My WNBA All-Decade Reflections

In this tenth anniversary of the WNBA, and all the talk of All-Decade teams and whatnot, I thought that something more important to me is the collection of moments that always made me happy I was a fan of this league. (Warning…there may be more than a few Phoenix Mercury references.) So, here are my ten:

Cheryl Miller — When I was in college, she was inarguably the best player in the U.S., if not the world. So, when she was named the head coach for the Phoenix Mercury in the league’s first season…well, I was so there. Miller didn’t disappoint. Her first two seasons brought the Mercury to the brink of a championship. More importantly, the spectacle of her collecting technical fouls, and the passion that fueled both her players and the crowd at America West, made for the sort of experience that builds a loyalty simply being good can’t buy. She was great at the mach schau, and this fan has missed her presence on the sidelines.
Cheryl Miller Basketball Hall of Fame bio

The “Scrappers” — These are the players that define a team’s backbone. They aren’t the stars, and often aren’t starters, but they make their teams so much better (you can usually spot them by the kneepads they wear). The prototype for this sort of player is Sue Wicks. Though a post player, she played like the scrappiest of guards: taking punishment, diving after loose balls, scrambling to keep a ball in their team’s possession, and whatever else it took to get the victory. Tully Bevilaqua is another one. When she was with the Fire, and then the Storm, her coming off the bench evoked a passionate response from the fans and increased effort from her mates on the floor who didn’t want to let her effort go to waste.
Sue Wicks Coaching Bio, WNBA interview
Tully Bevilaqua WNBA bio

Jackie Stiles — in 2001, there wasn’t a hotter player in the U.S. than 2-guard Jackie Stiles. The NCAA scoring leader joined the Portland Fire and brought a lot of excitement to the expansion club. Unfortunately, her tireless hours of practice that resulted in her incredible scoring ability also resulted in her body’s self-destruction. Even at the end of that first season with the WNBA, all of her years of practice shots had worn out her joints. After that flash, she was never the same, but oh what a fire there was while she burned.
The Unofficial Jackie Stiles website

Michelle Marciniak — a pretty darned good point guard that I followed during her stint at Tennessee, and (with difficulty) through her years in the ABL. Her two years in the WNBA certainly solidified one thing: she’s the most attractive professional basketball player I’ve seen. I know she won’t be too happy that this is the primary reason she’s on this list, and the fact of the matter is that I really enjoy what she brought to the court as a player (another one of those hustle players I like). Even so, I’m honest enough to admit that I’m shallow enough to say that I simply enjoyed watching her because she looked good (and still does).
Michelle Marciniak Univ. So. Car. bio

Maria Stepanova — Her breakout game in the WBNA second-season conference finals against Cleveland broadcast to all the world that this 2.01m (6′ 7″) teenager would be a star. She hasn’t disappointed me in her ability. I’m more disappointed in that she’s only a sometimes member of the Phoenix Mercury. This best European player is constantly pulled by the Russian sports federation. It doesn’t want to share her with the WNBA when there is any other possible international title that they feel they can hold over her head to use as leverage to force to stay at home (you go to U.S., then you’re off national team). When she came back for the middle of the 2005 season, you could see what a player of her caliber could do in the WNBA. But the sports federation yanked her back home before the season was over…effectively scuttling the Mercury’s playoff hopes.
Maria Stepanova FIBA Europe bio

Anne Dononvan — I got to watch Anne Dononvan when she played center at ODU. At 2.03m (6′ 8″), it was easy to see how this skilled center could dominate. She’s raised the bar in every aspect of basketball she’s been a part of. It didn’t take her size, or a championship, for me to tune in to see what she would accomplish in the WNBA. No matter what team, she made a difference. Now, with a tandem of Bird and Jackson (even an ailing Jackson), the Storm are definitely must-see. Coach brings a lot of class to the arena, and shows the front offices around the league that you don’t have to have played or coached in the NBA to be top-notch.
Anne Donovan WNBA Basketball bio

The Environment — There is so much to the WNBA that a lot of people don’t seem to appreciate. It’s a place where you can bring the kids, have them sit courtside, and not have to mortgage the house for the privilege. The players stay after the games and sign autographs for free(!). There is so much more to enjoy as a spectator at a WNBA game that you never get at any of the men’s major sports. Though they are paid but a fraction of their male counterparts, the women bring less attitude and more love of the game than almost all of the NBA players (and many college players) ever exhibit. It’s not about the bling, it’s about the sport.

The UConn Connection — Though I admit that after Maryland, I’m a big Tennessee fan, I have to say that the players that came out of UConn in the late 90s/early 00s are compelling to watch. With the likes of Bird, Cash, and Taurasi, it’s hard to find a clinker in the bunch. USA Basketball seems to think the same.
Sue Bird USA Basketball bio
Diana Taurasi USA Basketball bio
Swin Cash USA Basketball bio

The Aussies — While I’m drawn in by many of the foreign athletes that play in the WNBA, the group from Oz have been a delight to watch since the first days of the league. In the run-up to the 1996 Olympics, the USA played a scrappy Australian team with this phenomenal point guard named Michele Timms. When Timmsy was assigned to Cheryl Miller’s team in Phoenix, I just knew this was going to be the team I followed. Then came more: Tully, and Kristi, and Penny, and Sandy, and Lauren, and…well, once the floodgates were opened, there was no stopping the influx of talent. These players can all seemingly shoot the lights out while also engaging in the occasional scrum on the court. To all of the aussies, I say: Good on yer!
Michele Timms @ Wikipedia
Official Kristi Harrower website
Penny Taylor @ Wkipedia
Sandy Brondello @ Wikipedia
Lauren Jackson @ Wikipedia

Val Ackerman — She made the league. She guided the WNBA through the most treacherous of births, what with a competing league and all, and was able to hand it off to her successor in very good shape indeed. For eight years, Val was the voice and face of American women’s professional basketball. Like so many of the coaches and players that are part of this league, she brought professionalism and class into an environment that had never before seen a success. I don’t think people truly appreciate how hard it was to maintain the league and keep it healthy in the midst of a too-much-too-soon expansion followed by a we-told-you-too-much-too-soon contraction. But the league survived–not by it’s fingertips, but because it merited it. She’s a big part of why there is still a league for us to appreciate. Thank you.
Val Ackerman @ Wikipedia

And that’s my list. I’m sure that no one is going to agree with everything on it. There are many things I left out that I might talk about in coming entries. I’d love to hear about things y’all most appreciated about the league’s first ten years.