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Several US women post players out with injuries

By WTOP Staff

DOUG FEINBERG
AP Basketball Writer

Candace Parker is out. So is Sylvia Fowles. Brittney Griner is questionable. And now Elena Delle Donne is a no-go.

With a series of injuries to several post players on the U.S. women’s national basketball team, the heavily favored Americans have suddenly been cut down to size as they prepare for the world championship that begin Sept. 27 in Istanbul.

It’s a new challenge for USA Basketball. Veteran post play has long been a strong suit, from Anne Donovan to Yolanda Griffith and Lisa Leslie.

“Candace and Sylvia have obviously played a lot of international basketball. They’ve won World Championships, they’ve won gold medals, so not having those two is obviously a huge concern,” U.S. coach Geno Auriemma said.

The 6-foot-4 Parker, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, withdrew from the national pool to have minor surgery on her left knee. Fowles, a 6-6 center who also has won two Olympic golds, backed to take care of her ailing feet.

Even without those two stars, Auriemma’s team seemed to be fine with a lot of stellar young talent.

That depth took a hit Thursday when it was announced that 6-5 Delle Donne won’t be able to play because of a balky back that bothered her during the WNBA playoffs.

Auriemma’s still waiting to hear whether Griner will be able to play. The 6-8 center still needs doctor’s clearance for a retinal issue that forced her to miss Game 3 of the WNBA Finals. It won’t be known for a day or two whether she’ll be able to play in the world championship.

The Americans still have a lot of talent in the post, just not much experience.

Tina Charles and Candice Dupree are the only true post players left in the roster pool who have played in either a world championship or Olympics.

“Tina played really well at the world championship, she played really well at the Olympics. She obviously is capable,” Auriemma said. “What we have to do now is make sure we get consistent points and rebounds, a consistent effort from her. It’s even more important because the people coming off the bench to help her out don’t have that, so whereas in the past it’s like, ‘well, if I don’t play well, so and so will pick me up.’ I don’t know that she’s got that luxury right now.”

Auriemma will turn to a young group that includes Nneka Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart, Stefanie Dolson and Jantel Lavender to help in the post.

While Stewart is only a junior at UConn, she does have a lot of international experience. She’s played in 47 games for the U.S., winning gold medals for various age groups.

“The bottom line is that we have a lot of young players and we have a lot of young post players and there’s nothing we can do about that,” Auriemma said. “Our veterans that have been really good and have been so consistent through this run, I’m really going to lean on them and I know they’ll come through.”

The Americans are the favorites, but they have stumbled before when faced with a similar challenge.

Leslie and Griffith both withdrew late from the 2006 worlds leaving the Americans short in the post and the U.S. lost in the semifinals to Russia before winning the bronze medal. The setback is the only blemish on the Americans’ stellar record since winning gold at the 1996 Olympics.

The U.S. will play three games in France against the host nation, Australia and China over the next few days before heading to the Czech Republic for an exhibition game there. That should give Auriemma a better feel of his post players before they open up the worlds against China on Sept. 27.

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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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