Thursday, April 8, 2010
Draft update: Lynx take Monica Wright No. 2
No surprise here. The ACC's leading scorer and Player of the Year, Monica Wright is the second pick in today's draft. What Minnesota does next will be interesting. Jayne Appel could go next, but there are questions about the severity of hurt ankle she suffered in Tuesday's championship game. Also, do the Lynx go that anyway with Nicky Anosike and Charde Houston already in the fold, two quicker post players whose styles' differ vastly from Appel's?
It's official: Sun take Charles No. 1 overall
The Connecticut Sun have made it official: They've taken UConn's Tina Charles with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft.
At the draft in New Jersey, Charles took the stage and smiled for photos holding the Sun's blue jersey.
Now comes the interesting part. Minnesota owns the second and third picks, and don't be surprised if Virginia's Monica Wright is taken with one of those. Will the Lynx also take Jayne Appel? Or will they go another way? How they chose will likely have a trickle-down effect through the first round, including on the Sun at No. 7, where they're likely looking at a guard or versatile small forward.
At the draft in New Jersey, Charles took the stage and smiled for photos holding the Sun's blue jersey.
Now comes the interesting part. Minnesota owns the second and third picks, and don't be surprised if Virginia's Monica Wright is taken with one of those. Will the Lynx also take Jayne Appel? Or will they go another way? How they chose will likely have a trickle-down effect through the first round, including on the Sun at No. 7, where they're likely looking at a guard or versatile small forward.
Just in case you were wondering ...
The Sun obviously have made no secret they're taking Tina Charles with the No. 1 overall pick, and they all but confirmed it at the team's fan fest at Margaritaville in Mohegan Sun.
Greeting season ticket-holders at the door of the restaurant is a life-sized cutout of a smiling Charles palming two WNBA basketballs -- and wearing a Connecticut Sun jersey. It came courtesy of Sun publicist Jen Hildebrand, who took a real photo of Charles and through Photoshop, added the jersey, shorts and basketballs.
The team is also passing out T-shirts that read: 1 + 31 = Sun. (No. 1 as in the pick, No. 31 as in Charles' number.)
The selection becomes official within the half-hour. Stay tuned.
Greeting season ticket-holders at the door of the restaurant is a life-sized cutout of a smiling Charles palming two WNBA basketballs -- and wearing a Connecticut Sun jersey. It came courtesy of Sun publicist Jen Hildebrand, who took a real photo of Charles and through Photoshop, added the jersey, shorts and basketballs.
The team is also passing out T-shirts that read: 1 + 31 = Sun. (No. 1 as in the pick, No. 31 as in Charles' number.)
The selection becomes official within the half-hour. Stay tuned.
Draft reading
In case you missed it, here is the Bulletin's advance on today's draft, specifically breaking down Wednesday's trade of Amber Holt and Chante Black to the Tulsa Shock for the No. 7 pick in today's draft and the Shock's second-round pick in 2011.
Some Tina and No. 1 notes
Not to jump the gun here, but here are some facts on Tina Charles, the No. 1 pick and WNBA Draft history:
* Only three players in WNBA history have won the NCAA Championship and been selected No. 1 in the WNBA Draft in the same year. Two hail from UConn: Sue Bird (2002), Diana Taurasi (2004) and Candace Parker (2004). Charles will be the fourth.
* Charles would also become the fourth former Final Four Most Outstanding Player to go No. 1, joining Chamique Holdsclaw, Taurasi and Parker.
* Two previous No. 1 picks attended the same high school as Charles, Christ the King: Holdsclaw (1999) and Bird (2002).
Also, of note: The Sun will be holding a press conference with Charles at 2 p.m. Friday in front of the Mohegan Sun Arena box office. The event is open to the public.
* Only three players in WNBA history have won the NCAA Championship and been selected No. 1 in the WNBA Draft in the same year. Two hail from UConn: Sue Bird (2002), Diana Taurasi (2004) and Candace Parker (2004). Charles will be the fourth.
* Charles would also become the fourth former Final Four Most Outstanding Player to go No. 1, joining Chamique Holdsclaw, Taurasi and Parker.
* Two previous No. 1 picks attended the same high school as Charles, Christ the King: Holdsclaw (1999) and Bird (2002).
Also, of note: The Sun will be holding a press conference with Charles at 2 p.m. Friday in front of the Mohegan Sun Arena box office. The event is open to the public.
The blog is back
After a nearly year-long hiatus, the Norwich Bulletin's Connecticut Sun blog is back up today, just in time for the WNBA Draft.
As most know, the Sun own the No. 1, No. 7, No. 15 and No. 27 picks in today's event (3 p.m., ESPN2 for first round) and outside of some unforseeble catastrophe (i.e. alien invasion), Connecticut will draft UConn senior Tina Charles with the first overall selection.
What the Sun do past that remains to be seen in a draft that Sun coach Mike Thibault said is as "up in the air" as any he can remember in his seven-plus years in the league.
Check back throughout the day for updates on the Sun's picks and where UConn's other draftee, Kalana Greene, ends up.
As most know, the Sun own the No. 1, No. 7, No. 15 and No. 27 picks in today's event (3 p.m., ESPN2 for first round) and outside of some unforseeble catastrophe (i.e. alien invasion), Connecticut will draft UConn senior Tina Charles with the first overall selection.
What the Sun do past that remains to be seen in a draft that Sun coach Mike Thibault said is as "up in the air" as any he can remember in his seven-plus years in the league.
Check back throughout the day for updates on the Sun's picks and where UConn's other draftee, Kalana Greene, ends up.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Sun cut Page, Lyttles
The Sun made their final roster cuts Thursday night, and they were somewhat surprising. Connecticut released forwards Danielle Page and Lyndra Littles, bringing their team to the necessary 11 for Saturday's regular-season opener vs. Washington.
Page, largely a practice player a year ago, had a very solid camp, but ultimately lost a spot to rookie forward Lauren Ervin, a 2008 third-round draft selection with more upside and athletic ability. Littles, who the Sun spoke highly of after grabbing in the second round, departed in favor of guards Kiesha Brown and Kristi Cirone, who Sun coach Mike Thibault had hinted would battle for one spot but ultimately both made the team.
Thus, here is the 11-person roster, of which two more will be cut when Sandrine Gruda and Anete Jekabsone-Zogota arrive (likely later this month or in early July):
G Lindsay Whalen
G Erin Phillips
G Kiesha Brown
G Kristi Cirone
G/F Amber Holt (injured)
G/F Kerri Gardin
G/F Barbara Turner
F Asjha Jones
F Tamika Whitmore
F Lauren Ervin
C Chante Black
Page, largely a practice player a year ago, had a very solid camp, but ultimately lost a spot to rookie forward Lauren Ervin, a 2008 third-round draft selection with more upside and athletic ability. Littles, who the Sun spoke highly of after grabbing in the second round, departed in favor of guards Kiesha Brown and Kristi Cirone, who Sun coach Mike Thibault had hinted would battle for one spot but ultimately both made the team.
Thus, here is the 11-person roster, of which two more will be cut when Sandrine Gruda and Anete Jekabsone-Zogota arrive (likely later this month or in early July):
G Lindsay Whalen
G Erin Phillips
G Kiesha Brown
G Kristi Cirone
G/F Amber Holt (injured)
G/F Kerri Gardin
G/F Barbara Turner
F Asjha Jones
F Tamika Whitmore
F Lauren Ervin
C Chante Black
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