Lynx prospects bright in 2011

-Photos courtesy of the Lynx

A combination of good draft picks, healthy returning players, and an experienced coaching staff promises to give the Minnesota Lynx a better shot at the crown in the 2011 professional women’s basketball circuit.

A veteran and highly respected coaching staff welcomes the best Women’s National Basketball Association players to ever represent Minnesota. Stocked with healthy veterans, two of the top draft picks and two local rookies, the Minnesota Lynx expect to vie for the WNBA crown in this, the 2011 season.

Most exciting to the local fans is the acquisition of Connecticut’s MAYA MOORE, the oft-honored 2011 first draft pick, and the very talented fourth overall pick, 6’5” AMBER HARRIS of Xavier (Ohio). Also appealing to the ever-patient homers is the signing of two former all-state performers, Marquette’s ANGEL ROBINSON (St. Paul Central) and Iowa’s KACHINE ALEXANDER (Benilde-St. Margaret’s). These are the four rookies who we hope will contribute mightily to the newfound success of this promising squad.

Among the seasoned veterans expected to contribute are centers JESSICA ADAIR (George Washington), QUANITRA HOLLINGSWORTH (Virginia Commonwealth) and TAJ MCWILLIAMS-FRANKLIN (St. Edward’s); forwards SEIMONE AUGUSTUS (Louisiana State), REBEKKAH BRUNSON (Georgetown), CHARDE HOUSTON (Connecticut), and MONICA WRIGHT (Virginia); and guards ALEXIS HORNBUCKLE (Tennessee), LINDSAY WHALEN (Minnesota), CANDICE WIGGINS (Stanford) and MONICA WRIGHT (Virginia).

The first preseason contest will be played on Tuesday, May 24. It will feature these young ladies playing against the Indiana Fever at Gangelhoff Center on the corner of Hamline and Marshall Avenue. Starting time is 12 noon.

Boosted by excellent coaching, the team is expected to win its first game. The coaching staff is led by CHERYL REEVE, who is very excited about the 2011 prospects. After a disappointing 13-21 record in 2010, the coaching veteran of 21 years thinks that the 2011 edition of the Lynx will be better. She has two very able veteran assistants, SHELLEY PATTERSON and JIM PETERSON, both of whom are in their second year as Reeve’s assistants.

Patterson has a 21-year coaching career, both collegiate and professional. Peterson is a former         Minnesota Basketball as a prep and an eight-year veteran in the National Basketball Association. This is his third season as an assistant coach with the Lynx.

Kwame McDonald welcomes reader responses to kmcdonald@gmail.com or by phone at 651-398-5278.