The Lynx In The Games Chain
The Age
Friday October 29, 1999
Phoenix Mercury has traded one of its Opals, Kristi Harrower, to Minnesota Lynx, another team in America's WNBA, raising the contentious issue of the best program for her leading to the Sydney Olympics. Harrower, a guard, was part of a six-player deal in which another Opal, forward Trisha Fallon, moved from the Lynx to the Mercury. Both are certain Olympic selections provided they fulfil team lead-up requirements, and this is where conflict may occur.
Harrower, 24, said she knew a trade was in the offing, but remained shocked when told of it yesterday.
"As my Dad said, I'm used to the system here in Australia where loyalty counts," Harrower said. "Over there it's just a business.
"I've just got to take the positives that come out of it," she said, adding that Minnesota told her she would be its starting point guard - for two seasons at Phoenix she backed up her Opals captain, Michele Timms.
Harrower hoped that one positive would be that the Lynx would release her for some Opals games during the June-August WNBA season, but her Opals coach Tom Maher said yesterday that would not happen.
"We've got it in writing from the WNBA that there'll be no releases during their season," Maher said.
Harrower said she would talk to Maher but would probably stay with the Opals rather than go to the US.
If that is her decision it appears to make sense. She would pass on probably $50,000 salary and the experience of leading a WNBA team in the strongest and most athletic league in the world, but she would lock up her Opals position by being part of the team's 30 games planned from May to the Olympic start in September.
And she would still earn $25,000-$30,000 through Olympic grants and Opals payments.
With Timms and Annie La Fleur (ironically, Minnesota's backup point guard) the Opals have three small playmakers who complement each other well.
Snapping at their heels is the taller teenage talent Kristen Veal. And, as one Opals watcher asked: would you want to give Veal a shot at your spot?
Harrower has until the end of Australia's WNBL season to decide which is the better path for her. Meanwhile, she will continue to lead the under-manned Melbourne Tigers, who have started the season with three losses.
Tonight they clash with Dandenong Rangers at Melbourne Park. Harrower has challenged herself to beat the frustration of losing and build on impressive averages of 18.3 points, five assists and 4.3 rebounds a game in leading teammates out of their slump.
© 1999 The Age