4th Annual Los Angeles WISE Panel and Networking Event

If you live in Los Angeles and are interested in pursuing a career in sports, are looking to make connections in the industry, or want to hear from a panel of successful athletes and businesswomen including Women’s Sports Foundation President Jessica Mendoza, surfer Lisa Anderson and USA Softball player Amanda Freed, then make sure you head down to the LA Athletic Club next Tuesday (Sept. 22nd) for what looks to be a great event.

WNBA playoffs begin tonight

Detroit opens it’s title defense vs. the Dream tonight. The WNBA Eastern Conference Semifinal series pits the second-seeded Atlanta team against the third-seeded Shock.

The Dream, in just their second year of existence, are making their first-ever appearance in the playoffs after posting an 18-16 record in the regular season, something that was thought to be impossible after they posted just four wins in their entire inaugural campaign.

The 1-2 opening round format, in which the lower seed plays at home first, could be a huge factor here. If veteran-laden Detroit is able to capture the opener at home, where it has won six straight, it could give them the mental edge over an Atlanta team getting a taste of the playoffs for the first time ever as a group.

Some fast facts about the first-round Shock-Dream matchup:

• Detroit snapped a three-game skid to Atlanta in their last meeting on August 27.
• The Shock lead the all-time series, 4-3.
• Atlanta is making its first trip to the playoffs, while Detroit is making its seventh straight and eighth overall.
• Erika de Souza posted three double-doubles vs. Detroit this season.
• Shavonte Zellous averaged 16.8 PPG vs. Atlanta this season.
• Detroit has won three straight opening-round series.

The second match up of the night features Los Angeles vs. Seattle in the Western Conference semifinal. The Sparks have been a thorn in Seattle’s side for years now. L.A. eliminated Seattle in a series that went the distance last season as well as in 2006. And with Tina Thompson now added to the mix, Candace Parker at full strength, Lisa Leslie motivated to win a title in her final season, the Sparks should present problems for the Storm once again in 2009.

Some fast facts about the first-round Storm-Sparks matchup:

• The Storm (74.82) and Sparks (74.50) are 11th and 12th in the league in points per game.
• Leslie has played in just one of the four games against the Storm this season. Parker has played in only two.
• Seattle was the two seed in 2004 when they won their only trophy.
• Lennox was part of that Storm championship team. Only Jackson and Bird remain off that roster.
• Leslie has spent her entire 13-year career with the Sparks. During that time, she’s made seven All-Star appearances and has won two titles.
• Milton-Jones and Leslie are the only two current Sparks from their 2002 championship team. Leslie has remained with the club over the years, while Milton-Jones left three seasons (2005-07) to play in Washington.

Be sure to catch both games tonight on ESPN2!

The Art of SK8 Contest

The folks at Ollie Pop have created a way for shops to get involved with their “Art of Sk8″ contest, a charity art exhibit in conjunction with the Skate Shop Showcase in LA.

The Showcase is dedicated to uniting the skate community through music, art and culture. Each participating Skate Shop is given a designated amount of wall space within the show to which they are free to design however they see fit. Add on top of that bands, dj’s and good times…

The event is focused on putting the spotlight on the Skate Retailer since skate shops are at the forefront everyday serving as the bridge between the consumer and the gear

Organizers are looking for Skate Shops to submit skateboarding inspired pieces from innovative artists to create an exciting and unique experience. Art work can be on any type of skate related material (skate shoe, wax, deck, etc). Top prize earns $500 worth of Ollie Pop Bubble Gum and the grand prize winner, chosen by the editors of Skateboarder Magazine, will be featured at the Showcase and in an upcoming issue of the mag.

Shops enlisted to be part of this years event include Liberty Board Shop, Urban Era (Daly City), Val Surf, Maintain, Transport, Non-Factory, 2^nd Nature (New York), Good Times (San Antonio, TX), ZJ’s Boarding House, 9 Star, Shelter, One Way Board Shop, Sunken City, IG board shop and many more.

The first Skate Shop Showcase event was produced in 2006 and saw everything from a full-blown build-out to hanging branded merchandise and painting on the walls (acrylic and aerosol).

Submissions will be used to raise money and awareness for charities that support the arts, skateboarding and/or children’s causes.

This year’s Skate Shop Showcase will take place on June 20th in Downtown L.A. at the Gallery 1018, 1018 Santa Fe. 8:30 pm – 1:30 am.

Deadline for submissions is June 18, 2008. Download the Entry Form/Flyer: Art_of_Sk8.pdf

For rules and submission information, please visit www.SkateShopShowcase.com

Let’s make sure some girls are represented!!

Puma and WPS make a great team

After another weekend of play, the Los Angeles Sol (7-1-3) remain atop the WPS standings. Camille Abily and PUMA spokeswoman Marta lead the team with six and four goals respectively.

Just prior to the start of the Women’s Professional Soccer season, brand PUMA and WPS announced an exclusive partnership making PUMA an official founding partner of the new league and an official sponsor of all WPS franchises.

The multi-year partnership makes PUMA the official sport and lifestyle apparel, footwear and equipment supplier of WPS, including the official WPS Match Ball. In addition to on-field performance wear, PUMA will outfit the athletes and teams at all WPS-related events, activities and WPS appearances in sportlifestyle apparel. This partnership kicked off last month and will see PUMA collaborating with WPS to enhance the game of women’s soccer and will act as the foundation in the PUMA Women’s category.

That’s just the start for PUMA, which will have its name and logo on the league’s balls, uniforms, goalkeeper equipment, even sports bras. “Women’s soccer is on a tremendous growth pattern in the U.S.,” says Jochen Zeitz, chief executive of PUMA. “This is a huge opportunity for us.”

PUMA’s decision to join forces with WPS is part of an effort to target its marketing to young women. The company already has a footwear deal with Brazilian star Marta Vieira da Silva who is widely recognized as the best female soccer player in the world and currently playing for the Los Angeles Sol. PUMA also has a deal with U.S. national team player Leslie Osborne, who will be playing for FC Gold Pride.

Given PUMA’s name recognition and reach in soccer, the deal is a milestone for the new women’s league, especially amid a global recession.  Kudos PUMA. And Kudos Abily and Marta for bringing such energy and excitment to the game.

Learn more…

Women’s Pro Soccer Weekend Wrap Up

Los Angeles Sol vs. Saint Louis Athletica

The Los Angeles Sol defeated the Saint Louis Athletica 2-0 on a chilly and cloudy Saturday afternoon at The Home Depot Center.

With the victory, the Sol improves its record to 6-1-2 and remains atop the WPS standings, while the Athletica drops to 2-3-2  and is tied for fifth position in the seven-team circuit.

The Sol had the first real chance of the game in the 25th minute, when a lofted ball from Martina Franko found Camille Abily just outside the six-yard box, but the French midfielder mis-hit her volley and it went right into the waiting hands of Athletica goalkeeper Hope Solo.

The Athletica nearly broke the scoreless deadlock themselves in the 32nd minute when Angie Woznuk played Eniola Aluko through behind the Sol defense, but her effort could not get past Sol ‘keeper Karina LeBlanc.

The Sol finally got on the board in the ten minutes before the half when Shannon Boxx lofted a cross into the penalty area from the left wing that Marta got her head to, playing the ball to Abily waiting at the far post.  Abily calmly collected the ball and put it in the roof off the net past an on-rushing Solo for the 1-0 lead, her third of goal of the season and second in as many weeks.

The hosts doubled their advantage in the 50th minute when Boxx waited patiently for, and then drilled home, a cross from Han Duan.  Solo stood flat footed on her line as the ball zipped past her and into the goal.

Neither team capitalized on any of their chances for the remainder of the game and the home side trotted off the pitch with a comprehensive 2-0 victory.

Washington Freedom vs. FC Gold Pride

The Maryland Soccerplex Stadium was filled with screaming youth girl soccer players and their families and as well the US Women’s National Team Head Coach Pia Sundhage was in attendance, and the Washington Freedom did not disappoint. Taking on the FC Gold Pride, the Freedom won 3-1 in one of their most convincing performances of the season.

The Pride’s starting lineup was without 1999 Women’s World Cup hero Brandi Chastain, who began the game watching from the bench.  After a frenetic first few minutes, the game settled down, with the game’s first scoring chance falling to Pride midfielder Tina DiMartino. After a savvy spin in the box to get by two defenders, DiMartino blasted a shot on frame that was turned away by Freedom goalkeeper Erin McLeod.

Although Freedom and US National Team star Abby Wambach struggled to get involved in the game early, Lisa De Vanna was active along the left flank making probing runs through the defense and posing  a dangerous scoring threat. Following the first scoring chance by the Freedom that saw a Wambach touch go begging, the Freedom got on the scoreboard in the 15th minute. Defender Cat Whitehill made a long run down the right flank and crossed a low dangerous ball into the six-yard box that was deflected in for an own goal by the Pride’s Kristen Graczyk.

The Pride almost evened the score a minute later on a shot from inside the six by Pride forward and Canadian international Christine Sinclair that sailed over the crossbar. Sinclair squandered a pinpoint through ball from former US Women’s National Team player, Tiffeny Milbrett, a minute later when her touch let her down and went across the end line for a Freedom goal kick.

In the 22nd minute the Freedom would double their tally when De Vanna produced a chance from nothing, receiving a pass from midfielder Sonia Bompastor and pushing the ball through to herself and past a central defender. She touched it around onrushing Pride goalie Nicole Barnhart and tapped it in for an easy finish.

As the half wore on, the Freedom’s superior ability took over, highlighted by a few world-class tackles by center back Becky Sauerbrunn and defensive center midfielder Lori Lindsey. Lindsey in particular was instrumental in winning possession for the Freedom and controlling play.

In the 32nd minute, Wambach was taken down outside the area, setting up a dangerous free kick. After a bit of deception, the ball was rolled to Sonia Bompastor, who stopped the ball for center back Whitehill who blasted a shot past Pride net minder Barnhart to push the Freedom lead to three goals to nil. The Freedom scored again at the end of the half when a bad Pride giveaway in the center of midfield resulted in a run into the box by Bompastor who was taken down. Despite the contact in the area no foul was called and Bompastor was given a yellow card for diving. FC Gold’s Formiga got her name taken just before halftime as well for a bad foul on Wambach.

The beginning of the second half saw the Pride take control as they fought to get back into the game. The Freedom lacked much of the confidence going forward that had gotten them their three goal cushion and had to absorb the Pride’s pressure. This pressure eventually got the Pride on the board in the 57th minute, when following a corner won by forward Adriane, a Tiffeny Milbrett cross found Christine Sinclair, who nodded home the first goal for FC Gold.

Following the Sinclair goal, Wambach started to get herself more involved, and her teammates found her feet as she helped the Freedom control play in midfield. With her renewed involvement came a few hard fouls and Wambach found herself hitting the turf routinely as the half wore on, eventually earning Pride defender Carrie Drew a yellow card in the 65th minute. Her hulking presence in the box produced another dangerous scoring opportunity for the Freedom when another Whitehill free kick banged off the shoulder of the Pride’s Barnhart as Wambach applied pressure. The loose ball fell to a Pride defender who cleared the danger.

After a flurry of substitutions from both teams, the Pride switched to a three-forward system led by goal-scorer Sinclair and subs Eriko Arakawa and Tiffany Weimer. This three-headed monster combined with midfielder dynamo DiMartino to produce a flurry of dangerous crosses and opportunities for the Pride, culminating in a counterattack that saw Weimer deliver a perfect cross to Sinclair, only for her effort to clang off the post.
Wambach’s tenaciousness annoyed the Pride defenders all half and in the 82nd minute, the frustration boiled over. Wambach received a ball in the offensive third and pushed it past Pride defender Drew. Drew hacked Wambach down and then said something to the center referee, earning her a second yellow card and an ejection from the game.

The Freedom quelled any tension following Drew’s ejection by dominating the possession for the last seven minutes and into stoppage time, settling the game down and pleasing the home crowd.

Boston Breakers vs Sky Blue FC

The Boston Breakers saw their three-match unbeaten streak come to an end after a 2-1 loss at Sky Blue FC in WPS action on Sunday evening at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, N.J.

The Breakers (3-3-2) dropped to third place in the standings, one point behind the surging Washington Freedom who defeated FC Gold Pride, 3-1, earlier in the day. Sky Blue FC (2-4-2) moves into a three-way tie for fifth place.

Kacey White scored the winner in the 29th minute to break a 1-1 tie off of Meghan Schnur’s second assist of the match.  Schnur sent a cross into the middle of the box which White flicked over the top of Luckenbill and into the goal for her first tally of the year.

“It wasn’t a good enough game for us today,” said Boston head coach Tony DiCicco. “Give Sky Blue FC credit, they scored two good goals, dug us a hole and we were not able to get out of it. We fought hard until the end of the game, but were unable to create quality soccer.”

Sky Blue FC took an early lead in the 4th minute on Natasha Kai’s second goal of the season. Schnur sent Kai through with plenty of room on the left side. She ran into the box, turned defender Amy LePeilbet and beat goalkeeper Kristin Luckenbill to the near post.

Boston answered back thanks to a misplayed ball by Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Jenni Branam in the 12th minute. Stacy Bishop played a ball into the run of Alex Scott on the left side. Scott hustled to send a low cross just before the ball could go over the goal line, but Branam was unable to handle the ball and Kelly Smith tapped in the loose ball in front of goal to level the game at 1-1 with her league-leading fifth goal of the season.

Down 2-1 following White’s goal, Amy Rodriguez had a chance to equalize for the Breakers before the half was done with a header in the 43rd minute off a Kristine Lilly cross, but the ball hit the cross bar and was cleared away.

DiCicco was forced to make a substitution just before the half after Smith picked up an apparent knee injury, replacing the England international with Maggie Tomecka.

The Breakers had an early chance in the second half as Lilly was in on goal after a quick free quick in the 53rd minute. Branam, however, was well positioned to turn Lilly’s shot away for a corner at the near post.

The Sky Blue FC defense kept the Boston attack at bay for the majority of the rest of the half, although the Breakers did create a couple late chances in stoppage time on shots from Lilly and Angela Hucles.

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New women’s pro soccer team to be called LA Sol

October 24, 2008 - SoCal’s latest professional sports team, which will start play in April as part of Women’s Professional Soccer, will be known as the Los Angeles Sol (that’s sun  for non-spanish speakers).

The team’s name and logo will officially be announced at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California on Saturday.

According to the LA Times:

The name, logo and colors of blue, white and gold are supposed to reflect the local climate and geography — think sea and sunshine.

Until now, the team, one of seven WPA franchises along with the Bay Area, Boston, Chicago, New York/New Jersey, St. Louis and Washington, D.C., had a general manager, a coach and seven players, but no identity.

Most prominent among the Sol players are U.S. Olympic gold medal winners Shannon Boxx, Aly Wagner and Stephanie Cox. General Manager Charlie Naimo and Coach Abner Rogers are hoping that the team’s co-owners, AEG and Blue Star LLC, will be able to land Brazilian forward Marta, the world’s top women’s player.

Marta was drafted by the Sol but is playing professionally in Sweden and has not yet agreed to a move to California.

The Sol will play its home games at the Home Depot Center in Carson, but there has been no word on whether the team will play doubleheaders with the Galaxy or will have separate playing dates.

The WPS has worked out a contract for weekly television coverage by Fox Soccer Channel.  The Soccer Channel will cover the All-Star Game and various Fox affiliates will air post-season play. The once-a-week coverage will be a live Sunday night game.  That’s good news for those who actually get the Fox Soccer channel.

As an Angeleno, I plan to see the Sol games in person.

Marta Marta Marta

September 29, 2008 – I am giddy with excitement. Last week, the new Women’s Professional Soccer League held its draft of the world’s top foreign players. And Marta was chosen by the as-yet unnamed Los Angeles team!  

It always irked me that L.A. didn’t have a team during the last incarnation of women’s professional soccer (WUSA). But if Marta ultimately signs with the team, her presence just may make up for that. She is the envy of most male professional players, let alone her female counterparts, and she’ll be a big draw for the game.

If choosing Marta is any indication, the Anschutz Entertainment Group (which owns the Galaxy as well as the L.A. women’s franchise) plans to build its WPS team with star power. Marta is the female equivalent of the Galaxy’s David Beckham (though she surely won’t get the same kind of money).

Considered by most to be the best player in the world, Marta has twice been named FIFA world player of the year. Known universally by her first name, Marta Viera da Silva is the most exciting talent to come out of Brazil since Ronaldinho. The 22-year old forward has led her country to back-to-back Silver medals in the Olympics and currently plays for the Swedish club Umea IF.

Marta has speed, incredible dribbling skills, unparalleled on-field awareness, the ability to  create scoring chances out of thin air, and, best of all, superb finishing ability. She swivels, spins and uses every bit of her foot. Containing her is a defender’s worst nightmare.

No one will ever replace Mia Hamm in the hearts of American fans, but Marta could well give her a good run for her money.

Now it’s not a done deal until Marta signs on the dotted line. Each of the seven teams in the league were allowed to draft four international players, providing them with the opportunity to begin a formal negotiation process.

Marta won’t come cheap: L.A. picked third, so it’s likely the first two teams were scared off by her potential price tag.

L.A. must now notify Marta’s current club of their interest, and much like the men’s game, they will only be allowed to negotiate with players in the last six month of their contract, or if they receive permission from the club to negotiate.

During the international draft, L.A. also picked Japanese midfielder Aya Miyama and Chinese striker Han Duan. See all the draft picks here.

A couple weeks ago, L.A selected Shannon Boxx and Aly Wagner as well as former Penn State standout Ali Krieger in a dispersal of players in the U.S. National Team pool. The WPS General Draft takes place on Oct. 6th.

Fingers remain crossed that Marta will be moving to my little burg. And I’m looking forward to the possibility of a WPS vs MLS friendly in the future. 

Lisa Leslie named 2008 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year

September 19, 2008 – As expected, Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa Leslie was named the 2008 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.

After sitting out the 2007 season due to the birth of her first child, Leslie returned to the Sparks to drastically improve the team defense from a year ago. The team center led the WNBA in both total blocks (97) and blocks per game (2.94). Leslie, an 11-year veteran,  has consistently been adept at swiping the ball from opponents as she ranks sixth in league history in steals (276).

In other post-season awards, Indiana Fever forward Ebony Hoffman has been named the 2008 WNBA Most Improved Player.

Heading into the season, Hoffman had never scored more than 16 points in a game. In 2008, she scored 20 or more points three times, including a career-high 26 in triple overtime at New York.

What are the awards worth? For the honors, Leslie and Hoffman will each receive a trophy specially designed by Tiffany & Co and $5,000.

X Games to remain in L.A. through 2009

The X Games have found a longtime home in Southern California. ESPN announced that a five-year agreement was reached to keep the action sports competition in Los Angeles through 2009. Southern California is the birthplace of many X Games events, and many of the top athletes live in the region.  Website

Los Angeles to host 2009 world figure skating championships

Sept 19, 2006 (9/19/06) – The International Skating Union (ISU) announced today the selection of U.S. Figure Skating and the city of Los Angeles, Calif., as the hosts for the 2009 ISU World Figure Skating Championships. The competition will be hosted by U.S. Figure Skating in partnership with AEG and will take place March 23-29, 2009, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Read more