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Anxious times
Ketia Swanier was the first of the former UConn players to get caught up in the numbers game. But will she be the only one?
Among the ex-Huskies who are probably walking on egg shells these days are Ashley Battle of the New York Liberty and Jessica Moore of the Los Angeles Sparks.
Before Sunday's exhibition game between Connecticut and Los Angeles, I spoke with Moore about the impact the move from 13 to 11 player rosters had on training camp.
"This year it is very difficult because it is not 13 anymore, it is 11 so it is always in the back of your mind," Moore said. "You can't dwell on that. All you can control is how you play, what you bring to practice every single day. As long as you can say to yourself that I am giving it my best, they can take it or leave it, what else can you do?"
Moore has played 106 games (starting 52) with LA over the last four seasons but the Sparks have added high-profile free agents Tina Thompson and Betty Lennox. Los Angeles also brought in veteran Vanessa Hayden and rookies Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton and Ashley Paris. On paper, it looks like Moore could be in some trouble but we will know soon. She very much wants to be there as Lisa Leslie plays her final season in the WNBA.
Moore has become very close with Leslie during her time with the Sparks.
"Playing with Lisa is like a dream come true," Moore said. "She was my all-time (favorite) player growing up and to actually get a chance to play with her, not only play with her but consider her one of my really good friends is awesome. I would be totally thrilled if I could be around her and be with her for the whole season."
I asked Moore to compare Leslie's basketball mindset to that of her former UConn teammate Diana Taurasi.
"What they do share in common is one thing they are great team players and will do anything for their teammates, they are not selfish and they bring that competitive edge on a whole different level," Moore said.
It is going to be an interesting couple of days as WNBA teams have some tough decisions to make to get down to the 11-player maximum.
Among the ex-Huskies who are probably walking on egg shells these days are Ashley Battle of the New York Liberty and Jessica Moore of the Los Angeles Sparks.
Before Sunday's exhibition game between Connecticut and Los Angeles, I spoke with Moore about the impact the move from 13 to 11 player rosters had on training camp.
"This year it is very difficult because it is not 13 anymore, it is 11 so it is always in the back of your mind," Moore said. "You can't dwell on that. All you can control is how you play, what you bring to practice every single day. As long as you can say to yourself that I am giving it my best, they can take it or leave it, what else can you do?"
Moore has played 106 games (starting 52) with LA over the last four seasons but the Sparks have added high-profile free agents Tina Thompson and Betty Lennox. Los Angeles also brought in veteran Vanessa Hayden and rookies Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton and Ashley Paris. On paper, it looks like Moore could be in some trouble but we will know soon. She very much wants to be there as Lisa Leslie plays her final season in the WNBA.
Moore has become very close with Leslie during her time with the Sparks.
"Playing with Lisa is like a dream come true," Moore said. "She was my all-time (favorite) player growing up and to actually get a chance to play with her, not only play with her but consider her one of my really good friends is awesome. I would be totally thrilled if I could be around her and be with her for the whole season."
I asked Moore to compare Leslie's basketball mindset to that of her former UConn teammate Diana Taurasi.
"What they do share in common is one thing they are great team players and will do anything for their teammates, they are not selfish and they bring that competitive edge on a whole different level," Moore said.
It is going to be an interesting couple of days as WNBA teams have some tough decisions to make to get down to the 11-player maximum.
posted by Jim Fuller at
11:17 AM
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