Shock Notebook: Foreign visitor
By MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer on Sep 13, 2013, at 2:26 AM Updated on 9/13/13 at 7:55 AM
Pro W Basketball (WNBA)
For the second straight season, the Tulsa Shock made progress. But whether it was progress enough seems to be the question.
9 p.m. Saturday
Foreign visitor: Basketball Australia manager Tamara Sheppard was in town to meet with Shock officials Thursday and discuss the responsibilities of Australian national players in international competition the next three years.
Shock center Liz Cambage helped lead her country to a bronze medal in the 2012 London Summer Olympics, and is expected to play for Australia again, starting with the 2014 FIBA World Championship in Turkey.
"(Australian officials) expect their players to be in the (WNBA) next year, so we were glad to hear about that," Shock president Steve Swetoha said. "As soon as our schedule is over, they will go right over and be ready for the World Championships."
He said next year's WNBA schedule will start slightly earlier - around mid-May - to accommodate the world championships, scheduled Sept. 27-Oct. 5, 2014.
Bay Bay redux: Riquna Williams couldn't match Sunday's explosion when she set a WNBA scoring record with 51 points at San Antonio.
But the 5-foot-7, second-year guard showed flashes of extreme athleticism while scoring 17 points. She's averaging 21.3 points over her past eight games, including a four-point game at San Antonio on Aug. 23.
Coach Gary Kloppenburg said Williams was beat up physically and likely worn out from a hectic week of media responsibilities after the record-setting game.
"She's got a sore Achilles, sore knees and she got hit in the thigh (at San Antonio). She's really banged up, and she's playing on adrenalin, but she's a warrior," he said.
Stepping up: Courtney Paris made her first start in two seasons with the Shock and had a season-best 13 points.
Original Print Headline: Shock Notebook
Pro W Basketball (WNBA)
For the second straight season, the Tulsa Shock made progress. But whether it was progress enough seems to be the question.
9 p.m. Saturday
