Cards in WNBA...Sunday report -- MONDAY CARDUNAL COUPLE

 

CARDS, BERGER IN SUNDAY ACTION

All five of the UofL WBB stars and Sacred Heart's Grace Berger (IU) were in action in WNBA contests Sunday. 

Although none of the six started for their respective teams, they all did see action except fot Dixon.  

WASHINGTON MYSTICS 77 -- CHICAGO SKY 69

Washington jumped out to a 10-point first quarter lead over Chicago, built it to 16 by halftime and held on for the eight-point win. Dana Evans saw 22 minutes for the Sky (5-7) and had three points, three assists and a rebound. For the Mystics, Myshia Hines-Allen saw 13 minutes totaled four points and had a rebound for the 7-4 Mystics

ATLANTA DREAM 100 -- INDIANA FEVER 94

Atlanta also got out to an early successful start against their foe Sunday -- the homestanding Indiana Fever -- and held on in a wild fourth quarter where 63 points were scored. A.D. put in 15 minutes for the (5-5) Dream and contributed seven points and an assist. The Fever drops to 4-7.  Grace Berger played six minutes for Indy and gave them two points and a rebound.

LAS VEGAS ACES 93 -- MINNESOTA LYNX 62

The Aces held the Lynx to just 21 second half points in the blowout win on the road. Las Vegas goes to 10-1 with the victory. Emily Engstler played 10 minutes off the bench and had four rebounds and two points. Minnesota drops to 3-8 with the loss. 

CONNECTICUT SUN 83 -- LA SPARKS 74

(Give em "L", Beth and Liz !) 

The Sun shone brightly in the 4th quarter and took the quarter and game by 11 points. No record of playing time in this one for Liz Dixon. It looks like Beth Burns drove across town to catch this one, though. Connecticut improves to 9-3 on the season and Los Angeles squad drops to 5-6. 

Have a hopeful Monday!

paulie

More Cards Represent USA - Sunday Cardinal Couple

A Pair of Volleyballers

Collegiate National Team

Case wrote a wonderful article yesterday covering some Field Hockey and Track & Field athletes working to compete at the International level.

Mere minutes after the article went up, UofL Volleyball announced that Claire Chaussee was embarking on her training stint with USA Volleyball as part of the Women's Collegiate National Team.

In past years, USA Volleyball has selected several different Collegiate National Teams that then would train in Colorado Spring for a period of time, before traveling to various parts of the world to compete with top level teams in that part of the world.  Since Covid, the program has shifted to naming a single larger group of athletes that then gather to practice and compete in a more intra-squad approach.

The selection process for the annual Collegiate Team program starts in February when athletes travel to Colorado Springs for the USWNT Open Tryout program.  Louisville has sent anywhere from two to six or seven to the tryouts in the past, and typically has one to three players named to the teams.

Volleyball Nations League

Anna Stevenson has been competing with the US Senior National Team as part of the Volleyball Nations Leagues event.  This multiple week event allows the participating nations to select a different team, from a larger pool of players for each week of play.

Stevenson played this week in the second week of play after some solid contributions in the first week of play two weeks ago (they alternative weeks of men and women competing).

The team finished a match just hours ago to complete the matches for the week.  It was a 3-1 win over Thailand.  In the match, Stevenson had seven kills on 17 attempts with three miscues.  Add a trio of blocks and chalk up a decent outing for the UofL Alumna.

For the week, team USA did very well, sweeping all of their other opponents; China, Poland, and Bulgaria.

Team USA will play another week of matches starting June 30th for the final week of pool play in the VNL competition.  After that week of play, the eight top teams will advance to a tournament format for the final phase of play.  With how USA has been doing, I would expect the team to be a part of that tournament.

Again, with the VNL, each national team can switch the players that play each week, so we'll look again the week of the 30th to see if Stevenson continues to get selected to play.

WNBA

No action in the WNBA yesterday, so just about every team is on the court today, but only two matchups with Louisville rooting interests as we have UofL alumnae going head to head in both matches.

Starting at two o'clock, Myisha Hines-Allen with the Washington Mystics host the Connecticut Sun who of course recently picked up Jaz Jones.  This game has been picked up to be featured on CBS, kind of a big deal for the WNBA.

The other head to head will start at three o'clock.  The Indiana Fever, with Emily Engstler will host the Chicago Sky with Dana Evans.  I don't think much of anyone is expecting this game to be terribly competitive with Chicago near the top of the standings, and the Fever near the bottom.  I also don't think Engstler and Evans would really get matched up on the court with one defending the other, but wow, wouldn't that matchup be interesting to see!

Cardinal Couple Radio Hour Podcast

It was a Basketball heavy podcast as we covered the news events of the week.  Discussions covered Angel McCoughtry's appearance in Louisville with the official opening of the basketball court that she has renovated and decorated.  Also up was Beth Burns heading to the University of Southern California and discussing the role, much larger than her official title suggested.  We also turned to the WNBA a bit, celebrating Jaz Jones being picked up by Connecticut, and AD seemingly bouncing back to full competition levels in Atlanta.

Add in some UofL women's soccer news with a new goal keeper transfer announced, and we had plenty to discuss in the show.  Check it out at it's anchor.fm home:

https://anchor.fm/cardinal-couple/episodes/Angels-New-Court-and-Womens-Soccers-New-Keeper-e1k4ht7

JMcA

Louisville women's basketball ready for another breakout season -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

WBB CARDS RETURN DEPTH AND EXPERIENCE

Two weeks before Louisville WBB travels to Bowling Green, KY to start the 2018-19 season against WKU. A new hoops season on the cusp. 

It seems like a good time to put out a pre-season look at this Cards women's basketball squad. I'll be attending practice today to see what I can see...and one can't really gleam a whole lot from one particular practice, so I'm treating it as a treat, if you will. A chance to see one of the top five teams in women's college basketball do work. No critical eye today and I don't expect to see any miracles happen. Just wanna watch some hoops. 

I'll be there with Jared Anderson. He'll probably build tomorrow's article around it. No promise of any interviews for us, just a couple of fans going to see some ball. 

In Louisville, a squad that returns everyone from last year but graduated Myisha Hines-Allen and transferred Loretta Kakala and Sydney Zambrota. Eight back that experienced the Final Four. You know the names. Durr. Fuehring, Carter, Jones, Shook, Dunham, Evans, Laemmle. The Cards also get Lindsey Duvall back from her red-shirt year. They bring in the talented Yacine Diop as a transfer from Pitt. They add three talented freshmen in Seygan Robins, Mykasa Robinson and Molly Lockhart. No coaching changes. Same Sam Purcell dressing with fashion, flair and getting wild-eyed and loud. The studying and tranquil Sam Williams. Beth Burns making sure the warriors are ready to perform to their ultimate ability. Stephanie Norman, watching, evaluating...with the longest tenure in the Walz staff. She's seen it, lived it and learned from it. 

And then there is Coach Walz. Add your own thoughts and description here. He's created a couple/few memories over the years. Jeff is his own man. Confident in his stride and path. The mad scientist. With the knowing wink and easy smile. The kid in the lunch room with the most change in his pocket and the one who turns heads. A Louisville legend. A future Hall-of-Fame coach. Pay the guy, Vince. Send it over on a silver platter.     

Perhaps the most asked question in the off-season was: "How do you replace Hines-Allen?" Short of bringing in her brother, Josh, who's tackling everything within a 50 mile radius of Lexington...the answer is: "With several talented players, each picking up a portion of the things that Myisha did." 

One would expect Kylee Shook, Bionca Dunham, Sam Fuehring and Yacine Diop to augment their already excellent skills to make up the Myisha graduation and departure to the WNBA. Molly Lockhart, we learned a while back, will red-shirt. Sam Fuehring has been working with her daily, we hear, to get her acclimated and "college game" tough and knowledgeable. The two look like bookends, to begin with. Molly will benefit greatly.

Then, there is the Durr factor. She is the best player in women's college basketball, and that isn't a "Mike the Clemson TIger, Wild-Eyed, out-of-context" boast. 

Asia Durr is a maker.

The simple description goes back to a Jeff Walz statement. Players tell Coach Walz that they are shooters. He says that is great but what he's looking for are makers. 

Arica Carter has given her heart, soul, body and time to Louisville women's basketball. The graduate senior is a steady, intelligent and confident point guard that studies the game, knows her opponent and is another maker. Maker of plays, capitalizing on situations...performing as a veteran. California is known for sunshine, glamour and movie stars. 

And, Arica Carter. 

Sam Fuehring works. I would imagine, even in her deepest night-time slumber, she's working. Working for the team. Getting the rebound, the putback, the stop, the charge. The dedication, the drive and the desire. Her story is one of perseverance, improvement and effort. All wrapped in a quiet confidence and goal of going back to the dance. 

Jazmine Jones is many things. Incredible quick-as-a-cat skills, infectious enthusiasm, "did you see that?" play-making ability and amazing athletic talent.  We joked on the radio last Saturday that Jazzy could keep herself entertained, busy and get a lot done for hours, by herself, in a broom closet. Putting her on a 94 feet long and 50 feet wide basketball court venue gives her an infinite number of opportunities to be the "whoa!" and electrifying factor. 

Dana Evans = speed. The sonic sophomore could be in two time zones at once. We've just begun to see what potential and skills sets she has. It's going to be a fun three years watching her do work. I'd bet her if she was entered in the Kentucky Derby. You can bet I'll be watching her all season on the hardwood. 

Yacine Diop made a career at Pitt by out-working, out-scoring and baffling opponents. Ask Jeff Walz. He watched her run free-form over his Louisville squad for several years and, when he had the chance to bring her into his system, he jumped at the chance. We'll have her all-around game for just a year...but what a year that promises to be. 

Kylee Shook can do it all. Torch you from outside, out-rebound you, out-work you and out-hustle you. She'll be called on to do all of that this season. Head and shoulders above the rest, in height and desire...she is the most likely to inherit Myisha minutes. She''ll have to earn them, though. Nothing is given away, taken for granted or guaranteed in the Walz system of basketball. If the work effort is absent or the performance is lacking...you watch until you prove you are up to what's expected.  

Bionca Dunham knows there is a lot out there for the taking and is working hard to gather it in. We saw flashes of what the Philly Phenom could do last year. She's strong on the boards and she can shut down an opponent on both ends of the court. The door is open now for her to walk in and claim what she wants and what the team needs. We have no doubt she'll "get some". 

Jess Laemmle knows basketball. She's a valuable spark plug that is tenacious, hard-working and perfectly capable of giving Walz quality minutes whenever she enters a game. We refer to her as the "attack Yorkie" on the radio and here at the site. Size is an after-thought to her. She's intent on hustle, putting on pressure and helping the team. All great armies have the dedicated foot soldiers, troops in the trenches. Jess is of that mold. No fear and having the time of her life. 

There are more stories and chances to build a identity for the incoming freshmen Robins, Robinson and Lockhart and for the red-shirt Duvall. They will have their chances in their four years here to prove what they can do and how they can be a part of the successes and triumphs that Louisville women's basketball will earn. 

You earn it. Nothing is guaranteed or should be taken for granted. Plenty of adversaries that would like that feather-in-the-cap honor of knocking off a national power-house. The determining factors for success include many things. How badly do you want it? How hard are you willing to work for it? How will you react if it isn't going your way...to adversity? Will you be the one still standing at the end? How far are you willing to go?  conference and non-conference

Two weeks until the thrill and excitement of Cards WBB gets unveiled in games against the foes. I admittedly steal this from the Andy Williams Christmas holiday song....but we are approaching "the most wonderful time of the year" in two weeks and it'll stay with us until the jonquils and daffodils pop up from the ground to salute the spring and ornament another Final Four run for UofL women's basketball. 

SING IT, ANDY !

We'll end this Tuesday column with an anonymous quote that Beth Burns recently tweeted out: 

"Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter if you are a lion or gazelle. When the sun comes up - you better be running."

Run, Cards....run. 



paulie
xxxxx

Walz in Colorado Springs for USA squad...Staff recruiting -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

WALZ WORKS U 18 SQUAD WHILE STAFF RECRUITS

July. That month in the year where NCAA women's basketball coaches get two chances to scour the country (and abroad) to evaluate high school talent and identify players who might make up the future rosters at their colleges and universities. A huge month for the talent-rich camps, showdowns, shootouts and tournament for club ball and AAU events. 

The second evaluation period of the month has begun and Cardinal coaches are spanning the globe to watch and observe. Louisville head women's basketball coach Jeff Walz is out at his "home away from home" Colorado Springs, CO...coaching up the USA U 18 squad to get them ready for the FIBA Americas Tournament in August. USA goes to Mexico City to begin play on August 1st. 

This time he didn't cross the Mississippi River alone. Associate coach Steph Norman and special assistant to the head coach Beth Burns were with Walz at the U.S. Training Facility over the weekend to watch a couple of girls on the squad who are still undecided on their university choice in the 2019 class. Maori Davenport (Henderson High School, Troy, AL), a 6'4" center and Aijah Blackwell (Whitfield School, Berkeley, MO), a speedy 6'0" guard are the interest there. Both are top-25 prospects going into their senior seasons. 

If Walz doesn't know his way around the US Training Facility, Air Force campus and streets of Colorado Springs by now...he's as geographically challenged as Paulie...

Cardinal great Sara Hammond with Sam

Meanwhile, Sam Purcell is overseas in Minsk, Belarus monitoring the USA U 17 squad and their games. He's probably not getting much time to sample borscht, caviar and sip vodka, with future Cardinal prospects in the 2020 and 2021 classes Azzi Fudd, Zia Cook, Charisma Osbourne, Jordan Horston and Haley Jones on the court. USA has rolled past Italy and Mali in their first two contests in Minsk and takes on China Tuesday. If you want to watch, the link is facebook.com/USABasketball

"Sardechna Zarashayem!" is a greeting Sam will no doubt hear from the locals a few times while in Minsk. Don't accept any fake rubles, Sammy. 

Other places of interest stateside for Cardinal coaches include the United States Junior Nationals in Washington, D.C. 2019 prospects Jada Boyd and Rickea Jackson remain high on the Cardinal observation list. 

They probably won't have time to hit The Deli At Watergate...but if you find yourself in D.C., it's highly recommended. The pastrami is incredible there. 

Recruiting. Maybe best summed up by the quote: 

"In recruiting, there are no good or bad experiences...just learning experiences" 

Here's hoping the Cardinal coaches learn a lot and the players learn that the UofL coaches and campus offer a lot for the continuation of their student/athlete process. 


KATIE VS.

Local television sports reporter Katie George (WDRB) has started a series where she takes on players at their sports. She went up against Cardinal Couple favorite Jaz Jones in the first segment. Jaz "Myisha'ed" her, as you'll see in the link below. 

Kudos to Katie for the "Katie Vs." segment. It's a rehash, in sorts, of several other sportscasters' attempts to show their (sometimes lack of) athleticism. "Domine Does It" comes to mind, as does "I Challenge Fred" from past years. 

An entertaining segment, for sure. We'd like to see if she could score on UofL Field Hockey goalkeep Ayeshia McFerran...

LINK: KATIE VS


paulie
xxxxx

Odds and Ends from the Oddness that is The Bird Lady -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

( JULIE SULLIVAN brings us the Tuesday edition of CARDINAL COUPLE. She touches on a variety of subjects. She's always a good read and listen..when she appears on THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR.) 


WINNING THE WEEKEND

Black Friday proved to be Red and Black Friday beginning with the Cards women's basketball team racing to victory over Murray State 115-51 and a 6-0 start to the season. 115 points is a single-game record for both men and women's basketball at Louisville. 

Way to go WBB! 

While the basketballs dribbled by the Ohio River, Volleyball was busy in Syracuse squeezing the Orange in VolleyCards win the ACC title and automatic qualifier (having the tie-breaker over Pitt) and go to the NCAA Tournament. Dani's gals will face Northern Iowa in Minneapolis at 5:30 p.m. on Friday in their opener.

The team raced back to Louisville to be introduced at Friday evening's men's game and even with the stands depleted at the half-time break, they garnered the loudest and most engaged cheers of the night. The men's team extinguished the Red Flash from St. Francis 84-72. MBB is undefeated in the David Padgett era but faces a tough test tonight in West Lafayette against the Purdue Boilermakers. 

The Saturday after Thanksgiving is designated as Shop Local Saturday. Lamar and the football squad decided to visit Kroger (Field) in Lexington and walked out with a door-busting win over UK 44-17. Reggie Bonnafon kept it local....flashing the "502" after his second score and Jackson did his best impersonation of a shopper battling for a store item when he squared off with a Wildcat after getting knocked out of bounds at the 2 on a carry and being shoved afterward. Attention K-Mart shoppers, these Cards are 8-4 and waiting to go Bowling! 

Men's Soccer, unwilling to end their season and NCAA Tournament run gritted their teeth against Colgate and then flashed those pearly whites in a 2-0 victory over Colgate. Smiles, everyone, smiles! (Sorry Mr. Roarke of Fantasy Island...)  

A TYRA of HOPE

It has been said by some, Worldwide Jeff McAdams for one, that no one with "interim" in their title should get the permanent job at UofL. With the possible exception of David Padgett, I tend to agree with that statement. I am starting to warm up to the Vince Tyra era. Many don't want him solely because he is a UK grad, but he has been a UofL fan since birth, he wanted to play baseball in college at Louisville...but they didn't offer. UK did. I have never doubted is Cardinal loyalty. My original thoughts were to let the interim's do the dirty work and then bring in new faces to build the future. 

Tyra has impressed me as Interim Athletic Director. He has been visible but not obtrusive. He seems to have the right attitude and is saying the right things. Voicing support of coaches and making smart hires. Asking coaches what they need and how can he help them get that rather than trying to tell them how to do their jobs. He is a presence at UofL WBB contest (even sitting next to Paulie --poor Vince -- at a game). He also shows up at non-revenue sports -- not sequestered in a luxury box . I got a chance to talk to him before a football game and found him engaging and sincere. 

Here's to hoping he continues to prove he's the next permanent AD we need. 


FEELING THE BURNS

Beth Burns was added to the UofL WBB staff just before the season began. She has a long and distinguished coaching history, including successful head coaching stints at San Diego State, Ohio State and back to SDSU. With a full coaching staff, the Cards designate her as a Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach/Special Adviser to the Head Coach. That's a mouthful! I was paranoid that someone might be leaving or that her addition might ruffle a few feathers among the current staff. So far, those fears seem unfounded. Myisha Hines-Allen has commented that Burns is great and she's disappointed that as a senior she'll have just one year with her. 

As a fill-in and guest on Coach Walz's radio show, Burns displayed great rapport with Associate Coach Stephanie Norman and also with Walz. She's known Norman for years and Beth has been quick to buy-in to the program, the university, the city and the fans. Her love of this team and those that surround it is obvious in every conversation I've listened to. Is she the piece of the puzzle that has been missing? Is she the icing on an already delicious cake? I don't fully know, but her being here seems to be adding to the "plus" column on reasons to believe in this squad. I have been using the hashtag #ThisTeamIsSpecial since I visited a practice in October and her knowledge and positivism just adds to my feeling. 

Welcome to "Possibility City" Coach Burns. I'm glad you are here. 


LAST BUT NOT (JUST) LACROSSE

Scott Teeter was recently named as the new head coach for Louisville Lacrosse. He comes with 16 years of head coaching experience and building a quality program at Canisius. A change needed for LouisvilleLAX. I support this team and new Coach Scott. 

Still I have to wonder if any female coaches were considered. It is great that Louisville has been at the forefront of Title IX compliance, but to truly accent equality, women need to be in leadership roles. Since women's are rarely considered for men's sports head coaching roles, why are men often favored over equally qualified women for coaching positions? 

Yes, the Cards have women's head coaches in Karen Ferguson Dayes, Justine Sowry, Dani Busboom Kelly, Sandy Pearsall and Courtney Trimble, I realize that.

At the risk of angering Paulie, I would be hypocritical if I didn't call out CARDINAL COUPLE for having four males as part of their "A-Team" on THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR. I like and respect Paul, Jeff, Case and Jared. This is not a "knock" on them. They are each talented and dedicated and I enjoy reading their articles. I just happen to think there are some great female voices out there that should be heard. Be it Paige Sherrard, Daryl Foust, former athletes or other qualified women, female voices need to be heard! 

Julie Sullivan


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(The opinions expressed in today's article are from Julie Sullivan and do not necessarily express the viewpoints of CARDINAL COUPLE nor the staff and organization.)