Kianna Smith Gets Another Seven Days with L.A. -- Gabriela Leon NCAA Woman of the Year nominee -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

SPARKS RE-SIGN KIANNA SMITH TO ANOTHER SEVEN-DAY CONTRACT

The story of Kianna Smith getting another run with the still-playoff eligible LA Sparks would normally grab a bit more news than it has for the club, but Liz Cambage walking off the team has overshadowed Kianna's return 

She'll be eligible for the Sparks visit to Phoenix Thursday night for a 10 p.m. contest. At 12-15, they're hoping for a few wins to grab third place in the WNBA Western Division. Phoenix needs a win as well, at 12-16/ The best eight teams (regardless of division) make the next round. LA is currently tied for eighth overall. and, adjusting to not having Cambage will ramp up the pressure on rookie Olivia Nelson Odoba. 

Smith played in two games in her first seven day contract with L.A, She helped L.A. beat Phoenix on July 4th. in eight minutes of play and also saw action in the July 7th game against Seattle, where she scored her first WNBA points. The Storm destroyed L.A. by 37 points in that one. 

She'll be the sixth guard on the Sparks roster (along with Lexie Brown, Jordin Canada, Chennedy Carter, Brittany Sykes -- no relation to me but she DOES have that famous Sykes humor-- and Kristi Tolliver. and she'll get in three games It looks like. At Phoenix, Minnesota and at New York (where she'll see AD). .

Whether it be with L.A. or someone else, Smith deserves a full-time gig with a WNBA squad. She's a proven scorer, decent three-point maker and team player. Let's hope Kianna makes the most of this "week with LA" and it leads to a full-time chance down the road. 

GABRIELA LEON NOMINATED FOR NCAA WOMAN OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE AWARD

Gabriela Leon is one of two ACC student-athletes who has been nominated for the award with NC State's Jaeda Daniel (women's tennis). The two hope to go from conference nominee to the top 10 in Division I. 

Leon makes perfect sense as a nominee.. After all, she's the only one on the UofL campus who can answer to the title "NCAA Champion". Her community service resume is quite impressive. She's worked with mentoring children at Norton's Hospital events. Read Across America program, time volunteering with Parkland Boys and Girls Club and Blessings In A Backpack.  

Ten candidates from DI, DII and DIII get pared down three per division (nine overall) -- and from there, the top choice is made. 

13 ACC nominees were reduced to two. Tori Dilfer was one of the 13 but did not make the final cut. 

To learn more about the award, go to https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2013/12/9/ncaa-woman-of-the-year.aspx

Best of luck to Gabriela ! 

paulie