The Guru’s WNBA Report: Jasmine Thomas: The Big Assist - Athletes Helping Others

By Andy Lipton

Leading the ‘Break

 

 Memo to State Farm:  Next time you shoot a commercial with a respected athlete, call Jasmine Thomas to be in it.  

Like a good neighbor, friend, and family member, Jasmine is THERE.  There to help others, as she has done a myriad of times.

 

Now in her first year as the Director of Player Programs and Development Coach with the Dallas Wings of the WNBA, recently retired after a long (13 years) and successful career as a basketball player in the WNBA (3 times WNBA All-Defensive First Team) and a celebrated player in college at Duke University (All-American) and in high school, Jasmine has believed that her life’s work is not just about herself, but about others as well.

 

As a college student-athlete at Duke University, Jasmine excelled on the court, in the classroom, and in the community. 

 So much so, she was given the honor of being on the Senior CLASS Award Second Team, an award given in her senior year at Duke, a prestigious award which recognizes NCAA Division I senior student-athletes for their achievements in the community, the classroom, and in athletic competition and for their character.

 

At Duke, Jasmine visited families at the local Ronald McDonald House which provides accommodations for families whose children are in a nearby hospital. Providing comfort to those families was all the more special since she was a McDonald’s All-American basketball player in high school.

 

Another special communal activity that Jasmine enjoyed at Duke was mentoring young student-athletes who were about to begin their college journey.

 

Jasmine also participated with her teammates in the Duke’s Read with the Blue Devils program which involved reading to students in local schools.  Among other events, she helped at the Durham Soup Kitchen, visited kids and families at Duke Hospital, and participated in Project Share to help the needy at Christmas.

 

As a player in the WNBA, Jasmine got involved in a cause that was also personal to her, the fight against breast cancer, a disease with which her mom and close relatives have been afflicted, losing some relatives to the disease.  

 

Jasmine has been involved in the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, helping raise funds for the Fund through numerous events and activities, and bringing awareness to the disease as well as the Fund’s activities. The Fund raises money for cancer research and underserved programs that provide access to quality cancer healthcare, and brings awareness about all cancers affecting women.

The Fund is named for the late Hall of Fame N.C. State coach Kay Yow, who guided the United States women to Olympic gold in South Korea in 1988 and succumbed to breast cancer in 2009 after battling the disease to remission several times following her initial diagnosis in 1987. 

 

Thomas has tied her work with the Kay Yow Cancer Fund to the WNBA”s Breast Health Initiative.

Like the playmaker she was as the Connecticut Sun’s point guard, getting her teammates involved in the offense, Jasmine is committed to getting others involved in communal work by giving them guidance on how to do so.  This current season, she has helped Kalani Brown, one of the Wings players, set up a fund raising effort for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

When Thomas played for the Sun, she collaborated with Sharing Shoes, a charitable organization formed by two young men from her hometown in Fairfax, Virginia to collect new and gently worn basketball shoes for underserved athletes.

And Thomas has joined the Good Game Foundation, designed to help fund new not-for-profit organizations.

And if the list is not long enough, she has participated in the Wings’ Unify Game that is a Special Olympics event which brought back memories of the time in high school when she participated in a Special Olympics event.

As it turns out, State Farm is aware of Jasmine Thomas. Thomas has twice received the WNBA Cares Community Assist Award which was presented by State Farm.  

Hey State Farm, time to give Jasmine Thomas a call.

 

The Guru Philly Summer League Report: Explosive 4th Quarter Carries 1-Seed Cyber Pink to 60-49 Revenge Win On 3-Seed Sky Blue/D2-Holy Family and 4-Peat Crown

By Bob Heller and Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

 

HATBORO, Pa. – A closely fought contest turned decidedly in No. 1 seed Cyber Pink’s direction in the fourth quarter Thursday night enabling the group of area alumni players (11-1) to claim the  championship and to pay back the only team to beat them on the nine-game pre-playoff  schedule with a 60-49 triumph over third seed Sky Blue/D2-Holy Family (8-4) at Kelly Bolish Gym, home of the AAU Renegades.

 

The game was streamed on Ari Bluestein’s SFBN Network’s YouTube channel with the Drexel duo of Zach Feinberg on play-by-play and Greg Starks the color. The link is alive for watching a replay. https://www.youtube.com/live/ce0Fn1em9Wg?feature=shared

The win marked the fourth straight year the Pink squad, a team made up of primarily alumni from USciences and Chestnut Hill College, has captured the title.

Rylee Derr (Kutztown ’22) led all scorers with 21 points while Taylor Hamm (USciences ’22) added 15.

 Sky was paced by Kara Meredith’s 14 points while Amy Ngo added 11 points.

Defense was also a key to win as Pink held two of Sky’s most productive players, Jessica Riepe (19 points in semi-final win) and Claire Dougherty (combined 25 points in Sky’s two playoff wins) scoreless for the game. Riepe was also Sky’s best three-point shooter.

For three quarters the two teams kept each other from pulling away.

Six lead changes highlighted the first quarter with Sky on top 16-14 after one.

 Sky still led 30-29 at halftime and had expanded their lead to four 40-36 in the third quarter, a quarter in which neither team was productive on offense. At this point of the game neither team had led by more than six points at any given time and said lead lasted no more than one possession by the trailing team.

The fourth quarter was a different story for Pink, who turned on the offense, outscoring Sky 24-9 in the period to secure the win.

Pink opened the quarter with an 8-1 run over the first 3:10 to retake the lead.

A traditional three-point play from Shannon May (USciences ’22) broke a 41-41 tie and gave Pink a 44-41 lead.

The Pink squad extended the run to a 14-4 effort to take a 50-44 lead with two minutes remaining, forcing a Sky Blue timeout.

Hamm continued the Pink run with a traditional three-point play of her own and Derr capped the run with a basket.

Following the timeout, Pink’s defense went into lockdown mode over the next minute, holding Sky scoreless while Sky was forced to start fouling and send Pink to the free throw line.

 Pink converted six straight free throws and expanded their lead to a dozen at 56-44 with 54.2 seconds left.

Ngo followed with three free throws over the next ten seconds to pull Sky within nine 56-47 with 43 seconds left.

Pink then sealed the 60-49 win with Cassie Sebold (Chestnut Hill ’22) (seven points) making two free throws, and Kaitlyn Carter (Chestnut Hill ’24) (seven points) and Kate Connolly (Drexel ’22) (seven points) making one free throw apiece.

The 2024 CHAMPS - TEAM CYBER PINK (Alumni Team)

 

4   LAUREN CRIM 5’5 LANSDALE CATHOLIC/CHESTNUT HILL ‘23

 5   LEXIE EDWARDS 5’10  C.B. SOUTH/CABRINI ‘21

 10 JESSICA GENCO 5’5 NORTHEASTERN ‘19

 11 SHANNON MAY 5’3 ARCH. WOOD/U. SCIENCES ‘21

 12 ABBY SPRATT 5’7 CB WEST/CHESTNUT HILL ‘22

 13  KAITLYN CARTER 5’11 PENN CHARTER/CHESTNUT HILL ‘24

 14  KATE CONNOLLY 6’1 SOUDERTON/DREXEL ‘23

 15 RYLEE DERR 5’9 WARWICK/KUTZTOWN ‘22

 20 JENNIFER KREMP 5’9 JENKINTOWN/USCIENCES ‘22

 21 CASSIE SPRATT 5’5 ARCH WOOD/CHESTNUT HILL ‘22

22 TAYLOR HAMM NORTH PENN/USCIENCES ‘22

 

Summer Scoreboard (Thru All Playoffs, Thurs. Aug. 1)

(Records Are Pre-Playoff)

Final Regular Season Standings

Team    W-L Pct. G.B.  PF   PA

C-Cyber Pink 8-1 .889 — 626 451

S-Black 7-2 .778 1 627 490

F-Sky Blue 6-3 .571 2 652 492

Q-Lime Citrus 6-3 .750 2 545 555

S-Purple Haze 6-3 .667 2 523 400

Q-Orange Citrus 5-4 .556 3 488 538

Q-Maroon 3-6 .333 5 556 591

X-Red Fire 3-6 .333 5 557 589

Q-Royal Blue 1-9 .111 7 406 563

X-Sunburst 0-9 .000 8 412 623

 

X-Eliminated First Round

Q-Quarterfinalist

S-Semifinalist

F-Finalist

C-Champion

 

Players Scoring 20 or More Points

 

37 – Taylor Hamm, Cyber Pink (W) vs. Maroon, June 18

36 – Claire Dougherty, Sky Blue (W) vs. Maroon, June 11

31 – Michelle Kozicki, Purple Haze (W) vs. Orange Citrus, June 13

30 – Rylee Derr, Cyber Pink (W) vs. Purple Haze, June 25

29 – Jessica Huber, Lime Citrus (W) vs. Orange Citrus, July 11

29 – Rylee Derr, Cyber Pink (W) vs. Red Fire, June 20

28-Nicole Timko, Orange (W) vs. Maroon, July 16

28 – Anna McTamney, Purple Haze (W) vs. Orange Citrus, June 13

26 – Caleigh Sperling, Black(W) vs. Maroon, Quarterfinals, July 23

26 – Hannah Rhoades, Maroon (W) vs. Sunburst, June 13

25 – Rachel Conrad, Purple Haze (W) vs. Sky Blue, June 18

24 – Taylor Hamm, Cyber Pink (L) vs. Sky Blue, July 11

24 – Rory Ciszkowski, Royal Blue (L) vs. Lime Citrus, July 9

24 – Jessica Riepe, Sky Blue (W) vs. Royal Blue, June 20

24 – Katie Yoder, Royal Blue (L) vs. Orange Citrus, June 18

24 – Katie Yoder, Royal Blue (L), vs. Black, June 13

23 – Sam Yencha, Black (L) vs. Sky Blue, July 25, Semifinals

23 – Jess Huber, Lime Citrus (L) vs. Sky Blue, July 16

22 – Katie Yoder, Royal Blue (L) vs. Cyber Pink, Quarterfinals, July 23

22 – Leah Johnson, Lime Citrus (W), vs. Royal Blue, July 9

22 – Claire Dougherty, Sky Blue (W) vs. Royal Blue, June 20

21 – Rylee Derr, Cyber Pink (W) vs. Sky Blue, August 1, Championship

21 – Anna McTammney, Purple Haze (L), vs. Black, July 16

21 – Michelle Kozicki, Purple Haze (W) vs. Red Fire, July 11

21 – Taylor Hamm, Cyber Pink (W) vs. Royal Blue, June 27

21 – Katelyn Becker, Sunburst (L) vs. Orange Citrus, June 27

21 – Claire Dougherty, Sky Blue (L) vs. Black, June 27

21 – Emily Spratt, Black (W) vs. Maroon, June 25

20 – Michelle Kozicki, Purple Haze (W) vs. Lime Citrus, Quarterfinals, July 23

20 – Taylor Hamm, Citrus Pink (W) vs. Royal Blue, Quarterfinals, July 23

20 – Avery White, Red Fire (W) vs. Royal Blue, July 16

20 – Jessica Riepe, Sky Blue (W) vs. Lime Green, July 16

20 – Emma Kuczynski, Black (W) vs. Sunburst, July 11

20 – Leah Johnson, Lime Citrus (W) vs. Maroon, June 20

20 – Scarlett Glasser-Nehls, Maroon (W) vs. Sunburst, June 13

 

Season Nightly Results

 

Playoffs

 

Thursday, July 18

 

First Round

 

7-Maroon 66, 10-Sunburst 57

9-Royal Blue 55 – 8-Red Fire 50

 

Tuesday, July 23

 

Quarterfinals

 

1-Cyber Pink 69, 9-Royal Blue 66

3-Sky Blue 63, 6-Orange Citrus 42

5-Purple Haze 69, 4-Lime Citrus 60

2-Black 76, 7-Maroon 39

 

Thursday, July 25

 

Semifinals

 

1-Cyber Pink 2, 5-Purple Haze 0, forfeit

3-Sky Blue 73, 2-Black 70

 

Tuesday, July 30

 

No Games

 

Thursday, Aug. 1

 

Championship

 

1-Cyber Pink 60, 3-Sky Blue 49

 

Regular Season Nightly Results

 

Tuesday, July 16

 

Orange Citrus 76, Maroon 57

Black 75, Purple Haze 48

Red Fire 57, Royal Blue 49

Sky Blue 93, Lime Citrus 63

Cyber Pink 69, Sunburst 45

 

Thursday, July 11

 

Sky Blue 71, Cyber Pink 67

Purple Haze 76, Red Fire 67

Black 70, Sunburst 35

Maroon 76, Royal Blue 37

Lime Citrus 56, Orange Citrus 48

 

Tuesday, July 9

 

Lime Citrus 76, Royal Blue 60

Black 77, Red Fire 61

Purple Haze 67, Maroon 54

Cyber Pink 56, Orange Citrus 40

Sky Blue 85, Sunburst 29

 

Tuesday, July 2

No Games – Holiday Week

 

Thursday, July 4

No Games – Holiday Week

 

Thursday, June 27

 

Black 63, Sky Blue 62

Cyber Pink 88, Royal Blue 33

Orange Citrus 66, Sunburst 65, ovt.

Lime Citrus 68, Purple Haze 53

Maroon 80, Red Fire 76

 

Tuesday, June 25

 

Lime Citrus 66, Red Fire 62 Red Fire

Royal Blue 61, Sunburst 37

Cyber Pink 74, Purple Haze 55

Orange Citrus 49, Sky Blue 43

Black 83, Maroon 57

 

Thursday, June 20

 

Purple Haze 59, Sunburst 53

Cyber Pink 72, Red Fire 58

Lime Citrus 51, Maroon 50

Sky Blue 80, Royal Blue 52

Orange 47, Black 44

 

Tuesday, June 18

 

Orange Citrus 61, Royal Blue 52

Red Fire 58, Sun Burst 49

Black 68, Lime Citrus 51

Cyber Pink 67, Maroon 44

Purple Haze 70, Sky Blue 67

 

Thursday, June 13

 

Maroon 84, Sunburst 44

Purple Haze 93, Orange Citrus 42

Black 91, Royal Blue 62

Sky Blue 61, Red Fire 45

Cyber Pink 66, Lime Citrus 48

 

Tuesday, June 11

 

Sky Blue (D-2 Holy Family) 90, Maroon (D-3 Arcadia) 54

Cyber Pink (Draft Team-1) 67, Black (D2-Jefferson) 57

Red Fire (D-2 Chestnut Hill) 73, Orange Citrus (Draft Team-3) 59

Lime Citrus (Draft Team-2) 71, Sunburst Royal (Draft Team-4) 55

Purple Haze (D2 West Chester) 2, Royal Blue (D2 Goldey-Beacom) 0, forfeit

 

Seed Tracker For Playoff Pairings

Code – Bk: Black/D2 Jefferson; CP: Cyber Pink/Draft Team-1; LC: Lime Citrus/Draft Team-2; OC: Orange Citrus/Draft Team 3; M: Maroon/D3 Arcadia; PH: Purple Haze/D2 West Chester; RF: Red Fire/D2 Chestnut Hill; RB: Royal Blue/D2 Goldey-Beacom; SB: Sky Blue/Holy Family; SU-Sunburst/Draft Team-4

Cyber Pink (8-1): W-Bk; W-LC; W-M; W-RF; W-PH; W-RB; W-OC; L-SB; W-SU

Black (7-2): L-CP; W-RB; W-LC; L-OC; W-M; W-SB; W-RF; W-SU; W-PH

Sky Blue (6-3): W-M; W-RF; L-PH; W-RB; L-OC; L-BK; W-SU; W-CP; vs. W-LC

Lime Citrus (6-3): W-SU; L-CP; L-BK; W-M; W-RF; W-PH; W-RB; W-OC; vs. L-SB

Purple Haze (6-3): WF-RB; W-OC; W-SB; W-SU; L-CP; L-LC; W-M; W-RF; L-BK

Orange Citrus (5-4): L-RF; L-PH; W-RB; W-BK; W-SB (ovt); W- SU; L-CP; LC; W-M

Maroon (3-6): L-SB; W-SU; L-CP; L-LC; L-BK; W-RF; L-PH; W-RB; L-OC

Red Fire (3-6): W-OC; L-SB; W-SU; L-CP; L-LC; vs L-M; L-BK; L-PH; W-RB

Royal Blue (1-8): LF-PH; L-BK; L-OC; L-SB; W-SU; L-CP; L-LC; L-M; L-RF

Sunburst (0-9): L-LC; L-M; L-RF; L-PH; L-RB; L-OC; L-SB; L-BK; vs. L-CP

 

Team by Team (Thru Playoff Final, Aug. 1)

Black (D2 Jefferson) 8-3 (Inc. Playoffs)

Tues. June 11 vs. Cyber Pink (Draft Team-1) L 57-67

Thur. June 13 vs. Royal Blue (D2 Goldey Beacom) W 91-62

Tues. June 18 vs. Lime Citrus (Draft Team-4) W 68-51

Thur. June 20 vs. Orange Citrus (Draft Team-4) L 43-47

Tues. June 25 vs. Maroon (D3 Arcadia) W 83-57

Thurs. June 27 vs. Sky Blue (D2 Holy Family) W 63-62

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Red Fire (D2 Chestnut Hill) W 77-61

Thurs. July 11 vs. Sunburst (Draft Team-4) W 70-35

Tues. July 16 vs. Purple Haze (D2 West Chester) W 75-48

Playoffs

Quarterfinals

Tues. July 23 vs. Maroon W 76-39

Semifinals

 Thurs. July 25 vs. Sky Blue L 70-73

 

Cyber Pink (Draft Team-1) 11-1 (Inc. Playoffs)

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Black W 67-57

Thur. June 13 vs. Lime Citrus W 66-48

Tues. June 18 vs. Maroon W 67-44

Thur. June 20 vs. Red Fire W 72-58

Tues. June 25 vs. Purple Haze W 74-55

Thurs. June 27 vs. Royal Blue W 88-33

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Orange Citrus W 56-40

Thurs. July 11 vs. Sky Blue L 67-71

Tues. July 16 vs. Sunburst W 69-45

Playoffs

Quarterfinals

Tues., July 23 vs. Royal Blue W 69-66

Semifinals

Thurs. July 25 vs. Purple Haze W 2-0 forfeit

Championship

Thurs. Aug. 1 vs. Sky Blue W 60-49

 

Lime Citrus (Draft Team-2) 6-4 (Inc. Playoffs)

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Sunburst W 71-55

Thur. June 13 vs. Cyber Pink L 48-66

Tues. June 18 vs. Black L 51-68

Thur. June 20 vs. Maroon W 51-50

Tues. June 25 vs. Red Fire W 66-62

Thurs. June 27 vs. Purple Haze W 68-53

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Royal Blue W 71-60

Thurs. July 11 vs. Orange Citrus W 56-48

Tues. July 16 vs. Sky Blue L 63-93

Playoffs

Quarterfinals

Tues. July 23 vs. Purple Haze L 60-69

 

Orange Citrus (Draft Team-3) 5-5 (Inc. Playoffs)

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Red Fire L 59-73

Thur. June 13 vs. Purple Haze L 42-93

Tues. June 18 vs. Royal Blue W 61-52

Thur. June 20 vs. Black W 47-43

Tues. June 25 vs. Sky Blue W 49-43

Thurs. June 27 vs. Sunburst W 66-65, ovt.

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Cyber Pink L 40-56

Thurs. July 11 vs. Lime Citrus L 48-56

Tues. July 16 vs. Maroon W 76-57

Playoffs

Quarterfinals

Tues. July 23 vs. Sky Blue L 42-63

 

Maroon (D3 Arcadia) 4-7 (Inc. Playoffs)

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Sky Blue L 51-90

Thur. June 13 vs. Sunburst W 84-44

Tues. June 18 vs. Cyber Pink L 44-67

Thur. June 20 vs. Lime Citrus L 50-51

Tues. June 25 vs. Black L 57-83

Thurs. June 27 vs. Red Fire W 80-76

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Thurs. July 11 vs. Royal Blue W 76-37

Tues. July 16 vs. Orange Citrus L 57-76

Playoffs

First Round

Thurs. July 18 vs. Sunburst W 66-57

Quarterfinals

Tues. July 23 vs. Black L 39-76

 

Purple Haze (D2 West Chester) 7-4 (Inc. Playoffs)

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Royal Blue W 2-0 forfeit

Thur. June 13 vs. Orange Citrus W 93-42

Tues. June 18 vs. Sky Blue W 70-67

Thur. June 20 vs. Sunburst W 59-53

Tues. June 25 vs. Cyber Pink L 55-74

Thurs. June 27 vs. Lime Citrus L 53-68

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Maroon W 67-54

Thurs. July 11 vs. Red Fire W 76-67

Tues. July 16 vs. Black L 48-75

Playoffs

Quarterfinals

Tues. July 23 vs. Lime Citrus W 69-60

Semifinals

Thurs. July 25 vs. Citrus Pink L 0-2, forfeit

 

Red Fire (D2 Chestnut Hill) 3-7 (Inc. Playoffs)

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Orange Citrus W 73-59

Thur. June 13 vs. Sky Blue L 45-61

Tues. June 18 vs. Sunburst W 58-49

Thur. June 20 vs. Cyber Pink L 58-72

Tues. June 25 vs. Lime Citrus L 62-66

Thurs. June 27 vs. Maroon L 76-80

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Black L 61-77

Thurs. July 11 vs. Purple Haze L 67-76

Tues. July 16 vs. Royal Blue W 57-49

Playoffs

First Round

Thurs. July 18 vs. Royal Blue L 50-55

 

Royal Blue (D2 Goldey-Beacom) 2-9 (Inc. Playoffs)

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Purple Haze L 0-2 forfeit

Thur. June 13 vs. Black L 62-91

Tues. June 18 vs. Orange Citrus L 52-61

Thur. June 20 vs. Sky Blue L 52-80

Tues. June 25 vs. Sunburst W 61-37

Thurs. June 27 vs. Cyber Pink L 33-88

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Lime Citrus L 60-71

Thurs. July 11 vs. Maroon L 37-76

Tues. July 16 vs. Red Fire L 49-57

Playoffs

First Round

Thurs. July 19 vs. Red Fire W 55-50

Quarterfinals

Tues. July 23 vs. Cyber Pink L 66-69

 

Sky Blue (D2 Holy Family) 8-4 (Inc. Playoffs)

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Maroon W 90-51

Thur. June 13 vs. Red Fire W 61-45

Tues. June 18 vs. Purple Haze L 67-70

Thur. June 20 vs. Royal Blue W 80-52

Tues. June 25 vs. Orange Citrus L 43-49

Thurs. June 27 vs. Black L 62-63

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Sunburst W 85-29

Thurs. July 11 vs. Cyber Pink W 71-67

Tues. July 16 vs. Lime Citrus W 93-63

Playoffs

Quarterfinals

Tues. July 23 vs. Orange Citrus W 63-42

Semifinals

Thurs. July 25 vs. Black W 73-70

Championship

Thurs. Aug. 1 vs. Cyber Pink L 49-60

 

Sunburst (Draft Team-4) 0-10 (Inc. Playoffs)

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Lime Citrus 55-71

Thur. June 13 vs. Maroon L 44-84

Tues. June 18 vs. Red Fire L 49-58

Thur. June 20 vs. Purple Haze L 53-59

Tues. June 25 vs. Royal Blue L 37-61

Thurs. June 27 vs. Orange Citrus L 65-66 (ovt.)

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Sky Blue L 29-85

Thurs. July 11 vs. Black L 35-70

Tues. July 16 vs. Cyber Pink L 45-69

Playoffs

First Round

Thurs. July 19 vs. Maroon L 57-66