Veterans, New Stars Ready for Tip-Off My Column That Year
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The Battalion 99' Mnesday -June 18, 1997 New league Women have got next epitomizes ipt« true spirit lew professional league set to begin play Saturday ofbasketball |tatisii NEW YORK (AP) — They are son we joined this league is because we week — starting with the first game Jcati[tj King, fast, sweaty and yes, some of believe we’re part of something that’s June 21 — the eight-team WNBA is off Comparing the leagues Kristina Buffin ifonti can dunk. These are the going to get much better. to a flying start. !men of the WNBA, the new pro “We’re laying a foundation and “This is a historic moment. The On June 21, eight new Women’s National Basketball i Mat Association (WNBA) teams start their regular season. Sports Editor, hat pit"ketball league that promises an we expect to be celebrating our 50th start of the WNBA marks a new era in Here’s how the WNBA measures up to the NBA: jressive, finesse-filled game much anniversary just like the NBA did the evolution of women’s sports and Senior WNBA jierthan anyone expects. this year.” professional sports in this country," WNBA journalism major lussaii Iheleague enters a crowded sports Of course, that is also the hope of the WNBA president Val Ackerman said. Ball circumference: 28.5 in. 30 in. 5 irket where male athletes rule and NBA, which owns and operates the pus “Our interests are very much long Number of teams: 8 29 othernew women’s basketball ven- league. To try to make that happen, the term. We recognize that it is going to bout two years ago, I ancfe, the American Basketball League, WNBA’s big brother has organized mar-* take time to develop a stable fan base Avg. player height: 5 ft. 11 1/2 in. 6 ft. 7 in. wrote a column advocat ighting for fans. keting, corporate sponsorship and na and we’re focusing on the future of the Game time: two 20-minute halves two 24-minute halves ing the creation of a Awomen’s basketball league. At So, while the WNBA claims “We got tional TV coverage that is unprecedent league. We believe that you cannot Time on shot clock: 30 seconds 24 seconds the time, women’s college bas f how long can it hold the court? ed for a new league and all carefully underestimate the importance of ‘Wehave no idea what to expect this planned to raise awareness of women’s Height of basket: 10ft. 10 ft. ketball was gaining notoriety prime-time TV coverage. The expo and many fans were looking for ereibyear,” says Olympic gold medalist basketball. sure will set us apart.” Distance of 3-point 19 ft. 9 in. 22 ft. port tbecca Lobo, a 6-4 center/forward With sponsors like GM and Nike line to basket: a professional league in the nit itithe New York Liberty. “But the rea- and three nationally televised games a Please see Preview on Page 6. United States which would allow Source: WNBA, NBA women to show off their talents. Well, the National Basketball Association must have gotten a copy of The Battalion and read Veterans, new stars ready for tip-off my column that year. Starting Saturday, one of the two le radi EWYORK — Nancy Lieberman- look-passing point guard at Old Dominion, this month and may not play this season. “She’s feeling good, and has her feet women’s professional leagues IfoiM Cline waited 13 years for the NBA to leading the school to AIAW championships After college, Swoopes spent three un up,” Lieberman-Cline said. "It would be will begin, the WNBA. While the in 1979 and 1980. nice to get her back this season and into existi back a women’s pro league. And as happy months playing professionally in American Basketball League dif Jtbided her time, she hoped one thing — After stints in the women’s leagues, she Italy, then worked as a bank teller in Lub the fold.” finished up its season earlier |s teiFe slowly. played two years in the bock, Texas, staying in Lobo, one of the most recognized and this season, the WNBA players The 38-year-old guard finally has her men’s USBL, became a shape in pick-up games highly paid players in the league, has not are proclaiming, “We got next!” ed dif"’1 in the WNBA, which tips off June 21. broadcaster and was in with men. Along with played on a losing team in over three years. While many do not believe She is among the marquee players in the ducted into the Hall of A lot of people Leslie and Lobo, Swoopes She led Connecticut (35-0) to the NCAA that women’s basketball can tjJ eight-team league, joining the likes of Fame last year. made the national team, championship in 1995, and then served as a create a fan base, the WNBA edt ^Olympic gold medalists Lisa Leslie, Re- “Every day I walk out to have worked hard to went on a yearlong unde deep reserve on the Olympic team, averag has a fighting shot. This league alobo and Sheryl Swoopes — players practice, I have a big smile feated tour (60-0) and ing 8 1/2 minutes a game in Atlanta. is funded by the NBA and is be fortll*longout of diapers when Lieberman- on my face,” Lieberman- build what we have, won an Olympic gold A 6-4 center-forward with the New York ing heavily played up. During alai fewon a silver medal in 1976. Cline said. "I know it’s two medal in Atlanta. Liberty, Lobo will face former Olympic the NBA finals, promos were teammate Leslie in the league’s first game, |Vr Not only is Lieberman-Cline the WNBA’s hours of hard work, but I and I’m just happy She has been called run at every commercial break iestplayer, she is already been inducted see the love, camaraderie the female Michael Jor in Los Angeles. The Liberty-Sparks matchup and NBC, ESPN and the Life cate )the basketball Hall of Fame. and respect. A lot of people to be a part of it.” dan and is the only will be televised nationally on NBC. time channel are all going to be In 1984, she talked to NBA commissioner have worked hard to build woman to have a signa Lobo, 23, is still somewhat of a rookie broadcasting games. Talk what we have, and I’m just Nancy Lieberman-Cline ture shoe — Air compared with other WNBA players. about saturation. lOjefcidStern about forming a women’s Nonetheless, fans clamor for her autograph tgae. Stern said it was part of his plan and happy to be a part of it.” Swoopes. The 6-foot The ABL did not find much Phoenix Mercury guard everywhere she goes. success earlier this year but the ai just hoped she was still playing when the As for Swoopes, she cap ________________ forward was one of the "Right now I don’t feel pressure, I’m ex WNBA has more stars and more tured people’s attention first two players the in tl|!giie became a reality. cited,” Lobo said. “It was the same way money. College players such as “Ihoped I would age rather slowly,” said with slashing drives and laser three-point ac WNBA signed and was assigned to the with the Olympic team.... There have al Rebecca Lobo, Sheryl Swoopes feman-Cline, who played in two short- curacy, scoring a record 47 points for Texas Houston Comets. Swoopes, 26, and hus ways been tremendously talented women, and Nancy Lieberman-Cline will women’s leagues in the early 1980s be- Tech in the 1993 NCAA championship game band Eric Jackson are celebrating their and now people will have their eyes all be participating. thePhoenix Mercury selected her in the against Ohio State. second anniversary this month and their opened to them.” (ttdraft. She will not be doing that in the WNBA present will be a son. Please see Buffin on Page 4 lemade a name for herself as a no right away. She is expecting her firstborn His name? Jordan, of course. Please see Players on Page 6. Now on The Battalion’s web page A 24-hour, multimedia news service for the Internet from The Associated. Press <A, : news rei I as soon as newst SPEND SPRING 1998 AT SANTA CHIARA Attend Informational.meetings offered by the http://bat-web.tam.edu Study Abroad Program Office Room 154, Bizzell Hall West Wednesday, June 18 3:30 - 4:15 pm COMPUTER REPAIR & SUPPORT College Station Facility UCS continues to grow with more than 2000 clients nationwide. We sell and support powerful systems including PC’s, CRT’s, printers, modems, controllers, mainframes, and many other devices. Current open positions require formal electronics training and an interest in the computer 1?: ■ industry. The following positions require relocation to our multimillion dollar expansion site in Bryan/College Station. TECHNICAL SUPPORT: Will provide ongoing, daily support regarding the repair and maintenance of customized computer systems to our technicians and client base. Duties also involve testing and researching hardware issues relating to all UCS equipment. 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