When it is time for players to report to camp, one would know that it is soon about to get real for real. The offseason has winded down, the draft is in the books. WNBA basketball is right around the corner.
*Excited face emoji*
For those that went undrafted, another method that potential WNBA players can use to impress teams is by showing out at training camp. Florida State’s Ivey Slaughter was extended an invitation by the New York Liberty to be part of its training camp as well as Chinwe Okorie out of Mississippi State. New York added Kia Vaughn and Bria Hartley over the offseason and will enter 2017 with renewed expectations.
Head coach Bill Laimbeer on the 1st practice of 2017? pic.twitter.com/2YqJXNhADs
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) April 23, 2017
Earlier in the offseason, it became known that Angel McCoughtry planned to take time off for this upcoming season. Even though Atlanta will be entering the season without one of its marquee players, its head coach, Michael Cooper, is still thinking championship.
Coach @ShowtimeCooper tells us why this year he feels the @AtlantaDream will bring home the championship. #rwtd10 @DanGoldberger pic.twitter.com/kNSVegugGm
— The Crush SportsTalk (@CrushSportsTalk) April 23, 2017
Coach Cooper is working the @AtlantaDream hard at training camp but @LayshiaC is all smiles for her takeover!
?: wnba pic.twitter.com/ZJ6LvG5Csk
— WNBA (@WNBA) April 23, 2017
The Dream also extended an invitation to Peyton Little out of Oklahoma to join its camp. One of the players that was extended an invite to join Minnesota’s camp was Shao Ting out of China. Coming off a season that nearly saw the Lynx win a fourth WNBA championship, Cheryl Reeve’s team will surely be entering 2017 with its eyes once again on The W’s top prize.
It just gives that fire and that hunger and that little chip on the shoulder to fight to get there again. Nothing like life kind of hitting you in the face to make you live life even harder and fuller the next time.
As for the team that defeated the Lynx in last year’s Finals, the Sparks invited a litany of players to its camp—including Brittany Brown from Florida State, Karlie Samuelson and Mikayla Ruef out of Stanford, Baylor’s Khadijiah Cave and Nina Davis, and Arkansas State’s Aundrea Gamble.
Down in Dallas, they invited Kelsey Lang, who played for the in-state Texas Longhorns to camp. The Wings put an interesting twist on its camp plans…
Training camp begins tomorrow and we want you to join us! Oh, and it’s free ? #WingsTipOff pic.twitter.com/JhPBR45do8
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) April 22, 2017
In the Pacific Northwest, the Storm’s training camp commenced without one of its main players, but not due to overseas competition. After a procedure on her knee, Sue Bird was not present at Seattle’s first training camp of this season. There is no timetable set for her return.
At this point, it’s just me and my knee. I could list the surgeries. I think that was the fifth one on just this one knee. Everything from ACL to microfracture. I’ve had it scoped before. One was midseason, like 10 years ago in 2007. It’s just part of it. I have arthritis in there. Stuff happens.
–Sue Bird
In San Antonio, it at least appears on the surface that they are putting the initial drama between the Stars and Kelsey Plum’s agent behind them. Plum did indeed sign her Stars contract, but San Antonio, as are many teams in camp’s opening days are shorthanded as they are without Moriah Jefferson and Kayla McBride who are both still playing overseas.
We’re not the only team that has players overseas. I’d rather they miss a few weeks of training camp than four to six weeks during the season.
–Ruth Riley, Stars head coach
— San Antonio Stars (@SAStars) April 23, 2017
One team that did start camp with its marquee player was the Washington Mystics—a team that will catch many eyes this season. Elena Delle Donne was announced as part of the Mystics’ training camp roster as well as Ivory Latta, Tayler Hill, Tierra Ruffin-Pratt, and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, who Washington drafted out of nearby Maryland.
Kristi Toliver, who the Mystics also landed this past offseason, is playing in overseas playoffs in Russia.
Three players—including George Washington’s Caira Washington were invited to training camp with Washington.
The Chicago Sky, of course, will be without its primary draft pick, Alaina Coates, for an extended period of time, but they also managed to extend invites to three players—including Xavier’s Amber Harris and Texas’ Yvonne Anderson.
And not too far from Chicago is Indiana, where the Fever are preparing to begin the season with Pokey Chatman, the Sky’s former head coach, at the helm.
.@PokeyChatman getting the troops ready in her first #Fever training camp! #WatchUsWork #TrainingCamp pic.twitter.com/GOd5Igst0D
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) April 23, 2017
That’s a wrap on day one of #Fever training camp! #WatchUsWork #OnAMission pic.twitter.com/HGzs1ILQjL
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) April 23, 2017
As for the Connecticut Sun, where Chiney Ogwumike recently signed an extension, it appears they began their season in pure style.
Kicking off training camp with a team dinner. ? pic.twitter.com/yzx6rumRix
— ConnecticutSun (@ConnecticutSun) April 23, 2017
So this happened last night… Thanks for an awesome show @chrisrock! pic.twitter.com/tlpPulNJWV
— ConnecticutSun (@ConnecticutSun) April 23, 2017
Training camp for the Phoenix Mercury starts on April 24, but they will be without both Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner for the start of camp as both are also competing in Russia for playoff competition.
By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)
Best view in the town !