Oct. 11, 2000

The Washington women's basketball team begins preparation for the 2000-2001 season with the first day official day of practice, Sat., Oct. 14 at Miller Community Center. The workout is set to run from 2-5:00 p.m. Miller Community Center is located at 330 19th Ave. East in Seattle. Washington opens its 27th season of women's basketball with a veteran squad that returns four of its five starters from last season along with a talented group of newcomers. As the only Pac-10 school with no losses to graduation, the Huskies have a five player senior class rich with experience, highlighted by a roster of sophomores and juniors who have all seen extensive playing time, and finally, four newcomers who could all provide immediate contributions.

Bank of America Arena
Along with the usual excitement generated at the beginning of a new season, the Huskies welcome a return to their home court after playing last season off campus. Over the last year and a half, Bank of America Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion has undergone an extensive renovation. This year, the Huskies move back into their on-campus arena - a venue that provides the charm of its original 1920s style along with all the modern conveniences of today. Over $40 million dollars in improvements have been made and the new transformation ensures that every person in the building has a great seat with no obstructed views.

Explosive Backcourt Highlights Husky Offense
Highlighting the veteran Husky team is an explosive backcourt that features senior guard Megan Franza and sophomore guard Loree Payne, who finished last year as the third and fourth leading scorers in the Pacific-10 Conference, respectively. Franza, who averaged 17.2 points per game, led the league in scoring until the final two weeks of the season, while Payne finished fourth with 17.4 points per game. Together they formed the highest scoring duo from the same school in Pac-10 history. With the graduation of Maylana Martin (UCLA) and the impending redshirt season for Oregon's injured Shaquala Williams, Payne and Franza enter the 2000-01 season as the leading returning scorers in the Pac-10.

Husky Coaching Staff
Washington head coach June Daugherty and her staff enter their fifth year with the Huskies, with one newcomer on list. Former Michigan Wolverine Yeshimbra 'Shimmy' Gray joins the Huskies this season, replacing Hulett Brooks who left coaching to pursue private business. Daugherty, who was inducted into the Ohio State Athletic Hall of Fame in September, and her assistants, Sunny Smallwood and Mike Daugherty, have been together since the 1996-97 season.

The Schedule
As is tradition, the Washington women's basketball team faces a challenging schedule as it enters the 2000-2001 season. The Huskies face 11 teams that played in the postseason last year, seven in the NCAA Tournament, including none other than defending national champion Connecticut in the home opener Nov. 24. Four Pac-10 teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2000 and four opponents played in the WNIT, including national semi-finalist Colorado State. Washington opens its season on the road, at Indiana, in the first game between the two schools since 1982. The roadtrip continues to Michigan, against a Wolverine team that played in the first round of the NCAAs. The Huskies then return home for the grand opening of Bank of America Arena when they host the Connecticut Huskies in a nationally televised game on Fox Sports Net at 9 p.m.,Nov. 24.

Gold Medal Count
Sophomore Loree Payne capped a stellar freshman campaign with her selection to the USA Basketball R.William Jones Cup team that annually plays in Taiwan. The youngest player on the squad and the lone representative from the Pac-10, Payne helped lead the team to a gold medal in the four-game tournament. She finished with 16 points, three rebounds and four assists in three games played. Payne tallied 11 points in the gold medal game.

Husky Calendar
Sat., Oct. 14 First official day of practice, 2-5 p.m. Miller Community Center
Mon., Nov. 6 First exhibition game vs. TRU Cloudi Riga (Latvia) Edmonds-Woodway HS
Wed., Nov. 8 National Letter of Intent Signing Day
Fri., Nov. 17 Season Opener at Indiana

Payne Among Sharp Shooters The Women's Basketball Journal surveyed Division I women's basketball coaches to name the two best pure shooters in the nation. A No. 1 vote was worth two points, and a No. 2 vote gave the player one point. Here is a look at the results that were released in the Sept. 30 issue of Women's Basketball Journal:

Player		  School	                     Pts.
1. Jackie Stiles	     SW Missouri St.	     53
2. Sue Bird	             Connecticut	           36
3. Alicia Ratay	        Notre Dame	          35
4. Kelly Miller	          Georgia	                  21
5. Loree PayneWashington	     14
6. Jamie Carey	       Stanford	             9
	Alisha Sare	            Texas	                  9
	Georgia Schweitzer	 Duke	                9
	Lisa Shepard	        Penn State	         9
	Wendi Willits	         Arkansas	            9

The New Husky Fan Plan
The new Husky Fan Plan lets basketball fans choose their own schedule this season. Fans may choose any five games they want to see during the 2000-2001 season for only $25 as a special Bank of America Arena introductory offer from the University of Washington. Fans pick the opponents they want to see and the dates they prefer. The following extras also apply: priority reserved seating for all games, 50% savings over individual game tickets, guaranteed seats for opening night (if chosen as part of plan), automatic season ticket upgrade. The plan is available only until November 1. For further information on Husky women's basketball tickets, call 206-543-2200.

Daugherty to be Featured Speaker at Local Coaching Clinic
Husky head coach June Daugherty is scheduled to speak at the Youth Basketball Coaches Clinic at Meadowdale High School Nov. 4. The clinic also includes Mountlake Terrace High School coach Nick Greenwell along with Meadowdale's Karen Blair, who coached current Husky Kellie O'Neill during her prep career. Registration is required. For information, call 425-670-7650. The clinic is free with a canned food donation to benefit Northwest Harvest. Daugherty's appearance at the clinic continues a Husky tradition of serving its community. The Washington women's basketball program, among the most active among 23 Husky athletic teams involved in community service, held three free skill clinics at area youth community centers this summer.

Quick Facts
University of Washington Huskies

Head coach: June Daugherty (Ohio State '78)
at UW: 59-56 (four seasons)
career: 182-130 (11 seasons)
Assistant coaches: Sunny Smallwood (Boise State '83, eighth year at UW, fifth year with coach Daugherty), Mike Daugherty (Ohio State '77, fifth year), Shimmy Gray (Michigan '94, first year).
1999-2000 record: 8-22 Pac-10 Conference record: 4-14 / 9th
Letterwinners returning /lost: 10/2
Starters returning / lost: 4/1
Redshirts returning: 1 (Cheryl Sorenson)
Newcomers: 4