The Sacramento Monarchs made a key acquisition to their team, as they signed forward Barbara Farris from the Phoenix Mercury.  This trade saw Kim Smith and A’Quonesia Franklin go the other way.

In other moves, Mel Thomas has signed with the Seattle Storm.

The Atlanta Dream today announced that they have re-signed Jennifer Lacy.  The 6’3″ forward was one of the captains last season.  The details of the contract have not been announced yet.

There’s big changes going on at the Seattle Storm.  With the WNBAs change to the new 11-player roster, the Storm are working on some big changes in their roster.  They’ve already signed Sheryl Swoopes, and more are expected to be coming in.

Well history is being made right now in the WNBA, with a legitimate recruiting battle for arguably the best women basketball player in Lauren Jackson.  Jackson didn’t sign with the Connecticut Sun as was expected, and now she is being trailed by both the Seattle Storm and the Phoenix Mercury.  It’s going to be interesting to see where Lauren Jackson ends up.

The Washington Mystics finalized their coaching staff,  adding Lubomyr Lichonczak, Vanessa Nygaard and Vicky Bullett to the team.

The Atlanta Dream were the lucky WNBA team that won the draft lottery, and so will have the top pick in this years WNBA draft, which will be in April.

Atlanta were the favourites to win the draw, with almost a 2-1 chance.  The rest of the picks in order are Washington Mystics, Chicago Sky, Minnesota, Phoenix, Indiana, Sacramento, New York, Washington(LA Sparks pick), Connecticut, Detroit, Seattle, then Atlanta again(San Antonio pick).

The Atlanta Dream were the lucky WNBA team that won the draft lottery, and so will have the top pick in this years WNBA draft, which will be in April.

Atlanta were the favourites to win the draw, with almost a 2-1 chance.  The rest of the picks in order are Washington Mystics, Chicago Sky, Minnesota, Phoenix, Indiana, Sacramento, New York, Washington(LA Sparks pick), Connecticut, Detroit, Seattle, then Atlanta again(San Antonio pick).

WNBA All-Star Sophia Young, who plays as a forward for the San Antonio Silver Stars, was given one of the biggest honors in sports on the weekend, when she had her jersey retired.  Young played for the Baylor Lady Bears in NCAA, and became a legend at the school as well as made people take note around the country when she won the Most Outstanding Player award at the 2005 NCAA tournament.  Young is their all-time leading scorer with 2480 points, and had her jersey retired on Sunday.  Young was ecstatic at the tribute, stating “It’s something as a player where you always want to leave a legacy and leave something for people to remember you by”.

The Seattle Storm re-signed Shelley Patterson as assistant coach.  This will be the third year in a row she has been with the Seattle Storm.

Seattle Storm were hit with some bad news prior to the beginning of the WNBA season, as Janell Burse had been named out for the whole season.  Burse re-aggravated a Jones fracture, which was a broken bone on her foot, while playing overseas.

New York Liberty signed guard Leilani Mitchell, who was previously with the Phoenix Mercury, as their 25th draft pick.

As a reminder, we’re currently in pre-season.  The regular season begins on May 17th, however I don’t expect to accumulate enough data until at least 5 games in, possibly more.  I’m looking forward to it!  Remember to subscribe to the picks newsletter to the right.

Is anyone else getting excited about the return of the WNBA season, and more importantly, the potential to make some money?  I know I am, and I can’t wait!  Not too long now.  Anyway, to the WNBA news…

The draft has been taking place over the last week, and there’s been some interesting picks.  Los Angeles Sparks picked Candace Parker, who had just finished leading Tennessee to a second straight NCAA title.  Parker was the AP player of the year, and joins Lisa Leslie, making the LA Sparks one of the strongest looking teams in the WNBA.  All five Tennessee starters got drafed, with Shannon Bobbitt going to Los Angeles as well, and Anosike to Minnesota.  Alberta Auguste is headed to New York.