Star power

Star power

This year's Women's Final Four might be the most entertaining ever. Not only does it feature the two biggest powerhouses in the game in Tennessee and Connecticut, but Stanford and LSU are also perennial heavyweights.

Tennessee, Connecticut and Stanford have combined for 14 titles in the last 21 years while LSU is playing in its fifth consecutive Final Four.

Then there's the frosty relationship between Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma and Tennessee coach Pat Summitt that could take center stage if the two teams would meet in the national championship game on Tuesday.

And on top of all that, some of the very best players in the country -- and perhaps the best player in the history of the game, Naperville's Candace Parker -- will be on the floor in Tampa.

Of the players named first team all-America by the Associated Press, four of the five will be at the Final Four.

F Candace Parker, Tennessee

C Courtney Paris, Oklahoma

G Candice Wiggins, Stanford

C/F Sylvia Fowles, LSU

G Maya Moore, Connecticut

-- Patricia Babcock McGraw

Big honor

Three players from Illinois earned honorable mention status on the Associated Press all-America team: DePaul's Allie Quigley, Illinois State's Kristi Cirone and Illinois' Jenna Smith.

Second isn't so bad

Sure, Candace Parker is the headliner of the 2008 WNBA draft, which will be conducted next week after the Final Four. She'll almost certainly be picked first overall by the Los Angeles Sparks.

But at No. 2, the Chicago Sky will get no slouch in LSU 6-foot-6 center Sylvia Fowles.

Fowles, already the player of the year in the Southeastern Conference (over Parker), was named the national defensive player of the year by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association this week.

Fowles is the centerpiece of a stifling LSU defense that allows an average of only 50.0 points per game -- a national best.

This season, Fowles led the SEC with 7.5 defensive rebounds per game while tallying 54 blocked shots, fifth most in the league. A member of the WBCA all-America team last year, she has also averaged 17.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game this season.

She is one of 12 finalists for the State Farm Wade Trophy for the national player of the year.

Bandits tryouts

If you've ever dreamed about being a professional softball player, here's your big chance.

The Comcast Chicago Bandits will hold open team tryouts for players ages 21 and older from noon to 3 p.m. on May 25 at Judson College in Elgin.

The team is looking to fill two roster spots. For more information, contact the Bandits at: (877) 7-BANDIT.

End of a stinker

Here's the latest update from the yet-to-be-named women's professional soccer team in Chicago, which is holding a name-the-team contest.

This week, the Stinking Onions became the fourth name eliminated from the contest, which runs through May 16th. Red Stars is now in the lead.

Visit womensprosoccer.com to cast your vote.

-- Patricia Babcock McGraw