Candace Parker ~ Official Website http://candaceparker.com The Official Website of Candace Paker Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:37:23 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Candace Parker Named a Finalist for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team http://candaceparker.com/candace-parker-named-a-finalist-for-the-2012-u-s-olympic-women%e2%80%99s-basketball-team/ http://candaceparker.com/candace-parker-named-a-finalist-for-the-2012-u-s-olympic-women%e2%80%99s-basketball-team/#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:37:23 +0000 admin http://candaceparker.com/?p=690 Highlighted by a trio of two-time Olympic gold medalists and featuring a total of nine players who have won Olympic gold, 21 USA Women's National Team members were today named as finalists for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Team. The player selections were made by the USA Basketball Women's National Team Player Selection Committee. "Now that we're down to 21 finalists, you look around and you see a group of players that have tremendous experience," said Geno Auriemma, 2009-12 USA National Team and University of Connecticut head coach. "(We have) players that have won (Olympic) gold medals, won World Championships, there are WNBA champions on the list, players that have won in Europe in international competition. You've got a group of players that have experienced everything there is to experience and as a coach, as someone who's been around these players, I couldn't be happier with this group. They represent the best of what the United States has to offer." The 21 finalists for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Team include: Jayne Appel (San Antonio Silver Stars), Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Rebekkah Brunson (Minnesota Lynx), Swin Cash (Chicago Sky), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), Tina Charles (Connecticut Sun), Candice Dupree (Phoenix Mercury), Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky), Brittney Griner (Baylor University), Lindsey Harding (Atlanta Dream), Asjha Jones (Connecticut Sun), Kara Lawson (Connecticut Sun), Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), Renee Montgomery (Connecticut Sun), Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx), Candace Parker(Los Angeles Sparks), Cappie Pondexter (New York Liberty), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx) and Sophia Young (San Antonio Silver Stars). "When you're trying to pick a team," said Auriemma. "It's important that you don't just say, 'ok, well, we're just going to get the best player and that's all there is to it.' You're trying to put together the Olympic team. So, you're trying to find players that fit together very well, that are very compatible, they complement each other's strengths, hide each other's weaknesses. So, we're going to have to decide: What kind of team do we want? What are the dynamics that we're trying to achieve? In the end, are we prepared for anything the other countries are going to throw at us and do we have something for every occasion? As we're picking the team, those things are going to be really crucial." Headlining the finalists roster are 2004 and 2008 Olympic gold medalists Bird, Catchings and Taurasi. They were joined on the 2004 Olympic gold medal stand by Cash and on the top of the podium in 2008 by Augustus, Fowles, Lawson, Parker and Pondexter. All 12 members of the 2010 USA World Championship Team, which earned the USA's London Olympic berth by virtue of claiming the '10 FIBA World Championship, are still in the running for a spot on the 2012 team. Those athletes include: Appel, Bird, Cash, Catchings, Charles, Dupree, Fowles, Jones, McCoughtry, Moore, Taurasi and Whalen. Bird and Catchings are three-time USA World Championship Team members, having also won gold in 2002 and bronze in 2006; while Augustus, Parker and Taurasi competed on the 2006 USA World Championship Team that returned with the bronze medal. Twenty of the 21 athletes compete professionally in the WNBA and most continue to hone their games during the winter in China or Europe. The lone collegian is Griner, who has the chance to be the first collegiate athlete selected to a U.S. Olympic women's basketball team since 1988 (Vicky Bullett, Maryland; Bridgette Gordon, Tennessee). Auriemma will be assisted in the USA's quest for a gold medal by DePaul University head coach Doug Bruno, 1988 Olympic gold medalist and Washington Mystics assistant coach Jennifer Gillom and Atlanta Dream head coach Marynell Meadors. 2012 Olympic Games Four-time defending Olympic gold medalists, the U.S. will look to capture its fifth straight and seventh overall gold medal and extend its 33-game Olympic winning streak at the 2012 Olympic Summer Games in London. The Olympic basketball competition will be held July 28-Aug. 12 in the Olympic Park Basketball Arena (preliminary round and quarterfinals) and North Greenwich Arena (semifinals and finals). The draw to determine the two preliminary round pools of six teams each is scheduled to be held April 28 at the FIBA Central Board meeting in the Ivory Coast. The preliminary round, played July 28-Aug. 5, will feature a round-robin schedule and the top four finishing teams will advance to the Aug. 7 quarterfinals. The semifinals are scheduled for Aug. 9 and the finals will be played on Aug. 11. Seven countries have claimed spots in the eventual 12-nation field, including host country Great Britain; the United States, which earned its berth by virtue of earning the gold medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championship; and five nations which earned the gold medal at their respective FIBA zone qualifying tournaments, including Angola (FIBA Africa), Australia (FIBA Oceania), Brazil (FIBA Americas), China (FIBA Asia) and Russia (FIBA Europe). The final five teams will earn their spots at the 2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament (June 25 - July 1 in Ankara, Turkey), which will feature 12 nations from each of the five 2011 FIBA zone qualifying tournaments as follows: two from FIBA Africa, including Mali (bronze medalists) and Mozambique (fifth-place finisher); three from FIBA Americas, including Argentina (silver medal), Canada (bronze medalist) and Puerto Rico (fifth-place finisher); two from FIBA Asia, including South Korea (silver medalist) and Japan (bronze medalist); four from FIBA Europe, including Turkey (silver medalist), France (bronze medalist), Czech Republic (fourth place) and Croatia (fifth place); and New Zealand (silver medalist) from FIBA Oceania. The USA Basketball Women's National Team Player Selection Committee is comprised of WNBA representatives Reneé Brown, Chief of Basketball Operations and Player Relations; Dan Hughes, head coach/General Manager of the San Antonio Silver Stars; and Chief Operating Officer/General Manager of the Indiana Fever Kelly Krauskopf; athlete representative and five-time Olympian Teresa Edwards; and USA Basketball Women's National Team Director Carol Callan.]]>

Highlighted by a trio of two-time Olympic gold medalists and featuring a total of nine players who have won Olympic gold, 21 USA Women’s National Team members were today named as finalists for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team. The player selections were made by the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee.

“Now that we’re down to 21 finalists, you look around and you see a group of players that have tremendous experience,” said Geno Auriemma, 2009-12 USA National Team and University of Connecticut head coach. “(We have) players that have won (Olympic) gold medals, won World Championships, there are WNBA champions on the list, players that have won in Europe in international competition. You’ve got a group of players that have experienced everything there is to experience and as a coach, as someone who’s been around these players, I couldn’t be happier with this group. They represent the best of what the United States has to offer.”

The 21 finalists for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team include: Jayne Appel (San Antonio Silver Stars), Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Rebekkah Brunson (Minnesota Lynx), Swin Cash (Chicago Sky), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), Tina Charles (Connecticut Sun), Candice Dupree (Phoenix Mercury), Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky), Brittney Griner (Baylor University), Lindsey Harding (Atlanta Dream), Asjha Jones (Connecticut Sun), Kara Lawson (Connecticut Sun), Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), Renee Montgomery (Connecticut Sun), Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx), Candace Parker(Los Angeles Sparks), Cappie Pondexter (New York Liberty), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx) and Sophia Young (San Antonio Silver Stars).

“When you’re trying to pick a team,” said Auriemma. “It’s important that you don’t just say, ‘ok, well, we’re just going to get the best player and that’s all there is to it.’ You’re trying to put together the Olympic team. So, you’re trying to find players that fit together very well, that are very compatible, they complement each other’s strengths, hide each other’s weaknesses. So, we’re going to have to decide: What kind of team do we want? What are the dynamics that we’re trying to achieve? In the end, are we prepared for anything the other countries are going to throw at us and do we have something for every occasion? As we’re picking the team, those things are going to be really crucial.”

Headlining the finalists roster are 2004 and 2008 Olympic gold medalists Bird, Catchings and Taurasi. They were joined on the 2004 Olympic gold medal stand by Cash and on the top of the podium in 2008 by Augustus, Fowles, Lawson, Parker and Pondexter.

All 12 members of the 2010 USA World Championship Team, which earned the USA’s London Olympic berth by virtue of claiming the ’10 FIBA World Championship, are still in the running for a spot on the 2012 team. Those athletes include: Appel, Bird, Cash, Catchings, Charles, Dupree, Fowles, Jones, McCoughtry, Moore, Taurasi and Whalen.

Bird and Catchings are three-time USA World Championship Team members, having also won gold in 2002 and bronze in 2006; while Augustus, Parker and Taurasi competed on the 2006 USA World Championship Team that returned with the bronze medal.

Twenty of the 21 athletes compete professionally in the WNBA and most continue to hone their games during the winter in China or Europe. The lone collegian is Griner, who has the chance to be the first collegiate athlete selected to a U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team since 1988 (Vicky Bullett, Maryland; Bridgette Gordon, Tennessee).

Auriemma will be assisted in the USA’s quest for a gold medal by DePaul University head coach Doug Bruno, 1988 Olympic gold medalist and Washington Mystics assistant coach Jennifer Gillom and Atlanta Dream head coach Marynell Meadors.

2012 Olympic Games
Four-time defending Olympic gold medalists, the U.S. will look to capture its fifth straight and seventh overall gold medal and extend its 33-game Olympic winning streak at the 2012 Olympic Summer Games in London. The Olympic basketball competition will be held July 28-Aug. 12 in the Olympic Park Basketball Arena (preliminary round and quarterfinals) and North Greenwich Arena (semifinals and finals).

The draw to determine the two preliminary round pools of six teams each is scheduled to be held April 28 at the FIBA Central Board meeting in the Ivory Coast. The preliminary round, played July 28-Aug. 5, will feature a round-robin schedule and the top four finishing teams will advance to the Aug. 7 quarterfinals. The semifinals are scheduled for
Aug. 9 and the finals will be played on Aug. 11.

Seven countries have claimed spots in the eventual 12-nation field, including host country Great Britain; the United States, which earned its berth by virtue of earning the gold medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championship; and five nations which earned the gold medal at their respective FIBA zone qualifying tournaments, including Angola (FIBA Africa), Australia (FIBA Oceania), Brazil (FIBA Americas), China (FIBA Asia) and Russia (FIBA Europe).

The final five teams will earn their spots at the 2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament (June 25 – July 1 in Ankara, Turkey), which will feature 12 nations from each of the five 2011 FIBA zone qualifying tournaments as follows: two from FIBA Africa, including Mali (bronze medalists) and Mozambique (fifth-place finisher); three from FIBA Americas, including Argentina (silver medal), Canada (bronze medalist) and Puerto Rico (fifth-place finisher); two from FIBA Asia, including South Korea (silver medalist) and Japan (bronze medalist); four from FIBA Europe, including Turkey (silver medalist), France (bronze medalist), Czech Republic (fourth place) and Croatia (fifth place); and New Zealand (silver medalist) from FIBA Oceania.

The USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee is comprised of WNBA representatives Reneé Brown, Chief of Basketball Operations and Player Relations; Dan Hughes, head coach/General Manager of the San Antonio Silver Stars; and Chief Operating Officer/General Manager of the Indiana Fever Kelly Krauskopf; athlete representative and five-time Olympian Teresa Edwards; and USA Basketball Women’s National Team Director Carol Callan.

]]> http://candaceparker.com/candace-parker-named-a-finalist-for-the-2012-u-s-olympic-women%e2%80%99s-basketball-team/feed/ 0 Moved by SLAM’s article on the immeasurable impact of the WNBA http://candaceparker.com/moved-by-slams-article-on-the-immeasurable-impact-of-the-wnba/ http://candaceparker.com/moved-by-slams-article-on-the-immeasurable-impact-of-the-wnba/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:12:28 +0000 admin http://candaceparker.com/?p=686 Ben York for the nice article on the WNBA's immeasurable impact on SLAM online. This article had me in tears. It's a great honor, but the truth is...I'm inspired by Jenny. She's my hero. Check out the article below when you get a chance: Phoenix, AZ - A few minutes before the visiting Charlotte Bobcats tipped off against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center last Saturday, I suddenly felt it was vitally important that I have some cookie dough ice cream. I was there covering the game for an upcoming article in the next issue of SLAM. I dropped my laptop off at the press box and made a beeline for Cold Stone Creamery. Yes, there is one inside the arena and it's a delicious gift from heaven. Something you should know about me to put this story in context: Aside from my career, I tend to avoid human contact and/or interaction whenever possible. I'm kind of like Sheldon from "The Big Bang Theory." Whether I'm exceedingly shy or just downright lazy doesn't really matter anymore. While in line, I glanced over to my left and noticed a young girl, maybe ten-years-old, with a Los Angeles Sparks WNBA jersey on. "Odd," I thought. "Don't really see many WNBA jerseys at NBA games, much less a Sparks one in Phoenix." I brushed it off, not thinking anything more of it. I had been in line for Cold Stone for what seemed like 52 minutes. Rather than make an attempt to converse with someone (again, I'd rather stab myself in the eye with a rusty fork), I continued to refresh my Twitter account on my BlackBerry. "I think I'm going to get cookie dough," said a random voice next to me. "Yeah, me too," I responded internally with a sarcastic tone. "That is, if the line ever starts moving." That's when I saw it was the same little girl with the Candace Parker Sparks jersey on. She didn't have any hair and was having a noticeably hard time keeping her balance without help from her mom. CONTINUE READING Fans: Be sure to follow Candace on Twitter and Facebook. ]]>
Thanks to Ben York for the nice article on the WNBA’s immeasurable impact on SLAM online. This article had me in tears. It’s a great honor, but the truth is…I’m inspired by Jenny. She’s my hero.

Check out the article below when you get a chance:

Phoenix, AZ – A few minutes before the visiting Charlotte Bobcats tipped off against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center last Saturday, I suddenly felt it was vitally important that I have some cookie dough ice cream.

I was there covering the game for an upcoming article in the next issue of SLAM. I dropped my laptop off at the press box and made a beeline for Cold Stone Creamery. Yes, there is one inside the arena and it’s a delicious gift from heaven.

Something you should know about me to put this story in context: Aside from my career, I tend to avoid human contact and/or interaction whenever possible. I’m kind of like Sheldon from “The Big Bang Theory.” Whether I’m exceedingly shy or just downright lazy doesn’t really matter anymore.

While in line, I glanced over to my left and noticed a young girl, maybe ten-years-old, with a Los Angeles Sparks WNBA jersey on.

“Odd,” I thought. “Don’t really see many WNBA jerseys at NBA games, much less a Sparks one in Phoenix.”

I brushed it off, not thinking anything more of it.

I had been in line for Cold Stone for what seemed like 52 minutes. Rather than make an attempt to converse with someone (again, I’d rather stab myself in the eye with a rusty fork), I continued to refresh my Twitter account on my BlackBerry.

“I think I’m going to get cookie dough,” said a random voice next to me.

“Yeah, me too,” I responded internally with a sarcastic tone. “That is, if the line ever starts moving.”

That’s when I saw it was the same little girl with the Candace Parker Sparks jersey on. She didn’t have any hair and was having a noticeably hard time keeping her balance without help from her mom.

CONTINUE READING

Fans: Be sure to follow Candace on Twitter and Facebook.

]]> http://candaceparker.com/moved-by-slams-article-on-the-immeasurable-impact-of-the-wnba/feed/ 0 2012 Los Angeles Sparks Schedule http://candaceparker.com/2012-los-angeles-sparks-schedule/ http://candaceparker.com/2012-los-angeles-sparks-schedule/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:47:50 +0000 admin http://candaceparker.com/?p=683 LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Sparks today announced they will tip-off the 2012 WNBA regular season with back-to-back games against Western Conference rival Seattle, playing at the Storm on Friday, May 18 followed by their home opener Sunday, May 20 at 5:30 p.m. at STAPLES Center. The Sparks 16th WNBA season will feature a 17-game home schedule including eight weekend dates. This marks the second consecutive year Los Angeles will play in the league's only opening night contest, with other WNBA teams in action starting May 19. Midweek games at STAPLES Center will start at 7:30 p.m., except on Thursday, July 5 when the Sparks host the defending WNBA Champion Minnesota Lynx at 12 p.m. in the team's annual Camp Day game. Weekend dates feature two Friday games at 8 p.m., a pair of Saturday tip-offs at 7pm and 7:30 p.m. and four Sunday contests at 5:30 p.m. Los Angeles is scheduled to play four nationally-televised games live on ESPN2: June 13 at Connecticut, June 23 at Phoenix, July 7 at home vs. Seattle and July 12 at Indiana. The Sparks local broadcast schedule will be announced at a later date. With the 2012 Summer Olympics scheduled in London, the WNBA will take a 33-day midseason break from July 14 through Aug. 15 to allow its brightest stars to compete for their respective countries. The Sparks resume play Aug. 18 at Seattle, and then have the luxury of playing seven of their final 12 regular-season games at STAPLES Center including four straight to end the campaign. Los Angeles' regular season finale takes place Sept. 20 vs. Minnesota, with the WNBA Playoffs slated to begin on Sept. 27. Group, full season and partial season ticket plans in all lower-bowl sections of STAPLES Center are available now by calling 877-44-SPARKS (772757) or visiting LASparks.com. Fans purchasing full season tickets by Jan. 31 will be able to lock in their ticket price through the 2014 season. ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES SPARKS The Los Angeles Sparks enter their 16th Women's National Basketball Association season in 2012 and are one of three original teams from the league's inaugural campaign in 1997. Winner of back-to-back WNBA Championships in 2001 and 2002, Los Angeles' roster of star athletes include 2008 WNBA MVP and Rookie of the Year Candace Parker and two-time WNBA champion DeLisha Milton-Jones. The Sparks play their home games at STAPLES Center in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. For ticket information, call 877-44-SPARKS (772757) or visit LASparks.com. ]]>
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Sparks today announced they will tip-off the 2012 WNBA regular season with back-to-back games against Western Conference rival Seattle, playing at the Storm on Friday, May 18 followed by their home opener Sunday, May 20 at 5:30 p.m. at STAPLES Center. The Sparks 16th WNBA season will feature a 17-game home schedule including eight weekend dates.

This marks the second consecutive year Los Angeles will play in the league’s only opening night contest, with other WNBA teams in action starting May 19.

Midweek games at STAPLES Center will start at 7:30 p.m., except on Thursday, July 5 when the Sparks host the defending WNBA Champion Minnesota Lynx at 12 p.m. in the team’s annual Camp Day game. Weekend dates feature two Friday games at 8 p.m., a pair of Saturday tip-offs at 7pm and 7:30 p.m. and four Sunday contests at 5:30 p.m.

Los Angeles is scheduled to play four nationally-televised games live on ESPN2: June 13 at Connecticut, June 23 at Phoenix, July 7 at home vs. Seattle and July 12 at Indiana. The Sparks local broadcast schedule will be announced at a later date.

With the 2012 Summer Olympics scheduled in London, the WNBA will take a 33-day midseason break from July 14 through Aug. 15 to allow its brightest stars to compete for their respective countries. The Sparks resume play Aug. 18 at Seattle, and then have the luxury of playing seven of their final 12 regular-season games at STAPLES Center including four straight to end the campaign. Los Angeles’ regular season finale takes place Sept. 20 vs. Minnesota, with the WNBA Playoffs slated to begin on Sept. 27.

Group, full season and partial season ticket plans in all lower-bowl sections of STAPLES Center are available now by calling 877-44-SPARKS (772757) or visiting LASparks.com. Fans purchasing full season tickets by Jan. 31 will be able to lock in their ticket price through the 2014 season.

ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES SPARKS
The Los Angeles Sparks enter their 16th Women’s National Basketball Association season in 2012 and are one of three original teams from the league’s inaugural campaign in 1997. Winner of back-to-back WNBA Championships in 2001 and 2002, Los Angeles’ roster of star athletes include 2008 WNBA MVP and Rookie of the Year Candace Parker and two-time WNBA champion DeLisha Milton-Jones. The Sparks play their home games at STAPLES Center in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. For ticket information, call 877-44-SPARKS (772757) or visit LASparks.com.

]]> http://candaceparker.com/2012-los-angeles-sparks-schedule/feed/ 1 Huffington Post: Candace Parker On Her Favorite Destinations, Playing In Siberia & Traveling With Kids http://candaceparker.com/huffington-post-candace-parker-on-her-favorite-destinations-playing-in-siberia-traveling-with-kids/ http://candaceparker.com/huffington-post-candace-parker-on-her-favorite-destinations-playing-in-siberia-traveling-with-kids/#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:14:31 +0000 admin http://candaceparker.com/?p=679 Candace Parker is perhaps best known for her role as forward for the Los Angeles Sparks. When not playing for the WNBA, Parker spends the off-season playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg in chilly Siberia. As a professional athlete, Parker spends much of her time traveling the globe for games -- even winning a gold medal during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Not a bad souvenir. HuffPost Travel caught up with the 25-year-old basketball player on her Christmas break back in the States to talk travel, her favorite spots and just how cold it really gets in Siberia. Huffington Post Travel: Where do you travel most often while playing in Siberia? Candace Parker: I play for UMMC Ekaterinburg, which is east of Moscow via a two-and-a-half-hour flight. We travel constantly to play the EuroLeague and the Russian Premier League -- we go to Spain, Istanbul, France, Germany and Poland. One of the big problems with playing in Russia is that every flight is 6 to 7 hours. When I go back to Russia [in January], we play in Istanbul and I'm so excited. HPT: What do you enjoy most about playing in Russia? CP: I love that everyone from my team is from a different place, so I just sit in the back of the plane and chat with my teammates about where they are from. CONTINUE READING]]>

Candace Parker is perhaps best known for her role as forward for the Los Angeles Sparks. When not playing for the WNBA, Parker spends the off-season playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg in chilly Siberia. As a professional athlete, Parker spends much of her time traveling the globe for games — even winning a gold medal during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Not a bad souvenir.

HuffPost Travel caught up with the 25-year-old basketball player on her Christmas break back in the States to talk travel, her favorite spots and just how cold it really gets in Siberia.

Huffington Post Travel: Where do you travel most often while playing in Siberia?

Candace Parker: I play for UMMC Ekaterinburg, which is east of Moscow via a two-and-a-half-hour flight. We travel constantly to play the EuroLeague and the Russian Premier League — we go to Spain, Istanbul, France, Germany and Poland. One of the big problems with playing in Russia is that every flight is 6 to 7 hours. When I go back to Russia [in January], we play in Istanbul and I’m so excited.

HPT: What do you enjoy most about playing in Russia?

CP: I love that everyone from my team is from a different place, so I just sit in the back of the plane and chat with my teammates about where they are from.

CONTINUE READING

]]> http://candaceparker.com/huffington-post-candace-parker-on-her-favorite-destinations-playing-in-siberia-traveling-with-kids/feed/ 0 Carol Ross Named Head Coach of Los Angeles Sparks http://candaceparker.com/carol-ross-named-head-coach-of-los-angeles-sparks/ http://candaceparker.com/carol-ross-named-head-coach-of-los-angeles-sparks/#comments Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:20:19 +0000 admin http://candaceparker.com/?p=675 LOS ANGELES- The Los Angeles Sparks have named Carol Ross as the team's new head coach, Vice President and General Manager Penny Toler announced today. Ross will join the Sparks for the 2012 Women's National Basketball Association season. She brings over 25 years of coaching experience including the past three seasons as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Dream, WNBA Finalists in both 2010 and 2011. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not announced. "It's a pleasure to welcome Carol Ross to our Sparks basketball family," Toler said. "Carol is a proven winner with an incredible track record at both the collegiate and pro levels. She has groomed many women for great WNBA careers. We're confident Carol is the ideal coach to lead the Sparks to our next Championship." Prior to her tenure in Atlanta, Ross amassed a 324-161 (.668) record in 16 seasons as an NCAA Division I head coach in the highly-competitive Southeastern Conference, guiding her teams to 12 NCAA Tournaments and two WNIT appearances. Twelve of those seasons (1990-02) were spent at Florida - where she coached current Sparks forward DeLisha Milton-Jones - before returning to her alma mater Mississippi from 2003-07. "I am very excited about the opportunity Penny Toler and the Sparks' organization have entrusted to me. I look forward to the responsibility of guiding these elite WNBA athletes," Ross stated. "With the talent and experience of players such as Candace Parker, DeLisha Milton-Jones and others, the Sparks are a team with Championship aspirations." "I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Atlanta Dream coaches, players, owners and staff for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of a first-class organization," Ross added. Milton-Jones is elated to be reunited with her college coach. "Carol Ross will be a great addition to the Sparks family. Her positive attitude and basketball intellect are the necessary qualities to lead the Sparks in our quest for a title," Milton-Jones said. "I'm incredibly excited to play for her again. She is the person who jump-started my career and intensified my passion for the game." Meanwhile, Parker has stood across the sidelines from Ross in both the WNBA and SEC, dating back to her college career at Tennessee. "I'm extremely excited to hear about the hiring of Coach Ross. I have played against her teams for a number of years and I believe she is a huge part of why the Atlanta Dream and Ole Miss have had tremendous success," Parker said. "Through her leadership, motivation and knowledge there is no doubt the Sparks will be back in the Championship hunt next season." With Ross joining the staff in 2009, Atlanta enjoyed a 14-game turnaround from its inaugural WNBA season in 2008 and finished tied for second in the Eastern Conference. The Dream have posted 21-13 regular season records in each of the past two years, tying for first in 2011 en route to a second straight WNBA Finals appearance. Her tenure with the Dream came on the heels of a four-year run at Ole Miss in which Ross compiled a 77-50 (.606) record and guided the Lady Rebels to two NCAA Tournaments and a pair of WNIT appearances. In Ross' first season, 2003-04, she led Mississippi back to the Big Dance for the first time since 1995-96 and earned SEC co-Coach of the Year honors. In 2006-07, Ole Miss reached the 20-win plateau for the first time in more than a decade and advanced all the way to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Guard Arminite Price played four years under Ross with the Lady Rebels, earning AP All-American honors as a senior en route to being selected third overall in the 2007 WNBA Draft by Chicago. Price went on to claim WNBA Rookie of the Year accolades that season, and was reunited with Ross the past three years in Atlanta. Ross also developed a reputation for developing WNBA talent at Florida, where she remains the winningest coach in school history with a 247-121 (.671) mark over 12 seasons and was a finalist for the Naismith National Coach of the Year in both 2001 and 2002. The Lady Gators - who had never received a bid to the NCAA Tournament before Ross' arrival in Gainesville - appeared in nine NCAA Tournaments over her last 10 years. Florida averaged over 20 victories per season during her 12-year tenure, and almost 23 wins over the last 10 years. Arguably the Lady Gators' finest season was 1996-97, when they reached the Elite Eight of the Big Dance and star forward Milton-Jones won the Wade Trophy as the best player in the country. Florida achieved its first-ever top-10 national ranking in 1996-97, and finished among the nation's top-25 in seven of Ross' final nine seasons. Three of the top-16 picks in the inaugural 1997 WNBA Draft came from Ross' Lady Gator program. Meanwhile UF's Murriel Page was the No. 3 overall pick in 1998 and Milton-Jones joined the Sparks in 1999 as the No. 4 overall selection. Milton-Jones - who credits Ross with greatly impacting her basketball development - is a two-time WNBA Champion with the Sparks, three-time WNBA All-Star selection and earned a pair of Olympic gold medals while representing the United States at the 2000 and 2008 Summer Olympics. Meanwhile Page led the WNBA in field goal percentage in both 1999 and 2000 while playing for Washington, and then suited up for Los Angeles from 2006 to 2009. Other notables coached by Ross at Florida include Merlakia Jones - a two-time All-Star and 2001 All-WNBA First Team performer - former Phoenix Mercury player and assistant coach Bridget Pettis and former Sparks guard Sophia Witherspoon (2002-03). In total, 26 of Ross' former players and recruits continued their basketball careers at the professional level. Also active in USA Basketball, Ross has served as an assistant coach with the 2005 Under-19 World Championship team that won the gold medal as well as head coach of the 1998 USA Women's Select Team that went 7-1. Ross earned her bachelor's degree in Education from Ole Miss in 1982. Ross was a four-year starter for the Lady Rebels from 1978-81, when Ole Miss logged a 93-50 record. She became the fourth women's basketball player ever to be inducted into the University of Mississippi Athletic Hall of Fame when she was honored on Sept. 1, 2001. After earning her degree, Ross served as a volunteer assistant at Belhaven College in Jackson, Miss., for one year before returning to the SEC as an assistant at Auburn from 1983-90. During that time she advanced from graduate assistant to top assistant and chief recruiter. She played a key role in the school's development and maturation into a perennial NCAA Tourney team. The Oakland, Miss., native has served as a board member for both the American Cancer Society and the Coaches vs. Cancer organization, which honored her as its 2000 Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award winner.]]>
LOS ANGELES- The Los Angeles Sparks have named Carol Ross as the team’s new head coach, Vice President and General Manager Penny Toler announced today.

Ross will join the Sparks for the 2012 Women’s National Basketball Association season. She brings over 25 years of coaching experience including the past three seasons as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Dream, WNBA Finalists in both 2010 and 2011. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not announced.

“It’s a pleasure to welcome Carol Ross to our Sparks basketball family,” Toler said. “Carol is a proven winner with an incredible track record at both the collegiate and pro levels. She has groomed many women for great WNBA careers. We’re confident Carol is the ideal coach to lead the Sparks to our next Championship.”

Prior to her tenure in Atlanta, Ross amassed a 324-161 (.668) record in 16 seasons as an NCAA Division I head coach in the highly-competitive Southeastern Conference, guiding her teams to 12 NCAA Tournaments and two WNIT appearances. Twelve of those seasons (1990-02) were spent at Florida – where she coached current Sparks forward DeLisha Milton-Jones – before returning to her alma mater Mississippi from 2003-07.

“I am very excited about the opportunity Penny Toler and the Sparks’ organization have entrusted to me. I look forward to the responsibility of guiding these elite WNBA athletes,” Ross stated. “With the talent and experience of players such as Candace Parker, DeLisha Milton-Jones and others, the Sparks are a team with Championship aspirations.”

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Atlanta Dream coaches, players, owners and staff for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of a first-class organization,” Ross added.

Milton-Jones is elated to be reunited with her college coach.

“Carol Ross will be a great addition to the Sparks family. Her positive attitude and basketball intellect are the necessary qualities to lead the Sparks in our quest for a title,” Milton-Jones said. “I’m incredibly excited to play for her again. She is the person who jump-started my career and intensified my passion for the game.”

Meanwhile, Parker has stood across the sidelines from Ross in both the WNBA and SEC, dating back to her college career at Tennessee.

“I’m extremely excited to hear about the hiring of Coach Ross. I have played against her teams for a number of years and I believe she is a huge part of why the Atlanta Dream and Ole Miss have had tremendous success,” Parker said. “Through her leadership, motivation and knowledge there is no doubt the Sparks will be back in the Championship hunt next season.”

With Ross joining the staff in 2009, Atlanta enjoyed a 14-game turnaround from its inaugural WNBA season in 2008 and finished tied for second in the Eastern Conference. The Dream have posted 21-13 regular season records in each of the past two years, tying for first in 2011 en route to a second straight WNBA Finals appearance.

Her tenure with the Dream came on the heels of a four-year run at Ole Miss in which Ross compiled a 77-50 (.606) record and guided the Lady Rebels to two NCAA Tournaments and a pair of WNIT appearances. In Ross’ first season, 2003-04, she led Mississippi back to the Big Dance for the first time since 1995-96 and earned SEC co-Coach of the Year honors. In 2006-07, Ole Miss reached the 20-win plateau for the first time in more than a decade and advanced all the way to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

Guard Arminite Price played four years under Ross with the Lady Rebels, earning AP All-American honors as a senior en route to being selected third overall in the 2007 WNBA Draft by Chicago. Price went on to claim WNBA Rookie of the Year accolades that season, and was reunited with Ross the past three years in Atlanta.

Ross also developed a reputation for developing WNBA talent at Florida, where she remains the winningest coach in school history with a 247-121 (.671) mark over 12 seasons and was a finalist for the Naismith National Coach of the Year in both 2001 and 2002. The Lady Gators – who had never received a bid to the NCAA Tournament before Ross’ arrival in Gainesville – appeared in nine NCAA Tournaments over her last 10 years. Florida averaged over 20 victories per season during her 12-year tenure, and almost 23 wins over the last 10 years.

Arguably the Lady Gators’ finest season was 1996-97, when they reached the Elite Eight of the Big Dance and star forward Milton-Jones won the Wade Trophy as the best player in the country. Florida achieved its first-ever top-10 national ranking in 1996-97, and finished among the nation’s top-25 in seven of Ross’ final nine seasons.

Three of the top-16 picks in the inaugural 1997 WNBA Draft came from Ross’ Lady Gator program. Meanwhile UF’s Murriel Page was the No. 3 overall pick in 1998 and Milton-Jones joined the Sparks in 1999 as the No. 4 overall selection. Milton-Jones – who credits Ross with greatly impacting her basketball development – is a two-time WNBA Champion with the Sparks, three-time WNBA All-Star selection and earned a pair of Olympic gold medals while representing the United States at the 2000 and 2008 Summer Olympics.

Meanwhile Page led the WNBA in field goal percentage in both 1999 and 2000 while playing for Washington, and then suited up for Los Angeles from 2006 to 2009. Other notables coached by Ross at Florida include Merlakia Jones – a two-time All-Star and 2001 All-WNBA First Team performer – former Phoenix Mercury player and assistant coach Bridget Pettis and former Sparks guard Sophia Witherspoon (2002-03). In total, 26 of Ross’ former players and recruits continued their basketball careers at the professional level.

Also active in USA Basketball, Ross has served as an assistant coach with the 2005 Under-19 World Championship team that won the gold medal as well as head coach of the 1998 USA Women’s Select Team that went 7-1.

Ross earned her bachelor’s degree in Education from Ole Miss in 1982. Ross was a four-year starter for the Lady Rebels from 1978-81, when Ole Miss logged a 93-50 record. She became the fourth women’s basketball player ever to be inducted into the University of Mississippi Athletic Hall of Fame when she was honored on Sept. 1, 2001.

After earning her degree, Ross served as a volunteer assistant at Belhaven College in Jackson, Miss., for one year before returning to the SEC as an assistant at Auburn from 1983-90. During that time she advanced from graduate assistant to top assistant and chief recruiter. She played a key role in the school’s development and maturation into a perennial NCAA Tourney team.

The Oakland, Miss., native has served as a board member for both the American Cancer Society and the Coaches vs. Cancer organization, which honored her as its 2000 Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award winner.

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