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WNBA gets ready to tip off 18th season

By WTOP Staff

DOUG FEINBERG
AP Basketball Writer

Maya Moore and the Minnesota Lynx have put together quite a run over the past three seasons, winning two WNBA championships and reaching the finals the other year.

With a strong nucleus back, the Lynx could easily return to the finals although Minnesota will have to overcome some early injury problems to defend its title.

While the Lynx mostly stood pat this offseason, there were some major changes across the league, which will begin its 18th season on Friday night with five games.

A new collective bargaining agreement was signed this winter allowing teams to add a 12th player to their roster giving teams more depth. The Los Angeles Sparks made major news with an ownership change that saw a group led by Magic Johnson take control of the team.

There was also a blockbuster trade as New York acquired Tina Charles from Connecticut, giving the Liberty another marquee player and sending the former MVP home.

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Here are five things to look for this season:

YOUNG STARS: There were many expectations put on last season’s rookie class of Elena Delle Donne, Brittney Griner and Skylar Diggins. Only Delle Donne lived up to the hype, leading Chicago to the top spot in the East and the franchise’s first playoff appearance. She’s added 12 pounds of muscle this offseason and the reigning rookie of the year is poised to get the Sky further in the postseason after last season’s loss in the conference semifinals. The 6-foot-8 Griner is healthy after injuring her knee last year and is coming off a strong winter overseas. Diggins spent time working on her game, and if the preseason is any indication, she’s made great strides there.

INJURED CHAMPIONS: The biggest key for the Lynx to repeat will be how quickly the team can get healthy. Minnesota is already without three of its top six players as Devereaux Peters, Rebekkah Brunson and Monica Wright all have knee injuries. Brunson, who led the team in rebounding last season is expected to be sidelined for at least two months. Peters and Wright could be back sooner.

COMING HOME: After spending the past three seasons in New Jersey while Madison Square Garden was undergoing a $1 billion renovation, the New York Liberty will be back home this season. “We’ve been away for three whole summers and that’s tough for any team,” said guard Cappie Pondexter. “I’m happy to be back and the fans are happy to be back.”

FAREWELL TOUR: Indiana Fever coach Lin Dunn announced before the season that she will retire after this year. She will still remain with the team next season as a senior basketball adviser. Dunn’s been with the Fever for seven seasons, leading them to the playoffs six times, including winning a title in 2012. She’s been on the sidelines at the college and pro level for 37 years and will be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame this June.

RETURNING STARS: Both Becky Hammon and Sue Bird missed nearly all of last season because of injury. Healthy now, the two veteran guards will try and get their teams back to the top of a stacked Western Conference. Hammon is still looking for her first WNBA championship while Bird would love to get the Storm another one. She’ll have to shoulder more of the load as perennial All-Star Lauren Jackson is out again for the season recovering from an Achilles injury.

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Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg

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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