Swish Appeal - 2013 WNBA Finals: Minnesota Lynx sweep the Atlanta Dream to win second titleBasketball is basketball.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49391/swish-fave.png2013-11-12T11:33:20-05:00http://www.swishappeal.com/rss/stream/45486652013-11-12T11:33:20-05:002013-11-12T11:33:20-05:00WNBA viewership numbers looking good on ESPN
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Three new rookies helped the WNBA firm up its viewing numbers at ESPN. The WNBA averaged more viewers per regular season game than Major League Soccer.</p> <p>A new article from <a href="http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2013/11/11/Media/By-The-Numbers.aspx" target="_blank">John Ourand and Austin Karp over at Sports Business Daily</a> gives us some viewing numbers for the 2013 WNBA season.<br><br><b>* The average regular season WNBA game (ESPN2) was viewed by 231,000 viewers.<br>* The average WNBA Finals game (ESPN2) was viewed by 344,000 viewers.</b><br><br><br>Some comparisons to other numbers:<br><br><b>* NCAA women's basketball (ESPN2) games (prime time and afternoon) have an average 289,000 viewers.<br>* Major League Soccer regular season games (ESPN/ESPN2) have an average of 220,000 viewers.</b><br><br>The growth in viewership numbers - 2012 was an all-time low with average numbers of 180,000 viewers - is attributed to the rookie stars of Skylar Diggins, Elena Delle Donne and Brittney Griner. <br><br>The article also gives the top three and bottom three viewed games for 2013.<br><br><b>Top 3</b><br><br>1. Chicago at Phoenix, 27 May 2013: 455,000 viewers.<br>2. Washington at Tulsa, 27 May 2013: 314,000 viewers.<br>3. Los Angeles at Seattle, 20 August 2013: 281,000 viewers.<br><b><br>Bottom 3</b><br><br>1. Seattle at Phoenix, 6 August 2013: 145,000 viewers.<br>2. Indiana at Minnesota, 24 August 2013: 155,000 viewers.<br>3. New York at Indiana, 23 July 2013: 173,000 viewers.<br><br></p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2013/11/12/5095748/wnba-viewing-numbers-looking-good-on-espnJames Bowman2013-10-31T12:00:08-04:002013-10-31T12:00:08-04:00Video: Rep. Keith Ellison congratulates Lynx
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<figcaption>Kevin C. Cox</figcaption>
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<p>Rep. Keith Ellison took to the U.S. House floor yesterday to congratulate the Minnesota Lynx on winning the 2013 WNBA Finals, their second championship in three years.</p> <blockquote align="center" class="twitter-tweet"> <p>I'm headed to the floor of the House now to congratulate the <a href="https://twitter.com/minnesotalynx">@minnesotalynx</a> on the 2013 WNBA Championship <a href="http://t.co/pxNK0d4HsI">http://t.co/pxNK0d4HsI</a></p>— Rep. Keith Ellison (@keithellison) <a href="https://twitter.com/keithellison/statuses/395581813566881793">October 30, 2013</a> </blockquote>
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<p>Perhaps you can guess my favorite part of Rep. Keith Ellison's (D-MN) statement on the U.S. House floor yesterday to congratulate the Minnesota Lynx:</p>
<p>"I'm proud of the Minnesota Lynx, but I'm even more proud of Title IX - (in) 1973, this country came to make sure of equality for women in education and that includes sports. And the result is women in athletics that are amazing and entertaining."</p>
<p><em>For more on the Lynx's second title in three years, check out </em><a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/9/29/4784624/wnba-finals-2013-minnesota-lynx-vs-atlanta-dream-preview-schedule"><em>our 2013 WNBA Finals storystream</em></a><em>.</em></p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2013/10/31/5049862/video-keith-ellison-congratulates-minnesota-lynx-2013-wnba-championshipNate P2013-10-24T08:00:04-04:002013-10-24T08:00:04-04:00What can the Dream learn from the 2013 Finals?
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<figcaption>Greg Smith-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Two weeks ago, the Atlanta Dream were swept out of the WNBA Finals for a third time in four years. Last week, they decided to move in a different direction by severing ties to a coach who has been with the team since the beginning. So what can we learn about them from their performance against the Minnesota Lynx?</p> <p>It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between "good defense" and "poor shot selection".</p>
<p>It was a theme that came up <a target="_blank" href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/10/1/4788632/wnba-playoffs-2013-minnesota-lynx-sweep-phoenix-mercury/in/4529053">briefly during the Western Conference Finals</a>: when the characteristically free-wheeling Phoenix Mercury shot just 4-for-39 from the 3-point line, things certainly got to a point where the "39" part of that equation was just as relevant to analysis as the "4". Yes, the Minnesota Lynx's defense that completely shut down the pick and roll that had been working so well contributed to the Mercury camping out beyond the arc, but shots that the Mercury have lived on for the past 5-6 years also just weren't falling (and forward DeWanna Bonner's shot selection is still difficult to understand). It's not a simple either/or - it's a bit of both, with the defense and offense able to claim some responsibility for that outcome.</p>
<p>But we saw a similar theme in the WNBA Finals: the Atlanta Dream shot terribly throughout the series and, once again, some measure of agency over their own shot selection had to be accounted for.</p>
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<b>More</b>: <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/9/29/4784624/wnba-finals-2013-minnesota-lynx-vs-atlanta-dream-preview-schedule" target="new">WNBA Finals storystream</a> <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/10/19/4854542/wnba-atlanta-dream-offseason-2013-14" target="new">Atlanta Dream offseason storystream</a>
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<h4>Key player: Monica Wright's defense on Angel McCoughtry</h4>
<p>One reason for the Dream's struggles that wasn't very difficult to notice was was Angel McCoughtry's 15-for-56 (26.78%) shooting during the three-game series.</p>
<p>The Lynx defense certainly deserves some credit for that: about a quarter of those shots were defended by forwards Rebekkah Brunson or Devereaux Peters - either on help rotations or on switches - and they did a much better job than one might expect given their positions. More impressive was Monica Wright's defense: she ended up defending the lion share of those 56 shots and McCoughtry shot just 5-for-20 with Wright guarding her.</p>
<p>However, that's also one example where it's difficult to tell whether it's decision-making or defense that's influencing outcomes. On the one hand, McCoughtry seemed extremely reluctant to drive on Wright - she often took quick, long jumpers taking a dribble or less, which could either be a sign of lacking confidence in getting by her or simply feeling the pressure to score for her team. McCoughtry didn't really even try to drive on Wright until the second quarter of Game 3.</p>
<p>On the other hand, McCoughtry missed a number of shots that she we're accustomed to seeing her make, whether guarded by Wright or anyone else. She missed a few layups short, open jumpers, and probably had a legitimate case to believe she was fouled on a few others. As much as we could attribute McCoughtry's poor shooting to Lynx defense, part of it was a matter of McCoughtry having off games and it wasn't the first time she's had a bad string of three games even in 2013.</p>
<p>But there's little mistaking that McCoughtry's struggles as a volume scorer contributed greatly to the team's struggles overall.</p>
<h4>Key statistic: Atlanta's scoring efficiency</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Screen_shot_2013-10-21_at_11" class="photo" src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/3430579/Screen_Shot_2013-10-21_at_11.52.55_AM_medium.png"><br><i>Four Factors for Game 1-3 of the 2013 WNBA Finals. </i></p>
<p>For context, it might help to know that the lowest shooting efficiency in the league this year belonged to the last place Connecticut Sun (10-24) who finished their regular season with <a target="_blank" href="http://www.edbemiss.com/index.php?option=com_ffact&ids=1,2&lang=en">an effective field goal percentage of 43%</a>. Over three games, the Dream were below that even after a somewhat surprising 9-for-17 3-point shooting effort in Game 3.</p>
<p>We could probably point to a number of reasons for the Dream's poor shooting, not the least of which being the Lynx's ability to prevent transition scoring opportunities. But one that probably didn't get enough attention was the battle in the point, which had to be considered a key matchup going in given how good Erika de Souza has been as a scorer this season.</p>
<h4>Key matchup: Post defense or poor post offense?</h4>
<p>There is one huge key to stopping the 6-foot-5 de Souza from scoring: preventing her from establishing herself in the paint. The championship series was like a case study to prove the value of that: in plain terms, de Souza was deadly against the Lynx when she caught the ball in the lower half of the paint.</p>
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<p><b>Made</b></p>
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<p>12</p>
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<p>16</p>
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<p align="center"><i>Erika de Souza's shooting distribution in the 2013 WNBA Finals. </i></p>
<p>When de Souza caught the ball in the lower half of the paint she shot 75%; when she caught the ball anywhere outside of that lower half of the paint, she was just 18.18%.</p>
<p>The key thing to note is that we're not talking about the location of <i>the shot</i> with those numbers above: in a few cases, when she caught the ball outside of that lower box, she made a move to get a shot at the rim. The important thing was that if de Souza was catching the ball outside the paint, she had to work to get a basket and Lynx center Janel McCarville deserves ample credit for getting that done.</p>
<p align="center"><img alt="Screen_shot_2013-10-21_at_12" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/3431057/Screen_Shot_2013-10-21_at_12.54.23_PM_medium.png"><br><i>Figure 1: Erika de Souza establishing position on Janel McCarville before a missed shot in Game 3.</i></p>
<p>In the play above, for example, de Souza did catch the ball and drive to the middle of the paint to get her shot off. However, she pounded her bank shot off the rim and out, which represents why it's so important to push her away from the basket - de Souza is not what you'd consider a finesse player and when forced to work for her shot she took a number of off-balance shots or shots with too much force.</p>
<p>In addition to just pushing de Souza away from the basket, McCarville should also be credited for creating tough passing angles for the Dream's perimeter players.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Screen_shot_2013-10-21_at_12" class="photo" src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/3439885/Screen_Shot_2013-10-21_at_12.28.42_PM_medium.png"><br><i>Figure 2: Janel McCarville denying Erika de Souza the ball in Game 1.</i></p>
<p>In both Figures 1 & 2, you see that McCarville created a really tough angle for the pass - the only way for a ball handler to get the ball to de Souza in either case was a lob over McCarville's hand, which would give time for help to rotate over and force a difficult shot. That's especially relevant in Figure 2, where you see that de Souza did in fact establish position in the block, but a pass would've been difficult with Maya Moore jumping into Tiffany Hayes' sight line (not textbook defense) and McCarville denying the high side pass.</p>
<p>Of course, after a ball rotation de Souza eventually found herself in a better spot and scored on that very possession in Game 1.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Screen_shot_2013-10-21_at_12" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3439941/Screen_Shot_2013-10-21_at_12.31.49_PM_medium.png"><br><i>Figure 3: Erika de Souza establishing low post position on Janel McCarville in Game 1 before making a short jumper.</i></p>
<p>Figure 3 is where de Souza is deadliest: she has McCarville on her back and a foot in the restricted area with little opportunity for the Lynx to rotate and stop a shot.</p>
<p>Yet even the fact that Figures 2 & 3 occurred on the same possession represents what McCarville did very well throughout the series: before Figure 2, de Souza showed frustration about not getting the ball after beating McCarville down the court in transition. Then she moved to her position in Figure 2 without getting the ball. Then she finally got a pass in her direction with 10 seconds left on the shot clock.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, the other side of this story is that the Dream weren't consistent in their efforts to rotate the ball and run sets to help de Souza get open. When they did, good things happened.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Screen_shot_2013-10-21_at_12" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/3440085/Screen_Shot_2013-10-21_at_12.57.26_PM_medium.png"><br><i>Figure 4: Erika de Souza establishing position on Rebekkah Brunson before making a layup in Game 3.</i></p>
<p>Whereas Figure 3 resulted in a short jumper, Figure 4 resulted in an uncontested layup for de Souza, which is the ideal. In both situations, the Dream had to rotate the ball a bit to force the Lynx into a position where help was difficult. In Figure 4, de Souza did most of the work herself, sprinting to the block before pinning Rebekkah Brunson early in the possession in a position where help couldn't rotate before de Souza was at the rim with the ball.</p>
<p>The biggest problem for the Dream was that they just weren't always able to hit de Souza when she was open.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Screen_shot_2013-10-21_at_12" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/3440461/Screen_Shot_2013-10-21_at_12.43.31_PM_medium.png"><br><i>Figure 5: Erika de Souza posting up Janel McCarville before a missed shot in Game 2. </i></p>
<p>This is actually a very similar situation to Figure 4: de Souza has her defender pinned and there's no backside help (although Moore has ignored Armintie Herrington to sprint to de Souza). A sharp pass to her hand could have resulted in a look right at the rim. However, Thomas put a bit too much air under her pass and threw it a bit too far, which made it a tough pass to handle and ultimately resulted in an off-balance shot falling away.</p>
<p>And that does speak to part of the problem that became obvious as de Souza continued to look visibly frustrated with her teammates making poor passes or failing to see her when she was open (Figure 5 being no exception): not to take anything away from the Lynx's defense, but the Dream did a poor job as a unit getting her the ball.</p>
<p>Even the situation they were in during Figure 5 began with Angel McCoughtry setting a screen on McCarville to create the separation that de Souza needed to establish position on her. And that was a pattern seen during many of de Souza's scoring possessions: a combination of back screens and ball movement that allowed de Souza to get the low post position she needed to be most effective. That's not necessarily to say de Souza should generally be a larger part of Atlanta's offense, but moreso that when a team is shooting as poorly as Atlanta was it would make sense to milk the most efficient option on the floor.</p>
<p>But let's entertain the idea that the Dream should in fact consider re-orienting their offense around post scoring.</p>
<h4>What might a new direction for the Dream look like?</h4>
<p>Without saying that the 31-year-old de Souza should become the focal point of the Dream's offense, it's not at all unreasonable to say she <i>could be </i>a larger part of their offense with some more creative offensive sets (e.g. looking to get the ball to de Souza on the move, using screens to help her get position early in the offense). What the Lynx series demonstrated - to those that haven't watched the Dream closely all season - is that she can be a deadly offensive threat when she can leverage her size and strength to get low position and score immediately after the catch. Pushing her away from the basket - even beyond five feet - makes her a much less efficient scorer.</p>
<p>But re-watching de Souza and the Dream in the Finals did make me wonder what they could learn from other post-oriented teams from the past, not only in terms of strategy but also personnel. And with that, <a target="_blank" href="http://freedarko.blogspot.com/2010/10/dream-week-waking-up-past.html">the old comparison between the 2009-10 Orlando Magic and 1994-95 Houston Rockets </a>came to mind.</p>
<p>As Eddy Rivera of True Hoop's Magic Basketball has summarized, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.magicbasketball.net/2010/10/19/the-1995-houston-rockets-a-template-for-a-championship/">that NBA comparison isn't exactly perfect</a>: the Rockets ran a true 4-out/1-in offense and relied upon Hakeem Olajuwon to do the rest with his array of low post moves. So for starters, let's just agree that 08-09 Howard was no Olajuwon. Nevertheless, the principles we can learn from that comparison could help in thinking about what pieces the Dream need to add this offseason as they consider moving in a different direction.</p>
<p>Long story short, de Souza is not Howard who is not Olajuwon. But the principles of how a post-oriented offense can be effective are similar and the Dream clearly lack one key ingredient in their post offense: 3-point shooters around the perimeter, including point guard.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Screen_shot_2013-10-21_at_1" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3441515/Screen_Shot_2013-10-21_at_1.06.14_PM_medium.png"><br><i>Figure 6: Erika de Souza posting up during Game 3.</i></p>
<p>We see the problem with not having 3-point threats on the floor on this possession late in Game 3: de Souza does have strong post position on Brunson, but both Moore and Devereaux Peters are sagging way off of their assignments to narrow the passing lane. de Souza did eventually get the ball, but it resulted in a fade away jumper.</p>
<p>If you look across all of the possessions above, the pattern holds: the Lynx were sagging way off of the Dream's perimeter players, who are not considered deadly 3-point shooters. Not only does that clog up the post for de Souza to go to work, but it also shuts down driving lanes for McCoughtry.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Screen_shot_2013-10-23_at_9" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3447969/Screen_Shot_2013-10-23_at_9.31.30_PM_medium.png"><br><i>Figure 7: Angel McCoughtry playing for a last shot at the end of the first quarter during Game 1.</i></p>
<p>Obviously everyone in the world knew what was going to happen in Figure 7: Angel McCoughtry was going to take this shot. And with no place to go, she ended up taking a long two point jumper.</p>
<p>Yet the point is that this isn't all that dissimilar from how teams - even beyond Minnesota or the Finals - played the Dream all season; it's not only that the Dream don't get the efficiency benefit of hitting the 3-point shot, but also that their lack of shooting prowess can compromise the talents of de Souza and McCoughtry for long stretches of time.</p>
<p>Obviously, it's weird to pick apart a team that has made the Finals in three of the last four years - we can debate whether Fred Williams deserved another shot or how much injuries across the Eastern Conference might have helped them return to the Finals this year. But if they want to get over the hump of beating the league's elite in the Finals, they have to find a way to maximize the strengths of both McCoughtry <i>and</i> de Souza with more dynamic offensive sets and more shooters - having players on the floor who can't knock down shots seriously bogs down their offense.</p>
<p>The healthy return of Sancho Lyttle would help in a number of ways on both ends of the floor. Tiffany Hayes is coming into her own as a threat off the dribble and a solid 3-point shooter. But otherwise, it's worth the risk of trying to shake the rest of the roster up a bit to enable a more consistent post offense to help the team be more resilient in the face of defenses looking to exploit weaknesses.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Dream-Lynx series, check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/9/29/4784624/wnba-finals-2013-minnesota-lynx-vs-atlanta-dream-preview-schedule">our 2013 WNBA Finals storystream</a>.</i></p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2013/10/24/4831520/wnba-finals-2013-atlanta-dream-minnesota-lynxNate P2013-10-16T08:00:06-04:002013-10-16T08:00:06-04:00Links: Celebrating the Lynx, bemoaning pinkwashing
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<figcaption>The Minnesota Lynx were honored during a pre-game ceremony at Sunday's Minnesota Vikings game. | Hannah Foslien</figcaption>
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<p>Links from around the women's basketball world and a brief link-infused commentary on pinkwashing during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. </p> <p>We have now entered that sort of slow period between the end of the WNBA season and the beginning of the NCAA season so these links post will probably start coming on a weekly basis. But do know that we're keeping up with the news.</p>
<p>Without further ado, a quick whip around women's basketball - and the "pinkwashing" that occurs during October - follows.</p>
<h4>Celebrating the Minnesota Lynx</h4>
<p>We've been keeping up with the Lynx in <a target="_blank" href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/9/29/4784624/wnba-finals-2013-minnesota-lynx-vs-atlanta-dream-preview-schedule">our 2013 WNBA Finals storystream</a>, but there were a few articles following their parade in Minneapolis on Monday that are worth checking out.</p>
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<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://kstp.com/news/stories/S3190787.shtml?cat=1">Jennie Olsen of KSTP</a> posted video of Monday's festivities.</li>
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<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/home/Gov-Dayton-proclaims-today-Minnesota-Lynx-Day-227688971.html">Krista Burns of Northland's NewsCenter </a>reported that Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton declared October 14th "Minnesota Lynx Day". If they continue to win titles, that day will be much easier to celebrate. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/home/Gov-Dayton-proclaims-today-Minnesota-Lynx-Day-227688971.html">Read more >>></a> </li>
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<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/23687720/minnesota-lynx-celebrate-wnba-title-with-parade">Jon Krawczynski of the AP </a>wrote about the Lynx players' thoughts on all the dynasty talk going around. Of course, they've been on Dynasty Watch for a while now around here. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/23687720/minnesota-lynx-celebrate-wnba-title-with-parade">Read more >>></a> </li>
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<li>In case you weren't aware of how cute this whole real-life Monica Wright Love & Basketball story is, <a target="_blank" href="http://global.christianpost.com/news/kevin-durant-shares-love-for-christian-wnba-fiancee-monica-wright-106646/">Christine Tomasos of the Christian Post Reporter</a> put together a summary of their relationship as expressed on Twitter and other media reports. <a target="_blank" href="http://global.christianpost.com/news/kevin-durant-shares-love-for-christian-wnba-fiancee-monica-wright-106646/">Read more >>></a> </li>
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<p>Also, Phil Ervin tweeted about something that was just kind cool.</p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23LosLynx&src=hash">#LosLynx</a> had WNBA's LOWEST PAYROLL this year (largely due to 3 rookies). League salaries are rigidly-structured, but still notable.</p>
— Phil Ervin (@PhilErvin) <a href="https://twitter.com/PhilErvin/statuses/390287471495221248">October 16, 2013</a>
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<p>And in related financial news...</p>
<blockquote align="center" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Lynx will make nearly $1 million profit this season, owner Glen Taylor says.</p>
— Charley Walters (@Charley_Walters) <a href="https://twitter.com/Charley_Walters/statuses/388147212527476736">October 10, 2013</a>
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<p>After years of torment, this is not a bad time to be a Minneapolis basketball fan.</p>
<h4>Around the WNBA: Tulsa Shock dismiss Gary Kloppenburg</h4>
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<li>Speaking of financial matters, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.news.com.au/sport/basketball/wnba-ncaa-share-issues-and-problems-plaguing-australian-basketball-says-chief-kristina-keneally/story-fndkzqrr-1226740484454">Boti Nagy of The Advertiser</a> had an interesting report on Basketball Australia's chief executive officer Kristina Keneally's trip to the U.S. to check out not only the WNBA and NCAA, but also the D-League. In addition to potentially strengthening Australia's ties to U.S. basketball, Nagy highlighted the role of increasing physicality in holding back the game. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.news.com.au/sport/basketball/wnba-ncaa-share-issues-and-problems-plaguing-australian-basketball-says-chief-kristina-keneally/story-fndkzqrr-1226740484454">Read more >>></a> </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/shock/kloppenburg-fired-as-tulsa-shock-coach/article_07b005ae-35bb-11e3-a6c1-001a4bcf6878.html">Mike Brown of the Tulsa World</a> summarized the Tulsa Shock's announcement yesterday that they had dismissed coach Gary Kloppenburg after two years of service and taking the winning a (Tulsa) franchise-high 11 wins in 2013. Kloppeburg was quoted in the article as saying: "I'm very disappointed with the Shock's decision to move in another direction." But this shouldn't really come as a major surprise: as Brown reports, it's something that has been in the works for months. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/shock/kloppenburg-fired-as-tulsa-shock-coach/article_07b005ae-35bb-11e3-a6c1-001a4bcf6878.html">Read more >>></a> </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> <a href="http://m.tulsaworld.com/blogs/sports/michaelpeters/moral-to-the-gary-kloppenburg-story-nice-guys-do-finish/article_0efd93b8-35d8-11e3-8d9f-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm" target="_blank">Michael Peters of the Tulsa World</a> believes that Kloppenburg might have deserved another chance: "It would be unfair to underestimate the train wreck this franchise was when Kloppenburg took over two years ago. Bad decisions and bad luck had turned the Shock into a laughingstock. Kloppenburg didn't turn Tulsa into the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> by any means, but at least the Shock isn't an embarrassment any more. And after the first two years of this franchise's time in Tulsa, that's progress. Just for that, the coach deserved at least one more year to finish the job." <a href="http://m.tulsaworld.com/blogs/sports/michaelpeters/moral-to-the-gary-kloppenburg-story-nice-guys-do-finish/article_0efd93b8-35d8-11e3-8d9f-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm" target="_blank">Read more >>></a> </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://courantblogs.com/uconn-women/news-items-the-wnba-usa-basketball-uconn-women-discuss/">John Altavilla of the Hartford Courant </a>discussed a wide range of women's basketball topics last Thursday, from the WNBA's collective bargaining agreement to its still TBD 2014 draft lottery to whether Kara Lawson or Asjha Jones will ever play for the Connecticut Sun again. Definitely worth a read and ponder. <a target="_blank" href="http://courantblogs.com/uconn-women/news-items-the-wnba-usa-basketball-uconn-women-discuss/">Read more >>></a> </li>
</ul>
<h4>NCAA: Sylvia Hatchell's leukemia diagnosis, preseason polls</h4>
<ul>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/101413aab.html">The American Athletic Conference</a> has announced its preseason polls and (not surprisingly) UConn and Louisville led the All-Conference team with a combined seven selections. UConn's Breanna Stewart has been selected as Preseason Player of the Year. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/101413aab.html">Read more >>></a> </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.goseattleu.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=89903&SPID=10774&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=209283986&DB_OEM_ID=18200">Western Athletic Conference preseason polls have also been announced</a> and reigning champion SeattleU led the coaches poll with three All-Conference selections while being picked as the favorites to win the conference. Those that have followed the team since entering Division I play as an independent just a few years ago know how remarkable this journey has been. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.goseattleu.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=89903&SPID=10774&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=209283986&DB_OEM_ID=18200">Read more >>></a> </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>ESPN, among others, reported on Monday that <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9825641/hall-famer-sylvia-hatchell-north-carolina-tar-heels-leukemia">University of North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell</a> has been diagnosed with leukemia and will "temporarily step away from her coaching duties to focus on treatment." Her replacement: "Longtime assistant Andrew Calder will lead the program while Hatchell is away. He has been on Hatchell's staff throughout her tenure, which includes six 30-win seasons." <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9825641/hall-famer-sylvia-hatchell-north-carolina-tar-heels-leukemia">Read more >>></a> </li>
</ul>
<h4>Sports, society, and the tyranny of "pinkwashing"</h4>
<p> </p>
<div class="floated-video">
<iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/3QPZfcYTUaA" frameborder="0"></iframe> <i>A <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QPZfcYTUaA" target="new">trailer for the 2011 Canadian documentary Pink Ribbons, Inc.</a> which "visits some of the massive fundraising runs and questions where the money goes and asks 'who really profits from pink ribbon campaigns?'."</i>
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<p>I've been meaning to post a link to <a target="_blank" href="http://thinkbeforeyoupink.org/?page_id=13">ThinkBeforeYouPink.org </a>for weeks, but with the WNBA playoffs going on and nobody wearing pink I just held on to it. But as you (and anyone who watches the NFL) probably already know, October is <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nbcam.org/">Breast Cancer Awareness Month</a> and everything turns pink.</p>
<p>We've discussed <a target="_blank" href="http://www.swishappeal.com/ncaa-womens-basketball/2013/2/18/3999908/ncaa-womens-basketball-st-johns-vs-cincinnati-final-score-2013#144876111">this issue of "pinkwashing"</a> before around this site and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.barbaraehrenreich.com/cancerland.htm">Barbara Ehrenreich wrote a scathing criticism</a> of how "...the breast cancer cult turns women into dupes of what could be called the Cancer Industrial Complex..." that didn't use the label but laid the conceptual groundwork for it back in 2001.</p>
<p>But just yesterday<a target="_blank" href="http://jezebel.com/fun-breast-cancer-awareness-products-that-can-cause-b-1445639237">, Erin Gloria Ryan of Jezebel </a>(h/t <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/NYCScribbler/status/390289958100926464">@nycscribbler </a>aka Queenie) described this phenomenon of "pinkwashing" as the, "...insidious Breast Cancer® cause marketing that doesn't actually do anything but exploit people's good intentions to at best pad corporate pockets and at worst convince people to expose themselves to carcinogenic chemicals For The Cause." You read that correctly: multiple companies have seized upon people's willingness to feel like they're part of the cause by marketing pink products that actually <i>cause </i>cancer.</p>
<blockquote align="center" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Did you know that only .01% of the NFL's $9 billion profits went to charity? <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23pinkwashing&src=hash">#pinkwashing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23BreastCancerAwareness&src=hash">#BreastCancerAwareness</a> via <a href="http://t.co/T9yFfHRzYC">http://t.co/T9yFfHRzYC</a></p>
— Stephanie Jarosz (@steph_jarosz) <a href="https://twitter.com/steph_jarosz/statuses/389064126971908098">October 12, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>ThinkBeforeYouPink.org has <a target="_blank" href="http://thinkbeforeyoupink.org/?page_id=13">a great list of critical questions to consider Before You Buy Pink</a>, but the bottom line is you're probably best off just donating directly to an organization that actually supports breast cancer programs/research. It's bad enough when organizations throw a splash of pink onto their packaging when they have no intention of actually contributing any portion of your money to breast health; profiting off pinkwashing with products that actually contribute to the problem it's (poorly) trying to solve is abhorrent. It doesn't take a Marxist scholar to figure out that this is capitalist commodification of an idea at its ugliest.</p>
<p><i>Of course, there have been other links floating around the web over the last week. Feel free to dump links in the comments below or post a fanshot that we can share with the community. If you have a longer commentary about anything related to women's basketball - or even pinkwashing, which really is an insidious phenomenon - feel free to write up a fanpost. </i></p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2013/10/16/4843840/wnba-minnesota-lynx-tulsa-shock-coaching-change-pinkwashing-breast-cancerNate P2013-10-14T14:03:13-04:002013-10-14T14:03:13-04:00Minneapolis celebrates the Lynx in parade
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<p>Today has been a busy day for the Minnesota Lynx.</p>
<p>Earlier in the morning, the Lynx hung out<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/Lynx_PR/status/389766267566948352"> with Governor Mark Dayton</a> and<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/Lynx_PR/status/389766267566948352"> former Governor Jesse Ventura</a>. After that, Lynx fans were able to formally celebrate the Minnesota Lynx's second championship today during their parade and pep rally at Target Center (which is still going on).</p>
<blockquote align="center" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Packed skyways as people watch on <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23LosLynx&src=hash">#LosLynx</a> <a href="http://t.co/ysQhHYeB6h">pic.twitter.com/ysQhHYeB6h</a></p>
— Lynx PR (@Lynx_PR) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lynx_PR/statuses/389795779423911937">October 14, 2013</a>
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<blockquote align="center" class="twitter-tweet">
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23LosLynx&src=hash">#LosLynx</a> Party has moved inside Target Center! <a href="https://twitter.com/Lynx_PR">@Lynx_PR</a> <a href="http://t.co/27pPKWkRMd">pic.twitter.com/27pPKWkRMd</a></p>
— Chris Hawkey (@Chawk1003) <a href="https://twitter.com/Chawk1003/statuses/389804549579751424">October 14, 2013</a>
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<blockquote align="center" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Nearing go time at the Lynx' Championship Celebration inside of Targrt Center. An estimated 5,000 people in attendance. Great crowd!</p>
— Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) <a href="https://twitter.com/Twolves_PR/statuses/389805022831468544">October 14, 2013</a>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23LosLynx&src=hash">#LosLynx</a> posing with the 2013 <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23WNBA&src=hash">#WNBA</a> Championship trophy! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23DosLynx&src=hash">#DosLynx</a> <a href="http://t.co/2CzU0naekc">pic.twitter.com/2CzU0naekc</a></p>
— Lynx PR (@Lynx_PR) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lynx_PR/statuses/389804760486125570">October 14, 2013</a>
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<p>!!!! RT <a href="https://twitter.com/Lynx_PR">@Lynx_PR</a> The pep rally is underway! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23LosLynx&src=hash">#LosLynx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23WNBA&src=hash">#WNBA</a> <a href="http://t.co/TScNSRvR8O">pic.twitter.com/TScNSRvR8O</a></p>
— Becky (@MakeHerWay) <a href="https://twitter.com/MakeHerWay/statuses/389813373334192128">October 14, 2013</a>
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<p><i>For more on the Lynx's championship run, check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/9/29/4784624/wnba-finals-2013-minnesota-lynx-vs-atlanta-dream-preview-schedule">our 2013 WNBA Finals storystream</a>. </i></p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2013/10/14/4837888/estimated-5000-attend-minnesota-lynx-championship-celebration-atNate P2013-10-13T15:25:58-04:002013-10-13T15:25:58-04:00Lynx honored prior to Minnesota Vikings game
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<p>The Minnesota Lynx were <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/Kyle_Ratke/status/389394234534424578">honored prior to today's Minnesota Vikings game</a> against the Carolina Panthers and Lindsay Whalen even got to do the ceremonial horn blowing.</p>
<blockquote align="center" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Lynx and lindsaywhalen blowing the horn before today's Vikings game. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23champs&src=hash">#champs</a> <a href="http://t.co/WkRRO0zMwa">http://t.co/WkRRO0zMwa</a></p>
— Dave Schwartz (@Dave_Schwartz) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dave_Schwartz/statuses/389436299306094592">October 13, 2013</a>
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<blockquote align="center" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Vikings game <a href="https://twitter.com/seimoneaugustus">@seimoneaugustus</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JanelMcCarville">@janelmccarville</a> <a href="http://t.co/iO6kerU7rh">http://t.co/iO6kerU7rh</a></p>
— Monica Wright (@monnie22) <a href="https://twitter.com/monnie22/statuses/389465892142465024">October 13, 2013</a>
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<p>The Vikings then proceeded to treat the Lynx to another Minnesota sports tradition: losing. Entering the fourth quarter, the Vikings were being blown out 28-3 and providing yet another reminder of why embracing the Lynx is such an attractive option for Minneapolis fans.</p>
<p><i>For more on how the Lynx gave Minneapolis a second championship, check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/9/29/4784624/wnba-finals-2013-minnesota-lynx-vs-atlanta-dream-preview-schedule">our 2013 WNBA Finals storystream</a>. </i></p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2013/10/13/4834572/minnesota-lynx-wnba-champion-lindsay-whalen-minnesota-vikingsNate P2013-10-13T11:00:09-04:002013-10-13T11:00:09-04:00Where do Lynx stand among best in WNBA history?
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.startribune.com/sports/227542231.html">Kent Youngblood of the Star Tribune </a>put together a feature yesterday trying to find the Minnesota Lynx's place in WNBA history.</p>
<p>To Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve's point in the article, we have to concede that the Houston Comets from 1997-2000 are still the most <i>dominant</i> team in league history in that they won four straight championships. But could this Lynx team still be in the conversation for the best team in terms of how they'd (hypothetically) match up head-to-head?</p>
<p>Lynx assistant Shelly Patterson, who knows a thing or two about that Comets team, says yes.</p>
<blockquote>
<p class="Text_Body">Patterson initially hemmed and hawed, demurred. But, Thursday night?</p>
<p class="Text_Body">"This team would win," Patterson said of the Lynx, 80-22 in the regular season and 19-5 in the playoffs since the start of the 2011 season. "I don’t what to disrespect what the [Comets] did. But I will say that the game has grown so much. The sets we run, the game planning that we do for each game, the athletic level of the league? The Lynx would have to be one of the great teams in league history, at this point."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>And now that we've established the Lynx as a player in that conversation, where do you think they stand?</p>
<p><i>For more on the 2013 Lynx's championship run, check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/9/29/4784624/wnba-finals-2013-minnesota-lynx-vs-atlanta-dream-preview-schedule">our 2013 WNBA Finals storystream</a>. </i></p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2013/10/13/4832858/minnesota-lynx-wnba-champions-best-everNate P2013-10-11T19:00:05-04:002013-10-11T19:00:05-04:00Kevin Durant's comments on Monica Wright's ring(s)
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Oklahoma City Thunder</a> star <span>Kevin Durant</span> had a 2012-13 season that had <a target="_blank" href="http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8919214/kevin-durant-having-one-greatest-offensive-seasons-nba-history">some wondering where he ranks among the greatest basketball players of all-time</a>.</p>
<p>Of course, the ever-humble Durant says he's not even the best player in his own soon-to-be family, as<a target="_blank" href="http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/10/nba-kevin-durant-monica-wright-wnba-fiancee/"> Sean Highkin of USA Today described earlier today</a>.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/pdgraham30">@pdgraham30</a> I love it!!! She's the better player anyway</p>
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) <a href="https://twitter.com/KDTrey5/statuses/388495800365355008">October 11, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://newsok.com/kevin-durant-on-monica-wrights-wnba-title-shes-my-future-wife-and-shes-got-more-championships-than-i-do/article/3892343">Anthony Slater of The Oklahoman </a>published Durant's more official comment on fiancee Monica Wright winning a second title with the Minnesota Lynx.</p>
<p><span class="entry-content articleBody"> </span></p>
<blockquote>
<p>"Unbelievable," Durant said of Wright’s achievement. "I’m excited for her, proud of her for helping her team win a championship. It’s kind of tears of joy, I almost shed one for her. She’s my future wife and she’s got more championships than I do."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Ah the beauty of Love & Basketball.</p>
<p><i>For more on the championship series, visit<a target="_blank" href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/9/29/4784624/wnba-finals-2013-minnesota-lynx-vs-atlanta-dream-preview-schedule"> our 2013 WNBA Finals storystream</a>.</i></p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2013/10/11/4829150/kevin-durant-wnba-championship-2013-monica-wrightNate P