While the WNBA playoffs are usually never a blip on most people’s radar (except Jeff Budlong’s), this year may be considered an exception around here.

Rapid City’s own Becky Hammon is the leader of the San Antonio Silver Stars, one of the two teams in the current WNBA Finals. To reach the finals, she almost single-handedly had to win a conference championship game by hitting a tying 3-pointer and then four clinching free throws.

But here is the real question, maybe a loaded question: I applaud Hammon for her playing career, but after the outrage of playing for the Russian Olympic team - a decision I and a lot of other people still do not agree with - this past August, do you still cheer for the local woman?

- Russo

Okay, I’m going to be really honest … I don’t particularly care if Becky Hammon plays for Russia in the Olympics or not.

Still, I’ve got to say it’s pretty weird.

I don’t really know Ms. Hammon, but the few times I have met her I’ve marveled at how nice and grounded she is (in addition to just how incredible a shooter, ballhandler and passer she is). And I think I can understand just how badly she wants to play in the Olympics, but I don’t honestly think this is the right way to go about it.

I would change my tune if: A) Hammon were of Russian descent, B) she had spent years playing pro ball in Russia and had formed some kind of deep bond with fans there or C) she had absolutely no chance of playing her way onto the U.S. team. I don’t think any were the case, so it really feels like a mercenary job to me.

First off, I don’t believe for a second that USA Basketball wouldn’t give Hammon a chance to make the team. She’s proven herself to be one of the best female guards on the planet over the last few seasons (particularly her first in San Antonio) and that should be enough to get her a look. Hammon’s talents have always been underappreciated — maybe it’s the less than fearsome package they come in — and she wasn’t on the first list released by USA Basketball of 20-25 players invited to camp. That was wrong, but it sounds like they may have tried to remedy the situation.

From Wayne Drehs at ESPN.com — “The 31-year-old Hammon, who averaged 18.8 points and 5.0 assists for the San Antonio Silver Stars last season, said she has long been overlooked by USA Basketball for a spot on its Senior National Team. Last summer, when USA Basketball released its list of the pool players from which the U.S. Olympic team would be chosen, Hammon’s name was absent. She later signed a lucrative contract with club team CSKA Moscow that included the possibility of playing for the Russian Olympic team.

Later, Hammon received an invitation to try out for the U.S. team, but she said contractual obligations with CSKA left her unable to attend. Before she made her final decision, she said she and her agent, Mike Cound, reached out to USA Basketball for clarification on where she stood. They came away with the impression that she wasn’t in serious contention to make the team. So Hammon took her Olympic dream elsewhere.”

Now, maybe she wasn’t really in USA Basketball’s plans — the U.S. women’s team is LOADED and has better and better talent coming up every year (women’s basketball improves every season). But, if playing in the Olympics was really that big of a dream, should a two or three year contract with a team in Moscow really take precedence over trying to win a gold medal with your own country? Shouldn’t you at least exhaust your chances (mainly, at least trying out for your home country) before deciding to play for a nation that you have no real ties to?

Will she play against the U.S. if a match-up materializes in Beijing? Tim Duncan sat out when the U.S. played the Virgin Islands in a game before the 2004 Olympics, citing his own personal feelings about playing his home country.

I hope that this all turns out to be a rewarding experience for Hammon, but I’m afraid it might be a little emptier than she’s expecting. And will it be worth the backlash? Remember, Hammon makes a good chunk of her living in Texas.

A loss to the U.S. would hurt, I imagine, but would a gold medal hanging from your neck feel anywhere near as good with the Russian national anthem playing in the background? Maybe, but I don’t think so.

- Padraic

Rapid City’s Becky Hammon, a member of the San Antonio Silver Stars, won the WNBA Dribble, Swish and Dish title over defending champ Seimone Augustus, Betty Lennox and Nikki Teasley on Sunday.

The Rapid City Stevens grad also scored 13 points in the All-Star game for the Western Conference. The East beat the West 103-99.

I’ve got to say that I’m not surprised. Hammon is one of the most skilled basketball players — male or female — that I’ve ever seen.

- Padraic

What do you think about Rapid City’s Becky Hammon getting traded to the San Antonio Silver Stars on draft day? She averaged 10.4 points per game during eight years with the New York Liberty, and was also an All-Star and an All-WNBA Second-Team performer. How will she fit in with her new team?

Also, how about SDSU’s Megan Vogel getting drafted 19th by the Washington Mystics. How do you think she will fare in the big league after a very successful career as a Jackrabbit?

 

–Sean Welsh