WNBA attendance still a work in progress

Lots of progress with WNBA social media this season. TV viewership is up slightly, and attendance is still a mixed bag.

Check out what league President Laurel Richie told me in this story.

Not too much news in the cupboard

Finals news:

Mercury vs. Sky: how'd that happen?

WNBA news:

Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve says that when healthy, Minnesota is still the best team in the league.

College news:

The NCAA says UConn coach Geno Auriemma's call to Little League star Mo'Ne Davis was a secondary rules violation. He doesn't get it.

The moment caught Fever coach Lin Dunn by surprise

Maybe you've been ill-prepared when you thought you were prepared, too:

Dunn thought she had prepared herself for the moment, but when the players and coaches came together one last time for 2014 following the Fever's 75-62 home loss to the Chicago Sky in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Dunn realized her 42-year coaching career was over.

An emotional scene ensued inside the Fever locker room, with Dunn saying farewell for the final time.

''I wasn't thinking about it until I got to the locker room,'' Dunn said. ''It was tough to say goodbye. I knew that some time it was going to come. But I didn't want to think about it until it happened.''

Besides the playoffs......

WNBA news:

The Lynx expect to stay on top of the WNBA race, without major changes.

In the off-season, the Atlanta Dream will focus on keeping their core and adding size.

Fever guard Briann January received the WNBA Cares Community Assist Award for August.

College news:

UConn coach Geno Auriemma was reported to the NCAA for calling Little League baseball star Mo'Ne Davis to congratulate her.

Guard Lulu Perry has been dismissed from Louisiana Tech's team for repeatedly violating team rules.

Chris Wielgus has been promoted to assistant coach at UMass.

Texas coach Karen Aston has joined the Kay Yow Cancer Fund board of directors.

Sky beat Fever for Eastern Conference title

No one called this one: the Chicago Sky overcame injuries and illnesses all season long to beat the Fever tonight, 75-62, and claim the Eastern Conference championship.

The Sky also ended Fever coach Lin Dunn's career.

The Sky will play at a different arena.

Finals schedule:

Phoenix vs. Chicago

Game 1 -- Sunday, Sept 7 Chicago @ Phoenix 3:30PM ABC
Game 2 -- Tuesday, Sept 9 Chicago @ Phoenix 9:00PM ESPN
Game 3 -- Friday, Sept 12 Phoenix @ Chicago 8:00PM ESPN2
Game 4* -- Sunday, Sept 14 Phoenix @ Chicago 5:30PM ESPN2
Game 5* -- Wednesday, Sept 17 Chicago @ Phoenix 9:00PM ESPN2

Longtime LA Sparks photographer Eric Wade dies

Eric Wade

____________________

Longtime Los Angeles Sparks photographer and lifelong city resident Eric Wade died early Sunday morning of a severe asthma attack. He was 47.

Eric had been a well-known presence on the sidelines at Sparks games for nine years, taking pictures for Sports Page Magazine. He also photographed high school and college football, as well as numerous entertainment red carpet entertainment events and ESPN awards shows. His death has stunned his media colleagues in the Los Angeles area, as well as coaches, media relations directors and others who were used to seeing him - many of whom had come to call him a friend.

Among the regular core of reporters at Sparks games is L.T. Willis of T.G. Sports, who was also one of Eric's best friends. L.T. and Eric covered USC's opening football game Saturday afternoon. It was after the game that Eric wasn't feeling well. After getting checked out, L.T. dropped Eric off at home, where he died sometime in the middle of the night.

L.T. said the suddenness of the loss is difficult.

"We were talking about the next game we were going to cover," L.T. said.

Mike D'Avino, editor of Sports Page Magazine, took to Facebook yesterday to express his grief at the loss.

"God has taken an awesome person. Eric Wade you willed be missed," he wrote.

L.T. said it's strange to think that Eric won't be at Sparks games anymore.

"When we all cover a team year after year, we become a family," he said. "Now a member of that family is gone."

A picture Eric Wade took at the Shock at Sparks game, Aug. 5, 2014.

____________________

I couldn't agree more.

The media core who covers the Sparks every summer has got to know each other over the years. You work for different publications but you work together, and sometimes you become friends. Such was the case with Eric Wade and myself.

Eric had a calming presence, even when speaking about teams and players he was passionate about. He was funny; Just last month he and Sparks forward Jantel Lavender and I engaged in some brief jokes on Twitter. Eric was also observant and kind, and he loved photography. He was always behind the lens, shooting something.

Hats were Eric's thing. He often wore Kangols, but sometimes opted for the dressier style, as he did the day I took this picture of him taking a picture.

August 24 turned out to be the Sparks' last game this season, as they lost to Phoenix in the first round of the Western Conference finals. After almost an hour of interviews, I walked through the media room one last time before leaving, and peeked in the door of the work area. Eric and another photographer were the only ones still in there. I pulled up a chair and talked shop with Eric for about 20 minutes. I hugged him goodbye, telling him I'd see him at some college games. He said yes. I left.

Yesterday morning I woke up to L.T.'s message: ...."the passing of our brother Eric Wade." I have to admit, I'm still stunned. It also messes with your head when someone is that close to your own age.

Eric's family is still planning his funeral at this time.

Phoenix Mercury are Western Conference champs

Diana Taurasi's half-court shot at the end of the third quarter fueled a Mercury surge and propelled them to a 96-78 rout of the Minnesota Lynx.

The Mercury will play the Eastern Conference champion, which will be decided tomorrow.

Before the WCF third game, some news hits

Eastern Conference finals:

Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel has bought 500 tickets for tomorrow's game three in Indianapolis to donate to local fans and pack the house.

Undersized but not overlooked: Erlana Larkins vs. Sylvia Fowles will be a key match up tomorrow.

Elena Delle Donne's stiff lower back is the latest injury woe for the Sky.

Non-playoff news:

The Atlanta Dream are moving on.

Some are thinking that Storm center Lauren Jackson won't return to the WNBA.

College news:

Under coach Lindsey Gottlieb, Cal has emerged as a West coast power.

Indiana's coaching staff is complete.

Brett Benzio is Harvard's new assistant coach.

The NCAA named its top 30 women of the year honorees, which include several basketball players.

Lauren Jackson pulls out of the World Championships to rehab knee

Another setback for the Australian legend.

All even in the East

Heck of a game today.

The Sky rallied from 14 points down to top the Fever in double overtime, 86-84, and force a game three in the Eastern Conference finals.

Courtney Vandersloot was clutch for Chicago, with 18 points. Sylvia Fowles lead the team with 27.

Box score.

Fever coach Lin Dunn and forward Tamika Catchings interview.

So both the West and East series are even. And honestly, both games could go either way.

The Mercury and Lynx tip off tomorrow at 7 p.m. Pacific, and the Fever and Sky play at 7 p.m. Eastern Wednesday.

With all the close, nail-biter games so far, I can't remember when I've enjoyed the WNBA playoffs more than this year.