Here’s the weekly update on UConn alums around the league, with their season averages in key categories:
Connecticut Sun:
(1) Nykesha Sales (UConn, 1998): 14.1 points, 4.24 rebounds, 3.5 assists per game
Low-down: Already fighting off two nagging ankle injuries, Sales is expected to miss at least tonight’s game against Detroit and perhaps Thursday’s game against New York with a mild concussion she suffered last Friday. As of last year, the Sun’s all-time leading scorer was one of the league’s most durable players. Even when she does return this season, she’ll most likely play limited minutes some nights, depending on how she feels, but she is still a solid contributor on both ends of the floor.
(2) Asjha Jones (2002): 15.9 points, 6.41 rebounds, 46.8 field-goal percentage
Low-down: After already establishing herself as a player to watch this season with her first All-Star selection, Jones made another statement this weekend when she stood toe-to-toe with Seattle’s Lauren Jackson and Houston’s Tina Thompson – and emerged averaging nearly 20 points and six rebounds in the two games.
Detroit Shock:
(1) Swin Cash (2002): 11.9 points, 6.09 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Low-down: With Detroit playing as well as any team in the league – the Sun included – Cash enters tonight’s game in Connecticut having finished an impressive week. In three games, she averaged 13.3 points and 6.3 rebounds. She was especially good in the Shock’s 87-82 win over New York last Wednesday, scoring 19 points and hitting 9-of-11 free throws.
Indiana Fever:
(1) Ann Strother (2006): 0.5 points, 0.33 rebounds (in six games played)
Low-down: Strother didn’t see any time in the last three games for the Fever, who, without Tamika Catchings (foot), are struggling with losses in their last two games.
New York Liberty:
(1) Ashley Battle (2005): 8.3 points, 4.09 rebounds, 1.00 steal
Low-down: Battle continues to be a spark plug off the Liberty bench. Though New York is struggling with losses in its last four games, Battle scored in double figures twice in her last three games, and led her team with 17 points in 28 minutes in an 87-82 loss last Wednesday.
Phoenix Mercury:
(1) Diana Taurasi (2004): 18 points, 4.29 rebounds, 4.3 assists
Low-down: It was a quiet week for Taurasi – at least in her terms – as she averaged 13.3 points in three games and was limited to nine points on 2-of-10 shooting inn 87-77 loss to the struggling Los Angeles Sparks last Friday. She also didn’t get to the free throw line like she’s used to, making 8-of-10 free throws in the three contests. She leads the Mercury with 123 free-throw attempts.
(2) Kelly Schumacher (2001): 4.7 points, 4.39 rebounds, 46.3 field-goal percentage
Low-down: Schumacher continued to see her regular minutes this past week, playing just over 13 in three games. The center scored eight points in 16 minutes on Sunday, but still hasn’t reached double figures in scoring since scoring 10 on June 22, a span of nine games.
Seattle Storm:
(1) Sue Bird (2002): 9.8 points, 4.8 assists, 1.61 steals
Low-down: Bird returned last Friday from arthroscopic knee surgery to score seven points in a loss to the Sun. She followed that up with a three-point performance in a 77-75 win in New York, but they were crucial -points – Bird hit a 3-pointer with 10 seconds remaining to lift Seattle to the win. She also dished out five assists in the victory.
Los Angeles Sparks:
(1) Jessica Moore (2005): 3.4 points, 2.52 rebounds, 35.5 field-goal percentage
Low-down: Moore played a key role in the Sparks’ upset win over Phoenix last Friday – Los Angeles’ first in eight games – by scoring 10 points in 16 minutes. It was Moore’s ninth start of the season.
Houston Comets:
(1) Barbara Turner (2006): 5.1 points, 1.93 rebounds, 42.4 field-goal percentage
Low-down: As touched upon in Monday’s notebook, Turner played 27 minutes in a loss to the Sun Sunday, scoring a career-high 15 points and grabbing four rebounds. She’d only played 23 minutes in six July games entering the contest, but played big for Houston, as several of her friends and family watched from the stands.
Minnesota Lynx:
(1) Svetlana Abrosimova (2001): 7.9 points, 4.38 rebounds, 2.1 assists
Low-down: Though the last-place Lynx are struggling with nine straight loss – all in July – Abrosimova has played big, scoring in double figures in four of her last five games and registering 20 points twice in that span. She’s hit 12 of her last 17 3-pointers (70.5 percent).
(2) Tamika Raymond (2002): 1.2 points, 1.3 (through 11 games)
Low-down: Raymond has continued to see very little time, despite the Lynx’s recent struggles. She’s played a total of 14 minutes in her last three games, taking just one shot and scoring zero points. As for the rest of her Minnesota team, here’s a good glimpse into the club’s struggles as a whole, courtesy of the Star Tribune.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Sun-Comets starters and notes
Here are today’s starting lineups:
Connecticut Sun (11-11)
Forward – Asjha Jones
Forward – Evina Maltsi
Center – Margo Dydek
Guard – Lindsay Whalen
Guard – Katie Douglas
Houston Comets (7-15)
Forward – Sancho Lyttle
Forward – Tina Thompson
Center – Michelle Snow
Guard – Hamchetou Maiga-Ba
Guard – Crystal Smith
Watch out for Tamecka Dixon coming off the bench for Houston. The 10-year veteran signed with the Comets on July 2 and is averaging 11.5 points per game. She scored 20 in the Comets’ win over New York on Friday.
Also, expect a good night for Maltsi, who in three starts this season is averaging 13.3 points and four rebounds in 31 minutes of action. Her career high 23-point performance came in her last start on July 7 in L.A., a game in which she hit on 9-of-13 shots, including 5-of-5 from 3-point range.
It's interesting that the Sun have Maltsi listed as a forward, when in past starts she's played guard with Douglas moving to the frontcourt. But in the end, it doesn't make too much of a difference -- man-to-man match-ups aren't confined by positions. Last game, Douglas guarded Sue Bird at times, while at others, she had the assignment of Iziane Castro Marques.
One final note: UConn grad Barbara Turner makes her return to Connecticut today. Turner, who was signed in early June by the Comets, has been dealing with a severely bruised hip she suffered earlier this season, and has seen only 23 minutes of action in six July games.
As usual check the home page of NorwichBulletin.com for updates at halftime (around 5 p.m.) and following the game.
Connecticut Sun (11-11)
Forward – Asjha Jones
Forward – Evina Maltsi
Center – Margo Dydek
Guard – Lindsay Whalen
Guard – Katie Douglas
Houston Comets (7-15)
Forward – Sancho Lyttle
Forward – Tina Thompson
Center – Michelle Snow
Guard – Hamchetou Maiga-Ba
Guard – Crystal Smith
Watch out for Tamecka Dixon coming off the bench for Houston. The 10-year veteran signed with the Comets on July 2 and is averaging 11.5 points per game. She scored 20 in the Comets’ win over New York on Friday.
Also, expect a good night for Maltsi, who in three starts this season is averaging 13.3 points and four rebounds in 31 minutes of action. Her career high 23-point performance came in her last start on July 7 in L.A., a game in which she hit on 9-of-13 shots, including 5-of-5 from 3-point range.
It's interesting that the Sun have Maltsi listed as a forward, when in past starts she's played guard with Douglas moving to the frontcourt. But in the end, it doesn't make too much of a difference -- man-to-man match-ups aren't confined by positions. Last game, Douglas guarded Sue Bird at times, while at others, she had the assignment of Iziane Castro Marques.
One final note: UConn grad Barbara Turner makes her return to Connecticut today. Turner, who was signed in early June by the Comets, has been dealing with a severely bruised hip she suffered earlier this season, and has seen only 23 minutes of action in six July games.
As usual check the home page of NorwichBulletin.com for updates at halftime (around 5 p.m.) and following the game.
Sales home for today's Sun-Comets game
Some notes entering today’s Sun-Houston Comets game at 4 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena:
Nykesha Sales, who injured her head in a collision with Seattle’s Janell Burse Sunday during the Sun’s 76-58 victory, will be home for today’s game against Houston. Sales looked groggy when she left the court following the hit – indicating a possible concussion – and was taken to a local hospital following the game for observation.
She was released later that night and also missed practice on Saturday. As it has been widely publicized, Sales has been hampered by injuries the whole season (sore Achilles, sprained ankle) and today will mark the sixth game she’s missed this season.
Sun rookie Kamesha Hairston also didn’t dress last game and was wearing a brace on her right wrist while watching from the bench.
The Sun, however, aren’t the only team dealing of injuries. The Indiana Fever lost MVP candidate Tamika Catchings to a partial tear in her left plantar fascia (foot) on Friday, and she is expected to miss two to three weeks. It’s a big blow to the Fever, who also lost their hold on first place in the East with losses to Detroit on Friday and Chicago on Saturday.
Here is the game story from last night’s loss to the Sky, courtesy of the Indianapolis Star.
Check back in a few moments for today’s Sun-Comets starting lineups. Expect Evina Maltsi to start in place of Sales.
Nykesha Sales, who injured her head in a collision with Seattle’s Janell Burse Sunday during the Sun’s 76-58 victory, will be home for today’s game against Houston. Sales looked groggy when she left the court following the hit – indicating a possible concussion – and was taken to a local hospital following the game for observation.
She was released later that night and also missed practice on Saturday. As it has been widely publicized, Sales has been hampered by injuries the whole season (sore Achilles, sprained ankle) and today will mark the sixth game she’s missed this season.
Sun rookie Kamesha Hairston also didn’t dress last game and was wearing a brace on her right wrist while watching from the bench.
The Sun, however, aren’t the only team dealing of injuries. The Indiana Fever lost MVP candidate Tamika Catchings to a partial tear in her left plantar fascia (foot) on Friday, and she is expected to miss two to three weeks. It’s a big blow to the Fever, who also lost their hold on first place in the East with losses to Detroit on Friday and Chicago on Saturday.
Here is the game story from last night’s loss to the Sky, courtesy of the Indianapolis Star.
Check back in a few moments for today’s Sun-Comets starting lineups. Expect Evina Maltsi to start in place of Sales.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Tonight's starters for Storm at Sun
No surprises with the starting lineups but here they are:
Connecticut Sun (10-11):
Forward – Asjha Jones
Forward – Nykesha Sales
Center – Margo Dydek
Guard – Lindsay Whalen
Guard – Katie Douglas
Seattle Storm (11-10):
Forward – Lauren Jackson
Forward – Iziane Castro Marques
Center – Janell Burse
Guard – Sue Bird
Guard – Betty Lennox
Check the front page of NorwichBulletin.com for a updates at halftime (around 8 p.m.) and following the game.
Connecticut Sun (10-11):
Forward – Asjha Jones
Forward – Nykesha Sales
Center – Margo Dydek
Guard – Lindsay Whalen
Guard – Katie Douglas
Seattle Storm (11-10):
Forward – Lauren Jackson
Forward – Iziane Castro Marques
Center – Janell Burse
Guard – Sue Bird
Guard – Betty Lennox
Check the front page of NorwichBulletin.com for a updates at halftime (around 8 p.m.) and following the game.
Sun, Storm to clash
The Sun and Storm take the floor at 7 p.m. tonight, and it should be an interesting test for the Sun. They have clearly found a rhythm in recent weeks, winning their last four games, but Seattle can be a dangerous foe, especially with Sue Bird back after sitting out five games following arthroscopic knee surgery.
The Storm have lost three of four and are only 4-7 on the road, but the Sun are still trying to figure out how to win consistently at Mohegan Sun Arena, where they’re 3-6.
Players to watch for tonight are (obviously) Lauren Jackson (leads the league at 23 points per game) and Bird (second in the assists at 5.0 per game), but keep an eye on Betty Lennox, who picked up the offensive slack with Bird out, scoring 22, 14 and 12 in her last three games, respectively.
Erin Phillips, last season’s spark plug off the bench for the Sun, is in the house tonight. Phillips was “suspended” by the Sun after she tore her ACL during the offseason, but it was a strategic move to clear space under the salary cap.
She is meeting with the media sometime before the game, so pick up out tomorrow’s Bulletin for an update on the 22-year-old Aussie.
Check back before the game for full starting lineups for tonight’s game.
The Storm have lost three of four and are only 4-7 on the road, but the Sun are still trying to figure out how to win consistently at Mohegan Sun Arena, where they’re 3-6.
Players to watch for tonight are (obviously) Lauren Jackson (leads the league at 23 points per game) and Bird (second in the assists at 5.0 per game), but keep an eye on Betty Lennox, who picked up the offensive slack with Bird out, scoring 22, 14 and 12 in her last three games, respectively.
Erin Phillips, last season’s spark plug off the bench for the Sun, is in the house tonight. Phillips was “suspended” by the Sun after she tore her ACL during the offseason, but it was a strategic move to clear space under the salary cap.
She is meeting with the media sometime before the game, so pick up out tomorrow’s Bulletin for an update on the 22-year-old Aussie.
Check back before the game for full starting lineups for tonight’s game.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Sun, Lynx to square off
The Sun and Minnesota Lynx tip off on tonight ESPN2, starting at 7:30 p.m. Here are the game’s projected starters:
Minnesota Lynx (5-16)
Forward – Tiffany Stansbury
Forward – Svetlana Abrosimova
Center – Nicole Ohlde
Guard – Seimone Augustus
Guard – Noelle Quinn
Connecticut Sun (9-11)
Forward – Asjha Jones
Forward – Nykesha Sales
Center – Margo Dydek
Guard – Katie Douglas
Guard – Lindsay Whalen
Check the home page of NorwichBulletin.com for updates at halftime (around 8:30 p.m.) and after the game.
Minnesota Lynx (5-16)
Forward – Tiffany Stansbury
Forward – Svetlana Abrosimova
Center – Nicole Ohlde
Guard – Seimone Augustus
Guard – Noelle Quinn
Connecticut Sun (9-11)
Forward – Asjha Jones
Forward – Nykesha Sales
Center – Margo Dydek
Guard – Katie Douglas
Guard – Lindsay Whalen
Check the home page of NorwichBulletin.com for updates at halftime (around 8:30 p.m.) and after the game.
A Huskies update
This is the first in a new weekly post that will focus on UConn alums around the WNBA and what they’re doing. It will be updated every Tuesday afternoon.
Connecticut Sun:
(1) Nykesha Sales (UConn, 1998): 15.4 points, 4.33 rebounds, 3.5 assists per game
Low-down: After missing four straight games (and five of six) due to a sprained ankle/bothersome hip/sore Achilles’ tendon, Sales returned for the final two games of the Sun’s West Coast road trip, scoring 15 and 23 points respectively. Katie Douglas made a good point Monday in practice, saying Sales not only brings another offensive weapon to the Sun but one with fresh legs.
(2) Asjha Jones (2002): 15.9 points, 6.63 rebounds, 46.9 field-goal percentage
Low-down: Jones’s success as a first-year starter has been well-chronicled. Expect more of the same in the second half. Jones has played starter-like minutes the last two years and the better the guards around her are playing – which they are as of late – the more it will free up opportunities for her down low.
Detroit Shock:
(1) Swin Cash (2002): 11.7 points, 6.05 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Low-down: Cash was passed over for the All-Star team, but she’s still effective as ever, hitting on all her career averages in nearly every offensive category. More so, she’s looked as good as she has since coming back from a 2005 knee injury. Expect her to continue to be one of the Shock’s key contributors as they vie for their second straight WNBA title.
Indiana Fever:
(1) Ann Strother (2006): 0.5 points, 0.33 rebounds (in six games played)
Low-down: Strother has seen limited time this season, moving to the inactive list for the fourth time this season in the Fever’s last game. Strother has only played in one game since seeing 1 minutes, 48 seconds of time on June 16, and in that contest, she went 0-for-2 in 3:15 of action against Chicago.
New York Liberty:
(1) Ashley Battle (2005): 7.7 points, 4.05 rebounds, 1.00 steals
Low-down: Battle has been a steady contributor off the bench for the Liberty, the only team to not have a player named to this year’s All-Star game. She’s scored just 17 points in her last four games but was on fire to end June, topping 30 minutes in five straight games and scoring in double digits in four of them. Her best game, however, stands as her 18-point performance at Mohegan Sun Arena on June 20. She’s started five games this year.
Phoenix Mercury:
(1) Diana Taurasi (2004): 17.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists
Low-down: Taurasi has continued to be one of the league’s top players, though it doesn’t look as if she’ll come close to reaching her WNBA-record 25.3 scoring average of last season. She was also suspended two games for comments she made to a ref at the end of a game this season. Still, one of the greatest players in UConn history continues to make that same case in WNBA history, as she is the leader of the league’s best offense again this season.
(2) Kelly Schumacher (2001): 4.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 0.2 assists
Low-down: The Mercury’s primary center, Schumacher is sometimes lost in the mix of how the high-scoring Mercury play but she gives Phoenix solid minutes off the bench (16.6) but has had her best games against the East. All three of her double-digit scoring performances came against Indiana (14 points), Detroit (10) and Chicago (10).
Seattle Storm:
(1) Sue Bird (2002): 10.4 points, 5.0 assists, 1.56 steals
Low-down: The leading vote-getter in this year’s All-Star Game, Bird is second in the league in assists but has been sidelined the last week and half (and missed the All-Star Game) after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery to remove “particles.” There’s a good chance Bird returns, however on Friday – when the Storm visit the Sun.
Los Angeles Sparks:
(1) Jessica Moore (2005): 2.9 points, 2.4 rebounds
Low-down: A full-time starter last year for the Sparks Moore has started just seven of 19 games this season and has shot just 32.8 percent from the floor. She isn’t the only Sparks player struggling though as L.A. has lost six straight and are among the worst teams in the league right now.
Houston Comets:
(1) Barbara Turner (2006): 4.9 points, 1.7 rebounds
Low-down: Turner has seen time in just 11 games this season, after signing as a free agent with the Comets. She hasn’t topped 10 minutes mid-June and has been ruled inactive five times since then.
Minnesota Lynx:
(1) Svetlana Abrosimova (2001): 6.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists
Low-down: Abrosimova visits Mohegan Sun Arena with the Lynx tonight and as always, expect the crowd to give her a warm welcome. The six-year veteran has been steady this whole year for the up-and-down Lynx, who took a big hit when they lost point guard Lindsay Harding to a torn ACL before the All-Star break. Abrosimova had her best game of the season recently, though, when she scored 20 points in a 91-83 loss at Washington, the same night Harding went down.
(2) Tamika Raymond (2002): 1.6 points, 1.25 rebounds (through eight games)
Low-down: Raymond has been limited to eight games this season due to a variety of injuries that include a mild concussion and strained hamstring that kept her out at the start of the season. She’s played sparingly since, seeing a combined 14 minutes after playing 20 minutes on June 13.
Connecticut Sun:
(1) Nykesha Sales (UConn, 1998): 15.4 points, 4.33 rebounds, 3.5 assists per game
Low-down: After missing four straight games (and five of six) due to a sprained ankle/bothersome hip/sore Achilles’ tendon, Sales returned for the final two games of the Sun’s West Coast road trip, scoring 15 and 23 points respectively. Katie Douglas made a good point Monday in practice, saying Sales not only brings another offensive weapon to the Sun but one with fresh legs.
(2) Asjha Jones (2002): 15.9 points, 6.63 rebounds, 46.9 field-goal percentage
Low-down: Jones’s success as a first-year starter has been well-chronicled. Expect more of the same in the second half. Jones has played starter-like minutes the last two years and the better the guards around her are playing – which they are as of late – the more it will free up opportunities for her down low.
Detroit Shock:
(1) Swin Cash (2002): 11.7 points, 6.05 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Low-down: Cash was passed over for the All-Star team, but she’s still effective as ever, hitting on all her career averages in nearly every offensive category. More so, she’s looked as good as she has since coming back from a 2005 knee injury. Expect her to continue to be one of the Shock’s key contributors as they vie for their second straight WNBA title.
Indiana Fever:
(1) Ann Strother (2006): 0.5 points, 0.33 rebounds (in six games played)
Low-down: Strother has seen limited time this season, moving to the inactive list for the fourth time this season in the Fever’s last game. Strother has only played in one game since seeing 1 minutes, 48 seconds of time on June 16, and in that contest, she went 0-for-2 in 3:15 of action against Chicago.
New York Liberty:
(1) Ashley Battle (2005): 7.7 points, 4.05 rebounds, 1.00 steals
Low-down: Battle has been a steady contributor off the bench for the Liberty, the only team to not have a player named to this year’s All-Star game. She’s scored just 17 points in her last four games but was on fire to end June, topping 30 minutes in five straight games and scoring in double digits in four of them. Her best game, however, stands as her 18-point performance at Mohegan Sun Arena on June 20. She’s started five games this year.
Phoenix Mercury:
(1) Diana Taurasi (2004): 17.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists
Low-down: Taurasi has continued to be one of the league’s top players, though it doesn’t look as if she’ll come close to reaching her WNBA-record 25.3 scoring average of last season. She was also suspended two games for comments she made to a ref at the end of a game this season. Still, one of the greatest players in UConn history continues to make that same case in WNBA history, as she is the leader of the league’s best offense again this season.
(2) Kelly Schumacher (2001): 4.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 0.2 assists
Low-down: The Mercury’s primary center, Schumacher is sometimes lost in the mix of how the high-scoring Mercury play but she gives Phoenix solid minutes off the bench (16.6) but has had her best games against the East. All three of her double-digit scoring performances came against Indiana (14 points), Detroit (10) and Chicago (10).
Seattle Storm:
(1) Sue Bird (2002): 10.4 points, 5.0 assists, 1.56 steals
Low-down: The leading vote-getter in this year’s All-Star Game, Bird is second in the league in assists but has been sidelined the last week and half (and missed the All-Star Game) after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery to remove “particles.” There’s a good chance Bird returns, however on Friday – when the Storm visit the Sun.
Los Angeles Sparks:
(1) Jessica Moore (2005): 2.9 points, 2.4 rebounds
Low-down: A full-time starter last year for the Sparks Moore has started just seven of 19 games this season and has shot just 32.8 percent from the floor. She isn’t the only Sparks player struggling though as L.A. has lost six straight and are among the worst teams in the league right now.
Houston Comets:
(1) Barbara Turner (2006): 4.9 points, 1.7 rebounds
Low-down: Turner has seen time in just 11 games this season, after signing as a free agent with the Comets. She hasn’t topped 10 minutes mid-June and has been ruled inactive five times since then.
Minnesota Lynx:
(1) Svetlana Abrosimova (2001): 6.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists
Low-down: Abrosimova visits Mohegan Sun Arena with the Lynx tonight and as always, expect the crowd to give her a warm welcome. The six-year veteran has been steady this whole year for the up-and-down Lynx, who took a big hit when they lost point guard Lindsay Harding to a torn ACL before the All-Star break. Abrosimova had her best game of the season recently, though, when she scored 20 points in a 91-83 loss at Washington, the same night Harding went down.
(2) Tamika Raymond (2002): 1.6 points, 1.25 rebounds (through eight games)
Low-down: Raymond has been limited to eight games this season due to a variety of injuries that include a mild concussion and strained hamstring that kept her out at the start of the season. She’s played sparingly since, seeing a combined 14 minutes after playing 20 minutes on June 13.
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