Silver Stars news

[Kori Ellis]

In case anyone cares ....

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Silver Stars Chief Operating Officer Clarissa Davis-Wrightsil announced today that the Silver Stars have signed Bernadette Ngoyisa to a free-agent contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released. In addition, the Silver Stars have re-signed guard Tai Dillard and center Jessie Hicks, and added seven free agents to the training camp roster.

Ngoyisa, a 6’4” center from the Democratic Republic of Congo, has spent the majority of her career playing overseas. This spring she is playing in Italy for Ribera in the Italian Serie A1 League and the FIBA Europe Cup. In the Italian League, she has appeared in 28 games, averaging 18.3 points (third in the league) and 11.5 rebounds (second in the league) in 34.4 minutes per game. She leads the league in offensive rebounding, grabbing 4.1 rebounds per game and field goal percentage, shooting 63.1 percent (206-326) from the field. In Europe Cup games, Ngoyisa ranked first in rebounding (14.3 rpg), sixth in scoring (18.5 ppg) and sixth in field goal percentage (59.5%) before her team was eliminated from competition.

Prior to playing in Italy, Ngoyisa spent two seasons playing in France for Villeneuve d’Ascq of Lille in the French First Division and the FIBA Europe Cup. In 2002, she made her WNBA debut playing for the New York Liberty. Ngoyisa appeared in seven regular season games and three playoff games with the Liberty. In 22 minutes of total playing time she scored eight points and collected eight rebounds.

When not playing in the WNBA or in Europe, Ngoyisa represents Congo as a member of the Congolese National Team.

Dillard, who has spent the past two seasons with the Silver Stars, spent the offseason playing in Israel for Maccabi Tel Kabir. She started all 18 games for Tel Kabir, averaging 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.1 steals per game. For her WNBA career, she has appeared in 47 games with the Silver Stars, averaging 1.7 points in 7.9 minutes per game.

Hicks, a six-year WNBA veteran, spent the 2004 season in San Antonio appearing in 27 games, averaging 4.7 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. This offseason she is playing in Turkey. For her WNBA career, she has played in 169 games, averaging 4.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in 11.7 minutes per game.

The Silver Stars have also signed Keisha Anderson, Carrie Bacon, Katie Cronin, Andrea Garner, Kym Hope, Ugo Oha and Lindsey Yamasaki to free agent contracts. All seven will be in San Antonio when the Silver Stars open up training camp on April 24 at the new Antioch Sports Complex and Community Center.

The Silver Stars Roster currently stands at 17 players.


NO PLAYER POS. HT. WT. DOB COLLEGE WNBA YEARS

5 Keisha Anderson G 5-7 124 5/8/74 Wisconsin ’97 3

Carrie Bacon F 6-0 4/8/80 Wyoming ’03 R

21 Edna Campbell G 5-8 152 11/26/68 Texas ’98 6

4 Katie Cronin F 6-0 155 9/8/77 Colorado ’99 R

9 Tai Dillard G 5-9 154 5/6/81 Texas ’03 2

12 Margo Dydek C 7-2 223 4/28/74 AWF (Poland) ’94 7

3 Marie Ferdinand G 5-9 145 10/13/78 Louisiana State ’01 4

Andrea Garner C 6-1 160 1/5/79 Penn State ’00 1

40 Kym Hope F/C 6-2 171 11/2377 Miami ’99 1

8 Dalma Ivanyi G 5-9 135 3/18/76 Florida International ’99 4

14 Shannon Johnson G 5-7 152 8/18/74 South Carolina ’96 6

Bernadette Ngoyisa C 6-4 195 8/26/82 Congo 1

Ugo Oha C 6-4 185 7/18/82 Goerge Washington ’04 R

32 LaToya Thomas F 6-2 165 7/6/81 Mississippi State ’03 2

1 Toccara Williams G 5-8 138 1/11/82 Texas A&M ’04 1

Lindsey Yamasaki G/F 6-1 185 6/2/80 Stanford ’02 2

11 Nevriye Yilmaz C 6-4 190 6/16/80 Turkey 3



The Silver Stars are currently preparing for the 2005 WNBA Draft which takes place on Saturday, April 16. San Antonio owns the rights to the fourth, 14th and 27th picks. The first round of the WNBA Draft will be televised live on ESPN 2 beginning at 11 a.m. CT. The second and third rounds will be aired live on NBA TV.

The Silver Stars open the 2005 regular season in San Antonio on Saturday, May 21 at the SBC Center when they host Sheryl Swoopes and the Houston Comets at 7:00 p.m.

Fans interested in purchasing Silver Stars season tickets can do so by calling 444-5050 for tickets and information. Full-season ticket prices are $150.30, $294.30, $384.30 and $600.30, while the 10-Game Weekend Pak (Friday, Saturday and Sunday games only) prices are $93.50, $173.50 and $243.50.

[ducks]

go girls

[Solid D]

When a tree falls in the woods...

[Solid D]

or is it, when a bear goes in the woods.... ?

[Experiment2100]

I think it is, what's the sound of one guy clapping?

[alamo50]

I''ll be there May 6th taking on L.A.!

And I need Mouse to step it up and get me that "Lakers Suck" t-shirt before than!

:makemyday

[Kori Ellis]

WNBA Draft News -- Plus Silver Stars trade their 7-footer

SECAUCUS, N.J. -- Janel McCarville has heard all the talk about how this year's incoming rookie class in the WNBA won't be as talented as the last.

"We've been overshadowed by the players from the past," McCarville said after being selected by Charlotte as the top overall pick in Saturday's league draft. "We definitely have great players. Every year brings something different to the league and adds spice to it."

The 6-foot-4 McCarville averaged 16 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.2 steals last season while leading Minnesota to a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament -- the highest in school history.

McCarville is confident she's ready for the faster play in the WNBA.

"It's a little bit more uptempo," she said. "I'm definitely prepared. I'm strong and agile enough, but I know I have a lot to work on and I'm looking forward to it. I'm the type of player that will do anything my team needs to help it win, whether it's rebound, pass or even score."

McCarville has already received advice from former teammate Lindsay Whalen, who was a first-round pick by the Connecticut Sun last year.

"She's talked to me a little bit about it," McCarville said. "What to expect, how to handle things and approach things. So she's definitely been there for me."

Former WNBA All-Star and ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo thinks McCarville is ready to contribute.

"I think she is already the best passing post player in the WNBA," Lobo said. "Couple in Dawn Staley, perhaps the best passing guard in the WNBA, and Charlotte will be exciting to watch this upcoming season."

McCarville said she is looking forward to playing with new teammate Staley.

"It's definitely a privilege to play with her," McCarville said. "She's a good passer, hopefully we'll connect on a couple of good ones."

The Indiana Fever selected Tan White from Mississippi State with the second pick, and the Phoenix Mercury followed by taking Texas Christian's Sandora Irvin. The San Antonio Silver Stars picked Kansas State's Kendra Wecker at No. 4, and the University of Houston's Sancho Lyttle went to the Houston Comets with the fifth pick.

White led the nation in scoring with 23.5 points per game, had a Southeastern Conference-record 372 career steals and led Mississippi State to 12 straight wins. The 5-7 guard also won the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, given to the best women's college basketball player who is 5-8 or shorter.

White believes the physical play in the SEC has prepared her for the WNBA and that her biggest challenge will be settling into the point guard role with the Fever.

"In college, I played whatever the team needed me to," White said. "This time I'm going to have a definite position. It'll be great to play with [Tamika] Catchings, who I played against when she was at Tennessee."

Irvin, a Naismith Trophy finalist and first-team All-American, was the NCAA career leader in blocked shots with 480. The niece of former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin was the Conference USA player of the year, averaging 19.9 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.5 blocks.

Now she'll be teamed up with Diana Taurasi, last year's No. 1 pick and rookie of the year.

"I don't know anyone who wouldn't want to play with Diana Taurasi," Irvin said. "I've never been with someone that good. I am definitely looking forward to her leadership. I think she can definitely help my game."

Wecker, the Big 12 player of the year, averaged 21 points and 10.1 rebounds for Kansas State despite missing three games with a sprained ankle early in the season. She also shot 42 percent on 3-pointers.

Lyttle, an all-Conference USA first-team selection, averaged 18.8 points and 12.1 rebounds for the Cougars last season.

The Washington Mystics, who traded three-time All-Star Chamique Holdsclaw to the Los Angeles Sparks last month, took LSU's Temeka Johnson at No. 6.

Rounding out the first round, it was Georgia's Kara Braxton to the Detroit Shock at No. 7; Katie Feenstra from Liberty to Connecticut with the eighth pick; Michigan State's Kristin Haynie to the Sacramento Monarchs at No. 9; Tennessee's Loree Moore to the New York Liberty next; UC Santa Barbara's Kristen Mann to the Minnesota Lynx with the 11th pick; Penn State's Tanisha Wright to the defending champion Seattle Storm at No. 12; and Oklahoma's Dionnah Jackson to the Shock with the 13th and final pick of the first round.

After the draft, the Sun traded the rights to the 6-8 Feenstra to the Silver Stars for 7-2 center Margo Dydek.

[AlamoSpursFan]

Man I can't wait until the season starts April 29th!

http://www.sanantoniocvb.com/images/sport-retama.jpg

[orhe]

what happened to that blond hottie biba?
she was a pretty good shooter (i've seen some of the wnba games)

[alamo50]

The Pole is gone!

I like these 2 new blonde chicks we got just a little better anywayz:

http://www.wnba.com/media/silverstars/wecker_190_050416.jpg
Kendra Wecker

http://www.wnba.com/media/silverstars/freenstra_190w_050416.jpg
Katie Feenstra


Will they trade the shirt when they sub?

:)

[Kori Ellis]

Katie Feenstra is supposedly 6'8, 240. But she looks skinny in that picture.

[Das Texan]

trade an ugly hag in dydek for a better looking feenstra.



dydek sucked anyway, for someone her size she should have been a hell of a lot more dominant.

[T Park]

wecker is kinda hot.

[davi78239]

Must agree that we picked up a couple of hotties. Hell, I haven't even been to one Silver Star game yet since we got the franchise. Now I guess I have more reason to go!

[T Park]

holy cow that chick in the brown DOES look like Dave Grohl.


OMG lmfao.... :rolling