Women's Basketball 24.7

"There is no offseason"

WNBA Training Camp 2016!

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The WNBA will begin their historical 20th season this weekend when training camp starts across all 12 teams on Sunday. Many teams will have new faces suiting up to go along with new uniform colorways while others return their core with minimal changes. The team to beat remains the defending champions; The Minnesota Lynx, but with Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor returning to the Phoenix Mercury lineup many would beg to differ. I’d say that the West will again be a battle at the top but with the new scheduling format of the regular season, every team will have pretty even chance to see how they measure up across the entire league. The 2016 season will be an odd season for many, especially rookies, and players who have been in the WNBA for less than three years as they have not experienced a summer with an olympic break. The WNBA will take a month long break from games as players from across the league compete for a gold medal in Rio. The USA final roster has yet to be announced but we can expect that decision to be made shortly. The difficult task will be for teams to keep their chemistry, focus and momentum going once they return to play after the break. Teams will continue to practice, but for many, their best player or players will be missing for that month during the break if they are selected to play for the National Team. Coaches will have to be creative in finding ways to keep players in shape and prepared to compete for a championship when games resume. A positive from the olympic break will give teams the opportunity to build better chemistry and work on player development as most are unable to put a lot of effort into this because the WNBA’s training camp is so short. Teams who don’t have a player on the National Team will really be able to develop during that time. Either way, training camp is on the horizon and I’m sure we all are excited about another season of WNBA basketball!

Last week I went to Connecticut to be a part of a player’s panel during rookie orientation to speak with the seniors who were invited to the WNBA draft. Myself, Tina Charles and Carolyn Swords were there to have a candid conversation with the future players about what life is like in the WNBA and to answer any questions the prospects may have had. As the three of us are in varying stages of our careers and all have different experiences and roles in the league it was a great mix of opinions and ideas. The girls were very excited and extremely tired from all of the orientation forums they had to attend. I’m sure it was information overload but it is important that these young women are prepared for the next level of their career not only on the court but off the court as well. The WNBA put together a great orientation for the girls which gave them information on boring stuff like taxes and 401k’s to social media behavior to rules changes and a bunch of other stuff. I’d like to think that our portion of the day was the most exciting. We got a lot of questions about training camp as the girls seemed to be really nervous about what’s to come during camp. I always say that if you can make it through a college pre season you can make it through a WNBA training camp. For anyone that has played college basketball we all know how challenging college pre seasons can be!  I remember it like it was yesterday, as I contemplated quitting because I felt like I had joined the track team and not the basketball team! I’m glad I stuck it out but these girls don’t have to worry themselves too much.

Training camp on the professional level can be challenging. Players are bigger, faster and stronger. The first thing you don’t want to do is come into camp out of shape. Training camp moves very quickly and since a lot of teams have pre season games lined up in as little as a week after camp starts you have to take in a lot of information daily. From learning plays, to learning new terms, drills and techniques, you have to be locked in at all times. This is what I like to tell players entering the W; EVERYONE in the league is good! Yea some players may not play a lot of minutes of even get off the bench at all but for them to be on a roster they have to be good and you have to respect that. This can be different from college where you may face a team that may have only one or two very good players that you have to worry about (four of five if you’re UCONN). In the WNBA, night in and night out, you are facing the best players in the world. The other thing is that in training camp and there are no guarantees. There are players in camp working to make the final roster just like you and since there are only 11, with the option to carry 12 players on each team, space is limited. In this league, just because you were drafted doesn’t mean you will make the team. But that shouldn’t scare you, that should motivate you to show what you are made of. Outside of the first round draftees, and sometimes first rounders don’t make the squad, there will be a battle for those few roster slots available. Which brings me to an entirely different subject on the need for more WNBA teams because talented players have to be let go because there simply aren’t enough spots on the team. I am hopeful that more teams will join the league in the future.

Anyway, I let the players know that this will be some of the best times of their lives. You’re a professional basketball player! The best of the best and you deserve to be here. Just imagine getting paid to play basketball! Do you know how many people would love to get paid to play sports? It’s a blessing and something that we should never take for granted! I welcome new talent and I enjoy watching young players develop and grow into women. This will be my 11th training camp and I am just excited for this one as I was for the first abeit the nerves. This historical 20th season should be one of the best in the history of the league with so many great storylines, players, and teams. I hope that this season gets the recognition that it deserves and people all over the world will see how great the WNBA is, how passionate it’s players are, and how exciting it is to watch some of the best women’s basketball players in the world compete to be a world champion! The season tips off May 14th as the Phoenix Mercury take on the Minnesota Lynx on ESPN!

I Blame The Media…

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April 7, 2016

Two nights ago UCONN women’s basketball team won their fourth consecutive National Championship! Their 11th in program history, making head coach Geno Auriemma the coach with the most National Championships in NCAA basketball history. In winning his 11th National Championship, coach Auriemma passed the notable John Wooden who won 10 National Championships with his UCLA Bruins in a 12-year period. However, coach Wooden won a record seven in a row. It is yet to be known if coach Auriemma will be able to top that record. With the departure of Breanna Stewart, who was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player for the fourth year in a row, becoming  the 1st player in Division I history, men’s or women’s to accomplish this feat, it will be difficult for the women of UCONN to capture three more titles in the next three years but with UCONN you should never count those girls out. They never run out of players, they just reload.

The sad part in this all is that if you’re not a women’s basketball fan you would have no idea that 1. UCONN were playing for their 11th National Championship in program history. 2. UCONN were also playing for their fourth consecutive National Championship. 3. Syracuse and Washington were both participating in their first final four in their programs history. And 4. If you’re local to the DMV, which I am, Syracuse head coach Quentin Hillsman, a native of Suitland, Md coached at Newport Preparatory School in Maryland where he was voted the Montgomery County Gazette’s Girls Varsity Private School Coach of the Year. In addition to many other storylines, you would not have known any of these things if you didn’t go out of your way to find them out. And I blame the media!

The night before the Women’s National Championship game I was sitting at home watching the local news as I do every evening. Of course the sports segment came on and for the entire however many minutes it lasted the only thing they talked about were the men! They talked about opening day in baseball and the Men’s National Championship game. Let me rewind to the day of the games between Syracuse and Washington and UCONN and Oregon State. There was NO mention that these games even took place. Disappointed in the lack of coverage, now I’m talking about local news, which I think is very important in bringing in fans who don’t necessarily watch sports channels like ESPN, Fox Sports, or some other sports based channel, there was nothing. So they failed to mention that Syracuse and UCONN had advanced the night before but I just knew there would be some mention of the upcoming National Title game, I mean come on, its the National Championship game! Men or women, its the biggest game, on the biggest stage in college basketball. You’re not going to believe this but the local news did not mention that one, Syracuse and UCONN had advanced in the first games of the Final Four, and two that they would be playing for the title the next night! I sat there in shock, I just knew I must have missed it because its is incomprehensible that they would not even mention the upcoming National Championship game! Being that I didn’t move from the sofa while watching the entire news cast I couldn’t have missed it. They just didn’t bother to let their viewers know that there were actually a Women’s Final Four going on…

How? How do you not mention the biggest game in college basketball. As a producer of a show, which are the ones that write and/or decide what anchors will cover, how can you not see it fit or find the time to mention anything about women’s basketball. At this point it’s just blatant disrespect. You didn’t think the title game was worth mentioning? You don’t think that the many women who are at home from work watching the news would like to see what other women are doing in sport? I’m not asking for an entire segment, which I think is deserved, I’m simply looking for you to acknowledge  that a game had been played and another one was on the way. It take three seconds to say “And tomorrow night UCONN women’s basketball will take on the Orange from Syracuse in the National Title Game!” Is that too much to ask for? Seriously, so yes I blame the media for ignoring women’s sports. I mean if I heard one more time that the guys from Villanova and UNC were brothers! If I heard one more time that Villanova were in pursuit of their first NCAA basketball championship in 31 years. The media sure does know how to wear out a story in the men’s game but don’t even bother to mention anything about women! Who are these producers? Who are these anchors? What is their issue with women’s sports? How would they even know if casual fans were interested if they don’t even cover the stories?

Those responsible for the content of sports shows need to demand that women’s sports are covered and this includes local newscasts. No questions asked. Women are interested in what other women are doing in sports. Men are too. There is excitement in the successes of women in all sports and it should be celebrated not ignored. Women who play sports are not trying to mimic men, they are simply doing what they love and working hard to accomplish goals just like anyone else. We need to take a stand and demand that the media takes responsibility for their lack of coverage. It’s disrespectful, it’s rude and quite frankly it’s shameful! This is not only for the men involved in production. There are plenty of women in positions that can advocate for more exposure for women’s sports and they should be at the forefront. What if your daughter or sister, niece, or cousin wants to play sports? Don’t you want her to see people who look like her on television being successful? Don’t you want her to have positive role models to look up to? Give women the coverage they deserve and let society decide if they’re interested or not. Stop leaving it up to the old news producers in the back who still don’t know the WNBA is entering its 20th season!

Check out my blogpost as well to comment: http://sb.gg/131Id

Monique

ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END; Monique Currie

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boracay

Boracay, Phillipines


February 27, 2016

I’m sad to say that my team here in Korea will not be moving on to the playoffs this season. This is a huge disappointment to me because honestly I wanted to win the championship this year! This is my third season in Korea and the same team has won the championship for the last two years and are currently on track to win a third. I guess it wasn’t in the cards for me this season but as with anything I will certainly take away some positives and use this as another learning experience.  Korea is a great country and if you ever make your way to Asia be sure to swing by South Korea for a visit. You must try the different street foods, eat some Korean BBQ and drink some Soju. Peach flavor is my favorite. As I wrap up my 10th or 11th season overseas (I’ve lost count) I’m about about to do something I’ve never done before. Go on a vacation ALONE!

This side of the world is very far from home. Its a 14-hour flight from Washington D.C.! After my first season playing in Korea, some friends and I went on vacation to Thailand! It was one of the most amazing vacations I’ve ever been on! Last season, I didn’t go anywhere once the season ended and I told myself I wouldn’t let that happen again! To be on this side of the world and not make time to visit other south east Asian countries is a huge mistake! The chances of me flying back this way for a vacation are slim to none. I just can’t do that long of a flight. So the solution is, since I’m already here GO SOMEWHERE! At first I was going to go to Japan but after doing some online research the beach was calling my name and Boracay, Philippines is my destination of choice. I wanted to visit multiple countries but I’ll just be going to Boracay this time around. People often times miss out on trips and vacations because they don’t have anyone to go with or friends and family can’t coordinate schedules. I won’t let this deter me and for the first time I’m going on vacation all by myself. At first I was a little hesitant about the idea but after I clicked buy on Expedia the other day it was a done deal!

So soon I’ll be packing my things and heading to another country all by my lonesome. I’m really excited and looking forward to the trip. A lot of people have been very supportive and encouraging towards me. I’ve heard from a lot of people who have been on vacation alone and they all say it is an amazing experience! You’ll be on your own schedule. You can wake up and and go to bed when you want. Choose when and where you want to eat, where to hang out, what activities you want to do and not have to worry about anyone else but yourself. Of course I would rather not go on vacation alone but I think I will have an amazing time. I can use the time to reflect, rest and prepare myself for this upcoming WNBA season. Maybe it will be like going to the movies alone which I’ve only done once. I felt a little weird at first but once the movie started that’s all I was worried about. I will be sure to let you know how my vacation goes. The pictures of Boracay are amazing and I surely hope that I will return with a tan that you all will envy! Talk to you soon! Follow me on snapchat mocurrie25 to follow along!

-Monique

You Can’t Teach Passion

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February 18, 2016

I’ve always said this and I will continue to say this, there are two things that cannot be taught in sport. Those two things are, passion and effort and this goes across all sports, not just basketball. Either you have it, or you don’t. Either you want it, or you don’t and really its all up to you. It’s a personal decision, a commitment that you make to yourself, a deep desire to be a player that refuses to just get by but willing to do whatever it takes to be successful. I’m sure you’ve all heard the quote “Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.” Not sure who came up with this but they were on to something. Most notably, Kevin Durant referenced this as one of his favorite quotes.  If one of the best basketball players in the world who is naturally talented recognizes this why is this missed by way too many athletes these days. [Read more…]