While Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Tamika Catchings, Candace Parker, Sylvia Fowles, Cappie Pondexter, Seimone Augustus and Kara Lawson are guaranteed a spot on the team, the fourteen other players are not. They will have to earn a spot even though they were invited to camp. Coach Geno Auriemma is probably thrilled to have a variety of former UCONN players at his disposal. In addition to Bird and Taurasi, he will always have the pleasure of coaching Swin Cash, Ashja Jones, Maya Moore, and Tina Charles as well (at least for the duration of camp).

Geno Auriemma is probably thrilled to have so many former UCONN players in the U.S. women's basketball pool.

Rounding out the chosen fourteen are Jayne Appel, Alana Beard, Shameka Christon, Candice Dupree, Lindsey Harding, Ebony Hoffman, Crystal Langhorne, Angel McCoughtry, Lindsay Whalen, and Candice Wiggins.

Regardless of who makes the final roster, it looks as though the U.S. women’s basketball team is going to be an amazing one. Would we expect any less?

According to ESPN, The U.S. team will train in Washington for a week before heading to Russia to play in a tournament.

Image: Zuma Press

Post from: EveryJoe

14 More Players Invited To US Camp

UCONN standouts, Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, will reunite with their former head coach at USA basketball camp. Tamika Catchings, Candace Parker, Cappie Pondexter, Kara Lawson, Sylvia Fowles and Seimone Augustus round out the rest of the eight.

“Naming these eight players was not that difficult of a decision to make, I’m sure, because those eight were truly instrumental in winning the Olympics in Beijing,” Auriemma said, according to Yahoo! Sports.

The U.S. women’s basketball team will start training and practicing together at the end of September. Additional athletes and coaches will also be selected to participate.

Considering how many WNBA standouts there are, filling up the rest of the roster shouldn’t be too hard. You can expect Team USA to bring home a gold medal in 2012. (That’s right. I’m guaranteeing a win … two years ahead of schedule!)

Enjoy some behind-the-scenes- footage of 2008’s Gold Medal Winning Team:

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8 Players Picked For Team USA

Sure, Candace Parker is a household name, but Leslie was dunking basketballs well before Parker could even drive a car.

Leslie reached yet another milestone in her basketball career by reaching 6,000 points in a game against the Indiana Fever. The exclamation point of the achievement was made as Leslie hit an 11-foot jumper with only 11.9 seconds left before halftime.

Leslie is also an eight-time All-Star, leads the league in career rebounds with 3,203. She is only one of four remaining players from the league’s inaugural season in 1997.

Post from: EveryJoe

Lisa Leslie Reaches 6,000 Points

The truth is that the WNBA’s impact is far more than financial. I read an article on ESPN about how President Obama’s daughters love watching women’s basketball.  One particular quote stood out the most: “Sasha and Malia, have never known a time when women did not play professional basketball in the United States.”

I sometimes forget that young girls (11 years or younger) do not know any different. Professional women’s basketball is the norm for them. They expect to see it. They can watch it on television and daydream of one day playing in the WNBA. What an impact that must have on their self-esteem and confidence?

When I was growing up, I didn’t have that. I marveled at Michael Jordan just like everyone else, even though I knew I could never “be like Mike.” Now, young girls can marvel at Candace Parker and know that they too have the chance to dunk a basketball, play professionally, and be in television commercials.

The WNBA may not be a cash cow, but they offer so much more. They offer young girls a chance to dream big. And you can’t put a price tag on that.

Young kids today can dream about playing in front of a large crowd on the WNBA stage.

Image: Zuma Press

Post from: EveryJoe

The WNBA’s True Impact

Also on the injured list are  L.A.’s Candace Parker and Minnesota’s Seimone Augustus. Augustus is out for the season with an ACL injury and Parker is just getting back to practice after giving birth to her daughter in May.

Thankfully, there will be plenty of All Stars able to play. Tamika Catchings, who is having a remarkable season was the top vote-getter with 94,316 votes.  Becky Hammon,  Swin Cash and guard Sue Bird were also voted starters.

Tamika Catchings was the top vote-getter for the 2009 WNBA All Star Game.

The game will be held Saturday at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.

Image: Zuma Press

Post from: EveryJoe

The Injured WNBA All Stars Of 2009

Last season’s Rookie of the Year and MVP took some time off to have a baby. Now, she’s back and ready to play.

Parker let the world know via Twitter that: “I’m bbbbaaaaacccccckkkkkkk!! headed to first practice!”

According to ESPN, Parker practiced for the first time since her maternity leave but told the Los Angeles Times she would have a better idea about how she is adjusting after finishing contact drills.

After getting back into the basketball groove, Parker expects to be back on the court in five weeks — which is plenty of time for her to make an impact on the rest of the regular season as well as the playoffs.

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Guess Who’s Back?

WNBA President Donna Orender welcomes Candace Parker into the league in the spring of 2008.

The basic necessity is money. You can’t run a league with out money — in any sport. So here’s where WNBA execs have gotten a bit creative: Sponsorships. That’s right, teams like the Los Angeles Sparks and the Phoenix Mercury have inked deals with Farmers Insurance and LifeLock (respectively) to sport the company’s logo on their warm-ups and jerseys.

“We are pleased that the appeal and value of the WNBA will be utilized to its fullest behind this new partnership between the Sparks and Farmers Insurance,” said WNBA President Donna Orender. “Strong brands continue to be attracted to the league, not only for its elite athletes, outstanding entertainment, and high level of play, but also for its authentic connection to communities, families, and women.”

This is just another innovative way to help keep the WNBA afloat. Since 1997, women’s basketball has made incredible strides and it would be a shame for it to come to end due to financial issues. Hey, the government bailed out the banks and automakers. Perhaps a bailout  for the WNBA would also work? Kidding.

Post from: EveryJoe

WNBA Teams Getting Sponsors For Extra Cash

Lisa Leslie is hoping to win a WNBA championship this season. Candace Parker is the key.

Parker is a key component to the Los Angeles Sparks‘ success. She’s the reigning WNBA MVP and was voted rookie of the year last season.

“I think Candace is going to come in when she knows she’s effective and she can contribute,” Leslie said, according to ESPN.com. “I think the beautiful part of it is that she is young enough that she will be able to do it faster than any of us here that have been able to do it. I would say by the end of June she would be in practice.”

In addition to Parker, Leslie also has Tina Thompson, Betty Lennox and DeLisha Milton-Jones at her side. Her teammates want to send her out on a high note and a WNBA championship certainly isn’t out of the realm of possibility for the WNBA veteran and most recognizable face of the Sparks.

Los Angeles opens the season at home on June 6 against Detroit, the defending champions.

Image: Zuma

Post from: EveryJoe

Lisa Leslie Wants Another WNBA Championship