Introducing our new WNBA columnist
Just in time for the Candace Parker era
by Stephen Litel
Introductions
Starting with the 2008 Draft, I’m the new WNBA person here at SLAM, to go along with Adrienne “Goody” Goodson’s columns. Although the story of the day is not my arrival here, I’ll give a brief introduction…
My name is Stephen Litel and based in Minneapolis. I cover the NBA at HOOPSWORLD.com, as well as for the Downtown Journal in the Twin Cities. The 2008 WNBA season will be the third year I’ve covered the Minnesota Lynx, which coincides with Seimone Augustus’ rookie season. Not a bad time to jump into the mix, huh?
Yes, believe it or not, I’m a man who enjoys the WNBA. Get over it. This is not going to turn into a place for trollers to post continuously how the league is boring, not as athletic as the male counterparts, etc. It gets old, isn’t true and, to be blunt, is the argument of the uninformed. This is the one way I feel like Jim Rome…come strong or don’t come at all.
Moving on, as teams make their way through the Twin Cities to face the Lynx, I’ll interview them and create what I hope will be one of your favorite stops as you make your internet WNBA rounds. Diehards, bookmark SLAMOnline now because I want you to bring your incredible knowledge of the league to this space, as we all continue to support the game, teams and league we love.
Let’s grow together
A Magical 24 Hours
Candace Parker. Honestly, you don’t need to say much more after that. She is, without question, the best player in this draft, one of the greatest female basketball players of all-time and is about to take the WNBA by storm. Although the draft is very deep this year and it’s not the most bold of predictions, I’m going on record right now with Parker for Rookie of the Year. Seriously, just put her name on the award now and save yourselves some time.
Parker lead her Tennessee Lady Vols to the National Championship Tuesday night–their second in a row–and is now the first overall pick of the WNBA Draft. If she hadn’t solidified her status as the number one selection before, she did once she separated her shoulder and continued to dominate with one arm. Her performance was legendary and she is preparing to tear it up during the summers for years to come.
You Tell Me
So, the 2008 WNBA Draft has concluded. Although a majority of the top players were posts, many of them slid down the draft boards. As many teams chose by need rather than choosing the best player available, reactions to this draft are mixed.
That’s where you come in. What are your thoughts of the players drafted by your team? Which team stood above the rest, completely retooling their roster, and which squad was a draft day dud? Which selections were the most surprising?
Looking Forward
As the WNBA season nears, I will tinker with what will actually become the norm in this space. If you have suggestions for what you’d like to help me create here, feel free to comment or email. I look forward to a beautiful relationship with SLAM and to stimulating conversation with the best fans in the world.
See you soon.
–
Stephen Litel covers the Minnesota Timberwolves and the NBA for HOOPSWORLD
and is a HOOPSWORLD Magazine contributor. Litel also covers the WNBA and
Minnesota Lynx on “The Exchange” for Downtown Journal in Minneapolis,
which can be found at www.downtownjournal.com.
Litel may be reached at slitel@hoopsworld.com.
38 Responses to “Introducing our new WNBA columnist”
Apr.10 at 12:11 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
Welcome aboard, Stephen.
Apr.10 at 12:11 pm
says says:
boring
Apr.10 at 12:15 pm
Khalid Salaam says:
The 2008 WNBA Draft….classic
Apr.10 at 12:22 pm
Goody says:
Welcome to the family. Lets get it cracking up in here…
Apr.10 at 12:37 pm
Anthony says:
Good to have you.
Apr.10 at 12:42 pm
Jukai says:
boring
Apr.10 at 12:46 pm
Myles Brown says:
Hi Stephen.
Apr.10 at 12:50 pm
Stephen Litel says:
Thanks for the welcome everyone. Goody, shoot me an email and let’s chat. Thanks to Myles for helping to allow this to happen and thanks to Sam as well.
Apr.10 at 12:52 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
Stephen, I’m a huge fan of the writers over at HW, great to see you over here as well.
Apr.10 at 12:56 pm
riggs says:
my crush on candace will probably be the only reason id watch a sparks game.
Apr.10 at 1:02 pm
Captain America says:
Stephen, what took you so long? I lub Candace.
Apr.10 at 1:56 pm
James AKA the artist formerly known as Krayzie Bone says:
Eff the Sparks, how about she comes to shore up toronto’s perimiter D. She’s younger than her brother, smarter than Jamario or Joey Graham, and more consistent than Kapono or Delfino. Make it happen Colangelo.
Apr.10 at 1:58 pm
overandback says:
welcome Stephen. I thought my Libs did very well with their picks. I’m thrilled about Essence Carson - I didn’t think she’d fall to 7 but I think she’s the best fit for our needs not named Wiggins. Larkins is a question mark -like most people, I loved her before the tournament but now she needs to prove herself again. Happy with Auguste, especially after her outstanding defensive performance against Wiggins. Smith, well, I would’ve gone with Beck or Zoll, but Smith does defend well and she’s quick. It will be interesting to see how the roster shakes out after training camp.
Apr.10 at 1:58 pm
Ron says:
Ace really helps the Sparks because Lisa Leslie is far from the player she was in those Championship years. But will the two of them play well together and give Leslie the glory of walking away a champion a la Dave Robinson when Duncan came along.
Apr.10 at 2:59 pm
Sam Mitchell's Conscience says:
I just pulled a pubic hair from the place on my pants behind the knee, but on the outside, not the inside of the pants. It’s also sweat pants, not jeans or dress pants.
Apr.10 at 3:36 pm
iLL wiLL says:
I love me some Candace Parker.
Apr.10 at 3:42 pm
Nowasparksfan says:
Alberta Auguste is a good defensive player for New York, but her handles, especially for a guard, need work. I hope she sticks with NY, but I’m not sure.
Apr.10 at 4:07 pm
patrick says:
glad to see slam giving the w a bigger look. this web only now or will this hit the print mag, too?
Apr.10 at 4:09 pm
Cheryl says:
I’ll be here. Looking forward to Slam-style coverage of the WNBA.
Apr.10 at 9:08 pm
The Life and Times of Roger Rabbit says:
I want to know what information Shelden Williams has on Candace to blackmail her into being his girlfriend because seriously…
Apr.10 at 11:05 pm
Blackberry says:
Welcome!
Apr.11 at 1:36 am
J.E says:
I’m also a man who loves the WNBA. Contrary to the snide remarks made by the four letter network, we do exists. Anyways, I think one of the more interesting storylines this year is going to be how parity in the west. Kind of like in the NBA. I think SA,LA,PX,SEA all have championship rosters and you can never count out the experienced of Sacramento. I was wondering what you think of the Lynx roster this year. Can they make the playoffs with about four shoot first guards? I guess I probably should wait for the next mag issue, or online article to see your full analysis. In any event I’m glad Slam stepped up its coverage.
Apr.11 at 9:10 am
hoop says:
More W coverage from the best bball mag on the planet? Awesome! Anyway, I thought the Chicago Sky had a fantastic draft. Fowles was the obvious choice (can’t really go wrong with a 6′6″ athletic center) and Chaney is the big guard with range that we needed. I think Minnesota did well and Phoenix got really lucky with Pringle. I still can’t figure out what the Sparks were thinking by taking Bobbit with the 15th pick. Chemistry is cool, but that was just plain dumb…
Apr.11 at 10:03 am
Stephen Litel says:
This is only online at this time. Of course, if any of the big wigs here at SLAM want to include a WNBA piece or two in the mag, I wouldn’t complain.
Apr.11 at 10:05 am
Cub Buenning says:
Good to see more W coverage, welcome Stephen.
Can you help bring a team to Denver?
Apr.11 at 10:08 am
Cub Buenning says:
hoop, regardless of height, Bobbit is a good pick, in my opinion. Kinda like in the NFL, drafting 2nd-tier players from great teams. She’s got a couple rings and marketing-wise can become a fan favorite very easily. And we all know that every team (regardless of league/level/gender) can use a shooter.
Apr.11 at 11:17 am
hursty says:
lauren jackson is good….
Apr.11 at 12:11 pm
Ben Osborne says:
There is no level of basketball about which Cub Buenning is not an expert. Looking forward to Stephen and Goody working together to make our WNBA coverage on point. Speaking of Goody and the WNBA, you all should be sure and check out her feature on WNBA Finals MVP Cappie Pondexter in the new SLAM with Dwight Howard on the cover (on sale now!).
Apr.11 at 10:26 pm
hoop says:
Yeah, Bobbit has potenial and all but seriously, their starting pg (Tameka Johnson) is 5′3″. Bobbitt is 5′2″. As other people have stated, LA is gonna have the Twin Towers (Parker and Leslie) and the Twin Midgets. A little height at the pg position wouldn’t have killed them. Oh and did someone say that there’s a Cappie feature in the newest Slam? Gonna get that for sure…
Apr.12 at 4:44 pm
DS44 says:
Best WNBA draft ever.
Apr.12 at 10:46 pm
Lynx Draft Day Grade: A! | Minneapolis Metblogs says:
[…] Speaking of the press, my favorite Lynx coverage comes from Stephen Litel from Downtown Journal. Turns out he’s now doing WNBA coverage for SLAM Online, too. I’m-a have to make my way down to the press table and introduce myself. […]
Apr.14 at 8:42 am
Stephen Litel says:
Thanks, Erica! Be sure to come on down and say hi to me this season.
Apr.14 at 9:26 am
overandback says:
Bobbitt makes shots if she is wide open. She can’t shoot over anybody and she’s not that good at creating a shot. She may have a place in the pros at the point, and I certainly see the fan-favorite argument, but I was really surprised the Sparks picked her as high as they did.
Apr.14 at 8:13 pm
Candice says:
Stephen, how do you think Dupree and Fowles will work together? Do you see the Sky being a better team and making the playoff’s?
Apr.14 at 10:01 pm
Stephen Litel says:
Candice, Is this Candice Dupree? I mean, come on…you know you and Fowles are going to be great together. LOL. Ok, seriously, it’s funny you brought that up, Candice. One of the pieces I’m working on for SLAM at the moment is on the Sky. I’ve made contact with Candice Dupree and Coach Key and have already spoken with Armintie Price. That will be posted as soon as possible. My thoughts? I’d like to see Dupree move to the three to allow Fowles to start at center alongside Melvin at the four. Although this would be a heck of a rebounding trio, as well as a high scoring unit adding Armintie Price to the mix, it could cause some depth issues off the bench.
Apr.15 at 1:46 am
hoop says:
The newest issue of SLAM has a Cappie feature AND an Angel McCoughtry feature. Loved ‘em both! And Stephen, I am anxiously awaiting that Chicago Sky feature (any chance it gets in the actual mag?). Dupree and Fowles will compliment each other perfectly and Chas will come off the bench to back ‘em both up (Dupree is a 2-time all-star power forward…why mess with that?). Playoffs for sure, baby!
Apr.15 at 10:28 pm
Candice says:
Thanks for the heads up. Are the Sky the only WNBA team whose color’s don’t match the NBA team? I think the Chicago Sky color’s match the Nuggets so much that you can’t find the correlation between them and the Bull’s. Either way I’m looking foward to the WNBA season this year.
Apr.16 at 2:27 am
hoop says:
The Chicago and Atlanta colors don’t match the NBA teams in the same city. And Connecticut doesn’t have an NBA counterpart. Another thing to think about…is there a chance that, in the future, some of these franchises that are no longer owned by their NBA counterparts will change their colors? I mean Seattle, LA, Houston and DC can all be whatever colors they want now, right?