Taurasi to Sit Out WNBA Season; Should Force League to Action

Diana Taurasi will sit out the upcoming WNBA Season.

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  Diana Taurasi made news this week by announcing she wouldn't be suiting up for the WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury for the 2015 season.

  Instead, she is going to rest. But here's the catcher, she's still going to get paid -- by her Russian team, UMMC-Ekaterinburg

  During the WNBA's off-season (which happens to be twice as long as the four-month summer season), Taurasi, like many women's players go overseas to earn a living.

  To protect their investment (UMMC is reportedly paying Taurasi $1.5 million this season) and secure Taurasi for the following season, the Russian club offered to pay her to sit out the 2015 WNBA season.

  Get paid to rest -- not a bad gig.

Two Leagues, Year-Round Seasons
  To be honest, I'm surprised Taurasi/UMMC is the first instance of this happening. The best players in the world play year round, between the WNBA and Europe, Asia or Australia.

  One full season overseas (September-May) is hard enough on your body. Remove the summer months to rest, recover and rejuvenate? I don't know how they do it for an entire year.

  Taurasi has played 10 year-round seasons. That's a lot of wear and tear to put on an aging body, in a cutthroat, short-lived profession.

  I look at what Taurasi has done for 10 consecutive years and say she's made a sacrifice. To play year-round, at the highest level, puts an amazing toll on your body. My body wouldn't have held up for one year-round season, let alone 10.

  This is where I get to why.

Why Play?

Taurasi was the league's MVP in 2009, & two-time Finals MVP.

  Why has she sacrificed? Why do players like Diana Tauarsi, Tamika Catchings, Maya Moore, et al play in the WNBA, when financially it might not make sense? It's not for the money or the glamour of the WNBA. They sacrifice to help the league maintain and (hopefully) grow.

  First, to have the opportunity to play professionally at 'home' has to be an incredible feeling. It's something I was never able to do.

  Secondly, and what I think is most-important, is that they don't want the WNBA to fail.

  Players feel an obligation to the opportunity. The WNBA hasn't always been around, and players want it to succeed. In order for it to succeed, the best players need to be on the court.

  We are just now at the tail end of players' careers who remember a time when there was no WNBA. When there was no viable opportunity to play professionally in the US.

  The the Tamika Catchings, Sue Birds, Diana Taurasis, the Deanna Nolans.

  As we get further away from that generation, there might become a time when the league is taken for granted. When players assume the league has always been here, and will always be here.

  It wouldn't shock me to see more players sit out WNBA seasons to allow their bodies and minds recover from the longer, more financially rewarding overseas seasons. Especially as the younger generation asserts itself.

Moore is one of the top young talents in the league.

  Point blank, it looks bad for the league to have one of its top five players be paid more NOT to play.

  And I don't blame Taurasi. A basketball career is finite, and she's trying to make the most of it financially.

  But it could become a turning point.

Danger Zone?
  Here's what needs to happen -- somehow, someway -- the WNBA needs to find a way for this not to become a trend. Otherwise, they'll be in danger of becoming a second-tier league, or worse, obsolete.

  The players who have sacrificed to help the league, that's still in its infancy, grow, need to see the support from the WNBA in return.

  The WNBA has league maximum and league minimum salaries -- for both veterans and rookies.

  In 2013, the minimum salary for rookies was $35,190. The league's top four drafted players earned at maximum $48,470. Every other rookie, earned between 35k and 48k.

Maya Moore plays WNBA off-seasons in China.

  The minimum salary for a player with three-plus years of experience was $55,000 while the maximum salary for a six-plus year player was $107,000.

  Based on her 10 years of experience, Taurasi is at the 107k maximum. Again, her contract with UMMC is $1.5 million. (Keep in mind, most overseas salaries reported are post-tax earnings, while WNBA are pre-tax.)

  You do the math; what would you do?

LeBron vs. Steve Blake Analogy
  While the WNBA pay scale is a nice idea, it doesn't make sense.

  A 10-year veteran role player, should not earn the same salary as Diana Taurasi --a three-time WNBA Champion, two-time WNBA Finals MVP, three-time Gold Medalist, etc). Why? Because she doesn't bring the same value to the franchise, nor to the league.

  I'll give you an NBA comparison to make it more obvious: Should LeBron James and Steve Blake earn the same salary? (I bet even Steve Blake would say 'of course not!')

  Currently, they're both in their 12th NBA season. So under the WNBA's pay scale, they would earn the same salary. Instead, this season LeBron will earn $20.6 million from the Cavs, while Blake will earn $2.1 million from the Trail Blazers. Seems comparable for what they bring to their teams and to the NBA.

  I'm not here to compare and argue NBA vs. WNBA salaries. They're different animals, and cannot be compared. But if the WNBA is to remain relevant in the women's basketball world, the powers that be must come up with a solution to compensate, and keep its best/most-visible players on their court.

The only uniform you'll see Taurasi in during 2015.

Franchise Tag Solution?
  Franchise tags are used in the NFL, but in a different manner than what I would be suggesting. In this instance, franchise tag means superstar.

  Each of the 12 WNBA teams should be allowed two (?) franchise tags. Teams can then pay those players whatever they deem fair, and either the league raises the salary cap, or franchise tags do not apply towards the salary cap. (The current salary cap for WNBA teams is $913,000.)

  The number of players who garner the Taurasi-types of salaries overseas are very few. Likewise, the number of players who the WNBA should tag as superstars should be just as few. In fact, allowing 24 franchise tags for the entire league might be too many. But that's not for me to decide.

  This is a solution I came up with in 20-minutes, give-or-take a few. There are many other options, and there are people much smarter than I who should be working to find a solution.

  Because as it stands right now, the WNBA needs its superstars exponentially more than they need the WNBA. I certainly don't want to witness the league's demise, but whatever their solution, the WNBA better be working on it ASAP.

LINKS:

WNBA Salaries 2013 Season

Would You Say That to Your Daughter?

Playing days in Sweden (2010-2011).

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  This week, a guy I don't know all-that-well, but respect a great deal -- for his work promoting women's athletics, and women's basketball more specifically -- made an important post on his Facebook page. He'd had enough -- of the constant snide remarks disparaging women's hoops and its athletes, and the lack of acknowledgement.

  I 'liked' his post, and commented on it. A few days passed, and I found myself thinking more about what he had said while I was running on the treadmill.

  I felt I needed to add something.

  But before we get to my thoughts, here's the post, in full, from Ben York:

WARNING: I’m getting on my soapbox…I don’t know where else to post this, so here we go.

I’m a women’s basketball guy. Always have been.

Some people like women’s basketball; others don’t.

I get it. And – trust me – I’ve heard every reason why. (I could get on an entirely new soapbox here, but that’s for another day. Maybe.)

The WNBA announced today that Magic Johnson (and other investors) purchased the Los Angeles Sparks to keep them in LA. Obviously, this is huge news for the league and women’s basketball fans in general (at least, it should be). Not only will this generate substantial awareness for the league, the business acumen of the ownership group has every intention of increasing profitability and long term staying power. Having a successful and thriving franchise in a major market like LA makes the WNBA better.

To be frank, though, what pisses me off are the people who continue to enthusiastically and consciously dismiss the WNBA as second-rate or “less than” while subsequently ignoring centuries of stereotypes and dogmas that promote women as inferior.

We aren’t asking you to love the WNBA. We don’t even need a ton of recognition. At this point, whether it is fair or not, a simple mention of scores or highlights (no matter the outlet) makes us giddy.

Acknowledgement, however, is another story.

This was most recently evidenced by the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl. Nearly every major media reported that it was the city’s first major championship since 1979, ignoring the Seattle Storm’s championships in 2004 and 2010.

Maddening, but if I’m honest, nothing new.

Yet, perhaps the most infuriating aspect of the so-called “debate” has been the response by detractors to completely disregard the league. As the brilliant Mechelle Voepel stated recently, the WNBA isn’t pretending (or even trying) to be one of the four major sports (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL).

Nevertheless, it DOES feature the absolute best women’s basketball players in the world. It DOES set a tremendously empowering example for young women. It still can be improved, but it DOES represent the fundamental equality and opportunity that we ALL deserve. And in spite of the misdirected venom that is routinely spewed, it DOES continue to grow in attendance, ratings and sustainability.

To me, that’s pretty amazing.

Ultimately, I don’t know if things will change. I don’t know if the misogyny (don’t kid yourselves; it absolutely exists) will improve. I hope it does.

I’ll close with this: many players don’t have to play in the WNBA from a financial basis. That is to say, they do it because they care about what the league – in its truest form – stands for.

I respect the hell out of that.

Twenty years from now, I hope an eight-year-old young woman still sees one of her favorite WNBA players on ESPN and sets a tangible goal to make a living playing basketball professionally.

She deserves it.

/gets off soapbox

My nieces, Stella & Sadie, playing earlier this year.

Add R-E-S-P-E-C-T
  I'll see Ben's 'acknowledgement', and add respect.

  If you've ever read a comment section of a women's basketball article online, you know it can be an ugly place. It seems the comment 'who cares' never fails to appear. Many times, however, it goes much further than that.

  Or we've all been in a room, where women's basketball (or any women's sport for that matter) is brought up, and similar sentiment is repeated.

  I've done my best over the years to ignore those comments, but I've always found them disheartening. I've never really understood people who take the time out of their day to specifically diss women's basketball, or female athletes in general.

  And why is it acceptable?

Imagine You're Talking to Your Daughter
  Like Ben, I understand, women's athletics is not for everyone. You're either a fan, or you're not. I've found the only time someone converts to women's basketball fandom, after never having cared for the sport, is after they have a daughter.

  To those who have ever said, 'it doesn't matter, it's *just* women's basketball' (or something equally disrespectful), I have this to say to you: imagine you're talking to your daughter, or your niece, or your sister, or your girlfriend. Would you ever discredit, disrespect, disparage, or take away from what she is doing then?

  Girls playing sports is hugely beneficial --  to her psyche, her confidence, and I think, to our society in general. Strong, confident women; that's a good thing, isn't it?

  And equally important is girls having female role models to look up to. Why would we tear them down?

I looked up to Tamika Catchings in HS, & was thrilled to meet her. ('99)

Stopping the Disrespect
  Growing up, I was lucky enough to train on a daily basis with the best players in the Portland area, both boys and girls. We trained together, we played with each other, we competed against each other, and we worked our tails off together. But we respected each other as well.

  On a regular basis, pros or NCAA stars would come in to train alongside us. Our new training partners probably came in thinking 'who are these high school kids, and why am I training with them?'  Some of them most-definitely thought, 'why am I working out with girls?'

  Their first training sessions with us always went the same: our trainer would have us do the drills/competitions he knew we (the high school kids), and maybe specifically, us girls, would succeed in. And more often than not, the visiting stars would come up short against us in those competitions and drills.

  Immediately, that changed the perspective of our visitors. Those drills alone, gave us the respect we desired.

  In turn, it made our training sessions that much better. And probably made us all -- boys, girls, and visiting stars alike -- better players in the long run.

  We, the girls, found a way to earn respect on the court.

  Off the court, the respect isn't going to magically appear. But I don't know how we've allowed the constant disrespect to continue for so long. And we shouldn't allow it to go on.

  Here's your challenge, the next time your hear someone say 'who cares, it's just women's basketball', call them out on it. Ask them if they'd ever say that to their daughter. Or if they want their daughters to grow up having athletes as role models.

  It matters.

  Because like Ben, I too hope that in 20 years, that eight-year-old young lady sees her favorite player on TV and wants to grow up and be just like her.

Title IX: Game Changer, Life Changer

Last June's Title IX Celebration at Nike.

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  Before I was even born, lawmakers were looking out for me, ensuring that my tall self would be able to play sports. I've previously written about the impact sports, namely basketball, has had on my life (Following Your Passion).

  Not many days pass where I don't remind myself how lucky I've been to be able to pursue the career I have, and be able to do what I love for a living.

  Participating in basketball helped give me an identity, a platform, a passion, it improved my self-confidence, and provided me with countless incredible experiences -- that continue to this day.

  So you'll have to understand, I firmly believe that every boy and girl should be allowed those same experiences growing up. 

The Law
  In 1972, a piece of legislation was passed in the US that changed the entire landscape for girls and women in sport. Title IX, ironically enough, was not written with athletics in mind. 

"No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."

  Simply stated, Title IX requires gender equity for boys and girls in every educational program that receives federal funding.

  When it was first written, Title IX was meant to address equal funding and access in 10 different areas: Access to Higher Education, Career Education, Education for Pregnant and Parenting Students, Employment, Learning Environment, Math and Science, Sexual Harassment, Standardized Testing and Technology.

  But where girls and women really took advantage of the new law, was in the realm of athletics: Title IX has become synonymous with girls' participation in sports.

She climbed Mt. St. Helens. I think my mom would have liked sports too.

Evolution of Girls' Sports
  Prior to Title IX's passage, the accessibility to sports by females, many times, was dependent on what part of the country they lived.

  For example, my mom, who grew up in Portland, didn't have access to team sports in high school. She could swim, play tennis, run track, or play golf.

  In the Midwest and East, girls were able to play team sports, like basketball (correct me if I'm wrong), but it was the half court, six-on-six variety.

  Across the board however, once girls graduated high school, their chances to continue playing dwindled.

  My mom grew up in a family of athletes (my uncle Mike played football at UW, and my uncle Rob played professional baseball). But because she grew up in a pre-Title IX era, my mom wasn't afforded those same opportunities.

Not an easy hike, as you can see!

  I know she would have loved participating in sports (for many reasons), if only to have been able to answer 'yes' to the countless people who have asked her 'you're tall, do you play sports?'. (Not to say that if you're tall you HAVE to be an athlete, or that athletes can ONLY be tall. But you know how many times people are asked 'do you play basketball?' even if you are just a little bit taller than average!)

  Fast forward to today's America, there are over 3 million girls participating in high school athletics (versus 294,015 one year prior to Title IX becoming law), and nearly 170,000 female varsity collegiate athletes (compared to just 29,972 in 1971).

  For those who argue that Title IX takes away from boys/men's sports, both statistics have risen on the male side too.

  While the arms of Title IX don't touch professional sports in the US, you can't help but think that the law has also had an impact on professional women's sports as well. Now, we have collegiate and professional female athletes in the public eye, setting examples for the next generation of athletes.

  Girls' athletics have progressed exponentially in the 40 years since Title IX's passage. And if we keep playing, and keep encouraging young girls to play, women's sports will continue to boom. 

Benefit of Sport
  Participating in athletics has far greater impact than solely what happens on the court or the field. Sure, playing the game is great, but there are aspects to sports that go far deeper than just playing a game. The benefits of girls' participation in sports is immeasurable, but here are a few of proven benefits:

• higher than average levels of self-esteem and lower levels of depression.
• reduced rates of body dissatisfaction and eating disorders.
• learn valuable life skills that will be useful later in life. Women will learn to collaborate with others, dedication, and perseverance.
• female athletes have better grades and higher graduation rates than non-athlete females.
• teenage female athletes are less likely to illicit drugs, less likely to be suicidal, less likely to smoke and more likely to have positive body images than female non-athletes.
• young women who participated in sports were more likely to be engaged in volunteering, be registered to vote, feel comfortable making a public statement, follow the news, and boycott than young women who had not participated in sports.

  The world of athletics is far-reaching, and can impact girls' lives every way imaginable.

Shy, first grade me.

Title IX's Impact on Me
  I grew up watching and admiring the local high school athletes in the Portland area. As I grew older, my eye turned to the collegiate and Olympic ranks for role models: the Oregon State women's basketball team, the 1996 US Women's National team with Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, and Katy Steding (who hailed from my hometown of Lake Oswego).

  Those athletes looked like me, they were women I could identify with, and strive to be like.

  Watching them helped me realize there was a lot that could be done on the basketball court. And if I wanted, the game could take me many, many places. It seemed the more I watched them, the more I wanted to play. And in turn, the more I played, the better I became.

2006-07: Playing in Poland.

  Sports opened up a whole new world to me. Who knew that years later, I'd still be playing, and doors would still be opening. Without Title IX, none of that would have been possible. Maybe there would have been sports to play, but certainly not to degree that they are played today.

Title IX Celebration
  Last summer, I was invited to participate in a Nike event celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Title IX. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity. Help promote athletics to youth, while at the same time celebrating all
the female athletes that came before me? I was thrilled to be included!

With Stella at Nike event.

  I took my then-eight year-old niece Stella with me. We had a fun day at the Nike World Headquarters playing basketball, celebrating Title IX and all the athletes who have benefited from its passage. I tried explaining the importance of Title IX to Stella, but I'm sure she'll need a few reminders at some point.

    She met Lisa Leslie and played basketball with her daughter, saw giant posters of Maria Sharapova, Abby Wambach, Allyson Felix, and Hope Solo throughout the WHQ campus. Now, maybe a new world has opened to Stella, and the other girls (and boys!) who participated in the event that day too.

Opportunity

Stella under Lisa Leslie's banner.

  To be honest, I don't know how you can argue against Title IX (but I guess I might be biased). Why
shouldn't every child, boy or girl, have the same opportunities? If institutions weren't forced to fund girls/women's sports in 1972, why should we believe that they would have eventually done it out of the goodness of their hearts?

  Politics aside, girls participating in athletics results in great things for everyone.

  While there are still disparities in funding and other areas (coaching, for example: The Glass Wall), women's athletics has come a long way in 40 years. I think it's important to keep Title IX in the forefront, and not let the law that has impacted so many lives in such a profound way fall by the wayside.

  I grew up playing basketball in the front yard with my dad and brother, and soccer, baseball, and basketball with the boys (and a few other girls) on the playground at recess. I don't know how we develop an interest in one thing over another. But just having the opportunity to play, and being allowed to make the decision for myself, was a life changer for me.

  I'm grateful for the world of athletics being opened to me. So here's a big thanks to the proponents of Title IX, and the athletes who paved the way for me!

LINKS:
History of Title IX
Title IX: Get the Facts
Athletic Statistics

Nike released a new film entitled “Voices” to celebrate women in sport on the 40th anniversary of Title IX:

"There are different paths to EVERY destination" -- Job Hunt Thoughts

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  I officially announced my 'retirement' just over a month ago. So I guess you can say I've been on the job hunt ever since. Though, the word hunt sounds intensive and stressful, it really hasn't been that.

  Roughly one month in, and already faced with a few learning experiences, I thought now was as good a time as any to share some thoughts.

  I had a summer plan, or so I thought. To take things slowly, not rush into anything, put some feelers out there (wherever there is), and figure out what I really wanted to do.

  But like many plans, mine quickly was thrown by the wayside. Mostly because opportunities arose. And also because I started getting a little antsy (so much for taking things slowly, huh?). I suppose I am more anxious to get on with the next part of my life than I initially thought I would be.

Swimming with Sofie over 4th of July weekend.

  As I've gotten myself into the networking, connecting, job hunt world I've encountered a few difficulties. Not huge mountains to climb, but there have been a few common denominators that have arisen.

  Don't get me wrong, the positives have immensely outweighed the negative. Family members, friends, mentors, etc have been gracious enough to give me their time and their ear. I value and rely upon their experiences to guide me in this journey a great deal.

  1) The first stumbling block I've come across is my 'lack of experience'. I find the different reactions, and vibes, I get regarding my ten years abroad as a professional basketball player interesting. It is seen as a negative entirely too much -- in my opinion, of course.

  How can it be a negative? Sure, I lack the work place experience that many people my age already have already garnered. I will be the first to acknowledge that. So let's acknowledge it, and move on to how how that experience is a positive.

  Here's why I'd prefer to focus on the positive side: What was I supposed to do, turn down the opportunity to play professional basketball? I don't think so. I worked my tail off, and sacrificed a lot growing up so I could get to the point of being able to play professionally. Pursuing, and enjoying, that career was only natural.

Taking advantage of auntie time!

  I would like to think, through my 10 years overseas, I bring a great deal more to the table than a kid fresh out of college. (Here's where I'd insert all the positive things about my career oversea -- my international perspective, my ability to adapt quickly and succeed, and so on -- but tooting my own horn isn't what I'm here for.)

  What I need is for a potential employer to understand my time and experiences in Europe outweigh any negatives.

  I find myself echoing the sentiments of the people I have just talked to. If they are positive, I come away with a positive outlook. If they dwell on my lack of experience, I find myself thinking I'm in for a long, uphill battle.

  Maybe that is me, my responsibility. I need to hold myself accountable, and force the conversations to remain focused on what I will bring to the position. And not allow a question mark to enter into the equation.

“If you celebrate your differentness, the world will, too. It believes exactly what you tell it—through the words you use to describe yourself, the actions you take to care for yourself, and the choices you make to express yourself. Tell the world you are one-of-a-kind creation who came here to experience wonder and spread joy. Expect to be accommodated."

-- Victoria Moran                                  

Beautiful sights of Boulder.

  2) The second stumbling block I have encountered is that I'm not nearly narrow-minded enough. Call it not having a clear vision. But it seems that I don't know exactly what I want to do. I believe I'm getting closer, and that vision is becoming clearer. But still, there are details to work out!

  I understand that a wishy-washy, unfocused person is nearly impossible to deal with. And that is not what I want to convey. I have been working diligently to familiarize myself with some potential job areas. It's not easy navigating through the different languages that each job description comes with. But again, this is where I rely on friends and family to help clarify.

On the lake for fireworks -- July 4th.

  I knew this transition, and in turn, this job hunt, wouldn't be a cakewalk. Every situation I have encountered thus far has been a new experience for me. I'm taking baby steps and learning a great deal as I go along. It's only been a month, but I'm positive I'm headed in the right direction!

  Shout out to my friends and family who have been willing to offer up advice and guidance! You don't know how much I appreciate your time and input!

  Here's to a resilient, patience-filled journey!
                        

A Perfect 10

Finished the season on the sideline.

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  It's not shocking news, really. I've been hinting at it, and toying with it for months. Some might say for years.

  But I'm making it official. My basketball sneakers have been hung up. For good.

  It's not as difficult to say those words, or type those words, as I thought it would be. Maybe because the signs have been pointing to 'retirement' for quite some time.

  The injuries were one thing. But the mental outlook was quite another.

  Most of you know, I was on the sideline a great deal this past season. Your body not holding up, not allowing you to do your job, spoke volumes. There was nothing more frustrating than not being able to do what you wanted to physically.

Fan art from my second year in Italy.

  But still, some might not want to end their career on the sideline. And I just could be stubborn enough to try something like that. There had to be more than a faulty back to push me into the real world.

  Mentally and emotionally, I was ready. My mind and my heart were screaming to me that my basketball career had run its course. The lifestyle, the constant moving, the uncertainty, has worn me down. I guess I've had enough.

  Ten seasons overseas is perfect anyway, don't you think? I've always been a stickler for balance and a little square that way (my nice-and-square SAT scores, for example -- exactly the same in both the math and the verbal).

A fun moment -- All Star game warm up -- Poland.

  Ten is a nice round number. Ten seasons gave me plenty of time to play basketball, the game I fell in love with as a little girl, the game that helped give me confidence and an identity, the game that has provided me with so many opportunities -- to see the world and meet incredible people, for a living!

  But now it's time for the next chapter.

  And before you ask, 'well, now what are you going to do?' Let me just say that I'm working on it!

  There are a lot of different directions I can go. So I am hoping to take some time this summer, weigh my options, and figure out what will be the next best step for me. But be certain that I will keep you all posted.  

Ready for what's next!

  So it's official now. No going back! Barring some unforeseen events, and a near-miracle, I'm done playing basketball as a professional.

  The great thing about basketball however, is that you can play whenever you want. But it won't be the basketball that I miss. I can find that anywhere.

  Being part of a team, and the competitive spirit, is irreplaceable. So here's to joining a new team...

  I'm ready, and excited for what is next. Stay tuned!

Brittney Griner to the NBA: An Unnecessary Discussion

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**Originally appeared on SLAM Online April 10th, 2013**
  Several months ago we had the lower rims debate. Now we have Brittney Griner to the NBA making headlines. I guess I should be happy that women's basketball is giving people something to talk about. But outlandish stories aren't the discussions we should be having about women's hoops.

  Some say, any talk is progress. I'm not willing to go there just yet.

  Dallas Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban, stated last week that he'd give the 6'8" Baylor star a shot at making his team. He said, 'If she is the best on the board, I will take her.'

  Griner tweeted back, 'I would hold my own! Lets do it.' I don't blame her for responding, she believes in herself. But Cuban really doesn't deserve a response.

  Let's take his comments for what they really are: a PR stunt. He wants attention, and he wants the hoopla to follow Griner to the NBA summer league, where she would potentially first play.

  All that's happened since Cuban's attention-seeking comments, is the disparaging of Griner and her talents. And with that, criticism of women's basketball in general.

  I don't mean to doubt Griner's abilities, but this isn't the rec. The NBA is the highest level of basketball in the world. The best. The biggest, strongest, quickest, most versatile athletes in the world.

  I know how tough it is just playing against guys at the rec. 

  In the men's game, Griner's talents don't transfer over. What makes her special in the women's game would not be a factor against men. Size, athleticism, strength, speed, length, quickness.

  Against women, she's a 6'8" dominant center. In the majority of her games while at Baylor, she had an enormous size advantage. And then on top of that, she has phenomenal athleticism unseen in a 6'8" woman. Put those two things together, and you have a defensive stopper who controls the paint, and a presence in the post offensively who demands a double (triple?) team every time she touches the ball.

  Against men, she's a small forward (maybe a power forward, but that'd be a stretch). I've seen Brittney Griner play, nothing about her game says small forward.

  That's the obvious argument.

  But now, instead of praising and celebrating a talent the women's game has never seen, this has turned into a diss -- for lack of a better term. It's me, and everyone else who is having this conversation, saying what Griner is not. Putting her down, and saying why she wouldn't succeed.

  Instead, we should appreciate and celebrate her talents for what they are.

  What I should be saying is this: stop comparing. Respect the women's game for what it is. It's a separate sport. Simple as that. 

  We don't need to say that women should/could compete with men. It's not cutting-edge. It's not an enlightened way to think. It's unnecessary.

  In what other sport do they talk about women competing against men? Did anyone ever talk about Mia Hamm competing for the US Olympic Men's soccer team?

  Brittney Griner is an enormously talented basketball player. And she is a dominant physical presence. She is a game changer. Let her be just that.

  Is it a compliment to ask if can she play in the NBA? Yes, of course! But don't take the conversation any further than that. Because once we do, that's when the the compliments stop.  

International Game Appreciation

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**Originally appeared on SLAM Online February 26th, 2013**

  If you're a basketball fan, it's safe to say you've seen an NBA game, an NCAA game, and a FIBA game (the Olympics, or maybe a EuroLeague game?).

  And while you may know the ins and outs of your league, the foreign game may remain somewhat of a mystery. Maybe it frustrates you to watch, or you don't understand the intricacies or strategies of the game.

  That's perfectly normal because basketball played internationally (FIBA), and basketball played in the US are drastically different. Sometimes the differences lie in the rules. While other times, differences are a reflection of the way the game is taught.

RULE BOOK

  Rule differences are the easiest to point out. They're obvious, and can be seen across the board. These rules are not up for discussion, or up to a referee, or coach's opinion.

Time outs

  In the international game, players and coaches cannot call a timeout while the ball is in live play. Only when the ball is dead (out of bounds, made basket, foul call, travel call, etc), can the coach, and only the coach, ask for a timeout.

  A player can never call a timeout in FIBA. This removes the bail out/emergency timeout we see so frequently in the US.

 

Team Fouls/Bonus

  Team foul rules are the same in the NBA as they are in FIBA: teams are in the bonus, and awarded two foul shots, on the fifth team foul of each quarter.

  It differs in the NCAA, where teams are in the 'one-and-one' (and awarded one foul shot, and if the shooter makes it, they receive a second free throw) on the seventh team foul of each half. Teams are then finally awarded two shots on the tenth team foul of the half.

Quarter/Game length

  Four 10-minute quarters in FIBA (and the WNBA). Two 20-minute halves in the NCAA. Four 12-minute quarters in the NBA.

REFEREEING POINTS OF EMPHASIS

  This is where the two games are most divergent, in my opinion. And where the misunderstanding can come into play. It can make the American fan frustrated watching the FIBA game, and the international fan frustrated watching the American game.

  Some rules are subjective, and dependent upon, either the points of view of each referee, or the points of emphasis of the leagues. 

Traveling

  Across the board, the travel call is the biggest point of discussion. Americans think Europeans travel all the time. And Europeans think Americans travel all the time.

  Why, you ask? There are two very different points of emphasis in the international game versus the game in the US.

  In the NBA and NCAA, the focus is on the number of steps taken after the dribble is picked up. Whereas in FIBA, the focus is on whether the ball was put down immediately before taking a step.

  During the Olympics, one of the most overwhelming things you will hear from international fans is how much LeBron James travels. They see him take two steps (or sometimes more!) before he puts the ball down in transition, and think it's obvious. Yet Americans don't really get why they're complaining.

  What happens when Americans go abroad? They are called for countless travels because they don't put the ball down fast enough before taking their first step (something I can attest to).

  It took me half of my rookie year in Italy to figure out how to not get called for traveling on drives to the basket. And the first time I did it, I almost stopped for celebration. There are still occasions when I get caught (actually happened in my most recent game), but it doesn't happen nearly as often as it used to!

  And what about when Europeans go to play in the US? They're called for travels as they finish a drive with too many steps (I think this is seen more often in college than in the NBA). Just as I had difficulty adjusting, many Europeans who play collegiately have a difficult time adjusting to the new emphasis. 

  Another cause for this travel deviation is the way we are coached as kids. Americans are taught to have a big first step. It's stressed over and over. Have a quick, as-big-as-you-can-make-it, first step.

  You can't have a big first step in Europe. When you lunge out as far as you can, you're essentially dragging your pivot foot, and you haven't put the ball down to dribble. They call that a travel every time.

Foul calls

  Over the course of my 10 years in Europe, I've learned a few things about what referees will, and will not call.

  Defensively, if you slap down on the ball, it's always a foul. No matter if you touch your opponent or not. If you want to go for a steal, slap upward.

  Similarly, referees will rarely call a hook, or an offensive foul, for clearing the defender out -- no matter how obvious it is. I can't tell you how many times I've thought they were going to call it, only to have the foul go against the me (the defender).

           

Strategy

  Again, over the course of my 10 years in Europe, some things have stood out to me, strategically speaking, as well.

  In my opinion, running a fast break in Europe resembles soccer strategy more often than not. Coaches stress getting the ball to one side of the floor immediately, and then attacking. Whereas in the US, players are taught to get the ball to the middle of the floor.

  I don't find the European strategy to be very effective. Moving the ball to one side of the floor too early, lets the defense off the hook far too quickly. 

  The International game is more guard/perimeter oriented. This is the one case where I think the US/NBA is becoming more like the European game. Gone are the days of dominant big men controlling the game. In today's NBA, just as in Europe, guards and perimeter players are the game's best players, and dominate the ball offensively.

IN SOME WAYS, GROWING MORE SIMILAR

  In certain areas, the International and American games are becoming more and more similar. There used to be physical differences on the court (trapezoid lanes versus rectangle lanes), but FIBA recently made the change to rectangular lanes to match the American game.

  FIBA has also recently implemented advancing the ball to half court after timeouts in end of game situations. This allows finishes to be a little more exciting, and buzzer-beaters to occur more frequently.

  I can't go into every single detail, but various other rule changes have been made that make the FIBA and American games more similar (shot clocks, jump balls, restricted area/arc).

  While basketball is basketball no matter where it's played, differences still, have to be expected. Especially when there are different governing bodies.

  Frustration may remain (I never get less frustrated with getting called, for what I still see as a non-travel), but understanding game differences at least allows for a broader perspective. So the next time you find yourself hollering about a LeBron or Ginobli travel, keep in mind where they grew up playing the game (and what's written across their jerseys -- USA/Cavs or Argentina/Spurs)!

Above the Rim?

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**Originally appeared on SLAM Online October 26th, 2012**

  Thanks to UCONN coach Geno Auriemma, there's a new-found debate in the world of women's hoops. Should the rims be lowered in the women's game?

  When the headline first come across my Twitter timeline a few days ago, I dismissed it with a 'no', as I shook my head. And quickly moved on.

  Then I saw it again. And again. And now that the subject is clearly going to linger longer than first anticipated, I just had to throw my two cents into the debate. As a female basketball player, of course I'm going to have an opinion!

  First and foremost, I find it disrespectful. The question insinuates that women can't play the game, with the same rules as men, just as well. But maybe that's the competitor in me talking.

  I get a little peeved when I hear complaints about the level of skill in the women's game, and their solution is to lower the rim. You don't search for a short-cut, you work even harder to improve your skills. Lowering the rim isn't going to make anyone handle the ball better, pass the ball better, or shoot better.

  People complain of missed layups. Don't lower the rims, practice finishing at the rim!

  People complain of missed jump shots. Don't lower the rims, practice your jumper!

  People complain of sloppy play. Don't lower the rims, practice your ball-handling!

  And no, I'm not delusional either. I am well-aware that the athletic ability most men possess exceeds that of most women. 

  Yes, the dunk is exciting and fun to watch. If I had the ability to do it, I would be dunking at every opportunity. But I realized at a young age (even to my dismay), that the dunk wasn't going to be a part of my basketball repertoire. So I worked on my skills! That being said, I think comparing the excitement level (based on dunks and athleticism) of the two games is a little unfair.

  But let's be clear, there are certain people who will never be a fan of women's basketball. I have come to understand that, and they are entitled to their opinion. Those non-fans will always have complaints about the game, no matter what you do.

  We cannot compromise the game in an attempt to garner the fandom of a certain group of fans who will never come.

  Be honest, if you aren't already a fan of women's hoops, will a handful of rather-pedestrian dunks entice you enough to watch on a regular basis? I don't think so.

  So my only question is this: what do you hope to accomplish by lowering the rims?

  Do you hope to increase its popularity?

  Do you hope to make the game more exciting by increasing the number of dunks?

  Do you hope to improve the quality of play?

  Improving the quality of play should be the only motivation. And by doing so, the other two matters will take care of themselves. Increased talent, fundamentals, and yes, athleticism, makes for a more entertaining game to watch. That's how you increase popularity. You improve the product.

  Focus on developing fundamentals at the youth-through-high school levels, to actually improve play. Don't just aim for what-seems-to-be-improvement via superficial means. That's like resorting to liposuction to lose weight instead of changing your diet, training, and working hard.

  There will always be comparisons between men's and women's basketball. Even with lowered rims, comparisons are unfair. Until everyone realizes they are two vastly different games, the women's game will always be searching for ways to appeal to the 'common' fan.

  We cannot continue to look at what the women's game lacks. If improving the quality of play, improving the product, is truly our motivation, the 'lowering the rims' question would never be asked. 

  It will take time, and a lot of effort. But one thing's certain, the skill and fundamentals can be improved across the board. How can we do it?

  That's what we should be debating.

  So no thanks, Geno. Lowering the rims is a bad idea, and would do nothing to improve women's basketball.

Losing the Complacency, & Recapturing the Competitiveness

Back to game action.

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  Imagine playing a game you've played countless times.

  But this time, you're a step slow. Your reactions are a little off. You have no feel, or rhythm, for the game. And you feel like you could get hit with a flying elbow at any moment. That's how I felt back on the basketball court, until recently.

  And then I felt things click. Something switched in my head.

  That's what pre-season is for. To get your body in the condition to play physical games week after week. To acclimate to your teammates and develop team chemistry. To rediscover that feel for the game. And also, maybe most-importantly, to recapture that competitive spirit.

  Since I arrived back in Dunkerque nearly three weeks ago, my teammates and I have played in five 'friendly matches'. But they've hardly been friendly.

  It's the first real game action many of us have seen since last April or May. It's not a running workout, shooting, or weights, where there's only one person to worry about: you. It's not pickup, where it's just for fun (for the most part), where you can turn it off and on as you please. It's not practice, where you're working towards a common goal with your teammates. It's a game. And people are trying to beat you. (And I swear, sometimes, trying to hurt you.)

  They're competing.

  Until I felt that switch flip, I felt out of sorts. Like I was being 'out-competed', so-to-speak.

No more shooting workouts. Where it's just you & the hoop.

  We were in a tournament this past weekend in Strasbourg. I was getting beat in situations I wasn't used to getting beat in. I was a step behind. I was reacting, instead of making my opponent react to me. Granted I was still adjusting to the speed and the intensity of the game. But I wasn't competing.

  After my fourth preseason game, I realized I was coasting, and not thinking competitively. I suppose was still in pickup mode, whereas everyone else on the court was already in regular season mode.

  There's such a thing as being too comfortable. I think that's called complacency. Being complacent is not the way to play basketball, or any sport for that matter. If you want to be successful, anyway. Complacency leads to unequal playing fields where you'll always be at a disadvantage.

  When I realized my error in thinking, or preparation, that's when it came together for me.

  I think I got a little ticked -- that I allowed myself to play like that. Playing mad isn't necessarily a bad thing, as long as it doesn't hinder you, that you don't stop thinking.

Competing against yourself only does so much.

  I decided to challenge myself, change things up a bit. Play more aggressively than what my 'norm' is. And you know what, things started to happen. I was the aggressor, instead of the reactor. I played freely, instead of over-thinking. Sure, I got a couple of fouls I don't normally get, but oh well. You get five of them. So you better use a couple.

  Your natural demeanor and personality are who you are at the core. In my opinion, you can't really change them much. Demeanor and personality are ever-present on the basketball court, as well as off.

  I'm naturally a laid-back, easy-going person. And more often than not, that sort of demeanor doesn't translate into a successful basketball player. You can't be too nice on the court. If you are, you'll be taken to school every time you step between the lines.

Time to compete!

  So you work to develop your personality on the court, all the while retaining the person you are off the court.

  It sounds a lot like pushing outside of comfort zone. Being a little bit of something you're not (while on the court), all in the name of being successful. The easy thing to do, is to slide into what is comfortable. Then we're back to being complacent. It requires more focus

  If I've learned anything from my three weeks of pre-season thus far, it's this:

- Be hungry.

- Remember why you play.

- And most importantly, competing is never easy. It's hard work!

  Two more friendly matches to go til the regular season! Including one tonight against a Belgian team. I'll keep working!

No Practice, No Game. Now What?

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**Originally appeared on SLAM Online May 2nd, 2012**

  Days off typically are saving graces for us all, are they not? They give us a much-needed opportunity to rest physically, and decompress mentally. As a hooper in Europe, it's no different.

  On average, you have one day off per week -- to do absolutely nothing. No practice, no weights, no meetings, no obligations to speak of. How you choose to spend your rest day is completely up to you. 

  That one off day usually comes the day after a game, so you might find your body a little sore, and a little more tired than usual. You can stay in bed all day if you want and watch movies. Or you can get out and do something out of the ordinary, and change up your routine.

  But rest days abroad come with a caveat: many times they can become incredibly monotonous as well.

  I think people like routines (or maybe that's just me). No matter your job, if you have a schedule to keep, it makes things easier. Sure, there are times when you HATE that schedule. But for the most part, having a routine ensures that we're accountable. We know exactly where we're supposed to be, what we're supposed to be doing. 

  It's no different as an athlete.

  In college having a strict, busy schedule kept us out of trouble. Our days were accounted for almost from sunrise, to sundown. Yes, it was tiring. And we despised it at times. And we wondered what we would do if we didn't have to go to practice, or study table, or 6am weights. (To be fair, that schedule also helped us learn how to prioritize our lives, manage our time, and become disciplined.)

  But on those extra-special occasions when we got a day off during the week, usually by 4 o'clock that afternoon, we'd be completely lost (not to mention bored)! We wouldn't know what to do with ourselves.

  In Europe it's exactly the same. Obviously, we have no classes to attend, or homework to finish. But all week, we look forward to that day off. Where we don't have to be inside those all-too-familiar four walls of the gym, with the same people we see day-in-and-day-out. When we can do whatever we want to do, whenever we want to do it.

  But just as in college, as we grow accustomed to being on a schedule (such as being at practice at 11am and 6pm every day), when we suddenly don't HAVE to be there, we get bored.

  Your level of boredom can depend a great deal on what the city is like where you play. Obviously, if you're in a big city, it can be very easy to fill your free time. But if you're in a smaller city or town, off the beaten path, you have to search a little harder to fill your day!

  While I don't get homesick anymore, days off are when homesickness can rear its ugly head. You realize just how far away from home you really are. You're a continent away (and six to nine hours away, time-wise) from your family and your closest friends. Even with the wonders of the internet, most of the time they're all sleeping while you're awake and have nothing to do.

  So what do you do?

  You can only sleep so much, or watch so many movies (in my opinion, of course). Laying around all day is a surefire way to give me a bad case of cabin fever. But I'm sure there are people who say otherwise.

  Sure, I do try to sleep in as late as I possibly can (some days that works better than others). After my normal routine of checking the news and scores from the night before, and of course Twitter, and Facebook, I usually try to get out and get some fresh air.

  This season, I have been extremely blessed to live on the beach, so I am out on the sand as much as I can possibly be. In prior years, when I didn't have a beach to explore, I still found a way to get outside and get some fresh air. Whether it was out and about in the city, or a brisk walk in the cold Northern Swedish air (or on a snow mobile!), I always find a way get a little exercise, and a little fresh air.

  If your off day happens to land on a Sunday, which is often the case, nothing will be open. So for those of you who like to shop, there will be none of that. No errand running, no trips to the grocery store. Sundays in Europe truly are rest days for everyone.

  Again, the things you can do depends on where you're located. Maybe you can do a bit of traveling if you're a train-ride or drive away from any worthwhile sights.

  If you're in a place where you can easily travel, multiple off days are a blessing. Then you can be a tourist for a few days. It gives you the opportunity to get out and see some of the things that everyone thinks were over here seeing on a daily basis!

  It's nice to do something different, something fun, and something that will take you away from basketball for a bit. You find little things that interest you: reading, writing, movies, architecture of old Europe, sea glass hunting -- really, anything!

  I know, I know, what difficult lives we lead, right? Complaining about being bored on off days. Hope it doesn't sound like a complaint, I'm only trying to give you the player's perspective!

  Above all, rest days are a must. You have to allow your body and mind to recover from a long week of practice, and a physical game. If the downtime, and the quiet aren't for you, then this might not be the job for you either!