So lost in the shuffle of the NBA finals and Stanley Cup Finals and the College World Series, the WNBA kicked off the other weekend. Here's a quick look around the league, some names to know, opening day starting lineups on each team and so on.
LOS ANGELES SPARKS (13-21)
Candace Parker - 25 year old 6'4" forward from the University of Tennessee. Made an immediate impact after being the first overall pick in the 2008 WNBA draft by winning the 2008 WNBA MVP and Rookie of the Year awards. She was also a member of the 2008 U.S. Women's Olympic team that brought home the gold medal. Parker was limited to just 10 games last season due to a shoulder injury, but before her injury she was averaging 20.6 points and 10.1 rebounds a game, both team bests.
DeLisha Milton-Jones - 36 year old forward from the University of Florida and the 4th overall pick in the 1999 WNBA draft by the Sparks. Jones was a member of 2 Championship teams in L.A. (2001, 2002) and a member of 2 Olympic Gold Medal Winning Teams (2000, 2008). In 2010 she finished third on the Sparks in scoring with 15.4 points a game.
Tina Thompson - The 6'2" forward was the first overall pick in the inaugural WNBA draft in 1997 by the Houston Comets. The USC alum won 4 championships with the Comets before moving to L.A. when they folded after the 2008 season. Thompson is the league's all time leading scorer and in addition to her WNBA prowess, she's won a pair of Olympic Gold Medals (2004, 2008). In 2010 she was second on the Sparks in scoring (16.6 ppg) and rebounds (6.2 rpg)
Ticha Penicheiro - 36 year old Portuguese point guard who had spent her entire career with the Sacramento Monarchs before coming to L.A. last season. The former 2nd overall pick in the 1998 draft played collegiately at Old Dominion and is the Colonial Athletic Association's all time leader in assists and steals. The league's all time assist leader and holder on single game records for assists (16) and steals (10) once again led the WNBA in assists in 2010 with 6.9 a game.
Noelle Quinn - 26 year old guard who played collegiately at UCLA before being the 4th overall pick in the 2007 WNBA draft by the Minnesota Lynx. Quinn averaged 10.2 points and 4.0 rebounds for the Sparks in 2010.
MINNESOTA LYNX (13-21)
Rebekkah Brunson - 29 year old 6'3" forward who averaged a double-double for the Lynx last year (11.3 ppg, 10.3 rpg). The former 10th overall pick in the 2004 draft out of Georgetown by the Sacramento Monarchs, Brunson came over to the Lynx in the dispersal draft after the Monarchs folded in 2009. Georgetown's all-time leading rebounder won a ring with the Monarchs in 2005.
Maya Moore - The first overall pick in this year's WNBA draft by the Lynx. The 22 year old 6'0" forward won a pair of National Championships at the University of Connecticut averaging 22.8 points a game as a Senior. In her NCAA career she scored over 3000 points and became just the second player to be a first team All-American four years in a row.
Taj McWilliams-Franklin - 40 year old forward playing with her 7th different WNBA team. Drafted 32nd overall in the 1999 WNBA draft by the Orlando Miracle out of St. Edwards, McWilliams-Franklin is in her first year with the Lynx after spending 2010 with the New York Liberty. Finished second on the Liberty in both points (10.6) and rebounds (5.4) in 2010.
Lindsay Whalen - 29 year old point guard who returned to her native Minnesota last season after 6 years with the Connecticut Sun. The 4th overall pick in the 2004 WNBA draft out of Minnesota was the Lynx's 3rd leading scorer in 2010 and led the team in assists with 5.6 a game. She is the University of Minnesota's all time leading scorer.
Seimone Augustus - 27 year old swingman out of LSU, Augustus was the first overall pick in the 2006 WNBA draft by the Lynx. Augustus has led the Lynx in scoring for 5 straight seasons and was named the 2006 WNBA Rookie of the Year. Augustus was also a member of the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal Winning Team. She finished the 2010 season averaging 16.9 points a game.
SEATTLE STORM (28-6)
Swin Cash - 31 year old Forward who was a 2 time National Championship winner at the University of Connecticut. Drafted 2nd overall in the 2002 WNBA Draft by the Detroit Shock, Cash won a pair of titles before getting traded to Seattle early in 2008. Cash was Seattle's second leading scorer (13.8 ppg) and rebounder (6.0 rpg) during the regular season and averaged 15.2 points a game in the playoffs as the Storm won the WNBA title.
Camille Little - 26 year old forward out of North Carolina who was drafted 17th overall in the 2007 WNBA draft by the San Antonio Silver Stars. Traded from San Antonio to Atlanta in April of 2008 and again to Seattle a few months later and has been in Seattle ever since. Averaged 10.1 points and 5.2 rebounds during the regular season last year and 11.0 points and 6.4 rebounds during the Storm's title run last year.
Lauren Jackson - 30 year old Australian who stands in at 6'5" playing both the forward and center positions. Formerly the first overall pick in the 2001 WNBA draft, Jackson has spent her entire WNBA career with the Storm with whom she has won two WNBA titles. Was both the regular season and finals MVP last year finishing with 20.5 points and 8.3 rebounds in the regular season and 22.0 points and 10.2 rebounds in the playoffs, all team highs. She was also the league's MVP in 2003 and 2007 and helped lead Australia to a Silver Medal in the Olympics in 2000, 2004, and 2008.
Sue Bird - 30 year old guard formerly the 1st overall pick in the 2002 WNBA draft out of Connecticut. Teamed up with current teammate Swin Cash to win National Championships in both 2000 and 2002 and finished her college career with a record of 114-4. A two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner and now a two-time WNBA champion, Bird averaged 8.4 assists in the playoffs last year after finishing the regular season with 5.8 a game to go along with 11.1 points.
Tanisha Wright - 5'11" guard drafted out of Penn State in 2005 with the 12th overall pick in the draft. Wright finished her college career just 5 points shy of 2000 and ranks 4th in school history in scoring. Was the team's 5th leading scorer in 2010 but was second on the team in assists behind Bird with 4.5 a game.
PHOENIX MERCURY (15-19)
Candice Dupree - 6'2" Power Forward drafted out of Temple with the 6th overall pick in the 2006 draft by the Chicago Sky. Joined the Mercury prior to the 2010 season and finished as the team's leading rebounder (7.6 per game) while also being their third leading scorer (15.7 per game) finishing behind Taylor and Taurasi. In the postseason, she led the team in scoring (20.8 per game) and rebounding (8.3 per game).
Penny Taylor - 30 year old Australian forward who was the 11th overall pick in the 2001 WNBA draft by the Cleveland Rockers. Won the MVP at the 2006 World Championships in Brazil while leading Australia to the title and was also a member of Australia's silver medal winning teams at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. Finished second on the team in scoring in 2010 with 15.9 points per game while leading the team with 5 assists per game.
Kara Braxton - 6'6" Center from the University of Georgia drafted 7th overall in the 2005 draft by the Detroit Shock. Joined the Mercury midway through the 2010 season after being traded from Tulsa for Nicole Ohlde and a 2011 first round pick. Averaged 9.9 points and 4.7 rebounds between her two stops.
Temeka Johnson - 28 year old point guard drafted out of LSU with the 6th overall pick in the 2005 draft by the Washington Mystics. Winner of the 2005 Rookie of the Year Award, LSU's all-time assist leader joined the Mercury in 2009. Averaged 9.2 points and 4.7 assists during the regular season, but stepped up to average 8.3 assists in the Mercury's 4 playoff games.
Diana Taurasi - 29 year old shooting guard/small forward who has spent her entire career with the Mercury after graduating from Connecticut in 2004. Won three national championships with the Huskies and was twice named the NCAA Tournament MVP before being made the 1st overall pick of the 2004 WNBA Draft. Won the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award in 2004 and was the league's Most Valuable Player in 2009. Has been a member of two WNBA Championship teams in 2007 and in 2009. Led the Mercury with 22.6 points per game during the 2010 regular season.
INDIANA FEVER (21-13)
Tamika Catchings - 31 year old small forward who has spent her entire WNBA career with the Indiana Fever. Drafted 3rd overall in 2001 out of Tennessee, Catchings missed her entire rookie season due to injury, but came back to win the Rookie of the Year award in 2002. A four time winner of the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, Catchings was a member of the U.S.'s gold medal winning squads at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. In 2010 she led the team in scoring (18.2 per game), rebounding (7.1 per game), assists (4.0 per game), and steals (77).
Tangela Smith - 6'4" Center drafted 12th overall in 1998 out of Iowa by the Sacramento Monarchs. After 4 seasons with the Mercury, she joins the Fever for 2011. Became the WNBA's all time leader in games played during the 2010 season passing Vickie Johnson. With the Mercury last year, Smith averaged 9.2 points and 5.2 rebounds.
Tammy Sutton-Brown - 6'4" Canadian Center drafted 18th overall in 2001 out of Rutgers by the Charlotte Sting. Spent 6 years with the Sting before joining the Fever for the 2007 season. A two-time all-star, Sutton-Brown finished the 2010 season with 8.1 points per game and was second on the team with 5.1 rebounds per game. She also had a team high 55 blocked shots.
Katie Douglas - 32 year old shooting guard originally drafted by the Orlando Miracle with the 10th pick in the 2001 draft. Played collegiately for Purdue helping lead the Lady Boilermakers to the National Championship in 1999 while earning All-American honors in both 2000 and 2001. Traded to Indiana in 2008, Douglas was the Fever's second leading scorer in 2010 with 13.7 points per game. She was also second on the team in assists with 3.3 per game.
Briann January - 24 year old point guard drafted 6th overall in 2009 out of Arizona State. January has spent her entire WNBA career with the Fever and averaged 7.4 points and 3.1 assists in her second season, a slight improvement over the 6.9 points and 2.3 assists she averaged as a rookie.
CHICAGO SKY (14-20)
Tamera Young - 24 year old guard drafted by the Atlanta Dream with the 8th pick in the 2008 WNBA draft. Played college ball at James Madison where she was the CAA Player of the Year in 2008 and an All American honorable mention. Traded from the Dream to the Sky in August of 2009 and averaged 6.8 points in 32 games in 2010.
Michelle Snow - 6'5" Center drafted out of Tennessee with the 10th pick in the 2002 WNBA draft. Spent 7 seasons with the Houston Comets before playing a year in Atlanta and then a year in San Antonio before coming to the Sky. Was the 3rd woman in women's college basketball history to dunk during a game when she did so against Illinois, South Carolina and Vanderbilt. Snow averaged 10.4 points and 6.2 rebounds for the Silver Stars in 2010 while leading the team with 25 blocked shots.
Sylvia Fowles -6'5" Center in her fourth season with the Sky. Drafted with the second overall pick in the 2008 WNBA draft out of LSU where she was the 2008 SEC Player of the Year. A member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Gold Medal Winning Team in 2008, Fowles was named the WNBA All-Star MVP last season. For the Sky in 2010 Fowles led the team in points per game (17.8), rebounds per game (9.9) and blocked shots (88).
Dominique Canty - 34 year old guard/forward in her 13th WNBA season. Originally drafted 29th overall in 1999 out of Alabama, Canty played for the Detroit Shock and Houston Comets before joining the Sky in 2007. Canty averaged 9 points a game for the Sky in 2010 and led the team in assists with 3.4 a game.
Epiphanny Prince - Second year guard drafted out of Rutgers with the 4th overall pick in the 2010 WNBA draft. Best known for scoring 113 points in a high school game in 2006. Recently reached an agreement with the Polish Association of Basketball and she will represent Poland internationally. The Sky's third leading scorer in 2010 with 9.8 points per game and had 55 steals in 34 games.
CONNECTICUT SUN (17-17)
Kalana Greene - Second year guard who spent her rookie season with the New York Liberty. Traded to the Sun for the draft rights of Texas A&M's Sydney Colson before the 2011 season started. Played collegiately at Connecticut and was selected by New York with the 13th pick in the 2010 draft. As a rookie, Greene appeared in 33 games and averaged 4.5 points.
Asjha Jones - Another former Huskie, the 30 year old forward has been with the Sun since 2004 after starting her career with the Washington Mystics. Originally the 4th overall pick in the 2002 draft, the 6'2" Jones was fourth on the Sun with 10.8 points a game and second on the team in rebounding averaging 4.9 a game in 2010.
Tina Charles - The first overall pick in the 2010 is also a Connecticut alum. A 6'4" center, Charles, just 22, won national championships in 2009 and 2010 with the Huskies. With the Sun as a rookie she earned Rookie of the Year honors and set league records for rebounds in a season (398) and double-doubles (22). Charles led the Sun in points per game (15.5) rebounds per game (11.7) and blocks (57) in her first WNBA season.
Renee Montgomery - Yet another Huskie who joined the Sun after spending her rookie year with the Lynx. A guard drafted 4th overall in 2009, Montgomery was the Sun's second leading scorer in 2010 averaging 13.3 points per game. She also led the team in assists with 4.1 a game.
Kara Lawson - The lone starter who didn't played college ball for Connecticut, the 30 year old Lawson played for their rival Tennessee. Originally drafted by the Detroit Shock with the 5th overall pick in 2003, but was traded to the Sacramento Monarchs prior to the start of the season. Joined the Sun last year after the Monarchs folded and averaged 8.3 points and 3.5 assists per game. Lawson was a member of the United States' Gold Medal Winning squad at the 2008 Olympics.
WASHINGTON MYSTICS (22-12)
Marissa Coleman - 24 year old Forward drafted out of Maryland with the 2nd overall pick in the 2009 WNBA draft. The former ACC Rookie of the Year (2006) and ACC Tournament MVP (2009) is now in her third season with the Mystics. Coleman averaged 6.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 2010.
Crystal Langhorne - Another Maryland alum, this 24 year old Forward was the 6th overall pick in the 2008 WNBA draft. Helped Maryland win the 2006 NCAA Championship and was the first player in the program's history to scored 2000 points and grab 1000 rebounds. The winner of the 2009 Most Improved Player Award led the Mystics in scoring (16.3 per game) and rebounding (9.7 per game) in her 3rd season.
Nicky Anosike - 25 year old center standing 6'3" out of the University of Tennessee. Drafted by the Minnesota Lynx with the 16th overall pick in 2008, Anosike was traded to Washington in April. Anosike averaged 9.2 points and 6.8 rebounds and led the Lynx with 32 blocks in 2010.
Matee Ajavon - 25 year old Liberian American Guard who played collegiately for Rutgers. Drafted by the Houston Comets with the 5th overall pick in 2008, Ajavon played one year for Houston before the team folded and she was picked up by Washington. Ajavon averaged 5.9 points and had 38 steals for the Mystics in 2010.
Kelly Miller - 32 year old guard taken with the second overall pick in 2001 by the Charlotte Sting. The Georgia alum has spent her 11 year WNBA career with 6 different franchises- the Charlotte Sting, Indiana Fever, Phoenix Mercury, Minnesota Lynx, Atlanta Dream and now the Mystics. Teamed up with her twin sister Coco last year on the Dream where she averaged 3.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists. Played only seven minutes during the Dream's run to the WNBA Finals last year.
SAN ANTONIO SILVER STARS (14-20)
Roneeka Hodges - 28 year old guard drafted out of Florida State with the 15th overall pick in the 2005 WNBA draft by the Houston Comets. After the Comets folded in 2008, Hodges spent one year with the Lynx and then joined the Silver Stars last season. Averaged 7.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 2010.
Sophia Young - 27 year old power forward born in Saint Vincent who played collegiately for Baylor. Taken with the 4th overall pick in the 2006 WNBA draft. One of only four women in NCAA history to score 2,000 points, grab 1,000 rebounds, collect 300 steals and tally 300 assists. Led the Silver Stars in scoring last season with 15.3 points a game and 54 steals while also averaging 5.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists.
Ruth Riley - 6'5" center from Notre Dame taken with the 5th pick in the 2001 draft by the Miami Sol. Played two seasons with Miami before they folded and she was picked up by the Detroit Shock and was the WNBA Finals MVP in her first season there. Joined the Silver Stars via trade in 2007. Now 31, she played in just 20 games last season averaging 3.8 points and 2.3 rebounds.
Becky Hammon - 34 year old guard who became a Russian citizen in 2008 and helped the Russians to a Bronze Medal in the 2008 Olympics. Colorado State's all time leader in scoring (2740 points), 3-pointers made (365) and assists (538), she was an All American but still went undrafted. Signed with the New York Liberty as a free agent in 1999 and ended up playing 8 seasons there. Traded to San Antonio before the 2007 season. Was the second leading scorer for the Silver Stars at 15.1 points per game and also had a team high 5.4 assists per game.
Tully Bevilaqua - 38 year old Australian guard who originally signed as an undrafted free agent with the Cleveland Rockers in 1998. A member of Australia's Silver Medal Winning Olympic team in 2008, Bevilaqua spent the last 6 seasons as a member of the Indiana Fever. Averaged 3.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists and appeared in every game for the Fever last season.
TULSA SHOCK (6-28)
Tiffany Jackson - 26 year old Forward from Texas originally drafted by the New York Liberty. Taken with the 5th overall pick in the 2007 draft after being named an All-American her Senior year, Jackson spent 4 years with the Liberty before being traded to Tulsa in the middle of the 2010 season. Averaged 6.7 points and 5.1 rebounds in 34 games in 2010.
Kayla Pedersen - Rookie Forward from Stanford taken with the 7th overall pick in the draft. Led Stanford to a 33-3 record this past season before losing the Final Four to Texas A&M. Pedersen had just 4 points in the 63-62 loss but finished with 10 rebounds, 4 blocks and 4 assists.
Elizabeth Cambage - Rookie Center standing 6'8" from Australia taking with the 2nd overall pick in the draft. Only 19 years old, she scored 18 points and had 10 rebounds in her WNBA debut against San Antonio.
Ivory Latta - 26 year old guard from North Carolina. Originally drafted by the Shock when they were still in Detroit with the 11th overall pick in 2007. After a year, she was traded to Atlanta, but she returned to the Shock for the 2010 season. The former ACC Player of the Year (2006) led the Shock in scoring last season with 12.4 points per game. Latta also had a team high 3.9 assists per game.
Amber Holt - 26 year old forward from Middle Tennessee State taken with the 9th overall pick in the 2008 draft by the Connecticut Sun. The top scorer in Division I in 2008, she was acquired by Tulsa after two seasons with Connecticut. Holt averaged 8.7 points and 3.1 rebounds in her first season with the Shock.
ATLANTA DREAM (19-15)
Iziane Castro Marques - 29 year old Brazilian who was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Miami Sol in 2002 out of Florida International University. A mainstay of the Brazilian national team, now the starting small forward for the Atlanta Dream for whom she's played since 2008. Finished second on the team in scoring last year with 16.9 points per game in helping lead the Dream to the WNBA Finals.
Sancho Lyttle - 27 year old Spanish power forward born in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Drafted by the Houston Comets in 2005 and played for them until they folded after the 2008 season. Picked up by the Dream for the 2009 season and has been an all-star in both her seasons in Atlanta. Helped lead Spain to a Bronze Medal at the 2010 World Championships and averaged 12.8 points and a team high 9.9 rebounds for the Dream in 2010. Lyttle averaged 10.2 rebounds during the Dream's playoff run.
Erika De Souza - 29 year old Brazilian center standing 6'5". Played for the Los Angeles Sparks in 2002, but then took 4 seasons off to play in Spain. Returned to the league in 2007 where she played for the Connecticut Sun and then joined the Dream prior to the start of the 2008 season. Averaged 12.4 points and 8.3 rebounds to go along with a team high 40 blocks in 2010. Blocked 13 shots in 5 playoff games.
Coco Miller - Twin sister of Washington Mystics' guard Kelly Miller, the 32 year old guard from the University of Georgia was taken with the 9th overall pick in the 2001 draft by the Mystics. Miller played her first eight seasons with the Mystics before signing with the Dream in 2009. The former Most Improved Player Award Winner in 2002, Miller averaged 3.1 points in 27 appearances with the Dream in 2010.
Lindsey Harding - Former #1 overall pick in the 2007 draft out of Duke, the 27 year old point guard is in her first season with the Dream after playing previously for the Minnesota Lynx and Washington Mystics. The 2006 and 2007 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and a first team All-American as a Senior, Harding averaged 12.1 points and led the Mystics with 4.0 assists in 2010.
NEW YORK LIBERTY (22-12)
Essence Carson - 24 year old guard from Rutgers drafted by the Liberty in 2008 with the 7th overall pick. Carson averaged 3.7 points a game in 2010 while being used mostly in a reserve role.
Plenette Pierson - 29 year old forward from Texas Tech taken with the 4th overall pick in the 2003 draft. Joined the Liberty from Tulsa Shock midseason last year and finished averaging 9.7 points and 3.5 rebounds in 33 games between the two teams.
Kia Vaughn - 24 year old center from Rutgers. 6'4" and taken with the 8th overall pick in the 2009 draft by the Liberty. Vaughn spent the 2010 season in a reserve role averaging 2.1 points off the bench for the Liberty.
Nicole Powell - 28 year old forward from Stanford taken by the Charlotte Sting with the 3rd overall pick in the 2004 WNBA draft. Spent one year with the Sting before joining the Sacramento Monarchs and upon their dissolution, joined the Liberty for the 2010 season. The former two-time PAC-10 player of the year and WNBA Most Improved Player (2005) averaged 9.3 points and 4.2 rebounds for the Liberty in 2010.
Cappie Pondexter - 28 year old Rutgers grad who was the 2nd overall pick by the Phoenix Mercury back in 2006. Spent 4 years in Phoenix where she won 2 WNBA Championships and was the Finals MVP in 2007. In her first year with the Liberty she led the team in scoring with 21.4 points a game and assists with 4.9 a game. Pondexter was a member of the U.S.'s Gold Medal Winning team at the 2008 Olympics.
