Shooter!
The Mystics' own Laurie Koehn proved this afternoon something that Mystics fans have known all along, that she is the best 3-point pure "shooter" in the league. In previous 3-point shootouts, the WNBA has only allowed members of the All Star team rosters to compete. But this is Washington, DC after all, and if there's one thing we know how to do in this town, it's lobby. And after some very intense lobbying by the Mystics' front office, the WNBA was persuaded to give a relatively unknown bench player a shot at the title. Needless to say, Laurie did not disappoint. An extemely nervous first-time competitor, Laurie beat the BIG name stars, including The Diana and last year's All Star Game MVP, Katie Douglas, in both rounds to win the crown. Laurie cleared several racks and hit a number of "money balls" en route to her victorious final round score of 25, which tied a 21-year-old record set by Craig Hodges of the NBA and set a new WNBA record.
Diana Taurasi (on Laurie Koehn): "Wow . . . that chick can shoot."
Jubilant hometown fans (and visitors!) were out of their seats cheering wildly after Laurie nailed the shot that sealed the win. With this kind of excitement in the arena just prior to the ASG tip-off, the BasketCases are confident that the WNBA has no regrets about permitting non-All Star specialists to participate in the pre-game competitions.
Laurie's victory earned her a post-shootout interview with Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman. Laurie made very gracious remarks about the support she has received from the Mystics' fans, and about how much she was afraid she might disappoint us. Well, she didn't. In fact, seeing Laurie win the 3-point shootout was a thrill and the emotional high point of our afternoon. This doesn't mean that the BasketCases didn't thoroughly enjoy the All Star Game itself; we certainly did. In fact, we thought it was the best ever. More to come on that later. But for now, congratulations to Laurie!!
posted by BasketCases @ 11:58 PM
10 comments
10 Comments:
I sure wish we would set some screens and play Laurie more! She was great yesterday! And you are right. Best All Star Game ever... it was actually a game and not a show-off fest. KT
I have to agree with KT. Great game. But the thrill for me was seeing Laurie nail those threes. She commented in the paper that she has been practicing hard on her "handle" but that it's hard to work on it in a game when you don't get much playing time. I wish Tree would give her a few more minutes a game. FT
I'm sure some of the WNBA people were upset that Taurasi, whom they want to build the league around, didn't win it, not to mention the overbearing Connecticut media and fans who think their state invented women's basketball. Congrats to Laurie!
What an awesome weekend! From the All-Star Fest on 11th and G Saturday to the actually game itself Sunday, it was one of the best weekends I've ever had! I've never been to ANY type of all-star game and it was just a blast! I took more than 400 pictures over the two days, got a LOT of pictures signed and even got shots I'd taken of Diana Taurasi to her Saturday at the Fest. What a BLAST! I think the coolest part was meeting WNBA fans from a number of other cities in town. It was a pleasure welcoming them, sharing the experience with them and just having a real good time. I LOVE this league and I'm proud to be a WNBA -- and especially a Mystics -- fan!
GREAT Job by Laurie!! I knew that was money in the bank. The league did well to open up the skills challenges to non-All Stars. Really made a nice TV showing. I'm still surpised that she missed more than 1 or 2 through both rounds, though. Must have been nerves.
I can see why people call for more Play time for her - but I can also see why she doesn't get it. Laurie's not the most athletic member of the team if you haven't noticed. When she gets ont the floor, the opposing team's best defender jumps on her like they are new best friends. On the defensive end, good guards eat her alive taking her to the basket. Best bet is if the Mytics go to a zone defense when she's in. If the other teams would just let her move around the arc and shoot at will, she'd score 3s all day. I often wonder if the Mystics would not have been better off if they'd kept Joens as the 3pt specialist. She's tall and atheltic and is also and outstanding 3 ptr.
Yay for Laurie and the players. Boo to the WNBA and media suits Sheila and Donna packed the stands with, who couldn't stop "networking" (gossipping) for two hours and watch the dang game.
I loved how Laimbeer woke up when the lead started to dissolve and srated pushing the players. You could see him thinking "Hey wait, I didn't come here to lose!"
We went NUTS for Laurie. I agree that it was totally the emotional high point of the day - at least for me and the people I was with!
Well, I also have to admit I got a huge thrill out of just seeing Ruthie Bolton. She was my coach at the UF basketball camp wayyyyy back in '94, so I've loved her since then.
Good times!
I agree with you Tonyl222 re: Cathy Joens- great 3-baller and a solid defender... I loved watching her play at GW. I love Laurie, but thought (and still think) it would have been wiser to keep Joens.
Great job Laurie .... i hope this can translate for more PT for you!! (yes, we CT hoop fans are pretty knowledgeable about the sport and can appreciate the skills and the heart that all players have. Oh, and by the way VP81955 ... they didn't invent the sport in CT, they only perfected it there ;-D )
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