Overheard In Tampa: What You May Have Missed

By Tara Polen: SPM Women's Basketball Editor
Posted Friday, April 18, 2008

From April 4th through April 9th, almost everyone involved in women's basketball was focused on the city of Tampa. Of course, the centerpiece event was the Final Four, but in addition to the NCAA Tournament capstone, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) held its annual convention -- as it does each year in the Final Four destination city -- and the WNBA staged the 2008 Draft to close out the week of events, as it has done for the last 3 years.

The WBCA has its hand in all kinds of events throughout the week, including the High School All-America Game, the Wade Trophy presentation, Awards Luncheons, and a new entry for fans of women's basketball, "Shootaround with Beth and Debbie," a weekly podcast about women's basketball hosted by Beth Mowins and Debbie Antonelli, with a star-studded series of special guests. (You can find a whole season's-worth of podcasts on iTunes or the wbca.org website). Some of those in attendance in Tampa: Coaches Pat Summitt, Tara VanDerveer, Kay Yow, Linn Dunn, Gail Goestenkors, Joanne Boyle, Sherri Coale, Brenda Frese, Agnus Berenato, Doug Bruno; All-Americans Courtney Paris, Crystal Langhorne, Kristi Tolliver; WNBA Players Tamika Catchings, Katie Smith, Lindsey Harding.

On Friday night, April 4th -- for many their first night in Tampa -- "Shootaround" hosted a live recording of its show in a Ballroom at the Marriott Waterside, downtown and only steps away from the St. Pete Times Forum Arena, where the Final Four games would begin the following day. The event provided for some basketball analysis as well as some great stories.

On Saturday morning, April 5th, the WBCA presented the Wade Trophy to Candice Wiggins, announced the State Farm Coaches' All-America team, and in the afternoon hosted the High School All-America game at the University of South Florida's SunDome. (Photos)

On Monday and Tuesday, the WBCA held awards luncheons for players and coaches from all around the country, including Divisions I, II and III participants.

On Wednesday, the WNBA held its Draft (Photos) at the Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, about 45 minutes from downtown Tampa.

Compiled below are some choice tidbits that you may not have had a chance to read anywhere, organized by date/event.

Friday, April 4th, "Shootaround" Live Broadcast Event:

“Thank you treating me so well out there even though I picked Maryland.”
- Debbie Antonelli to Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer

“Don’t pick us, please!”
- VanDerveer's response to Antonelli

“Agnus’ youngest daughter is going to get confirmed this weekend. You can select whatever confirmation name you want … so: Christine Bernadette Marcedes Berenato.”
- Debbie Antonelli on the influence of Pitt’s Marcedes Walker on Coach Agnus Berenato’s family.

Beth: “Can you believe … Geno picked the wine. Can you believe the name on the wine? This is a special brew that Geno thought would go best with Pat’s dinner.”
Pat: “And he knew it would haunt me … ‘Taurasi’.”
- Beth Mowins and Tennessee coach Pat Summitt discussing the dinner about to be auctioned off for the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund:

“Maryland’s just been a really great experience for me, especially my teammates, I’m going to miss them so much. It’s going to be very different but I think Maryland over the years really helped us become used to that type of basketball and ready for the WNBA.”
- All-American Crystal Langhorne, ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, on how playing at Maryland prepared her for the WNBA.

“Just everything together. Gotta get in better shape, work on that 15-foot jump shot, different things like that.”
- All-American Courtney Paris, on what she plans to focus on for her senior season at Oklahoma

“Obviously scoring 40-points is hard – against anybody -- especially in the tournament, when you’re focusing on one person – and by the way, I did not guard Sheryl that day (laughter) but I am now. Nancy [Darsch, Ohio State coach at the time] didn’t have much faith in me, or maybe I needed to score, I don’t know, but obviously [Wiggins] is feeling it, and honestly, the tournament is about getting hot at the right time, and for her to continue to do what she does, it opens up the inside and maybe she’ll bring it there at the Finals, but obviously Swoopes, you know, 47 in the title game, winning it all – that’s a tough one to beat.”
- WNBA Star Katie Smith assessing Candice Wiggins’ performance and comparing it to Sheryl Swoopes’ record-setting game for the 1993 NCAA Title. Smith, a freshman at the time, scored 28.

“I think Maya’s a great player. One of the things that I really enjoy watching her -- she works hard all the time. That’s one of the things that I think I do in my game, and going out playing 100 percent all the time. You look at the game the other night against Rutgers – she didn’t score, they were face-guarding her, but she got five steals, she made her team win, she helped at all times, doing whatever she had to do to help her team win. I think that shows how great of a player she is now, and how great she eventually will be.”
- WNBA Star Tamika Catchings on Connecticut freshman Maya Moore (who calls Catchings one of her idols) and comparisons between them.

“I didn’t know what it was. I said ‘What’s that number, 739?’ And she said, ‘That’s Dawn Staley’s assist record … I’m gonna get it.’ I said, ‘Oh, are you?’ She sure enough did, about ¾ of the way through this season. A lot of people say, ‘Did Dawn have an advantage back when she played because she actually got to play with several All-Americans on the team?’ and actually Dawn didn’t have an advantage because she had Doyle Smith there as our statistician and Doyle never gave Dawn any assists. She’d play at home and have three assists; she’d go on the road and have 15. So actually … the record that she had was phenomenal.”
- Virginia coach Debbie Ryan on Sharnee Zoll’s topping Dawn Staley’s 739-record ACC assists

SATURDAY: State Farm Coaches All America Team Presentation

“If there is one thing I will be remembered for in the women’s game, it is that I was a defensive stopper. And so when you [Candace Parker] come to Chicago your nights will be just a little bit easier because I won’t be there.”
- Stacey Dales, ESPN Analyst, after announcing her retirement

SATURDAY: WBCA High School All-America Game

“This All-America Game … once you get to the next level … it doesn’t mean a thing. There is always someone fighting to take your spot.”
- Lindsey Harding, WNBA guard and honorary coach for WBCA HS All-America Game

“Ever since I was little, I just love walking into that gym [Thompson-Boling Arena]. Now I can call it my home gym.”
- Glory Johnson, University of Tennessee recruit.

“I started to get up and walk out, but I didn’t. And the reason that I didn’t is because I was thinking to myself, ‘You know what? I want to remember this. I want to savor all of this, because they will never present themselves like that again.’ … I’m glad that everybody saw it ‘cause I’m going to take that tape and remind them of what I saw ‘cause I was so upset I couldn’t even believe it.”
- Rutgers Head Coach C. Vivian Stringer on the performance of four of her incoming recruits in the WBCA High School All-America game.

TUESDAY: WBCA Awards Luncheon

“I would like to thank my mom for raising a beautiful, strong black woman. I would also like to thank my opponents. They make it hard, but it is worth it.”
- Sylvia Fowles, accepting the Defensive Player of the Year award

“A year ago I was on the outside looking in, and now I am on the inside looking out -- and it is incredible. I have so many people to thank, especially my mother, Angela. I want to thank her for the sacrifices she made for me. I want to thank my head coach Tara VanDerveer. Last spring when we lost in the second round, it was a really low point in my career and she wouldn’t let me settle for anything other than being the best. I am so thankful for her.”
- Candice Wiggins on winning the Wade Trophy

“I would like to thank you coaches who have given so much of your lives to this great game. Title IX, while well intentioned and obviously very effective, is only as good as the feet and the legs that drive it around. Thanks to you coaches and Title IX, my little girl did not have to grow up saying ‘I want to be like Mike.’ She could say, ‘I want to be like Candace, either with an “i” or an “a”.”
- Elena Della Donne’s father accepting her 2008 High School Player of the Year award. Della Donne will enroll at Connecticut this Fall.

WEDNESDAY: WNBA Draft

“It feels really good to be back. I’m still nervous cause I have two teammates in the draft right now so I’m a little nervous for them but it’s definitely just an honor to be here, definitely a blessing. If I can give any advice it’s just wherever they get drafted to just to take advantage of it and enjoy it and pretty much enjoy this day, ‘cause it only happens one time.”
- WNBA Guard Ivory Latta, on what it felt like to be at the Draft one year after she was drafted herself

“The skill piece is obvious. But I think they’re kids with tremendous inner strength, character, charisma and just the right value system – a lot of integrity – just somebody you’d want in your locker room, representing you, going to battle with you, and being a part of your organization. You couldn’t have two better people than Essence and Matee.”
- Rutgers Assistant Coach Marianne Stanley

"Mat’s born for the pros. Mat is born to be a pro player. She’s going to electrify people. Essence – she hasn’t scratched the surface of who she is. She’s probably one of the most versatile players, she’s hungry for knowledge; she’ll be very successful. ... They’re gonna have big fun, but I just told her [Ajavon], ‘Don’t forget, you have to play defense too,’ ‘cause you know, I can’t handle that!”
- Rutgers Head Coach C. Vivian Stringer, on Matee Ajavon and Essence Carson

"It kind of felt like the Selection show, just sitting there waiting. Yeah, it was nerve-wracking trying to figure out where I’d be spending the rest of my career but like I said, I didn’t really care where I went, I just want to be happy wherever I go."
- Nicky Anosike, after being drafted by Minnesota.

“No, not at all. I just … had… you don’t understand. I’m very excited … I’m at a loss for words right now.”
- Essence Carson, on whether or not she knew she would be chosen by her home-town team.

"It feels great. Keep it all in the system."
- Carson on how it feels to go play for a coach who was one of Rutgers' all-time greats

“When I heard my name I was euphoric. I didn’t know if it was dream or what. Playing amongst a class with so many talented players, it’s like the bar is set so high. And to be amongst them … I just felt speechless.”
- Laura Harper, after being drafted by Sacramento

“I actually grew up watching Sheryl Swoopes a lot and I remember buying her sneakers when they came out. I think this was maybe when I was in the seventh or eighth grade. I was always a fan of hers…”
- Matee Ajavon, when asked whether or not she had been a fan of the Houston Comets, her new team.

“It’s very exciting. Essence Carson is one of my best friends. I can remember her being the one convincing me to even go to Rutgers, So just having her along with me for this whole process is something I’ll never forget.”
- Ajavon on being drafted with Carson

“I’m excited. It makes history. You know, we ended our season making history, but this also makes history for my university, so I’m really excited.”
– Morenike Aturnase on being drafted out of Texas A&M

“Just work on my shooting, that’s what a lot of people have told me. That’s one of my main things I need to work on. It’s just a whole different talent level, esp. defensively, offensively, all the way around. It’s another step up.”
- Crystal Langhorne shares advice she received for adjusting to the WNBA

“Oh wow! That’s far! That’s very far."
-Langhorne's reaction to the announcement of teammate Laura Harper's selection by Sacramento

"I have been to LA, I’ve been there a couple of times for the ESPYs and then also we went and played UCLA this year. I have not spoken to Coach Cooper but my teammate Sidney Spencer will help me out getting settled and things like that … we were teammates in Tennessee, so she’s got my back.
- Candace Parker on Los Angeles and whether or not she had yet spoken with her new coach, Michael Cooper.

"I was really exicted when he [Michael Cooper] came back to the WNBA. I keep up with the WNBA, I always have, and they hired “Mr Mean,” for an assistant coach, so I was excited about that, rebounding, all that stuff."
- Parker on her new team

“I talked to Seimone [Augustus] and Temeka Johnson. They were just telling me about the process, things you need to do, what to expect, to continue to enjoy it and when the time comes just do what you have to do.”
- Quianna Chaney on what advice she received from former teammates who are now pros

"I think she’s a great asset to our team, she’ll push me as well as I’ll push her … She brings ... an energetic handle to the game and I’m excited to be a part of it. ...I am doing something that most people say is a big woman’s game and that I shouldn’t be doing so I’m happy that Shannon was able to get it and I’m also excited for Erica White. So if the small guard is going to be represented then I’m excited about it."
- Los Angeles Sparks guard Temeka Johnson on Shannon Bobbitt and the number of small guards in this year's Draft

“First of all, I’m really excited for each one of them and I think that Chicago’s gonna get a great player in Sylvia Fowles. She needs to work on a little bit of her offensive moves around the basket. I thought that the steal of the draft was Chaney dropping to where she did. I think Chaney will need to work on her ball-handling but I think that’s fine, and I’m amazed – Erica White’s gonna be -- that was a great pick by the Comets. She suits them perfect.”
-LSU Head Coach Van Chancellor on his players at the Draft

“I’ll be at all of the Liberty games. How can it be anything other than that?”
- Stringer on what she’ll be doing this summer.

“It was a very early morning … It’s like going back and forth in my mind … like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m going to be playing in the WNBA,’ and then, switching quickly, ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t believe we lost that game.’ And thinking about stats .. and ‘I can’t believe I had six turnovers,’ but then the next second it’s like Hair and Makeup! -- so it’s crazy – you don’t have time. I think the best thing though is just that I’m excited. No matter what happens, we didn’t win the national championship, but in my heart our team are national champions, because it was just an amazing season.”
- Candice Wiggins on the hours leading up to the draft