According to a report by the Love Women's Basketball site, former UConn forward Charde Houston was struck by a hit and run driver as she rode a bike to yesterday's practice for the Spar Uni Girona in Spain where she is currently playing.

There are reports that Houston needed to be hospitalized.but was able to make it to the team's practice last night.

Former UConn stars Tiffany Hayes and Maya Moore played starring roles as the Atlanta Dream and Minnesota Lynx opened the WNBA conference finals with victories.

Hayes scored 15 of her game-high 23 points after Tamika Catchings gave Indiana a two-point lead in the third quarter of the Eastern Conference finals. Not a bad performance for a player with a reputation of not playing her best in the postseason or on the big stage when she was coming out of UConn, don't you think?

Hayes was 8 of 14 from the field, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range to go with three rebounds, three assists and one steal in Atlanta's 84-79 victory over the defending champion Indiana Fever.

Moore had 20 points (on 8 of 14 shooting), five rebounds, three assists, three steals and a blocked shot as Minnesota rolled to an 85-62 win over Phoenix in the opening game of the Western Conference finals.

Diana Taurasi led Phoenix with 15 points while Charde Houston added nine points.

The conference finals resume on Sunday with Indiana and Phoenix both needing to win at home to extend the series to a decisive third game.

Former UConn standout Charde Houston had her third double double in as many games in the Israel championship series to lead Maccabi Ashdod within a victory of the title.

Houston had 16 points and 11 rebounds as Maccabi Ashdod defeated Elizur Ramla 70-64 on Wednesday to take a 2-1 lead in the best of five game series.

Houston is averaging 15.7 points and 10.3 rebounds in the championship series.

Allison Hightower of the Connecticut Sun had game-high totals of 22 points (on 10 of 14 shooting), five assists and two steals for Elizur Ramla and she is averaging 20 points and four assists in the championship series.

Former UConn guard Tiffany Hayes had a career-high 23 points (shooting 8 of 13 from the field), six rebounds, four assists and one steal as the Atlanta Dream defeated Phoenix 100-93 in overtime on Sunday. Former Husky Ketia Swanier had six points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals as Atlanta won without Olympian Angel McCoughtry. Speaking of stars missing the game, ex UConn star Diana Taurasi missed her 14th game of the season with a hip flexor for Phoenix. UConn grad Charde Houston had 16 points, eight rebounds and two steals for the Mercury.

The Connecticut Sun's impressive success on the road continued with an 86-80 win over defending WNBA champion Minnesota.

Kara Lawson's 22 points and 10 rebounds led the way for the Sun to improve to 12-4 while former Huskies Tina Charles (19 points, 15 rebounds) and Asjha Jones (16 points and 11 rebounds) also had double doubles.

The Sun led by 17 points with 6:54 before Minnesota can roaring back. UConn grad Maya Moore had nine of her team-high 19 points down the stretch as Minnesota pulled within three points. The Sun scored its last eight points from the free-throw line to hold on for the win.

The WNBA's nationally-televised game between Los Angeles and Seattle lost some of its luster when Seattle held out UConn product and Olympian Sue Bird with a hip injury. Los Angeles rolled to an 83-59 win,

After the game Bird talked about missing the game.

Every once in a while you get banged up and timing doesn't work in your favor," Bird said. "Coming into this weekend we had a back-to-back. It was recommended to get as much rest as possible, so it didn't become a long-term issue. If I wake up (Sunday) and feel good, I expect to play."

Former UConn guard Tiffany Hayes has agreed to terms to play in Israel with Hapoel Rishon when the WNBA season is over. Below is a link to the official release from the team. The translation to English is not perfect but it gets the job done.

http://www.ibba.one.co.il/General/Article.aspx?id=202191&siteId=6


Here's an unofficial list of where the former UConn players are planning to play this winter
Svetlana Abrosimova, Dynamo Moscow (Russia)
Sue Bird, UMMC Ekaterinburg (Russia)
Tina Charles, Wisla Can-Pack (Poland)
Tiffany Hayes Hapoel Rishon (Israel)
Charde Houston, Maccabi Ashdod (Israel)
Asjha Jones Kayseri Kaski (Turkey)
Kaili McLaren, Ramat Hasharon (Israel)
Renee Montgomery, Nadezhda Orenburg (Russia)
Maya Moore, Shangxu Xing Rui  Flame(China)
Diana Taurasi, UMMC Ekaterinburg (Russia)

The Tulsa Shock announced that it has invited former UConn guard Lorin Dixon to its training camp which, by my count, makes 12 former Huskies heading to WNBA training camps.

I'm not going to lie about being a little surprised about Dixon getting an invite. It will be interesting to see how she fares in training camp. I do think that her chance of making the Shock would increase dramatically if Tulsa were to schedule North Carolina in a preseason game or at least let Dixon go up against former North Carolina guard Cetera Degraffenreid, who seemed to bring the best out of Dixon.

All kidding aside, Dixon was a top prospect coming out of Christ the King who can be a disruptive force on the defensive end. She was not much of an offensive threat at UConn so for her to avoid being among the first cuts I would have to think she'd have to look for her own shot a little more than she did during her collegiate career. I'm hoping she'll be around long enough to take part in at least one preseason game. Tulsa plays at Atlanta in its first exhibition game on May 5 and wraps up its preseason schedule by hosting Seattle on May 11.

By my count seven of the WNBA's 12 teams will have UConn grads competing for roster spots. The Connecticut Sun leads the way with four players (Tina Charles, Kalana Greene, Asjha Jones, Renee Montgomery) while Atlanta (Tiffany Hayes, Ketia Swanier) and Phoenix (Charde Houston, Diana Taurasi) also have more than one former Husky heading to training camp. Chicago (Swin Cash), Minnesota (Maya Moore), Seattle (Sue Bird) and Tulsa (Dixon) have one UConn product each.

Speaking of UConn guards, Bria Hartley was among the 5,500 fans who were at Rentschler Field for UConn's spring football game on Saturday. She was joined by Michala Johnson, who is finishing out the semester before transferring to Wisconsin.

The lovewomensbasketball.com website is reporting that former UConn stars Nykesha Sales and Charde Houston have been signed by SK Cesis in Latvia and Maccabi Ramat Hen in Israel respectively.

Staying on the subject of former Huskies playing overseas, if Asjha Jones can lead her Rivas Ecopolis to a victory on Thursday that would mean that half of the EuroLeague quarterfinalists will feature former UConn stars.

Jones averaged 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds as Rivas Ecopolis split the first two games with Bourges Basket to set up a decisive third game on Wednesday. It's just one of the two first-round series needing a third game to decide things.

Maya Moore averaged 18.5 points per game as Ros Casares swept CCC Polkovice while Sue Bird averaged 19.5 points as UMMC Ekaterinburg topped Good Angels Kosice in two games. Svetlana Abrosimova is also a member of Ekaterinburg while Diana Taurasi and Tina Charles are members of a star-studded Galatasaray squad.

Seimone Augustus had 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists to lead four players in double figures as the Minnesota Lynx defeated the Atlanta Dream 73-67 to clinch the franchise's first title.

Former UConn star Maya Moore finished with 15 points (on 6 of 9 shooting) and seven rebounds, Rebekkah Brunson had 13 points and 9 rebounds and Candice Wiggins had 10 points as Minnesota swept the best of five game series.

Moore and fellow UConn grad Charde Houston kept alive a streak as this is sixth straight season that the WNBA champion had at least one UConn grad on its roster.

Angel McCoughtry led Atlanta with 22 points.

With Minnesota beating San Antonio to reach the Western Conference finals, there will be a UConn alum playing in the WNBA finals for the ninth straight year.

Had San Antonio beaten Minnesota, there would have had a chance of no former Huskies playing for the WNBA title for the first time since Los Angeles beat New York in the 2002 championship series. But with UConn products Diana Taurasi and Ketia Swanier on the Phoenix Mercury while Maya Moore and Charde Houston play for Minnesota, the winner out West will have a definite UConn flavor to it. However, since there are no former Huskies on either the Atlanta Dream or Indiana Fever, if the Eastern Conference champion wins the title then it will be mark the first time the WNBA champ won't have a former UConn player on the team since the Sacramento Monarchs won the title in 2005.

The WNBA's Final Four begins on Thursday when Indiana hosts Atlanta at 7 p.m. followed by Phoenix playing at Minnesota at 9 p.m. Game two is Sunday at Atlanta and Phoenix with Indiana and Minnesota hosting a winner take all game three on Tuesday if the teams split the first two games.

It would be easy for Charde Houston to have emerged angry at the world after dealing with some rough and tumble times growing up in San Diego.

But even as she was forced to sleep in the family's car at times during her childhood, Houston vowed that if she was ever able to make the world a better place for others, she would do just that.

It was not just idle chatter. Since being drafted into the WNBA by the Minnesota Lynx, Houston's charitable endeavors have been something to behold. Obviously others have the same opinion as she was named the Houston's charitable endeavors were recognized when she was named the WNBA's Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award.

Back in 2009 Houston was quick to act when she heard the story of 11-year-old Aiyanna Bardwell left homeless after the murder of her mother. That was the same year that Houston founded Project Youth Opportunities Unlimited. Houston holds weekly mentoring sessions with seven Minnesota youths and both 2009 and 2010, the foundation has bestowed gifts on an underprivileged family during the Christmas holiday season.

"It means so much because so many people are recognized for their work on the court," Houston said. "It's not just myself but other WNBA players, we are so involved in the community that means so much to us.

"Throughout my childhood, I did not have a positive youth group I could capitalize on growing up. I just wanted to provide something that the youth could benefit from."

When I spoke with Charde on Friday, of course I took the chance to get her take on tonight's game against the Connecticut Sun which features four of Houston's former UConn teammates (Tina Charles, Kalana Greene, Renee Montgomery and Jessica Moore).

"I am definitely looking forward to playing against some former teammates and see how they are doing especially Tina with her coming off her Eastern Conference (Player of the Week and Month) honors," Houston said.

Houston had this to say about Charles' rapid development and emergence as one of the most dominant players in the WNBA in just the early stages of her second season.

"I'm impressed with her ability to get better," Houston said. "Not a lot of people can get close to 20-plus rebounds in a game. She is constantly improving her game, especially her leadership skills. She is more vocal now and she has just matured as a player."

She also talked about the adjustments Lynx teammate Maya Moore has had to make.

"She came not so much hesitant but trying to find her way and trying to get used to the WNBA game," Houston said. "With Maya, she looks for her shot, she is very vocal, she doesn't play like a rookie. She is starting to (adjust) to the physicality of the game. She has to guard the best players night in and night out so her, I don't think she's struggled but it is more so that she has been tested."

With the arrival of Moore and fellow first-round pick Amber Harris, the return of Candice Wiggins from an injury-shorted 2010 season, addition of veteran Taj McWilliams-Franklin it has been a season of adjustment as well as one of limited participating for the former all-star forward.

Houston was a double-figure scorer both in 2009 and 2010 and in her first three seasons she averaged between 17.6 and 23.3 minutes per game. However, Houston had played 10 minutes in just one of Minnesota's first eight games.

"My role has changed," said Houston, who averaged 2.8 points, 1.3 rebounds and 7.1 minutes in the first eight games of the season. "It is probably the least amount of time I have played in terms of minutes but at the same time, Coach (Cheryl Reeve) said you have to be ready. We have a deep, deep bench. Anybody can start for this team and you never know when your number is going to be called. I am just practicing hard and pushing the starters."

The Lynx/Sun game will be televised live on NBA TV beginning at 8 p.m.

Former UConn forward Charde Houston has been named the winner of the WNBA's Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award for her charitable endeavors with the Minnesota Lynx in 2010.

In 2009, Houston founded Project Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Project Y.O.U), a non-profit organization. Project Y.O.U. educates, motivates and empowers youth to excel in school and in life. During the 2010 season, Houston partnered with Perspectives, Inc. to mentor a group of girls in Minnesota, to stress the importance of education, self-esteem and becoming leaders in the community.

For the second consecutive year, Charde through her foundation, has selected an underprivileged family in the United States and made their holiday wishes a dream come true. In December of 2010, Charde hosted a “Christmas with Y.O.U.” event in Atlantic City, NJ. Through social media, Charde raised over $3,000 to fulfill the children’s Christmas list. In addition to establishing her own foundation, Charde has also worked with the Ronald McDonald House, Perspectives, Inc. and Youth Advocate Program Inc.

"This is a team effort, so I would like to thank all of my Project Y.O.U. staff, Perspectives, Inc. and youth for their hard work," said Houston in a statement. "I am blessed to be able to mentor these wonderful ladies. My girls work hard everyday at improving their lives by learning about leadership, self-esteem and goal-setting. Youth deal with a lot and all it takes is a positive influence to encourage and help them believe that. This award is confirmation that what my staff and I are doing makes a difference in the community. We are all honored."

Houston is in her fourth season with the Lynx and is averaging 2.8 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.6 steals in eight games this season.

All 11 former UConn players in the WNBA were in action today and led by scoring outbursts by Diana Taurasi and Tina Charles, it was a day to remember for most of the former Huskies as five of them scored in double figures.

Taurasi had a season-high 32 points as the Phoenix Mercury defeated the Indiana Fever 93-89 in overtime for its first win of the season.

Charles had a career-high 31 points as well as 12 rebounds as the Connecticut Sun remained undefeated at home in 2011 with an 83-68 win over Chicago. Asjha Jones added 12 points for the Eastern Conference leading Sun.

Sue Bird had 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals while Swin Cash had nine points, four rebounds and three assists in the Seattle Storm's 74-50 loss to Los Angeles.

Maya Moore had 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists as the Minnesota Lynx won its fifth straight game, beating Atlanta 77-64.

Here are the other former Huskies in action on Sunday:
Kalana Greene, Connecticut: Matched season high with 7 points
Charde Houston, Minnesota: Season-high 7 points
Renee Montgomery, Connecticut: 7 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Jessica Moore, Connecticut: Did not score but played a season high 8:20.

Another former UConn star was in action on Sunday but not in the WNBA as Svetlana Abrosimova had five rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot but it wasn't enough to prevent Russia from losing to Lithuania 76-64 on day two of the EuroBasket tournament.

Former Cheshire Academy star and 2010 Connecticut Sun third-round pick Johannah Leedham had a team-high 14 points in 15 minutes in Great Britain's 60-45 loss to the Czech Republic.
Ketia Swanier, Phoenix: did not score

Thanks to the Minnesota Lynx sending this over, here is Maya Moore's reaction to her first WNBA game. Moore started and had four points, five rebounds and three assists as the Lynx defeated the Indiana Fever 71-66 in an exhibition game on Tuesday.

"Not exactly what I wanted, but I thought we made a little bit of progress from some of the initial jitters, working into the flow of this level, just working those things out. I don't like to necessarily base my performance on points, because like Coach was saying, there's a lot of ways you can impact the game, so that's what I try to do. I try to get some assists, get some rebounds, force some tough shots. Overall, I thought I filled the stat sheet a little bit in certain areas, but I'm definitely not satisfied with where I am. I want to keep getting better and keep getting more consistent and staying out of foul trouble too."

On her impact on the court:
"I'm just myself. Whenever I'm on the court, on the bench, I'm always trying to provide energy, trying to cheer my team on, try to communicate and be aggressive and set the tone. That's something I'll always try to bring and I feel that it brings our team a competitive edge."


On the last time she scored four points in a game:
"I don't remember. I never plan on having four points, so I don't know necessarily what I'm going to do anything differently besides just continue to listen to the coaching staff and keep being aggressive and taking my time as well. As long as I'm getting good looks… sometimes the ball doesn't go in."

For the record, the last time she had four points in a game came in a Jan. 13, 2010 game against Marquette.

Moore was one of three former Huskies to play in the game as Charde Houston had nine points, two rebounds and two assists for Minnesota while Jessica Moore finished with two points and one rebound for Indiana.


GENO REACTS TO APR SCORES
The UConn women's basketball program achieved a perfect score of 1,000 in the Academic Progress Rate and had an impressive four-year average of 990.

Here is Geno Auriemma's reaction to the numbers.

"I am extremely proud of my team’s showing in the NCAA’s latest Academic Progress Report. Our coaching staff makes it clear to every incoming freshman that they have a responsibility, not only to strive to win championships, but also to strive for excellence in the classroom. We will continue to stress academics as the top priority with the goal of every student-athlete earning her degree from the University of Connecticut."

Sure, it might have seemed anticlimactic that Maya Moore would be taken first overall in Monday's WNBA draft but the Minnesota Lynx made it official.

When Moore's name was called, she became the record 12th UConn product to be taken in the first round including the fourth former Husky to be taken in the opening round by Minnesota. She also joined Connecticut greats Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi and Tina Charles as top overall picks.

Moore finished with a Connecticut record 3,036 points and her 150 victories were the most of any NCAA Division I women's basketball player.

Moore will join a talented Minnesota squad which includes former No. 1 overall pick Seimone Augustus, Lindsay Whalen, Candice Wiggins, Rebekkah Brunson, Monica Wright and Charde Houston, who played with Moore for one season at UConn.

Moore will make her WNBA debut on May 24 when the Lynx host Indiana in an exhibition game at Concordia College in St. Paul.

Moore and the Lynx will kick off the 2011 WNBA season with a June 3 game at Los Angeles. On August 16, the Lynx will play the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena.

It appears as if all three UConn commits will be signing on Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period.

Brianna Banks, a 5-foot-9 guard from Newnan, Ga., will be signing her letter of intent at 8 a.m. at a ceremony at Fayette County High School in Fayetteville, Ga.

Banks, who transferred to Fayette County from Northgate High, will be signing alongside three of her new teammates as Kyra King is headed to Brewton Parker College in Mt. Vernon, Ga., Taybreanna Crouch is headed to Clayton State University in Morrow, Ga. and Elem Ibiam will be playing collegiately at the University of South Carolina.

Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, a 6-0 guard/forward from Anaheim, Calif., will be signing her letter of intent in a ceremony at Mater Dei High at 10:45 a.m. Kiah Stokes, a 6-foot-3 forward/center from Marion, Iowa, is expected to sign in a ceremony at Linn-Mar HS after Stokes returns from playing in the first round of the state tournament with the Linn-Mar volleyball program. Linn-Mar will face Iowa City West in the 4A quarterfinals in Cedar Rapids at noon (1 p.m. Eastern time) so it looks like the signing fesitivities would take place in the early afternoon.

UCONN ALUMS LIGHTING IT UP
With UConn's second and final exhibition game a couple days from now, I figured it would be a good time to update how former Huskies are doing with their European teams. I've attempted to find all the former UConn players overseas but it's possible I've missed some and welcome any additions as I plan on providing periodic updates.

Tina Charles (Nadezhda, Russia): Averaging 18.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals
Kalana Greene (Gorzow, Poland): Averaging 8 points, 3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block.
Charde Houston (Good Angels Kosice, Slovakia): Averaging 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.5 blocks. Had 19 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists in 76-57 loss to USO Mondeville on Wednesday.
Kaili McLaren (Apollon Ptolemaidos, Greece): Averaging 16 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal per game. Had 14 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals in 71-68 loss to Panathinaikos Athens on Wednesday.
Renee Montgomery (Maccabi Ashdod, Israel): Averaging 20 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3.3 steals and 2.7 turnovers a game. In her last game, Montgomery had 32 points, four assists and six steals in 76-68 win over Elitzur Holon on Nov. 1.
Diana Taurasi (Fenerbahce, Turkey): Averaging 29 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.5 steals. In 109-92 win over Gospic Croatia on Wednesday, she had 34 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals and was named the EuroLeague Player of the Week.
Barbara Turner (Pankup Ted Kayseri Kolejspor, Turkey): Averaging 12 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.3 blocks

Former UConn star Tina Charles had 24 points and 13 rebounds but her Nadezhda team lost its Euroleague opener 76-68 to Ros Casares.

Ex-Husky Diana Taurasi had 24 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists in her first EuroLeague game with Fenerbahce after a sensational run with Spartak.

Charles' former UConn teammate Kalana Greene had two points, three rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot in Gorzow's, Charde Houston had six points and two rebounds for Good Angels Kosice.


Here's a breakdown on how the Connecticut Sun players (or those whose rights are held by the Sun fared on opening day/night

Kelsey Griffin (Mizo Pecs 2010): 11 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals
Sandrine Gruda (UMMC Ekaterinburg): 17 points, 8 rebounds
Anete Jekabsone-Zogota (Spartak): 6 points, 2 rebounds
Johannah Leedham (Gorzow): 8 points, 3 steals
Erin Phillips (Wisla Can-Pak Krakow): 18 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists
Alba Torrens (Halcon Avenida): 20 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block

Former UConn star Charde Houston for the first time since the most unbelievable experience of her young life.

Last month Houston was headed home following a successful season playing for ZVVK USK Prague when the Delta flight she was on was diverted to land in Boston because of a suspected terror threat.

Houston shared her thoughts and emotions by posting on her twitter account, letting those who follow her live her trying times along with her.
Houston was back in New England on Thursday, one day short of a one-month anniversary of the flight fiasco she endured.

"It was surreal to me, you don't really expect to go through things like that in life but it happened," Houston said. "I am so happy I was able to come back from that and knowing that Delta Airlines, the FBI and everybody just did a great job making sure everybody's safety was first.

"I am thankful and blessed that I was in a situation where I was able to look at life in a different perspective. You need to do everything like it is your last (time) because you never know, that is the take I have. Always say your prayers and be thankful. You are only required to have faith the size of a mustard seed and of of course I have more but it is just knowing and believing that God is the one who is going to control your destiny so if it is not your time to go, you will not go."

Houston is thriving in her third season with the Lynx. Without the services of injured stars Seimone Augustus and Candice Wiggins, Houston has been asked to carry much of the offensive load. She scored in double figures in each of the first five games including a team high 16 points in Thursday's loss at Connecticut.

"With Coach (Cheryl) Reeve coming in here, she wanted everybody to be able to play two positions," Houston said. "I have come in here and played the 3 (small forward),
get comfortable with that. It is good to be able to move around and help your team in any way you can. Since Seimone and Candice aren't here, I have been starting and
since Rebekkah (Brunson) is back, I am now coming off the bench. I am excited about that, coming off the bench is harder than starting because of the energy and the
momentum you have to give the team. If they are playing good, you maintain that level of intensity. If it is kind of dropping, it is your job to go in and pick it up."

Balloting for the WNBA All-Star Game "WNBA vs. USA Basketball: The Stars at the Sun" began today at WNBA arena and online balloting will kick off on Wednesday.

Balloting will run through June 21 and the top 10 players will be announced on June 29 during ESPN2's broadcast of the Indiana/Washington game.

The Connecticut Sun are represented by Tina Charles, Anete Jekabsone-Zogota, Asjha Jones, Kara Lawson and Renee Montgomery. Former UConn stars Charles, Jones and Montgomery are joined by ex-Huskies Sue Bird (Seattle), Swin Cash (Seattle), Charde Houston (Minnesota) and Diana Taurasi (Phoenix).

While the WNBA opted to be All-Star game free in the upcoming season, there is still a mid-season event for former UConn stars and members of the Connecticut Sun to take part in.

Voting for the EuroLeague Women All-Star Game 2010, which will be held on Mar. 9 in in Gdynia, Poland, began today.

Former UConn star Diana Taurasi figures to be one of the leading vote-getters for the "Rest of the World" squad once again while the Connecticut Sun's Sandrine Gruda and Anete Jekabsone-Zogota are among the top candidates to earn starting spots for Europe.

Fan balloting runs until Jan. 31. The UConn players on the ballot are Svetlana Abrosimova, Charde Houston, Asjha Jones and Renee Montgomery while Jones' Connecticut Sun teammates Lindsay Whalen, Amber Holt and Erin Phillips as well as Alba Torrens, a third-round pick of Connecticut's in April's WNBA draft. Fans will get to pick the starting lineups for both teams while the league will vote on the reserves.

The North Carolina and Notre Dame games, which will be played on Jan. 9 and 16th respectively at Gampel Pavilion, are closing in on being sell outs.

There are fewer than 200 tickets left for the North Carolina game and fewer than 500 tickets remaining for the Notre Dame game. The Notre Dame will also be the first women's college basketball game being featured on ESPN College Gameday.

The ESPN GameDay morning show is scheduled to run from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16 at Gampel Pavilion, with doors opening at 7:30 a.m.

Scheduled to appear as hosts for the live morning show from Storrs are Rece Davis, Digger Phelps, Jay Bilas, Hubert Davis and Doris Burke.

The event will include contests, prizes, giveaways and entertainment for fans of all ages. The first 750 fans in attendance will receive a free t-shirt.

Admission and parking (in the South Garage adjacent to Gampel Pavilion) to this historic first-time event for women’s basketball will be free to all fans.

Fans can purchase tickets by logging on at UConnHuskies.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

WNBA SCHEDULE IS OUT
The 2010 WNBA season will kick off on May 15 with five games including the Connecticut Sun hosting Chicago at 3:30 p.m.

The Sun will also be featured in three of the 18 nationally-televised games. The July 20 game against New York is the only televised game played at Mohegan Sun Arena. Connecticut's games at San Antonio on July 5 and at Seattle on Aug. 5 will also be broadcast on ESPN2.

UConn fans may want to circle May 27 on their calendars as the Sun will welcome Minnesota into Mohegan Sun Arena. Not only will the Lynx have former Huskies Renee Montgomery and Charde Houston, but Minnesota figures to take Tina Charles with the No. 1 overall pick in April's WNBA draft.