The Phoenix Mercury were active yesterday in both making roster moves by day and beating Japan by night.
Elsewhere, there was plenty of media coverage of the Minnesota Lynx and Seattle Storm.
- Kristofer Habbas of SB Nation Arizona reported that the Phoenix Mercury released 2012 draft picks C'eira Ricketts and Christine Flores prior to last night's 102-73 win over the Japanese National Team. Read more >>>
- Habbas of SBN Arizona also mentioned that last night's game was an important one for the Mercury as they have to get the roster down to 10 players with the injured Penny Taylor holding one spot. With the point guard battle continuing after Ricketts' departure, Alexis Gray-Lawson came up big with 34 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists while rookie Samantha Prahalis had 7 points, 7 assists, and 4 turnovers. Read more >>>
- Jayda Evans of the Seattle Times offers more thoughts on the Svetlana Abrosimova situation in her mailbag on her blog. She quotes Abrosimova as saying, "...there is a big possibility I'll be back playing in WNBA this summer." Read more >>>
- Evans of the Seattle Times also turns her attention to Seattle Storm rookie Shekinna Stricklen, who is adjusting to the defensive demands of playing for head coach Brian Agler. Agler's defense is something that all newcomers can struggle to pick up, but particularly important for Stricklen in a Western Conference with talented wing players. Read more >>>
- Roman Augustoviz of the Minneapolis Star Tribune notes that Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said that on WNBA.com that 2011 Rookie of the Year Maya Moore was playing on sore knees much of last season. If that was "about 70 percent of her effectiveness", 100% effective could make her a nightmare for opponents to deal with. Read more >>>
- Augustoviz of the Star Tribune wrote at length about Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve's impressions of Devereaux Peters during training camp. In the article, Reeve reiterates that she likes Peters, the 3rd pick overall in the 2012 WNBA Draft, is comfortable in being a role player but also notes that she'll have to work on her shot in order to be successful in the league. Read more >>>
- Joan Niesen of Fox Sports North also wrote a piece on Peters and her newfound mentor Taj McWilliams-Franklin. While McWilliams-Franklin also notes the importance of Peters developing her offensive game, she also notes that one of the things that makes Peters so impressive is her ability to impact a game without scoring. Read more >>>
- Carla Peay of the Washington Times reports that Washington Mystics head coach Trudi Lacey is excited about her second season in D.C. After losing a number of close losses last season, Lacey is hoping that the off-season acquisition of veterans will help to change the outcomes of a few of those losses. Read more >>>
- Mike Brown of the Tulsa World reports that Temeka Johnson joined the Tulsa Shock's training camp yesterday just in time for media day. During the WNBA off-season, Johnson was named the best point guard in Russia. Read more >>>
- Bob Phillips of the Connecticut Sports Examiner observes that defense was the real star of the Connecticut Sun's preseason victory over the New York Liberty. The Sun defense forced 27 turnover that were turned into 38 points off turnovers. Read more >>>
- Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times also turned his attention to the Storm with a piece about Tina Thompson's experience in the early days of the WNBA and what being a part of its growth over the years has meant to her. Storm assistant coach Nancy Darsch echoed what so many others have said: nobody knew what to expect but she just hoped the league would be around for a while. Read more >>>
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