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It's been a while since we've cracked open the Women's Hoops Blog mailbag. When I reached in this week, I pulled out a doozy from Terri Ruthruff, who relocated to Montana from Snohomish. Ruthruff, 52, states they're old enough to remember watching Slick Watts and started going to Storm games in 2004.

"I used to have season tickets to the Seattle Reign so I was reluctant (as many were I'm sure) to embrace the WNBA after the NBA influence," she wrote. "(But was a) season ticket holder for two years until the out of town work made them a poor investment."

Ruthruff had five questions for me to answer, but I thought I'd share since I know a few other Storm fans are interested in knowing. Here it goes:

Terri Ruthruff: Is Katie Geralds (pictured right by the WNBA) still under contract with the Storm?
Womens's Hoops Blog: Had to call in a lifeline for this one. Coach Brian Agler, who's also the team's director of player personnel, said the Storm still holds Gearlds' rights. That means she has to negotiate with Seattle and be released by the Storm before being eligible to play for any other WNBA team. Gearlds, a 6 foot 1 wing, was drafted in 2007 and last played 20 games in 2009.

TR: Has Katie recovered from her injury and playing overseas? I did a Google search and couldn't find her listed as playing.
WHB: Funny. I did the same a while back. Also searched FIBA and a bunch of other sites. Anyway, Agler is Facebook friends with Gearlds, who's currently in Indiana. But she suffered another knee injury, according to Agler. "She's making progress," he said of Gearlds' rehabilitation. "Her plan is to be ready for this summer. But with injuries, you just never know how quickly you can return. We'd have a conversation about it (her attending training camp) and go from there."

TR: Is A-Rob (Ashley Robinson) gone now? I sure liked her, thought she had major talent, but just never came near her potential.
WHB: Nope, there's still plenty of hope for Robinson. In previous interviews, Agler expected Robinson to be in training camp and with her defensive capabilities and vibe with the team, I'd expect her to land a spot on the roster. Changes could always be made later, if needed.

TR: What position player do you think that Coach Agler will be looking for in the draft? What is the best draft pick he currently has?
WHB: Agler doesn't have any good draft picks, that's what happens when you're a perennial playoff team that just won the WNBA championship. Agler doesn't even have players on the team that he drafted, assuming Alison Lacey doesn't return. I thought he'd go for a PG in the draft -- secretly wishing for a Courtney Vandersloot (Gonzaga) or Jeanette Pohlen (Stanford) or Sydney Colson (Texas A&M;). But now that he signed Australian PG Erin Phillips, he could select a big similar to Danielle Adams (Texas A&M;) or Ta'Shia Phillips (Xavier). A lot depends on who the other teams select and what Agler is able to sign in free agency. By the way, the WNBA draft will be April 11. No movement on the president who'll be announcing the picks, though.

TR: And lastly, how is Sheryl Swoopes doing? Is she starting to move up the coaching ranks? Do you see a college assistant/head coaching job in her near future?
WHB: I don't know how she's doing personally, but she has made some public speaking rounds. She recently spoke in New York and was in Kansas for an event. Her son, Jordan, is in school, so I see her coaching him and definitely working her way up in that field. Here's some video of Swoopes at the Kansas WEPAC charity event to raise funds for breast cancer awareness.

View Original Post at seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/womenshoopsblog/index.html | View JaydaEvans's Full Profile

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