Young coming of age
It is only her second year in the WNBA, but Vincentian basketballer Sophia Young is gaining the respect of fellow players, fans as well as coaches in the league.
For the second year she got an opportunity to be in the Western Conference All Star line up, played last month in Washington.{{more}} First named in the reserves, Young was able to make the final cut following the withdrawal of Rebekkah Brunson because of injury.
After another year of good performance, Young continues to be one of the lead players in the San Antonio Silver Stars set up and is seeing her team to a spot in the eastern conference play offs.
The Silver Stars are topping the conference. Much of the change in the successes of her team can be attributed to her input as it was a struggling unit when Young was drafted last year.
At present the Silver Stars have a 16-9 win-loss record. The Silver Stars last three matches saw them winning two and losing the other. They beat Indiana 71-63, with Young sinking 24 points. Last week Friday, Young came face to face with her countrywoman and former national Under-16 netball teammate, Sancho Lyttle, but was on the losing end as the Houston Comets triumphed 69-63. Young scored only 15 points.
Lyttle, who played 14 minutes of the match, was the first Vincentian to play in the WNBA. She made her debut for the Comets in 2005.
Youngâs team rebounded last Sunday with a 92-88 win at the expense of Seattle. She contributed 12 points to the victory.
Young was on the losing end last Tuesday as the Silvers Stars went under-79-84 to Detroit.
Young, 23, a six foot one inch forward who sports the number 33 jersey, is carving out a name for herself and St. Vincent and the Grenadines lighting up the courts with her speed and agility.
Currently Young is second in scoring in the conference and leads all teams in rebounding. She heads her teammates in offensive rebounding and defensive rebounding, and is joint leader in steals. Such is her impact on the fortunes of the Silver Stars that she has a 33.8 minutes average on the court and an average 16.2 points per game this season.
But these may mean little to Young, who on a visit to St. Vincent and the Grenadines last September revealed that she hardly pays attention to the accolades bestowed on her as she wanted to keep her feet on the ground.
The Layou-born Young, who left these shores in 1999, led Baylor University to their first NCAA basketball title in 2005 and was unanimously voted the leagueâs MVP that same year.
Young entered the WNBA in 2006 as the number four first round draft pick .She has appeared in the starting team of Silvers Stars for all 25 matches this season, to add to her 34 appearances in her debut year.
Young ended her collegiate career with Baylor University in 2006 soaring above all before her in the NCAAâs scoring history. Young scored 2480 points. She also joined elite company with 1326 rebounds, 315 steals, 303 assists, 131 block shot s and 61 double-doubles.
Following her first year at the WNBA, Young plied her ability and trade in the Czech Republic. (RT)
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