Grab the popcorn, it’s time for Roster Roulette ’09
Training Camp is upon us. Finally. The long stretch between the end of the NCAA Championship and the cusp of the season is over. Yeah, I know there were some European championships in the mix and there’s the WNBL in Australia. But, we all know, the game is at its highest level in the good ol’ US of A during the summer months (even if the WNBA salaries pale in comparison to what a Russian gazillionaire can pay). So now until June 6, fans will be watching teams play roster roulette to trim their squad to a lean 11, down two from last year. It really is a shame that the economy has bitten the league so badly in the derrière that rosters had to shrink. Heck, the league won’t even print media guides this year (to the comical consternation of Seattle Times reporter Jayda Evans aka @JaydaEvans on Twitter).
For a rundown of other cost cutting measures read this article by Bob Corwin.
Anyway, let’s get back to the issue at hand: rosters. Below are links to each team’s roster so you can skip right on by those splash pages. From now until the the first tip-off of the regular season, it’ll be interesting to see the how the teams configure their squads. Grab the popcorn and hold on to your wigs folks, it’s going to be an emotional ride. I hope your favorite players make it and all the best to those who get cut. Just remember that NCAA promo quote: “There are over 380,000 student-athletes and just about every one of them will go pro in something other than sports.” Plus, European team training starts in…August?
- Atlanta Dream
- Chicago Sky
- Connecticut Sun
- Detroit Shock
- Indiana Fever
- Los Angeles Sparks
- Minnesota Lynx (I like that the Lynx have a past rosters link on their site)
- New York Liberty
- Phoenix Mercury
- Sacramento Monarchs
- San Antonio Silver Stars
- Seattle Storm
- Washington Mystics
Some interesting articles on training camp and potential team moves (newest to oldest):
- Storm blog returns along with WNBA action by @JaydaEvans (seattletimes.com)
- Detroit Shock prepare to defend WNBA title. Laimbeer: “you can’t win the championship unless you’re in the finals” http://cli.gs/bS3bRq
- WNBA’s Eastern Conference has enjoyed a makeover (Norwich Bulletin) http://cli.gs/M2j782
- Sparks set their sights on WNBA title, team chemistry a factor (Los Angeles Times) http://cli.gs/3YDHg2
- Lauren Jackson’s desire to finish WNBA career with Storm brought her back to Seattle by @JaydaEvanshttp://cli.gs/RPtLyG
- Minnesota Public Radio: Pics and Quotes from Lynx Media Day http://cli.gs/uXRW8q
- Brian Agler previews Storm training camp: http://tinyurl.com/q5zluc
- Minnesota Lynx excited about their deep talent pool – TwinCities.com http://cli.gs/Sh4MZE
- A Miller reunion in the WNBA? Lynx officials are taking a look. Will Coco join Kelly? http://bit.ly/lNubU
- Los Angeles Sparks get ready for season behind WNBA 8-ball http://bit.ly/Rg07G
- WNBA Draft Redux: The Uncertains by @JaydaEvans (seattletimes.com) http://cli.gs/pjtXn2
- WNBA Draft Redux: New York Liberty by @JaydaEvans (seattletimes.com) http://bit.ly/jOo7J
- WNBA Draft Redux: Atlanta Dream by @JaydaEvans (seattletimes.com) http://bit.ly/cF9PI
- WNBA Draft Redux: San Antonio Silver Stars by @JaydaEvans (seattletimes.com) http://bit.ly/hkcZn
- WNBA Draft Redux: Minnesota Lynx by @JaydaEvans (seattletimes.com) http://bit.ly/x1Io
- WNBA Draft Redux: Los Angeles Sparks by @JaydaEvans (seattletimes.com) Blog http://bit.ly/TI9lh
- WNBA Draft ‘09: Kittens, Serbians, and Ruffles — Oh, My! by @JaydaEvans (seattletimes.com) http://bit.ly/4BC1PV
And from Chantelle Anderson of the Atlanta Dream, a player’s perspective on training camp:
- Training camp starts tomorrow by Chantelle Anderson (@MissChantelle) of the Atlanta Dream http://cli.gs/vqHtSG
