Just out., March 07, 1997, Page 21, Image 21

ju s t o u t ▼ inarch 7, 1 9 9 7 T 21
tion adult women ages 30 to 90—to
witness the emotional impact the
Power experience had on them.
Stacey Ford, Sheila Frost, Lisa
Harrison, Jennifer Jacoby, Tanja
Kostic, Michelle Marciniak, Tonya
Sampson, Katy Steding, Coquese
Washington, Natalie Williams and
Falisha Wright always played their
hearts out, and they unflinchingly re­
sponded to their audience (and vice
versa). Their unselfishness extended
beyond the hardwoods. Smiles and
autographs were plentiful, even after a
loss.
ndoubtedly there are many
Power fans among our readers
who are wrestling with with­
drawal pangs. We don’t have a pre­
scription, but we do have a few infor­
mational morsels for you to chew on
during the off-season:
• Coach Linn Dunn, who replaced
Greg Bruce toward season’s end and
immediately injected a burst of color
and inspiration, is currently off scan­
ning the conference tournaments for
talent. The ABL will conduct a draft
May 5 of college players and others
who participate in a tryout camp held
April 25-27. The Power would love to
snag a post player 6-foot-5 or taller, as
well as a veteran point guard.
• Power management is brain­
storming creative ways to keep Natalie
Williams in the Rose City. Williams,
a Utah native who led the ABL in
rebounding and collected an awesome
22 double-doubles, may be enticed to
play for the Women’s National Basketball Association’s Utah
Starzz. (The WNBA’s first season begins in late June.)
“Natalie is very close to her family and enjoys playing in front
of them,” says Weston, who is talking about getting an airline to
cover the costs of flying Williams’ family to Power games next
season.
• Tanja Kostic, a former star at Oregon State who saw little
playing time with the Power, may go back to her homeland to play
for the Swedish national team.
• Come the end of March, players will head to their respective
hometowns, many in the South. It won't be total R and R, however:
They' U have a daily workout regimen to adhere to in order to keep fit.
• Katy Steding is getting married (to a man) in May.
• When the team reconvenes in August, Dunn may scurry them
away to the coast for a little bonding time.
U
ollowing the final game in late February, a
few hundred fans line up to secure signatures
from the Power’s Autograph Row.
A humongous cake laced with a megadose of
sugar is served up to the fans. Marciniak, always
a crowd favorite, sits closest to the gooey dessert.
After dispensing 75 autographs or so, she tips
toward the server and shouts: “Is there any choco­
late left?” Then it’s back to more penmanship and
F
kibitzing with starry-eyed youth.
Two other girls, about 8 years old, finagle
Power garments from their hoopster heroes—
center Stacey Ford is gradually stripped of both
basketball sneakers as well as the sandals she
donned as replacement footwear.
The girls dash about with the goods, delighted
to have scored a memento— something to hold
onto until next season.