Russian Hoop Dreams

Players from the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) routinely spend their winter off-seasons playing for teams in Europe and Asia. Many have gone to Russia, where they have been particularly effective in helping their clubs bring home championships.

UMMC Yekaterinburg has won the Russian SuperLeague (now the Professional Basketball League, or PBL) the past three seasons with the help of Candace Parker and Cappie Pondexter. In 2008, Parker was the WNBA's most valuable player in her first season with the Los Angeles Sparks, and an Olympic gold medalist for the U.S. in Athens. Pondexter won two WNBA championships while with the Phoenix Mercury.

Joining them this season is Sue Bird, a veteran of seven seasons in Russia with Dinamo Moscow and Spartak Moscow Region in Vidnoye. Bird has won two Olympic gold medals for the U.S. and two WNBA championships for the Seattle Storm.