Dore vs. Dore: Fever host Sky Thursday

By Weinman - Former Commodore teammates Jennifer Risper and Christina Wirth will don opposing jerseys this evening as Wirth's Indiana Fever play host to Risper's Chicago Sky tonight in a WNBA preseason contest.

As co-captains for the 2008-09 Vanderbilt women's basketball team, Wirth and Risper led the Commodores to their sixth Southeastern Conference Tournament Championship and the school's 14th appearance in the NCAA Sweet 16.

Thursday night will give both WNBA rookies another opportunity to stand out as coaches prepare their rosters for the upcoming 2009 season. For information on tonight's game, check out the Fever's web site.

For the Sky, she's not a reach

By Weinman - Even though training camps started just this week, WNBA preseason games will begin tomorrow. Thanks to P.R. Manager Ronnie Ramirez in Chicago for passing along the first images of 2009 WBCA Defensive Player of the Year Jennifer Risper in her new Sky uniform. Like former teammate Christina Wirth, Risper will stick with her collegiate number in the pros. Chicago and Indiana are scheduled to square off in a preseason matchup next Thursday, April 28, at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Click on the pics above to see larger images....

And here's another YouTube clip that is vaguely related to a WNBA nickname (this one has a Nashville connection, as well).

Photos: Risper at WBCA Luncheon

By Weinman - A big "Thank You!" to the WBCA for sending along a few more pictures of Jennifer Risper accepting her National Defensive Player of the Year award last month. Above, Risper is pictured with Doug Bruno (DePaul head coach and acting WBCA president), McKenzie Kelly (Championship Marketing Specialist for Jostens) and Beth Bass (CEO of the WBCA). For a couple extra photos, check out this gallery.

Risper and Wirth react to being drafted

Find out what Jennifer Risper and Christina Wirth had to say about being chosen in the 2009 WNBA Draft Thursday.
Click Here

Chicago takes Risper

by Barca Blog - Add Jennifer Risper to the list of Commodores taken in the 2009 WNBA Draft on Thursday. The Chicago Sky chose the Moreno Valley, Calif., native with the third pick in the third round (29th overall).

Risper won several awards during her senior year including the 2009 WBCA Defensive Player of the Year and Second Team All-SEC. Risper stands in eighth place at Vanderbilt with 221 career steals, including 81 this season, which was the second most in the SEC. The 5'9 guard shined in the NCAA Tournament and scored a personal best 27 points in the 'Dores second round win over Kansas State.

Risper's teammate, Christina Wirth, was also selected earlier today by Indiana. This marks the fourth year that two Commodores have been picked in the same draft. The last time that happened was in 2007 when Carla Thomas and Dee Davis were taken by Chicago and Houston.