Temple Announces Four Newcomers For Owls' First Season in the American

By Mel Greenberg

PHILADELPHIA -- While Temple coach Tonya Cardoza is off at meetings at the new American Athletic Confetence, the former football chunk of the Big East with additional newcomers such as the Owls for all sports, she has announced four newcomers to join the the team in it inaugural season of competition.

Here is a copy of the Temple release. The Guru is posting here for a better presentation without photos than would appear on Philahoopsw.com but remember coverage of the competitive Philadelphia/Suburban NCAA Women's Summer Basketball League starting June 15 will be over there. The draft is May 29. Contact David Kessler for further information at deucedbk@comcast.net

Four incoming recruits will join Temple women's basketball for the 2013-14 season as the Owls make their debut in the American Athletic Conference. Feyonda Fitzgerald (Norfolk, Va./Lake Taylor), Safiya Martin (Fayetteville, Ga./Sandy Creek), Taylor Robinson (St. Louis, Mo./Ladue Horton Watkins) and Mama Traore (Mali, Africa/Burlington County CC) have all committed to Temple for next season.

Fitzgerald, a 5-7 guard, recently led her Lake Taylor Titans to their second state title by setting the state tournament scoring record with 96 points in three games. The previous record belonged to Kara Lawson who went on to star at Tennesee and in the WNBA. Among many other honors she garnered in her senior season, Fitzgerald was named the VHSCA AAA Girls Hoops State Player of the Year in Virginia, the All-Tidewater Girls Basketball Player of the Year and the Virginian-Pilot Girls Basketball Player of the Year. She was also the Eastern Region Player of the Year and the Eastern District player of the year for a second time after averaging 22.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. In addition to being a standout at Lake Taylor, Fitzgerald played for the Boo Williams AAU team.

Martin, a 6-4 center, led her Sandy Creek High School team to the state tournament for a second straight year as a senior, coming up just one point shy to Columbia High School in the championship game. She was named Class AAAA Honorable Mention All-State by the Georgia Sportswriters Association as a senior, and was named to the all-conference second team as a junior. Martin also played for the Georgia Pearls AAU squad.

Also a 6-4 center, Robinson was the Suburban East Player of the Year as a junior at Ladue Horton Watkins High School after averaging 20 points and nine rebounds per game. She returned to dominate once again in her senior year and led the team to a conference championship averaging 14.9 points and 7.3 rebounds heading into the district playoffs. Robinson, who also played for the Midwest Elite AAU team, was nominated to play in the 2013 McDonald's All-American Games.

Traore, a native of Mali, Africa, joins the Owls after playing two years at Burlington County Community College. As a sophomore at BCC, she averaged 19.8 points, 13.4 rebounds, three steals, two blocks and shot 46 percent from the field on her way to being named to NJCAA Region 19 Player of the Year. A 6-1 center, Traore led the team to a 22-7 record and the Garden State Athletic Conference championship. Before coming to the states, Traore was a member of the under-18 and under-20 African Championship winning team in 2006. She joined the Mali senior team for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing as the country made its first-ever appearance in women's basketball.


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UConn's Talent Pool Reflected in USA Basketball's World University Games Squad

By Mike Siroky

Just as it was in the U19 USA Basketball team (see post below this one), UConn is represented on the World University Games team under the direction of USA Basketball.

At the same time as the U19 trials, the World University Games team was assembled at Colorado Springs.

That team will include two from UConn, 6-0 forward Kaleena Mosqueda-Leiws and 5-7 guard Bria Hartley. No other school placed two. With three on the U19 team, UConn has five players in international play this summer representing the United States.

Others on the Gamesteam: 5-7 guard Aaryn Ellenberg of Oklahoma (her coach is also the Games coach); 6-0 guard Crystal Bradford of Central Michigan; 6-2 forward Jordan Hooper of Nebraska; 6-1 guard Tricia Liston of Duke; 6-3 forward ReShanda Gray of California; 6-2 forward Cassie Harberts of UCLA; 6-1 guard Ariel Massengale of Tennessee; 6-5 forward Theresa Plaisance of LSU; 5-9 guard Shoni Schimmel of Louisville; and 5-8 guard Odyssey Sims of Baylor.

The same selection committee, chaired by the University of Chattanooga’s Jim foster, selected this team as well.

“We were able to put together a very diverse team and a very good shooting team,” Foster said. “They can really space the floor, spread the floor and will have the opportunity to play small at times, and I think will be able to take advantage of those attributes.

“It's a versatile team that allows Sherri (Coale) to play a lot of ways.”

Coale, the Oklahoma coach, is the Games coach, assisted by Brian Girogis of Marist and Coquese Washington of Penn State.

“Well, I was incredibly impressed with the respectful nature of the group, the way they competed, they're willingness to learn,” Coale said.

“They are tremendous college basketball players from great programs all across the country, and they were incredibly willing to take direction. Selfless play, trying to make one another better. It was a really high-energy trial and a bunch of really great kids."

Sims is the odd-on favorite to be the Player of the Year in the NCAAs next edition.

She was the last name announced and, “I was a little nervous. I thought maybe my name wasn't going to get called. I was excited. I had decided if I did make I was going to be happy, and if I didn't make I was still going to be happy.”

She had a steady trials and felt she got better as they progressed.

“I was able to make my team around me look good even when we didn't win. I tried to do the best I could. So, I am excited. I will be more excited when we come back and practice, and I get a chance to be with all of these other players, surround myself with them, learn what they do best and be able to just play with them and compete for a gold medal.”

Mosqueda-Lewis, dealing with having won the NCAA title, said she concentrated on her all-around game.

“I was a little nervous because I definitely did not shoot very well during this whole tryout, and that's kind of my job. I tried to do a lot of other stuff, like rebounding, hustling hard on defense. Luckily it worked.”

She in her fourth USA Basketball lineup.

“It's still special,” she said. “Every time is special. Now it's really cool because I will be playing with girls that I have played against in college. A lot of them, Odyssey and Tricia and a lot of them I watched before I even got to college and said, 'They're really good.' Now I get to play with them, so it's really cool.”

Massengale said it was very difficult to relax.

“I was nervous. I barely slept last night (before the announcement),” she said. “It's just nerve-wracking when you are competing against 32 other great players. Anyone here was capable of making the team, so it's just an honor.”

She used her skills as the Lady Vol leader to stand out.

“I think it was just my leadership. Being a point guard, being vocal with my teammates, not worrying about myself but trying to put them in the best position for our team to be successful.”

It is also her fourth USA Basketball assignment.

“It's very special,” she said. “The committee doesn't really look at if you made it before, because that is in the past. It depends on what you do during these try outs here. It's definitely an honor. I'm blessed. Coaches tell me, ‘You put in the work and it's going to pay off for you,’ so I'm very excited.”

The irrepressible Hooper used her rookie energy to deal with the altitude of Colorado Springs and the nerves of being a first-timer at trials. She blanked out the rest of the team announcement.

“Blank. I honestly didn’t hear anything except my name, and that was it. It was just a huge shock.

“This is pretty cool. I honestly didn’t think I was going to make it, so getting called was just huge. I don’t even know what to do with myself right now.

“The first two days I didn’t really play my best, and then I just kind of stepped up and played my game, and I think that’s kind of what they saw.”

Her Cornhusker work ethic paid off.

“What I brought – my rebounding, my shooting, stuff like that. Hopefully I can work on my defense, so just whatever they need. (I will do) whatever they want me to do.

"Probably get in shape and stuff like that. I wasn’t in very good shape (laughing), so I’m definitely going to work hard on that. Just play hard and keep playing.

“There’s definitely an (altitude) difference, especially from Lincoln and what I’m used to. It’s just a whole different altitude level, no breath and all that kind of stuff.”

Hartley seemed smooth throughout, with enough doubts about the selection to play with an edge.

“I thought I played OK,” she said. “I didn't think I played my best basketball ever. I'm just really happy that the committee picked me. I'm really excited that I was good enough to make the team.

“I was a little nervous. Even though I have made the team before, you don't want to come in here thinking, 'Oh, I'm definitely going to make the team.' You have to stay humble, but you also want to be confident, thinking you could possibly make the team. You have to come out and play basketball the way you know how to.”

She stressed her overall game.

“I think it was versatility, because I am a combo-guard. I can play a little bit of the 1 and the 2 and I can make sure all of my teammates are involved. Also, just talking and encouraging, that's the main thing I like to do.”

The 2013 World University Games women’s basketball competition is scheduled for July 8-15 in Kazan, Russia.


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Two SEC Players Make USA Basketball U-19 Squad

By Mike Siroky

Seven players from the Southeastern Conference accepted invitations to the United States tryouts for FIBA U19 World Championships; 34 athletes were invited.

In the end, only Bashara Graves of Tennessee and incoming freshman Linna Harper of Kentucky made the cut from the conference.

The 6-foot-2 Graves was the 2013 SEC Freshman of the Year and a Full Court Freshman All-American. She is one of six members of the 2012 USA U18 National Team that captured the FIBA Americas U18 Championship in August to secure a berth in this summer's U19 competition.

The 5-8 Harper is from Chicago. She won gold medals as a member of the 2012 USA U17 World Championship Team and the 2011 FIBA Americas U16 Championship Team. She also was awarded an honorary bronze medal in the inaugural 2011 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championship.

She is the Wildcats’ top recruit ever, both a McDonald’s All-America and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association All-America. She averaged 19 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game during her senior season.

UConn is the best-represented school on the team, with all three invited players making the cut. If there was a solid lock it had to be UConn’s Breanna Stewart, the MVP of the Huskies’ National Championship team.

Stewart was the MVP of the 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship and member of the five-member 2009 All-FIBA U19 World Championship Tournament Team.

She has helped USA squads earn gold at the 2010 U17 and 2011 U19 FIBA World Championships, as well as the 2009 U16 and 2012 U18 FIBA Americas Championships. The 2011 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year was the lone high school athlete on the 2011 USA Pan American Games Team.

Moriah Jefferson, a 5-7 guard from Glenn Heights, Texas; and Morgan Tuck, a 6-2 forward from Bolingbrook (a Chicago suburb) are the other two with UConn futures on this team. They are the only three to ever repeat as U19 teammates.

Other high schoolers to make it are A’ja Wilson, a 6-4 forward from Hopkins, S.C.; Brianna Turner, a 6-3 forward from Pearland, Texas; and Gabby Green, a 6-1 guard from Oakland, Calif. This was Wilson’s first tryout for USA Basketball. As if life for other teams was not difficult enough in UConn’s universe, she said last week – during the trials – that Storrs was a likely college destination. She flew to the trials on the same flight as the UConn trio.

With that, UConn has dropped its pursuit of Turner who has Baylor and Duke as her top two choices. Green, though, remains another UConn possibility. The hint: She played on Team Taurasi in California summer leagues.

Others with collegiate experience are 6-6 center (the tallest selectee) Candice Agee of Penn State; Alexis Jones, a 5-8 guard from Duke; Kelsey Plum, a 5-8 guard from Poway, Calif, committed to Duke; and Nia Coffey, a 6-2 forward from Minneapolis committed to Northwestern.

In addition to chairman and new Tenn.-Chattanooga coach Jim Foster, the 2013-16 USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team Committee included NCAA appointees Melanie Balcomb (coach, Vanderbilt University), Lindsay Gottlieb (coach, University of California) and Joi Williams (coach, UCF), as well as athlete representative, WNBA player Kara Lawson, a 2008 Olympic Gold medalist who has played on nine USA Basketball teams. Lawson spoke to the group during the trials, about the responsibilities of representing their country.

“We were able to pick a U19 team that has a lot of strengths in a lot of different areas,” said Foster. “I think that bodes well for them. They have good size. They have some people who can put the ball in the basket. They’re athletic, and I think they can be good defensively. It’s a team that has a lot of potential to be very successful.

“The team has some players whose skill set is a little different than their position. Breanna Stewart, A’Ja Wilson and Brianna Turner are all 6-3 or above and are equally as comfortable putting the ball on the floor after they get a rebound and starting a fast break on their own. It’s an interesting dimension, and it makes the team that much more versatile because you could actually play some of them at wing positions and have a very, very big team on the floor. It makes for a lot of versatility.”

The coach this summer, Miami’s Katie Meier, agreed.
“I’m thrilled,” she said. “The length is incredible, the talent, the diversity. Everybody brings a little something different.

“That gives us a lot of choices as coaches in a lot of different ways that we can win basketball games. (The committee) put together what I think is the team that answers any type of a question. We have speed. We have quickness. We have size. We have shooters. They really made sure that they gave us every weapon.”

Drawn into Group D, the U.S. will play its preliminary and second round games in Panevežys, and opens against Lithuania on July 18, followed by China on July 19 and caps the preliminary round against Mali on July 20.

The top three finishing teams from each first-round group will advance to the second round, held July 22-24. The 12 nations qualifying for the second round will be divided into Groups E and F. Each team will play the three new teams in its new group, with all results of games played in the preliminary round carrying over to determine the second-round standings.

Just as it was in the U19 USA Basketball team, UConn is represented on the World University Games team

At the same time as the U19 trials, the World University Games team will also be assembled. The U19 participants are also eligible for that team.

The 2013 World University Games women’s basketball competition is scheduled for July 8-15 in Kazan, Russia.

Numerous top athletes have represented the United States at the U19s and eight players from the first seven USA U19 squads have advanced to compete in the Olympic Games.


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Mike Siroky's SEC Report: SEC Offers Ingredients for USA Gold

By Mike Siroky

Two international teams representing United States women’s basketball are being put together this weekend (starting Thursday).

At least seven players from the Southeastern Conference have accepted invitations to the trials; 34 athletes were invited.

The selected team will attempt to win a fifth-consecutive gold medal for the United States at the FIBA U19 World Championships. The 2013 tournament will be hosted by Lithuania from July 18-28 in Klaipeda and Panevežys. The USA team will start training on July 1 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. USA Basketball, the nation al coordinating organization, is in charge.

The selection is under the direction of hall-of-Fame Coach Jim Foster of Chattanooga.

"This group has a nice nucleus with some former gold medal winners in the mix and some new candidates that will allow us to field a very competitive team," said Foster. This is his ninth USA Basketball assignment.

This is the team that will provide a look at the younger players on the USA Olympics team for Games to come. Certainly, the experienced professionals will make up the core of the Games teams, but these Under-19s will be the future foundation.

From the University of Tennessee, sophomore Bashaara Graves – whom coach Holly Warlick credited al season with being the glue that held together the SEC champions -- and incoming freshman Jordan Reynolds will attend.

The 6-foot-2 Graves was the 2013 SEC Freshman of the Year and a Full Court Freshman All-American. She is one of six members of the 2012 USA U18 National Team that captured the FIBA Americas U18 Championship in August to secure a berth in this summer's U19 competition.

That makes her a prohibitive favorite to continue playing.

Georgia also has two invitees, both of whom started for the Lady Bulldogs as freshmen in their run to a Regional Final as an Elite Eight team.

Shacobia Barbee and Tiaria Griffin draw praise from their college coach, Andy Landers.

"I think this is an outstanding opportunity for them and a compliment to the way that they performed this season," Landers said. "This should be a very positive experience for them and I'm confident they'll each represent Georgia Basketball very well."

Barbee, a 5-10, guard/forward from Murfreesboro, Tenn., was named to the All-Spokane Regional team of the NCAA Tournament and also was on the SEC's All-Defensive and All-Freshman teams. Barbee led the Lady Bulldogs in steals with 87, the third-most ever by a Georgia freshman.

Griffin, a 5-7, guard from Monticello, Miss., connected on a team-high 46 3-point field goal attempts. Griffin scored in double figures 10 times, four of those coming in games against ranked opponents. She scored 13 points, including 10 in the second half, in the Lady Bulldogs' upset of No. 1 seed Stanford in the "Sweet 16."

Georgia Lady Bulldogs have a lengthy and storied history representing USA Basketball; 25 Lady Bulldogs have represented USA Basketball in more than 40 international competitions worldwide.

Most notably, Teresa Edwards is the only player – male or female – to participate in five Olympic Games and captured four gold medals. Katrina McClain represented the USA in three Olympics and won gold medals in 1988 and 1996. Edwards and McClain were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

Kentucky will be represented by incoming freshman Linnae Harper of Chicago.
Harper, a 5-foot-8 guard, won gold as a member of the 2012 USA U17 World Championship Team and the 2011 FIBA Americas U16 Championship Team. She also was awarded an honorary bronze medal in the inaugural 2011 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championship.

She is the highest-ranked recruit in UK Hoops history.

In addition to Foster, the 2013-16 USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team Committee includes NCAA appointees Melanie Balcomb (coach, Vanderbilt University), Lindsay Gottlieb (coach, University of California) and Joi Williams (coach, UCF), as well as athlete representative, WNBA player Kara Lawson, a 2008 Olympic Gold medalist who has played on nine USA Basketball teams.

Drawn into Group D, the U.S. will play its preliminary and second round games in Panevežys, and opens against Lithuania on July 18, followed by China on July 19 and caps the preliminary round against Mali on July 20.

The top three finishing teams from each first-round group will advance to the second round, held July 22-24. The 12 nations qualifying for the second round will be divided into Groups E and F. Each team will play the three new teams in its new group, with all results of games played in the preliminary round carrying over to determine the second-round standings.

"I think it's a fantastic, dynamic, diverse group for international play," said USA and University of Miami coach Katie Meier.

"The committee understands the important parts of what it takes to win internationally. There's a lot of great and versatile size in this group, some really dynamic players who can do a lot of special things from 20-feet in.

“This is a really exciting, athletic group who are also very, very skilled. That's a real sign for the growth of our game throughout the country, that the U19s have this level of skill.

"This is going to be a very competitive trials. We've got a lot to play for, and the young ladies who have already won gold have already proven how competitive they are.

“But, I think there will be another sense of, absolutely, nothing is given. There's no automatic `you're going to make the team.' That's obvious. We don't even have enough slots for everyone who's won a Gold medal, and then you look at the rest of the talent who's coming in hungry for their first chance to win gold. We're going to see a very, very high level of competition and probably some of the best scrimmages we've ever seen."

Assisting Meier and the U19 squad are collegiate coaches Nikki Caldwell of Louisiana State University, a former Lady Vol player and assistant, and Kelly Graves of Gonzaga University. Additionally, American University head coach Matt Corkery, University of Wisconsin head coach Bobbie Kelsey and University of Tulsa head coach Matilda Mossman will serve as court coaches during the trials.

Six members of the 2012 USA U18 National Team that earned the USA its 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship berth are returning to compete for a spot on the 2013 USA U19 World Championship Team.

The undisputed team leader will be UConn’s Breanna Stewart, the MVP of the Huskies’ National Championship team. Two other UConn recruits have been invited.
Stewart was the MVP of the 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship and member of the five-member 2009 All-FIBA U19 World Championship Tournament Team.

She has helped USA squads earn gold at the 2010 U17 and 2011 U19 FIBA World Championships, as well as the 2009 U16 and 2012 U18 FIBA Americas Championships. The 2011 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year was the lone high school athlete on the 2011 USA Pan American Games Team.

In addition to the 13 gold medalists attending the USA U19 trials, 10 others have participated in a USA Basketball trials previously.

At the same time as the U19 trials, the World University Games team will also be assembled. The U19 participants are also eligible for that team.

The 2013 World University Games women’s basketball competition is scheduled for July 8-15 in Kazan, Russia.

Numerous top athletes have represented the United States at the U19s, including Alana Beard (2001); Essence Carson (2005); Tamika Catchings (1997); Crystal Langhorne (2005); Jantel Lavender (2007); Lisa Leslie (1989); Rebecca Lobo (1993); Maya Moore (2007); Nnemkadi Ogwumike (2009); Vickie Orr (1985); Courtney Paris (2005); Cappie Pondexter (2001); Katie Smith (1993); Dawn Staley (1989); Breanna Stewart (2011); Diana Taurasi (2001); Abby Waner (2005); and Candice Wiggins (2005).

Additionally, eight athletes from the first seven USA U19 squads have advanced to compete in the Olympic Games, including Catchings, Leslie, Lobo, Moore, Pondexter, Smith, Staley and Taurasi.

Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for men’s and women’s basketball in the United States.

As the recognized governing body for basketball in the U.S. by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA teams that compete in FIBA sponsored international basketball competitions, as well as for some national competitions.

USA teams are the current men's and women's champions in the Olympics, men’s and women’s FIBA World Championships; women’s FIBA U19 World Champions; men's and women's FIBA U17 World Champions; and the men's and women's U18 and U16 FIBA Americas champions; as well as winners of the women’s FIBA 3X3 World Championship and 3x3 U18 World Championship.



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Guru's WNBA Report: Saint Joseph's Star Chatilla van Grinsven Bids to Rise With the Sun as a Rookie in Connecticut

By Mel Greenberg

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Though the big tests are still ahead, former Saint Joseph’s senior star Chatilla van Grinsven is so far fitting nicely the first few days into the WNBA training camp routine of the defending regular season Eastern Conference Connecticut Sun here at the Mohegan Sun casino-entertainment complex following the completion of her collegiate career with the Hawks.

“It’s funny, I said to our coach that this is where my college career ended (in Connecticut) and this is where my next chapter starts with a pro career,” van Grinsven said with a smile at Tuesday’s media session at the Mohegan Sun Area.

“But I’m definitely excited to be here. I know this Connecticut team has a lot of history we can definitely be proud of and I’m very proud to be part of this training camp team.”

Her coach, making her first tour of duty with the Sun is Hall of Famer Anne Donovan after four previous stints at Indiana, Charlotte, Seattle, where she guided the Storm to the 2004 championship over Connecticut, and New York, whom the Sun will face Saturday night here in the first of three exhibition games.

Donovan, who also coached the Philadelphia Rage in the short-lived third and final season of the former American Basketball League in the front end of the 1998-99 third go-round, had returned to the collegiate ranks from New York to coach at Seton Hall the last two seasons.

The former Old Dominion all-American and all-time shot blocker in either the AIAW or NCAA eras also starred on the United States Olympic team winning two gold medals in 2004 and 2008.

Then in the middle of last winter the Sun surprisingly let go Mike Thibault, who had coached Connecticut all previous ten seasons after the Mohegan Indian tribe bought the franchise that used to be the Orlando Miracle.

The same group, incideentally, is one of the bidders for a casino site on Market Street in Philadelphia.

Thibault was quickly grabbed up by the folks down in Washington, seeking a major turnaround to the Mystics misfortunes the last two seasons.
The Connecticut opening came at the time the Big East was imploding with Seton Hall, Villanova and the other five Catholic members of the conference joining the exits of Rutgers, Louisville, Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame.

With the outlook a bit murky, the approach from the Sun was too good to turn down and so Donovan and the franchise eventually came to a deal.

“With her being a post player, I take in every word she tells me and try to improve on everything she tells me in practice,” van Grinsven said of Donovan. “I definitely soak in everything she tells me and I’m happy to have her as my coach.”

A native of the Netherlands who played only one year at Saint Joseph’s following her transfer from Colorado State to join her older sister Samira, the 6-foot-3 forward finished as Big Five player of the year with team-leading averages of 14.9 points per game and 10.4 rebounds a game as she helped lead the Hawks to an Atlantic 10 title in March and first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 2000.

That showing was short lived as the Hawks got edged an hour away from here by Vanderbilt in a first-round game at eventual NCAA champion Connecticut.

In another WNBA configuration at another time in the league’s 17-year history, including this summer, draft day last month could have been an exciting time for van Grinsven.

However, with expenses what they are in the pro league in recent seasons, her name was not called by the time all three rounds concluded.
The big news of the day for the locals here was the drafting of UConn star Kelly Faris, a 5-foot-11 guard forward whom the Sun took in the first round with the 11th overall pick.

But van Grinsven was not left out of the WNBA mix for long. Several teams called with training camp deals but just as Donovan jumped at the chance to be with one of the classier operations in the 12-team league, van Grinsven decided to seek her pro future here.

In a conversation with the Guru prior to media day – the Guru and Donovan go way back in time from her playing days – Donovan had said she did not see van Grinsven in person last season while coaching the Pirates.

But she was impressed with what she saw on film and noted, “I like her blue collar approach.”

Asked how the change is going from her brief one-year time on Hawk Hill, van Grinsven quickly replied, “It’s definitely a change. Everything is a lot faster, a lot stronger. But I am fully enjoying every single moment of it. I feel blessed to be here and I’m excited to compete with the best women in the world.”

Van Grinsven arrives at a time the Sun need some shoring up off the bench and maybe more with three players gone from last season’s roster.

The biggest of the losses is former UConn great Asjha Jones, a member of last year’s Olympic gold medalists who is taking a break to heal from several injuries in recent seasons.

Jessica Moore, another post player who also played at UConn, is not coming back, while Danielle McCray tore her Achilles tendon early last month and will need all summer to heal.

Kelsey Griffin, the former Nebraska star, is being counted on to do the basic filling of the void left by Jones.
Griffin said of van Grinsven’s play so far, “She’s doing good. She’s holding her own. She’s a great person to be around. She’s making the most out of her camp. It will be interesting to see what happens.”

Veteran Mistie Bass, the former Duke star whose father is former Philadelphia rocker Chubby Checker of “The Twist” renown, said she was impressed with van Grinsven’s athleticism.

Of course the big name in the front court is former UConn great Tina Charles, the 2010 graduate and center who was the MVP of the league last season.

Other newcomers in the mix of overall hopefuls are forward-center Ashley Walker, a 2009 graduate of California who has impressed the local media who attend portions of practice here.

Johanna Leedham, a guard-forward who played on the English Olympic team last summer, did her college work in this state at Franklin Pierce, graduating in 2010 as the all-time scorer in Division II with 3,050 points, and fifth highest across all NCAA Divisions.

LaToya Williams signed a training camp deal as a 6-4 center, as did 5-10 guard and free agent Natasha Lacy. Recently graduated South Florida guard Andrea Smith was taken in the draft in the third round 35th overall while Leedham was a third-round pick in the 2010 draft but has never suited up for the Sun, who owned her rights.

Talking more about her experience so far, van Grinsven said she looked to her former associate head coach Susan Moran, the all-time Hawks great who has been on Cindy Griffin’s staff, for some advice off Moran’s earlier years on the New York Liberty roster after graduating as the all-time Saint Joseph’s scorer.

“She had some experience and told me what to expect, how training camp works, which is helpful, and she’s a good role model for me, especially coming from Saint Joe’s,” van Grinsven said.

“I look up to her as a coach and player and hope to learn more from her in the future.”

As for anything surprising her, the former Saint Joseph’s star said, “I knew the speed of the game was a lot faster and that’s something we have to adjust to the first five minutes in practice.

“So we have to adjust to that as rookies, but the second day the practices went a lot better and we adjusted to everything we had to adjust to. I think we’re kind of on a roll right now.”

Van Grisven is one of two recent Big Five stars in WNBA training camps.

Shey Peddy, the former Temple standout who was van Grinsven’s predecessor for Big Five honors a year ago and was the final cut of the Chicago Sky, the home of recently drafted overall No. 2 pick Elena Delle Donne out of Delaware, is on the camp roster in Washington.

Asked how van Grinsven’s first few days have gone, Donovan responded, “Chatilla’s played great her, though we’ve only had two practices.
“She’s got great size, got great versatility, she’s able to bang inside, she’s able to step outside and knock down a jump shot. Incredibly hunger and eager, which is a quality you want to have when you come into this league as a rookie,” Donovan added.

“She’s got a shot. She really does.”

-- Mel

Guru's College Report: The Guru's 2013-14 Coaching Carousel Roll Call

By Mel Greenberg

And the Guru updates Monday with Candi Whitaker to add to last Thursday with Debbie Black, Stacie Terry, Cameron Newbauer, and Semeka Randall to earlier update this week with Billie Godsey, Ed Swanson, Jim Foster, and Kristy Curry hires through May 20.

Previous to that the Guru updated, with help from follower David Saw in LA, to add vacancies at Alabama A&M and Iona, since filled, a change at Houston Baptist, and moving Belmont, which just says vacancy, out of the rookie category, though it could end up back there.

David is counting the departure and quick return at UMBC but the Guru is ot and the Guru is holding off on Incarnate Word in San Antonio for a future update when they become Divisionh I and the fulltime hire is made.

The opening comments after this note will reflect all the changes as will the boxscores.

So with the down time between collegiate and pro seasons going a little while longer, the Guru after initially catching up now updates again the running edition of the Coaching Carousel spins for 2013-14.

The Guru breaks it down into special categories to establish the rookie contenders for Maggie Dixon honors -- the Guru called the last one as soon as the carousel finished its final spin for 2012-13 -- the BCS hires and the other D-1 hires with boxscore breakdowns on the movement.

Playing catch up, initially, the Guru culled the WBCA and ESPN lists -- some apppear on one and not the other -- so if someone vacancy or hire is missing or filled but not listed, feel free to notify the base here.

Though there was a crush early in March, the switches are running far behind the massive 75 of last season, including 40-some rookies. In fact, if all the remaining four vacancies listed to date, barring new moves, are filled with rookies the overall Dixon contenders will reach only a total of 25.

Overall, the total is 45, perhaps challenged by the number of schools about to undergo new conference identities. Two names repeat because both Mississippi's Matt Insell and Washington's Mike Neighbors are BCS hires and rookie candidate.
Barb Smith is not listed as a rookie because of a previous stint in her life as a D-1 coach and same for Cindy Stein and Candi Whitaker.

The purest rookie is Sheryl Swoopes, one of the all-time greats, who in the manner of the fabled Dawn Staley back in 2000, is becoming a head coach at Loyola, Chicago, without ever serving over or on the staff of another program.

With this in place, the Guru will be updating as more spins occur, which will happen in filling the three existing vacancies at Howard, Saint Peter's and Sacred Heart. This is updated through Monday (May 20). So here we go.

Rookies in D-1 Hires

Alabama-Birmingham, Randy Norton from BCS-Missouri associate head coach

Belmont, Cameron Newbauer from BCS-Louisville assistant

California State-Fullerton, Deron Park from BCS-Southern California assistant

Coastal Carolina, Jaida Williams from BCS-Wake Forest assistant

Dartmouth, Belle Koclanes from MM-American University assistant

Duquesne, Dan Burt, promoted from MM-Duquesne assistant

Eastern Illinois, Debbie Black, from BCS-Ohio State assistant

Houston Baptist, Donna Finnie, promoted to head coach

Iona, Billie Godsey from BCS-Virginia Tech assistant

Jacksonville University, Yolett McPhee-McCuin from BCS-Clemson assistant

Lamar, Robin Harmony from D2/NAIA-St. Thomas (Miami, Fla.)

Loyola-Chicago, Sheryl Swoopes from WNBA playing experience

Miami (Ohio) University, Cleve Wright from D2-Gannon

BCS-Mississippi, Matt Insell from BCS-Kentucky assistant

Pepperdine, Ryan Weisenberg promoted from MM-Pepperdine assistant

Radford, Mike McGuire from MM-Richmond assistant

San Diego State, Stacie Terry, from BCS-LSU assistant

South Alabama, Terry Fowler from D2-North Alabama

Texas-Arlington, Krista Gerlich from D2-West Texas A&M

Texas Southern, Johnetta Hayes-Perry promoted from MM-Texas Southern assistant

Youngstown State, John Barnes from MM-Wis.-Green Bay associate head coach

BCS-Washington, Mike Neighbors promoted from BCS-Washington assistant head coach

Boxscore Total (as of May 20): 22 hires. 11 Male, 11Female. 10 from BCS staffs, 7 from MM-staffs, 1 from D2/NAIA head coach, 3 From D2 head coach, 1gets first coaching job.

BCS Hires

Alabama,Kristy Curry hired from BCS Texas Tech head coach

Clemson, Audra Smith from MM-Alabama-Birmingham

@-Missisippi, Matt Insell from assistant at BCS-Kentucky

North Carolina State, Wes Moore from MM-Chattanooga

Ohio State, Kevin McGuff from BCS-Washington

Pittsburgh, Suzie McConnell-Serio from MM-Duquesne

&&-Seton Hall, Tony Bozella from MM-Iona

Southern California, Cynthia Cooper-Dyke from MM-Texas Southern

Texas Tech, Candi Whitaker from BCS-Oklahoma State associate head coach who at one time had been head coach at UMKC

@-Washington, Mike Neighbors promoted from BCS-assistant head coach

Boxscore total (as of May 20) 10 positions all filled. (Running count minus 2 because Neighbors and Insell also listed in rookie list. 5 males, 5 females.)
&&-Designation may change out of BCS because of Big East breakup.
2 from BCS-head coach, 3 from BCS-staff-1 promotion, 5 from MM-head coach

Other D-1 Hires

Alabama A&M, Semeka Randall, former MM-Ohio U. head coach before let go

Chattanooga, Jim Foster had been BCS Ohio State head coach before let go

Columbia, Stephanie Glance from MM Illinois State

East Tennessee State, Brittney Ezell, from MM-Belmont

George Mason, Nyla Mileson from MM-Missouri State

Howard University, vacant

Illinois State, Barb Smith from MM Saint Louis assistant

Missouri State, Kellie Harper from BCS-North Carolina State before let go

Ohio University, Bob Bolden from MM-Youngstown State

Sacred Heart, vacant

Saint Peter’s, vacant

Southern Illinois, Cindy Stein who had been at one time BCS-Missouri head coach

Texas-Pan American, Larry Tidwell from MM-Lamar

Towson, Niki Geckeler from MM-Howard

William & Mary, Ed Swanson hired from MM-Sacred Heart

Boxscore (as of May 20). 15 positions, 3 vacant. 4 males, 8 females. 2 from BCS head coach, 1 former BCS head coach, 8 from MM-head coach, 1 from MM assistant.

Total Boxscore to date (as of May 20). 45 positions. 3 vacants. 18 males, 24 females. 5 BCS head coach, 13 MM head coach, 11 BCS staff.

-- Mel

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Guru Adds to Hall of Fame Collection: Summer League Countdown to Launch

By Mel Greenberg

Since the tease at the end of the previous post was written,and for those not connected on twitter @womhoopsguru, facebook or LinkedIn, the Guru was cleared to go public to say that on Oct. 19, though he was never enrolled at the university, he will become a honorary Catholic woman when he becomes part of the second induction class of the Immaculata Athletics Hall of Fame.

The letter cited support of the university and pioneering coverage of women's basketball.

When Immaculata finishes receiving acceptances from other inductees, the university will then make official announcement about the dinner. For those keeping count (chuckle), this is No. 7 (he thinks) for the Guru counting Temple as a member of the NIT men's champion team back in the day. But this one is a special one and the Guru will be making a more formal reaction down the road.

Moving on, Dave Kessler has begun mailing the application registration and letter for the 2013 season of the Philadelphia/Suburban NCAA Women's Summer League Basketball League.

The Guru will reprint the letter below and adds that transfer students going to a new school do not count against the two-player limit in the same manner as freshman.

So St. Joe for example, could have two activies per teams in the league but also on any particular team could also have incoming freshmen and transfer students.

And as mentioned the Guru will cover the league at his PhilahoopsW site instead of here for a better presentation. The link is in a previous post but he will post and tweet it when actual coverage begins with the May 29th draft.

David will always mention the site in the newsletter but may take a bit until he changes his mental gears on the reference (wink). but will tweet and also note here when things are posted so you won't miss anything.

Here's the letter. If you haven't played and are not on his list you can either email the Guru poll416@gmail.com and he'll forward back the attachments or contact David directly -- all his information is in the letter below but while you are here the email for him is deucedbk@comcast.net.

-- Mel

PHILADELPHIA/SUBURBAN WOMEN’S NCAA SUMMER BASKETBALL LEAGUE 2013 INFORMATIONAL LETTER

2007 RECIPIENT OF THE “EXCELLENCE IN PROGRAMMING” AWARD PENNSYLVANIA RECREATION AND PARKS SOCIETY

Site: Kelly Bolish Gymnasium (home of the AAU “Renegades”)
2950 Turnpike Drive
Hatboro, Pa. 19040
Site has 3 gyms, snack bar, ample parking, and is near the Pa. Turnpike

(Guru note: Snack bar very good and cheap and parking also exists around back which is useful on a rainy night.)

Playing dates: Tuesday and Thursday evenings beginning Tuesday June 18. Depending on the number of teams, there may be 1 or 2 Wednesday dates. as well. Game times are 7:00 & 8:15 P.M.

There is space for 13 teams of 10-12 players per team.

TO ENSURE ACCEPTANCE INTO THE LEAGUE, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT PLAYERS SEND THE FEE AND PLAYER INFORMATION SHEET WELL BEFORE THE SATURDAY MAY 25, 2013 DEADLINE!

Fee: $130.00 per player (includes shirt with name and number on back, number on front along with league logo imprinted over the heart. Fee also includes officials, score/timekeepers, awards, site rental, and league expenses – insurance, balls, books, copying, etc.)

This is a draft league. Players can form teams, but cannot come into the league with a full squad. The league needs the flexibility to assign players to each team.

This is done for parity and because NCAA regulations prohibit Division I players from playing with more than one college teammate (this does not include incoming freshmen, who are not yet officially enrolled in school.)

Division I players (except incoming freshmen) are required to submit a letter of permission from their Athletic Director to the League Director or they will not be permitted to play. Letters can be submitted:

by e-maill, through regular mail, or delivered in person.

THIS MUST BE DONE BEFORE THE PLAYER’S FIRST GAME!

The league will be certified by the NCAA in the month of May. Status can be checked online (ncaa.org)

(Guru note: The Guru will also mention when annual approval is made).

2013 TIMELINE OF IMPORTANT DATES

Thursday April 25 --- application for 2013 NCAA certification is e-mailed
Tuesday April 30 --- information letter e-mailed to prospective players

SATURDAY MAY 25 -- DEADLINE FOR FEE, PLAYER INFORMATION SHEET, AND LETTER OF PERMISSION (REQUIRED OF DIVISION I PLAYERS)

Wednesday May 29: Player draft (coaches only) teams are formed at Kelly Bolish Gymnasium-730: p.m.
Monday June 3: Shirts are ordered
Sunday June 9: Rosters and schedules are e-mailed to players and coaches
Tuesday June 18: Shirts distributed, league begins

Depending on the number of teams, playoffs should begin the last week of July and end the first or second week of August

IMPORTANT ! PLEASE NOTE!

DUE DATE IS SATURDAY MAY 25, 2013

THE CHECK ($130.00) SHOULD BE MADE OUT TO “WOMEN’S NCAA BASKETBALL LEAGUE” AND SHOULD BE MAILED ALONG WITH THE PLAYER INFORMATION SHEET AND THE LETTER OF PERMISSION (ONLY REQUIRED OF DIVISION I PLAYERS) TO THE ADDRESS BELOW!

OVERNIGHT EXPRESS MAIL CAN BE USED, BUT DO NOT SPECIFY A RETURN SIGNATURE!

DO NOT MAIL TO THE GYMNASIUM!!

MAIL TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS!

DAVID KESSLER, LEAGUE DIRECTOR
535 SIMMS STREET
PHILADELPHIA, PA. 19116-1046

deucedbk@comcast.net

Guru on the Dinner Circuit: Drexel Women Among John Wanamaker Award Nominees

By Mel Greenberg

West Philadelphia was the scene of two events within several blocks of each other Monday night with the Philadelphia Big 5 for the first time ever combining its men’s and women’s postseason basketball awards dinner, which was held at The Palestra.

Meanwhile, several blocks away up the stairs on Walnut Street the Drexel men and women held their basketball honors gala at the World Café with the Dragons women’s group also celebrating its winning the WNIT – a first ever national title for either a men’s or women’s team from the Colonial Athletic Association.

So first a quick timeout because the clock is running on the campaign that has the Drexel women competing with several other worthy candidates for this year’s John Wanamaker Award given to an individual or team which has put the City of Brotherly Love in a positive light.

To cast a vote for Drexel, the Guru suggests going over to the Drexel athletics website and click on the women’s basketball subpage and then link onto the ballot for the Wanamaker Award.

Do this on a regular laptop or desktop computer because the link using smart phones or tablets is somehow linking to the parent Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau home page and not the ballot associated with the Sports Congress.

The award began in 1961 and only three times has women’s basketball been involved and two of those feature local legend Dawn Staley, who won in 1997 with two other locals from other sports for their Olympics participation in 1996, and then Staley won it individually again in 2005 for the 2004 Games and as coach of Temple.

Staley, of course, is headed for more honors this September as a member of the next class of inductees into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.

The Villanova women’s team, the alma mater of Drexel coach Denise Dillon, was the other winner in 2003 for its advancement to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament and also the famed upset of Connecticut in the Big East title game that ended the then-NCAA women’s record streak of 70 straight games that the Huskies later surpassed with 90 wins (2008-09 to December 2011).

That business taken care of here, the Guru resumes the coverage in this blog by telling you he managed to make both events, starting in the Palestra and arriving at the back end of the Drexel dinner at the important moment when Dillon presented senior Hollie Mershon with the team MVP award that was followed by Mershon’s farewell address as part of both the men’s and women’s senior classes.

The Big 5 dinner, emceed by local sportscaster Don Tollefson, was not long but was classy as the men’s and women’s winners in each category were called together to accept their awards.

Check the Guru’s PhilahoopsW site for the previously announced Big Five honorees on the women’s side and check Drexel for all the awards at the Dragons’ postseason dinner.

Katie Lowe, the CAA assistant commissioner for women’s basketball, was a special guest at the Drexel dinner and afterwards learned that in planning for events involving the Dragons often means one needs to factor in several additional hours for post-event sociality.

This one at the restaurant establishment that is part of the Drexel athletic complex involved members of both the men’s and women’s coaching staffs.

Some nuggets from working the room at The Palestra: The Big East is about a week away or slightly more from announcing the commissioner of the group that is the breakaway contingent of the seven Catholic schools in the existing structure plus the additions of Saint Louis and Xavier from the Atlantic 10 and Creighton from the Missouri Valley Conference.

The search is being done at the presidential level and athletic directors other than hearing some of the candidate names tossed around are out of the loop, or so they say.

Once that is done with the naming of the commissioner, the conference will begin putting together the rest of its headquarters and staff in a location to be determined.

Temple, part of the former Big East football group adding all sports for next season in the newly named American Athletic Conference, in terms of the women’s squad, will play both newly-crowned NCAA champion Connecticut and runnerup Louisville in the Liacouras Center next season.

The teams in the AAC will –play home-and-home, which means Temple coach Tonya Cardoza will be going against her former boss Geno Auriemma at UConn and her good friend and former sister Huskies member Jamelle Elliott, the coach at Cincinnati.

Saint Joseph’s senior Chatilla van Grinsven, who will be going to the WNBA Connecticut Sun training camp in a few days, is looking forward to the experience and was impressed that the Guru noted her native Netherlands on Tuesday (today) is changing Queens in terms of royalty over that nation.

Villanova senior Rachel Roberts said she will head home to Connecticut after graduation and will not be playing in the Philadelphia/Suburban NCAA Women’s Basketball Summer League that again will use the AAU Renegades’ home courts at the Kelly Bolish Gym in Willow Grove Business Park in Horsham, Pa. not far from the Route 611 exit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Commissioner Dave Kessler is already working on launch plans and saying that if demand is huge once the application forms are returned he may have to add another night to the Tuesday and Thursday schedule.

The draft will be held Wednesday, May 29, and the competition gets under way Tuesday, June 18.

The Guru plans to switch summer league coverage from here over to the PhilahoopsW site because of the ability to use photos, etc.

That is all there is for now, though real soon the Guru will be part of news announcement currently in the works. Look for his tweet at @womhoopsguru and from elsewhere once the go-ahead to go public is made.

-- Mel

Get Your WNBA Transactions - Feb. 1 - April 25

By Mel Greenberg

And so those of us getting organized for the coming of WNBA trainings camps have noticed that at the .Com the daily transaction file had not been updated since early March.

Considering that at the moment between the end of the NCAA and start of camps the signings beyond the draft along with trades is the one piece of daily action worthy of keeping track.

Just when the Guru was about to start organizing the team PRs to create a central file until the league internet adjunct got back in synch he stumbled into someone actually doing the work independently.

This list is lifted from the folks at lovewomensbasketball.com who are actually keeping track. If you look at this list at their site you will be able to click on each player and get the WNBA team release on background details.

So while you might want to jump and thank the Guru for this -- agents and others have been calling here -- thank them as the Guru does for saving him some busy work and he can start assembling the carousel file of college coaching changes in the manner of last year. That will take a while and at the moment the list is not as extensive as last year but new openings keep happening.

Later when July hits and the deck chairs start re-arranging in conference affiliation the Guru will re-vamp the AP poll history database and make you aware when that is done.

But for now, here is the WNBA transaction list going back to Feb 1. Some additional signings happened Thursday that weren't in their file -- the Guru did some updates from team emails and some refinements on trades to mention the full swap -- but it appears that by Friday the entire Thursday deals should be there in terms of their links. This does not speak to the drafted players so go to team sites for that information.

-- Mel

WNBA 2013 Transactions

April 25

Phoenix Mercury sign Megan Frazee to training camp contract
Washington Mystics sign Tierra Ruffin-Pratt to training camp contract
Atlanta Dream sign Blanche Alverson to training camp contract
Los Angeles Sparks sign Alyssia Brewer, Tiffany Clarke and Lindsay Taylor to training camp contracts.

April 20

New York Liberty sign Karisma Penn to training camp contract

April 19

Connecticut Sun sign Chatilla Van Grinsven to training camp contract
Seattle Storm sign Katelan Redmon and Keisha Hampton to training camp contracts

April 18

Minnesota Lynx sign Shawnice Wilson to training camp contract

April 16

Farhiya Abdi to attend Los Angeles Sparks training camp
Washington Mystics sign Drey Mingo to training camp contract

April 15

New York Liberty trade rights to Quanitra Hollingsworth to Washington Mystics for 25th overall pick in the draft

April 12

Phoenix Mercury re-sign DeWanna Bonner to multi year contract

April 2

Chicago Sky sign D’Andra Moss
Los Angeles Sparks sign Briana Gilbreath to training camp contract

April 1

Minnesota Lynx sign Jacki Gemelos

March 27

Chicago Sky sign Michelle Campbell to training camp contract

March 18

Atlanta Dream sign Sydney Carter to training camp contract
Chicago Sky re-sign Tamera Young

March 14

San Antonio Silver Stars sign Christine Flores

March 12

New York Liberty sign Cheryl Ford
Phoenix Mercury sign Erin Thorn

March 7

San Antonio Silver Stars sign DeLisha Milton-Jones
Phoenix Mercury sign Ify Ibekwe and Jalana Childs to training camp contracts

March 5

Indiana Fever re-sign Erlana Larkins
Seattle Storm sign Alysha Clark, Chay Shegog and Cierra Bravard to training camp contracts
Chicago Sky sign Allie Quigley to training camp contract

March 4

New York Liberty re-sign Kara Braxton

March 1

Tulsa Shock acquire Candice Wiggins from Minnesota Lynx, Nicole Powell from New York Liberty

Minnesota Lynx acquire Janel McCarville rights from New York Liberty

New York Liberty acquire the rights to Deanna Nolan from Tulsa Shock

February 27

Washington Mystics acquire Kia Vaughn in a trade with New York Liberty, also gaining second round pick (17th overall) and giving up the Atlanta first round pick from Feb. 19th deal (7th overall).
Indiana Fever sign Shyra Ely to a training camp contract

February 26

Los Angeles Sparks re-sign Jenna O’Hea, sign Paola Ferrari to training camp contract

February 25

New York Liberty re-sign Essence Carson, sign Katie Smith
Connecticut Sun sign Jo Leedham to rookie contract
Indiana Fever sign Jessica Breland

February 22

Tulsa Shock sign Doneeka Lewis

February 21

Connecticut Sun sign Natasha Lacy, Ashley Walker and Latoya Williams to training camp contracts

February 20

Seattle Storm sign Nakia Sanford

February 19

Atlanta Dream acquire Jasmine Thomas in a trade with Washington Mystics, giving up 2013 first and second round picks. (7th and 19th overall).
Tulsa Shock sign Tiffany Jackson-Jones

February 18

Atlanta Dream re-sign Aneika Henry, sign Le’Coe Willingham

February 14

Chicago Sky sign Sharnee Zoll

February 13

Los Angeles Sparks re-sign Kristi Toliver
Indiana Fever sign Laura Harper

February 11

San Antonio Silver Stars re-sign Jia Perkins
Minnesota Lynx sign Rachel Jarry

February 7

Washington Mystics sign Ashley Corral and Avery Warley
Tulsa Shock re-sign Roneeka Hodges
Atlanta Dream re-sign Angel McCoughtry
Seattle Storm sign Temeka Johnson and Noelle Quinn

February 6

San Antonio Silver Stars re-sign Ziomara Morrison, sign Julie Wojta, Yvonne Turner to training camp contracts
Tulsa Shock re-sign Chante Black and Courtney Paris
Phoenix Mercury re-sign Lynetta Kizer and Krystal Thomas

February 5

Indiana Fever re-sign Briann January, Shavonte Zellous, Tamika Catchings
Los Angeles Sparks sign Lindsey Harding
Connecticut Sun re-sign Renee Montgomery

February 1

Minnesota Lynx re-sign Jessica Adair
Washington Mystics sign Ivory Latta
Tulsa Shock re-sign Amber Holt