Wednesday, May 20, 2009

More Sun, more games

For the first time ever, fans will have the opportunity to watch virtually every Connecticut Sun game during the 2009 season through www.connecticutsun.com.

Only games televised nationally or locally, or games tipping off at the same time as an ESPN2 or ABC broadcasted game in another market, will be delayed. But all WNBA LiveAccess games will be archived for on-demand viewing.

Although the schedule is subject to change, a total of 22 Sun games are currently expected to be available for live viewing on the web. That list includes:

June 14 vs. Atlanta
June 16 at Chicago
June 19 vs. Chicago
June 27 vs. Atlanta
July 2 at Indiana
July 5 at Detroit
July 7 at Atlanta
July 19 vs. Indiana
July 22 vs. Sacramento
July 30 at Indiana
Aug. 2 at Detroit
Aug. 7 at Minnesota
Aug. 9 vs. Washington
Aug. 13 vs. Seattle
Aug. 14 at Washington
Aug. 19 vs. New York
Aug. 22 vs. Minnesota
Aug. 25 vs. Detroit
Aug. 27 at Seattle
Aug. 30 at Los Angeles
Sept. 1st at Sacramento
Sept. 11 at Atlanta

More on Chante

So we're a little behind on the blogging to start the year, but let's catch up a little bit. The Sun opened camp Monday, and they'll have a lot to accomplish with 15 players in camp and 11 open spots. And here's a quick pre-preseason primer for the Eastern Conference.

And for today, here's a look at Chante Black, who spent last summer in Connecticut coincidently for an internship at the St. Francis Hospital in Hartford.

But there's more to the 6-foot-5 rookie's story. Black's mother, Mazie, has spent the past two years on a fellowship teaching English to fifth- and sixth-graders in Saudi Arabia. Black has never gotten the chance to visit her there -- and the schedule made it impossible for Mazie to attend any of Chante's games the last two years at Duke -- but she did make it back to attend the WNBA draft last month with her daughter.

Chante said travel has always been in her mother's life. Mazie was in Army before taking up teaching, and she has spent 10 months each of the last two years in the Middle East.

"She’s adventurous," Chante said. "I don’t think I’m as bold as her."

But despite the nine-hour time difference, mother and daughter still talk often, whether through e-mail, Skype or magicJack. (Mazie has a local in Saudi Arabia.)

"So now it’s on the regular," Chante said. "But (because of the time difference), when she calls I’m like sleeping and it’s 6 in the morning but she’s wide awake. I’m like, ‘Call me later.’"

Mazie is also planning to return to school, Chante said, possibly in New England, meaning she may be able catch her daughter at Mohegan Sun Arena often.

More to come from camp late today.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

All-Star game tickets on sale

The WNBA is releasing a limited number of tickets for the 2009 WNBA All-Star Game, to be held Saturday, July 25 at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The game, set for a 3:30 p.m. tip, will be televised live on ABC.

Tickets are available by going online to ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-877-WNBA-TIX, and range from $10 to $55. Special pricing will apply for groups of 20 or more.

The sale follows a presale conducted for season-ticket holders of the host Connecticut Sun and the WNBA’s 12 other teams.