WomenTalkSports.com is an online network that connects the very best blogs relating to women's sports. http://womentalksports.com/items/category/5 Wed, 16 May 2012 18:03:01 -0400Last night I met up with my friend Evan for a run around DC. I'm fairly certain we looked absolutely ridiculous on this run for a two reasons. First, I was wearing my totally awesome Under Armour Terps running shirt that I am completely obsessed with. And Evan was wearing a pair of blue Duke shorts. Ew. Terps and Blue Devils don't get along, and we definitely got a few strange looks as we were running down the street. The second reason we looked absolutely ridiculous is because we were running from zombies. (Source) Yes, you read that right...zombies. Evan downloaded the Zombies, Run app on to his phone, and we listened to it while we were running. The premise of the app is that there was a crash of some sorts, and now zombies are roaming free. As a runner, you are tasked with accomplishing missions to help keep the few remaining people alive. I was cracking up listening to the narrator talk in a thick accent about what we needed to do to protect ourselves from the...http://www.womentalksports.com/items/read/425/1346686Wed, 16 May 2012 07:00:00 -0400  The teams line up before the opening WPSL Elite contest. EAST LONGMEADOW, Mass. – Even for someone who was but a passive WPS observer for most of its history, I couldn’t help but be a bit nostalgic as I pulled into East Longmeadow High Saturday afternoon for the opener of the new WPSL Elite between the host New England Mutiny and the New York Fury. ELHS is a fine high school facility, and much easier for me to get to than Harvard Stadium – former home of the Boston Breakers and an hour or so to the northeast – but my mind flashed back to the buzz surrounding WPS last summer, when Alex Morgan sent kids scurrying for her autograph just by walking out to tape a Fox Soccer Channel promo. When 15,000 people showed up in Rochester and nearly 10,000 in Atlanta to watch professional women’s soccer. Of course, you know the rest. If you don’t, it’s all here on this site for you somewhere, complete with the sordid details. But as the hard-wo...http://www.womentalksports.com/items/read/651/1346681Wed, 16 May 2012 11:30:00 -0400Last week USA Today wrote about the growing popularity of flag football for girls in high schools, especially in Florida, where it is a state championship sport. Flag football also has been introduced at the varsity level in Washington, D.C., and is growing as a club sport in parts of Texas. More girls coming out to play sports — this is a good thing, no? No, if you’re an official mouthpiece for a leading women’s organization. Neena Chaudry, senior counsel, National Women’s Law Center: “You can add sports as recreational or intramural — it’s great to have activities to help girls be physically active. If you’re going to add a varsity sport, it is relevant if that sport is going to provide the same opportunities as the boys have. So, to then add flag football as opposed to a sport, like volleyball or soccer, that does allow girls to get college scholarships is not equitable.” Nancy Hogshead-Makar, director of advocacy for the ...http://www.womentalksports.com/items/read/964/1345252Mon, 14 May 2012 08:47:00 -0400  Gotta love the giant killers: Sarah Hagen inspired Bayern Munich past Frankfurt en route to a historic DFB-Pokal Cup win Bayern Munich managed to revel in DFB-Pokal glory this weekend, but the victors weren’t the usual suspects. While the club’s men’s side got humbled by Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup final, its women’s team pulled off a mighty upset against FFC Frankfurt (highlights). The Bavarians remained resolute and compact against the holders. Frankfurt’s form has been infamously bipolar this season, and the club’s Mr. Hyde persona made an appearance on Saturday. The team seemed to revert to its former self and lacked much bite. Frankfurt’s lifeless performance is particularly worrying for its prospects in the Champions League final. In contrast, Bayern Munich’s attack closed out the match with vim and vigor. Sarah Hagen’s free header gave the underdogs the surprise lead. Ivana Rudelic’...http://www.womentalksports.com/items/read/651/1345331Mon, 14 May 2012 13:50:00 -0400Mother’s Day never passes without the gathering of Moms, Aunties and all ages of girls gathering for the annual Mighty Mama Skate-O-Rama. Year after year Skateboard Moms have put on this event around California and this year it all went down at Lake Cunningham Skate Park in San Jose. Here’s a bit of the story from Mercury News ” A bit older at age 56, Sacramento artist Gale Hart took up skateboarding briefly as a teenager but didn’t really get into it until she turned 50. “Midlife crisis!” Hart explained. “Isn’t that what we do? When we start losing our youth, we try to grab on to it and hold it.” Fran Bartholomew, 49, also embraced the sport later in life. The Sunnyvale resident had a skateboard early but was too afraid to ride down the steep hill from the family’s house. She putted around the driveway and lost interest, only to regain it unexpectedly five years ago. “I started noticing women and young girls sk...http://www.womentalksports.com/items/read/431/1345988Tue, 15 May 2012 18:10:00 -0400WNBA:In the last exhibition today, the Lynx bench lead the way in beating Chicago, 82-61.Sparks media day photos.Today's transactions.......May 15The Washington Mystics signed Jessica BrelandThe San Antonio Silver Stars waived Kalisha KeaneThe Connecticut Sun waived Dawn EvansThe Tulsa Shock waived Amber Hold and Shanna ZolmanThe league really needs to form a couple of expansion teams. This is ridiculous, and will only get worse by Thursday, when final cuts are due.NCAA:The Black Coaches and Administrators have named South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley their female coach of the year.Louisville's Tia Gibbs and Monique Reid have been granted medical hardship waivers, and will return next season.Baylor center Brittney Griner is still on cloud nine.Tennessee Tech Coach Sytia Messer has resigned to be associate head coach at Georgia Tech.Coach Suzie McConnell-Serio has been given a four-year extension at Duquesne.Former Saint Louis University coach Shimmy Gray-Miller will be an assistant coach...http://www.womentalksports.com/items/read/667/1345991Tue, 15 May 2012 21:36:00 -0400The Tulsa Shock have released a pair of five-year league veterans in Amber Holt and Shanna Zolman, announced today. Last season Holt was a staple in the starting lineup, starting in 24 of the 26 games in which she played. She averaged 6.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists in Tulsa's trying season. Holt's came to Tulsa in a 2010 Draft Day trade with the Connecticut Sun. Shanna Zolman (formerly Crossley) was a face on many a Shock broadcast last year as she took her position behind the mic after sustaining a season-ending knee injury. Zolman's contribution to the offense ranked her third on the team in points per game (9.7) in 2010. She sunk an easy 42.2 percent of her 3-point attempts as she put her nickname "Layup" on display. With the cuts, the Tulsa Shock roster is down to 11. Three rookies - Glory Johnson, Riquna Williams and Lynetta Kizer - join the fold in the youthful organization. Tulsa will have to drop someone off the roster after the 2012 Olympic break t...http://www.womentalksports.com/items/read/267/1345986Tue, 15 May 2012 15:47:00 -0400The fans have spoken! Congratulations Gail Devers (track & field), Jean Driscoll (paralympic track & field), Gary Hall, Jr., Lisa Fernandez (softball), Kristine Lilly (soccer), Dan O’Brien, Jenny Thompson (swimming), the 2004 U.S. Olympic Women’s Softball Team, Ed Temple, James Connolly and Ted Stevens. All were recognized today as the USOC and Allstate Insurance unveiled the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame’s Class of 2012. The Class of 2012 is the 15th class to be inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame and will bring the total membership to 96 Olympians, five Paralympians, 10 teams, four coaches, 10 veterans, 16 contributors and two Olive Branch award inductees. “I am completely overwhelmed by this honor,”  said Lisa Fernandez, a three-time Olympic gold medalist. “I never thought that playing the game of softball that I love so much would allow me to reach this level of accomplishment. This is bi...http://www.womentalksports.com/items/read/5/1345279Mon, 14 May 2012 19:02:00 -0400 Courtesy B & P Photography . . . . . . . . . One of the female kickboxers on the rise racked up another win at Lion’s Promotions in Vegas this past weekend. Tiffany Van Soest defeated Heidi Otterbein by unanimous decision in what saw Van Soest out maneuver and out class Otterbein. Van Sioest took all five founds on each of the judge’s score cards. Van Soest defeated Vivian Leung this past February in Vegas at Battle of the Dessert 5. Also on Lion’s Promotion’s card Saturday, Genesis Bravo defeated Marie Choi by unanimous decision. Van Soest’s next test will be in August, as she will take on Scotland’s Hilary Mack at WCK Muaythai Champion of Champions event at thr Pala Casino Spa and Resort in southern California. Filed under: Boxing  ...http://www.womentalksports.com/items/read/652/1345269Mon, 14 May 2012 13:54:00 -0400Just the Facts, Ma'am: Five Chicago players went into double figures, led by Epiphanny Prince's 15 points, and the Sky never trailed as they knocked out the New York Liberty 89-57 in a preseason matchup. Shey Peddy and Carolyn Swords each had 14 off the bench for the Sky, with Swords notching a double-double with ten rebounds. Plenette Pierson led the Liberty with 14 points. For a lack of chemistry, a need for nametags, the urge to go bra shopping, OH GOD MY EYES, and a cute kid in a Kym Hampton jersey, join your intrepid and successfully caffeinated blogger after the jump.     Slower than the MTA at rush hour! More ponderous than a locomotive in molasses! Able to leap to giant conclusions in a single game! It's... the Game Notes of Doom, back from their brief hibernation and cranky like a night owl in the morning! So far, I am pleased with their choice of the center sections, or at least part of them, for the season ticket holders. We were placed pretty much dead ...http://www.womentalksports.com/items/read/267/1345276Mon, 14 May 2012 16:27:00 -0400