Michelle Smith Archive
Michelle Smith
Contributor, espnW.com- Based in the San Francisco Bay area
- Has covered pro and college sports for AOL Fanhouse and the San Francisco Chronicle
- Founder of leftcoasthoops.com which covers women's basketball on the West Coast
Gonzaga doesn't seem like underdog vs. UCLA
A No. 3 seed should have a decided advantage over a No. 11 seed. That is, unless the No. 11 seed, Gonzaga, is the nation's top scoring team and is playing on its home court. The Bulldogs could be ready for an upset when they take on No. 3 seed UCLA.
Mar 21 12:20 AM ET | By Michelle Smith
Despite Stanford win, UC Davis was the story
Emotions ran high for UC Davis in its first-round game against Stanford on Saturday. Head coach Sandy Sampson got the Aggies to the NCAA tournament for the first time, and he already had announced his retirement whenever UC Davis' season concluded.
Mar 19 11:54 PM ET | By Michelle Smith
St. John's Kim Barnes Arico juggles two roles
You would think that St. John's women's basketball coach Kim Barnes Arico has enough of a challenge in the talented Big East. Apparently there's also a challenge in coaching fourth-grade travel basketball teams.
Mar 18 | By Michelle Smith
Top seeds should dominate NCAA tourney
The brackets have been announced for the NCAA women's basketball tournament, and the top seeds are familiar ones. Baylor, UConn, Stanford and Tennesse rest atop the brackets, and those four teams could very well be in Indianpolis at the Final Four.
Mar 14 9:57 PM ET | By Michelle Smith
Smith: Storybook should close soon
Charlotte has experienced an amazing turnaround. But beating the Sparks in the finals? That's another story.
Aug 30 10:38 AM ET | By Michelle Smith
Smith: Looking at the conference finals
Lisa Leslie says L.A. is four wins from a title. That's true -- the question is whether the Sparks will get them.
Aug 28 2:26 AM ET | By Michelle Smith
Smith: Breaking down the first round
Cleveland, New York, L.A. and Sacramento should survive first-round WNBA playoff matchups.
Aug 16 12:26 PM ET | By Michelle Smith
Smith: Utah finally living up to the hype
Utah, mentioned by some to be a title contender in the preseason, is on a roll thanks to a new coach and the talented Natalie Williams.
Aug 2 9:14 AM ET | By Michelle Smith
Smith: Rockers getting it done on D
Not only have the Rockers won seven games in a row, they may just be the best defensive team in WNBA history.
Jul 27 2:10 PM ET | By Michelle Smith
Smith: Sorting the contenders and pretenders
The race to reach the playoffs is heating up and as the second half begins, it's time to start thinking about who's in and who's staying home.
Jul 19 2:02 PM ET | By Michelle Smith
Smith: It shouldn't be a popularity contest
While the fans voting for the All-Stars starting lineups have the right to choose their favorites, many deserving players were left off the ballots.
Jul 12 3:16 PM ET | By Michelle Smith
Smith: Class of 2001 starting slow
This year's rookie class was supposed to be one of the best, but so far, the impact has yet to be felt.
Jul 5 10:39 AM ET | By Michelle Smith
Smith: Monarchs find new blood
Underachieving Sacramento needed its change in direction.
Jun 29 5:14 PM ET | By Michelle Smith
Smith: Mystics continue to mysitify
Washington's troubles still remain somewhat a mystery.
Jun 21 10:16 AM ET | By Michelle Smith
Smith: Arcain the unsung Houston hero
Janeth Arcain has stepped out of the shadows and become one of Houston's top players.
Jun 14 1:08 PM ET | By Michelle Smith
Smith: With the Sparks be hot when it matters?
First year coach Michael Cooper is pushing all the right button and has L.A. red-hot early in the season.
Jun 10 4:04 AM ET | By Michelle Smith
Smith: No expansion necessary
Chicago, Hartford and the Bay Area may want teams, but they should get existing ones.
May 31 2:46 PM ET | By Michelle Smith
Smith: WNBA Preview Capsules
It's a wide open race and anyone can win it. Michelle Smith breaks down each team.
May 23 12:16 PM ET | By Michelle Smith
Smith: Finding the sleepers
They may not be on the A-list, but Detroit and Phoenix could surprise everyone by winning the title this year.
May 16 5:19 PM ET | By Michelle Smith
Smith: End of the road looms
Plenty of hopes are high as WNBA training camps open. And some careers are about to end.
May 2 6:37 PM ET | By Michelle Smith
Smith: Some are winners, some losers
Michelle Smith weighs in on the great, and not-so-great, moves of the 2001 WNBA draft.
Apr 21 4:36 PM ET | By Michelle Smith
Smith: Wrapping up the WNBA season
ESPN.com's Michelle Smith has some advice for the WNBA to help the league start off its fifth season with a bang, something that was lacking in 2000.
Sep 1 4:34 PM ET | By Michelle Smith
