Powell Finds a Team That Can Use Her

Often, the worth of a WNBA player is determined in the second season rather than the first. Unless they have extraordinary talent or play on a team that needs them to contribute right away, rookies are often used infrequently while they learn the rigors of being a pro.

Now in her second year, Nicole Powell is showing opponents her true worth.

The former Stanford All-American and third overall pick in the 2004 draft was barely seen or heard from during her first season at Charlotte. But an off-season trade to Sacramento has revived Powell. And she’s on the early list of candidates for most improved player.

In helping Sacramento to a 7-2 start, Powell has fit snugly into the Monarchs’ starting lineup. She is third on the team in scoring at 11.6 points a game. A legitimate three-point threat (24 of 51, 47.1%), she is stretching defenses so Yolanda Griffith and DeMya Walker have more freedom to work the inside.

And she has her confidence back.

“By the end of last season I was saying to myself, ‘Am I good enough to play at this level?’ ” Powell said. “I didn’t expect to come right out and be MVP, but I felt I had something to give a team in this league.”

For whatever the reasons, it wasn’t happening in Charlotte. The Sting tried her at both guard spots and small forward before moving her to the power forward slot. Even at 6-2 and 172 pounds, “I didn’t have the strength to play there night in and night out,” Powell said.

She got into 31 games, all off the bench.

She averaged 12.4 minutes and 4.3 points.

Not exactly the output expected of a No. 3 pick. Certainly not the output Powell expected from herself.

When the 2004 season ended, Powell did some soul searching. She decided she did not want her career to continue like this.

“It was good to get away for a little while and refocus on some goals,” Powell said.

She went to Italy to play winter ball, and to work on improving her conditioning, ball-handling, defensive footwork and release. She was going to be ready when training camp rolled around.

Then came the trade.

Sacramento Coach John Whisenant put Powell at small forward and has left her there. He has been willing to accept whatever defensive liabilities Powell has in exchange for the offensive benefits she can provide.

“They seem to understand my strengths here better,” Powell said.

And basketball has become fun again.

“When you feel good about yourself,” Powell said, “you play better.”

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Diana Taurasi has led such a charmed athletic life -- winning three consecutive NCAA Division I championships at Connecticut plus a gold medal with the 2004 Olympic team -- that people have wondered how she could or would handle being on a losing team.

Wonder no more. Phoenix was off to a 2-6 start before defeating San Antonio on Wednesday. The Mercury still has hopes of making the playoffs but is in sixth place.

The 2004 rookie of the year is doing her part on the court, averaging 18.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and four assists. And she’s trying not to let the Mercury’s shortcomings take her out of her game.

She remains convinced Phoenix can overcome the early difficulties and still make a run at the postseason.

“There are a lot of people in our locker room who have come from successful programs in college, whether in the states or international,” Taurasi said. “This has been a different start, but you can’t dwell on it.

“Whenever you lose you don’t like it. But you have to be realistic; you can’t win every game in a league so deep and competitive. In the pros there are a lot of great teams, so on any night any team can win. That’s something you learn.”

She points out nearly all the games have been close, the largest margin of defeat being 12 points.

She doesn’t say it, but there have been extenuating circumstances -- key players Penny Taylor and Kamila Vodichkova did not join the Mercury until June because of their overseas commitments, and 11 of Phoenix’s first 15 games are on the road.

Even though she’s in her second year, Taurasi said she was making an effort to be a more vocal leader, especially on game days.

“I think sometime you have to put yourself in that position,” Taurasi said.

The Mercury is not yet an elite team, but that hasn’t stopped the WNBA from showcasing Taurasi whenever possible. She and Phoenix will be playing the New York Liberty in Madison Square Garden on Saturday on national TV, as part of a Father’s Day promotion. Her parents Mario and Liliana, who still live in Chino, are flying in for the game.

“He’s been to lot of games. But when you can play in front of your dad on [or near] Father’s Day it’s extra special,” Taurasi said. “And mom gets a New York trip out of it.”