Maya Moore will re-sign with the Minnesota Lynx soon.
Sun forward Chiney Ogwumike is using social media to make a difference.
Several Atlanta Dream players were undrafted.
Swin Cash got married last weekend, and the WNBA was in attendance.
Q&A with new Spark Ana Dabovic.
USA Basketball:
Intensity was on the rise today at National Team Camp, day two.
More on the silence around the Griner-Johnson incident:
The silence from the WNBA and USA Basketball on the Brittney Griner-Glory Johnson domestic violence arrests speak volumes. Is there a double standard?
College news:
Delaware State's new head coach is Barbara Burgess.
Vanderbilt coach Melanie Balcomb says having 10 players on the roster is not a problem.
At Kansas, Damitria Buchanan has been hired and Katie O'Connor retained as assistant coaches.
James Howard is Georgetown's new associate head coach.
Florida State assistant coach Brooke Wyckhoff was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame last weekend.
Oklahoma aims for a fresh start next fall.
Eastern Michigan has added a pair of transfers.
Northern Illinois won't say why coach Kathi Bennett resigned.
Tragedy:
North Texas star forward Eboniey Jeter, 21, was found dead in her dorm room today. No foul play is suspected.
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Jody Adams remains coach at Wichita State, following investigation
Jody Adams will remain coach at Wichita State, and there will be changes:
In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, Wichita State University introduced several new measures agreed upon within the basketball program, including the appointment of a consultant in sports psychology.
The statement said in part: "The parties agreed to several new measures during the meeting, including the appointment of a consultant in sports psychology who may be able to help both the coaching staff and student athletes. Working with this consultant will help everyone identify their challenges, set goals, increase confidence, and cope with difficult times to ensure the continual improvement of the WSU's women's basketball team. Players will also have enhanced open lines of communication to the faculty athletic representative and the athletic director."
Adams' statement:
“I’ve dedicated my life to building a successful program that not only wins basketball games, but prepares young women for the rest of their lives,” Adams said in the release. “I regret if my efforts to build winning teams were ever seen as disrespectful of any person. I’ll continue to look for ways that I can improve both my coaching style and technique to help us win games and improve the lives of our players every day.”
Joint statement on Wichita State program.
I have to wonder if Adams uses the style of her former coach, Pat Summitt, and some of today's young people can't take it.
Lady Vol brand name:
Will Tennessee's plan to change the Lady Vol name discourage recruits?
In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, Wichita State University introduced several new measures agreed upon within the basketball program, including the appointment of a consultant in sports psychology.
The statement said in part: "The parties agreed to several new measures during the meeting, including the appointment of a consultant in sports psychology who may be able to help both the coaching staff and student athletes. Working with this consultant will help everyone identify their challenges, set goals, increase confidence, and cope with difficult times to ensure the continual improvement of the WSU's women's basketball team. Players will also have enhanced open lines of communication to the faculty athletic representative and the athletic director."
Adams' statement:
“I’ve dedicated my life to building a successful program that not only wins basketball games, but prepares young women for the rest of their lives,” Adams said in the release. “I regret if my efforts to build winning teams were ever seen as disrespectful of any person. I’ll continue to look for ways that I can improve both my coaching style and technique to help us win games and improve the lives of our players every day.”
Joint statement on Wichita State program.
I have to wonder if Adams uses the style of her former coach, Pat Summitt, and some of today's young people can't take it.
Lady Vol brand name:
Will Tennessee's plan to change the Lady Vol name discourage recruits?
More on the Isiah Thomas hire
The New York Liberty's hiring of sexual harasser Isiah Thomas as team president and co-owner isn't going over well.
Isiah Thomas is back at Madison Square Garden in a surprising new role.
Against all reason, principal owner James Dolan again turns to Isiah Thomas. The women of the Liberty deserve better.
Only James Dolan would trust a WNBA team to a sexual harasser.
Hiring Thomas is the worst move of Dolan's career.
Thomas has no idea what he's doing and obviously shouldn't run the Liberty.
The sad history of Isiah Thomas.
Isiah Thomas is back at Madison Square Garden in a surprising new role.
Against all reason, principal owner James Dolan again turns to Isiah Thomas. The women of the Liberty deserve better.
Only James Dolan would trust a WNBA team to a sexual harasser.
Hiring Thomas is the worst move of Dolan's career.
Thomas has no idea what he's doing and obviously shouldn't run the Liberty.
The sad history of Isiah Thomas.
Two weeks later, WNBA has not taken a stand on domestic violence
I don't often agree with ESPN writer Mechelle Voepel, but she's on the money in saying that the WNBA needs to take a stand on domestic violence:
"It's an awkward thing, because we all understand people make mistakes," said Maya Moore, who in 2014 was the WNBA's MVP and USA Basketball's female player of the year. "But because we are public figures, there's a responsibility to address it.
"As to how you address it ... I don't know that I can tell you what's enough and what's not enough. But it does need to be addressed. Domestic violence can't be a topic that you ignore.".....
"It's a sensitive issue, but I think there has to be an understanding that there are repercussions for this, not just legally but with the institutions you represent," Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike said. "The league is taking time figuring out exactly what happened and understandably being cautious. But at this point, I think the sooner the better. I don't doubt that they will do something."
Chicago Sky:
....have replaced the WNBA's only female broadcast team.
Seattle Storm:
Renee Montgomery is excited about playing for her new team, which includes former UConn Huskies Sue Bird and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis.
College news:
Detroit's new coach is Bernard Scott.
Freshman point guard Nakiah Bell is leaving Iowa State.
"It's an awkward thing, because we all understand people make mistakes," said Maya Moore, who in 2014 was the WNBA's MVP and USA Basketball's female player of the year. "But because we are public figures, there's a responsibility to address it.
"As to how you address it ... I don't know that I can tell you what's enough and what's not enough. But it does need to be addressed. Domestic violence can't be a topic that you ignore.".....
"It's a sensitive issue, but I think there has to be an understanding that there are repercussions for this, not just legally but with the institutions you represent," Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike said. "The league is taking time figuring out exactly what happened and understandably being cautious. But at this point, I think the sooner the better. I don't doubt that they will do something."
Chicago Sky:
....have replaced the WNBA's only female broadcast team.
Seattle Storm:
Renee Montgomery is excited about playing for her new team, which includes former UConn Huskies Sue Bird and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis.
College news:
Detroit's new coach is Bernard Scott.
Freshman point guard Nakiah Bell is leaving Iowa State.
Isiah Thomas named president, co-owner of New York Liberty
Former New York Knicks coach and president Isiah Thomas has been hired as president of the New York Liberty.
The choice of a man who was successfully sued for sexual harassment in 2007 is odd, to say the least.
The choice of a man who was successfully sued for sexual harassment in 2007 is odd, to say the least.
Monday, May 4, 2015
Candace Parker, Maya Moore show out on National Team camp, day one
Day one practice report:
Parker, Moore Put on a Show
It makes sense that USA Basketball’s veterans would be the ones best equipped to shine in camp and that was the case Monday as Candace Parker and Maya Moore earned accolades from Auriemma for their performances.
Parker won gold at the last two Olympics while Moore was on that 2012 U.S. Olympic team plus the 2010 USA World Championship squad. During the scrimmages they stood out from the crowd, at times dominating players in one-on-one battles or setting up easy shots out of double teams.
“Those two are able to do a variety of things and it makes it easier for them because they know the system, they know the drills,” Auriemma said. “Those two had really good days.”
Video highlights.
Photo gallery.
Making the team is a tall order for former BYU center Jennifer Hamson.
More college news:
Former Texas A&M great Sydney Colson is now an assistant coach at Rice.
Western Kentucky center Ruta Savickaite is leaving the program.
Parker, Moore Put on a Show
It makes sense that USA Basketball’s veterans would be the ones best equipped to shine in camp and that was the case Monday as Candace Parker and Maya Moore earned accolades from Auriemma for their performances.
Parker won gold at the last two Olympics while Moore was on that 2012 U.S. Olympic team plus the 2010 USA World Championship squad. During the scrimmages they stood out from the crowd, at times dominating players in one-on-one battles or setting up easy shots out of double teams.
“Those two are able to do a variety of things and it makes it easier for them because they know the system, they know the drills,” Auriemma said. “Those two had really good days.”
Video highlights.
Photo gallery.
Making the team is a tall order for former BYU center Jennifer Hamson.
More college news:
Former Texas A&M great Sydney Colson is now an assistant coach at Rice.
Western Kentucky center Ruta Savickaite is leaving the program.
WNBA rookies gearing up; college coaches and players still moving
WNBA news:
Tulsa Shock rookie Amanda Zahui B. is in transition.
Indiana's Natalie Achonwa remains single-minded, as her comeback continues.
Rookie round table with Mercury newcomers Isabelle Harrison, Promise Amukamara and Alex Harden. Team primer.
Liberty rookie Q&A with Kiah Stokes and Brittany Boyd.
College coaching movement:
Rutgers assistant coaches Chelsea Newton and Tia Jackson have resigned to take jobs elsewhere. Newton will assist at Georgia, while Jackson will assist at Miami.
Trena Trice-Hill has returned to Columbia as an assistant coach.
North Carolina-Greensboro's new assistant coach is James Simmons.
College player movement:
Shelbie Davenport has transferred from Clemson to Chattanooga.
USA Basketball:
A spokesman for the Indiana Fever says Tamika Catchings is sitting out the National Team's mini-camp this week to rest a sore knee. She elected not to participate several weeks ago.
Tulsa Shock rookie Amanda Zahui B. is in transition.
Indiana's Natalie Achonwa remains single-minded, as her comeback continues.
Rookie round table with Mercury newcomers Isabelle Harrison, Promise Amukamara and Alex Harden. Team primer.
Liberty rookie Q&A with Kiah Stokes and Brittany Boyd.
College coaching movement:
Rutgers assistant coaches Chelsea Newton and Tia Jackson have resigned to take jobs elsewhere. Newton will assist at Georgia, while Jackson will assist at Miami.
Trena Trice-Hill has returned to Columbia as an assistant coach.
North Carolina-Greensboro's new assistant coach is James Simmons.
College player movement:
Shelbie Davenport has transferred from Clemson to Chattanooga.
USA Basketball:
A spokesman for the Indiana Fever says Tamika Catchings is sitting out the National Team's mini-camp this week to rest a sore knee. She elected not to participate several weeks ago.
USA Basketball camp begins, without Griner
Brittney Griner has opted out of the mini-camp that USA Basketball is holding this week for the National Team.
The rest of the team is practicing, and preparing for success.
The rest of the team is practicing, and preparing for success.
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Want better high school coaches? Here's why you may not be getting them
Good coaches in public high schools are fewer and farther between than they should be. As is the case in the Los Angeles Unified School District, coaches are woefully underpaid:
•The average coaching stipend is $2,175.58, and it hasn't changed since 1999.
At 18 hours per week for 14 weeks, that translates to $8.63 an hour — making coaching pay in LAUSD less than the current minimum wage of $9 an hour, according to Cornelius. That doesn't include extra hours for playoff competition, watching film or scouting.
•The stipend is the same whether the coach is a teacher or a walk-on. Only 42% of LAUSD coaches are certificated teachers, the rest are walk-ons.
For countless assistant coaches - of which I was one for several years - the stipend is much less. The season is also significantly longer than 14 weeks, due to the year-round model everyone seems to be on now:
Coaches are already taking on increased workloads, from fundraising to instructing year-round, because that's what it takes to be competitive these days. However, there's only so much dedication a coach can have before he or she is forced to say, "Enough."
That was one of the reasons I hung up the coaching shoes, is I was making maybe $2.50 an hour when all was said and done. Athletic directors in public schools don't make a whole lot more than the coaches they supervise.
Coaches and teachers are some of the most influential people in a kid's life.
But Floyd Mayweather made a gajillion dollars last night.
•The average coaching stipend is $2,175.58, and it hasn't changed since 1999.
At 18 hours per week for 14 weeks, that translates to $8.63 an hour — making coaching pay in LAUSD less than the current minimum wage of $9 an hour, according to Cornelius. That doesn't include extra hours for playoff competition, watching film or scouting.
•The stipend is the same whether the coach is a teacher or a walk-on. Only 42% of LAUSD coaches are certificated teachers, the rest are walk-ons.
For countless assistant coaches - of which I was one for several years - the stipend is much less. The season is also significantly longer than 14 weeks, due to the year-round model everyone seems to be on now:
Coaches are already taking on increased workloads, from fundraising to instructing year-round, because that's what it takes to be competitive these days. However, there's only so much dedication a coach can have before he or she is forced to say, "Enough."
That was one of the reasons I hung up the coaching shoes, is I was making maybe $2.50 an hour when all was said and done. Athletic directors in public schools don't make a whole lot more than the coaches they supervise.
Coaches and teachers are some of the most influential people in a kid's life.
But Floyd Mayweather made a gajillion dollars last night.
Tamika Catchings dedicates 2015 season to the memory of Lauren Hill
At her Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame induction April 25, hoops great Tamika Catchings dedicated this season to the memory of Lauren Hill.
Pictures and personal account of the events from #24 herself.
Pictures and personal account of the events from #24 herself.
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