Weekend in L.A. Celebration for Nneka

From Otis Watson, FBC member:

Hello Fans of Women's Basketball,

The Los Angeles Sparks organization at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California has invited the Cardinal Fast Break Club and all supporters of women's basketball, to a "Weekend in LA Celebration for Nneka Ogwumike".

This year, plan for an Independence weekend on July 7 & 8, 2012 in Los Angeles with the 2012 No.1 Draft Pick of the WNBA.

The Los Angeles Sparks organization has pulled out all the stops to celebrate their newest member of the Sparks family. A few of the pre- and post-game speakers will include: Laurel J. Richie, President and Commissioner, of the WNBA, Mike Levy, President of the Los Angeles Sparks organization, Penny Toler, General Manager of the Sparks, Carol Ross, Coach of the Sparks, Paula Williams Madison, Majority Investor of the Sparks, a special invited guest from ESPN. and of course, the star of the show Nneka Ogwumike for post-game conversations, pictures, autographs and networking.

Attendees will dine on wonderful pre-game buffet gourmet meals and no-host full bar in the VIP Lexus Club, participate in raffles for Nneka's jerseys and t-shirts, and receive a special Sparks gift bag,

Special hotel discounts are now available at the Los Angeles Marriott Downtown for $109.00 single and double occupancy.

It is recommended that you consider Southwest Airlines in making your low-cost flight arrangements.

Saturday, July 7 Pre-Game Meal - "Taste of Italy"

• Classic Caesar Salad, Chopped Antipasto Salad, Pasta Station, Meat Lasagna, Vegetarian Lasagna, Eggplant Parmesan, and Tiramisu for dessert.

Sunday, July 8 Pre-Game Meal - "Napa Valley Cuisine"

• California Salad, Spinach Salad, Oven Roasted Turkey, Grilled Salmon, Whipped Potatoes, Steamed Green Beans, and Carrot Cake for dessert.

All interested parties should read the attached flyer or call Aminah Mills, with the Los Angeles Sparks, at (W) 213-929-1304; (Cell) 213-926-6138; Email: amills@la-sparks.com.

"First-Come, First-Served" on all seat assignments. Act TODAY...don't delay. Invite your family, friends and colleagues from all over Northern and Southern California, to attend this great event.

Special Events at STAPLES Center

• Saturday, July 7 will feature Girl Scouts Night, with half time performer "Cymphonique Miller'.
• Sunday, July 8 will feature Faith and Family Night, with post game performer "Barlow Girl".

We are looking forward to seeing YOU and your friends on July 7 & 8, 2012 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.

Amy to be enshrined into Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame

Amy starred for the Ohio State basketball team from 1978-82, captaining the 1981-82 team that won the Big Ten title and earned a bid to the inaugural NCAA Tournament. At the time of her graduation from Ohio State, she held the Buckeye record for most games played with 123 and was second on the program's career scoring list with 1,629 points.

In recognition of these accomplishments and her subsequent stellar coaching career, Amy will be enshrined into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday. Read more...

An award for Joslyn

News from Missoula, Montana:

After a tremendous junior basketball season at Stanford, Missoula Big Sky graduate Joslyn Tinkle has been honored with this year's Little Sullivan Award.

Read more...

Difficult December schedule awaits the Cardinal

The Cardinal's final 2012-13 schedule won't be released for several months, but Jake Curtis writes a bit about the opponents that they are tentatively scheduled to meet in December. Read here...

A Weekend in L. A. with Nneka

From Otis Watson, FBC member:

Now is the time to "SAVE THE DATES" of July 7 & 8, 2012, for "A Weekend in L. A. with Nneka"!

That's right. The Fast Break Club, with members in Northern and Southern California, will be traveling to Staples Center, in Los Angeles, California, to support Nneka Ogwumike and her new professional team...the Los Angeles Sparks. You will have an opportunity to watch Nneka play in not one, but two games...back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday. It will be a weekend in Los Angeles that you will never forget!

Plans are being made now to include WNBA celebrities, ESPN personalities, gourmet pre-game meals and more surprises! The information flyer that will be released in a month or so, will include special ticket pricing, hotel discounts and air accommodations. Not to mention, the opportunity for post-game conversations, pictures and networking with our own Nneka Ogwumike, two days in a row!

If you traveled with the Fast Break Club to Sacramento a few years ago, to support Nicole Powell and Candice Wiggins, you know what a great time we had. However, this will be a road trip you, your family and friends, can't afford to miss. Whatever 4th of July plans you have made, cancel them now! This promises to be the greatest Fast Break Club road trip ever!

The first person to already confirm to welcome the Fast Break Club is Mr. Mike Levy, President, of the Los Angeles Sparks organization.

Get ready for "A Weekend in L. A. with Nneka"!

More details to follow soon.

Preseason top 25

Charlie Creme (espnW) puts Stanford at #6 in his very early preseason Top 25 and predicts that the Cardinal will be a perimeter-oriented team with Toni, Amber and Jasmine as the vital members. Read more...

Injury Report

Jake Curtis reports on the status of the Cardinal who missed all or most of last season due to injury — Mikaela, Jasmine and Alex. Read here...

Between Seasons

Here we are in the summer doldrums again. But don't despair — the FBC website will be active all summer, reporting all the Cardinal Women's Basketball news to be found. Watch for this information:

2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship

Will any of the youngest Cardinal be invited to play for USA Basketball in the FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women to be held in Puerto Rico August 15-19? USA trials will be held May 18-21.

2012 Olympic Qualifying Tournament

Will Jillian or Kristen get to play in the 2012 Olympic games? Follow the Olympic Qualifying Tournament from June 25 to July 1 as New Zealand and Turkey compete for one of the remaining five spots.

2012 Olympics

Then, of course, there are the Olympic Games to be watched from July 27 to August 12.

Cardinal in the WNBA, May - September

Will Nneka continue to expand her game and have a standout rookie season? Will a Parker/Ogwumike front court be as dominant as an Ogwumike/Ogwumike one?

Tara says that many [college] players improve the most between their freshman and sophomore seasons. Is this also the case with professional players? Will Kayla and Jeanette shine as WNBA "sophomores"?

And what will we see from our veteran pros Nicole, Candice and Jayne?

Here's the schedule.

Summer basketball at Kezar, June - August

Who will participate? Will we get an early look at our incoming freshmen Tess Picknell and Aly Beebe? The rosters and schedule will be available early in June.

Jos at Kezar last summer

Pac-12 News

What can we expect in the Pac-12 next season? Read Bob Kinder's preview of each team beginning in August.

The 2012-13 Schedule

The official schedule probably won't be announced until late in the summer, but we already know quite a bit about our opponents.

The Cardinal will participate in a tournament sponsored by the University of Hawaii in Honolulu November 16-18. Our non-conference opponents will include UConn (at Maples), Tennessee (in Knoxville), South Carolina, Gonzaga and Baylor.

National Awards

Will Chiney be selected as a preseason All-American? Will she be on all the national award preseason watch lists?

Preseason predictions and prospects

Remember that something you won't find on the website during the summer is news of high school players who have expressed interest in or verbally committed to Stanford. Since the FBC supports Stanford Women's Basketball, it observes the NCAA rule that prohibits writing about a recruit until she has signed a letter of intent. The early signing period this year is November 17-21.

2011-12 in Review

Stanford Athletics has posted a review of the Stanford Women's Basketball 2011-12 season that chronicles the team's many accomplishments, addresses each player's contributions and provides links to many of the season videos. Read here...

Cardinal series/season wrapup

Michelle Smith wraps up her "Total Access" series for espnW with an account of the Cardinal's season wrapup event — the banquet. Read here ...

(Watch for another account of the banquet in Judy Richter's "Event Reports" blog in a day or two.)