http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/wnba/2005-01-06-holdsclaw-wnba-europe_x.htm
Posted 1/6/2005 9:08 PM Updated 1/6/2005 9:13 PM
Holdsclaw takes game overseas
By Oscar Dixon, USA TODAY
Chamique Holdsclaw is playing overseas in part to
see if she still has a love for the game — she says
she is passing her self-imposed test.
But while she is enjoying playing basketball again,
she stopped short of saying she will return to the
WNBA when the 2005 season tips off on May 21.
The five-time All-Star missed 10 of the Washington
Mystics last 11 games battling depression. She and
Mystics teammate Murriel Page are playing with Ros
Casares Valencia and Holdsclaw said Thursday via e-mail
from Spain she is having a blast.
"Things are going great for me as far as the team and
the city," said Holdsclaw, who has averaged 18.3 points
and 9.0 rebounds in her WNBA career. "As far as I'm
concerned, I'm just trying to stay progressive in my
thoughts and everything else. I can really embrace my
free-spirit nature here, because the people and culture
are so laid back. I don't feel like it's a rat race here."
The No. 1 pick in 1999, she said life on the court is good, too.
"As far as basketball is concerned I can honestly say
that I'm enjoying myself here," said Holdsclaw, 27. "I
have the opportunity to play with my partner in crime
Murriel Page. She knows she is a big reason why I came
here. She gives me a sense of security. I know she has
my back and that means a lot to me. ...
"I'm doing well in balancing everything on my plate," Holdsclaw
added. "I can't say that it's not like this summer
didn't happen, but I'm living with it and taking things
one day at a time. I'm just appreciating life and all
the blessings that I have. That means focusing on the
moment. The past is the past and the future will work
itself out as it always does."
The Mystics have been following Holdsclaw's overseas
performance and Pat Summitt, the team's director of player
personnel, says everyone is excited about her progress.
"I spoke with Chamique (Thursday) and she is having a
great experience," said Summitt, who coached Holdslaw
at Tennessee and together they won three consecutive NCAA
titles. "She is playing well and she is glad that Muriel
is playing with her and I'm really happy for her."
Holdsclaw was named the Euroleague player of the week
recently after averaging 24 points and 13 rebounds, including
a double-double against Dynamo Moscow that featured a front
line of 6-4 Kamila Vodichkova (Seattle Storm), 6-5 Elena
Baranova (New York Liberty) and 6-3 Elena Shakirova (former
member of the Houston Comets and Charlotte Sting). "The best
thing about playing overseas this winter is playing on the
road in EuroLeague," Holdsclaw said. "The crowds are so
hostile it's like you and your team against the whole arena.
It makes you focus a lot more because the refs seem like
they're against you too."
A Shock in Detroit
Bill Laimbeer announced Thursday that he is adding former
Detroit Pistons teammate Rich Mahorn to his WNBA coaching staff.
"We're very fortunate to get someone of Rick's stature. He
was an NBA player, has NBA coaching experience and believes
in the WNBA," Laimbeer said. "He lives locally here in Detroit
and already has great relationships with our players. What more
could I want? He seems like a great match."
Laimbeer and Mahorn were a great match in 1989, helping the
Detroit Pistons win the 1989 NBA title. Mahorn, who brings more
than 20 years of professional basketball experience to the
Shock, has worked with several Shock players one-on-one
this off-season.
Top WNBA players overseas
EuroLeague
Chamique Holdsclaw, Washington Mystics (Ros Casares Valencia;
Spain)— Holdsclaw has posted five consecutive double-doubles
and is currently ranked fifth in the EuroLeague in scoring
(19.2 ppg), third in rebounding (11.0) and 15th in steals (2.7 spg).
Holdsclaw's career numbers are 18.3 points and 9.0 rebounds
and she led the WNBA in rebounding in 2002 and 2003 and in
scoring in 2002. But after speculation of her retirement
after not playing in Washington's final nine games, her play
is a good sign as it relates to her WNBA career.
Signed through the 2006 season.
==============================================================
Katie Douglas, Connecticut Sun (Lietuvos Telekomas
Vilnius; Luthuania)— She's currently ranked third the
EuroLeague in scoring (20.3 ppg) and has topped the 20 point
plateau in five of the seven games she played. Douglas was
named EuroLeague MVP of week three as she finished with 25
points on 9-for-11 shooting from the field. She followed that
up a few weeks later with 21 points, 11 steals, six rebounds
and five assists. She is ranked fourth in the EuroLeague is
steals per game (4.7) and is averaging 4.9 rebounds and is
shooting 46.2% from the field.
Douglas is coming off a year where she helped the Connecticut
Sun to the WNBA Finals. Her career averages are 9.7 points, 3.7
rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.4 steals. During the WNBA season
she only topped the 20 point mark four times and she has
already done it five times in seven games in the EuroLeague.
Signed through the 2006 WNBA season.
==============================================================
Deanna Nolan, Detroit Shock (Lotos VBW Clima Gdynia; Poland)—
Nolan is currently tied for 11th in the EuroLeague in
scoring (17.0 ppg) and eighth in assists (3.8 apg) and has
scored in double figures in all six games she's played.
Nolan has a career scoring average of 10.6 points per game,
however she's improved her points per game each year she's been
in the WNBA (four consecutive years) and in 2004 averaged 13.6 points.
Her averages in the EuroLeague indicate that she should
continue the trend next season in 2005 and possibly have a
breakout season. Signed through the 2005 WNBA season.
===========================================================
Margo Dydek, San Antonio Silver Stars (Lotos VBW Clima
Gdynia; Poland)— Dydek is ranked second in the EuroLeague
in rebounding (13.3 rpg) and is ranked 16th in scoring
(16.5 ppg). She has posted four double-double's and has
pulled down 17 or more rebounds on three different
occasions. She was named EuroLeague MVP of the week
in the opening week as she finished with 27 points, 17
rebounds and six blocks.
In 2004, Margo had career lows in scoring (6.6),
rebounds (4.9) and blocked shots (1.41) and it
was the first time in six years she didn't lead
the WNBA in blocked shots. Her numbers might indicate
that she had an off year in 2004 and is well on her
way to a rebound season in 2005. She's an unrestricted
free agent unless San Antonio designates her as a core player.
===========================================================
Shannon "Pee-Wee" Johnson, San Antonio Silver Stars
(TS Wisla Can-Pack Krakow; Turkey)— Johnson is
currently tied for second in the EuroLeague in assists
(4.4 apg) and ranks 11th in steals (2.9 spg) and is
averaging 11.6 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.
(Pee-Wee had an off year in 2004 with career lows in
points (9.3) and rebounds (2.6) and she had the second
worst year in her career in assists (4.4): Signed through
the 2005 WNBA Season)
===========================================================
Elena Baranova, New York Liberty (Dynamo Moscow; Russia)—
Baranova is one of only five players in the EuroLeague
averaging a double-double, scoring 10.2 points and
grabbing 10.2 rebounds per contest. She is also
averaging 2.4 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.
Baranova is one of the most consistent overseas players
the WNBA has. Her career averages are 10.4 points, 6.3
rebounds and 1.08 steals. Her EuroLeague play is an
indication that her game is still getting better and
she should start right were she left off in 2004: Signed
through the 2005 WNBA season.
===========================================================
Ticha Penicheiro, Sacramento Monarchs (US Sportive
Valenciennes Olympic; France)— Penicheiro is currently
tied for second in the EuroLeague in assists (4.4 apg)
and is ranked ninth in steals (3.0 spg) to go along with
7.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per contest.
In 2004, Ticha's assist average was the lowest in her
career (4.9) and it was the first time since 1997 she
didn't lead the WNBA in assist per game. She's an
unrestricted free agent unless Sacramento designates
her as a core player.
===========================================================
EuroCup
Kedra Holland-Corn (BSE ESMA Budapest; Hungary)— Holland-Corn
is currently leading the EuroCup in scoring (30.3 ppg)
and steals (5.6 spg) and has scored 30 or more points in
five of eight games she's played, including a 42-point
output in week 2. She's also recorded two double-doubles on
the season by scoring 31 points and grabbing 13 steals in
week one and finished with 38 points and 10 steals in week
three. She's currently shooting 48.8% from the field and
43.7% from behind the three-point line.
Holland-Corn was released by Houston towards the end of the
2004 regular season and is currently with no team in the WNBA.
Her career averages are 9.5 points 2.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists
and 1.48 steals per game. Her play in the EuroLeague is proving
that she could be the most sought after unsigned free agent in 2005.
===========================================================
Vanessa Hayden, Minnesota Lynx (Halcon Avenida; Spain)—
Hayden is averaging a double-double on the season ranking
ninth in the EuroCup in rebounding (11.0 rpg) and scoring
15.3 points per contest. She's currently leading the
EuroLeague in blocked shots (3.3) and has recorded three
or more blocks in five of six games.
As a rookie last season, Vanessa started the season on the
injured list and ended averaging 5.3 points and 2.9 rebounds.
Her EuroLeage numbers indicate that when healthy she could
be a force in the WNBA and look for a great second year from
Hayden in Minnesota: Signed through the 2006 WNBA season
with an option for 2007.
===========================================================
Tamika Whitmore, Los Angeles Sparks (Halcon Avenida; Spain)—
Whitmore is ranked third in the EuroCup in scoring
(23.3 ppg) and has posted two double-doubles on the
EuroCup season. She's also averaging 7.8 rebounds and
1.2 steals in six games.
In 2004 Tamika signed with LA after playing five seasons
with NY (she was starter most ofl career with the Liberty).
In L.A. she found herself coming off the bench and playing
a career low in minutes, while averaging a career low in
points (6.2): Signed through the 2005 WNBA season.
===========================================================
Vickie Johnson, New York Liberty (Trentino Rovereto
Basket; Italy) — Johnson is ranked 15th in the EuroCup
in scoring (18.3 ppg) along with shooting 57.3% from the
field and averaging 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals.
Johnson's career numbers are 11.7 points, 3.8 rebounds,
and .94 steals per game. She averaged a career low in
scoring last season (9.4), but her numbers and percentages
in the EuroLeague shows that she could have a bounce back
season in 2005: She's an unrestricted free agent unless
New York designates her as a core player.
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