In this week’s episode of From the Cheap Seats, Michelle rejoins Becca just in time to wrap up the Western and Eastern Conference Finals. The girls talk about the “miracle shot” seen at the end of game two of the L.A Sparks vs. San Antonio Silverstars series. They also touch on the Liberty vs. Shock series that had the girls split on the result.

Sophia Young joined by teammates after the “miracle shot"

One topic both Becca and Michelle could agree on is their beef with a certain sports network and their coverage, or lack there of, during the most important series of the WNBA season.

This is a vlog by fans for fans, so please leave plenty of comments, questions, rants and raves, or anything else that comes to mind. And check back next weekend for another episode!

This week, Michelle is off on a business trip, so Becca is joined by football enthusiast, Megan. They recap of the latest victories, dramatic losses and disastrous refereeing in the biggest WNBA games of the week.

The Silver Stars; Lindsay Whalen

Megan also updates us on the seemingly endless stream of upsets in the NFL this season.

This is a vlog by fans for fans, so please leave plenty of comments, questions, rants and raves, or anything else that comes to mind. And check back next weekend for another episode!

In case you missed the headlines on the front page of every major newspaper in America yesterday morning, let me sum up the news for you: Your money is still on fire, and if you are an American taxpayer, you're about to win $700 billion worth of private debt. Yet here's something to smile about: One of the few organizations experiencing growth in this plummeting economy is the WNBA.

WNBA.com traffic is up, attendance is up and TV ratings are up 20 percent. While everyone else is downsizing, the WNBA is actually growing.

Part of the league's success can be attributed to the fact that eight teams are now independent of the NBA. (And, in my opinion, the more the WNBA can do to distance itself from the NBA, the better.) The Olympics exposure boosted public interest, leading to a record 46 sellouts. And this rookie class (Candice Wiggins, Candace Parker, Sylvia Fowles) has certainly lived up to the hype.

The WNBA is even hoping to grow itself two more teams in the next five years.

Tonight, you can continue to boost the WNBA's numbers by tuning in to ESPN2 to watch the conclusion of the conference semifinals. It's the Fever and the Shock at 7 p.m. ET, and the Sparks and the Storm at 9 p.m. … continue reading

This week, From the Cheap Seats is all about the playoffs. Becca and Michelle talk a little bit about each series and the players to watch out for. They make another outrageous promise to the Monarchs, talk a little bit about the best back court in the playoffs (hello, Detroit) and give you their prediction on who will take each series.

Lindsay Whalen; DeAnna Nolan and Katie Smith

There's also some talk about the NFL, with a brief recap of last weeks games and games to look for this Sunday.

This is a vlog by fans for fans, so please leave plenty of comments, questions, rants and raves, or anything else that comes to mind. And check back next weekend for another episode!

With the playoffs getting closer and closer, From the Cheap Seats is getting intense. This week, Becca and Michelle discuss the ferocity (and resulting injuries) of this past week and the final throw downs in each conference.

With the Sun and Shock tied for first, the Silver Stars and Storm within a game of each other, and several starters out of commission, it's time to get serious.

Seimone Augustus of the Lynx; Sheryl Swoopes of the Storm

Next week, we'll be in between the regular season and post season, so now is the time when you should feel free to ask the ladies anything. They'll do a basketball Q&A, though they wouldn't say no to other sports questions as well.

This is a vlog by fans for fans, so please leave plenty of comments, questions, rants and raves, or anything else that comes to mind. And check back next weekend for another episode!

This week on From the Cheap Seats, Michelle and Becca review the triumphant return of women's basketball. We're getting down to the wire, and a few teams have clearly risen to the top (Silver Stars and Sun), and others are going to have to really fight for it (Indiana, Chicago). Plus, a quick update on the women in the US Open.

Sue Bird of the Seattle Storm; Kara Lawson of the Monarchs

Tune in next week as the girls give a full report from their first ever courtside seat experience. Here' hoping it doesn’t involved getting thrown out of the game for “accidentally” tripping a ref.

This is a vlog by fans for fans, so please leave plenty of comments, questions, rants and raves, or anything else that comes to mind. And check back next weekend for another episode!

This week on From the Cheap Seats, Michelle and Becca bid farewell to the Olympics with a recap of the most important gold medal games. Then the spotlight shifts from handball, soccer and softball to basketball as they hail the returning heroes and preview the return of the WNBA.

U.S. Women’s Basketball Team

Farewell Olympics, and welcome back WNBA teams!

This is a vlog by fans for fans, so please leave plenty of comments, questions, rants and raves, or anything else that comes to mind. And check back next weekend for another episode!

This week, Michelle and Becca are happy to bring you another Olympics-themed episode of From the Cheap Seats. Tennis, softball and football (otherwise known as soccer) are added to this week's mix, as well as some grumbling from Becca about the gymnastics judging and some belated raving from Michelle on handball.

Norway’s Women's National Handball Team

And as the Olympics draw to an end, Becca and Michelle begin counting the days until the WNBA resumes play.

This is a vlog by fans for fans, so please leave plenty of comments, questions, rants and raves, or anything else that comes to mind. And check back next weekend for another episode!

In this week’s episode of From the Cheap Seats, Michelle and Becca talk about their favorite (and not so favorite) Olympic sports such as basketball, football (soccer) and of course, gymnastics. They touch a little on the schedule (a confusing one, at that!) and break down the “group system” of the basketball tournament.

Lisa Leslie; Candace Parker; U.S Women’s Basketball Team

Come back every Sunday for the girls' take on the current happenings in Beijing. Feel free to leave comments about games you’ve watched, your favorite moments and who you keep our eye on during the games.

This is a vlog by fans for fans, so please leave plenty of comments, questions, rants and raves, or anything else that comes to mind. And check back next weekend for another episode! … continue reading

I have a friend who hates my use of the word “awesome.” She prefers to reserve it for things she deems to be truly awe-inspiring. She wouldn’t have the least objection, though, to my using the word to describe Robin Roberts.

My love for Robin goes back to the first time I saw her during a women’s basketball broadcast on ESPN. It was in 1990, shortly after the Lady Vols had proven to me what an idiot I was for not appreciating the game earlier. Robin quickly became my favorite commentator, not only because she’s absolutely gorgeous, but also because she loves the game. And it’s obvious that those who play the game love her — last week, the WNBA let Roberts know what she meant to professional women's basketball by presenting her with the 2008 WNBA Inspiration Award.

In case you are a Today Show-watcher and don’t know, Roberts is co-anchor of Good Morning America with Diane Sawyer — they are the first female pair to host a morning show. Between her Emmy Award-winning tenure at ESPN and her GMA audience, Roberts has developed quite a following. So, when she went public about her diagnosis with breast cancer last year, the outpouring of support was immediate and dramatic. (Kleenex alert!) … continue reading

In this week’s episode of From the Cheap Seats, Michelle and Becca are joined by Storm super fan Kim. The girls recap all the games from the last week of the WNBA before the Olympic break. They talk about everything from the Liberty’s one point win over the Sparks to the Storm snapping the Monarchs seven game winning streak.

Asjha Jones (Connecticut Sun); Tina Thompson (Houston Comets)

As mentioned in an earlier episode, From the Cheap Seats will be covering some of the Olympic sports. No worries, they will cover women's basketball, futbol (or soccer, as it’s know in the U.S) and of course, softball in the sport’s very last Olympics. Leave comments on any other sport you would like them to cover and tune in next week as the girls give a special Olympic preview.

This is a vlog by fans for fans, so please leave plenty of comments, questions, rants and raves, or anything else that comes to mind. And check back next weekend for another episode! … continue reading

In this episode of From the Cheap Seats, Michelle and Becca review a few games including the Lynx beating both the San Antonio Silver Stars and the Seattle Storm.

Cheryl Ford (left); Lisa Leslie and Rick Mahorn

Of course, Michelle and Becca explain the now infamous bench-clearing brawl between the L.A Sparks and Detroit Shock. They explain exactly how they saw the melee play out and give their opinions. Becca also gives some advice to the WNBA on how they could turn this into a positive for the league (if possible). Sorry, no reenactment included!

This is a vlog by fans for fans, so please leave plenty of comments, questions, rants and raves, or anything else that comes to mind. And check back next weekend for another episode! … continue reading

In this episode of From the Cheap Seats, Michelle and Becca review the past week’s games, the new class for the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (yes, there is one) and reveal the starting line-up for their very own dream teams.

Lindsay Whalen of the Sun (left); Becky Hammon of the Silver Stars

This week’s hottest off-court topic discussion is the USA Women’s Basketball Team. Now with the roster announced, they happily discuss the last three players named to the team.

This is a vlog by fans for fans, so please leave plenty of comments, questions, rants and raves, or anything else that comes to mind. And check back next weekend for another episode! … continue reading

In this episode of From the Cheap Seats, Michelle and Becca welcome back super Storm fan Kim, as they discuss the greatness of Lauren Jackson and their second favorite team in the league (sure bet it’s not LA), and provide a quick Olympics update.

Lauren Jackson of the Seattle Storm (left); Shameka Christon of NY Liberty

Also, it's the battle of Candace vs. Candice, and the girls challenge you to create your own starting 5 for your dream WNBA team.

This is a vlog by fans for fans, so please leave plenty of comments, questions, rants and raves, or anything else that comes to mind. And check back next weekend for another episode! … continue reading

Well, folks, it’s that time of year again. It’s time for some of the wealthiest, talented and most beautiful that our world has to offer to get all gussied up and gather for a night of mutual adoration and self-celebrations. No, I’m not talking about the Academy Awards; I’m talking about the 2008 ESPYs.

The 16th annual awards show will be hosted by Justin Timberlake and highlights the year’s best athletes across the board. For the fifth year now, you can help decide the winners if you vote before midnight on July 11. Don’t know who to vote for? Don’t worry, I’m here to help.

Best Female Athlete:
Lorena Ochoa, Golf
Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks
Danica Patrick, Auto Racing
Lindsey Vonn, Skiing

My pick: Candace Parker

Because, well, duh — Ms. Parker was the most dominant player in college basketball, winning two straight national championships and more awards than I have time to list in her years at Tennessee. Now, as a Los Angeles Sparks player, she is already making her mark on the WNBA. Recently, she became the first woman to ever dunk in back-to-back professional games. Girl can play! She is also up for (and should win) Best Female College Athlete. … continue reading