Tuesday, June 9th, 2009 at 10:54 pm  |  15 responses

It’s Only One Game

Kristi Toliver and the Chicago Sky look to rebound after shaky debut.

by Stephen Litel

In an odd scheduling situation to start the season, the Chicago Sky opened the 2009 WNBA season on the road in Minnesota with their second game–their home opener–six days later. That can certainly make the already difficult adjustment to the WNBA game even more challenging for a rookie, such as Chicago’s Kristi Toliver.

“It was nice to have those preseason games to be able to get on the floor and get a feel for what the WNBA play is like,” said Toliver prior to her debut. “Once the season starts, thePhoto by Sophia Hantzes-Kristi Toliver intensity level skyrockets or that’s what I’ve heard, so I know I can expect that. I played in the best conference in the country for four years in college, so that’s prepared me for this level. I’m just excited and ready to play.”

After a fine college career at the University of Maryland, Toliver is used to being one of the most talented players on the court at all times. Yet, in her first regular season game, she only saw the floor for four minutes, scoring two points and turning the ball over three times. As the Lynx took over, running away from the Sky, Toliver could only watch from the sidelines, but the rookie is unfazed by her initial experience.

“It was a pleasant surprise in the preseason because I was able to adjust pretty quickly, but the athleticism that this league has is unbelievable and the talent is unbelievable,” said Toliver. “With rosters cut down to an 11-man roster, it’s the best of the best playing right now, so that’s fun, it’s encouraging, it’s a challenge and I’m always up for one.”

Through all the confidence, both Toliver and her team debuted unpleasantly for 2009 and with some Chicago fan’s preexisting concerns, the time off between their first two games allows the recurring themes to reemerge. As of late, the person taking the brunt of scorn is the headman, Coach Steven Key. The man running the franchise as both GM and Head Coach should be ready to handle the criticism and, although fans may continue to voice their displeasure, his talented rookie believes in him.

“He’s a really nice guy, first and foremost, and he’s really fun to be around,” said Toliver. “He lets players play and that’s one of the things I like a lot. He’s not going to do a lot of X and O type of stuff because he wants to get up and down the floor and let you use your strengths. He knows that this team is balanced inside and out and he knows where to get people into the right spots to be successful. He knows how to get the best out of his players.”

Certainly, it isn’t as if Chicago doesn’t have talent to build around and compete. Their nucleus now includes Sylvia Fowles, Candice Dupree, Armintie Price and Toliver. Of those four, Dupree has the most WNBA experience in her fourth WNBA season. Therefore, this squad has an opportunity to keep a solid core of young players togePhoto by Sophia Hantzes-Kristi Toliver & Stephen Litelther for an extended period of time, all while continuing to add the additional pieces around them to compete up to the expectations of the fans.

“This team is extremely versatile, extremely balanced and we have both inside and outside threats that can get the job done,” said Toliver. “As long as our chemistry is right and we’re clicking on all cylinders, we should do extremely well this season. Obviously, a goal of ours is to make the playoffs. They didn’t make it last year and now we definitely have the components to get there.”

With a rough start to the year, as well as the additional drama coming from displeasure of those who follow the team on the regular, the rookie knows you can only take the first step before arriving at your destination. That first step is to take care of what you alone can control and that would be your individual game.

“If you want to continue to get better, you have to set goals for yourself and I definitely have some of my own. As long as I take care of business in practice, get better every day at taking care of the basketball, distributing the basketball and taking what the defense gives me, then I’ll be able to reach those goals that I have for myself.”

It is, after all, only one game. Although it may be difficult to imagine Chicago in the playoffs this season, it is not outside of possibility. Hopefully, during the time off between their first two games, Coach Key, Toliver and the rest of the Chicago Sky must begin to fix the already present issues.

Conversation Starter

So, fans, as the season gets going, what teams, players or stories are catching your eye? For those who follow the Sky, can you give us more detail on the concerns regarding Coach Key?

Oh, and how about my 2-0 Lynx? Let’s see how they play against L.A. on Wednesday.

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  • Ken Posted: Jun.9 at 11:12 pm
    Kristi is a winner. I hope she does well at the next level. Go Terps!

  • Ken Posted: Jun.9 at 11:14 pm
    Oh, and was “butt the rookie” a freudian slip?

  • Stephen Litel Posted: Jun.9 at 11:18 pm
    Wow, Ken…maybe it was. LOL. We’ll get that fixed asap.

  • Stephen Litel Posted: Jun.9 at 11:23 pm
    …and, fixed.

  • BETCATS Posted: Jun.9 at 11:32 pm
    the WNBA still exists? I respect the hustle and all, but they really need to do a better job marketing/get some supermodels to play or some way to make their league popular.

  • Stephen Litel Posted: Jun.9 at 11:38 pm
    Hey BETCATS, Here’s my question for you… What are some of your honest ideas as to how the WNBA should market itself? The problem here, in all seriousness, is how to market the league without turning it completely into a “sex sells” sort of thing. If you “respect the hustle and all,” how can the league market to get more people like you to give them a fair shot?

  • DJR Posted: Jun.10 at 12:22 am
    Cross promote with the NBA – why not have nights where they play an NBA game and WNBA game in the same night in the same stadium…gotta go to both matches. And for people like BETCATS you can’t appeal to them, because they’re more attracted to the athletecism of the NBA rather than the skill set – because you know the WNBA players are on averaged more skilled than NBA players.

  • Stephen Litel Posted: Jun.10 at 12:28 am
    DJR-like your train of thought. However, I can’t see that happening, as those two game nights would be during the NBA Playoffs. And, although I understand the point you’re attempting to make (and I’m appreciate NBA and WNBA equally), I would not make the blanket statement that WNBA players are on average more skilled than NBA players…just as I would not make the reverse statement.

  • Tzvi Twersky Posted: Jun.10 at 12:34 am
    Good to see WNBA repped on site. Stephen, what happened with Lynx coach? Why did he wait so long to accept job the week before opener?

  • DJR Posted: Jun.10 at 12:56 am
    Stephen – what’s wrong with having WNBA games played before a playoff game? The amount of people watching the Celts v Bulls series could’ve provided incredible exposure. Have WNBA pre-season games combined with NBA playoffs and then NBA pre-season combined with WNBA games. If you need to enhance a less appealing/known league, then you need to utilise the resources of the NBA.

  • Stephen Litel Posted: Jun.10 at 1:03 am
    DJR-not saying there’s anything wrong with the idea. I just do not see a scenario in which the NBA would agree to do it.

  • hoopla Posted: Jun.10 at 1:22 am
    Nice article. I’m really hoping the Sky get their act together this year cuz they have a lot of talent on that team (although when describing their “nucleus”, I would definitely replace Armintie Price with Jia Perkins and then you have it accutate). Sky fans have been bashing Key for awhile now. I’m just taking a wait-and-see approach. If this team can’t get it together soon, then SOMETHINGS gotta give…but I’m not gonna hit the panic button after one game. I’d rather support the team when they struggle rather than bash them, ya know? As far as other teams go, I’m liking Minny, DC and ATL…all young, exciting teams on the rise. I have low expectations for Phoenix, but they played well in their opener. After talking to her, what are your feelings toward Toliver? Was she the right choice for the Sky? Was the fact that she only got 4 minutes in the opener just a fluke or a sign that she isn’t really ready to play at this level yet?

  • BETCATS Posted: Jun.10 at 4:03 pm
    no, i occasionally watch WNBA basketball, i just want more commercials/better marketing ploy. I am not asking for players to have orgys at half time. I simply want the WNBA to come up with a equvilant to “NBA, Where Amazing Happens” or have its own version of “Inside the NBA”

  • BETCATS Posted: Jun.10 at 5:37 pm
    they should also make a exhibition game between the best NBA team and the best WNBA team. That would be a good cross promoting strategy.

  • Natalie Posted: Jun.12 at 5:05 pm
    Unfortunately, Chicago seems to be missing a key piece somewhere. I’m not a coach or basketball expert, and since few Sky games are televised in my geographic area (I’m not in Chicago or even in their time zone) I’m not really sure what that is – it’s just a sense I have. I did see their exhibition game against the E-league guys, but I can’t read a lot from that one. Nonetheless, I was excited to see Armintie Price landing a lot of her shots. I hear she’s worked on her shooting in the off-season, which I really, really hope is true. I’m a big fan of hers and of Fowles and Dupree’s, so I hope they have a better season and Fowles stays healthy. If Kristi can come in and get open and land a few 3s each game, that could go a long way for the Sky. Good luck, Chicago! As for Coach Key — he does seem like a really nice guy, but it’s hard to know if he’s quite up to the job. He’s pretty young and could only have had so much experience. WNBA coaching jobs aren’t exactly high-paying, competitive gigs. The thing is, if they fire him, they’ll probably promote Stef White, and I’m not sure she’s quite ready yet either. So unless someone truly better comes along… Whatever – It’s WNBA SEASON! Yay!! Go Sky!

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