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With Magic as boss, Sparks chase WNBA title

By WTOP Staff

BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — There’s a new boss of the Los Angeles Sparks, and he answers to Magic.

Former Lakers great Magic Johnson stepped in to buy the franchise earlier this year, ensuring a future for the WNBA in the nation’s second-largest market. By rescuing the team after its previous owners decided to end their involvement, Johnson gave Candace Parker a chance to chase the only major title to elude the reigning league MVP in her career.

She has won two Olympic gold medals, two NCAA championships at Tennessee and a title with her Russian pro team during the offseason. The Sparks last won the WNBA championship in 2002.

In a preseason survey of the league’s 12 general managers, Parker was named on 50 percent of the ballots to once again earn the league’s MVP award. She won MVP honors at last year’s All-Star game. All-Star forward Nneka Ogwumike was chosen as the league’s most athletic player with 50 percent of the vote.

Last season, the Sparks were 24-10 and lost to Phoenix in the Western Conference semifinals under coach Carol Ross.

Parker averaged 17.9 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists to lead the team. She’ll be surrounded by experienced starters, including Ogwumike, who averaged 14.6 points and 7.6 rebounds last season.

Johnson owns the team with most of the same group that controls the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Sparks play six of their first nine games on the road. After Friday’s opener at Seattle, they host Phoenix on Sunday at Staples Center.

Here are five things to watch for when the Sparks start the season:

MAGIC’S INFLUENCE: The team is already benefiting from his presence with increased exposure off the court. Johnson hosted the Sparks at a recent Dodgers game. Parker and Ogwumike tossed out the first pitch and Lindsey Harding announced the starting lineup. Johnson has told WNBA President Laurel Ritchie that he plans to be an active owner. Johnson has displayed a golden touch when it comes to his business properties, and with the Sparks being tied to basketball, they figure to receive a boost.

GUARD RANKS: The Sparks signed free agent Candice Wiggins last month, bolstering them at the guard position. She has averaged double-figure scoring in four of her six WNBA seasons and helped Minnesota win the 2011 championship. Wiggins figures to come off the bench, with Harding, Kristi Toliver and Alana Beard giving the Sparks a three-guard starting rotation. All-Star Toliver averaged 14.1 points, third-highest on the team last season.

COACHING STAFF: Ross added veterans Gail Goestenkors and Gary Kloppenburg to her staff during the offseason. Goestenkors brings over 25 years of experience to the team, including head coaching stints at Texas and Duke, where she coached Beard and Harding. Kloppenburg has over 20 years’ experience, both as a head coach and assistant in various leagues including the WNBA, NBA and collegiate ranks.

ADDED DEPTH: Ross will have a deep bench to utilize when trying to get rest for her starters and keep their legs fresh. The backups include newcomer Armintie Harrington, a seven-year veteran; Farhiya Abdi of Sweden; Sandrine Gruda of France; and Jantel Lavender. The Sparks have the ability to throw different combinations of size and speed at opponents.

GETTING TO THE TITLE GAME: The Sparks won WNBA titles in 2001 and 2002. They’ve made the playoffs in five of the past six seasons, but are still seeking their first championship since Lisa Leslie starred for the team. Parker will be eager to atone for getting knocked out in the opening round last year.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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