again
As the regular season winds down, it's time for the media to choose the "best of" players and coaches.
MVP
ROY
COY
Most Improved
Best Defensive
Sixth Woman
Who do you think should win these awards, readers? I'd love to hear what you think.
MVP
ROY
COY
Most Improved
Best Defensive
Sixth Woman
Who do you think should win these awards, readers? I'd love to hear what you think.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Sophia Young comes out against gay marriage, and opposes adding gays and lesbians to code
Silver Stars forward Sophia Young made her views against gay marriage and protection for gays and lesbians in San Antonio known publicly yesterday:
Sophia Young is a three-time WNBA all-star, an All-American while at Baylor University and a fan favorite. Well, that last part may be changing. On Thursday, Young made it clear that she doesn't support same-sex marriage or adding gay people to San Antonio's nondiscrimination code. In doing so, Young gave the WNBA, its gay fans and gay players, its latest headache.
WNBA President Laurel Richie disagreed with Young's stance:
''Sophia has the right to express her point of view, however, I do not share her view,'' WNBA president Laurel Richie said in a statement. ''The WNBA supports diversity and we are committed to the equal and fair treatment of all people.''
Sophia Young is a three-time WNBA all-star, an All-American while at Baylor University and a fan favorite. Well, that last part may be changing. On Thursday, Young made it clear that she doesn't support same-sex marriage or adding gay people to San Antonio's nondiscrimination code. In doing so, Young gave the WNBA, its gay fans and gay players, its latest headache.
WNBA President Laurel Richie disagreed with Young's stance:
''Sophia has the right to express her point of view, however, I do not share her view,'' WNBA president Laurel Richie said in a statement. ''The WNBA supports diversity and we are committed to the equal and fair treatment of all people.''
The fight for the playoffs
The Fever outlasted the Liberty, 73-67, to cement their fourth place spot in the East, and draw closer to third. Tamika Catchings lead Indiana with 22 points.
The Silver Stars beat the Shock, 74-65, to stay in the playoff picture.
Team news:
Shock....Candice Wiggins is becoming one of the league's top perimeter defenders.
Wiggins and teammate Skylar Diggins have developed a great friendship.
Storm....forward Shekinna Stricklen is improving her three-point shot.
Sky....Elena Delle Donne talks about her signature move, her family, and more.
Delle Donne is doing her part to grow the WNBA.
Checking in with Sharnee Zoll.
Liberty....one-on-one with Delisha Milton-Jones.
Tomorrow's game previews:
Dream at Sky
Storm at Lynx
Sparks at Silver Stars
Sun at Mercury
College news:
San Jose State coach Tim La Kose has resigned for personal reasons.
The Silver Stars beat the Shock, 74-65, to stay in the playoff picture.
Team news:
Shock....Candice Wiggins is becoming one of the league's top perimeter defenders.
Wiggins and teammate Skylar Diggins have developed a great friendship.
Storm....forward Shekinna Stricklen is improving her three-point shot.
Sky....Elena Delle Donne talks about her signature move, her family, and more.
Delle Donne is doing her part to grow the WNBA.
Checking in with Sharnee Zoll.
Liberty....one-on-one with Delisha Milton-Jones.
Tomorrow's game previews:
Dream at Sky
Storm at Lynx
Sparks at Silver Stars
Sun at Mercury
College news:
San Jose State coach Tim La Kose has resigned for personal reasons.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Storm headed for tenth consecutive playoff berth?
Tina Thompson and Camille Little each scored 18 to lead the Storm past the Sun tonight, 78-65. They need one more win to clinch a playoff berth, which would be a WNBA record tenth in a row. Nobody expected this of Seattle, which lost Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson prior to the season.
Few foresaw the league's lone original season player, Tina Thompson, having a final year like this, either. The 38-year-old is the Storm's leading scorer.
I remember the last time the Storm didn't make the playoffs, in 2003. I forget whom they lost to that night, at Key Arena, but it put them out of the running. A friend and I sat in our seats for the longest time afterward, not wanting to let the season go. The next year - 2004 - I watched Seattle's season end standing under confetti falling from the Key ceiling, the marquee blazing "WNBA Champions!" while Jackson cavorted on court barefoot, drinking champagne from the bottle.
I hope the Storm make their tenth consecutive playoff appearance this year.
Team news:
Sparks....Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike pitched at yesterday's Dodger game.
Lynx....coach Cheryl Reeve set the tone for Catwalk for a Cure.
MVP:
I like Slam's MVP rankings way better than the WNBA's:
1. Candace Parker
2. Tamika Catchings
3. Sylvia Fowles
4. Angel McCoughtry
5. Maya Moore
6. Elena Delle Donne
7. Diana Taurasi
8. Lindsay Whalen
9. Liz Cambage
10. Tina Thompson
Tomorrow's game previews:
Fever at Liberty
Silver Stars at Shock
College news:
Nicole Powell joins the staff at Gonzaga as an assistant coach.
Few foresaw the league's lone original season player, Tina Thompson, having a final year like this, either. The 38-year-old is the Storm's leading scorer.
I remember the last time the Storm didn't make the playoffs, in 2003. I forget whom they lost to that night, at Key Arena, but it put them out of the running. A friend and I sat in our seats for the longest time afterward, not wanting to let the season go. The next year - 2004 - I watched Seattle's season end standing under confetti falling from the Key ceiling, the marquee blazing "WNBA Champions!" while Jackson cavorted on court barefoot, drinking champagne from the bottle.
I hope the Storm make their tenth consecutive playoff appearance this year.
Team news:
Sparks....Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike pitched at yesterday's Dodger game.
Lynx....coach Cheryl Reeve set the tone for Catwalk for a Cure.
MVP:
I like Slam's MVP rankings way better than the WNBA's:
1. Candace Parker
2. Tamika Catchings
3. Sylvia Fowles
4. Angel McCoughtry
5. Maya Moore
6. Elena Delle Donne
7. Diana Taurasi
8. Lindsay Whalen
9. Liz Cambage
10. Tina Thompson
Tomorrow's game previews:
Fever at Liberty
Silver Stars at Shock
College news:
Nicole Powell joins the staff at Gonzaga as an assistant coach.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Overtime season
Tonight the Mystics got by the Atlanta Dream in overtime, 85-80.
Team news:
Fever....rookie Layshia Clarendon is giving her team a late-season lift.
Tomorrow's game preview:
The Storm host the Sun. Seattle is trying for an improbable playoff spot.
Team news:
Fever....rookie Layshia Clarendon is giving her team a late-season lift.
Tomorrow's game preview:
The Storm host the Sun. Seattle is trying for an improbable playoff spot.
More about last night
The Lynx hammered the Liberty, 73-47.
The Storm survived the Silver Stars, 72-71.
The Sparks bested the Sun, 91-78.
Tonight's game preview:
Mystics at Dream
College news:
Georgia Tech transfer Brittany Jackson isn't coming to Rutgers after all.
The Storm survived the Silver Stars, 72-71.
The Sparks bested the Sun, 91-78.
Tonight's game preview:
Mystics at Dream
College news:
Georgia Tech transfer Brittany Jackson isn't coming to Rutgers after all.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Shock at Sparks quotes
The video of Nneka Ogwumike's injury has been up for a couple days. You can see why it scared the crap out of those of us in the arena.
Afterwards, I interviewed Ogwumike in the locker room. The cut over her eye was pretty big, and trainer Courtney Watson was rubbing antibiotic on it. Ogwumike was in good spirits, but hoarse from yelling, as both teams did all game long.
Me: You seemed to get fired up by your own injury, going on a scoring run after that.
Ogwumike: "It was an and-one, and celebrations can get out of hand sometimes. It was a good team effort to get the play, and when something like that happens, there's an adrenaline rush. I would definitely say it uplifted the team."
Me: What got you all going in the fourth quarter after a slow start?
Ogwumike: "It took the coaches getting into us, and then us getting on ourselves. (Assistant Coach) Bridget Pettis really got on us between the third and fourth (quarters), and then we took it upon ourselves to make up for everything. We were trying our best to keep going every single possession."
Me: Do what do you attribute the team's slow start tonight?
Ogwumike: "I have a bad habit of playing reluctantly when I get into foul trouble, and I need to understand that my game is being aggressive, and I can be aggressive without fouling. I definitely felt accountable for that. I felt like I wasn't helping my team do what they needed to to."
Carol Ross corroborated Ogwumike's story.
"We came out flat, and they came out inspired, and before we knew it, we'd dug a big hole," she said of the Sparks' 19-point deficit at the end of the third quarter.
"Assistant coaches are never praised enough or get the attention they deserve, but Bridget Pettis lit into that team. She's my Buddha coach - she's the one that's always bringing all the positive energy. She unleashed it, and because they haven't seen her that way, she changed the energy on the bench. I give her all the credit in the world for inspiring them, and I give the players the credit for taking that and going out and getting it done."
Me: What can you say about the slow start?
"As slow as we started, it was still a one-possession game at halftime," Ross said. "Our offense wasn't great, and we've relied on it too much. Our defense kept us around the first half, but the third quarter was just bad - it was bad basketball on both ends. But as bad as we were in the fourth quarter, we were excellent in the fourth quarter."
Me: Candace Parker almost had a triple-double tonight. How did hers and Ogwumike's performances help the team?
"They're warriors. I thought Candace took a bid leadership role. Her passion to win was exceptional. It only takes one player to get a team fired up," Ross said.
Afterwards, I interviewed Ogwumike in the locker room. The cut over her eye was pretty big, and trainer Courtney Watson was rubbing antibiotic on it. Ogwumike was in good spirits, but hoarse from yelling, as both teams did all game long.
Me: You seemed to get fired up by your own injury, going on a scoring run after that.
Ogwumike: "It was an and-one, and celebrations can get out of hand sometimes. It was a good team effort to get the play, and when something like that happens, there's an adrenaline rush. I would definitely say it uplifted the team."
Me: What got you all going in the fourth quarter after a slow start?
Ogwumike: "It took the coaches getting into us, and then us getting on ourselves. (Assistant Coach) Bridget Pettis really got on us between the third and fourth (quarters), and then we took it upon ourselves to make up for everything. We were trying our best to keep going every single possession."
Me: Do what do you attribute the team's slow start tonight?
Ogwumike: "I have a bad habit of playing reluctantly when I get into foul trouble, and I need to understand that my game is being aggressive, and I can be aggressive without fouling. I definitely felt accountable for that. I felt like I wasn't helping my team do what they needed to to."
Carol Ross corroborated Ogwumike's story.
"We came out flat, and they came out inspired, and before we knew it, we'd dug a big hole," she said of the Sparks' 19-point deficit at the end of the third quarter.
"Assistant coaches are never praised enough or get the attention they deserve, but Bridget Pettis lit into that team. She's my Buddha coach - she's the one that's always bringing all the positive energy. She unleashed it, and because they haven't seen her that way, she changed the energy on the bench. I give her all the credit in the world for inspiring them, and I give the players the credit for taking that and going out and getting it done."
Me: What can you say about the slow start?
"As slow as we started, it was still a one-possession game at halftime," Ross said. "Our offense wasn't great, and we've relied on it too much. Our defense kept us around the first half, but the third quarter was just bad - it was bad basketball on both ends. But as bad as we were in the fourth quarter, we were excellent in the fourth quarter."
Me: Candace Parker almost had a triple-double tonight. How did hers and Ogwumike's performances help the team?
"They're warriors. I thought Candace took a bid leadership role. Her passion to win was exceptional. It only takes one player to get a team fired up," Ross said.
Thinking playoffs
My hands-down vote for rookie of the year, Elena Delle Donne, says making the playoffs is amazing.
But check out the current standings. For all the parity we've seen this year, there is a heck of a drop off between the top teams in both conferences:
Eastern Conference
Eastern W L PCT GB HOME ROAD PF PA STREAK L 10
x-Chicago 20 8 .714 - 11-2 9-6 79.4 73.0 Won 5 7-3
Atlanta 14 11 .560 4 ½ 11-2 3-9 76.7 73.3 Lost 2 4-6
Washington 13 15 .464 7 8-6 5-9 75.4 76.4 Won 1 4-6
Indiana 12 15 .444 7 ½ 7-7 5-8 70.0 70.0 Lost 1 4-6
New York 11 17 .393 9 6-8 5-9 70.1 77.3 Lost 1 4-6
Connecticut 7 19 .269 12 5-9 2-10 71.2 76.5 Lost 4 3-7
Western Conference
Western W L PCT GB HOME ROAD PF PA STREAK L 10
x-Minnesota 21 7 .750 - 12-2 9-5 83.1 74.3 Won 3 6-4
x-Los Angeles 19 8 .704 1 ½ 12-2 7-6 81.9 74.8 Won 1 7-3
Phoenix 14 13 .519 6 ½ 7-7 7-6 81.0 82.0 Lost 1 5-5
Seattle 14 14 .500 7 7-6 7-8 70.6 72.9 Won 1 6-4
San Antonio 10 18 .357 11 7-7 3-11 71.7 77.6 Lost 1 4-6
Tulsa 9 19 .321 12 6-7 3-12 76.8 79.7 Lost 1 4-6
Team news:
Fever....have waived Sasha Goodlett and signed Jasmine Hassell for the rest of the season.
Mystics....a minute with Tayler Hill.
College news:
Candace Parker's jersey will be retired at the University of Tennessee on Jan. 2, prior to their game against LSU.
But check out the current standings. For all the parity we've seen this year, there is a heck of a drop off between the top teams in both conferences:
Eastern Conference
Eastern W L PCT GB HOME ROAD PF PA STREAK L 10
x-Chicago 20 8 .714 - 11-2 9-6 79.4 73.0 Won 5 7-3
Atlanta 14 11 .560 4 ½ 11-2 3-9 76.7 73.3 Lost 2 4-6
Washington 13 15 .464 7 8-6 5-9 75.4 76.4 Won 1 4-6
Indiana 12 15 .444 7 ½ 7-7 5-8 70.0 70.0 Lost 1 4-6
New York 11 17 .393 9 6-8 5-9 70.1 77.3 Lost 1 4-6
Connecticut 7 19 .269 12 5-9 2-10 71.2 76.5 Lost 4 3-7
Western Conference
Western W L PCT GB HOME ROAD PF PA STREAK L 10
x-Minnesota 21 7 .750 - 12-2 9-5 83.1 74.3 Won 3 6-4
x-Los Angeles 19 8 .704 1 ½ 12-2 7-6 81.9 74.8 Won 1 7-3
Phoenix 14 13 .519 6 ½ 7-7 7-6 81.0 82.0 Lost 1 5-5
Seattle 14 14 .500 7 7-6 7-8 70.6 72.9 Won 1 6-4
San Antonio 10 18 .357 11 7-7 3-11 71.7 77.6 Lost 1 4-6
Tulsa 9 19 .321 12 6-7 3-12 76.8 79.7 Lost 1 4-6
Team news:
Fever....have waived Sasha Goodlett and signed Jasmine Hassell for the rest of the season.
Mystics....a minute with Tayler Hill.
College news:
Candace Parker's jersey will be retired at the University of Tennessee on Jan. 2, prior to their game against LSU.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Delle Donne is East's player of the week again
Players of the week for the East and West are Elena Delle Donne and Maya Moore. It's EDD's fourth time as POY this season.
Team news:
Storm....a talk with CEO Karen Bryant.
Mercury....ten years into her pro career, Diana Taurasi is having one of her best seasons yet.
Mystics....a minute with Crystal Langhorne.
History:
Dawn Staley reflects on her WNBA career and community outreach.
Tomorrow's game previews:
Lynx at Liberty
Storm at Silver Stars
Sun at Sparks
Team news:
Storm....a talk with CEO Karen Bryant.
Mercury....ten years into her pro career, Diana Taurasi is having one of her best seasons yet.
Mystics....a minute with Crystal Langhorne.
History:
Dawn Staley reflects on her WNBA career and community outreach.
Tomorrow's game previews:
Lynx at Liberty
Storm at Silver Stars
Sun at Sparks
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