Golden Nuggets: Layshia Clarendon on the Transition from Cal to the WNBA

Our SBN brethren at Swish Appeal interviewed Layshia Clarendon, who is settling in with the Indiana Fever.

SA: What is your role with the Fever?

LC: "It changes almost day to day. In this game we missed Erin (Phillips), Jeanette (Pohlen) and Katie (Douglas) due to injury. So I had to play a lot of two guard. I am in a situation this year where I have to be able to adapt."

SA: Do you prefer the point or the two?

LC: "It depends on the situation. Also what the team needs. I can play both guard spots and am willing to change given what the team's needs are."

SA: How was it adapting to the WNBA style?

LC: "It is definitely more physical than what you face in college. In my situation there was hardly any time to rest. Fatigue was a factor. We finished our college season in early April and it seemed like I had a week or two before WNBA training camp came up. Overcoming the fatigue after long college season was the toughest thing for me."

SA: You are a rookie just three games in but what is your assessment of the WNBA?

LC: "It is definitely the best women's basketball league in the world. You grow up reading about or watching a Cappie Pondexter, now, all of a sudden you are on the floor asked to guard her. And there are so many outstanding players in the league beside Cappie. Again, the WNBA is absolutely the best (women's) league going."

Check out SA's extensive recap of the Liberty-Fever game, including some discussion of Layshia's performance.

APR

• The men's and women's tennis teams and women's gymnastics team posted APR scores of 1000 and earned recognition from the NCAA.

Football

• Aaron Rodgers lined up at LB during a recent Packers practice. Yes, you read that correctly.
• CBS has been catching up with coaches in their first year with new programs. This week's article is a lengthy, well researched piece on Sonny Dykes.
• Bleacher Report has a ridiculous, 102-page slideshow on the top-100 recruits of the BCS era. A handful of Bears make the list: Kyle Boller (97), Keenan Allen (71), and DeSean Jackson (32).
• Uncle Ted ranks the Pac-12's top QB-RB-WR troikas. Inexperienced but talented, Zach Kline, Brendan Bigelow, and Chris Harper are 10th.
• Wilner reports from Larry Scott's recent teleconference. Safety was the primary topic, although Scott spoke about TV contracts and bowl matchups. The commish is not optimistic about a deal with DirecTV.

Track and Field

• Malaina Payton leaped 20 feet, 7 inches to finish 10th in the long jump at the NCAA Championships.
• 27 (!) Bears earned all-academic honors from the Pac-12.

Golf

• Michael Kim was named the Golfweek/Sagarin Player of the Year.
• Michael Kim, Michael Weaver, and Joel Stalter will participate in this weekend's Palmer Cup.
• Morgan Thompson (first team), Jacqueline Williams (first team), and Nicola Rossler (second team) earned all-conference academic honors.

Tennis

• Three of the men's singles teams and three doubles teams earned rankings in the year's final ITA poll.
• The women's team boasted four singles rankings and two doubles rankings.

Soccer

• Jose Garcia-Carrera signed his letter of intent to complete the team's eight-man recruiting class.

Crew

• Fourteen members of the women's team earned all-academic honors.
• The men's team also had fourteen Bears earn all-academic recognition.