The Indiana Fever had selection number #9 in the 2013 WNBA college draft held in Bristol, Conn. on April 15. With that pick they selected Layshia Clarendon, a 5’9” guard from the University of California. The San Bernardino, Calif. native helped pace the Golden Bears to a 32-4 season and earned an All-PAC 8 Team spot as well as Academic All-American honors. She was instrumental in helping Cal get to the NCAAW Championship Tournament Final Four. Fever Head Coach Lin Dunn was said to be elated that Clarendon was still available with the ninth pick and thinks that the rookie can make an immediate impact with the team. Clarendon is looking forward to joining a championship team and really excited to be playing as a teammate of Tamika Catchings.
With the their second pick, the 21st overall, the Fever selected Jasmine Hassell, a 6’2’ power forward from the University of Georgia. Hassell played four years with the Bulldogs and was a two time All-SEC selection. She scored 1,404 points and made 597 rebounds during her college career. The Fever coaching staff feels Hassell can bring some physicality to the team. Hassell is a tough cookie. After breaking her nose against Alabama last season, she stayed in the game and scored 21 points to lead the team to a victory. The Fever can use that kind of toughness.
On the third round, with the 33rd overall pick, the Fever chose Jennifer George, another 6’2” power forward. George was a two time All-SEC team player while at the University of Florida. She was considered one of the most versatile of the players available in the draft. A strong rebounder and defensive player, George also had some injury issues her senior year, but she played through them and had a very productive season. George will add some muscle to the Fever forward line.
All in all, it looks to be a very productive draft for the Fever and there doesn’t seem to be any reason that the Fever can’t meet the challenge of being the defending WNBA champions and repeat to win the 2013 title.
The 2013 Playing
Schedule and More
Our Indianapolis Colts will open up the 2013 playing season by hosting the Oakland Raiders at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, September 8. The following week, September 15, the Dolphins will come a-calling. The Horseshoe’s first road game will be September 22 in San Francisco against the defending AFC champs, the 49ers. The Colts have four prime time games this year starting with a Monday night game in San Diego against the Chargers on October 6. However, the big game of the year for the Horse will be the following Sunday evening at home in the friendly confines of Lucas Oil against the Denver Broncos. A prime time television audience will get to watch Peyton Manning return to the house that he built with his defending AFC Western Division Champion Bronco team on the evening of October 2. Experts are already calling it one of the key match-ups of the season. The last regular season game will be at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 29. For the first time in a long time, the New England Patriots are not on the Colts schedule. The old rivalry seems to have transferred to Denver, particularly now that wide receiver and former Patriot Wes Welker has joined the Broncos to play catch with the Pat’s long time nemesis No. #18 himself.
The Colts opened their “voluntary” spring training camp at the Colts Training Facility last week and everyone was able to make it into the West 56th Street Complex, including most of the club’s newly acquired free agent signings among whom are safety LaRon Landry, cornerback Greg Tolar, wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, defensive lineman Ricky Jean Francois, and offensive guard Donald Thomas. Let’s hope everyone stays healthy.
snicewanger@yahoo.com