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The WNBA: June in Review

© Colleen Bittner

Much has happened in the first month of the Women's National Basketball Association. The Washington Mystics have already won almost as many games as they did in the entire last season. Former American Basketball League Players have had the chance to show their stuff in their new league. Chamique Holdsclaw has made a splash in her professional debut. Here is a look on what has gone on.

Rebecca Lobo's is Injured, sidelined for the year

Rebecca Lobo's third WNBA season lasted for exactly 42 seconds. Coming down from a rebound, Rebecca spun and passed the ball then fell, tearing her anterior crutiate ligament (ACL) in her left knee. She was helped off the court by two of her teammates, and taken in an ambulance for a MRI. Teresa Weatherspoon told reporters before results on Lobo's knee had come back, "If she's O.K., great. If she's not O.K., we're going to go out and dedicate the rest of the season to her." Rebecca Underwent successful surgery to repair her knee on Thursday, July 1.

Sandy Brondello Win Shooting Award

On June 29th Sandy Brondello received the Bud Light Shooting Champion award. Brondello was the top shooter in the WNBA last season, based on her free-throw shooting percentage. Bud Light will give $12,500 to Brondello and a trophy, $2,500 of which she will donate to the National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations.

Clarissa Davis-Wrightsil Fined

Clarissa Davis-Wrightsil, a forward for the Phoenix Mercury has been fined $500 for hitting Cleveland's Eva Nemcova in the throat with her forearm during first half of the Rockers vs. Mercury game in the America West Arena June 19.

Windham Relieved of Duties

Los Angeles General Manager of Basketball Operations Rhonda Windham was relieved of her duties late on June 24, 1999. President Johnny Buss announced this, using philosophical differences as reason.

"I had agreed to a game plan for our 1999 season which has strayed too far off course, and feel that it is necessary to take action before we reach a point from which we may not recover," Buss stated. This is the third firing in the three years of the Sparks.

Janice Braxton Returns to the Rockers

After announcing her retirement on May 10, 1999, Janice Braxton, a forward for the Cleveland Rockers, came out of retirement to rejoin her teammates and the Cleveland Rockers for this WNBA season. She took the place of Vanessa Nygaard. Braxton played with the Rockers since it's inaugural season in 1997. "We're very happy about Janice's return," said Head Coach Linda Hill-MacDonald. "She can help provide the veteran experience we've been lacking on the inside,"

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