Pictured (l to r): Kalana Greene, Tricia Binford, Mark Davis, Edna Campbell, and Semeka Randall-Lay.
Seeing Starzz: Binford Celebrates 25 Years of WNBA During Weekend Reunion
7/9/2021 2:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball
It had been almost 21 years since Binford donned a WNBA jersey when she received an email from the Las Vegas Aces in late May.
Tricia Binford was alone in her parent's home in Spring Arbor, Michigan, just hanging out with the family pets.
The old rotary phone rang.
It was a Boise State teammate – Janet Soderberg.
"Did you get drafted?" Soderberg asked.
"Nobody has called me yet," Binford exclaimed. "We've got to get off the phone."
The next phone call was the Utah Starzz, informing the former Tricia Bader and current Montana State head coach she had been selected as the first pick of the fourth round- the 31st selection overall- in the 1998 WNBA Draft. It was the second ever draft of the fledgling league.
"I wanted to scream," Binford recalled. But it was just her and the dogs.
Binford, who had just completed a stellar career at Boise State and who had just finished her second season of professional ball in Australia, had been working out with former teammates in Idaho. She had planned to drive to Colorado to see family before making the trek to visit her parents in Michigan.
Along the way, Binford pulled her blue Subaru hatchback into the Delta Center in Salt Lake City for a prearranged workout with Utah Starzz head coach Denise Taylor and assistant Fred Williams. "It was just the three of us in the Delta Center," Binford said. "I felt good about the workout, but it was definitely a high-pressured situation."
The three-time all-Big Sky Conference standout was on the Utah Starzz radar after former mentor June Daugherty alerted the organization that Binford had put-up a quadruple double of 67 points, 14 assists, ten steals and ten rebounds playing for the Launceston (Australia) Tornadoes of the NWBL.
For her Delta Center effort, Binford was invited to the WNBA Draft Camp. And despite having suffered an ankle injury the day before, persevered for two consecutive 12-hour days and found her name on Utah's draft board.
"My dad promised me that if I was drafted, he would get a nice TV to watch the games," Binford laughed. "So, my parents get home from work, we go to Circuit City, get something like a 32-inch set- which at the time was a big purchase for my dad. Then we ordered pizza and toasted with Coca Cola in wine glasses to celebrate "
Binford went on to play 1 ½ years in Utah before signing with the Cleveland Rockers. She then spent 4 ½ seasons in Cleveland and helped the Rockers to the 2001 WNBA Eastern Conference Championship, before retiring and becoming an assistant at Utah State, who was just bringing its program back to life.
FAST FORWARD
It had been almost 21 years since Binford donned a WNBA jersey when she received an email from the Las Vegas Aces in late May. The Aces, who along with the Seattle Storm and Connecticut Sun sit atop the WNBA standings, were honoring former alumni as part of the league's 25th anniversary season.
"They asked us to pick a game to fly into with a guest and they would pick up the expenses to be part of the experience," Binford stated. "I chuckled to myself 'this is too good to be true.' I had been wanting to take my daughter (Brooklyn) to a WNBA game to give her an experience that I wasn't afforded, and to show that her dreams of playing professionally in the U.S. was an attainable goal."
The Las Vegas Aces were founded as the Utah Starzz before the WNBA's inaugural season in 1997. Following the 2002 campaign, the team moved to San Antonio and became known as the Silver Stars. The team then relocated to Las Vegas in 2018 and were purchased by Mark Davis, owner of the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders and son of legendary Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis.
A quick look at the calendar presented an opening for Binford between summer workouts and recruiting. The game between the Aces and Storm on June 27 stood out as a no brainer. Binford had ties to the Storm and its former head coach Dan Hughes, who was her coach in Cleveland. And, it was also an opportunity for Brooklyn to watch her favorite player Jordin Canada of Seattle. They also wanted to watch former Washington Huskies standout Kelsey Plum, who the Bobcats faced in the first-round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament.
Binford, along with the entire family, flew into Las Vegas on Saturday, June 26. In Vegas, Binford joined former Aces' alums Edna Campbell (Texas), Semeka Randall-Lay (Tennessee) and Kalana Greene (UConn) as honorees. Campbell was the oldest of the group and had played in the ABL, a predecessor to the WNBA. However, Binford had one more year of WNBA experience. Campbell, who played on the USA national team and is well known for continuing to play despite suffering breast cancer, also played alongside former Bobcat great and Hall of Famer Cass Bauer-Bilodeau with the WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs in 2001.
"They flew us in on Saturday and we had a little down time," Binford said. "They had breakfast for us and our guests on Sunday morning. Brooklyn was by far the youngest. We were also joined by Las Vegas Aces President Nikki (Caldwell) Fargas." Fargas had just joined the Aces following successful coaching stints at LSU and UCLA.
"Prior to the game, we had interviews and met a few people in the suites area," Binford said. "Mark (Davis) was amazing right from the start. He was so outgoing as far as what he was trying to create- connecting with former alums. During the game, the four honorees sat by the Seattle bench, but I had to laugh when I looked across the court and there is Brooklyn sitting with Mark Davis in the front row."
At intermission, the four former players were interviewed on the giant overhead scoreboard. "It was fun talking about the experiences I've been through and recollecting how my time in the WNBA had catapulted my coaching career."
LIFE IN THE WNBA
Reflecting on her weekend in Las Vegas and celebrating the 25th anniversary of the WNBA, Binford fondly remembered the rollercoaster of emotions along with achieving her dreams and ambitions playing professionally in the United States.
For most collegiate women's players, playing professionally meant traveling overseas. And it was no different for Binford. But Binford's determination and work-ethic as a 5-4-point guard propelled her into an opportunity only few get.
"The first month of camp was pretty cutthroat trying to make the team," Binford said. "It was so different from the collegiate experience. In college, you knew you had a spot. In the WNBA, you were just trying to make the final roster. Every day, every practice was a fight."
Working on her self-talk and mental preparation each night, and taking care of her body physically and nutritionally, eventually paid dividends. "In the back of your mind you're looking at the roster, knowing there were players overseas that would be coming in and taking spots. You really had to figure out a way for them to keep you," Binford said.
Binford made the 12-person roster, which featured overall No. 1 pick Margo Dydek, a 7-2 native of Poland. The team also featured Wendy Palmer and Tammi Reiss of Virginia, Dena Head of Tennessee, and Olympia Scott of Stanford. Binford played in 22 games as the Starzz posted an 8-22 mark during the 1998 season. The next year, she moved onto Cleveland, who had won the Eastern Conference the previous season.
In all, Binford played in 100 games in the WNBA- fulfilling her childhood dream.
"The No. 1 thing I remember was hearing the national anthem for the first time and realizing the opportunity I was given to play professionally in my own country," Binford reflected. "To think, that as a kid, this opportunity didn't exist was very humbling."
PRESENT DAY
Gratitude plays a big role in Binford's current life. Being grateful for all that has been given to her as a player and a coach is near and dear to her heart. It's that inclination that has turned the Bobcats into one of the premier programs in the Big Sky Conference.
"Thinking back to the reunion weekend, you don't realize how much time has passed," Binford said. "When you think 25 years of the league, the current strength of the WNBA and the league doing so well, and then being a part of the second season, it makes you reflect on the opportunity and the whole world that opened up. Playing in the WNBA opened many doors, including coaching."
And for that, Bobcat Nation is grateful.
The old rotary phone rang.
It was a Boise State teammate – Janet Soderberg.
"Did you get drafted?" Soderberg asked.
"Nobody has called me yet," Binford exclaimed. "We've got to get off the phone."
The next phone call was the Utah Starzz, informing the former Tricia Bader and current Montana State head coach she had been selected as the first pick of the fourth round- the 31st selection overall- in the 1998 WNBA Draft. It was the second ever draft of the fledgling league.
"I wanted to scream," Binford recalled. But it was just her and the dogs.
Binford, who had just completed a stellar career at Boise State and who had just finished her second season of professional ball in Australia, had been working out with former teammates in Idaho. She had planned to drive to Colorado to see family before making the trek to visit her parents in Michigan.
Along the way, Binford pulled her blue Subaru hatchback into the Delta Center in Salt Lake City for a prearranged workout with Utah Starzz head coach Denise Taylor and assistant Fred Williams. "It was just the three of us in the Delta Center," Binford said. "I felt good about the workout, but it was definitely a high-pressured situation."
The three-time all-Big Sky Conference standout was on the Utah Starzz radar after former mentor June Daugherty alerted the organization that Binford had put-up a quadruple double of 67 points, 14 assists, ten steals and ten rebounds playing for the Launceston (Australia) Tornadoes of the NWBL.
For her Delta Center effort, Binford was invited to the WNBA Draft Camp. And despite having suffered an ankle injury the day before, persevered for two consecutive 12-hour days and found her name on Utah's draft board.
"My dad promised me that if I was drafted, he would get a nice TV to watch the games," Binford laughed. "So, my parents get home from work, we go to Circuit City, get something like a 32-inch set- which at the time was a big purchase for my dad. Then we ordered pizza and toasted with Coca Cola in wine glasses to celebrate "
Binford went on to play 1 ½ years in Utah before signing with the Cleveland Rockers. She then spent 4 ½ seasons in Cleveland and helped the Rockers to the 2001 WNBA Eastern Conference Championship, before retiring and becoming an assistant at Utah State, who was just bringing its program back to life.
FAST FORWARD
It had been almost 21 years since Binford donned a WNBA jersey when she received an email from the Las Vegas Aces in late May. The Aces, who along with the Seattle Storm and Connecticut Sun sit atop the WNBA standings, were honoring former alumni as part of the league's 25th anniversary season.
"They asked us to pick a game to fly into with a guest and they would pick up the expenses to be part of the experience," Binford stated. "I chuckled to myself 'this is too good to be true.' I had been wanting to take my daughter (Brooklyn) to a WNBA game to give her an experience that I wasn't afforded, and to show that her dreams of playing professionally in the U.S. was an attainable goal."
The Las Vegas Aces were founded as the Utah Starzz before the WNBA's inaugural season in 1997. Following the 2002 campaign, the team moved to San Antonio and became known as the Silver Stars. The team then relocated to Las Vegas in 2018 and were purchased by Mark Davis, owner of the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders and son of legendary Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis.
A quick look at the calendar presented an opening for Binford between summer workouts and recruiting. The game between the Aces and Storm on June 27 stood out as a no brainer. Binford had ties to the Storm and its former head coach Dan Hughes, who was her coach in Cleveland. And, it was also an opportunity for Brooklyn to watch her favorite player Jordin Canada of Seattle. They also wanted to watch former Washington Huskies standout Kelsey Plum, who the Bobcats faced in the first-round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament.
Binford, along with the entire family, flew into Las Vegas on Saturday, June 26. In Vegas, Binford joined former Aces' alums Edna Campbell (Texas), Semeka Randall-Lay (Tennessee) and Kalana Greene (UConn) as honorees. Campbell was the oldest of the group and had played in the ABL, a predecessor to the WNBA. However, Binford had one more year of WNBA experience. Campbell, who played on the USA national team and is well known for continuing to play despite suffering breast cancer, also played alongside former Bobcat great and Hall of Famer Cass Bauer-Bilodeau with the WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs in 2001.
"They flew us in on Saturday and we had a little down time," Binford said. "They had breakfast for us and our guests on Sunday morning. Brooklyn was by far the youngest. We were also joined by Las Vegas Aces President Nikki (Caldwell) Fargas." Fargas had just joined the Aces following successful coaching stints at LSU and UCLA.
"Prior to the game, we had interviews and met a few people in the suites area," Binford said. "Mark (Davis) was amazing right from the start. He was so outgoing as far as what he was trying to create- connecting with former alums. During the game, the four honorees sat by the Seattle bench, but I had to laugh when I looked across the court and there is Brooklyn sitting with Mark Davis in the front row."
At intermission, the four former players were interviewed on the giant overhead scoreboard. "It was fun talking about the experiences I've been through and recollecting how my time in the WNBA had catapulted my coaching career."
LIFE IN THE WNBA
Reflecting on her weekend in Las Vegas and celebrating the 25th anniversary of the WNBA, Binford fondly remembered the rollercoaster of emotions along with achieving her dreams and ambitions playing professionally in the United States.
For most collegiate women's players, playing professionally meant traveling overseas. And it was no different for Binford. But Binford's determination and work-ethic as a 5-4-point guard propelled her into an opportunity only few get.
"The first month of camp was pretty cutthroat trying to make the team," Binford said. "It was so different from the collegiate experience. In college, you knew you had a spot. In the WNBA, you were just trying to make the final roster. Every day, every practice was a fight."
Working on her self-talk and mental preparation each night, and taking care of her body physically and nutritionally, eventually paid dividends. "In the back of your mind you're looking at the roster, knowing there were players overseas that would be coming in and taking spots. You really had to figure out a way for them to keep you," Binford said.
Binford made the 12-person roster, which featured overall No. 1 pick Margo Dydek, a 7-2 native of Poland. The team also featured Wendy Palmer and Tammi Reiss of Virginia, Dena Head of Tennessee, and Olympia Scott of Stanford. Binford played in 22 games as the Starzz posted an 8-22 mark during the 1998 season. The next year, she moved onto Cleveland, who had won the Eastern Conference the previous season.
In all, Binford played in 100 games in the WNBA- fulfilling her childhood dream.
"The No. 1 thing I remember was hearing the national anthem for the first time and realizing the opportunity I was given to play professionally in my own country," Binford reflected. "To think, that as a kid, this opportunity didn't exist was very humbling."
PRESENT DAY
Gratitude plays a big role in Binford's current life. Being grateful for all that has been given to her as a player and a coach is near and dear to her heart. It's that inclination that has turned the Bobcats into one of the premier programs in the Big Sky Conference.
"Thinking back to the reunion weekend, you don't realize how much time has passed," Binford said. "When you think 25 years of the league, the current strength of the WNBA and the league doing so well, and then being a part of the second season, it makes you reflect on the opportunity and the whole world that opened up. Playing in the WNBA opened many doors, including coaching."
And for that, Bobcat Nation is grateful.
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