--Because of Tuesday's heavy load – the Lynx practiced in the morning and held a night scrimmage – coach Cheryl Reeve gave the veterans the day off Wednesday. That gave her the opportunity to work with the group of seven rookies this morning.
That group put in a rigorous practice against the men.
"it was really good,'' Reeve said. "We spent an hour in video, just showing them some things. And it was important to see who, based on the teachings last night and the video today, who could go out and apply it. As a group, I thought it was exceptional. They bettered themselves today.
Part of it was Reeve's desire to see the young group without the veterans around.
"They're more timid when [the veterans] are around them,'' she said. "We wanted to see their personalities. We needed to see their leadership. It was good to see who stepped up.''
--The vast majority of these rookies, of course, will not make the team. The Lynx will keep 11 players. Of those, nine spots are essentially set. That leaves the rest to battle for two spots. It's likely first-round draft pick Alexis Jones will make the roster. Ideally the final spot would be filled with a post player for roster balance. But Reeve isn't going to let roster balance force her to keep a player who's not ready.
--So who among the rookies has impressed? At the top of the list is Shao Ting, the Chinese forward who has played pro ball in China, where she was a teammate of Lynx center Sylvia Fowles. "I think because Ting is older (27), she has more wisdom about what she's doing,'' Reeve said. "It's been an easier time for her. Our schemes aren't unique. It's pro ball, she's been playing pro ball. If I had to point to a player, id' say that's the one that feels a little more comfortable.''
--Reeve has also been impressed with Jones and guard Moriah Mack.
