July 24, 2008 - The stroke is still there for  Nancy Lieberman.

With five players handed league suspensions after Tuesday’s scuffle against the Los Angeles Sparks, the Shock went out and signed Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman to a seven- day contract. Lieberman had been the general manager and head coach of the Shock from 1998-2000, and is currently a television analyst.

At 50 (yikes) years old — she celebrated the big bday three weeks ago — Lieberman became the oldest player to suit up in league history.  In her first (and likely only) game as a Detroit player, the Brooklyn native went 0-for-1 from the floor and collected two assists in her nine minutes of play.

The Houston Comets went on to defeat the undermanned Shock 79-61. Despite the Shock slump, Lieberman played admirably and showed that she’s truly “the best dame athlete.” For all you youngsters out there, next time you think you can’t do it, think again.

Lieberman was a standout for Far Rockaway High School in Queens, and played on the U.S. women’s team for the 1976 Olympics and at age 18 became the youngest basketball player in Olympic history to earn a gold medal.  She went on to star at Old Dominion University from 1976-80 winning two national championships then performed in the short-lived Women’s Pro Basketball League.

Lieberman also broke ground in 1986, becoming the first female to play in a men’s league when she took the floor for Springfield of the USBL. She was originally drafted by the Phoenix Mercury in the 1997 draft, spending one season with the club–becoming the oldest (then) player in league history at 39 years, 54 days old.

Over 17 professional seasons, she averaged 15.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game. And with her latest foray into the game, the legend continues.

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July 24, 2008 - With so much happening in the WNBA this week, here’s a quick wrap-up.

Shock signs 50-year-old Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman - The Detroit Shock came up with a way to distract some attention away from their skirmish earlier this week. For one game at least. The team signed 50-year-old former coach Nancy Lieberman to a seven-day contract and she’s expected to play against Houston tonight.  

WNBA hands down suspensions - in response to the events at Tuesday’s game between the Detroit Shock and the Los Angeles Sparks, the WNBA announced penalties including Shock forward Plenette Pierson who has been suspended for four games for her actions that initiated and escalated the altercation.

Cheryl Ford to miss remainder of 2008 WNBA season with knee injury - Shock forward Cheryl Ford, who appeared to be injured while trying to restrain teammate Plenette Pierson during a confrontation Tuesday, is out for the season because of an anterior cruciate ligament tear in her right knee. The Shock made the announcement following an MRI exam Wednesday morning.

WNBA to take mid-season break for Olympics - With so many players involved in the upcoming Olympics, the WNBA will take a mid-season break to prepare for the Summer Games. The break begins Monday, July 28th and the league will resume play a month later.

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July 23, 2008 - A melee at The Palace of Auburn Hills — also the site of the infamous brawl between the Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers and fans in 2004 — broke out Tuesday night with 4.6 seconds left in a WNBA game between the Detroit Shock the Los Angeles Sparks.

The game turned heated after a collision between LA’s Candace Parker and Detroit’s Plenette Pierson turned into a shoving match that saw players and coaches from both teams leave the bench. In the waning moments of the game, Parker got tangled up with Pierson and to many it was clear that Pierson intentionally baited Parker and took her to the ground “Piston style”.

Rookie sensation Candace Parker, the league’s poster child, scored 21 points and DeLisha Milton-Jones added 19 before both were ejected after the scuffle. The Sparks held on to beat the Shock 84-81 in WNBA.

Pierson and Detroit assistant coach Rick Mahorn (a former Pistons Bad Boy) were also ejected. The latter came off the bench as a peacekeeper but allegedly shoved Lisa Leslie to the ground during the incident. Pushing the star center may not have been the best idea to “protect the game” especially when Mahorn is twice her size. Suspensions and fines will surely follow for all involved.

The Shock’s Cheryl Ford, who also went down during the incident, will miss the remainder of 2008 WNBA Season with a knee injury sustained earlier in the game.

The brawl, which was televised (see below),  may have provided the WNBA with a much needed a shot in the arm to boost attention - albeit not the most positive kind. Now this may not have been on the same level as what happens in European Football (soccer) matches or between the Yanks and the Red Sox but it shouldn’t be that much of a surprise that a bunch of women lost their temper during an intense game. It’s exactly the kind of emotional stupidity that’s been known to afflict their male counterparts in a host of similar situations.

Anway, the rivalry between the Sparks and the Shock is firmly established and as a fan, a game between these two teams in the championship could definitely pique my interest.

What do you think?

Filed under: WNBA by jane
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July 20, 2008 -(AP) Katie Douglas and the Indiana Fever stole the spotlight - under the moonlight - from the New York Liberty in the WNBA’s first outdoor game.

On a basketball court laid on top of the tennis court at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Douglas scored nine of her 20 points in the fourth quarter, Tamika Catchings had 15 points and nine rebounds, and the Fever (11-11) beat the Liberty 71-55 on Saturday night.

Even though the game was scheduled for a night start in hopes of avoiding the summer sun and heat, the game-time temperature was a steamy 87 degrees. The setting sun was only shining on one corner of the top level of seats, and there was a slight breeze blowing across the court from one corner.

“Probably the biggest thing both teams will have to be concerned about is making sure we stay hydrated,” Catchings said. “Definitely trying to keep your body temperature low.”

Catchings was also part of the first outdoor women’s college game when Tennessee played Arizona State at Bank One Ballpark, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ baseball stadium, on Dec. 27, 2000.

Since opening in 1997, the world’s largest outdoor tennis-only venue has been the main stadium for the U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. For one night, there was a different ball bouncing on the court in the first outdoor regular-season game in professional basketball history - men’s or women’s.

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July 18, 2008 - Move over Venus and Serena. The WNBA is taking over center court at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The New York Liberty will make professional basketball history tomorrow, Saturday, July 19, when the team plays host to the Indiana Fever in the WNBA’s first regular-season outdoor game.

In addition to making professional basketball history, the Liberty Outdoor Classic will be the first non-tennis sporting event to take place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens, the largest public outdoor tennis facility in the world.

The Knicks’ court, brought over in 226 pieces, was laid out on the surface at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday. The baskets and scorer’s tables came over later that night after the Liberty’s win against Washington at the Garden.

Saturday’s activities include a FREE pre-game Fan Festival open to the public directly outside of the stadium from 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm, featuring New York Knicks stars David Lee and Nate Robinson with Knicks and Liberty greats John Starks, Allan Houston, Kym Hampton, Teresa Weatherspoon and Sue Wicks. Kids will have the opportunity to enjoy carnival rides, interactive games and win special Liberty prizes.

Following the game, Epic Record’s hot singing group, MENUDO, will perform a concert free for all ticket holders. Be part of sports history - tix available at Ticketmaster or NYLiberty.com

You can also join Liberty Legend Kym Hampton and the Torch Patrol on the CBS Early Show Saturday morning to promote the event. Show up at the corner of 59th and fifth at 7:30AM to be part of the live television experience!

Filed under: WNBA by Pretty Tough
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June 2, 2008 - The Women’s National Basketball Association has launched a program with Adidas in which fans can go online and design a shooting shirt, with the opportunity for one’s design to see court time.

The WNBA i-design contest, at WNBA.com/idesign is for either a specific WNBA team or for the 2008 WNBA Finals. The design submissions for each of the 14 teams are judged by WNBA and Adidas reps. The winning designs will be manufactured by Adidas, and worn by each team during that team’s Fan Appreciation Night.

The winning designer in each market will receive two tickets to attend a WNBA game and a version of the shooting shirt autographed by their respective team. The fan whose design is chosen to be worn during the WNBA Finals will receive an all-expenses-paid trip for two to a Finals game.

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May 18, 2008 -  Playing in her first WNBA game after coming to the Sparks as the league’s top draft pick, Candace Parker was as good as advertised in the Sparks’ 99-94 win over the defending-champion Mercury. In fact, she was even better.

Parker ended up two passes shy of a triple-double stat line. Going into its 12th season, no rookie in the women’s pro league has ever debuted with a triple-double. She racked up 34 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in her first game.

The Mercury was a stubborn opponent but Parker didn’t let anything get in the way of her superb debut, least of all an opener against the league champs.

Oh, and let’s not forget Lisa Leslie. The new mom added 17 points and 12 boards in her return to the game.

Good times. At least for LA fans.

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May 16, 2008 - It has yet to be determined if Alicia Keys has a nice jump shot, but the Grammy Award-winning singer is about to join the WNBA for a full season.

According to TV Guide, the A-list entertainer has made a special video of her song  “Superwoman” that will air before all 22 of the WNBA’s nationally televised games on ABC and ESPN2 this summer.

The season tips off with with the defending league champion Phoenix Mercury hosting the Los Angeles Sparks (May 17, 3:30 pm/ET, ABC). ESPN2’s Tuesday-night game-of-the-week schedule begins three days later with Sacramento Monarchs visiting the refurbished Seattle Storm (May 20, 10:30 pm/ET).

Filed under: Entertainment, Music, WNBA by jane
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May 8, 2008 - Candace Parker would rather grab a diploma this week than a rebound.

The Naperville, Illinois native will not be with the Los Angeles Sparks tonight when they play against the Chicago Sky in a WNBA exhibition game. Instead, the league’s No. 1 draft pick will be picking up a diploma from Tennessee in sports management and psychology.

“I think it would have been harder [to miss] had it been a regular-season game,” Parker said. “I feel like it’s very important for me to be there to get my degree. It’s something I had been working toward for four years.”

Parker will be joined at the commencement ceremonies by Lady Vol teammates and current WNBA players Nicky Anosike, Alexis Hornbuckle and Shannon Bobbitt.

“The graduating student-athletes take with them college degrees that prepare them for a life of learning and opportunities,” said Dr. Ruth Darling, assistant vice provost and student success center director. “They also take a set of skills they have acquired though their athletics participation that will contribute to their success in future careers and professions.”

You can catch Parker at the Sparks’ season-opener on the road against defending champion Phoenix on May 17 and she will return to Chicago for a regular-season game on June 3.

In the meantime, kudos on graduating college Candace.

Filed under: Basketball, College Athletics, News Bytes, WNBA by jane
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May 8, 2008, From TV Guide today:

The WNBA’s 12th season gets underway next weekend, and the league is eager to attract new fans and change perceptions of women’s hoops.

A new marketing campaign, “Expect Great,” launches during tonight’s Celtics/Cavaliers NBA playoff game (7 pm/ET, ESPN). In a series of ads that are clearly aimed at men, three top players — the Detroit Shock’s Cheryl Ford, the Indiana Fever’s Tamika Catchings and celebrated rookie Candace Parker of the L.A. Sparks — repeat the criticisms they’ve heard. The complaints are clearly contradicted by simultaneous game clips.In Ford’s spot, the four-time WNBA All-Star says: “Let’s be honest, your rec league team would smoke us chicks without working up a sweat. I’m afraid of contact, so you can post me up all day long. Plus, the lane will be open, because no girl is gonna take a charge. We want no part of your rec league team. Believe that.” Then the screen goes dark and the words “She wouldn’t say that. Would You?” appear.

Ford and Parker’s spots premiere tonight, while Catchings’ debuts on Sunday during ABC’s coverage of the NBA Playoffs.

Filed under: Entertainment, TV, WNBA by jane
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