Minnesota Lynx chief operating officer Conrad Smith arrived home at 10 p.m. last Monday night with a smile on his face. During a whirlwind day the Lynx had drafted three-time college player of the year Maya Moore and the response from fans and media was extraordinary for the local WNBA franchise that often goes unnoticed.
The Lynx sold over 150 new season tickets within 30 hours. Not only was Moore draft coverage prominent on the local news, ESPN was here, too. The Lynx even arranged for an airplane to fly over downtown on Tuesday night with a banner that said: “Welcome Maya Moore. Season starts June 5.”
The buzz was energizing and rewarding for Smith, who last May was diagnosed with a brain tumor about the size of a quarter. Instead of being exhausted last Monday night he was excited, anticipating a “great season” ahead starting later this spring, and grateful for being “healthy.”
He had surgery on June 11 last year to remove the tumor and remains realistic about his health. “I continue to be treated for cancer and get scans every two months,” he said. “The last one was clean. It (the cancer) may never come back, or it may in a month or two years. Maybe in a different place.”
Smith receives chemotherapy by taking night-time pills 10 days per month on a 28 day cycle. “I still have all the energy I had before (the tumor),” he said. “I am typically in the office at 7 or 7:30 a.m. I work 50 to 60 hours a week.”
He represented the Lynx in the WNBA draft lottery last fall. His presence was good luck for the franchise that was 13-21 last year and has been known for losing records and not qualifying for the playoffs.
“Things have been kind of tough here,” Smith said. “It’s like starting brand new (now). Like starting a race all over and knowing you have some of the best runners in the race.”
In last week’s WNBA draft the Lynx also acquired Xavier forward Amber Harris with the fourth pick in the first round. The rookies join a talented roster that includes former Gophers superstar guard Lindsay Whalen and high scoring guard-forward Seimone Augustus.
“Half the team is made up of all-stars and Olympians,” Smith said. “There is an incredible buzz.”
But it’s Moore who will receive much of the attention when the Lynx report to camp on May 15. She will be seen by some as a savior for a franchise that once sold 6,000 season tickets but had 2,400 in 2010, the club’s 12th year of operation.
Moore’s most recent honor came late last week when she won the 2011 Honda Sports Award in basketball, recognizing her as the nation’s top collegiate female player. The 6-foot guard won the Honda-Broderick Cup last year as the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and could receive that honor in 2011.
Moore, from Jefferson City, Missouri, led Connecticut to four Final Four appearances, two national titles and a 150-4 record during her college career. She is the fourth-leading scorer in NCAA history, with 3,036 points. A three-time WBCA Wade Trophy honoree and four-time WBCA State Farm First Team All-American, she won the Naismith Trophy, the Associated Press Player of the Year Award and the USBWA Player of the Year Award in 2009 and 2011.
The first opportunity for fans to see Moore will be on May 24 when the Lynx play Indiana at Concordia University-St. Paul in a pre-season game starting at noon. Not surprisingly, the Lynx are already selling tickets for the game.
The Lynx’s regular season home opener will be June 5 at Target Center against Los Angeles. Tickets can be purchased in various ways including at www.lynxbasketball.com.
Smith said on Friday the Lynx have sold 175 new season tickets and renewals were going well. No doubt he was smiling and energized.
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