With its star-studded cast led by Diana Taurasi, Spartak Moscow Region earned its fourth straight EuroLeague title over the weekend beating Spain’s Ros Casares 87-80. The Final Four featured big names on other teams like Cappie Pondexter, Candace Parker, DeLisha Milton-Jones and Deanna Nolan.

For the second year in a row, Taurasi earned the EuroLeague Women Final Four MVP award. In the semifinal final she had 37 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. In the final, she had 29 points and six rebounds.

Spartak surged from a deficit on the strength of an incredible streak by Taurasi coupled with the rebounding prowess of Sylvia Fowles in the semifinal game against UMMC Ekarterinbrug. In the final, it was more of an all-around team scoring effort with Janel McCarville giving the team a boost with an impressive 20 points, 13 rebound haul.

DeLisha Milton-Jones led Ros Casares with 19 points.

The weekend’s complete results:

Final
Spartak Moscow Region 87 Ros Casares 80

3^rd place – 4^th place game
UMMC Ekaterinburg 84 Wisla Can-Pack 50

Semifinals
Spartak Moscow Region 87 UMMC Ekaterinburg 79
Ros Casares 86 Wisla Can-Pack 57

Former Seattle Storm player Sheryl Swoopes joined the roster of the Greek team Ravenna Esperides Wednesday. The 38-year-old basketball legend agreed to replace an open spot left by the departure of Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton.

Wisdom-Hylton, a forward for the Los Angeles Sparks, returned to the United State to take a position as an assistant coach at her alma mater Purdue University.

While the Greek season resumes Sunday, Swoopes will not play then but will become active in later games according to the team’s website.

She was the first player signed by the now defunct Houston Comets during the WNBA’s inaugural season in the Initial Player Allocation draft. She won four championships with the Comets. She is a three-time Olympic gold medalist, a three-time WNBA MVP and the first three-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. She signed with the Storm in March 2008 ending her eleven year career with Comets. She was waived by the team on February 3, 2009.

Swoopes joined the staff of Mercer Island High School girl’s basketball team in Washington on an interim basis assisting with coaching while head coach Jamie Prescott was out on maternity leave.

Related:

• Sheryl Swoopes to play in exhibition game

Around the Web

• Sheryl Swoopes joins MIHS girls basketball coaching roster

The PLKK (Polska Liga Koszykówki Kobiet) All-Star Game takes place January 9, 2010 in Pruszków, Poland. Members of the Polish National Team and Polish All-Stars will face a squad of All-Stars who are foreigners:

• Samantha Richards (KSSSE AZS PWSZ Gorzów Wlkp.)
• Veronika Bortelova (CCC Polkowice)
• Marta Fernandez (Wisła Can-Pack Kraków)
• Ashley Shields (Blachy Pruszyński Lider Pruszków)
• Alana Beard (Lotos Gdynia)
• Sidney Spencer (KSSSE AZS PWSZ Gorzów Wlkp.)
• Amisha Carter (CCC Polkowice)
• Brittany Denson (KS Odra Brzeg)
• Ivana Matovic (Lotos Gdynia)
• Janell Burse (Wisła Can-Pack Kraków)
• Tracy Gahan (Blachy Pruszyński Lider Pruszków)

Coach: Jose Hernandez (Wisla Can-Pack Krakow)
Assistant Coach: Jorge Aragones (Wisla Can-Pack Krakow)

The Polish team will be led by newly appointed Polish national coach Dariusz Maciejewski.

• All-Star Game Web site
• PLKK Web Site Web site Translated into English

All-Star Game video promo:

Lauren Jackson is close to signing a deal to play with the Canberra Capitals for the rest of the WNBL season.  Just last week, Capitals coach Carrie Graf and Jackson’s agent indicated that the WNBA star might stay in her native Australia if enough funds were raised by investors to pay her a salary of $220,000 AUD.

Until early November, Jackson had plans to spend the winter playing for Spartak Moscow under a lucrative contract. But when the club’s owner was assassinated on November 2, doubts about her return to Russia began to surface.  She went to Australia to recover from back injuries after the end of the WNBA season.

“She wants to be here—that’s her priority," said Graf Tuesday to ABC Sport. "She wants to stay home and wants to be in Canberra.”

“If we’ve got all the paperwork done tomorrow and can come up with the money, she’ll be a Canberra Capital.”

Graf is also the head coach the Australian national team, the Opals.

Jackson is still recovering from stress fractures in her lower back and will not play until after the weekend.

Her first stint with the Capitals lasted six years.  She joined the team in 1999  led them to four titles and earned MVP honors three times. Currently the team has a 6-4 record and is in fifth place.

Related:

• Will Lauren Jackson skip Russia and play for the Canberra Capitals?

Around the web:

• Jackson set to sign today (Canberra Times)
• Lauren back for $24,000 a game (Daily Telegraph)
• Jackson close to Capitals deal (ABC Sport)
• Canberra Capitals may move remaining home games if Lauren Jackson returns (Canberra Times)
• Will Lauren Jackson be Canberra’s highest paid athlete? (Basketball Australia)
• Lauren Jackson’s WNBL return imminent (ABC Sport)
• Lauren Jackson’s $666-a-minute deal (Canberra Times)
• Capital support could see Lauren Jackson back in Canberra (WNBL)
• Carrie Graf interview with ABC Grandstand Sport radio
• Carrie Graf interview with ABC Canberra
• Canberra Capitals

Lauren Jackson’s fans in her home country are now getting a taste of what Seattle Storm faithful endured last spring when her future with the team seemed to be in limbo. Jackson, who had plans to play for Spartak Moscow this winter, has not yet arrived in Russia. She went to Australia to recover from back injuries after the WNBA season and now the Australian WNBL is wooing the star.

Further complicating matters is the death of flamboyant Spartak owner Shabtai Kalmanovich earlier this month. While the team is continuing under the guidance of Kalmanovich’s widow, former basketball player Anna Arkhipova, the Australian government, the WNBL and others are working on keeping Jackson at home.

According to the WNBL, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government pledged $50,000 AUD towards efforts to convince her to play with the Canberra Capitals. Jackson has indicated on several occasions that she would someday like to play in the WNBL again.

While her Australian agent Bruce Kaider indicates she has plans to honor her Spartak commitment, he did not rule out the possibility of her returning to the WNBL.

“Lauren is still contracted to play with Spartak in Moscow and at this point her intention is to fill her contractual obligation,” said Kaider according to the WNBL. “But if the circumstances change in Russia we would certainly look at opportunities in Europe and in Asia and, of course, in the WNBL.”

“Lauren loves Canberra and she has enjoyed great success there so if the financial support could be generated it would certainly be a proposition we would investigate.”

Canberra Capitals and Australian Opals head coach Carrie Graf is pushing for support to lure Jackson to the WNBL.

“We’re talking about having the best female basketball player in the world returning to the Australian domestic competition to represent Canberra and that excites me,” said Graf according to the WNBL. “If things change in Russia and Lauren goes on the open market she will be the hottest free agent in the global game and contract offers will come thick and fast.”

• Capital support could see Lauren Jackson back in Canberra (WNBL)
• Carrie Graf interview with ABC Grandstand Sport radio
• Carrie Graf interview with ABC Canberra
• Lauren Jackson back? (Canberra Times)

Shabtai Kalmanovitch, owner of the highly successful Spartak Moscow women’s basketball team, was shot and killed in Moscow according to reports coming out of Russia and Israel.

Kalmanovitch, known as a high-roller who spent tons on money on his basketball club, giving players high salaries and luxurious perks, was an Israeli immigrant from the former Soviet Union and a former KGB spy. He was caught and sentenced to seven years in prison. He only served five and relocatd to Sierra Leone, making a lucrative living in the diamonds trade according to the Associated Press.

Kalmanovitch was attacked by assailants armed with semi-automatic guns while driving in his Mercedes in the Russian capital according to the Interfax news agency. He was shot at least 20 times.

It is possible that his murder was connected to basketball reported Ynetnews.com. Anatoly Bagmet, the head of the Investigative Committee’s Moscow branch, told Russian news agency RIA:

“We are looking into different leads, among them the possibility that the murder was connected with Kalmanovich’s activities as the owner of the basketball team Spartak Moscow,”

The current Spartak squad includes several WNBA players: Janel McCarville (New York Liberty), Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky), Aneta Jekabsone-Zogota, (Connecticut Sun) Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), Edwige Lawson-Wade (San Antonio Silver Stars) and Kelly Miller (Minnesota Lynx). Seattle Storm players Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson are also on the squad but have not yet joined the team. The coach of Spartak is  Pokey Chatman, the former head coach of Louisiana State University.

Around the Web:

• Spartak Roster on Eurobasket.com
• Russian tycoon fatally shot in Moscow (Los Angeles Times)
• Moscow police investigates link between businessman’s murder and Spartak Moscow (ynetnews.com)
• Former KGB spy shot dead in Moscow (AP)
• Russian-Israeli businessman shot dead in Moscow (AFP)
• Russian who spied on Israel shot dead in Moscow (Haaretz)
• Radio Free Europe: Prominent Businessman Shot Dead In Moscow (Radio Free Europe) – warning: graphic photo

Russian tycoon fatally shot in Moscow

WNBL

Kristi Harrower

Australia’s WNBL kicked off their 30th season this week in Bulleen, north of Melbourne. Kristi Harrower of the Los Angeles Sparks signed to play with the Bendigo Bank Spirit. So far, she has short-term contract. The team had to raise money to fund her salary. Shortly after arriving from Los Angeles, she led Bendigo in a win over the Dandenong Jayco Rangers with a 23 point effort.

Former WNBA player Margo Twigg (known more by her maiden Dydek) and sister Marta are signed to play on the same team, the Logan Thunder. Margo is the tallest active women’s professional basketball player at 7′2". She holds the record for most blocks in a WNBA career, with 877 blocks in 323 games. Her sister Marta is 6′6" and played for the University of Texas-El Paso.

WNBA Awards

With less than a week before the end of the WNBA postseason, all of the league’s awards have been announced. Let’s recap shall we:

• Coach of the Year – Marynell Meadors (Atlanta Dream)
• Most Valuable Player – Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury)
• Rookie of the Year – Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream)
• Defensive Player of the Year – Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever)
• All-Defensive Team Selections – Tamika Catchings, Nicky Anosike (Minnesota Lynx), Lauren Jackson (Seattle Storm), Tanisha Wright (Seattle Storm), Tully Bevilaqua (Indiana Fever)
• All-Rookie Team – Angel McCoughtry, DeWanna Bonner (Phoenix Mercury), Shavonte Zellous (Detroit Shock), Renee Montgomery ((Minnesota Lynx) and guard Marissa Coleman (Washington Mystics).
• All-WNBA Teams – Diana Taurasi, Cappie Pondexter (Phoenix Mercury), Lauren Jackson, Becky Hammon (San Antonio Silver Stars) and Tamika Catchings. Los Angeles Sparks teammates guard/forward Candace Parker and center Lisa Leslie, highlight the 2009 All-WNBA Second Team. They are joined by Fever guard Katie Douglas, Detroit Shock guard Deanna Nolan and San Antonio Silver Stars forward Sophia Young
• Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award – Kara Lawson (Sacramento Monarchs)
• Sixth Woman of the Year presented by Kia Motors – DeWanna Bonner (Phoenix Mercury)
• Most Improved Player presented – Crystal Langhorne (Washington Mystics)
• WNBA Peak Performers – Diana Taurasi, Candace Parker and Sue Bird (Seattle Storm)

The most hotly debated award among basketball fans was MVP. Some felt that Taurasi’s off-court behavior (a DUI in July) should have been a factor in the determining her eligibility for the award. But the accolade is based on an athlete’s performance on the court and the voting results prove that the majority of the panel of sportswriters and broadcasters who cast ballots felt the same.

Better, Faster, More Points, Higher Ratings

The opening game of the Finals is arguably one the best WNBA game ever played. In the highest scoring game in WNBA history, the Phoenix Mercury defeated the Indiana Fever 120-116. The teams also combined for the most points in a game in league history, playoffs or regular season. The previous high was 221 by Phoenix (111) and Houston (110) in triple overtime on August 10, 2006.

Playoff ratings also spiked. Game 1 was the most viewed WNBA game on cable since Game 4 of the 2007 WNBA Finals.

In Game 2 Indiana evened the series 1-1 beating Phoenix 93-84. It was the Fever’s first WNBA Finals win in franchise history. Tamika Catchings was one rebound short of a triple-double with 19 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds. There has never been a triple-double in WNBA Finals history. The only triple-double in WNBA Playoffs history was by Sheryl Swoopes on September 3, 2005 against Seattle. Swoopes had 14 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

Game 3 is Sunday, October 4 in Indiana, 4:00 p.m., ESPN2. According to the league, 16,000 seats have already been sold.

Ohhhklahoma where the winds come sweepin’ down the plain

Nolan Richardson was named head coach of a prospective WNBA team in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

"I’m happy for Nolan. He’s a really nice guy," said former WNBA player/coach Nancy Lieberman to Tulsa World. "He has a lot of work ahead of him. I think it’s going to be very important that he hire people on his staff that have knowledge of the league.

"There are a lot of people out there, like Bo Overton, who can help him understand who the players are in this league. I’m for anybody who can help make women’s basketball better and stronger. But they also have to be receptive to learning. If you aren’t open-minded to learning, then success won’t be as easy as you think."

The primary investors behind the push for a Tulsa team say they will know in early October if a team has been secured. This week they added two more backers in their bid for a team. Scott and Katie Schofield of Washington, D.C. pledged their support. Katie is a Tulsa native and grew up playing the game.

"I never imagined when I was growing up playing 6-on-6 basketball that something even remotely close to a WNBA team would ever be reality in Oklahoma," she told KTUL, "and that I would be involved in it."

Donna O. and the LPGA

WNBA president Donna Orender avoided directly answering a query from ESPN reporter Rebecca Lobo during Game 2 about her future with the league and rumors that she will take the top job at the LPGA. In response to a direct question about the possibility of her leaving the league, Orender proceeded to wax jubilantly about the Finals’ high scoring and attendance, completely avoiding the subject.

According to Sports Business Daily, an announcement about the LPGA’s next president will be made by late October. Orender is considered to be a frontrunner for the job. Previous to her WNBA post she spent 17 years working for the PGA Tour.

Orender also recently celebrated the induction of her Queens College basketball teammate Gail Marquis into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame. She wrote on Twitter:

At nyc bb hof awards with my queens college teammates – our teammate gail marquis is getting inducted – its a thrill!

College Scene

Several media outlets came out with preseason rankings in the past week and a half. UConn tops every list.

Sporting News Preseason Top 10
1. Connecticut
2. Stanford
3. Ohio State
4. North Carolina
5. Duke
6. Notre Dame
7. Oklahoma
8. Virginia
9. LSU
10. Baylor

Athlon Preseason Top 10
1. Connecticut
2. Stanford
3. Ohio State
4. Duke
5. Michigan State
6. Texas
7. Xavier
8. Baylor
9. Georgia Tech
10. North Carolina

Lindy’s Preseason Top 10
1. Connecticut
2. Stanford
3. Ohio State
4. Tennessee
5. Notre Dame
6. Duke
7. Michigan State
8. Rutgers
9. Baylor
10. Oklahoma

You have to go out and buy fat and expensive preseason guides to see the rankings in print but every college on a list hyped their rankings with press releases on their web sites.

The Road to the 2010 World Championships in the Czech Republic

FIBA Americas, Sept. 23 – 27
Brazil won the Gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championship for Women after defeating Argentina 71-48. Canada won the bronze, beating Cuba 59-49 in overtime. Argentina and Canada secured their place at the 2010 World Championship. The United States already qualified due to winning the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics.

The U.S. National team training camp is taking place this week in Washington, D.C. at American University. The team will provide fans with a fall showcase and autograph session on Sunday. Since team members Tamika Catchings, Ebony Hoffman, Cappie Pondexter and Diana Taurasi are competing in the WNBA Finals, they did not attend the camp.

Candace Parker arrived late due to participating in the WNBA playoffs. She will join her husband Shelden Williams of the Boston Celtics in Massachusetts this fall before heading to Russia in the winter to play for UMMC Ekaterinburg.

The US team leaves for Russia next week for a three-game tour. Academic obligations will prevent UConn junior Maya Moore from making the trip.

FIBA Asia, Sept. 17 – 24 and FIBA Oceania Aug. 31 – Sept. 2
The FIBA Asia Championship was held Sept. 17 – 24 in India. The top three finishers were China, Korea and Japan. They all qualified for the world championships. Australia also qualified by virtual of winning the FIBA Oceania tournament with a win over New Zealand in early September.

Tierra Rogers

Tierra Rogers in the 2009 McDonald’s All American Women’s High School Basketball Game, on April 1, 2009 in Coral Gables, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

University of California-Berkeley incoming freshman Tierra Rogers has seen more than her fare share of adversity. She underwent heart surgery this week after doctors discovered that she had a severe heart condition. She has been declared medically ineligible to play.

"This is obviously devastating news for Tierra and her family," said Cal women’s basketball coach Joanne Boyle. "We are here to stand by her 100 percent with whatever she needs. Obviously, basketball was a very precious part of her life, but she has a higher purpose here than just being a basketball player, and her health and well-being are our primary concern. Right now, she can really use all the support and prayers she can get to help her through these trying times."

A native of San Francisco, Roger endured the tragic death of her father in 2008 who was shot during halftime during one of her high school games. He stepped outside to smoke a cigarette and was gunned down by assailants who have never been caught. Her school went on to finish the season 33-0, win the state title. They were the number one ranked team in the nation.

Rogers was named a McDonald’s All-American and Parade Magazine second-team All-American as a senior at Sacred Heart Prep in 2009. Rogers helped Sacred Heart to state championships in 2006, ‘07 and ‘08, including perfect 32-0 seasons in 2007 and ‘08.

Cal will seek a medical waiver for her so she can retain her athletic scholarship and continue her education.

WNBA players with plans to play overseas this winter may face the unfortunate prospect of squads in economic turmoil. Women’s basketball team CSKA Moscow announced today that although it is premature to say the team will cease operations, they are currently seeking more sponsors and avenues of financing to keep the team afloat. WNBA players on CSKA Moscow include Janel McCarville, Becky Hammon, Edwige Lawson-Wade, Ann Wauters and Katie Douglas.

A rough translation of the team’s announcement:

JBK CSKA officially confirms that the club is in a difficult situation.

At this time the there are not enough sources of funding due to the global financial crisis, but it is premature to say that the team has ceased to exist. Management of the club is considering various options for partnership with the sole purpose of retaining control of  CSKA.

In 2008 Hammon (pictured right), who has a Russian passport, signed a three-year extension with CSKA. The deal would pay her $2 million over four years.

Other Russian teams including Dynamo, Khimki, Triumph Lyubertsy and CSK VVS have had financial troubles. Players felt the brunt when several teams delayed or did not pay salaries last season.

Last season’s CSKA squad:

Janel McCarville (New York Liberty)
Catherine Lisin – signed with Mizo (Hungary)
Olga Arteshina
Rebecca Hammon (San Antonio Silver Stars)
Edwige Lawson –Wade (San Antonio Silver Stars)
Alexander Gorbunov
Ilona Korstin – signed with Spartak
Ann Wauters (San Antonio Silver Stars) – signed with UMMC
Elena Danilochkina
Ludmila Sapov
Katie Douglas (Indiana Fever)
Anna Petrakova

Update: The team folded this morning. Russian players were informed of the decision during practice. “This was a big blow for us,” said Anna Petrakova to sports.ru. “The girls could not hold back her tears.”

The USA Women’s U16 National Team landed in Mexico City yesterday for the 2009 FIBA Americas U16 Championship. The tournament is a qualifier for the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship scheduled for July 16-25 in France.

The team plays its first game Aug. 10 against the Dominican Republic, followed by Puerto Rico on Aug. 11 and Argentina on Aug. 12. The top two finishing teams in each preliminary round group will advance to the semifinals on Aug. 13.

A draw placed the USA in Group B along with Argentina, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Group A includes Canada, Brazil, Guatemala and host country Mexico

The bottom two teams from each group will play for 5th through 8th places. The gold medal game will be played Friday, Aug. 14.

The 2009 USA U16 National Team includes:

• Jordan Adams (Mater Dei H.S./Irvine, Calif.)
• Cierra Burdick (Butler H.S./Mathews, N.C.)
• Bashaara Graves (Clarksville H.S./Clarksville, Tenn.)
• Justine Hartman (Brea Olinda H.S./Brea, Calif.)
• Betnijah Laney (Smyrna H.S./Clayton, Del.)
• Ariel Massengale (Bolingbrook H.S./Bolingbrook, Ill.)
• Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (Mater Dei H.S./Anaheim, Calif.)
• Alexia Standish (Colleyville Heritage H.S./Colleyville, Texas)
• Breanna Stewart (Cicero-North Syracuse H.S. / North Syracuse, N.Y.)
• Kiah Stokes (Linn Mar H.S. / Marion, Iowa)
• Alexyz Vaioletama (Mater Dei H.S./Fountain Valley, Calif.)
• Elizabeth Williams (Princess Anne H.S./Virginia Beach, Va.)

USA and Wingate University head coach Barbara Nelson will lead her first USA squad, with the assistance of Mike Armstrong of Perry Meridian High School (Indiana) and Dorena Bingham of Team Alaska AAU.

July 23
Preliminary Round

• France 89 Korea 47
• Japan 85 Tunisia 64
• Australia 75 Argentina 51
• Russia 54 Canada 46
• Spain 90 USA 86
• Brazil 104 Thailand 45
• Czech Republic 84 Lithuania 72
• China 86 Mali 60

The USA take on China today.

Follow the action online

• FIBA U19 World Championship for Women official site
• USA Basketball
• Canada Basketball