There was a pre-draft media conference call with coaches, prospective draft picks and ESPN analysts today, and most of these stories are a result of those interviews:
Unexpected declarations changed the draft board.
Top prospect inclusions add intrigue to the draft.
Latecomers are enhancing the Shock's options.
Full call transcript.
Wake Forest's Dearica Hamby is eyeing the draft.
College player news:
Sophomore center Jada Terry will transfer from Texas A&M.
Oklahoma State point guard Roshunda Johnson will transfer.
Kentucky freshman guard Jaycee Coe is leaving.
College coaching news:
Mississippi State coach Vic Schaefer's contract has been extended four years.
Friday, April 10, 2015
Chiney Ogwumike, unfiltered
Connecticut Sun forward Chiney Ogwumike has the first of what will be weekly videos out today. She is working with Grit Media in an endeavor to share more about herself that is more personal, and in turn learn from others. A company spokesman said she'll be talking about what she feels like talking about, and that includes answering fan questions.
Ogwumike can be reached via twitter:
twitter.com/chiney321
twitter.com/gritmedia
Ogwumike can be reached via twitter:
twitter.com/chiney321
twitter.com/gritmedia
Mount St. Joseph's Lauren Hill passes away
Mount St. Joseph freshman Lauren Hill died this morning, after battling brain cancer:
The Indiana native said at the game her goal was is to find a cure for cancer. Hill was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma shortly after her 18th birthday. The rare form of brain cancer typically affects young children ages 4 to 9.
"When I was diagnosed I remember kind of feeling lonely because nobody understood. And now that more people know about this story and the awareness of DIPG. I'm so happy that people know about it now and that we can get some research going and hopefully find that home run cure for cancer," Lauren said.
"And even though I'm probably not going to be around to see it, it's going to help a lot of people. And that's why we need to keep staying with this and not end it with this game, and keep supporting research."
She didn't let her condition dictate her final days.
The Indiana native said at the game her goal was is to find a cure for cancer. Hill was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma shortly after her 18th birthday. The rare form of brain cancer typically affects young children ages 4 to 9.
"When I was diagnosed I remember kind of feeling lonely because nobody understood. And now that more people know about this story and the awareness of DIPG. I'm so happy that people know about it now and that we can get some research going and hopefully find that home run cure for cancer," Lauren said.
"And even though I'm probably not going to be around to see it, it's going to help a lot of people. And that's why we need to keep staying with this and not end it with this game, and keep supporting research."
She didn't let her condition dictate her final days.
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Mysteries
WNBA news:
Storm coach Jenny Boucek kept it really general in today's Q&A. Asked about Jewell Loyd and Amanda Zahui B. she said "Both of these players enhance the value of this draft significantly" and "Both are really exciting young players that will be fun to watch grow." Asked about Lauren Jackson returning this year, she said "Lauren is still fighting for her health and we stay very connected. We care about her deeply and hope to see her soon."
Candace Parker isn't being paid to sit out.
College player news:
Irish fans are scratching their heads over why Jewell Loyd would want to leave early for the WNBA draft.
Former Indiana freshman Maura Muensterman is transferring to Belmont.
College coach news:
Xavier coach Brian Neal's contract has been extended through 2018-2019.
Storm coach Jenny Boucek kept it really general in today's Q&A. Asked about Jewell Loyd and Amanda Zahui B. she said "Both of these players enhance the value of this draft significantly" and "Both are really exciting young players that will be fun to watch grow." Asked about Lauren Jackson returning this year, she said "Lauren is still fighting for her health and we stay very connected. We care about her deeply and hope to see her soon."
Candace Parker isn't being paid to sit out.
College player news:
Irish fans are scratching their heads over why Jewell Loyd would want to leave early for the WNBA draft.
Former Indiana freshman Maura Muensterman is transferring to Belmont.
College coach news:
Xavier coach Brian Neal's contract has been extended through 2018-2019.
"Those who run college sports don’t look much like those who play college sports"
Thought-provoking piece by Washington Post columnist/author Sally Jenkins on the disparity between NCAA administrators and the athletes they serve:
The NCAA just spent a week floating airy platitudes about inclusiveness versus discrimination at the NCAA Tournament in full shameless view of the public, over a potentially discriminatory Indiana law. Yet no one in the candor-flinching organization so much as skipped a shrimp buffet or returned a gift bag in a fit of social conscience over the fact that 87.7 percent of its Division I athletic directors are white. Or that 90 percent of them are men. Meantime, just 22 percent of college basketball coaches are black, while the hiring of female coaches is plummeting across all sports.......
In NCAA Division I football, 58.7 percent of the players are people of color. In basketball, 57.6 percent are African American, while another 3.5 are two or more races. As for women, they make up. 43.4 percent of athletes across all NCAA divisions.
Yet 88 percent of presidents of the 126 universities in the Football Bowl Subdivision are white. The coaches they hire are 88.9 percent white. Their NCAA faculty representatives are 93 percent white. And almost 100 percent of their Division I conference commissioners, 29 of 30, are white. What’s clear is that hosts of qualified people are not even getting interviews for jobs. Ex-athletes are the pool from which you could reasonably expect new hire to come from, yet they’re only fractionally represented.
AND:
These hiring practices are a longtime trend, and they’re only trending worse, not better. You would think that with the growth of women’s sports, especially basketball, it would create jobs for women. Instead, the number of women coaches is declining in all sports. Forty years after Title IX females hold only 38 percent of the head jobs in Division I women’s sports, and also less than half of assistant coaching jobs. Lapchick, who has been collecting NCAA diversity data since the 1980s, calls this “the single most striking and disturbing set of statistics” he has seen. “It just doesn’t make sense to me.”
Why is it important to mandate broader candidate pools? Because the NCAA is choking off talent rather than encouraging it and that’s not a true meritocracy. Female athletes need to see women coaches and athletic directors, “so they can see themselves doing it,” says former Texas coach Jody Conradt. As the saying goes, it’s hard to be what you don’t see.
The NCAA just spent a week floating airy platitudes about inclusiveness versus discrimination at the NCAA Tournament in full shameless view of the public, over a potentially discriminatory Indiana law. Yet no one in the candor-flinching organization so much as skipped a shrimp buffet or returned a gift bag in a fit of social conscience over the fact that 87.7 percent of its Division I athletic directors are white. Or that 90 percent of them are men. Meantime, just 22 percent of college basketball coaches are black, while the hiring of female coaches is plummeting across all sports.......
In NCAA Division I football, 58.7 percent of the players are people of color. In basketball, 57.6 percent are African American, while another 3.5 are two or more races. As for women, they make up. 43.4 percent of athletes across all NCAA divisions.
Yet 88 percent of presidents of the 126 universities in the Football Bowl Subdivision are white. The coaches they hire are 88.9 percent white. Their NCAA faculty representatives are 93 percent white. And almost 100 percent of their Division I conference commissioners, 29 of 30, are white. What’s clear is that hosts of qualified people are not even getting interviews for jobs. Ex-athletes are the pool from which you could reasonably expect new hire to come from, yet they’re only fractionally represented.
AND:
These hiring practices are a longtime trend, and they’re only trending worse, not better. You would think that with the growth of women’s sports, especially basketball, it would create jobs for women. Instead, the number of women coaches is declining in all sports. Forty years after Title IX females hold only 38 percent of the head jobs in Division I women’s sports, and also less than half of assistant coaching jobs. Lapchick, who has been collecting NCAA diversity data since the 1980s, calls this “the single most striking and disturbing set of statistics” he has seen. “It just doesn’t make sense to me.”
Why is it important to mandate broader candidate pools? Because the NCAA is choking off talent rather than encouraging it and that’s not a true meritocracy. Female athletes need to see women coaches and athletic directors, “so they can see themselves doing it,” says former Texas coach Jody Conradt. As the saying goes, it’s hard to be what you don’t see.
Candace Parker to miss the start of the season
Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker will miss the start of the 2015 WNBA season so she can rest up and be healthy for competition:
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Sparks announced Candace Parker will miss an undetermined number of games at the start of the 2015 season in order to be 100% healthy before joining the team on the court.
“This was a decision Candace made that she felt was in the best interest of her health and in the best interest of the team,” said Penny Toler. “Our goal has always been to win another championship, and having a healthy and rested Candace Parker will undoubtedly help us down the stretch. We are confident in our returning core leaders, WNBA champions and international stars that will lead the Sparks. When Candace is ready, she will return to the court healthy and rested to help the Sparks in our quest to win the 2015 title.”
Looks like general manager Toler's views conflict with new coach Brian Agler's approach:
"There are certain things you have to hang your hat on," Agler said. "Whether it's that you're a defensive team, a great rebounding team, or whatever it is. There has to be a certain personality that you go to work with every single day and a common goal.
"And to me, that can't initially be 'win the WNBA championship.' There have to be steps to take to get to that point."
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Sparks announced Candace Parker will miss an undetermined number of games at the start of the 2015 season in order to be 100% healthy before joining the team on the court.
“This was a decision Candace made that she felt was in the best interest of her health and in the best interest of the team,” said Penny Toler. “Our goal has always been to win another championship, and having a healthy and rested Candace Parker will undoubtedly help us down the stretch. We are confident in our returning core leaders, WNBA champions and international stars that will lead the Sparks. When Candace is ready, she will return to the court healthy and rested to help the Sparks in our quest to win the 2015 title.”
Looks like general manager Toler's views conflict with new coach Brian Agler's approach:
"There are certain things you have to hang your hat on," Agler said. "Whether it's that you're a defensive team, a great rebounding team, or whatever it is. There has to be a certain personality that you go to work with every single day and a common goal.
"And to me, that can't initially be 'win the WNBA championship.' There have to be steps to take to get to that point."
Three to see update
Nice piece in SLAM on Skylar Diggins, Brittney Griner and Elena Delle Donne.
Each player's journey since the 2013 draft is chronicled. There are also some interesting comments about the WNBA:
Television ratings during the 2014 playoffs were up 90 percent from the previous season, with single-game viewership hitting a six-year crescendo during Game 2 of the Mercury-Lynx Western Conference finals.
Its audience is growing, but the league still stubbornly tries to
market to mainstream male sports fans who have little interest. The WNBA even pitched using smaller and tighter uniforms to players, who universally shut the idea down in 2013. “We care more about comfort on the court than sex appeal,” Griner says.
To its credit, the league acknowledged LGBT Pride for the first time in 2014, launching a Pride Month and a WNBA Pride website. Eighteen seasons in, it was about time.
As the talent level continues to grow along with the fan base, the
WNBA has other issues to address in order to solidify its legitimacy. With the regular season currently spanning just three short months, the WNBA is treated as a second priority for players who earn a living in overseas leagues. Case in point: The sport’s biggest star of the past decade, Diana Taurasi, announced that she will sit out the upcoming 2015 season due to a contractual agreement with her team in Russia, UMMC.
Cut it however you like—losing the reigning Finals MVP is an ugly headline for the league. If the WNBA wants all of its stars to play,
it has to offer players incentives to stay at home.
The league is slowly coming to understand this, as evidenced by the introduction of a “time off bonus” (albeit a minimal one) in its recent CBA. By giving players a choice to take time off, or perhaps not feel the need to play year-round, the WNBA has shown a willingness to change. It’s time to take action, and there couldn’t be a better group of stars leading the way.
The 3 To See have arrived just in time.
Bonus:
The player's tribune: Brittney Griner
Each player's journey since the 2013 draft is chronicled. There are also some interesting comments about the WNBA:
Television ratings during the 2014 playoffs were up 90 percent from the previous season, with single-game viewership hitting a six-year crescendo during Game 2 of the Mercury-Lynx Western Conference finals.
Its audience is growing, but the league still stubbornly tries to
market to mainstream male sports fans who have little interest. The WNBA even pitched using smaller and tighter uniforms to players, who universally shut the idea down in 2013. “We care more about comfort on the court than sex appeal,” Griner says.
To its credit, the league acknowledged LGBT Pride for the first time in 2014, launching a Pride Month and a WNBA Pride website. Eighteen seasons in, it was about time.
As the talent level continues to grow along with the fan base, the
WNBA has other issues to address in order to solidify its legitimacy. With the regular season currently spanning just three short months, the WNBA is treated as a second priority for players who earn a living in overseas leagues. Case in point: The sport’s biggest star of the past decade, Diana Taurasi, announced that she will sit out the upcoming 2015 season due to a contractual agreement with her team in Russia, UMMC.
Cut it however you like—losing the reigning Finals MVP is an ugly headline for the league. If the WNBA wants all of its stars to play,
it has to offer players incentives to stay at home.
The league is slowly coming to understand this, as evidenced by the introduction of a “time off bonus” (albeit a minimal one) in its recent CBA. By giving players a choice to take time off, or perhaps not feel the need to play year-round, the WNBA has shown a willingness to change. It’s time to take action, and there couldn’t be a better group of stars leading the way.
The 3 To See have arrived just in time.
Bonus:
The player's tribune: Brittney Griner
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Big coaching hires
Coaching news:
Former Maryland assistant coach Marlin Chinn is the new head coach at Florida International. It's the second Terps assistant to leave this week.
Portland State has hired Lynn Kennedy as their new head coach.
North Texas has hired Texas assistant Jalie Mitchell as their head coach.
Player news:
Maryland's Malina Howard wins the Elite 89 Award for having the highest GPA of any athlete at the Final Four.
Loryn Goodwin is transferring from Butler, sources say.
Montana freshman volleyball player Jace Henderson will play the rest of her college career for the basketball team.
Former Maryland assistant coach Marlin Chinn is the new head coach at Florida International. It's the second Terps assistant to leave this week.
Portland State has hired Lynn Kennedy as their new head coach.
North Texas has hired Texas assistant Jalie Mitchell as their head coach.
Player news:
Maryland's Malina Howard wins the Elite 89 Award for having the highest GPA of any athlete at the Final Four.
Loryn Goodwin is transferring from Butler, sources say.
Montana freshman volleyball player Jace Henderson will play the rest of her college career for the basketball team.
Jewell Loyd declares for WNBA draft, upsetting prospective pick list
Jewell Loyd is headed to the WNBA:
Notre Dame's junior guard declared herself eligible for the WNBA draft on Wednesday, a night after the Irish lost in the national championship game to UConn 63-53.
Loyd could be the top pick by Seattle in the April 16 draft and had until Wednesday night to declare. She has up until five days before the draft to return to Notre Dame if she changes her mind.
Loyd has been a decorated player during her time with the Irish. It was a stunning conclusion to her college career.
Just a few days ago, Minnesota's Amanda Zahui B. declared her intent to enter the draft early. Loyd's decision was a shocker, and has thrown mock draft boards into disarray. Zahui B. was thought to be a number one pick by some fans; now it is thought to be Loyd.
WNBA draft order:
First Round
1) Seattle (12-22)
2) Tulsa (12-22)
3) Seattle from Connecticut (13-21) (Little, Stricklen, Montgomery, 1/28/15)
4) Connecticut from New York (15-19) (Charles, Thomas, Bone, 4/14/14)
5) Chicago (15-19)
6) Indiana (16-18)
7) Los Angeles (16-18)
8) Washington (16-18)
9) San Antonio (16-18)
10) Atlanta (19-15)
11) Minnesota (25-9)
12) Phoenix (29-5)
Second Round
1) Tulsa (12-22)
2) Los Angeles from Seattle (12-22) (O’Hea, 4/1/14)
3) Washington from Connecticut (13-21) via Seattle (Little, Stricklen, Montgomery, 1/28/15) (Hollingsworth, 2/22/15)
4) New York (15-19)
5) Chicago (15-19)
6) Phoenix from Indiana (16-18) (Lucas, 5/12/14)
7) Connecticut from Los Angeles (16-18) (Gruda, 3/28/14)
8) Seattle from Washington (16-18) (Hollingsworth, 2/22/15)
9) San Antonio (16-18)
10) Chicago from Atlanta (19-15) (Cash, Clements, 5/7/14)
11) Minnesota (25-9)
12) Phoenix (29-5)
Third Round
1) Tulsa (12-22)
2) Seattle (12-22)
3) New York from Connecticut (13-21) (Charles, Thomas, Bone, 4/14/14)
4) Minnesota from New York (15-19) (Rodgers, 4/16/14)
5) Atlanta from Chicago (15-19) (Cash, Clements 5/17/14)
6) Indiana (16-18)
7) Los Angeles (16-18)
8) Washington (16-18)
9) San Antonio (16-18)
10) Atlanta (19-15)
11) New York from Minnesota (25-9) (Rodgers, 4/16/14)
12) Phoenix (29-5)
Here is a popular mock draft board before the Loyd news.
What will happen next week?
Storm coach Jenny Boucek will chat live tomorrow.
Notre Dame's junior guard declared herself eligible for the WNBA draft on Wednesday, a night after the Irish lost in the national championship game to UConn 63-53.
Loyd could be the top pick by Seattle in the April 16 draft and had until Wednesday night to declare. She has up until five days before the draft to return to Notre Dame if she changes her mind.
Loyd has been a decorated player during her time with the Irish. It was a stunning conclusion to her college career.
Just a few days ago, Minnesota's Amanda Zahui B. declared her intent to enter the draft early. Loyd's decision was a shocker, and has thrown mock draft boards into disarray. Zahui B. was thought to be a number one pick by some fans; now it is thought to be Loyd.
WNBA draft order:
First Round
1) Seattle (12-22)
2) Tulsa (12-22)
3) Seattle from Connecticut (13-21) (Little, Stricklen, Montgomery, 1/28/15)
4) Connecticut from New York (15-19) (Charles, Thomas, Bone, 4/14/14)
5) Chicago (15-19)
6) Indiana (16-18)
7) Los Angeles (16-18)
8) Washington (16-18)
9) San Antonio (16-18)
10) Atlanta (19-15)
11) Minnesota (25-9)
12) Phoenix (29-5)
Second Round
1) Tulsa (12-22)
2) Los Angeles from Seattle (12-22) (O’Hea, 4/1/14)
3) Washington from Connecticut (13-21) via Seattle (Little, Stricklen, Montgomery, 1/28/15) (Hollingsworth, 2/22/15)
4) New York (15-19)
5) Chicago (15-19)
6) Phoenix from Indiana (16-18) (Lucas, 5/12/14)
7) Connecticut from Los Angeles (16-18) (Gruda, 3/28/14)
8) Seattle from Washington (16-18) (Hollingsworth, 2/22/15)
9) San Antonio (16-18)
10) Chicago from Atlanta (19-15) (Cash, Clements, 5/7/14)
11) Minnesota (25-9)
12) Phoenix (29-5)
Third Round
1) Tulsa (12-22)
2) Seattle (12-22)
3) New York from Connecticut (13-21) (Charles, Thomas, Bone, 4/14/14)
4) Minnesota from New York (15-19) (Rodgers, 4/16/14)
5) Atlanta from Chicago (15-19) (Cash, Clements 5/17/14)
6) Indiana (16-18)
7) Los Angeles (16-18)
8) Washington (16-18)
9) San Antonio (16-18)
10) Atlanta (19-15)
11) New York from Minnesota (25-9) (Rodgers, 4/16/14)
12) Phoenix (29-5)
Here is a popular mock draft board before the Loyd news.
What will happen next week?
Storm coach Jenny Boucek will chat live tomorrow.
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