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The NWBL has carved out a niche somewhat unique in professional sports, yet one with a distinct role within the women’s game. That’s why such established WNBA stars as Sue Bird and Rebecca Lobo are ready and willing to participate in the adjunct circuit.
"It’s the only option in America for women to play professionally in the offseason," Springfield Spirit head coach Eileen Mastrio said. "That’s really how they look at it. Two or three weeks after our season ends is when the WNBA season begins. If you want to get in shape by playing professionally and you want to stay in the United States, especially since 9/11, there were no options until (the NWBL began) three years ago."
Leagues in Europe and Asia were previously popular destinations for women preparing forplay in the WNBA and the now-defunct ABL, where the Hartford-based New England Blizzard were one of the few success stories. Contemporary conditions surrounding foreign life and travel are an instrument for NWBL success.
"This is a great opportunity to get better," said Bird, a WNBA all-star with the Seattle Storm in her rookie campaign. "It’s a good opportunity to stay home and to be in the Northeast again is a good feeling.
"The NBA offseason is three or four months. My season is three or four months and I have to figure out something to do. A lot of WNBA players are overseas making a lot of money. That’s good but it’s not for me."
The Spirit also offer Bird the intriguing chance to play with the UConn women whose success paved the way for her generation of Huskies to achieve supreme status.
"It will be fun to play with Swin (Cash) again and then to play with Rita (Williams), Rebecca (Lobo) and Kara (Wolters) for the first time," Bird said. "I’ve obviously heard a lot about them."
For Lobo, it’s a chance to battle her way back after knee problems. She also wanted to stay local for personal reasons.
"Last year when I played for the Spirit, it was the first time I played without my knee brace," said Lobo, who plays with the Houston Comets in the WNBA. "It was an opportunity to get used to that. Right now I feel very healthy, I feel great. It’s a matter of playing as much as I can and I didn’t want to go overseas because among other things, I’m planning to get married in April."
For Mastrio, having Lobo is like having a coach on the floor.
"She’s an extremely intelligent player who would never be a liability to me because she makes very good decisions," Mastrio said.
Former UConn center Kara Wolters also welcomes the quality opportunity close to home.
"It’s giving me a great opportunity to stay at home, do what I love and play with some fantastic friends of mine," she said. "I don’t think it could get better than that. People have to understand the difference between the two leagues. We’re not trying to compete with the WNBA. We’re excited that the NWBL has given us the opportunity to stay home and play basketball."
Wolters played with the Sacramento Monarchs of the WNBA last year but with Nykesha Sales and the former Orlando Miracle heading to the Mohegan Sun, she’d like to return to Connecticut.
"My contract is up so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I can get traded to the new Connecticut team," Wolters said. "I’m motivated to play really well at our Mohegan Sun games in hopes that I’ll get traded back home. Someone like Sue, I don’t think her team would release her but my team, I think, would release me. I’m not really feeling it in the system I’m in in Sacramento right now."
The motivation of other Spirit players is to attract the attention of WNBA scouts.
"(6-4 Spirit forward) Jamie Cournoyer was invited to a WNBA tryout camp," Mastrio said. "(Players without WNBA contracts) want to get noticed. They want to utilize playing with Sue Bird and Swin Cash to elevate their game. There are too many players and not enough teams so this is their opportunity to get themselves a professional basketball résumé."
For ex-Cromwell High star Kristen McCory, the emergence of the NWBL motivated her to forego retirement.
"I actually hung up my shoes for two years after I played in Europe for three," said McCory, a 6-2 forward out of Syracuse (1996). "I moved to Manhattan and didn’t have an opportunity to play as much as I wanted to. When I picked up the ball again, it was ..it’s my love, my life. I couldn’t let it go.
"And Connecticut’s a great place to play. You have the UConn fan base. People go crazy for women’s basketball and you’re not going to find that anywhere else you go."
Ken Lipshez can be reached at Klipshez@newbritainherald.com or by calling (860) 225-4601, ext. 222.
