WNBA Stuff

[Durbansandshark]

Since my previous WNBA post that started no longer can be retrieved here, I need to make up another one.

Atlanta's new WNBA team will start their inaugural season on May 17 against the Connecticut Sun at the Mohegan Sun Arena. It also named its new coach and GM, but it's not as I hoped local fave Theresa Edwards but Marynell Meadows. She was one of the first coaches in the WNBA for the Charlotte Sting (RIP until you maybe get ressurected) back in 1997 and will mull over the 4th draft pick this year. Before then, she was a Mystics assistant. Name and colo(u)rs will be announced shortly.
www.wnba.com/atlanta (http://www.wnba.com/atlanta)

I'm very glad the Storm will be staying in Seattle for several more years thanks to an all-women group who bought it for $10 million, and hopefully bring more power to it. HHHOOOOORAYY!!!! I'd hate to see Loz, Sue, and Co. toiling their trade in Oklahoma City. Plus, Brian Alger, who knows a thing about coaching winners in women's pro basketball--even if it was the ABL's Columbus Quest, gets a deserved shot to bring them back to titleland, where they belong. Could he bring Timmsy with him? How could he not turn down an opportunity to coach the Greatest Women's Basketball Player in the World right now on a regular basis (my future wife)? :D
www.wnba.com/storm (http://www.wnba.com/storm)

Storm's first coach and GM, Lin Dunn is back coaching in the WNBA. She succeeds Brian Winters at the Indiana Fever. Winters and the Fever apaprently parted ways mutually.
www.wnba.com/fever (http://www.wnba.com/fever)

[UserFriendlyRoll]

I'm very glad the Storm will be staying in Seattle for several more years, I'd hate to see Loz, Sue, and Co. toiling their trade in Oklahoma City. Plus, Brian Alger, who knows a thing about coaching winners in women's pro basketball. Could he bring Timmsy with him? How could he not turn down an opportunity to coach the Greatest Women's Basketball Player in the World right now on a regular basis (my future wife)?
Good luck on the future wife bit Sandy, I don't like your chances. There was a rumour going around a few months back, when talk first popped up about the Storm heading to Oklahoma that LJ didn't want to leave the city of Seattle so she was going to quit the Storm. As for Timmsy, the door is open there, after she tendered her resignation from the South Dragons she could very well be looking to get another stamp in her passport.

[Durbansandshark]

That's OK, it's just a fantasy. There are others...

[Durbansandshark]

Atlanta's new WNBA entry finally has a name, logo, and colo(u)rs. Drum roll... (http://www.wnba.com/dream)

Joke all you want about all of that blue obsession that we're seeing in the Eastern Conference.

[Durbansandshark]

Atlanta Dream expansion draft results:

Ann Wauters (New York)
Katie Feenstra (Detroit)
Ann Strother (Indiana)
Iziane Castro Marques (Seattle)
Carla Thomas (Chicago)
Erika DeSouza (Connecticut)
Kristen Mann (Minnesota)
Raneeka Hodges (Houston)**
Jennifer Lacy (Phoenix)
Kristen Haynie (Sacramento)
Betty Lennox (Seattle)
Chantelle Anderson (San Antonio)
Yelena Leuchanka (Washington)
Ivory Latta (Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Laker Empire WNBA Chapter)*

*got in a trade for LaToya Thomas (Detroit/Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Laker Empire WNBA Chapter)
**sent to Seattle

They also get a #8 draft pick and traded its #4 pick to Seattle

Unbeliveable that several notable names were left unprotected in the Atlanta expansion draft for the Dream to pluck from. This could, on the strength of the talent level alone, surprise. But they need time to gel together; it's perhaps it's second season in existence that things turn well for them. I'm initially thinking how will the Storm cope with the absence of their top player (after Loz and Sue of course) Lennox this year? Could it be The Curse of Tully II?

It's too bad that Triple Crown Sports and other backers failed to raise enough money to get the Colorado Chill into the WNBA. I'm sure Colorado will support women's pro basketball like it did with the sadly-departed Colorado Xplosion of the ABL that starred Debbie Black. Here's hoping the Chill join next year but it needs another market to even out the league's roster.

[Dunkin' Dan]

I can't believe they picked Jen Lacy!
Some of those teams lost handy role players, while the reigning WNBA champs lost 1 rebound & 1.8 points per game :D

If they can convince Wauters to return to the league they just might not be *too* awful this year.

[Durbansandshark]

I'm deeply freightened of the thought of Tennessee All-American Candance Parker becoming the newest emissary of evil for the NDCELE WNBA Chapter teaming up with My Stupid Evil Pony starting with the upcoming WNBA Draft 2008. I must hate her now even though she hasn't been drafted yet... :evil:

[Dunkin' Dan]

Oh come on, there's very little reason left to hate the Sparks. Milton is long gone and all their other thugs are at the comets now. Mabika, Dixon, Byears... it's like Karleen is trying to rebuild the dyNasty in Houston!
MSEP is the only one left and she's way too much of a coward to do any dirty work by herself. Her M.O. is to start sh*t and then run & hide behind her minions.

As much as I like Parker's game she wears orange so she has a lot to overcome to be a favourite player of mine, but I'm really going to struggle to hate her team this season. They're also going to be a very strong unit so you'd better brace yourself, Durban.
Focus that hate on the men's chapter.

[Durbansandshark]

Wow! Following the sale of the Storm, things are looking VERY good recently for them right now, at least on paper. Swin Cash was traded from Detroit to Seattle, reuniting with her UCONN pal Sue Bird. And they now even got themselves Lauren's good friend the legendary Sheryl Swoopes after 11 years in Houston. With them on board now re-adding grit so badly missing with Tully's departure, Lauren and Sue will be even more dangerous this year, freeing them up more for what they want to do as the two hope to bring it all together.

[Durbansandshark]

Chicago Sky coach/GM Bo Overton has resigned from both posts as assistant Steven Key takes over in both. Do I detect franchise instability in Chicago since its inception?
www.wnba.com/sky (http://www.wnba.com/sky)

Bad news for Connecticut Sun fans: Nykesha Sales will be out for the entire 2008 season due to an assortment of injuries.

[Dunkin' Dan]

Chicago Sky coach/GM Bo Overton has resigned from both posts as assistant Steven Key takes over in both. Do I detect franchise instability in Chicago since its inception?
No, I suspect you just detect a coach who couldn't keep his hands to himself and was removed accordingly.

[Durbansandshark]

The Atlanta Dream unvieled their new unis the other day. We got enough blue in this league. At least Ivory Latta can feel right at home with it for she's a former Tar Heel.
www.wnba.com/dream (http://www.wnba.com/dream)

Oh yeah, Stacey Dales-Schuman retires again

[Durbansandshark]

I can't believe the WNBA held its 2008 draft the day after the NCAA finished its 2007-08 season with the women's national championship. Why can't they let Candance Parker, Candance Wiggins, Matea Ajavon, Essence Carson, and the rest to settle with the end? Is it because the league wants to strike the iron while hot? In some ways, it's amazing she seemingly immediately flew to Seacaucus, New Jersey from the Tampa-St. Pete area to appear in this after holding aloft the NCAA trophy. Anyway, here's the draft reults:

FIRST ROUND
1. Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Laker Empire WNBA Chapter--Candance Parker (I weep and deeply hate for what I fear what is to come in the future :evil: )
2. Chicago Sky--Sylvia Folwes
3. Minnesota Lynx--Candance Wiggins
4. Detroit Shock (via Atlanta and Seattle)--Alexis Hornbuckle
5. Houston Comets--Matee Ajavon
6. Washington Mystics--Crystal Langhone
7. New York Liberty--Essence Carson
8. Atlanta Dream--Tamara Young
9. Connecticut Sun--Amber Holt
10.Sacramento Monarchs--Laura Harper
11.Detroit Shock (from San Antonio)--Tasha Harper
12.Connecticut Sun (from Indiana)--Katia Swanner
13.Phoenix Mercury--LaToya Pringle
14.New York Liberty (from Detroit)--Erika Larkins

SECOND ROUND
13. Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Laker Empire WNBA Chapter--Shannon Bobbitt
14. Minnesota Lynx--Nicky Anosike
15. Houston Comets--Ericka White
16. Detroit Shock (from Atlanta)--Olynicka Sanni
17. Chicago Sky--Quianna Chaney
18. Washington Mystics--Lindsay Pluimer
19. San Antonio Silver Stars (from New York)--Chiomma Nnamaka (former Marquette Golden Eagles Olumna's younger sister)
20. Seattle Storm--Allie Quigley
21. Connecticut Sun--Jolene Anderson
22.Atlanta Dream--Morenike Atunrase
23.Phoenix Mercury--Leilani Mitchell
24.Indiana Fever--Khadijah Whittington
25.New York Liberty--Wanisha Smith
26.Detroit Shock--Natasha Lacey

THIRD ROUND
27.Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Laker Empire WNBA Chapter--Sharnee' Zoll
28.Minnesota Lynx--Charde Houston
29.Houston Comets--Crystal Kelly
30.Atlanta Dream--Danielle Hood
31.Chicago Sky--Angela Tisdale
32.Washington Mystics--Krystal Vaughn
33.New York Liberty--Alberta Auguste
34.Seattle Storm--Kimberley Beck
35.Connecticut Sun--Lauren Ervin
36.Sacramento Monarchs--A'Quanesia Franklin
37.San Antonio Silver Stars--Alex Anderson
38.Sacramento Monarchs (from Indiana)--Izabela Piekarska
39.Phoenix Mercury--Marscilla Parker
40.Detroit Shock--Valeriya Berzhnyska
41.Sacramento Monarchs--Charel Allen

Damn, Wyoming Cowgirl All-MWC Hanna Zavecz didn't get drafted at all, and it's a shame. I hope some team other than the NDCELE WNBA Chapter picks her up as a free agent. If not, I hope she can sharpen her budding pro game down at the WNBL or in Europe. Matter of fact, no Aussies were taken in the draft--no Abby Bishop! Making it two years in a row.

The Seattle Storm got themselves another former MVP: Yolanda Griffith. Now do we have to call the three MVPs winners in Seattle, since they make up 60% of them in the league's history, MVP Row?

We got efforts with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment to bring the NBDL to southern Ontario (very likely Hamilton). Now Norm Freedman, whose basketball expertise goes some 35 years, wants to have a WNBA expansion team playing in the Ricoh Coliseum with help from a group of investors. Apparently, the WNBA is pleased and the prospects are "better than 50%...that a team in Toronto well do well."

Will Arkansas eventually earn a WNBA team?

This was already mentioned on the WNBL portion of these boards. But whether you agree or not with the reasons the popular Becky Hammond play for the Russian Federation in international play after her naturalization complete earlier this week, she is going to fufill her Olympic dream just with POCCNR (this keyboard has no Cyrillic capabilities) on her jersey and not USA (as she would've prefered). I knew USA Basketball was not going to give much consideration to her since 2000 simply due to its intimidating depth of players and pecking order.
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/olybb/new ... id=3336490 (http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/olybb/news/story?id=3336490)

[Durbansandshark]

The link to Stacey Dales-Schuman's retirement announcement from the Chicago Sky to devote more time again to her TV sports work:
www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3617181 (http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3617181)

Chicago lands Michael Mitchell as an assistant

WNBA now has racked up IHOP, Kia Motors (the company sponsored the 2008 WNBA Draft), and Pitney Bowles as marketing partners.

Seattle isn't done in their transactions: The Storm adds Idaho St.'s Natalie Doma, a Canadian, post-draft.

Elswhere, Ann Wauters isn't going to Atlanta after all and be convinced to play there on an expansion team, where she knows the experience will be bad as the players develop chemistry all season long. She's teaming up with Becky Hammon again in San Antonio for they already are teammates at CSKA Moscow in the Russian Superleague.

The phone didn't ring for Hanna on draft day, but with ex-Opal Alison Tranquilli as her recently hired agent and taking calls, she's earning interest from a number of clubs, including Seattle. "I was kinda disappointed..." Mitchell was the only one the Mountain West that did.
www.laramieboomerang.com/articles/2008/ ... 041008.txt (http://www.laramieboomerang.com/articles/2008/04/10/sports/02sports_041008.txt)

[Durbansandshark]

Phoenix and Denver may be the first NBA teams to play outdoors at the Indian Wells Tennis Center. But the WNBA has the first regular season game in North America outdoors. Called the Liberty Outdoor Classic, the New York Liberty will face the Indiana Fever at the Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (site of the US Open of course) in Flushing Meadows, New York near the LaGuardia Airport on Saturday, July 19. In addition to be the first non-tennis event held at the USTA Center, Hallmark, American Express, and the nonprofit Breast Cancer Reasearch Foundation will benefit from this. More so in the last institution with proceeds from the portion of ticket sales going to them along with the day's fundraising activities. Needless to say, this is one of the gems for the Liberty's 2008 season. Four years ago, the Liberty (and the All-Star Game) had to play several games at Radio City Music Hall because of preparations at Madison Square Garden for the Republican National Convention.

[Postcard from Paradise]

Hey Durbansandshark, do you know whether there is going to be a WNBA Register/Guide this year?

[Durbansandshark]

I don't know at all. I checked at Amazon and a WNBA Guide and Register hasn't been printed since 2006.

Sacramento Monarchs guard DeMya Walker will be out of the entire season (six months really) thanks to suffering a right knee patella stress fracture and underwent surgery.

[bucky]

Is Penny playing for Phoenix this season?

I know LJ is playing part of the season for Seattle but I couldn't find out about Penny.

[hellcat]

Penny is coming back to Oz to prepare for the Olympics. If she plays for the Mercury, it will be after Beijing.

Taylor to miss most of 2008 regular season (http://www.wnba.com/mercury/news/taylor_080430.html)

[moonshadow]

now thats what you call a debut:
34pts (12/19 FG), 12reb, 8ast... in a win over the reigning champions.

Early days, but looks like Parker's gonna live up to the hype.

[Dunkin' Dan]

Yeah - and that's with a hurt shoulder.
Even though it came at the expense of the Merc I've got to be happy for Candace after that performance. Just awesome.
Such a shame she landed in LA. It's a very unnatural feeling for me not to hate the Sparks.

(but just to put CP's performance in perspective - keep in mind it was against one of the most post-deficient teams in the league, who are also missing Taylor due to Opals duties and their 1st round pick, Pringle, due to injury, so she's not going to have it quite that easy every night)

[bucky]

Penny is coming back to Oz to prepare for the Olympics. If she plays for the Mercury, it will be after Beijing.

Taylor to miss most of 2008 regular season (http://www.wnba.com/mercury/news/taylor_080430.html)

Thanks Hellcat

[Durbansandshark]

The first WNBAers on the 2008 USA Basketball women looking for a fourpeat gold chosen by Anne Donovan (speaking as an Opals fan, let's hope not):

My Stupid Evil Pony (Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Laker Empire--WNBA Chapter) :evil:
Katie Smith (Detroit Shock)
Sue Bird (Seattle Storm)
Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury)
Tina Thompson (Houston Comets)
Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky)
Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx)
Cappie Poindexter (Phoenix Mercury)
Candance Parker (Now Deservedly Crubling Evil Laker Empire--WNBA Chapter) :evil:

Rest of the roster gets filled out on July 1

I'm glad the Indiana Fever triumphed over the Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Laker Empire WNBA Chapter in two overtimes 82-78

Minnesota's surprising start near the top of the West undefeated is great and is no doubt contributing to Seimone Augustus' early selection to Team USA. Last year, they were at the wrong end of the playoff border. Now Phoenix, the defending WNBA champs, are in that state. Speaking of the Mercury, the Lynx kept them winless (0-4) thanks to a 94-83 win late last week. Not having Penny around for Phoenix certainly hurts. But if things keep going like this assuming 2006 FIBA Women's World Championship MVP returns, will it be enough to right the ship?

How's the expansion Atlanta Dream doing? About what you expect from a regular expansion team in pro sports: constantly humbled. Teammates are still getting to know one another. Winless and they just lost F/C Erika DeSouza, one of their bright spots as one of the league leaders in rebounding, indefinitely with a lower left leg fracture. She won't need surgery but the injury will take at least four weeks. The Dream a 75-74 lead against Minnesota at home with a minute to go but Candance Wiggins scored from downtown putting the Lynx on top. Betty Lennox is scoring well at 19.8 ppg.
www.wnba.com/dream (http://www.wnba.com/dream)

[Durbansandshark]

Oh come on, there's very little reason left to hate the Sparks. Milton is long gone and all their other thugs are at the comets now. Mabika, Dixon, Byears... it's like Karleen is trying to rebuild the dyNasty in Houston!
MSEP is the only one left and she's way too much of a coward to do any dirty work by herself. Her M.O. is to start sh*t and then run & hide behind her minions.

As much as I like Parker's game she wears orange so she has a lot to overcome to be a favourite player of mine, but I'm really going to struggle to hate her team this season. They're also going to be a very strong unit so you'd better brace yourself, Durban.
Focus that hate on the men's chapter.

Oh really? There's nothing to hate them over now? Especially now that the Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Laker Empire WNBA Chapter is sitting oppressively atop the West Division right now at 10-4, where they really shouldn't. :evil: Although they are techinally no longer owned by the Evil Emperor, who seems more interested in chasing young women rather than promoting them as basketball players, they were created by it and still have synergy with it. What makes it even worse is that Seattle, who should be atop there, is struggling a little bit but should come around with the team gelling or is Swoopes aging rapidly? Just as bad, is Candance Parker, the Newest Emissary of Evil, has now joined her rotten and sinister partner in crime as the only WNBA players to have dunked in the league. :x Where's LJ? She should've done that by now.

Speaking of My Stupid Evil Pony, she has an autobiography out now. I won't diginify, let alone promote it, by providing a link to it. You'll just have to find it out yourselves. :evil: What I will say though is she does talk about Queen of The Hardwood in their entanglement in Sydney, saying that Lauren was cursing at her calling "Get off me B [My Stupid Evil Pony doesn't use the word bitch]". She also says in the book one of the Opals encouraged Lauren to take that horse's hair off of her. Makes want to read Lauren's book even more when and if hers comes out.

Atlanta Dream is still awful and still winless after 15 games.

More to come...

[Durbansandshark]

I knew that new Emissary of Evil was up to no good since suiting up for them! :evil: And it came with a brawl in the same venue that horribly shattered the WNBA's big brother four years ago. Funnily enough, that melee came in the game's dying minutes. Unfortunately, Cheryl Ford was trying to be peacemaker in the brawl, and with this knee injury how will this impact her Team USA duties coming up in less than a couple of weeks. Not that the team will suffer considerably. Inexusable by any means. Why in the hell a gratuitious tackle to start things with is a-OK but a punch is the equivalent to going out of the bench with a one game suspension?! :evil: It makes you go Hmm...

Now for the first time a coach gets suspended since the rules were in place where a coach was trying to keep the peace on the court, and the refs suspended Ricky Mahorn. Is it because he pushed The Head Emissary of Evil aside to the ground? Milton should NEVER assualted Mahorn as he was telling his players "Go to the bench!" But we're dealing with NDCELE WNBA Chapter here. If it were up to me, Candace shouldn't be playing for Team USA, and I wonder how will Cheryl cope with that as still-teammates. Yes, Parker got suspended with a one-gamer, but still should get a multiple amount of games...

Nancy Lieberman coming back to coach the Shock again?! When she left the franchise, Detroit was almost on death's doorstep to extinction before Laimbeer came by and revamped the team to WNBA supremacy (one of which of course came at the expense of the Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Empire WNBA Chapter). Laimbeer an unwilling sacrificial lamb for the violence? I thought I would never say that...

[Durbansandshark]

Yes, Atlanta finally won a game. Post coming tomorrow.

[Durbansandshark]

On July 5, the Atlanta Dream defeated the Chicago Sky, the last expansion team before Atlanta's arrival, for their first win in their franchise history after losing 17 consecutive games from their first game against Connecticut to a home loss to Houston, setting a new record for most consecutive losses by a team and the most losses from opening day. They since won two more. But they also lost Brazilian Erika De Souza for the season, which also negatively impacted the Brazilian women's basketball in their Beijing endeavour. Kristie Mann, probrably tired of the constant losing, was traded midway into the season to Indiana for Alison Bales.

Baltimore may inherit a WNBA team when its new arena is completed to replace the overgrown middle school cafeteria lookalike that is the 1st Mariner Arena. No word yet on which franchise could get moved. The new arena surely won't get the NBA or NHL, so the WNBA may be the next best thing along with indoor lacrosse, indoor soccer, and arena football.

[Durbansandshark]

No more stories dealing with my hatred of the Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Laker Empire WNBA Chapter in this post, at least for now. All I can say about that is this: they sadly clinched a playoff berth in the West. :evil:

I got some very bad and "craptacular" news for you Hellcat: your Phoenix Mercury (and one of my favorite WNBA teams too, aka Australia WNBA) will not make it into the playoffs to defend their title. That kinda illustrates just how competitive things are in the wild, wild West. Sacramento clinched the final spot out west as we get closer to the end of the season and into the playoffs. The Monarchs held off Seattle last night 77-70 to do so after Phoenix won their third straight as the Mercury were awaiting to play a now-meaningless Friday night game against Minnesota. Gonna miss your bold-faced "Mercury!!!" yells of delight.

Indiana clinched the last Eastern playoff spot with their 15th win of the season over--who else?--Atlanta, a team on pace for the worst ever performance for a WNBA expansion team at 3-29. LaTanya White netted 24 points to pace the Fever.

Gold medalist Seimone Augustus and Candance Wiggins will stop playing for the rest of the season with the Lynx. Augustus suffered a concussion and Wiggins got a sprained right knee in the same game on Tuesday at home against Indiana.

WNBA Playoff picture 2008

West:
San Antonio vs. Sacramento
Seattle vs. Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Laker Empire WNBA Chapter (oh joy... :evil: if LJ can't get healthy in time for this season to help stick it to those Evil Conceited Ones, we're all doomed :( )

East:
Connecticut vs. Indiana
Detroit vs. Indiana

[Durbansandshark]

I since found out another reason why, really the big one, there hasn't been another WNBA media guide: Last year, The Sports News was bought by Charlotte's Street and Smith's, makers of the those sports previews, from Paul Allen's Vulcan Operations. The Sporting News was becoming a money losing proposition under Vulcan. The WNBA media guides weren't exactly setting the book sales as well like the NBA guides the Sporting News also publishes.

[Durbansandshark]

Seattle thankfully has forced a decisive Game 3 against the Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Laker Empire WNBA Chapter in Game 2 64-50. Bird and Swoopes came through very good then. Now go cast those Evil Emissaries out; we sure as hell don't need My Stupid Evil Pony (and Candance Parker) gloating over Lauren again this year--it's bad enough with Beijing!

[koppjordan]

D&S, you sure are one classy individual.

[Durbansandshark]

Thank you Becky Hammon, Helen Darling, and Co. for getting rid of the Evil Ones! :D :D :D

[Durbansandshark]

Congrats belatedly to the Detroit Shock for reclaiming the WNBA title.

Very interesting markets made their respective announcements with the hope for ultimately 20 teams. A follow up on the Toronto possibility emerged in August with Norm Freedman leading a group of investors to bring the WNBA to Toronto at the Ricoh Coliseum. Baltimore, with a new arena on the way in a few years, announced a franchise may make its way there by relocation. Speculation is that the nearby Washington Mystics, once one of the more-supported WNBA franchises from its inception, is rumoured to be the one following getting lost and currently struggling in the 10 years in the Washington pro sports scene. However, there is no word really on which teams could it be. Also, WNBA President Donna Orender made public this year for a possible long-awaited WNBA squad in Tennessee (likely in Nashville), since "Tennessee is so logical" for a team thanks to the massive and perrenial success of the Tennessee Volunteers under Pat Summitt. But she hasn't disclosed any prospective ownership yet. There have been attempts before as recently as 2003, but it's unclear why things fell through. The Nashville Arena is fabulous and the corporate base will be there to support women's pro basketball with no schedule overlapping with NHL's Nashville Predators
www.businesstn.com/content/200809/getting-ball-bouncing (http://www.businesstn.com/content/200809/getting-ball-bouncing)

[Durbansandshark]

According to Wikipedia, the WNBA is supposed to be in EA Sports' latest installment of the NBA Live series--NBA Live 2009. But I don't have the game. If it's in it, I'm not sure the league is involved either with full WNBA teams to play or just WNBA All-Stars.

[Durbansandshark]

Got some sad news to report: The Houston Comets have shut down their operations at least for 2009 because of the franchise's inability to find a new owner in time, announced by Donna Orander yesterday. Sad for many reasons, not the least of which are the facts they were one of the first WNBA teams (and the Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Laker Empire WNBA Chapter STILL exists?! :evil:); they were the first great WNBA dynasty, winning the first four WNBA titles; its passionate fanbase giving them a consistent winner when playing at the Compaq Center (now a megachurch); and making public faces in Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, Tina Thompson, Janeth Arcain, Kim Perrot, and coach Van Channcelor. They have be come the fifth WNBA franchise, and the third foundation team to become defunct.

Comets went without an owner in the WNBA last season with the league taking over when its owner Houston businessman Hilton Koch announced in August he was putting the for sale sign in front of their home. League set a November deadline for local ownership to step up and save them, but no white knight emerged. Orander says the situation in H-Town is "isolated and very unique" relating to the city's present economic and business state "transpiring" in the near term. I think its end started when Van Channcelor left and the team got Koch as owner; team's fortunes weren't the same as the Western Division got more competitive. A Comets dispersal draft for the rest of the WNBA teams is set for Monday for players who were under contract to the Comets. Because of their free agent status, Tina Thompson, Haimchetou Maiga-Ba, Michelle Snow, Mwadi Mabika, and Latasha Bayers will not be exposed in it.

The dispersal order:

1. Atlanta Dream (4-30)
2. Washington Mystics (10-24)
3. Chicago Sky (12-22)
4. Minnesota Lynx (16-18)
5. Phoenix Mercury (16-18)
6. Indiana Fever (17-17)
7. Sacramento Monarchs (18-16)
8. New York Liberty (19-15)
9. Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Laker Empire WNBA Chapter (20-14)
10.Connecticut Sun (21-13)
11.Detroit Shock (22-12)
12.Seattle Storm (22-12)
13.San Antonio Silver Stars (23-11)

Because of the Silver Stars' best record in the league and its landmark season ever in its history dating from its Salt Lake City beginnings (includes beating the wicked Evil Empire), they won't get the pick of the litter out of the contract players. That means no players will available for them to draft on. Such a shame it lost an instate WNBA rival in which Becky Hammon and Co. were gaining the upper hand lately. Thankfully, don't look for them to go into oblivion. Back in circa 2000, there was talk of placing an expansion team in Dallas, but it of course never materialized, opting to let Utah come to SA. And merchandise, revenue, and attendance are all up. Not to mention the University of Texas women's basketball is working hard to regain prominence nationally in the college game with Baylor as a good rival in the Big 12. For a team like Atlanta that was outright dismal, it means they can get better in a hurry if the Dream can pick right. Good thing Swoopes left when she did.

So what does the Comets' demise mean? Can we blame it on the global recession impacting Houston? Bad decision making at the management that turned fans off, some casual? Fans not broadning their horizons to the WNBA? Backlash against women's pro sports from its mid-late 90s heyday in the US? League growing pains as it still establishes itself in the North American pro sports consciousness? A little bit of all of them played a factor. But there just seems to be a prejudice that is hard to mentally and socially overcome for many. The likes of Joe Sixpack (hey, there's a 2008 electorial buzz term in here!) lack to curiousity to give it a chance and with an open mind watching in front of the best assembled talent in women's pro basketball worldwide in this case, with respect to the top European leagues. But to a young league like the WNBA, disbanding and moving are part of the realities. In some areas like Internet interest, merchandising, sponsorships, and TV exposure/revenue are increasing, but in some areas, teams bite the dust. I personally felt then backlash to women's pro athletes came when the allegations (now since confirmed) surrounding sprinter Marion Jones on her steroid use started as whispers then rumours. That backlash came eventually claimed the WUSA (women's pro soccer), but a newer and smaller scale league is coming next year, and hit the WNBA time and again despite strong signs of growth with individualized ownerships and greater incoming depth of talent. The league will be OK, and hopefully Houston and Charlotte return.

[Dunkin' Dan]

From the start Houston always had the league's most spoiled, whiny fans. Even after the WNBA basically handed the team those first 4 championships they still managed to find more to bitch about than the rest of the league's fans combined. Then to make it worse as soon as the draft and free agency had started levelling out the league and the Comets weren't dominating, the fans evaporated at a rapid rate.
Sucks for the league to lose not only a founding team but the first dynasty team, and the franchise who gave us legends like Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, Kim Perrot, Janeth Arcain and Tina Thompson. But, if the fans don't come that's the way it's got to be. The public have spoken, and they have said "W.N.B. what? who? meh... I'd rather go out and shoot me somethin'"

[fan since the old snakepit]

What will happen to their draft rights to Camino?

[Dunkin' Dan]

Her rights will be available in the dispersal draft. I've heard whispers that she could be selected surprisingly early.

[Durbansandshark]

Houston Comets Dispersal Draft Results:

1. Atlanta--Sancho Lyttle
2. Washington--Matee Ajavon
3. Chicago--Mistie Williams
4. Minnesota--Roneeka Hodges
5. Phoenix--Sequoia Holmes
6. Indiana--Erika White
7. Sacramento--Renae Camino
New York, San Antonio, Detroit, Seattle, Connecticut, and lastly and certainly least NDCELE WNBA Chapter all didn't get their picks

[Dunkin' Dan]

Yeah, the Lynx cooled on Camino as the day got closer, but it's nice to see that the Monarchs picked up her rights.
Not sure how she'll fit in with the defense-anchored style they play though.

[Durbansandshark]

Big story just happened a couple of hours ago. A prominent player actually was thinking about coming back, health willing. Chamique Holdsclaw is coming back to the WNBA following a two-year absence with the Atlanta Dream picking up her WNBA rights. Though she's going to be rusty, she's still got the skills and will surely make Atlanta better as we all hope she's still the fierce competitor she was in her Tennessee days and in Washington.

[Durbansandshark]

Hoping to turn their fortunes around for a once heavily-supported franchise, Washington Mystics head coach Julie Plank rounded out a new coaching staff that includes Lubomir "Luby" Lichonczak, Vanessa Nygaard, and former Mystic and two-time Olympian Vicky Bullett. All three are compelling in their own ways. I didn't realize that Nygaard actually returned to the WNBA as an assistant already; she was on the Silver Stars staff this past season leading them to the WNBA Finals. Previously, she was with Pepperdine University and Long Beach St. in that capacity. We're seeing a future WNBA head coach in the making with her. Lubomir was an associate coach with the University of Texas-San Antonio Road Runners and previously was the head coach at Radford. Surely, he'll suggest some good input to Plank about East European players.

www.wnba.com/mystics/news/asst_coaches_090106.html (http://www.wnba.com/mystics/news/asst_coaches_090106.html)

[Dunkin' Dan]

When I saw you had posted here I was sure it was going to be about the Candace Parker pregnancy story

[Durbansandshark]

When I saw you had posted here I was sure it was going to be about the Candace Parker pregnancy story

I have absolutely NO plans to discuss that emissary of evil's pregnancy whatsoever--and I don't (Extremely Naughty Word!) care about it! :evil: That's stuff I don't want to talk about here! Be thankful that I didn't. But I did hear talk she could very well go play in Russia this month for those mucho rubles thanks to the Russian oligarchs financially backing the top clubs in basketball and soccer. Tragically, AP just named her Female Athlete of the Year.

[Durbansandshark]

We can now forget about Russia getting Candance now that she's pregnant. Good thing anyway for Russia...

Talk, according to Wikipedia (take it with a grain of salt), emerged about Arizona getting a second team with the Mercury. I don't get it. Even if it plans to be in suburban Phoenix like Glendale or in Tuscon, it just wouldn't be right since Phoenix is the only big city in the state that can handle a WNBA franchise. Colorado is back in talks supposedly, and I hope Triple Crown Sports is involved in the discussion for an expansion team in the near future. And I can also Arkansas doing this too. Of the three, I'd like Colorado to be the site of expansion team.

[Durbansandshark]

Good Ol' Teresa Weatherspoon (Tee Spoon) from the New York Liberty's glory days heads back to the legendary Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters program as interim coach from the fired Chris Long when she coaches against Hawaii on Friday. The Lady Techsters are 11-12 and in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season.

Malian Olympian basketball star Hamchetou Maiga-Ba, Portuguese star Tichia Penicheiro, DeMya Walker, and Chelsea Newton have all resigned with the Monarchs.

Seattle resigns Janell Burse.

[Dunkin' Dan]

They also re-signed A-Rob. And in much bigger news they told Sheryl Swoopes to GFFN. Waived without warning. Harsh.
Agler is not a popular dude right now.

[Durbansandshark]

Very disturbing news just hit today: Tina Thompson, fresh from the now-defunct Houston Comets as a free agent, is now the newest Emissary of Evil in the Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Laker Empire WNBA Chapter while that Evil MVP Emissary is out pregnant. :evil: I guess that explains how My Stupid Evil Pony and TT jointly getting their USA Basketball rings at halftime during the NBA All-Star Game.

[Durbansandshark]

2009 WNBA Draft

First Round
1. Atlanta Dream--Angel McCoughtry (Louisville)
2. Washington Mystics--Melissa Coleman (Maryland)
3. Chicago Sky--Kristi Tolliver (Maryland)
4. Minnesota Lnyx--Renee Montgomery (Connecticut)
5. Phoenix Mercury--DeWanna Bonner (Auburn)
6. Indiana Fever--Brianna January (Arizona St.)
7. Sacramento Monarchs--Courtney Paris (Oklahoma)
8. New York Liberty--Kia Vaughn (Rutgers)
9. Minnesota Lynx--Quanitra Hollingsworth (Virginia Commonwealth)
10.Connecticut Sun--Chonte White (Duke)
11.Detroit Shock--Shavonte Zellous (Pittsburgh)
12.Seattle Storm--Ashley Walker (California)
13.Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Laker Empire WNBA Chapter--Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton (Purdue)

Second Round
1. San Antonio Silver Stars--Megan Frazee (Liberty)
2. Minnesota Lynx--Rashanda McCants (North Carolina)
3. Chicago Sky--Danielle Grant (Texas A&M)
4. Connecticut Sun--Lyndra Littles (Virginia)
5. Detroit Shock--Brittany Miller (Florida St.)
6. Sacramento Monarchs--Whitney Bodde (Auburn)
7. New York Liberty--Abby Waner (Duke)
8. Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Laker Empire WNBA Chapter--Ashley Paris (Oklahoma)
9. Washington Mystics--Camille LeNoir (USC)
10.Washington Mystics--Jelena Milovanovic (MKB Euroleasing)
11.Atlanta Dream--Shalee Lehning (Kansas St.)
12.San Antonio Silver Stars--Sonja Petrovic (Red Star Belgrade)

Third Round
1. Atlanta Dream--Jessica Morrow (Baylor)
2. Washington Mystics--Josephine Owino (Union-Tenn.)
3. Chicago Sky--Jennifer Risper (Vanderbilt)
4. Minnesota Lynx--Emily Fox (Minnesota)
5. Phoenix Mercury--Sha Brooks (Florida)
6. Indiana Fever--Danielle Campbell (Purdue)
7. Sacramento Monarchs--Morgan Warburton (Utah)
8. Phoenix Mercury--Jessica Adair (George Washington)
9. Now Deservedly Crumbling Evil Laker Empire WNBA Chapter--Britney Jordan (Texas A&M-Commerce)
10.Connecticut Sun--Alba Torrens (Real Club Celta Intepo)
11.Detroit Shock--Tenae Davis-Cain (Florida St.)
12.Seattle Storm--Mara Freshour (Florida St.)
13.San Antonio Silver Stars--Candyce Bingham (Louisville)

[Durbansandshark]

New York Liberty adds a golden touch with Anne Donovan, Seattle Storm WNBA title-winning and Beijing 2008 gold medal coach, appointed as an assistant coach. Look for her to eventually take over at some point, and maybe have her title success rub off on the title-less Liberty.

Chicago Sky lineup just bigger as the team signs 6-5 Chinese National Team mainstay Chen Nan, 2009 Women's Chinese Basketball Association MVP.

[Durbansandshark]

Following in the footsteps of the NDBL and they did for two years, you can follow your fave WNBA team online through WNBA LiveAccess that will feature up to around 200 games live and on-demand on your team's website. This extensive service will take place with the 50 games already on NBATV and the 29 games (both regular season and postseason) on ESPN2 and ABC. Not to mention the streamed games on ESPN360.com. This new endavour will utilize TriCasting, a portable live production and virtual set system to stream select games from the arena, for Internet streaming and on-demand coverage to a worldwide audience. The WNBA's first live webcast came from a Detroit Shock-Charlotte Sting game on May 31, 2003.

Kinda shallow WNBA Draft this time around. Some notable names weren't picked. One I can think of was Marist Red Fox's Rachaelle Fitz.

[Durbansandshark]

Diana Taurasi gets charged with a DUI. What the hell were you thinking, girl?! I really like you a lot as a basketball talent (far better than that My Stupid Evil Pony). But couldn't you take a taxi, ride some mass transit, or designate someone to drive you home? Any DUI is disturbing, and this is the first time it happened as far as I know to a WNBA player. But that act was so boneheaded on your part. Sure you are remorseful and owned up to your actions, but please do be conscious when going out.

[Durbansandshark]

We're at the unofficial halfway point into the WNBA season. I admit I wish I could offer my picks on how the season will unfold, but I got too busy lately, and I haven't been able to follow the season much.

For the upcoming All-Star Game at the Mohegan Sun Arena, home of the Connecticut Sun, Seattle's Swin Cash will "tweet" for the Western All-Stars and Washington's Alanna Beard will do likewise as correspondents during the game on Saturday. ESPN Analyst Rebecca Lobo will tweet from the sidelines. Nancy Liberman and Carolyn Peck will tweet from various events.

Even better news has emerged yesterday about the All-Star Game: My Stupid Evil Pony, that Evil Emissary from that oppressive Purple of Evil (yes, that's another name for the Evil Laker Empire WNBA Chapter), will not play in the game due to her injury. :) I her hear this is her final season of play at age 37. Goodbye and good f---ing riddance--I've seen better looking faces on iodine bottles than that conceited self! Sacramento's Nicole Powell, a much nicer player, will thankfully replace the evil one as a reserve.

[WilloWildWaves]

Anyone have any idea why espn ( foxtel) are not showing WNBA, I remember watching a couple of games in the first round but since then I have only noticed a couple of games being shown on the espn HD channel ( which I don't have)?

[Warpig]

game was on yesterday...11ish i reckon..

[Andy K]

Yeah, they show a few games, like 1 game every 2 weeks.

[Andy K]

Who is everyone's tips for the title this year? Tully seems to be leading Indy fever really well and they will be hard to beat. Hopefully it will be a Storm Vrs Fever final.

[Durbansandshark]

(subtle Boondocks reference)
"Oh they're gone! They're gone! They're gonnnnnnne! Oh yes, they really fucking are! THEY'RE GONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNE!" (where's that twisted evil face emoticon?) Barbeque in fucking Hell, Evil Laker Empire WNBA Chapter! All of those emissaries of evil! (http://sports.espn.go.com/wnba/recap?gameId=290926011) .Especially My Stupid Evil Pony! Goodbye and good riddance! We don't need her. We never did, one of the worst and most conceited emissaries of evil ever! And your four Olympic golds (the last one last year illustrated her arrogance against the Opals). (http://sports.espn.go.com/wnba/columns/story?columnist=voepel_mechelle&id=4507916) I seen better looking faces on iodine bottles!

Hate to break the bad news but as you may know by now: Seattle made the playoffs but once again that Evil Laker Empire WNBA Chapter and that My Stupid Evil Pony stopped an undermanned Storm. Loz was injured and on the sidelines powerless to stop it, of course. Anyhoo, she reportedly signed a two-year extension with Seattle. She needs to win another title to go with the one in 2004.

It's now Phoenix and Indiana for the WNBA marbles. And right now in this best of five series, Phoenix struck first with a thrilling 120-116 OT game in Game 1. And it was all offense for the most anyway. I can hear Hellcat happily screaming "MERCURY!!!!" on these boards when it's all said and done.

Meanwhile, Atlanta Dream enjoys a red letter day for its incredible turnaround from its abysmal first season with Angel McCoughtry and Marynell Meadows winning Rookie of the Year and Coach of the Year, respectively.

A prospective WNBA ownership group in Tulsa just hired college coaching legend Nolan Richardson to coach the team if they can secure the funds.

[Durbansandshark]

Last time I brought up the possiblity of Tulsa coming into the WNBA in the near future with Nolan Richardson as GM and coach, being back in Tulsa after a successful run at the University of Tulsa in the 80s. I thought it was going to be an expansion team this group of investors were after. But I and a lot of other people were "shocked" to discover that the city got the three-time WNBA champs Detroit Shock (www.wnba.com/tulsa). Why? I realize the Shock, despite its success in recent years, isn't as high on the Detroit pro sports radar (but surely higher than, say, the Detroit Panthers in the PBL or any ABA team based in Motown). And the franchise had some value thanks to its titles and star players like Katie Smith, Swin Cash, Sandy Brondello (in the early days), Cheryl Ford plus some fan support. But something isn't right and league-cred looking when a team like Detroit that has tasted recent success and titles move like that--unless the Evil Laker Empire WNBA Chapter ultimately and deservedly bites the dust. Let's not forget this team was, several years ago in this decade, nearly contracted with Orlando and Miami until Pistons owner Bill Davidson saved them and was mediocre. After that and installing better basketball-knowing people running the show under the Palace banner, they started winning with Bad Boy Bill Laimbeer as coach and Ricky Mahorn as his right hand man.

I can think of several factors contributing to this move to Tulsa. Obviously, Detroit and the entire state of Michigan got hit very hard in this economic recession, and given the fact the Shock wasn't high in the face of the Tigers, the woeful (and I mean woeful) Lions, Red Wings, and its big brother the Pistons. It can get easy to get lost in the mainstream when the sport of women's pro basketball, in its highest level, isn't fully there in North America and not in the full consciousness and open-mindesness from its habit--maybe simple WNBA growing pains lurking again. Plus, with the death of the late Pistons owner Davidson earlier this year, I can presume the entity of Palace Sports and Entertainment is undergoing a re-examination of what its priorities will be in the near future, and what possible role women's pro basketball may or may not fit in on a business/marketing level. The Palace of Auburn Hills surely will lose summer dates guaranteed for work and revenue. And there's some probrably some shakeups with a new face at the helm with that person's business philosophies. Another thing that emerged is the Shock seemingly became rudderless with the sudden resignation of Laimbeer, Bad Boy hero to Pistons fans, to pursue a coaching job in the NBA, which has not been successful so far partly due to his nasty on-court rep that still lingers to many in the league years later despite his coaching success with the Shock. Mahorn tried his best but it wasn't enough in the competitive East.

For Tulsa, it's nice to see Nolan Richardson coaching on the sidelines more often again since bitterly leaving Arkansas and outside the Panama and Mexico men's national teams. Can he make the transition successful?

Congrats to the Phoenix Mercury on another WNBA title.

[Dunkin' Dan]

Obviously, Detroit and the entire state of Michigan got hit very hard in this economic recession
That's all it came down to. They reportedly lost $2 million this past year, and the arena was constantly empty. Unfortunately the economy hit Michigan a lot harder than most places, and that has taken its toll.
Damn shame, too, because with Houston gone, Detroit were the next closest thing to a "dynasty" franchise that the league had.

Another thing that emerged is the Shock seemingly became rudderless with the sudden resignation of Laimbeer
...
Mahorn tried his best but it wasn't enough in the competitive East.
Really? Being that crippled by injuries and still making it to the EC Finals was rudderless & not enough? I thought it was an awesome effort to get as far as they did under the circumstances.
Tulsa would be thrilled to get the Shock rather than having to do it via an expansion draft.

Now we just have to hope that Atlanta hangs in there ...

[Durbansandshark]

Sorry, Dan. I wasn't really paying too much attention to the WNBA this year at its height because of immense work. That explains why I made the statement I made. Losing money didn't surprise me in that venture, so for Palace Sports and Entertainment, were they willing to eat the losses even further? No. And it's such a shame, you're right. Never mind it's cheaper than the Pistons' home games.

I too have heard of stuff regarding Atlanta and its home attendance woes at the Philipps Arena. If the Dream goes belly up and doesn't hang, people will perceive the US southeast is not an ideal place for women's pro basketball after what happened to Miami, Orlando, and Charlotte, consequently not pitching there for years. Atlanta is a little different with a lot of transient people coming from other regions of the country living there (the aforementioned cities are like that too, to be sure), namely from the north. So they take their sports allegeinces with them not identifying with the local teams--except maybe for football. Their Atlanta-born kids may adopt them, but that will take years for them to be avid, mature consumers if the Dream stays. Also, the city is more apathetic. After its woeful first season, setting the wrong kind of expansion team records, things turned around with Chamique Holdsclaw and Angel McCoughtry making them instantly better. Meadows became Coach of the Year. The Dream clearly has a lot of promise to be an Eastern power for years to come. Better promotion surely can help and support from the Hawks (I know the Dream's owners are different from them). Winning consistenly helps bring people and publicity to games. But look at Detroit now...

[Dunkin' Dan]

Yeah, awesome effort by Atlanta to go from plain horrible in year 1 to playoffs in year 2. It would be bad timing if they went under now. I'd like to think that this year's success on the court would flow on to some increased popularity with the fans & media next year.

Having said that, even at the best of times Atlanta had a reputation for not really supporting its pro sport teams, so it was a bit of a surprise they started a WNBA franchise there in the first place IMO.
We'll see. Announcements are expected within the next few weeks.

[Durbansandshark]

Seriously, what the hell is the WNBA thinking with the prospect of disgraced sprinter Marion Jones trying to enter the WNBA with the San Antonio Silver Stars under the tutelage of its trainer and an assistant? Sounds like cheap publicity. She's 34, so she doesn't have much of an upside and wide window to grow. Is this stunt casting? Next thing you know Geena Davis might be calling to train and eventually play..and she's over 50. I hear she's got game. Any other famous and athletic woman like Eliza Dushku or Lucy Liu must be busy these days. I had to be in disbelief when I first about that in Sweden's SVT's sports subsection yesterday. Her basketball endeavor was best culminated as a member of the 1994 North Carolina women's NCAA basketball championship team as a freshman PG. Last time she played basketball was in 1997. Supposedly, she got a call from the NBA in May pondering whether she should pursue redeeming herself in the WNBA. At the time she was nine months preg and responded to a return to the hardwood after giving birth. Frankly, don't look for Marion to make an impact if she does crack the roster; it reminds when Jackie Joyner-Kersee scored 16 points in her 17 games with the Richmond Rage in the criminally overlooked and defunct ABL. The only way would be if the NBA and WNBA brass apply pressure for her to get signed onto a team, even if she was training and in game shape. Unlike track and field (athletics to you), basketball requires multiple facets of athleticism.

You know the Team Formerly Known As The Detroit Shock Now In Tulsa? It's looking for a new name. What was wrong with keeping the Shock moniker or its cousin Lightning? You could be Shock anywhere. I guess the name has more appropriateness in Detroit with the auto industry there. Admittedly there's nothing shocking about Tulsa. But Lightning, a popular choice, didn't pass the WNBA screening.The WNBA doesn't want to get sued by some one idiot out of 100 while there are colleges and pro (major and minor) teams that carry a name like that. Really copyright issues hold the key. It was was the reason why Lightning was rejected because the Tampa Bay Lightning's name--whenever that team has a promo, logo, pun, or something, there's at least 50 of them. Tulsa could inadvertantly duplicate them, opening to legal action. So we got Shock, Fire (original name for the failed Portland expansion team), and the lame and laughable Tempo (how about old Ford car that hasn't been manufactured in 15 years, at least there's a connection to Detroit or it can be slow)

I hate writing stuff like this but another WNBA team is leaving, another inaugural one at that. First it was Houston, now it's Sacramento. If there ever was a team that is richly deserving of being obliterated it's the Evil Laker Empire WNBA Chapter. Rumours abound that the championship banner and the retired numbers like that of Ruthie Bolton-Holyfield were taken down from the ARCO Arena rafters. Efforts to find a new home for the Monarchs failed so far, and it's possible the WNBA plans to let the team die quietly over Thanksgiving but with a carrot. Namely, by expanding the other WNBA rosters to 12 players with the top 11 being active to give Sacramento players a safe landing spot. Truly, the WNBA surely wants to keep them going. The Maloof brothers claim they, as much as they love running the team, want to provide greater attention and promotion to the Kings, probrably because they're "too big to fail" with a possible eye to Las Vegas, it is rumoured--and the Monarchs, not the Kings, got a title for Sacramento! Well, is the Evil Laker Empire WNBA Chapter "too big to fail" too? Though the Maloofs have every right to pull out financially if it's not viable for them, but I despise the manner from some experienced owners like the Maloofs are not alerting the players and the Monarchs' management about this action. Doing the opposite by explaining this would save some face for them because they would've found out from other sources or be surprised by the initial announcement. This was cold and disrespectful to a franchise and its fans that saw plenty of success and support in the recent past. How many prospective owners are out there right now in this economy willing to shell out money as an investment that could have value in the future years? Now many. Women's pro basketball in the US is a risky venture. Like Detroit and Houston, flagging attendance, lack of creative marketing, and not enough potent television revenues despite decent ratings were also causes for the demise. Already the local Sacramento media like the Sacramento Bee is fuming about this demise, but I hear talk of moving to the Bay Area (namely Oakland) instead to stave off execution. Not a bad move altogether. Stay tuned.

[Durbansandshark]

Teams already announced their 2010 preseason schedules in the WNBA.

Malian basketball player Hamchetou Maiga-Ba signs with the Minnesota Lynx.

13-year vet and two-time WNBA champ Tamecka Dixon announced her retirement today after playing for the Indiana Fever last season, leading the Fever to their first WNBA Finals, leaving the first ever WNBA first draft pick from 1997, Tina Thompson, as the last remaining original WNBA player still active.

Sacramento is dead. Long live Sacramento. Details later.

[bad gambler]

What happened to the Monarchs?

[hellcat]

The Maloofs pulled the plug.

"The decision was made because it's what's in the best interest for the Kings. All the staff and energy will be shifted to try and get the Kings to turn things around."

http://www.news10.net/news/story.aspx?storyid=70660&catid=2

[Durbansandshark]

Marion Jones now goes to help out with Nolan Richardson's 40 Minutes of Hell on the court as she now signs with the Tulsa Shock.

Connecticut Sun gets the first pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft.

And Loz signs again with the Storm. I hope they can get another title.

To be continued...

[Durbansandshark]

Coming up real soon, if not before the big US Thanksgiving weekend, is a more extensive look back at the WNBA season that ended a few short months ago. But right now, I want to bring up a couple of things that I will delve into later.

The Minnesota Lynx won the 2010 WNBA Draft Lottery a couple weeks ago followed by Tulsa and Chicago to round out the top three teams.

Washington Mystics Trudy Lacy as the GM and head coach.

Chicago Sky name former LSU coach Pokey Chatnam as their new head coach. Hope their fortunes turn around for the better and provide stability for both franchises.

[Durbansandshark]

Sheryl Swoopes comes out of her two-year retirement and will play for the Tulsa Shock. Tulsa surely needed to do something to lift the team up after a bad first season in Tulsa.
www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=413&articleid=20110328_413_0_Womens280906&rss_lnk=2
www.wnba.com/shock/swoopes_excited.html
www.wnba.com/shock/swoopes_signs.html

[Durbansandshark]

Sad to see such a proud WNBA franchise like the Tulsa (formerly Detroit) Shock be this bad. Not just bad. Historically bad! Sure they won 6 games last year. When they arrived on the scene since leaving Detroit because of both owner Bill Davidson's death and the bad economy in Michigan, the Tulsa owners thought they were going to have significant member from that. Plus, incoming coach and GM Nolan Richardson had his own ideas about he saw his team with his 40 Minutes of Hell. No Detroit players remained by the middle of last season. They only won game this year so far, a 77-59 winner against Washington, after losing their first five. Tulsa won their first after losing their first three last season. The Shock is on pace to emulate the Portland Fire as one of the worst teams in WNBA history.

Nolan Richardson's hiring has turned out to be a mistake. I think he's done as a coach. Sure, he was motivated that he still has it as a coach, and he's a legend in that realm. It's just that he didn't have the players at his disposal to be effective. But I also think his philosophies are only suited to the men's college game, not WNBA. Looking back, his hiring was more of a "welcome home" publicity stunt to where he became a coaching star. Still, it's a disappointment for him not to succeed given his rep. Not sure of Teresa Edwards would be a good fit for them, but she knows the WNBA terrain. They have some good players, but they shouldn't be where they're at. Plus, the Shock is undersized.

In another one of their biggest splashes for the Shock was the signing of Marion Jones, the disgraced track and field star who was imprisoned for perjury also looking for a second chance. She did play basketball for the UNC team that won the 1994 NCAA title as a freshman, but her basketball impact has been minimal even then. Outside of her making the Shock team, she was essentially nothing special in an attempt to prove the naysayers wrong with limited minutes and points. Mediocre. Just yesterday with no surprise thanks to Richardson's departure, Jones got dropped from Tulsa to make way for Hakeem Olajuwon's daughter Abi, who played at Oklahoma (www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?articleid=20110722_29_B1_CUTLIN562387 ). Edwards says it was needed to address their size, defense, and rebounding issues. But they may have to slow down the offense and defense in order to accomodate her. If I remember correctly, she doesn't have the quickest of feet. Though, Olajuwon has improved at the pro level since her Sooner days, even more so than Courtney Paris or her twin.

If there's some good news lately with Tulsa, Elizabeth Cambrge just got selected to the WNBA All-Star Game as a replacement for the NDCELE WNBA Chapter's Candance Parker.
www.smh.com.au/sport/basketball/cambage-taylor-picked-for-wnba-allstars-20110721-1hpvo.html