A quick look at the media coverage of the WNBA this morning gives us a good mix of game-related news, factors that might go into roster decisions, and a bit of a history lesson from Jayda Evans.
- The San Antonio Express-News recapped the Indiana Fever's 78-69 win over the San Antonio Silver Stars, a preseason sweep for the Fever. Silver Stars rookie Shenise Johnson had a team-high 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting. There is still no boxscore available for their first game. Read more >>>
- Kristopher Habbas of SB Nation Arizona provided a summary of the roster implications from the Phoenix Mercury's 100-73 win over the Japanese National Team on Tuesday night, noting that "everyone had a good game, but it could have been a lot better." Habbas writes that rookie point guard Samantha Prahalis, the #6 pick in the 2012 WNBA Draft, experienced a few rookie jitters in her first time on the court in a WNBA uniform. Read more >>>
- Michelle Smith of espnW reports that the Washington Mystics were interested in Ashley Walker because head coach Trudi Lacey, "wanted somebody with a multiple skill set who could play face-up, at the high post, hit the 3-point shot." Walker is taking her fourth shot at making a WNBA roster since being drafted in 2009 and, similar to other undersized college forwards, has had to hone her perimeter skills to improve her chances of contributing to a WNBA roster. Read more >>>
- Mark Rosen of CBS Minnesota essentially confirmed what many people probably assumed after the 2012 WNBA Draft: Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve has four players slated ahead of #3 pick Devereaux Peters, meaning that they'll be bringing the Notre Dame grad along slowly as a "player in waiting." Read more >>>
- Marc Allard of the Norwich Bulletin reports that the Connecticut Sun have waived Jessica Breland and Stefanie Murphy to bring their roster to 13 players. With Mistie Bass signed to a guaranteed contract, that leaves Dawn Evans, 2012 second round draft pick Chay Shegog and Sidney Spencer competing for the final spot. Allard also takes an extensive look at the experience of WNBA playing overseas during the offseason. Read more >>>
- Katie Kosciolek of CBS Atlanta reported that the Atlanta Dream waived four players: Romina Ciappea, Brittany Johnson, Chelsea Regins and Aishah Sutherland. That technically brings the Dream's roster to 13 but Erika de Souza will be absent until after the Olympic break. Read more >>>
- Jayda Evans of the Seattle Times reports that Seattle Storm coach Brian Agler plans to carry 10 players prior to the Olympic break in order to hold a roster spot for Lauren Jackson, who will be training with Australia prior to the break. Nevertheless, Agler is still considering adding Svetlana Abrosimova. Read more >>>
- The New York Liberty tweeted that first round draft pick Kelley Cain reported to training camp from Turkey yesterday.
- Nicholas Saul of the Pasadena City College Courier recaps the Los Angeles Sparks' 98-71 win over the Chinese National Team this past weekend. Sparks forward Candace Parker was shocked at how athletic Nneka Ogwumike looked in recording game-highs of 20 points and 11 rebounds. Read more >>>
- Ladyswish interviewed former VCU Rams center Quanitra Hollingsworth about her plans to represent Turkey in the 2012 Olympics after signing with Russian powerhouse UMMC for next season. Hollingsworth suggests that she will be back in the WNBA after the Olympics. Read more >>>
- Marc Allard of the Norwich Bulletin writes that this is a contract year for Connecticut Sun guard Kara Lawson but head coach Mike Thibault said the team has already offered her a contract extension. Thibault says that Lawson is in the best shape since she's been in Connecticut. Read more >>>
- Carla Peay of the Washington Times writes that Mystics coach Trudi Lacey felt that mental toughness was lacking during last year's 6-28 season and the team's Navy S.E.A.L. training was an exercise in building that up. Communication was one of the common themes that players seemed to gain from the training. Read more >>>
- Jayda Evans of the Seattle Times looks back over the history of women's basketball, adding the perspective of someone who came around to the women's game after he "got older and matured": former University of Washington and NBA star Brandon Roy. Roy grew up in Seattle watching Sheila Lambert and hearing stories about Joyce Walker. Read more >>>
Got links? Feel free to leave the ones we missed in the comments while discussing the ones above.