Update: 6 Lady Vols on 2019 WNBA Opening Day Rosters

Update: 6 Lady Vols on 2019 WNBA Opening Day Rosters

By Dan Stark / ESPN Images
Newport Coast, CA – October 3, 2018 – The Resort at Pelican Hill: Candace Parker during the 2018 espnW: Women + Sports Summit (Photo by Dan Stark / ESPN Images)

By Vince Ferrara / @VinceSports

Updated 5/24/19

With the WNBA season in 2019 beginning this Friday, May 24, I’ve gone through the opening day rosters for each team for Lady Vols For Life in my blog, Vince’s View.

Below is the list of those players in the league, at the moment, along with the teams without a UT player on it’s active roster. Seasons in the league, counting this one, listed to the right.

UT In The WNBA in 2019 (6)
Diamond DeShields (1) G – Chicago Sky (2nd)
Shekinna Stricklen (40) G-F – Connecticut Sun (8th)
Isabelle Harrison (20) F – Dallas Wings (4th)
Glory Johnson (25) F – Dallas Wings (7th)
Candace Parker (3) F-C – Los Angeles Sparks (12th)
Mercedes Russell (2) C – Seattle Storm (2nd)

*Jaime Nared was released today by Las Vegas. She was the 13th overall pick in the 2018 draft. As a rookie, she played in 31 games, averaging 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per game.

Teams Without A Lady Vols Player (7)
Atlanta Dream
Indiana Fever
Las Vegas Aces
Minnesota Lynx
New York Liberty
Phoenix Mercury
Washington Mystics


Find more of my broadcasting work at VinceSports.net.

 

Thomas Rhett Talks Inspiration Behind New Album, “Center Point Road,” Including Childhood Memories, Fatherhood, Collaborations & More

Thomas Rhett Talks Inspiration Behind New Album, “Center Point Road,” Including Childhood Memories, Fatherhood, Collaborations & More

Jim Casey talks with Thomas Rhett about:

  • the anticipation of releasing his new album, Center Point Road, on May 31
  • moving from Valdosta, Ga., to Hendersonville, Tenn., as a 5-year-old in 1995
  • his first memory of his house on Center Point Road
  • building the new 16-song album
  • finding the centerpiece for the album, “Remember You Young”
  • his nostalgic, old-soul nature
  • writing the majority of the record while on the road
  • his new song, “That Old Truck,” which was inspired by his first truck, “Fergie”
  • selecting “Look What God Gave Her” as the album’s lead single
  • collaborations on the new album, including Kelsea Ballerini, Jon Pardi and Little Big Town
  • the range of emotions created by sequencing the songs on the album
  • how being a father the last two-plus years influenced the album
  • his Very Hot Summer Tour with Dustin Lynch, Russell Dickerson and Rhett Akins
  • performing at Bridgestone Arena during CMA Fest on June 8

Show Participants: 

  • Thomas Rhett
  • Jim Casey, editor in chief of NCD

Watch Clare Bowen Let Go of Fear in Video for Cleansing New Single, “Let It Rain”

Watch Clare Bowen Let Go of Fear in Video for Cleansing New Single, “Let It Rain”

Clare Bowen’s character Scarlett O’Connor found herself in the middle of plenty of drama during her six seasons on TV’s Nashville. With the release of her self-titled debut album on July 12, Clare will ditch the drama in favor of harmony.

The 35-year-old Australian native is giving fans the first taste of the new album with the release of lead single, “Let It Rain,” a soulful anthem about surviving life’s hardships and letting go of fear.

“‘Let It Rain’ is about my gratitude for life’s lessons, no matter how hard. I wouldn’t be sitting here writing this without them,” says Clare. “I believe that everyone and everything we encounter in life, good and bad, leads us to the place and person we’re meant to be. Even when we bugger up real bad, because mistakes are how we learn to be better versions of ourselves.”

Directed by Clare and Tyler Barksdale, the video for “Let It Rain” is an exploration of finding the beauty in life’s scars. The new clip, which you can watch below co-stars the singer as well as her husband and a few of her close friends.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Jimmy’s blog: Fraschilla impressed by UT’s Bone

Jimmy’s blog: Fraschilla impressed by UT’s Bone

By Jimmy Hyams

Jordan Bone hasn’t shown up on many NBA mock drafts, but ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla thinks the 6-foot-3 point guard can find a home in the NBA.

Fraschilla, former head coach at Manhattan, St. John’s and New Mexico, projects the Tennessee floor leader as a second-round pick.

“I think he can make a team as a back-up point guard,’’ Fraschilla said in a recent interview on The Sports Animal, WNML.

That was before Bone turned heads at the NBA combine with his 42.5 vertical jump and speed in the ¾ court sprint and agility drill that exceeded what Russell Westbrook did at the combine years ago.

Fraschilla watched Tennessee practice in October and was “really impressed’’ by Bone.

“I was not surprised by the junior year he had,’’ Fraschilla said. “He really improved, I think, over the course of three years.’’

Jones improved his scoring average from 7.3 as a sophomore to 13.5 as a junior. His assists went from 3.5 per game to 5.8. He ranked among the SEC leaders in assists-to-turnover ratio.

Fraschilla described Grant Williams, the two-time SEC player of the year, and Admiral Schofield as “a little bit of an outlier’’ for the NBA.

Why Williams?

“Because he spent most of his career in the paint and he is just now trying to extend his range out to the 3-point line, where he can be a more effective player,’’ Fraschilla said.

Fraschilla said UT coach Rick Barnes compared Williams to a former star at Texas PJ Tucker, who has had an eight-year NBA career. Tucker became a decent 3-point shooter after not having taken a shoot beyond the arc in college.

Williams, who hit 82 percent of his free throws last year, projects to be a capable 3-point shooter because many basketball experts say if you can hit free throws, you can become a good marksman from distance.

Williams was 30 of 103 on 3-point tries during his UT career, 15 of 46 (32.6 percent) last year.

While the 6-foot-5 ¾ Williams has drawn comparisons to Golden State star Draymond Green, a 6-foot-7 former Michigan State product, Fraschilla doesn’t see it.

“I don’t think (Williams) is as mobile in the open court,’’ Fraschilla said. “I mean, Grant is certainly a tremendous player … an All-American. But I’m not sure he moves his feet as well as Draymond did at Michigan State, so that could be an issue.

Williams “is going to have to play some away from the basket because even though he was a dominant player in the SEC and in college basketball, watching him on tape, when he’s going up against players with NBA type length from 10 feet, it has been very difficult, in my opinion, for him to be the dominant player he is at other times.’’

While Williams lacks Green’s lateral defensive quickness, Fraschilla said, “he can certainly morph into a player that can be a useful NBA player.’’

Fraschilla said some mock drafts favor Kentucky’s PJ Washington over Williams because Washington took and made more 3-pointers than did Williams.

While is Schofield an outlier?

“Because he’s 6-5 and built like a linebacker,’’ Fraschilla said. “You have to figure out is he a two, is he a three? Can he move his feet well enough to guard the most dynamic position in the game, guys like Paul George and Kevin Durant?’’

Schofield’s strongest asset as an NBA player is his much-improved 3-point shooting.

Fraschilla said that while Schofield and Williams had terrific college careers, 6-11 center Kyle Alexander “has more of an NBA body when you look at his length and athleticism, and despite the frustration fans had with him at times at catching the ball.

“I saw tremendous progress over his career, especially under Rick Barnes, and it wouldn’t shock me at all if a year from now, he’s on a roster. … His ceiling would be a guy that can be in an NBA rotation someday.’’

Based on the coaching Alexander has had and how he’s been pushed, “he’s going to be a little more prepared than the average college kid, just like Jordan, Admiral and Grant.’’


Sponsored by Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all

Garth Brooks Adds Second Show in Boise After Initial Sell-Out

Garth Brooks Adds Second Show in Boise After Initial Sell-Out

Tickets for Garth Brooks’ upcoming show in Boise, Idaho, on July 20 sold out in under an hour. Fear not, Idahoans.

Due to popular demand, Garth is adding a second show in Boise on July 19 at Albertsons Stadium at Boise State University. This will be the first time Garth plays Boise in more than 20 years, and it’s the first major concert event at Albertsons Stadium.

Tickets for the new Boise date go on sale on May 31 at 10 a.m. MT for $94.95.

Garth’s Stadium Tour, which features in-the-round staging, has already visited St. Louis, Glendale, Gainesville, Minneapolis (x2) and Pittsburgh, with upcoming sold-out shows in Denver (June 8), Eugene (June 29) and Boise (July 20).

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

Watch Pink & Chris Stapleton’s Live Debut of “Love Me Anyway” at Madison Square Garden

Watch Pink & Chris Stapleton’s Live Debut of “Love Me Anyway” at Madison Square Garden

During her sold-out show at Madison Square Garden on May 21, P!nk invited Chris Stapleton onstage to perform the live debut of their new song, “Love Me Anyway.”

The duet is featured on Pink’s new album, Hurts 2B Human. Pink co-penned the tune with Allen Shamblin and Tom Douglas, the songwriting tandem behind Miranda Lambert’s “The House That Built Me.” The heavy-hearted piano ballad features Chris’ harmony vocals.

This isn’t Pink’s first foray working with a country artist—she collaborated with Kenny Chesney in 2016 for the duet, “Setting the World on Fire,” which hit the top of Billboard’s Country Airplay chart later that year.

Watch a clip of the Pink and Chris’ performance below.

photo by Kevin Mazur & Zachary Mazur/Getty Images; video courtesy RCA Digital Marketing Team

With New Tour, Album & Baby on the Way, Brantley Gilbert Says “Busy Beats Bored”

With New Tour, Album & Baby on the Way, Brantley Gilbert Says “Busy Beats Bored”

“Busy beats bored,” according to Brantley Gilbert. One thing is for sure, Brantley will not be bored over the course of the next few months.

Brantley will kick off his Not Like Us Tour with Lindsay Ell and Michael Ray in June, in addition to playing numerous summer festivals and fairs. Brantley is also hard at work on his upcoming fifth studio album, with lead single, “What Happens in a Small Town,” featuring Lindsay Ell, climbing to No. 22 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart this week.

Brantley & Amber at the 2019 ACM Awards in Vegas: photo by Arroyo/O’Connor, AFF-USA.com

But that’s not all: Brantley and wife Amber are expecting their second child—a girl—around September. However, it doesn’t sound like Brantley is sweating his full plate of professional and personal responsibilities.

“Aw, man, I don’t even know yet what to expect with the new baby [laughing],” says Brantley. “I guess we’ll find out, but, you know, the way I look at it is busy beats bored, and for what we do for a living, it’s hard for there to be a lot of structure ’cause a lot of it is last minute stuff. But as long as my top two priorities are being the best husband and the best dad that I know how to be, then we’ll figure the rest of it out.”

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Blake Shelton’s Ole Red Nashville to Host 50+ Free Performances During CMA Fest, Including Scotty McCreery, Chris Young, Midland & More

Blake Shelton’s Ole Red Nashville to Host 50+ Free Performances During CMA Fest, Including Scotty McCreery, Chris Young, Midland & More

Blake Shelton’s Ole Red Nashville is once again teaming with Spotify to host more than 50 artists during CMA Fest on June 6–9.

Ole Red’s “Spotify House” will include an A-list group of performers throughout the week, including Midland, Old Dominion, Lauren Alaina, Hunter Hayes, Lil Nas X, Brantley Gilbert, Maddie & Tae, Scotty McCreery, Chris Young, Morgan Wallen, Cody Johnson, Tenille Townes, Riley Green, Lindsay Ell, Carly Pearce, Danielle Bradbery, Mitchell Tenpenny, Filmore, James Barker Band, Cassadee Pope and more.

The Spotify House daytime schedule will run from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nightly headlining shows and late-night jam sessions will be scheduled from 7:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. All shows will be open to the public. Space will be limited to first-come, first-served.

Located at 300 Broadway, the multi-level, 26,000-square-foot entertainment venue features a two-story bar and restaurant, retail area, performance space, dance floor and private VIP booths for small groups. The complex also includes a large, private event space and a 6,000-square-foot rooftop featuring an indoor/outdoor bar and restaurant with panoramic views of Lower Broadway.

“Lower Broadway is the centerpiece of Nashville,” says Blake. “There’s so much great music and fun going on down there all the time and it’s exciting to now be a part of it—it’s a dream come true.”

Check out the roster of artists slated to perform at Ole Red Nashville during CMA Fest.

June 6

  • 11:30 AM – Rodney Atkins
  • 1:40 PM – Jameson Rodgers
  • 3:30 PM – Maddie & Tae
  • 4:30 PM – Noah Schnacky
  • 5:30 PM – Tenille Townes
  • 6:30 PM – Dylan Scott
  • 7:30 PM – Mitchell Tenpenny
  • 8:45 PM – Hunter Hayes
  • 10:35 PM – Lauren Alaina
  • 11:45 PM – Midland
  • 12:30 AM – Lil Nas X (Rooftop show)
  • 1:00 AM – Morgan Wallen & HARDY

June 7

  • 11:30 AM – Brandon Ratcliff
  • 12:20 PM – King Calaway
  • 1:10 PM – Ingrid Andress
  • 2:00 PM – Willie Jones
  • 2:50 PM – Danielle Bradbery
  • 3:40 PM – Rachel Wammack
  • 4:30 PM – Tegan Marie
  • 5:30 PM – Morgan Evans
  • 6:45 PM – Filmore
  • 7:45 PM – Old Dominion
  • 9:00 PM – James Barker Band
  • 10:00 PM – Cassadee Pope
  • 11:30 PM – Scotty McCreery
  • 1:00 AM – Brantley Gilbert

June 8

  • 11:30 AM – Anna Vaus
  • 12:20 PM – Seaforth
  • 1:10 PM – Lindsay Ell
  • 2:00 PM – Dillon Carmichael
  • 2:50 PM – Bailey Bryan
  • 3:40 PM – Logan Mize
  • 4:30 PM – Caylee Hammack
  • 5:30 PM – High Valley
  • 6:30 PM – Cody Johnson
  • 7:30 PM – Carly Pearce
  • 9:00 PM – Tanya Tucker
  • 10:00 PM – Chris Young
  • 11:30 PM – Aaron Watson
  • 12:35 AM – Blanco Brown

June 9

  • 11:30 AM – John King
  • 12:20 PM – Ryan Hurd
  • 1:10 PM – Hanah Dasher
  • 2:00 PM – Kassi Ashton
  • 2:50 PM – Cale Dodds
  • 3:40 PM – Gone West
  • 5:30 PM – Emily Ann Roberts
  • 6:30 PM – Travis Denning
  • 7:30 PM – Devin Dawson
  • 8:45 PM – Jon Langston
  • 10:00 PM – Riley Green
  • 11:30 PM – Ray Fulcher
  • 12:30 AM – Ryan Griffin

photos by NCD

Blake Shelton Says His Creative Mom Has “Taken Her Artwork to the Next Level” With “Chickens, the Animal That Poops Breakfast”

Blake Shelton Says His Creative Mom Has “Taken Her Artwork to the Next Level” With “Chickens, the Animal That Poops Breakfast”

Where does Blake Shelton get his capacity for creativity? For the biological answer, start with his mother, Dorothy Shackleford.

Dorothy is the co-owner of Junk Stars, a store in downtown Tishomingo, Okla., where she creates unique artwork—including pet portraits—jewelry, decor items and plenty of Blake-inspired mementos. As Blake told Kix Brooks in an interview on American Country Countdown, his mom has “taken her artwork to the next level.”

“She’s an artist—my mom—she’s a great painter, and it’s something that I can remember her doing when I was a kid,” says Blake. “She’s always been creative, you know? But now that she’s been retired for a few years, she’s taken her artwork to the next level and spends more time with it. My mom will be awake until two, three o’clock in the morning every night, painting or crafting or making stuff to put in her store. She just gets lost in it.”

Blake’s fans may also recall that Dorothy teamed with her son to pen—and sing—a song, “Time for Me to Come Home,” that was featured on Blake’s 2012 holiday album, Cheers, It’s Christmas. But from what Blake told Kix, it sounds like Dorothy prefers painting chickens over penning songs.

“She painted a chicken, and on the painting she wrote: ‘Chickens, the animal that poops breakfast,'” says Blake, “This is my mom [laughing]! She said, ‘I already sold that. Can you believe somebody wants that?’ I said, ‘Man, you better make some more of ’em, I guess.’”

Check out some of Dorothy’s artwork below—and if you visit Tishomingo, stop by the store.



Luke Combs to Drop New 5-Song EP, “The Prequel,” on June 7

Luke Combs to Drop New 5-Song EP, “The Prequel,” on June 7

Luke Combs will release a new five-song EP, The Prequel, on June 7.

Buoyed by the album’s lead single, “Beer Never Broke My Heart,” which is currently No. 15 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart after two weeks, The Prequel features four additional songs that Luke co-wrote, inclduing “Refrigerator Door,” “Even Though I’m Leaving,” “Lovin’ On You” and “Moon Over Mexico.”

Luke recently made history as the first artist to simultaneously top all five Billboard country charts for multiple weeks: Top Country Albums, Hot Country Songs, Country Airplay, Country Streaming Songs and Country Digital Song Sales. He is also the first country artist in history whose first five singles have reached No. 1.

The Prequel Track List & Songwriters

  • “Beer Never Broke My Heart” (Luke Combs, Randy Montana, Jonathan Singleton)
  • “Refrigerator Door” (Luke Combs, Jordan Brooker)
  • “Even Though I’m Leaving” (Luke Combs, Wyatt B. Durrette III, Ray Fulcher)
  • “Lovin’ On You” (Luke Combs, Thomas Archer, Ray Fulcher, James McNair)
  • “Moon Over Mexico” (Luke Combs, Ray Fulcher, Dan Isbell, Jonathan Singleton)

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

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