The forward suffered complications after shoulder surgery last week, so she’s being moved to an out-of-state hospital.

Wow. UT has a good hospital, too. I wonder what’s up?

It should be interesting, seeing two who used to coach together coach against one another. Game is July 25.

In an interview published in today’s Oklahoman, former Sooner and Monarchs rookie Courtney Paris says she’s unhappy with her minutes. But at the same time, she confesses:

“I can’t honestly say I was familiar with a lot of the players and what they do,” she said. “In the summers, I was doing stuff, so it’s not like I paid attention as much to the WNBA.

I wish that were an uncommon perspective, but I’ve found that it’s not. Plenty of female high school basketball players don’t watch many WNBA games, and/or don’t know who key players are even if they don’t tune in. I can think of only one girl off the top of my head who I can have an intelligent conversation with about WNBA players.

It’s definitely a classic mistake of youth – being unprepared. And it can be somewhat overlooked in high school. But if you’re one of the top collegiate players in the country for practically all four years at your school, and it looks like the WNBA will want to draft you when you’re done, you should have thought to start checking up on the players and the games earlier.

Normally I’d say two posts in one day about one’s hometown WNBA team would be too “homerish.” But today the Sparks posted a story on their web page about their trip to the Jenesse Center – a shelter for battered women and children. The Sparks will partner with the Center and with Home Sweet Home, and sealed the deal by helping renovate some apartments last week. On the Sparks home page, there’s a picture of team members with Halle Berry.

Now that’s a good cause to get behind.

Great pics on Sportspagemag of the West 4th Street Women’s Pro Classic from this past Saturday.

The Nike West 4th St Pro Classic Women’s Basketball Summer League runs annually. Exodus (A) is one of several Exodus teams that is coached by former Scarlet Knight Epiphanny Prince’s AAU coach. Besides Prince, featured players are Erica Morrow (Syracuse), Shennika Smith (incoming St. John’s freshman), and Samantha Prahalis – once she returns from USA Basketball.

It would be fun to just be able to walk down the street and catch this league in action on a given day.

Nice interview with workingmother.com. And a CP promo ad for public libraries on the top left. Very nice all the way around.

Yesterday I was working out at the Long Beach location of my health club, and I stopped by the water fountain. I drank and stood up to see Lisa Willis right in front of me, on the other side of the glass, on the basketball court. She was the lone woman playing pickup with a bunch of dudes, and she was doing just fine. (Women jump in and play pickup regularly at all the locations of my gym, as well as another franchise gym that I visit regularly). Willis was wearing blue Candace Parkers. Love those shoes – I have a Tennessee orange pair………..

Item 2: both Parker and Shelden Williams twittered this evening that 55-day-old daughter Lailaa did fine on the plane ride this afternoon from LA to New York, as part of the Sparks’ road trip. I wonder who will take care of the little one during Thursday’s game?

The U19 team has been finalized, according to USA Basketball. After training camp in Colorado, they’re going to Thailand! Players leave their homes today or tomorrow.

The list:

Kelsey Bone
Skylar Diggins
Kelly Faris
Nnemkadi Ogwumike
Samantha Prahalis
LaSondra Barrett
Layshia Clarendon (Cali representin!)
Shenise Johnson
C’eira Ricketts
Chay Shegog
Taber Spani
Destiny Williams

Congratulations, ladies.

Former USC point guard Camille LeNoir will conduct a basketball clinic this weekend around her old home turf near Narbonne High School, where she helped the Gauchos win a state title:

2009 Camille LeNoir Summer Youth Basketball Camp
Saturday, July 11 & Sunday, July 12 @ Harbor City Park
24901 Frampton Avenue (off of Lomita and Normandie)
Harbor City, CA 90710
$50 per person (includes a t-shirt and snacks)
Boys & GIrls
9am to 12noon – ages 7-10
1pm to 4pm – ages 11-13

Camille played college basketball at USC where she was a 4 year starter. By the end of her senior season, she went on to move up to #13 all-time with 1396 career points. LeNoir also passed up Trojan greats Cynthia Cooper and Cheryl Miller on the career assists list with 466 and took over #3 all-time in career 3-pointers (154). This fall she will be playing overseas.

For more information, call: (310) 270-7363

At the LeBron James camp in San Diego in a couple weekends, one lucky entrant will have the chance to participate for free:

Weplay.com, the online home for youth sports, and NBA All-Star and the 2009 NBA Most Valuable Player, LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, have partnered to offer a scholarship to the LeBron James King’s Academy summer basketball camp in San Diego from July 24-28, 2009.

“One of the reasons I partnered with Weplay.com is because their goal is to help kids lead a healthier, active lifestyle through participation in youth sports. While growing up in Akron, Ohio, my time spent playing basketball shaped me into the player that I am today,” said LeBron James. “I am excited that a kid will have a chance to participate in the King’s Academy to learn more about the game of basketball and to understand that what they do off the court, in their schools and communities, is just as important as having a good jump shot.”

Weplay.com offers the millions of children, coaches and parents involved in youth sports worldwide the opportunity to connect, create, share and stay organized. The dedicated youth basketball section features news, member photos, discussion groups, coaching tips and Skills & Drills videos featuring top coaches and athletes. Each professional athlete, including LeBron, has a personal profile where they blog, post photos and videos and interact directly with Weplay.com users.

The five-day camp will be held at the University of California San Diego campus and will teach kids the fundamentals of basketball, team play, good sportsmanship and healthy habits. LeBron attends the camp and spends time with the campers by conducting lectures, refereeing games and competing in the evening counselor games.

“LeBron is the epitome of a youth athlete who has realized his dream,” said Steve Hansen, Chief Executive Officer of Weplay.com. “His skills on the court and his dedication to kids and youth athletics is clear from his work on his LeBron James King’s Academy and his support of Weplay.com. By being so active in the youth sports community, LeBron is giving these kids the benefit of his experiences as both a youth athlete and NBA powerhouse.

For more information, please visit http://www.weplay.com.

The former Lady Vol’s contributions can be found “sprinkled throughout the box score.”

Check out that footnote that Seimone Augustus is having ACL repair surgery Tuesday.