The Sun passed on the numerous free agents who passed through waivers on Friday after being cut by the other 11 teams. Included in the group were veteran post players like Ruth Riley, Courtney Paris and Catherine  Kraayeveld, who played for Donovan in New York.

 The problem claiming veterans is the obligation to assume existing salaries, which in Riley’s case was for two years near the WNBA-max, which is just over $100,000 annually. That would have put a strain on the Sun’s salary cap, now comfortably under the $913,000 ceiling.

  Should the Sun care to make a move now, they can negotiate a new deal with a player they are interested in signing.

Within this piece you will hear from Geno Auriemma, Jen Rizzotti, Kara Lawson and Rebecca Lobo, among others, who discuss the facts, misconceptions, biases and realities of life in women’s college basketball, the WNBA and in high school.

It’s a topic brought to life when Brittney Griner told ESPNW recently that Baylor coach Kim Mulkey asked her to keep her sexuality a secret, so not to interfere with potential problems it might cause in recruiting or possible scrutiny it would bring to a program within an institution that’s view on gay rights leans to ultra-conservatism.

If you’ve ever wondered why male athletes tend to be homophobic but females more tolerant and understanding you need to read this.

If you want to know how gay and straight teammates seem to get along in women’s basketball you need to read this.

If you want to know if coaches use each other’s sexuality against each other in recruiting or purposefully ignore gay players you need to read this.

CPTV Sports, the state’s only 24-hour local sports channel, has announced its broadcast schedule for the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun games this season.

 Beginning with tomorrow night’s game against the New York Liberty, CPTV Sports will air at least 18 broadcasts of home and away Sun games. Just like last year, veteran Sun broadcaster Bob Heussler will handle play-by-play duties while color commentary will be handled by a rotating group of broadcasters.

Here is the 2013 Connecticut Sun broadcast schedule on CPTV Sports:

• Saturday, May 25 at 7 p.m.                  New York Liberty at Connecticut Sun
• Friday, May 31 at 8:30 p.m.                Connecticut Sun at Chicago Sky
• Saturday, June 1 at 8 p.m.                   Connecticut Sun at Minnesota Lynx
• Sunday, June 16 at 5 p.m.                   Seattle Storm at Connecticut Sun
• Saturday, June 29 at 7 p.m.                 Phoenix Mercury at Connecticut Sun
• Friday, July 12 at 7 p.m.                                  Chicago Sky at Connecticut Sun
• Friday, July 19 at 8 p.m.                                  Connecticut Sun at Tulsa Shock
• Saturday, July 20 at 8 p.m.                  Connecticut Sun at San Antonio Silver Stars
• Saturday, August 3 at 6 p.m.                Connecticut Sun at New York Liberty
• Tuesday, August 6 at 7 p.m.                Los Angeles Sparks at Connecticut Sun
• Sunday, August 11 at 4 p.m.                Connecticut Sun at Washington Mystics
• Wednesday, August 14 at 7 p.m.                     Atlanta Dream at Connecticut Sun
• Sunday, August 18 at 6 p.m.                Connecticut Sun at Chicago Sky
• Tuesday, August 27 at 10:30 p.m.       Connecticut Sun at Los Angeles Sparks
• Thursday, August 29 at 10 p.m.                       Connecticut Sun at Seattle Storm
• Saturday, August 31 at 10 p.m.                        Connecticut Sun at Phoenix Mercury
• Saturday, September 7 at 7 p.m.                      Connecticut Sun at Indiana Fever
• Sunday, September 15 at 1 p.m.                      Indiana Fever at Connecticut Sun                

 CPTV Sports is available on Comcast cable channel 966 (with Comcast Danbury, Bethel and Ridgefield on channel 256); Cox Communications cable channel 805; Cablevision channel 139; Charter channel 223; Thames Valley channel 87 and MetroCast Channel 418. The channel is also available digitally over the air at channels 24.3 (Hartford), 49.3 (Bridgeport), 53.3 (Norwich) and 65.3 (New Haven).

  One of the first things Anne Donovan did after becoming the second coach in Connecticut Sun history was watch 2012 game tapes of those coached by her predecessor, Mike Thibault.

   In the third year of a youth movement, the Sun soared to 25-9 and would have been in the WNBA Finals if not for a Game 3 collapse at home against Indiana in the Eastern Conference finals.

   What Donovan says she saw in those games was a team with its act together on offense, but one that seemed to lag somewhat on defense and rebounding.

   The Sun allowed 77.4 points a game last season, seventh among the 12 teams. Opponents shot 43.0 percent, also seventh. It was sixth in rebounding.

    And so she set out to fix that as her first order of business.

   “This was a helluva team to take over with a great, powerhouse offense,” Donovan said. “And it was pretty solid defensively, but in certain games, specifically in the playoffs against Indiana, it gave up too many points. Teams seemed to shoot the ball to well against [the Sun] historically. That’s one area I knew we could shore up. And we’ve focused on it.”

    The time has come to see what the difference may look like. The Sun kick off the 2013 season Saturday against the New York Liberty at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

   Not only is this Donovan’s debut in Connecticut, but Bill Laimbeer, long a Sun conference antagonist as coach of the defunct Detroit Shock, makes his return to the league in New York.

   When the Liberty opened the preseason in Connecticut two weeks ago, Sun fans still razzed Laimbeer like they did when he was jousting with Thibault.

   “I guess it’s because we beat them so many times,” Laimbeer said laughing. “I have somewhat of a history with that region [dating to his days playing against the Celtics while with the Detroit Pistons].

  “This team will resemble my Detroit [Shock] teams if it plays really hard, gets the ball up the floor, plays defense, to our strengths and wins. But it’s a different team, a different style.”

   He also has players – Kara Braxton, Cheryl Ford, Katie Smith and Plenette Pierson – that trace back to Shock championships teams to complement Cappie Pondexter, Essence Carson and rookie Kelsey Bone.

   “It’s not the same team, but it’s one that will rely on the same trademarks to win,” Laimbeer said.

   Which brings things  back to Donovan. She said the Sun players originally reacted quizzically when she mentioned its defensive breakdowns

  “We needed to get them to think about [defense more],” Donovan said. “The professional mindset is to score points. The dirty work, the subtle things are harder to associate with creating a successful outcome. We may have won [in the past], but we still can do better.”

   The Sun welcome rookie Kelly Faris, their first-round pick from UConn and free agents Ashley Walker and Natasha Lacy. White Walker and Lacy fought for their jobs in camp, Faris spent most of it continuing to recover from a foot injury she suffered March 4 while playing for the Huskies. She played just nine minutes in the preseason.

   The Sun will play without veteran Asjha Jones, who is taking this season off to recover from chronic injuries.

  They will again rely on league MVP center Tina Charles, an improved Kelsey Griffin and core of steady guards, led by Kara Lawson, Renee Montogmery, Allie Hightower, Kalana Greene and Tan White.

   “I can improve on last year,” said Lawson, who scored at a career-high (15.1) pace. “I guess you’ll just have to see for yourself. I’d to think I still have some surprises in store.”

   But more importantly, they will continue to grow accustomed to Donovan’s new voice and her insistence that victories don’t necessarily equate to solid basketball.

   In the preseason, the Sun allowed an average of 77.3 points in three games and were ranked last in rebounding (28.3), although two teams played just one exhibition game which skews the numbers.

  “Our thing in camp has been transition defense and getting rebounds and loose balls,” said Greene, who played for Donovan with the Liberty in 2010. “I don’t think there were enough reproductions for not playing well enough defensively. We won games, but when we lost you could see why we lost.

  “But now, even if we win, there is going to be constant emphasis [on defense and little things. There wasn’t someone on us all the time last year telling us what we needed to do better if we won … We can’t afford to think like that this season because everyone is better. We need to step up effort on each possession.”

It is not unusual for a WNBA team to wait until the final possible moment to make its final roster cut.

   “In fact, most of years that I played in Sacramento, that’s exactly what happened,” said Connecticut Sun guard Kara Lawson, who begins her 11^th season in the league Saturday against New York.

   That’s exactly how it transpired Thursday for the Sun. First-year coach Anne Donovan, conflicted for weeks about how to trim the team, put 13 players through one final practice in the morning.

   “I can’t say that I’ve never done it this way before,” Donovan said. “But I can say that I don’t remember being so indecisive down the stretch, where my mind changed from one day to the next. I’d think I have a good grip on it [the decision] and then we’d go to the next game or practice and it changes again.”

    But Thursday afternoon, Donovan brought her team together at the Mohegan Sun Arena and got on with it.

  The Sun waived 6-4 forward Latoya Williams and guard Johannah Leedham, a former Cheshire Academy and Great Britain national team standout, to get to the limit of 11.

  That means Ashley Walker, a 6-1 forward from Cal, and veteran guard Natasha Lacy, both free agents, have made the team.

   The Sun won two of three preseason games and Donovan  said its win Tuesday against at Minnesota reconfirmed some of the things she had been thinking.

   Walker, the final cut of three teams in the last three years, excelled against the Lynx, scoring a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds in 18 minutes.

   She also led the Sun in scoring (12 points) during their loss in New York last Saturday. Walker wound up leading the team with 31 points in 54 minutes in the three games.

  Lacey, who has played in the WNBA before for Tulsa (2010) and Los Angeles (2011), averaged 4.0 points and 5.0 rebounds and just over 18 minutes in three preseason games.

   Both Lacey and Walker bring strong rebounding and athleticism to a team that will be stressing both after missing the WNBA Finals last season by one game.

    “It was a normal camp in many respects, other than this was new for everybody [because of Donovan],” Lawson said. “We are all trying to pick up things, as opposed to what it was like under Mike Thibault and his staff. We knew what to expect and knew each other. There has been a lot of intense listening. We need to know what she wants.”

  Of course, the roster can still change before Saturday. Donovan and Chris Sienko, the general manager, will continue to scan the waiver wire looking for interesting potential matches. All 12 teams needed to cut down to 11 player by Thursday at 5 p.m.

“Our team now is what we feel is the best we can put on the floor now,” Sienko said. “But if someone comes available that can make us better or augment the team, then we need to consider them.”

  Sienko said there are no free agents the Sun may be considering that were not in WNBA training camps this summer.

  He also said it’s now increasingly unlikely that either of the Sun’s top two European properties, center Sandrine Gruda or Spain’s Alba Torrens, will report at any point this summer.

“Everyone has played very well for us,” Sun guard Kalana Greene said. “I know it must have been tough [to make the cuts]. I couldn’t imagine making them myself. This has just been a great group of girls. I hate to see any of them go. But I know that’s the way it has to be.”

Last week, she was in Colorado Springs, Colo., in her new capacity as a member of the selection group that picked the 12-member teams that will represent the nation this summer in the FIBA U19 world championship and World University Games.

You will recall that all five UConn players invited to try out made the teams – Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jefferson made the U19 team and Bria Hartley and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis made the World University team. And the only thing that prevented All-American Stef Dolson from joining Hartley and KML were the injuries that will sideline her entirely this summer.

Lawson is not allowed to comment directly on what she saw last week in Colorado. But she did have some amazing things to say about Stewie and Mosqueda-Lewis that are guaranteed to raise the eyebrows of Huskies fans in terms of the program’s future.

Here’s what Kara said about Stewie, the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.

“By  the end of last season, she was playing at a totally different level of confidence. When you are the most skilled player of your team, there’s a way, though the way you carry yourself, the air of confidence that you have, that helps your team jump up to another level.

“Through the course of last season, there were times when Stefanie Dolson  was the best player and times when Kaleena was the best player. But it seems that when Stewart finally figured out that she was the best player on the team, no one could beat UConn. I think he has figured that out about herself now. She may know that she is better than everyone else around here [the team] and the process for her was to learn not to just wait around for something to happen.”

As for KML, a first-time All-American last season who set a program record with 118 three-pointers …

“For Kaleena it’s all going to be about what she can add to her game. When you can shoot like she can, it essentially gives you a blank canvas to add to your game. Players that can’t shoot need to be put into certain situations in order to make plays. When you can shoot like Kaleena can, you have essentially created a situation where you can do everything off of the shot.

“What I mean by that is, if she catches the ball on the wing, someone [a defender] is going to get very close to her because she can shoot. And that opens up an ability to play off the dribble, to get easier into the lane because the defender is not sagging off you.

“If you can shoot, defenders are going to be super-aggressive chasing you off screens, which automatically opens up different reads for her. If she curls and they [the defense] switch you can pass. There is so much that will open up to her because she is such a knock-down shooter.

“Now that she has the blank canvas, her game off the dribble, her ability to pass and open up teammates, because of the attention she will get, will be the next step to being a great player.”

The tournament, which spring-boarded UConn to the Final Four and its eighth national championship, was awarded to Bridgeport’s Webster  Bank Arena.
“But we are certainly interested in trying again this year,” Sienko  said. “But I don’t know if the NCAA would change their opinion about  us.”
Rick Nixon, an NCAA spokesman, said Thursday the casino’s chances of being granted a regional is slim.
“At this point in time, the NCAA policy has not changed [regarding casino sites] so we could not consider their bid,” Nixon said.
Last year, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signed a bill that legalized sports betting in New Jersey after voters overwhelmingly approved a non-binding ballot initiative to amend the  state constitution to allow sports betting in the previous general election.
In doing so, New Jersey sued to overturn a 20-year-old federal  ban on the practice in all but four states: Nevada, Delaware, Oregon and Montana.
Under the new law, gamblers can place bets on professional and  college sports teams -but not New Jersey college sports teams or other college teams competing in New Jersey. The measure was intended to help casino and horse racing industries.
Since there is no proposal to legalize sports betting in Connecticut, the casino is hoping to ride the momentum generated by its AAC endorsement. But for now, its location makes that unlikely.

“Correct,” Nixon reiterated.
Nixon said the NCAA is now accepting bids for the 16 sub-regionals and four regional sites that will host tournaments in 2014.
A UConn spokesman said this week that the Huskies, which hosted  first- and second-round games in 2013 at Gampel Pavilion, have not yet  submitted, and may not submit a bid to host at Gampel or the XL Center  this year.
Nixon said those sites winning approval will be announced in early September.

Just wanted to take a second to bring your attention to some things. While I’ve been prepping for the start of the WNBA season this weekend, the Courant was kind enough to fly Paul Doyle of our staff to Florida to attend the inaugural spring meeting of the American Conference, in which UConn  will play this season – and into the future (until something better comes up).

The meetings produced two strong bits of news. And you can see what those are by clicking here to read Paul’s wrap-up story

Also, Dom Amore was in the New York City last night to attend the Winged Foot Dinner at the New York Athletic Club where Geno Auriemma and Louisville’s Rick Pitino received their trophies for winning the Division I women’s and men’s basketball  championships in April.

Coach Pitino had some remarkably complimentary things to say about Geno and one UConn player in particular. And you can see what he said simply by clicking here.

Also in regard to UConn, freshman Saniya Chong will be arriving on campus in time for the summer semester that begins July 14. For now, she’s just enjoying the remainder of high school life and working out to prepare herself for what’s to come.

The Connecticut Sun are due to make their final cuts very soon, if not today. They open their first season under Anne Donovan Saturday at Mohegan Sun Arena against New York.

The talking ends tomorrow.

Geno Auriemma, who is obviously there and likely the most famous guy (or women) in the room, stopped to talk to Paul about the message he delivered to his his new fellow coaches.

The following was provided by the league:

If the WNBA’s general managers are accurate prognosticators, the Phoenix Mercury will be taking part in a parade in October. The Mercury, with No. 1 overall draft pick Brittney Griner in the fold,  collected 33 percent of the votes as the team most likely to win the WNBA Finals presented by Boost Mobile in the 11th annual WNBA.com GM Survey.  The defending Western Conference champion Minnesota Lynx, led by a quartet of All-Stars, was voted as the most fun team to watch (25 percent). These results marked a reversal from a year ago when 83 percent of GMs tabbed the Lynx as eventual champions and 55 percent had cited the Mercury as the most entertaining team.

    The complete results of the exclusive survey are posted on WNBA.com in advance of WNBA Tip-Off 2013 presented by Boost Mobile, when the defending champion Indiana Fever and reigning WNBA Finals MVP Tamika Catchings visit the San Antonio Silver Stars Friday, May 24 (8 p.m. ET).  Among the other key contests set for opening weekend are two nationally televised games on Monday, May 27 (Memorial Day), when the “3 to See” will be on full display. Coverage tips off on ESPN2 at 3 p.m. ET when Skylar Diggins and the Tulsa Shock host the Washington Mystics; that game will be followed by Griner and the Mercury hosting Elena Delle Donne’s Chicago Sky on ESPN2 at 5 p.m. ET. 

  The Sparks’ Candace Parker, the Fever’s Catchings, and the Mercury’s duo of Griner and Diana Taurasi figured prominently in a number of categories. Parker, who led all vote-getters as the choice for MVP (42 percent), also was selected as the player with the greatest hunger to win a championship in 2013 (30 percent). Now in her sixth WNBA season, Parker was the only player to receive votes as the best player at all three frontcourt positions, ranking as the No. 2 power forward (36 percent) and center (17 percent), and as the No. 3 small forward. Catchings, the league’s regular season MVP in 2011, was this year chosen by GMs as the best leader among players (67 percent), the toughest player (64 percent), the top power forward (46 percent), and the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year (42 percent).

  An overwhelming favorite to take home the Rookie of the Year honors (75 percent), Griner was voted as the player acquisition that will make the biggest impact (42 percent).  She also shared top honors in two categories with a pair of WNBA MVPs, Taurasi (2009) and Catchings (2011). Griner tied for the lead with Taurasi as the player who forces opposing coaches to make the most adjustments (25 percent apiece), and along with Catchings was viewed as the player a team would sign first if starting a franchise today (25  percent each).

  In the backcourt, the GMs saw Taurasi as the top shooting guard for the fifth straight year (50 percent), and Minnesota’s Lindsay Whalen was named the best point guard (67 percent). At the forward spots, the versatile Catchings (46 percent) was selected as the No. 1 power forward and shared the top spot among small forwards with Atlanta’s Angel McCoughtry (33 percent apiece). Connecticut’s Tina Charles captured the vote as the top center (67 percent) and also was selected as the league’s best rebounder (50 percent) and the player with the best post moves (58 percent).

  Ten players received votes as the league’s most underrated player, with Indiana’s Briann January and Washington’s Ivory Latta sharing the top honor (17 percent each).

  The New York Liberty’s Cappie Pondexter was deemed the best at creating her own shot (58 percent) and her crossover dribble was voted as the most effective individual offensive move (55 percent).

  The coaching category included a variety of winners. San Antonio’s Dan Hughes was selected as the coach that best develops young players (58 percent) and Indiana’s Lin Dunn was voted as the best manager/motivator (42 percent) and the coach who runs the best defense (33 percent).  Minnesota’s Cheryl Reeve was given the nod as the coach who runs the best offense (42 percent) and Washington’s Mike Thibault was considered to be the coach that makes the best in-game adjustments (33 percent).

  The Seattle Storm, despite preparing to play the season without injured All-Stars Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird (the player voted by GMs as the best leader in each of the past five surveys), came out on top in a pair of categories for a second straight year. Seattle was once again voted as the team with the best home court advantage (58 percent) and Storm head coach Brian Agler was named the best head coach in the last two minutes of a close game (50 percent).

  Additional leaders in the WNBA.com GM survey included:

• Tulsa Shock – team that will be most improved (33 percent), edging Washington and Phoenix (25 percent each)
• Lindsey Harding signing with Los Angeles – the most surprising move of the offseason (44 percent)
• Nicole Powell and Candace Wiggins each joining Tulsa – most underrated move of the offseason (20 percent apiece)
• Kara Lawson, Connecticut Sun – active player who would make the best head coach (42 percent)
• Toni Young, New York Liberty – most athletic rookie (42 percent)
• Tayler Hill, Washington Mystics – “sleeper” rookie most likely to be a success (25 percent)
• Stephanie White, Indiana Fever – the best assistant coach (33 percent)

  *Please note – GM Responses were tabulated prior to the May 16, 2013 announcement by the Tulsa Shock that Liz Cambage would be returning to the WNBA.*

  Walker, a 6-1 forward, is trying to win one of the two jobs still remaining on the Sun’s 11-player roster after being the last cut of Seattle, San Antonio and Washington in the last three seasons. She also led the Sun with 12 points in Saturday’s loss in New York.

  Allison Hightower added 10 points for the Sun (2-1) who open the 2013 season Saturday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena against the New York Liberty.

  Seimone Augustus led the Lynx with 15 points. Lindsay Whalen (14) and Maya Moore (13), the former UConn national player of the year, were right behind.

   Sun coach Anne Donovan must now cut her roster from 13 to 11 before Saturday. The other candidates did not fare as well as Walker on Tuesday.

   Latoya Williams, a 6-4 forward with no Division I experience, had just three points and one rebound.

   Guards Natasha Lacy (three points, three rebounds) and Johannah Leedham (six points) played almost identical minutes,

   The Sun kept 2012 MVP Tina Charles out of the game. And Kelly Faris, their first-round pick out of UConn, scored six first-half points on two three pointers in4:38, all in the first half

  “We are all saddened by the loss of life and destruction in Oklahoma,” Sun vice president and general manager Chris Sienko said. “Through our small efforts we can hopefully bring some relief to those in desperate need of assistance.”

  Tickets to the game, which will be held at Mohegan Sun Arena at 7 p.m. on May 25, can be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster.com, WNBA.com/tickets, or by calling 1-877-WNBA-TIX.

  “The thoughts and prayers of the Mohegan Tribe and our employees are with all those affected by this horrific disaster,” said Mohegan Tribal Chairman Bruce “Two Dogs” Bozsum.

  The American Red Cross provides shelter, food, health and mental health services to help communities and families get back on their feet when disasters strike. For more information, visit redcross.org or call 1-800-Help-Now. Fancan also text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate directly.

What is the current attitude in the WNBA about this? Do coaches worry about how gay and straight players may get along on the same team? Have they ever made a roster decision based on a player’s sexual preferences?

I had no clue whether I’d get a direct answer, let alone any answer at all. But ESPN’s Carolyn Peck, a former college and pro coach, Rebecca Lobo [you know who she is] and Bill Laimbeer, the former Detroit Pistons center who now coaches the New York Liberty offered what I thought we constructive honest answers during Monday’s WNBA Conference call:

Carolyn Peck:

“Well, from a coach’s perspective, the way that I look at it is players are players.  I think – this is my feeling – that the media really puts more of an interest on the homosexuality or heterosexuality, the sexuality of the player than the players do.  The player steps out on the court in a uniform, they pick up the basketball and they play the game.

  “What people do in their personal lives I actually have no interest in.  What I am interested in when it comes to college basketball, the WNBA, is the performance of the players and what they do on the court.

   “And as a coach, that was my emphasis.  When I was in the WNBA, we worked.  They have a job to do.  They come and do the job, whether it’s to defend, run the screen and roll, shoot the three, play a one three one, play a zone, play a match?up, play a man to man, and that’s what we coach the players to do.”

      Rebecca Lobo:

    “The players don’t care.  The players in the WNBA don’t care what their teammate’s sexual orientation is.  And usually women in the WNBA, because they’re no longer 17, 18 years old, are women.  They’re comfortable and so most of them are very open about who they are.  They’ll introduce you to their boyfriend; they’ll introduce you to their girlfriend; because they know there are no judgments being made.

 ”You’re always going to have teammates that you like and teammates that you don’t, but it’s never based on their sexual orientation. I think because these women are at a different place in their lives and more mature, more comfortable with who they are, it’s not really talked about, but it’s not hidden in any way.  People are just really comfortable with who they are.  It’s really actually a nice environment to be in to be honest with you.”

   I followed this up by asking Rebecca why women seem to deal with this issue so much more gracefully than the men do like with the Jason Collins situation.  It strikes me that they’re all adults.  Why is it such a big deal in the NBA and why do the women in the WNBA seem to handle it with a much more aplomb and sensibility?

    “Because women handle everything with more aplomb and sensibility,” Lobo said. “We’re just better (laughing). No, what’s interesting to me is when you play a professional women’s sport, whatever it is, when you play a men’s professional sport, you’re assumed to be straight; and when you play a women’s professional sport, you’re assumed to be gay by people on the outside, for whatever reason.

      “But I think the women…maybe there isn’t the same stigma that goes with it on the women’s side, I don’t know.  But women don’t, in my experience, women are very comfortable being who they are and handle it exceptionally well.  I think Brittney Griner is just another one of those.”

As for Laimbeer, one of the most honest and outspoken coaches in the WNBA .

 ”“I put together teams of the greatest basketball players I can get my hands on.  This is basketball.  This is what this is.  I want ballers that show up on the floor and come with hard?nosed players and take no mercy and expect no mercy.  

         “In terms of the men’s game, well, times change.  They always evolve and move on.  In the women’s sport, it’s never been any big deal.  It is what it is and everybody plays basketball.  The men are a bit different.  This is the first time coming around.  It was going to happen sooner or later.  People say this is who I am.

     “So in five years from now [sexual prejudice] will be nothing.  It’s just the way it all evolves.  I think it’s going to happen in the NBA to some degree.  The marketing there is very large and huge, so I think some players still may feel a little inhibited, but it will come around.”

   Breanna Stewart, the Most Outstanding Player of the 2013 Final Four, forward Morgan Tuck and guard Moriah Jefferson, all sophomores next season, made the 12-player FIBA U19 roster that will be coached by Miami’s Katie Meier.

  And Bria Hartley and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis will play for the World University Games team coached by Oklahoma’s Sherri Coale.

  The 2013 World University Games will be held July 8-15 in Kazan, Russia. The United States has won four straight gold medals in the U19 event, which will be held from July 18-28 in Lithuania.

   Hartley, Mosqueda-Lewis, Stewart, Tuck and Jefferson were among 66 players invited to try out for the teams, selected by a committee chaired by UT Chattanooga coach Jim Foster.

   Connecticut Sun guard Kara Lawson was also on the selection panel and she spoke to the candidates on Friday at the training center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

  “I told them I was familiar with where they are, having tried out for USA Basketball teams in high school and college,” Lawson said Saturday. “I understand the various emotions going on inside them.”

   Stewart, Tuck and Alexis Jones of Duke all played for the 2011 U19 team. They are the only players in the history of USA Basketball ever to repeat on the team.

  “I’m going to lean on them.” Meier said. “They have experienced the [FIBA] U19 World Championship, and I have not. I’m going to really pick their brains and have them speak to the team about the experience, the pressure and the choices that you make while you’re out there.”

   Stewart told USA Basketball that she is looking forward to play a new role on this team.

   “It’s funny how my role is changing, because this is my second U19 team,” Stewart said.  “Last time I was one of the younger ones. This time I’m one of the older ones, and it’s weird. But, I have to be a leader because I’ve been in these situations before and some people haven’t. I have to help show them the ropes.”

   Also making the team were Penn State’s Candice Agee, Tennessee’s Bashaara Graves, Linnae Harper of Whitney Young High in Chicago, Brianna Turner of Manvel High in Pearland, Texas, Nia Coffey of Hopkins High in Minneapolis, Gabby Green of St. Mary’s College High in Oakland, Kelsey Plum of La Jolla Country Day in Poway, Calif., and A’ja Wilson of Heathwood Hall High in Hopkins, S.C.

   Turner and Wilson are among the players UConn is interested in adding to its Class of 2014 which already includes guards Sadie Edwards, Courtney Ekmark and Gabby Williams.

  Tuck, who has already won three gold medals playing for USA Basketball, said she loves the idea of playing for her country.

  “It’s a great feeling. It makes you feel like you’re the best in the world. When I get up there, I think of the pictures of the Olympic team when they’re on the podium, and that’s my dream one day. I feel like I’m slowly getting closer,” Tuck said. “I just love coming back. You get to play with the best players in the country. You play with people at school and your same team, but to come out in the summer, get together, practice a little bit and then go play, it’s a great feeling.”

  Joining Hartley and Mosqueda-Lewis on the World University team are Tennessee’s Ariel Massengale, Cal’s ReShanda Gray, USC’s Cassie Harberts, LSU’s Theresa Plaisance, Baylor’s Odyssey Sims, Aaryn Ellenberg of Oklahoma, Crystal Bradford of Central Michigan, Tricia Liston of Duke, Shonni Schimmel of Louisville and Jordan Hooper of Nebraska.

“I was a little nervous,” Hartley said. “Even though I have made the team before, you don’t want to come in here thinking, ‘Oh, I’m definitely going to make the team.’ You have to stay humble, but you also want to be confident, thinking you could possibly make the team. You have to come out and play basketball the way you know how to.”

  Mosqueda-Lewis, who along with Stefanie Dolson were WBCA All-Americans this season, said she really didn’t shoot well during tryouts. She set a school single-season record with 118 three-pointers last season.

Breanna Stewart
This is your sixth USA Basketball team, what keeps you motivated to keep coming back?
USA Basketball is the best thing about my summer. That’s what I look forward to, creating new experiences with new people. Sometimes they’re with the same people, but it’s just really fun. And I enjoy going for the gold medal.

At the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship you were one of the youngest players on the team. How will your role change with this team?
It’s funny how my role is changing, because this is my second U19 team. Last time I was one of the younger ones. This time I’m one of the older ones, and it’s weird. But, I have to be a leader because I’ve been in these situations before and some people haven’t. I have to help show them the ropes.

What does it mean for you to represent your country in this manner?
It’s an honor. I appreciate everything USA Basketball has done for me in letting me keep coming back to try out again and again, and continuing to go for gold medals. I don’t think there’s anything else you can ask for.

What can you teach some of the younger players about USA Basketball, both on and off the court?
USA Basketball on the court, obviously you’re going to go out, you’re going to play your heart out, you’re going to leave everything on the court because this is 12 people who are considered at the top of high school and college basketball for their age group. Teams are coming after us, and they want to beat us. We have to know that every team’s going to play us the best they can, and we need to just keep our composure.

Off the court, you really have to represent the United States and show people in other countries who we are, create our own image of ourselves. We need to try to change their minds about the United States in a positive way.

Morgan Tuck
How does it feel to be returning to USA Basketball for another chance at a gold medal?
It feels really great. Every time just gets better and better. We have a different group. We have a couple I’ve played with before with USA Basketball, but I think it’s more exciting because we have a lot of new people on this team.

At the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship you were one of the youngest players on the team. How will your role change with this team?
Definitely being more of a leader. When I was on the team the last time I just tried to fit in and try to make my mark. Now I need to take more of a leadership role and try to make sure that the younger players who haven’t been here before understand the international game and they feel comfortable with it.

What can you contribute to this team?
I think I can help with the low post presence. We are a really big team and I’m the smallest post, but I feel that I can use my physicalness around the basket. I think I can be a good leader out on the court.

You already have three gold medals in international competition. Can you describe the feeling of winning a gold medal and why it keeps you coming back for more?
It’s a great feeling. It makes you feel like you’re the best in the world. When I get up there, I think of the pictures of the Olympic team when they’re on the podium, and that’s my dream one day. I feel like I’m slowly getting closer. I just love coming back. You get to play with the best players in the country. You play with people at school and your same team, but to come out in the summer, get together, practice a little bit and then go play, it’s a great feeling.

Moriah Jefferson
How did you feel when you heard your name called for making the USA U19 Team?
Coming out here, you’re playing with a bunch of great people and everybody is doing their best and going their hardest and you never really know until the last second when they call your name.

You’re on the U19 team that includes the coaches and five players from last year’s U18 team, how is that going to be helpful this year?
It will help a lot because we already know what coach (USA U19 head coach Kate Meier) expects and we know a lot of the plays, so we can help the younger guys, and the people that just came in we can show what it is like to be on this team.

What is your role going to be on this team, what can you bring to this year’s team?
Leadership, point guard experience and trying to get everybody into their position. And also defense, that’s one of the main things I take pride in, so I can come out and try to push the tempo a little bit with my defense.

What is it that brings you back to USA Basketball each summer?
I just love it. You come out here and get a lot of great experience, you get in shape with the altitude, you meet a lot of great people and that’s just the basketball part of it and you want to represent your country, but outside of that you meet a lot of great people and have a great time while you’re here.

Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jefferson, who all will be sophomores next season, have made the FIBA U19 team as has high school junior A’ka Wilson, one of UConn’s top recruits for the Class of 2014.

And Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and Bria Hartley are among the 12 selected to the World University Games team after a three-day training camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The World University Games will be held in Kazan, Russia from July 6-17 . Lithuania will host the U19 World Championships from July 18-28.

Both teams are out there trying out for this summer’s teams. That includes five UConn players – Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jefferson are competing for U19 spots. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and Bria Hartley are contestants for the World University Games team.

Before leaving for this afternoon’s preseason game against the New York Liberty in Newark, Lawson she talked to the U19 trials participants about what it means to represent USA Basketball and what they need to do during trials in order to make a team

“I told them I was familiar with where they are, having tried out for USA Basketball teams in high school and college,” Lawson said Saturday. “I understand the various emotions going on inside them.

 “Obviously, I’ve also had the opportunity to make [national] teams. I explained to them what those teams were like to play on. I realize there were a lot of players there [in U19 camp] that have played [nationally] before. But there are many that haven’t. I just tried to offer them my perspective of what it means to play USA Basketball and what the atmosphere was like on those teams that were successful.”

Those who make the team will be announced on Sunday morning.

Check this out from www.yahoo.com

Here is the release from www.parade.com.

Discussion is scheduled to start Monday morning and end sometime Tuesday afternoon. While that doesn’t sound like a lot of time to discuss much important business, its nothing out of the norm for these gatherings.

This new collection of schools will officially begin to be called the AAC once competition ends in the spring sports; baseball, softball, track and field, rowing and lacrosse. But while teams are still vying for championships this season they will do so under the Big East banner.

By June, the Big East will be a conference that will include Seton Hall, Providence, DePaul, St. John’s, Villanova, Marquette and Georgetown. Notre Dame will be joining the Atlantic Coast Conference.

For one more year, leftovers Louisville and Rutgers will play in the AAC before the Cardinals go to the ACC and Rutgers joins the Big Ten. They will be joined this season in the AAC by UConn, South Florida, Cincinnati, Central Florida, Memphis, SMU, Houston and Temple.

East Carolina, Tulane and Tulsa will join the ACC for 2014-15 after Louisville and Rutgers leave. And the Navy joins as a football only member in 2015.

On the list for discussion are a number of topics, some basically business-based, some with more wide-ranging interest.

Being that the AAC is such a new group, much time will be spent discussing conference by-laws. Much of it will originally be based on Big East traditions, but input from the new schools will be welcomed and the end result could be a constitution for the new league somewhat different than the one preceding it.

The sites for the men’s and women’s basketball championship sites for 2014 – and perhaps beyond – represent a major line item for the meetings.

Rumors have been flying about where the conference will play its championship tournaments. Hartford, the home of the women since 2004, and Mohegan Sun Arena are in play for at least one and perhaps both tournaments, especially if the new Big East or Atlantic Coast Conference wins the right to play its men’s tournament at Madison Square Garden.

A conference source cautioned Friday that those discussions may not necessarily result in a decision for either championship next week. The coaches first need to get together as a group and agree on a proposal which is then passed along to the athletic directors.

“We hope the sites are determined,” the source said. “But there is absolutely no guarantee that it will get through before the meetings end.”

The programs will also discuss the many rule changes being proposed by the NCAA, including bringing the 10-second half-court time limit back to women’s basketball. The WBCA will also report to the women’s basketball coaches.

There will discussions about next year’s television schedule which will include, for basketball, home and away games against each conference opponent, ending with 18 games.

One thing that may or may not be brought up is the concept of determining travel partners for next season since the AAC spans East to Southeast, South to Southwest.

Again, the coaches will be asked for their input and then pass it along to the administrators for discussion and/or approval.

    Saturday, the Sun play the second of three preseason games when they take on the New York Liberty at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

  Known as “The Rock,” the arena has been the home of the Liberty since the 2011 season while Madison Square Garden undergoes its intensive summertime makeover. The team is expected to return to New York City next season.

   For Sun coach Anne Donovan, the game plan Saturday will tightly resemble the one used in last week’s 83-74 win over the Liberty. After playing regulars with regularity in the first half, she placed the game in the hands of those trying to win one of 11 roster spots in the second.

  “We will probably play our top group a few more minutes [Saturday],” Dovovan said.

  Somewhat different will be whom Dovovan has available. Tan White is back after experiencing left knee discomfort, but forward Mistie Bass will likely miss the game with a groin strain.

  And Kelly Faris, the first-round pick from UConn, is also not expected to play even though she was cleared for half-court work for the first time on Thursday.

  Faris injured her left foot on March 4 against Notre Dame and played through the injury during UConn’s run to the national championship. But the Sun have kept her out since the WNBA Draft  – and in a walking boot – to give the foot time to heal.

   It’s likely Donovan could change her mind about Faris prior to Saturday’s game based on how she looks and feels after subsequent workouts.

  “We made the decision early [in training camp] that getting Kelly back by May 15 would be plenty of time [to prepare and evaluate],” Donovan said.

 “There are a lot of question marks because of that, for both Kelly and Tan. It’s not an ideal situation, but I’m not worried about what their conditions will be [for the opener]. We’ve been very conservative. Very conservative.”

  The Sun will play one last preseason game Tuesday at Minnesota before the opener next Saturday at the Mohegan Sun Arena against New York.

  Donovan wasn’t certain Thursday she would would keep all 14 players currently around after Saturday’s game. And she didn’t wait until Saturday to do something about it. She cut free agent rookie Chatilla Van Grinsven of St. Joseph’s (Pa.)Friday afternoon.

  The team needs to make two more cuts and she is not looking forward to it.

 “As soon as I can make a decision that I feel good about [she will cut the team],” Dovovan said. “And I don’t mean a decision based on how I feel for just one day. I wanted [the feeling] for consecutive days.”

  The biggest decision will be who to keep among free agent posts Ashley Walker and Latoya Williams, both of whom played well in the opener.

  But there is also competition at guard to consider between Natasha Lacy and Johannah Leedham, a former Cheshire High standout and Great Britain Olympian.

  “I have tried to rank [the posts] every day based on how they’ve looked and until recently the rankings have been completely jumbled,” Donovan said. “But for the last few days, my rankings have started to fall the same way. We are getting closer.”

  While Donovan would not say who has the lead, she did admit her original plan to keep one post could change if two prove too irresistible.

  “It might be possible to start with six guards [Kalana Greene, Allie Hightower, Kara Lawson, Renee Montgomery, Faris and White] and five posts [including Tina Charles, Kelsey Griffin and Bass],” Dovovan said. “Nothing is impossible at this point. No one has shook loose yet.”

  It’s also entirely likely the Sun will closely monitor the waiver wire to look for those cut by other teams. So far, Jessica Adair (Minnesota), Loree Moore (New York) and Ketia Swanier (Atlanta), the former UConn guard, are among the top names cut.

Center Liz Cambage, the 6-8 stalwart from Australian, has told the Tulsa Shock that she has changed her mind and now intends to play in the league this season. And Cambage is expected to be in Tulsa the middle of next week.

Cambage missed all of last season to attend to the Australian Olympic Team where she earned a bronze medal.

“I wasn’t sure that I would be able to return to Tulsa this season as I sustained a broken wrist while playing in China this past season,” Cambage told WNBA.com. “I have been given the all clear by my doctors and I am excited to return to Tulsa and the team for a great season.”

Cambage played in China for Zhejiang in the offseason where she averaged 36.2 points per game and 11.1 rebounds. She scored 59 points in a January game, going 22 of 24 from the field and hitting 15 of 16 free throws.

The Shock’s home opener will be May 27 against Mike Thibault’s Washington Mystics at the BOK Center on ESPN2.
 

The Mystics are remaking their team. Thibault has already cut two players from last year’s group, guards Shannon Bobbitt and Natalie Novosel, the former Notre Dame standout.

Here’s a look and listen to what Mike had to say after the win over Brazil courtest of www.wnba.com