All posts tagged Women\’s Basketball

GWU’s Kye Allums, Transgender Man, Plays Women’s Basketball

By | November 4, 2010 | Basketball, NCAA | Comments Off

Kye Allums, a player on the women’s basketball team at the George Washington University, announced yesterday that he is transgender, meaning that he is biologically female but identifies and lives as a man.

This makes Kye, previously known as Kay-Kay Allums, the first openly transgender male student-athlete to play for the Colonials’ Division I women’s team. He is also thought to be the first in the NCAA women’s basketball program.

Kay-Kay Allums

Outsports ran the story Monday, featuring extensive quotes from Kye about his life and the process of defining who he is, up to his decision to go public with his story and continue his basketball career on the Colonials team.

GW announced this on their athletic department’s website, calling the story “A Colonial Transition.”

“I decided to transition, that is change my name and pronouns because it bothered me to hide who I am,” Allums said. “I am trying to help myself and others to be who they are.”

Allums, 21, a native of Hugo, Minn., changed his name legally in September and says that he has been open about his transgender identity with his teammates and coaches for some time now. In interviews on Comcast SportsNet last night, Allums spoke at length about his feelings about his gender identity and when he felt that it was important to speak out. He could not live as a woman when this is not how he felt, he said.

“I told my teammates first, and they, including my coaches, have supported me,” he said. “My teammates have embraced me as the big brother of the team. They have been my family, and I love them all.”

He also said in statements that he has felt supported by his university and the athletic leadership, .

“GW has been supportive during this transition. This means a lot. I didn’t choose to be born in this body and feel the way I do,” says Mr. Allums.

His coaches and GW officials agree. Senior Vice President for Student and Academic Support Services Robert A. Chernak said the University supports Kye and his right to make this decision, adding that Allums will not participate in any drug or surgical procedures for gender reassignment while he is a student and remains on the women’s basketball team. Kye says his physical condition remains biologically female and won’t affect his competition with female athletes.

Mike Bozeman, women’s basketball coach, said that he and the basketball program “support Kye’s right to make this decision.”

Kye averaged 7.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 24.9 minutes per game last season, and notched a 75 percent free-throw record. He will kick off his third season with the Colonials on Nov. 13 in his home state, playing the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay at the Best Buy Classic in Minneapolis.

[Video: George Washington University press conference]

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Lowering the Rim – Will that Really Help Women’s Basketball?

By | October 4, 2010 | Basketball, Crazy People, Rants, Women's Sports | 5 Comments

Cross-posted from BlogHer.com

It is no secret that men’s basketball has a larger audience. You can say “No! No! Really! Our high school girls team is the state champ! We sell out every game!” an that may be true, but deep down inside you know that this is an exception and not a rule. Men’s basketball does better at every level: little league, Jr. high, high school, college, professional and international.

I guess that is why FIBA – the International Basketball Federation, or Fédération Internationale de Basket-ball – is considering lowering the hoop in the women’s game.

FIBA wants to see if it will make the women’s game more “attractive”.

*seethes*

At the first ever women’s basketball summit they also discussed new uniforms to appeal to a wider audience.

Now, before I completely flip my lid, I should let you know that FIBA and the International Olympic Committee already have smaller balls for the women’s game.

“The game as it is is a good game, but we have a large majority of women’s basketball players that don’t have that size and there are questions whether the game is as attractive as it really could be if you were able to play over the basket rather than under the basket.”

- via Karlovy Vary

Do people really believe that I watch basketball for the dunks? If that were the case I would watch the annual slam-dunk contest and just watch hockey for the rest of basketball season. NO! That isn’t why I watch men or women’s basketball. I watch basketball because I love the game. I buy tickets because I like basketball. Playing over the basket is great, but it is not going to determine where I spend my money.

When it comes to women’s basketball Jayda Evans always says it best.

Say what? To be frank, this has to be the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard at this point in the women’s game. What needs to happen globally is attention to coaching or maybe more cooperation with the WNBA so that more international stars could play in a league with the world’s best. Then skill would improve and that would draw more appeal globally.

Lowering the rim? For what? A cheap dunk? Please. FIBA should know by now that the game of basketball is more than dunking. A wicked crossover or three-pointer can be just as exciting — especially if in a close game that seals a victory. Just ask any Sue Bird fan.

As a feminist I am insulted. FIBA is suggesting that girls can’t handle the big balls (no pun intended) and women can’t play over the net.

Oh really? Let’s ask Brittney Griner.

Baylor Basketball

I am not going to sit here and tell you that women and men are exactly the same, any five year old in a bathtub could tell you different. What I will say and what I do believe is that women’s basketball is doing just fine with the basket where it is. Lowering the hoop cheapens the ladies’s game.

I have a much better idea on a way to make the women’s game more attractive. Show it some fucking respect.

UConn and Stanford Women To Play for NCAA Championship

By | April 5, 2010 | Basketball, NCAA, Women's Sports | Comments Off

The final is set. Tomorrow night UConn Huskies and the Stanford Cardinals will be facing off tomorrow night in San Antonio, Texas for the NCAA Women’s Basketball title game.

The final four scores don’t actually tell the stories of the games. Stanford beat Oklahoma 73 – 66 but the game wasn’t even close until the final two minutes. Oklahoma never had the lead even once during this game, and most of the time Stanford was ahead by more than 10 points. Oklahoma just couldn’t stop Nnemkadi Ogwumike. She scored 38 points during the semi-final. Thirty-eight points! That makes her the woman that has scored the second most points in an NCAA Final Four game. The only woman who outscored Ogwumike in a late round tournament game was Sheryl Swoope. Swoopes scored 47 points in the National Championship game in 1993.

The final score of the other semi-final was UConn 70 – Baylor 50. While Baylor never actually had the lead, the game was very close for a good deal of the second half. Baylor came out of halftime on fire, the Lady Bears scored 12 unanswered points right out of the locker room.

This game was nothing like I expected. Yes, I knew Baylor was good. But good enough to hang with Connecticut? To be within 4 points early in the second half? I never would have predicted that.

- Kacileigh – Women Talk Sports

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The first ten minutes of the second half of this game was intense, then everything fell apart for Baylor. The UConn dominance we’ve been seeing all year was back. Maya Moore (who, by the way, has a 3.7 grade point average and is considering applying for a Rhodes scholarship in 2011) could not be stopped. Moore had 12 rebounds and 34 points in the game (she had 21 points in the first half. The entire Baylor team had 26 first half points.) moving her ahead of Rebecca Lobo and Kara Wolters into fifth place on the UConn all-time scoring list with a current total of 2,145 points. Tina Charles also had a monster game with 13 rebounds, 4 assists and 21 points – and that was matched up against 6′ 8″ Brittney Griner.

Brittney Griner set a tournament record herself. She had 35 block in the series.

brittney-griner_block

Now The University of Connecticut will face Stanford. Stanford has won 27 games in a row. Their only loss all year wasback in December – to UConn.

UConn has now won a record 77 games in a row. Their last loss? April 2008 – to Stanford.

If Geno Auriemma can coach The Huskies to their 78th consecutive victory it will be the 7th time he has coached The University of Connecticut women’s basketball team to a NCAA Championship.

I am hoping for another Stanford buzzer beater, but I’m betting on UConn.

maya-moore-uconn-stanford

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Originally written for and cross posted on BlogHer.com

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Leveling the Women’s Sports Playing Field

By | April 2, 2010 | Basketball, Uncategorized, Women's Sports | 1 Comment

becky_hammon-silver-stars-nation-wnba

Do you watch the WNBA or any women’s sports? I’ll admit that I don’t. I don’t always have sports on, but when I do, my husband and I are usually watching a specific game. Do I feel guilty that I spend my time watching men’s sports? Kind of, well, yes I do. I guess I feel I should support the women because they are women, but really, shouldn’t we all support each other in fulfilling our dreams?

I asked my husband why he doesn’t watch women’s sports and he said that it’s not exciting enough for him. The women are awesome athletes, he said, but part of the thrill of the game is imagining yourself out there on the floor and he can’t do that while watching them.

I totally get where he’s coming from.

But what about me, what about you? Why don’t we watch?

For me I think it comes down to being lazy and not taking the time to be informed. I don’t think I’ve ever thought about sports not being equal, because I grew up in a house with a dad who taught us how to play with, and as good as, the boys. He always had faith in us so I did too.

I took it for granted that all girls had this upbringing. Apparently not. Perhaps that is why I was struck by the answer WNBA All-Star Becky Hammons gave when asked this question.

STL – What would you say to younger girls that play basketball but yet do not support women’s and girls’ basketball as a whole?

Becky – I think that is one of the saddest things I come across for a couple reasons….

First of all, let’s not forget our history ladies. It wasn’t so long ago that women weren’t allowed to compete in sports. So many unfulfilled dreams, so many opportunities that were denied simply because you were a woman. We all stand on the foundations that someone else who went ahead of us built. And more than likely the foundation was built out of blood, sweat, broken dreams, and tears. And if we’re not careful, and if we don’t support each other, all that hard work could crumble. The opportunity is not promised to be there tomorrow. It’s still fragile, because it’s still a very young ideology.

Secondly, young girls, young women, and middle-aged women, we are failing to see the bigger picture here! It’s not just about the WNBA or sports; it’s about equality and respect-which every human being deserves, whether male or female. Breaking barriers and stereotypes so that when YOUR daughter, YOUR niece, YOUR mother walks into that job interview SHE will have an EQUAL shot getting hired and paid the same as if a male walks in for that same job position…

I love when a little boy or girl comes up and has my jersey on, or wants an autograph, why? Because they’re growing up in a culture that views women as strong, smart, athletic, capable, and worthy of respect.

Last point.. I get tired of hearing people say, “well you walk into a women’s basketball game and you see so many women.” WELL, I’d counter, you walk into a men’s game and you see mostly men. THIS is an important point, because at the end of the day, it can’t be an “us” versus “them” mentality. We all need each other. In GENERAL it is mostly men who watch, support, follow sports, and that’s why I go back to my point of even if you’re not an athlete, or not a woman, or you don’t know an athlete, it’s still important to support it, because in the end, it affects everyone one of us, male or female because of the bigger picture is represents in our society. UNITY is an amazing word and when its captured, produces amazing results. But ladies, how can we ask the guys to support it, when we don’t support it ourselves! WE need EVERYONE, but ladies, let’s start with ourselves!

The whole interview with Becky Hammons can be found by clicking here.

If you don’t watch women’s sports, why not? If you do, what got you interested?

I know I’m going to take the time to actively look for the women’s games, if only to support a fledgling league. I mean shoot, I still root for the Houston Texans when they play, just because they are a newer franchise.

USA-women-russia-wnba-olympics-women's sports

I have to say though, this picture makes it look a little more exciting since the last time I caught a game.

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UCONN Dominance and Watching the NCAA Women’s Tournament

By | April 1, 2010 | Basketball, Women's Sports | Comments Off

Sure, sure, we’re all been watching March Madness, in the men’s tournament there have been an unusual number of extraordinarily close games and there have been a ton of upsets this year, but are you also watching the NCAA Women’s basketball games? If not, you sure are missing something.

There has been a lot of talk about the dominance of The University of Connecticut’s women’s basketball team, and if you have seen them play you know why. Not only have they gone undefeated for over two years, but they have absolutely destroyed their competition.uconn-womens-basketball-team

Look at UCONN’s scores so far:

Round 1:

Connecticut 95, Southern University 39

Round 2:

Connecticut 90, Temple 36

Round 3:

Connecticut 74, Iowa State 36

Round 4:

Connecticut 90, Florida State 50

Come on! Last night The Huskies beat the 3 seed FSU by 40 points and it was the only game of the tournament so far where they haven’t double their opponent’s score.

So is this level of dominance good or bad for women’s basketball?women's basketball

Some people say it is a bad thing, that it is boring when the same team wins everything all of the time. That one sided games are hard to watch. I get that. I agree with that, mostly. Then I watch a UCONN game, and if you can stop yourself from feeling sorry for the other team it is sort of like art. Maya Moore and Tina Charles lead this team in a way that is almost like watching Kobe and Shaq back in the day. Except better.

The problem is that people aren’t saying that Moore and Charles are amazing. They are saying that the UCONN doesn’t have any decent competition.

(Denise, this is when you yell PATRIARCHY!)

It clearly isn’t true. There are other VERY good NCAA women’s teams. This Sunday UCONN will face Baylor. Baylor is where Brittney Griner plays. You remember me talking about Griner, right? The 6′ 8″ freshman who can dunk? Now, I am not putting down any cash against the Huskies, but I think that Griner and The Bears will give them a much tougher game than their previous four.

There are some proponents who say that the UCONN dominance is a good thing. Why? Because even the mainstream male dominated media is talking about them. And them talking about women’s college basketball at all is a good thing for the sport.

I personally think that the Connecticut/Baylor game is one that shouldn’t be missed, and the winner of that game will play either Oklahoma or Stanford.

If you want to see some exciting basketball, check out the Stanford ladies taking out Xavier in the final second of the game this week.

It doesn’t really matter what your feelings are on UCONN’s dominance. These ladies put on a good show. They haven’t lost a game since April 4, 2008 – and they lost that game to Stanford.

Just keep watching. This tournament isn’t over yet.

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Cross posted on BlogHer.com

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