Disgraced Olympic track star Marion Jones has signed with the WNBA's Tulsa Shock and will begin her quest for a pro basketball career at the age of 34. (March 10)
Candace Parker wanted to focus on all of the good parts of the Los Angeles Sparks' win over the Detroit Shock. Unfortunately, it will be the final 5 seconds that everyone else is going to remember. Parker was one of three players ejected along with Detroit assistant coach Rick Mahorn after an ugly scuffle with 4.6 seconds left in Los Angeles' 84-81 victory. "To be honest, I don't recall exactly what happened," said Parker, who led Los Angeles with 21 points. "I'll have to watch the tape." The skirmish started moments after Parker and Detroit's Cheryl Ford had to be separated after Ford fouled Parker. On the next possession, Parker got tangled up with Detroit's Plenette Pierson and fell to the ground. As she was getting up, Pierson intentionally ran into her, setting off the melee. Parker threw a punch at Pierson before being tackled by Detroit's Deanna Nolan. Players and coaches from both teams joined in, and Mahorn knocked Lisa Leslie to the court at one point.
Sylvia Fowles stole the spotlight from the UConn reunion at the WNBA All-Star game. She scored 13 of her 23 points in the third quarter and the US national team beat the WNBA All-Stars 99-72 on Saturday in this year's version of the league's midseason showcase.
I have been a follower of the WNBA since the 2003 season. I first watched the WNBA by accident (at first I thought it was a Pistons game), but that's all I needed to start my love for the league. People can bias the women's game, but the women of the WNBA can play really well. The league's best moments range from the Sacramento Monarchs giving the city's first professional sports title, Detroit's worst-in-league last season to best-in-league and champions the following season, Teresa Weatherspoon's half-court game winner or the WNBA's version of "The Shot" in front of 16285 at Compaq Center in Houston (which is also capacity for NBA games), the Los Angeles Sparks comeback in 2007 vs. Sacramento (LA was down 19 to start the 4th quarter, came back to tie at the end of regulation, and capture the win in double overtime), or the Comets Dynasty of 4 straight titles. The video highlights clips from the 2005-2007 season with some clips from seasons prior to 2005. My video includes half-court shots, buzzer beaters, clutch shots, game winners, blocks, and other highlights worth watching. Clips courtesy of WNBA . com
The Alicia Keys song "Superwoman" is also the theme for the 2008 WNBA season. This video is from the opening game (May 17th) and features footage of all the teams and several players, including Lisa Leslie, Tina Thompson, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Lauren Jackson, Deanna Nolan, Katie Smith, Becky Hammon, Alana Beard, Sheryl Swoopes, Candace Parker, Cappie Pondexter, Seimone Augustus, and Janel McCarville. Off her album As I Am (2007).
A video I cut together after watching the Storm's loss to the Sparks at the end of the season in game three of round one of the 2006 playoffs. Sue Bird had nearly broken her nose (again) and Lauren Jackson and Lisa Leslie pretty much battled out the whole night.
The live version, not the replays, of Candace Parker and Plenette Pierson getting into a physical altrication during a game in Detroit on July 22, 2008.
