Stars eager to praise Staley

0 Comments | Philadelphia Daily News, July, 2006 | by John Smallwood

Numbers are quantifiable permanents, but sometimes, the details surrounding them fade with time.

In the case of Dawn Staley, who is retiring as a player at the conclusion of 2006 WNBA season, that would be a shame.

Three Olympic gold medals (1996, 2000, 2004); two FIBA world championships (1998, 2002); two NCAA National Player of the Year Awards and three Final Fours at the University of Virginia; founding member of the American Basketball League, four WNBA All-Star teams and a spot on the just-announced 10-player WNBA All-Decade Team.

They all tell only a part of Staley's impact on women's basketball.

Considering the number of people who have played with and against Staley at Madison Square Garden last night, the 2006 WNBA All-Star Game was the...