McCoughtry brings respectability to Louisville

Winner of a gold medal at the 2007 Pan Am Games playing for USA head coach Dawn Staley, Angel McCoughtry came off the bench to help lead the USA to a perfect 5-0 slate and ended up leading all U.S. scorers in the process (12.6 ppg.), while playing fewer than 20 minutes a game. It's not surprising then that McCoughtry has put Louisville women's hoops on the map.

USA Nike Hoop Summit Team Member Mike Moser Posts Big Night

The Oregonian tagged 2009 USA Junior National Select Team member Mike Moser as a "one-man gang" after he scored 46 points, collected 12 rebounds and grabbed five steals to help Grant High School capture a 66-63 overtime victory over Wilson High School. The win also secured the Portland Interscholastic League championship.

Thibault, Auriemma Olympic Candidates?

John Altavilla brings up the subject of the next USA Basketball Women's National Team head coach and wonders whether it could be the Connecticut Sun's Mike Thibault or UConn's Geno Auriemma, both of whom have prior experience with USA Basketball.

"When the new executive advisory committee serving USA Basketball's women's national team is selected this year, it will have to choose the successor to Anne Donovan as Olympic coach for the 2012 Summer Games in London," writes Altavilla. "The new committee, a cross-section of players, coaches and executives, is expected to debate whether the opportunity should be open to college coaches, a decision that would impact UConn coach Geno Auriemma and Connecticut Sun coach Mike Thibault."

The No-Stats All-Star

People watch games for the scorers. They scan the box scores to see who was the top rebounder, who listed higher for field goal percentage. They read the stories the morning after to find out what sage thoughts their local sports reporter came up with in regards to the game. Rarely, if ever, does anyone really look at a game and say that the guy who didn't score a single point was one of the tops on the hardwood. Until now. The secret of Shane Battier's greatness is finally out.

A Salute to Coach K for His Pledge of Allegiance

The New York Times salutes coach K for his commitment, dedication and job well done in putting the USA back on top of the world.

"Conviction is so much less complicated after a 36-1 run — the lone blemish being a 2006 world championships loss to Greece — to the gold medal stand last summer in Beijing. Not only did K Company complete the mission, it played to rave reviews, stylistically and behaviorally. Beyond the scoreboard, it won back the world."

USA Hoop Summit Team Features Top Preps

Featuring nine of the nation's top-25 ranked high school seniors and including three returning USA Basketball athletes in DeMarcus Cousins (LeFlore H.S. / Mobile, Ala.), Leslie McDonald (Briarcrest H.S. / Memphis, Tenn.) and Mason Plumlee (Christ School / Arden, N.C.), USA Basketball today announced the roster for the 2009 USA Men's Junior National Select Team that will compete in the 12th Annual Nike Hoop Summit. The USA and World Select teams will face off at 7 p.m. (PDT) on April 11, at the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore.

This is one game you definitely don't want to miss!

• USA Basketball's Official Release

• Sickles Star Henson Selected To Junior National Team
• Nike Hoop Summit Participants Announced
• Nike Hoop Summit Roster Announced
• USA Basketball names prep squad for Nike Hoop Summit
• Portland's Moser named to USA Basketball's 2009 Nike Hoop Summit team
  

Sheryl Swoopes In New Career?

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Sheryl Swoopes has been spending this off-season coaching The Overlake School's middle school girl's basketball team.

Lisa Leslie to Retire After '09 Season

Four-time Olympic gold medalist Lisa Leslie announced yesterday that the 2009 WNBA season would be her last. A member of the historic 1995-96 USA Basketball Women's National Team that barnstormed across the nation en route to a combined 60-0 record and the gold medal in Atlanta, Leslie remained a pivotal part of the USA Basketball Women's National Team program, winning a record four consecutive Olympic gold medals, a pair of FIBA World Championship golds and in 2002 was named the FIBA World Championship MVP. Additionally, Leslie, who started her USA Basketball career as a member of the 1998 USA Junior World Championship Team, also earned USA Basketball Female Athelte of the Year award in 1993, 1998 and 2002, and was the youngest participant at the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

"I feel that it’s just time" Leslie told ESPN. "I feel that this is a great opportunity for me to play my last season after having my baby and coming back last year. I feel like it’s fair for my fans to have the opportunity to come out and support me and my team, whether it’s here in Los Angeles or in any of the WNBA cities I’ll be playing in. I wanted to give them an opportunity to buy their tickets. I just feel it’s time for me. I don’t want to be out there playing where I cannot be effective in helping my team. At this point I feel like I can still score, I can rebound. I won (WNBA) Defensive Player of the Year this last season so I feel like I can continue to improve my game and help. But I definitely want to stop playing when I’m still effective as opposed to not being as helpful as I can be."

What They're Saying:

• ESPN Story / Chat
• Los Angeles Times
• Examiner.com
• The Daily Breeze

In other news, according to Jayda Evans Tina Thompson is close to finalizing a deal with the Sparks. If that indeed happens, Leslie and Thompson will be reunited for their Swan Song. In addition to a pair of Olympic teams, they played a year together at Morningside High School and also at USC.

Sheryl Swoopes Waived by Seattle

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Sheryl Swoopes, who helped the now-defunct Houston Comets win four consecutive WNBA titles, was waived by the Seattle Storm in order to make room under its salary cap.

Chris Paul: Rising Star Looks to London

Veteran NBA star Jason Kidd started all eight games of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the point guard position for USA Basketball, but it was clear to many that the heir apparent at the position is New Orleans Hornets' rising star Chris Paul.

Courtney Paris' Streak Ends, Summitt Still Looking for 1k

The Tennessee Lady Vols traveled to Norman, Oklahoma, last night to go up against the OU Sooners and try to up UT head coach Pat Summitt's winning record to 1,000. That was not to be as the No. 2 Sooners, featuring the Paris twins of Ashley and Courtney, downed the Lady Vols 80-70. However, each time had a bright spot. While Oklahoma kept Summitt from reaching win No. 1k, Tennessee put a stop to Courtney's amazing streak of 112 double-doubles.