Lynx/WNBA

Since Indiana only plays Minnesota here once a season, as does each Eastern Conference club, Tamika Catchings this week will make the first of her two final visits to Minnesota. The 6’-1” 14-year veteran forward plans to retire after the 2016 WNBA season.

Tayler Hill now understands there’s no statute of limitations on being a hometown favorite.
“I think it is a blessing to be able to come back and give to the community,” noted Hill, the only Minneapolis native presently playing in the WNBA. She seemed taken aback, however, that after all these years, locals still embrace her whenever she’s in town.

Cue up John Sebastian, who wrote and sang the Welcome Back, Kotter theme song — two of the three Minnesota Lynx’s midseason acquisitions are being welcomed back from previous stints with the team. The MSR recently talked to both of them.

  One-half of the 12 WNBA head coaches are women, but there are more NBA female assistant coaches (two) than Black WNBA female head coaches (one). The MSR at this …

Who would have thought Minnesota, after all these years, would be a destination place for pro basketball players to want to continue their careers? Even more unthinkable that it would be the Minnesota Lynx.

If I didn’t have it in my hands, it would be unbelievable: A USA TODAY sports front page article on the WNBA published two days before last Saturday’s All-Star Game.

WNBA President Laurel Richie asked why I love coming to these contests. Saturday will be 10 straight games for the Only One covering the WNBA All-Star Game, and 11 out of 13 total midsummer games.

Unlike their male counterparts, the WNBA All-Star weekend is comparably low-key. No time-wasting celebrity contests or outdated dunk exhibitions, the All-Star women pros instead spend part of the morning with local kids.

The WNBA All-Star Games have been staged both east and west. In 2015 they will be held again in Uncasville, Connecticut, between the moon and New York City, for the fourth time, the most in one place in league history.

Founding WNBA president Val Ackerman recently cleared up a long-held belief about the league since its debut almost 20 years ago.

According to Fox Sports, the recent Women’s World Cup title game got boffo ratings. It “exceeded our highest hopes,” claimed network VP Michael Mulvihill.

Seimone Augustus is the first Black female pro athlete in Twin Cities sports history to get “franchise” tagged on her. It’s a title some locals were reluctant to crown her with, preferring instead to find someone, anyone not Black.

It seems that everywhere she goes, or at least everywhere this columnist is in her presence, WNBA President Laurel Richie is asked about the “E” word — expansion. “I’m very encouraged by the expression of interest,” said Richie in her response during a 10-question ESPN.com Q&A with her back in April.

Laurel Richie — in the fifth year of her WNBA presidency — had to address a couple of controversial off-season issues, including a domestic violence incident between two WNBA players, and Isiah Thomas’ now-tabled application for part ownership with the New York Liberty.

Val Ackerman will soon celebrate two years as Big East commissioner. “It’s not the Big East of UConn, Notre Dame, Louisville and Rutgers anymore. We’re a different group,” said the 25-year sports business veteran who was named league commissioner in June 2013.

Amanda Zahui B. and Shae Kelley were the only Minnesota Golden Gophers drafted this spring by WNBA teams: Tulsa and Minnesota respectively. The possibility of the two college teammates facing each other as professionals in their basketball “hometown” was squashed when Kelley was cut by the Lynx a couple of days before official rosters were set.

Candice Wiggins’ finger bandage was a proud badge of honor: “I know my status now,” said the eight-year WNBA guard, who recently was tested for HIV and AIDS. The results were negative.

The Minnesota Lynx spoiled Amanda Zahui B.’s first time back in her basketball “hometown.” Prior to Friday’s game, the 6-5 Zahui B. admitted that it would feel “weird” but she was excited to play in Minnesota again.