CARDINAL COUPLE

CARDINAL COUPLE
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Monday, July 31, 2023

Sky soar over Phoenix....Dana and Liz meet in WNBA -- Monday Cardinal Couple

 

104-85 CHICAGO SKY OVER PHOENIX MERCURY



It was a relatively quiet day for UofL women's sports Sunday, but we did get a WNBA matchup between the homestanding Chicago Sky (Dana Evans) and the Phoenix Mercury (Liz Dixon). the two Cardinals great played together for a couple of years at UofL, if you will remember and were on some fabulous Cardinals teams in 2020 and 2021. The two were on two Cardinals squad that lost just eight games over the two years they played together. 




They did not get a ton of playing time in yesterday on their WNBA squads...Evans saw 18 minutes, a rebound, two assists and three points and Dixon had three minutes and a rebound. 

It is Liz Dixon's first year in the WNBA, so you have to surmise that the longer she stays, the more time she'll pick up She's on her second, t-day contract with Phoenix...I'm guessing that being a backup to Brit Griner and Megan Gustafson isn't one of the most ideal situations to be in , but they are two very good centers to learn from and -- with Griner needing a brief break from WNBA action --  I am hoping "EBreezy's" time picks up. The Mercury need wins, they stand at 6-18. Who would have figured a team with Taurasi and Griner would have such a unarchiving mark? 



Evans went to Chicago after starting and staying  in Dallas briefly her rookie year. She's developed into a steady, dependable point-guard, behind Marina Mabrey and Courtney Williams and you have to figure that she's being groomed for a starting role down the road for the Sky. She's a hard worker, a superb shooter and can distribute with the best of them . Evans also has a very deadly three-point touch and has excellent passing skills. She had a decision to make, after her junior year -- she made the right one (in my opinion) by staying in college. 

Evans was selected in the WNBA Draft, Dixon wasn't. It just goes to show that if you want it bad enough, play hard enough and show someone you have the skills to compete and contribute, good things CAN happen.



A glance at the current UofL WBB roster makes one wonder what current Cards might be WNBA players in the future? You have to love "O"'s chances (Olivia Cochran)...and Sydney Taylor has the potential to draw a lot of WNBA action if she can go on a prolonged three-point barrage this season. Taylor played well in the recent USA showing, and "Swish" led them in scoring several times. Hmmm...I wonder if she and Heidi roomed together? 

Will any of the current players on Walz's roster reach the pinnacles (or higher) of Liz and Dana?  I'm no prophet or fortune-teller but I can see half this roster getting a lot of eyes on them from WNBA scouts for WNBA rosters and roles. And, that's the beauty of it. You have to show WNBA scouts that you can do a lot more things than score and, if you play for Jeff Walz, you have to be able to do a lot more than just score...


paulie


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