Dear WBCA Member:

Since my last report as your roving CEO, so much has happened on the brinks of women's basketball. I usually say that I love my job, but the last 64 days, I have really loved my job. The anticipation for the season is what we live for and I love being busy in all aspects of the game. It is my honor to represent you all as I venture on my many travels.

Early October, the WBCA staff conducted a phone-a-thon in an effort to reach out to our current membership as well as to recruit new prospects. I was specifically involved in touching base with WNBA coaches and New England-area coaches. I never get enough time to catch up with people and find out what is going on in their worlds. I also had the opportunity to spend two afternoons meeting with Kodak and Russell, two of the WBCA's finest sponsors. We are doing our best to renew our relationship with Russell and to continue Kodak's 32-year heritage with the WBCA and appreciate your help!

Next on my list of travels was Kansas City where I attended the NACWAA (National Association of College Women's Athletic Administrators) Convention. WIN for KC, Women's Intersport Network for Kansas City, did a tremendous job hosting the NACWAA event. One of my most flattering and humbling moments came as I was auctioned off for the first time in my life to mentor two individuals, one NACWAA intern and one aspiring coach, that wanted to take some time to talk women's basketball.

( L to R): Beth Bass, Dr. Leslie Johnson
C. Vivian Stringer and Annie Meyers-Drysdale.

Then I was off on my metro tour, starting out at one of my favorite stops, New York City, for the Women's Sports Foundation annual dinner. I affectionately call it the "Oscars of Women's Athletics." It was wonderful to see our friend Robin Roberts receive the Billy Jean King Contribution Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Women's Sports Foundation.

( L to R): Rick Jones, Beth Bass, Amber
Laign, Robin Roberts and Carol Stiff at the
Women's Sports Foundation banquet.

While I was in New York, I met with Tim Pernetti, Senior Vice President of Programming and Talent for CSTV. I was there moments before there was a windfall of money running through the building when CBS bought them out for $350 million. That was definitely a surprise coo on CBS's part. It had been rumored that CSTV was posturing to be bought by ESPN.

Next on my metro tour, I found myself in Boston for our fall meeting with the Women's Basketball Committee getting prepared for our 25th National Convention. Our President, Doug Bruno, was kind enough to make time to have dinner and meet with the committee the next morning despite official practice just having started. My nine years in Boston served me well as I was able to get Doug to the airport so he could make it back to practice. He said I was as good as any Boston cab driver he had ever seen.

On the way back from Boston, I stopped off in Washington D.C. to meet with USA Today. Sometimes we concentrate so much on our broadcast partners, but we cannot forget what a great print partner USA Today is!

They say that there is just something about a southern funeral. After Pat Head Summitt's father passed away, I was able to go down to Clarksville, Tenn., with Nels Hawkinson. Obviously, Pat thanked us for coming, but it was our privilege to be a part of that wonderful country church that really enveloped us with their hospitality and made us feel more than welcome. We are sorry about Pat's loss and will definitely keep her and her family in our thoughts and prayers.

The next portion of my travels involved planes, trains and automobiles. I headed to Colorado Springs to meet with USA Basketball with whom I serve as a member of the Board of Directors. I was on my flight and ran into one of my favorite people in the world Teresa Edwards, the first Betty F. Jaynes Intern, who now serves as a player representative on the board. We have not had a player representative in as many years as I can remember, but this year both Teresa Edwards of the Minnesota Lynx and Jennifer Azzi of the San Antonio Silver Stars are serving on the board.

( L to R): Beth Bass, Teresa Edwards, Carol
Callan and Jennifer Azzi.

Teresa, the very humble person that she is, shared a story with me. Terrell Owens (T.O.), wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, occasionally works out at Teresa's fitness center and they played a game of full-court one-on-one. Guess who won - the most decorated women's basketball player in our history took him in three!

From Colorado Springs, I went to Tempe, Ariz., for our WBCA Classic, presented by BTI. I had been on the edge of my seat awaiting the first game I would get to see this season. Arizona State did a tremendous job hosting it. I was able to spend some time with Sandy Hatfield-Clubb, Senior Associate Athletic Director at ASU. I was also able to catch up with Mary Murphy, who was doing the game for Fox Sports Net. It is great to reminisce about the old days at Blue Star Camp in Terre Haute, Ind. Now Mary has a microphone in her hand instead of a roster notebook.

After leaving from Tempe, Ariz., I traveled to the State Farm Tip-Off Classic in Lubbock, Texas. As always, it was a pleasure being able to visit the campus of Texas Tech. Marsha Sharp and her staff do an amazing job.

Tulane Head Coach Lisa Stockton speaks
at the 2005 State Farm Tip-Off Classic
Banquet on Nov. 13.

As you know after Hurricane Katrina, Lisa Stockton's team at Tulane was placed in the very capable hands of Marsha Sharp and Texas Tech. Lisa's speech really hit home touching the hearts and minds of every person at the State Farm Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Banquet. Even though the waters have receded, those who have been victims of Hurricane Katrina will forever have a watermark on their lives.

(L to R): Ronda Seagraves, Chair of WBB Rules Committee,
Kathy Turpin, Chair, DII WBB Committee, Joni Comstock,
Chair, DI WBB Committee, Patty Viverito, Collegiate
Commissioners Association, Cathie Schweitzer, Chair,
DIII WBB Committee and Beth Bass, WBCA CEO.

I was very fortunate enough to be included in the selection process of the new NCAA National Coordinator of Women's Basketball Officiating, replacing Marcy Weston who is retiring from the position. Marcy Weston has done an incredible job as the national coordinator. We spent two and a half days interviewing candidates. Congratulations to Mary Struckhoff for being named to the position and we look forward to continuing to build on the legacy that Marcy left behind. A tremendous by-product of the selection process was discussing the issues, challenges and strategic plan of officiating on a national level.

( L to R): Beth Bass and Lady Vol Semeka Randall
(Former WBCA All-Star Challege participant) mug
for the cameras at the Paradise Jam.

For the Thanksgiving holiday, I headed down to St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam as a guest of Nels Hawkinson with Basketball Travelers. (I know, it's a tough job, but someone has to do it!) The highlight of the trip was meeting Kenny Chesney. Honestly, what really happened was that Kenny asked me to move over so that his bodyguard could sit next to him. Of course I had to fill Billie Moore and Jill Pizzoti in on who he was.

( L to R): Brenda Van Lengen and Beth Bass
at the 2005 Paradise Jam.

While at the Paradise Jam, I was able to spend some time with Jill Pizzoti, who recently became Sports Marketing Manager at Nike. I enjoy the opportunity to continue working with our coaches who have moved into the corporate world and I look forward to continuing our productive relationship with Nike.

Please be sure to visit the WBCA.org and submit your ESPN story ideas. We would also like to challenge all WBCA members to send in any WBCA highlights that you recall throughout your years for our 25th Anniversary celebration. Don't forget that the Nike's So You Want To Be A Coach deadline is December 14!

Good luck as you all head into your conference schedules. We will see you in Boston!

Have a happy and safe holiday season!

Until next time…

Your CEO,

Beth Bass

Polk's Jersey to be Retired
In the wake of the death of Shawntinice Polk, Arizona women's basketball head coach Joan Bonvicini said Polk's jersey will be retired on Feb.18, coinciding with the team's last regular-season home game. Polk's jersey retirement will be the first for the women's basketball team.

Longwood Women's Basketball Coach Retires
Shirley Duncan announced her retirement on Nov. 2 at Longwood's basketball media day, effective December 31. Associate head coach Nikki Atkinson will take over as interim head coach Jan. 1.

Women's Basketball HOF Inductees Announced
Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma leads the list of those to be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame this spring. The other inductees are former Texas All-American Clarissa Davis-Wrightsil, Louisiana Tech star Janice Lawrence Braxton, former Georgia All-American Katrina McClain Johnson, Bentley College coach Barbara Stevens and Brazilian Olympian Maria Paula Goncalves da Silva. Induction ceremonies are April 28-29 at the Knoxville, Tenn.-based hall. It will be the eighth class inducted.

Former WBCA Intern Named Head Coach
Jennifer Smith enters her first season as head coach of the women's basketball program at Goldey-Beacom College. Smith joins the Lightning following two years as an assistant coach with the Millersville University women's basketball team. She will be responsible for all aspects of the Lightning basketball program. Most recently, Smith worked for the Women's Basketball Coaches Association in Atlanta, GA, as the College All-Star Challenge intern.

Elon Coach Lashley Dies at Age 40
Ann Lashley, the associate women's basketball coach at Elon University, died Nov. 10 of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, the school said. She was 40. Lashley came to Elon for the 1994-95 season after four years as an assistant at Georgia State. She also coached at Georgia Tech and Mississippi State, where she was a four-year starter for the women's basketball team. She ended her playing career as the school's all-time leading rebounder while ranking second in career field-goal percentage and sixth in scoring. She graduated with honors with a degree in biological engineering. She later earned a master's degree in sports administration from Georgia State.

Team Van Crashes In Montana
Four Montana State University-Northern women's basketball players were injured when their van crashed on Nov. 14. None sustained life-threatening injuries, school officials said. The van was returning from Oregon.

WNBA Earns Highest in Study
The NFL ranked last in a study comparing opportunities for women and minorities in five professional sports leagues, and the WNBA was the only league to earn top marks.The NBA, Major League Baseball and the MLS all showed improvement, but women's basketball received the only A overall in the report card released Oct. 19 by the University of Central Florida.

WNBA Lottery to Lynx
The Minnesota Lynx will get the first pick of the WNBA Draft in April that includes LSU star Seimone Augustus and Duke's Monique Currie. The Lynx won the fifth annual draft lottery on Oct. 24, beating out the last-place Charlotte Sting and San Antonio Silver Stars among the five non-playoff teams. The Phoenix Mercury (16-18) will pick second, followed by the Sting, Silver Stars and Washington Mystics (16-18). The new Chicago franchise will have the sixth pick.

December 31, 2005
Deadline to Make your Tax-Deductible Contribution to the BFJ Internship Program.

January 6-10, 2006
NCAA National Convention
Indianapolis, Ind.

January 9, 2006
WBCA Awards Nominations Go Online (Must be a current member to participate)

January 18, 2006
Deadline for WBCA High School All-America Nomination Forms (5 p.m. ET)

January 31, 2006
Deadline for WBCA All-Star Challenge Nomination Forms

February 1, 2006:
National Girls and Women in Sport Day

February 6, 2006:
WBCA Conference Captains Division I, II and III Conference Calls

February 17, 2006:
DEADLINE FOR WBCA AWARDS NOMINATIONS

February 28, 2006:
WBCA National Convention Pre-Registration Deadline

For information regarding these dates, the WBCA, or any of the WBCA programs, please contact:
WBCA
4646 Lawrenceville Hwy
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 279-8027 -- Office
(770) 279-8473 -- Fax
wbca@wbca.org

Visit the Betty F. Jaynes Internship Program section of WBCA.org to see how you can make a tax-deductible contribution to endow this wonderful program.

Remember, you must be a current WBCA member to participate in the WBCA Award Programs, which go online January 9. Please check to make sure your membership is up-to-date!

To renew your membership please visit the WBCA Membership page to renew online or phone Membership directly at 770-279-8027 ext. 134