WNBA -- Storm surges past Mytics for title -- Give For Good Louisville Day -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

STEWART, HOWARD KEY SEATTLE'S SWEEP OF WASHINGTON

It wasn't so magical or mystical in Washington's arena last night. In maybe a foreboding predecessor to what's coming next week to the east coast in Hurricane Florence, the Seattle Storm surged into Fairfax, VA and George Mason University's Eagle Bank Arena and washed out the Mystics 98-82. 

It wasn't really that close for a lot of the contest. "Stewie" Brianna Stewart and Natasha Howard combined for 59 points (30 and 29 respectively) to solve the mystery of the Mystics in a three-game sweep. 

Sue Bird, notorious for one broken nose and four-letter expletive fame, added 10 for the victorious west coast squad. The Storm used just eight players, two of which saw 10 minutes or less, to take control of the third game and weathered a Washington run that cut a 47-30 halftime deficit to 72-67 with 6:49 to play. Seattle countered with eight straight points to quell the last-ditch effort and secure the win. 

Myisha Hines-Allen saw a fair amount of action for the Mystics last night and had a nice effort on court with six points of three for four shooting. She also gathered four rebounds in her 20:38 minutes on the hardwood. Elena Della Donne led the Mystics with 23 points and Kristi Tolliver contributed 22. Della Donne may have also had the most interesting post-game remarks as well when she offered: 

"There's been a huge transformation with the culture of this team. Last year we were brand new. I didn't know Kristi's favorite beer. That's a pretty important thing to know about "Panda" (Tolliver's nickname). Now I can go to the bar and order everything she needs." 

Tolliver countered with: 

"I'm gonna need a lot tonight".

No word on what Myisha drinks or if Della Donne is picking up her tab as well. In attendance, but probably not knocking back cold, frosty ones were UConn coaches Geno Auriemma and Chris Dailey...on hand for the Stewie coronation. There wasn't a Jeff Walz sighting in the arena but his old boss Brenda Frese was there. 

There was no Donald Trump sighting either.

So, the WNBA season comes to an end.

Our Cardinals "in the show" had a few "ups" and some major "downs" this season. Asia survived life in Indy (after the Mystics dumped her) on a squad that finished 6-28...the worst record in the league by one over the New York Liberty...where Shoni made a cameo appearance before drifting out to Las Vegas. Angel played with passion and fire for the Dream before blowing her knee out at the end of the season. Myisha watched a lot of basketball for "Theo" bald's squad before getting a chance late in the season to be a contributor. 

One would expect at least three of the four will get a chance on WNBA rosters next year...maybe even Shoni, too. Several Cards from the 2018-19 squad could get the chance to play WNBA next year. There is European and Australian hoops ahead for Myisha and Asia Taylor. We'll see how they do across the seas. 

Last night, Della Donne also spoke post-game about even though things may have not gone their way at the end of the season....there was still room for improvement and how she felt that they hadn't peaked yet. How it wasn't the end for them. 

Unfortunately, it is the end... for 2018, at least. 

Maybe the Mystics will come back and make another run for the title next season. Maybe Myisha is on that team. Hopefully, Asia Taylor gets a return call to play for someone and Angel heals and comes back stronger than ever. We hope Shoni gets chance to lace 'em up and fire threes. We expect Asia Durr to be running the courts in a WNBA jersey next year and maybe even a couple of more from the 2018-19 Cardinals. 

We'll be waiting. Maybe Elena Della Donne will even buy us a beer while we wait. 


GIVE FOR GOOD LOUISVILLE

Today is Thursday, September 13th and it is Give For Good Louisville Day. It started at midnight and it is a day where you can help out any of 500+ local participating non-profits with your donation.

We've got a suggestion for you on one you can give to...and that's radio station WCHQ 100.9 FM. It's where we bring you The Cardinal Couple Radio Hour each Saturday and also Paulie's weekly dive in to horse racing with the Handicapping Heroes show.  

We're very grateful for the opportunity presented us on non-profit, community WCHQ FM. A chance to talk about Louisville and other women's sports for a full hour each week. We're the only ones doing a full hour about Louisville women's athletics live on the radio for an hour that we know of. We've been told that our concept is also unique across the station. No one does what we do the way we do it. 

We'd like to ask you to consider a donation to WCHQ FM. The station will be broadcasting live all day with many of the musical acts and personalities on air for you. Although none of the Cardinal Couple nor Handicapping Heroes crew will be manning microphones today in the magnificent and majestic media mansion on Mellwood, we strongly urge you to  "Give For Good". Pick whichever organization you want and maybe include WCHQ as well.

If you're a womens' sports fan, UofL fan, radio fan, horse racing fan or even a "Louisville First" fan...please consider a donation. 

Go to the link below to send your donation: 

https://www.giveforgoodlouisville.org/organizations/crescent-hill-radio-inc

Make a difference. Give what you're comfortable with. Give for good, Louisville. 

Thank you!



paulie
xxxxx

WNBA Update -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

TWO CARDS WBB FACE EACH OTHER LAST NIGHT

A thriller to the wire last night, as Angel McCoughtry brought her Atlanta Dream to Indianapolis last night to face the Indiana Fever and Asia Taylor. The Fever made a late push to try and get their second win of the WNBA season, but the Dream held on for a 87-83 win. 

Angel with 15 points for the 8-8 Dream, taking a slight back-seat to Brittany Sykes (no relation to Paulie) who contributed 20 and Tiffany Hayes who finished with 19. Asia with not a lot of minutes for the Fever but did get a rebound in 8:28 of playing time. 

It was a busy Sunday in the WNBA, with 10 of the 12 squads in action. One of the squads that had the day off was the Washington Mystics and Myisha Hines-Allen. Her Mystics are in the thick of the battle for top spot in the league...three teams (Phoenix, Seattle and L.A) have five losses and the Mystics are 10-6 along with Minnesota. The Washington squad did go up against Phoenix on Saturday and fell 84-74. No minutes for "Doo-blay" in the contest on Saturday but she played seven minutes on the 28th in a loss to Phoenix...contributing two points and three grabs. 

Did you know that voting is open for the WNBA All-Star Game? You can cast your ballot through July 12th at www.wnba.com

My picks: 

Tiffany Hayes, Angel, Myisha, Asia, Tiffany Mitchell, Kelsey Mitchell, Sue Bird, Elena Della Donne, Natalie Achonwa, A'ja Wilson. I went strictly on my personal favorites, not necessarily stats.  

The All-Star game will be played July 19th at 8 p.m. and will be on ESPN 2. 

Did you see this "Cool-as-a-cucumber" buzzer beater from Della Donne against the New York Liberty? Definitely an All-Star shot there: 

http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=23939908


WHO'S NEXT? 

With three Cards in the WNBA and as many as four at the start of the year, the question naturally arises...which WBB Cards will be next in "The League"? 

Walz loses four at the end of the 2018-19 season. 

ASIA DURR is about as "sure as it gets" to advance to the professional ranks. Count her "in" with no doubt. Imagine her, Angel, Tiff Hayes and Brittany Sykes on the same team? 

SAM FUEHRING has the grit, determination and body to be a WNBA contributor. Her senior season will be a key in if she gets drafted or not, obviously. I think she will. 

ARICA CARTER is another that will deserve some looks by the 12-team league. Her shot is there, her ball-handling sufficient...and she knows how to keep other shooters happy. I say "Yes". A.C. gets drafted. 

YACINE DIOP can improve her stock with a year under Walz and Company. 5'10" forwards aren't the first thing you think of on WNBA rosters, but she's shown great shooting and rebounding skills playing for a pretty pitiful Pittsburgh squad. Again, her key will be her graduate year as a Card. 

What are your thoughts? 


Have a great Monday! If you gotta do the "outdoors" thing...hydrate, hydrate and repeat. 

paulie
xxxxx