The talking ends tomorrow.

Geno Auriemma, who is obviously there and likely the most famous guy (or women) in the room, stopped to talk to Paul about [...]]]> If you haven’t already noticed, the Courant’s Paul Doyle is in Ponte Vedra, Fla., this week covering the inaugural meeting of the AAC coaches and athletic directors.

Geno Auriemma, who is obviously there and likely the most famous guy (or women) in the room, stopped to talk to Paul about the message he delivered to his his new fellow coaches.

The following was provided by the league:

If the WNBA’s general managers are accurate prognosticators, the Phoenix Mercury will be taking part in a parade in October. The Mercury, with No. 1 overall draft pick Brittney Griner in the fold,  collected 33 percent [...]]]> Here are the results of the annual survey taken of WNBA GMs.

The following was provided by the league:

If the WNBA’s general managers are accurate prognosticators, the Phoenix Mercury will be taking part in a parade in October. The Mercury, with No. 1 overall draft pick Brittney Griner in the fold,  collected 33 percent of the votes as the team most likely to win the WNBA Finals presented by Boost Mobile in the 11th annual WNBA.com GM Survey.  The defending Western Conference champion Minnesota Lynx, led by a quartet of All-Stars, was voted as the most fun team to watch (25 percent). These results marked a reversal from a year ago when 83 percent of GMs tabbed the Lynx as eventual champions and 55 percent had cited the Mercury as the most entertaining team.

    The complete results of the exclusive survey are posted on WNBA.com in advance of WNBA Tip-Off 2013 presented by Boost Mobile, when the defending champion Indiana Fever and reigning WNBA Finals MVP Tamika Catchings visit the San Antonio Silver Stars Friday, May 24 (8 p.m. ET).  Among the other key contests set for opening weekend are two nationally televised games on Monday, May 27 (Memorial Day), when the “3 to See” will be on full display. Coverage tips off on ESPN2 at 3 p.m. ET when Skylar Diggins and the Tulsa Shock host the Washington Mystics; that game will be followed by Griner and the Mercury hosting Elena Delle Donne’s Chicago Sky on ESPN2 at 5 p.m. ET. 

  The Sparks’ Candace Parker, the Fever’s Catchings, and the Mercury’s duo of Griner and Diana Taurasi figured prominently in a number of categories. Parker, who led all vote-getters as the choice for MVP (42 percent), also was selected as the player with the greatest hunger to win a championship in 2013 (30 percent). Now in her sixth WNBA season, Parker was the only player to receive votes as the best player at all three frontcourt positions, ranking as the No. 2 power forward (36 percent) and center (17 percent), and as the No. 3 small forward. Catchings, the league’s regular season MVP in 2011, was this year chosen by GMs as the best leader among players (67 percent), the toughest player (64 percent), the top power forward (46 percent), and the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year (42 percent).

  An overwhelming favorite to take home the Rookie of the Year honors (75 percent), Griner was voted as the player acquisition that will make the biggest impact (42 percent).  She also shared top honors in two categories with a pair of WNBA MVPs, Taurasi (2009) and Catchings (2011). Griner tied for the lead with Taurasi as the player who forces opposing coaches to make the most adjustments (25 percent apiece), and along with Catchings was viewed as the player a team would sign first if starting a franchise today (25  percent each).

  In the backcourt, the GMs saw Taurasi as the top shooting guard for the fifth straight year (50 percent), and Minnesota’s Lindsay Whalen was named the best point guard (67 percent). At the forward spots, the versatile Catchings (46 percent) was selected as the No. 1 power forward and shared the top spot among small forwards with Atlanta’s Angel McCoughtry (33 percent apiece). Connecticut’s Tina Charles captured the vote as the top center (67 percent) and also was selected as the league’s best rebounder (50 percent) and the player with the best post moves (58 percent).

  Ten players received votes as the league’s most underrated player, with Indiana’s Briann January and Washington’s Ivory Latta sharing the top honor (17 percent each).

  The New York Liberty’s Cappie Pondexter was deemed the best at creating her own shot (58 percent) and her crossover dribble was voted as the most effective individual offensive move (55 percent).

  The coaching category included a variety of winners. San Antonio’s Dan Hughes was selected as the coach that best develops young players (58 percent) and Indiana’s Lin Dunn was voted as the best manager/motivator (42 percent) and the coach who runs the best defense (33 percent).  Minnesota’s Cheryl Reeve was given the nod as the coach who runs the best offense (42 percent) and Washington’s Mike Thibault was considered to be the coach that makes the best in-game adjustments (33 percent).

  The Seattle Storm, despite preparing to play the season without injured All-Stars Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird (the player voted by GMs as the best leader in each of the past five surveys), came out on top in a pair of categories for a second straight year. Seattle was once again voted as the team with the best home court advantage (58 percent) and Storm head coach Brian Agler was named the best head coach in the last two minutes of a close game (50 percent).

  Additional leaders in the WNBA.com GM survey included:

• Tulsa Shock – team that will be most improved (33 percent), edging Washington and Phoenix (25 percent each)
• Lindsey Harding signing with Los Angeles – the most surprising move of the offseason (44 percent)
• Nicole Powell and Candace Wiggins each joining Tulsa – most underrated move of the offseason (20 percent apiece)
• Kara Lawson, Connecticut Sun – active player who would make the best head coach (42 percent)
• Toni Young, New York Liberty – most athletic rookie (42 percent)
• Tayler Hill, Washington Mystics – “sleeper” rookie most likely to be a success (25 percent)
• Stephanie White, Indiana Fever – the best assistant coach (33 percent)

  *Please note – GM Responses were tabulated prior to the May 16, 2013 announcement by the Tulsa Shock that Liz Cambage would be returning to the WNBA.*

  Walker, a 6-1 forward, is trying to win one of the two jobs still remaining on the Sun’s [...]]]> Tan White scored 12 points and free agent forward Ashley Walker scored 10 points with 11 rebounds Tuesday to help the Connecticut Sun to an 88-80 win over Minnesota in the Sun’s WNBA preseason finale.

  Walker, a 6-1 forward, is trying to win one of the two jobs still remaining on the Sun’s 11-player roster after being the last cut of Seattle, San Antonio and Washington in the last three seasons. She also led the Sun with 12 points in Saturday’s loss in New York.

  Allison Hightower added 10 points for the Sun (2-1) who open the 2013 season Saturday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena against the New York Liberty.

  Seimone Augustus led the Lynx with 15 points. Lindsay Whalen (14) and Maya Moore (13), the former UConn national player of the year, were right behind.

   Sun coach Anne Donovan must now cut her roster from 13 to 11 before Saturday. The other candidates did not fare as well as Walker on Tuesday.

   Latoya Williams, a 6-4 forward with no Division I experience, had just three points and one rebound.

   Guards Natasha Lacy (three points, three rebounds) and Johannah Leedham (six points) played almost identical minutes,

   The Sun kept 2012 MVP Tina Charles out of the game. And Kelly Faris, their first-round pick out of UConn, scored six first-half points on two three pointers in4:38, all in the first half

  “We are all saddened by the loss of life and [...]]]> In an effort to help those devastated by the recent tornadoes in Oklahoma, the Connecticut Sun will donate all proceeds from all tickets sold beginning May 21 to its home opener on May 25 against the New York Liberty to the American Red Cross.

  “We are all saddened by the loss of life and destruction in Oklahoma,” Sun vice president and general manager Chris Sienko said. “Through our small efforts we can hopefully bring some relief to those in desperate need of assistance.”

  Tickets to the game, which will be held at Mohegan Sun Arena at 7 p.m. on May 25, can be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster.com, WNBA.com/tickets, or by calling 1-877-WNBA-TIX.

  “The thoughts and prayers of the Mohegan Tribe and our employees are with all those affected by this horrific disaster,” said Mohegan Tribal Chairman Bruce “Two Dogs” Bozsum.

  The American Red Cross provides shelter, food, health and mental health services to help communities and families get back on their feet when disasters strike. For more information, visit redcross.org or call 1-800-Help-Now. Fancan also text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate directly.

What is the current attitude in the WNBA about this? Do coaches worry about how gay and straight players may [...]]]> Hearing what Brittney Griner said about how being gay allegedly made Baylor coach Kim Mulkey ask her to keep it a secret so recruiting and perception would not be impacted caused me to wonder something:

What is the current attitude in the WNBA about this? Do coaches worry about how gay and straight players may get along on the same team? Have they ever made a roster decision based on a player’s sexual preferences?

I had no clue whether I’d get a direct answer, let alone any answer at all. But ESPN’s Carolyn Peck, a former college and pro coach, Rebecca Lobo [you know who she is] and Bill Laimbeer, the former Detroit Pistons center who now coaches the New York Liberty offered what I thought we constructive honest answers during Monday’s WNBA Conference call:

Carolyn Peck:

“Well, from a coach’s perspective, the way that I look at it is players are players.  I think – this is my feeling – that the media really puts more of an interest on the homosexuality or heterosexuality, the sexuality of the player than the players do.  The player steps out on the court in a uniform, they pick up the basketball and they play the game.

  “What people do in their personal lives I actually have no interest in.  What I am interested in when it comes to college basketball, the WNBA, is the performance of the players and what they do on the court.

   “And as a coach, that was my emphasis.  When I was in the WNBA, we worked.  They have a job to do.  They come and do the job, whether it’s to defend, run the screen and roll, shoot the three, play a one three one, play a zone, play a match?up, play a man to man, and that’s what we coach the players to do.”

      Rebecca Lobo:

    “The players don’t care.  The players in the WNBA don’t care what their teammate’s sexual orientation is.  And usually women in the WNBA, because they’re no longer 17, 18 years old, are women.  They’re comfortable and so most of them are very open about who they are.  They’ll introduce you to their boyfriend; they’ll introduce you to their girlfriend; because they know there are no judgments being made.

 ”You’re always going to have teammates that you like and teammates that you don’t, but it’s never based on their sexual orientation. I think because these women are at a different place in their lives and more mature, more comfortable with who they are, it’s not really talked about, but it’s not hidden in any way.  People are just really comfortable with who they are.  It’s really actually a nice environment to be in to be honest with you.”

   I followed this up by asking Rebecca why women seem to deal with this issue so much more gracefully than the men do like with the Jason Collins situation.  It strikes me that they’re all adults.  Why is it such a big deal in the NBA and why do the women in the WNBA seem to handle it with a much more aplomb and sensibility?

    “Because women handle everything with more aplomb and sensibility,” Lobo said. “We’re just better (laughing). No, what’s interesting to me is when you play a professional women’s sport, whatever it is, when you play a men’s professional sport, you’re assumed to be straight; and when you play a women’s professional sport, you’re assumed to be gay by people on the outside, for whatever reason.

      “But I think the women…maybe there isn’t the same stigma that goes with it on the women’s side, I don’t know.  But women don’t, in my experience, women are very comfortable being who they are and handle it exceptionally well.  I think Brittney Griner is just another one of those.”

As for Laimbeer, one of the most honest and outspoken coaches in the WNBA .

 ”“I put together teams of the greatest basketball players I can get my hands on.  This is basketball.  This is what this is.  I want ballers that show up on the floor and come with hard?nosed players and take no mercy and expect no mercy.  

         “In terms of the men’s game, well, times change.  They always evolve and move on.  In the women’s sport, it’s never been any big deal.  It is what it is and everybody plays basketball.  The men are a bit different.  This is the first time coming around.  It was going to happen sooner or later.  People say this is who I am.

     “So in five years from now [sexual prejudice] will be nothing.  It’s just the way it all evolves.  I think it’s going to happen in the NBA to some degree.  The marketing there is very large and huge, so I think some players still may feel a little inhibited, but it will come around.”

   Breanna Stewart, the Most Outstanding Player of the 2013 Final Four, forward Morgan Tuck and guard Moriah Jefferson, all sophomores next season, made the 12-player FIBA U19 roster [...]]]> UConn’s national championship women’s basketball championship program placed all five players invited to compete for spots on two USA Basketball teams competing internationally forthis summer.

   Breanna Stewart, the Most Outstanding Player of the 2013 Final Four, forward Morgan Tuck and guard Moriah Jefferson, all sophomores next season, made the 12-player FIBA U19 roster that will be coached by Miami’s Katie Meier.

  And Bria Hartley and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis will play for the World University Games team coached by Oklahoma’s Sherri Coale.

  The 2013 World University Games will be held July 8-15 in Kazan, Russia. The United States has won four straight gold medals in the U19 event, which will be held from July 18-28 in Lithuania.

   Hartley, Mosqueda-Lewis, Stewart, Tuck and Jefferson were among 66 players invited to try out for the teams, selected by a committee chaired by UT Chattanooga coach Jim Foster.

   Connecticut Sun guard Kara Lawson was also on the selection panel and she spoke to the candidates on Friday at the training center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

  “I told them I was familiar with where they are, having tried out for USA Basketball teams in high school and college,” Lawson said Saturday. “I understand the various emotions going on inside them.”

   Stewart, Tuck and Alexis Jones of Duke all played for the 2011 U19 team. They are the only players in the history of USA Basketball ever to repeat on the team.

  “I’m going to lean on them.” Meier said. “They have experienced the [FIBA] U19 World Championship, and I have not. I’m going to really pick their brains and have them speak to the team about the experience, the pressure and the choices that you make while you’re out there.”

   Stewart told USA Basketball that she is looking forward to play a new role on this team.

   “It’s funny how my role is changing, because this is my second U19 team,” Stewart said.  “Last time I was one of the younger ones. This time I’m one of the older ones, and it’s weird. But, I have to be a leader because I’ve been in these situations before and some people haven’t. I have to help show them the ropes.”

   Also making the team were Penn State’s Candice Agee, Tennessee’s Bashaara Graves, Linnae Harper of Whitney Young High in Chicago, Brianna Turner of Manvel High in Pearland, Texas, Nia Coffey of Hopkins High in Minneapolis, Gabby Green of St. Mary’s College High in Oakland, Kelsey Plum of La Jolla Country Day in Poway, Calif., and A’ja Wilson of Heathwood Hall High in Hopkins, S.C.

   Turner and Wilson are among the players UConn is interested in adding to its Class of 2014 which already includes guards Sadie Edwards, Courtney Ekmark and Gabby Williams.

  Tuck, who has already won three gold medals playing for USA Basketball, said she loves the idea of playing for her country.

  “It’s a great feeling. It makes you feel like you’re the best in the world. When I get up there, I think of the pictures of the Olympic team when they’re on the podium, and that’s my dream one day. I feel like I’m slowly getting closer,” Tuck said. “I just love coming back. You get to play with the best players in the country. You play with people at school and your same team, but to come out in the summer, get together, practice a little bit and then go play, it’s a great feeling.”

  Joining Hartley and Mosqueda-Lewis on the World University team are Tennessee’s Ariel Massengale, Cal’s ReShanda Gray, USC’s Cassie Harberts, LSU’s Theresa Plaisance, Baylor’s Odyssey Sims, Aaryn Ellenberg of Oklahoma, Crystal Bradford of Central Michigan, Tricia Liston of Duke, Shonni Schimmel of Louisville and Jordan Hooper of Nebraska.

“I was a little nervous,” Hartley said. “Even though I have made the team before, you don’t want to come in here thinking, ‘Oh, I’m definitely going to make the team.’ You have to stay humble, but you also want to be confident, thinking you could possibly make the team. You have to come out and play basketball the way you know how to.”

  Mosqueda-Lewis, who along with Stefanie Dolson were WBCA All-Americans this season, said she really didn’t shoot well during tryouts. She set a school single-season record with 118 three-pointers last season.

Breanna Stewart
This is your sixth USA Basketball team, what keeps you motivated to keep coming back?
USA Basketball is the best [...]]]> Here is what Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jefferson said to USA Basketball on Sunday about being selected to play for the u19 FIBA World Championship team this summer:

Breanna Stewart
This is your sixth USA Basketball team, what keeps you motivated to keep coming back?
USA Basketball is the best thing about my summer. That’s what I look forward to, creating new experiences with new people. Sometimes they’re with the same people, but it’s just really fun. And I enjoy going for the gold medal.

At the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship you were one of the youngest players on the team. How will your role change with this team?
It’s funny how my role is changing, because this is my second U19 team. Last time I was one of the younger ones. This time I’m one of the older ones, and it’s weird. But, I have to be a leader because I’ve been in these situations before and some people haven’t. I have to help show them the ropes.

What does it mean for you to represent your country in this manner?
It’s an honor. I appreciate everything USA Basketball has done for me in letting me keep coming back to try out again and again, and continuing to go for gold medals. I don’t think there’s anything else you can ask for.

What can you teach some of the younger players about USA Basketball, both on and off the court?
USA Basketball on the court, obviously you’re going to go out, you’re going to play your heart out, you’re going to leave everything on the court because this is 12 people who are considered at the top of high school and college basketball for their age group. Teams are coming after us, and they want to beat us. We have to know that every team’s going to play us the best they can, and we need to just keep our composure.

Off the court, you really have to represent the United States and show people in other countries who we are, create our own image of ourselves. We need to try to change their minds about the United States in a positive way.

Morgan Tuck
How does it feel to be returning to USA Basketball for another chance at a gold medal?
It feels really great. Every time just gets better and better. We have a different group. We have a couple I’ve played with before with USA Basketball, but I think it’s more exciting because we have a lot of new people on this team.

At the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship you were one of the youngest players on the team. How will your role change with this team?
Definitely being more of a leader. When I was on the team the last time I just tried to fit in and try to make my mark. Now I need to take more of a leadership role and try to make sure that the younger players who haven’t been here before understand the international game and they feel comfortable with it.

What can you contribute to this team?
I think I can help with the low post presence. We are a really big team and I’m the smallest post, but I feel that I can use my physicalness around the basket. I think I can be a good leader out on the court.

You already have three gold medals in international competition. Can you describe the feeling of winning a gold medal and why it keeps you coming back for more?
It’s a great feeling. It makes you feel like you’re the best in the world. When I get up there, I think of the pictures of the Olympic team when they’re on the podium, and that’s my dream one day. I feel like I’m slowly getting closer. I just love coming back. You get to play with the best players in the country. You play with people at school and your same team, but to come out in the summer, get together, practice a little bit and then go play, it’s a great feeling.

Moriah Jefferson
How did you feel when you heard your name called for making the USA U19 Team?
Coming out here, you’re playing with a bunch of great people and everybody is doing their best and going their hardest and you never really know until the last second when they call your name.

You’re on the U19 team that includes the coaches and five players from last year’s U18 team, how is that going to be helpful this year?
It will help a lot because we already know what coach (USA U19 head coach Kate Meier) expects and we know a lot of the plays, so we can help the younger guys, and the people that just came in we can show what it is like to be on this team.

What is your role going to be on this team, what can you bring to this year’s team?
Leadership, point guard experience and trying to get everybody into their position. And also defense, that’s one of the main things I take pride in, so I can come out and try to push the tempo a little bit with my defense.

What is it that brings you back to USA Basketball each summer?
I just love it. You come out here and get a lot of great experience, you get in shape with the altitude, you meet a lot of great people and that’s just the basketball part of it and you want to represent your country, but outside of that you meet a lot of great people and have a great time while you’re here.

Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jefferson, who [...]]]> Although the official announcement is due later today, tweets coming from the site of USA Basketball’s training site in Colorado Springs are indicating that UConn has gone five for five in placing players on the U19 and World University Games teams that will play this summer.

Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jefferson, who all will be sophomores next season, have made the FIBA U19 team as has high school junior A’ka Wilson, one of UConn’s top recruits for the Class of 2014.

And Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and Bria Hartley are among the 12 selected to the World University Games team after a three-day training camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The World University Games will be held in Kazan, Russia from July 6-17 . Lithuania will host the U19 World Championships from July 18-28.

Both teams are out there trying out [...]]]> Sun guard Kara Lawson, who played for the 2008 Olympic team was in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Friday  as a member of the 2013-16 USA Basketball Women’s Junior National Team Committee that will be selecting both the 2013 USA U19 World Championship and USA World University Games teams.

Both teams are out there trying out for this summer’s teams. That includes five UConn players – Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jefferson are competing for U19 spots. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and Bria Hartley are contestants for the World University Games team.

Before leaving for this afternoon’s preseason game against the New York Liberty in Newark, Lawson she talked to the U19 trials participants about what it means to represent USA Basketball and what they need to do during trials in order to make a team

“I told them I was familiar with where they are, having tried out for USA Basketball teams in high school and college,” Lawson said Saturday. “I understand the various emotions going on inside them.

 “Obviously, I’ve also had the opportunity to make [national] teams. I explained to them what those teams were like to play on. I realize there were a lot of players there [in U19 camp] that have played [nationally] before. But there are many that haven’t. I just tried to offer them my perspective of what it means to play USA Basketball and what the atmosphere was like on those teams that were successful.”

Those who make the team will be announced on Sunday morning.

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