College Basketball: Women Need Love, Too

When you talk about players in this year's college basketball season, who are some of the first players that come to your mind?

Michael Beasley? Eric Gordon? Tyler Hansbrough? O.J. Mayo?  Or maybe a Kevin Love, Derrick Rose, or Chris Lofton?

What about a Candace Parker or Courtney Paris?

Do you mention them?  Nope, probably not. 

Women's basketball is defined to some as a joke, some say it's just not exciting. Others say women shouldn't even be playing basketball in the first place.

But the last time I checked, basketball is basketball no matter who plays the game.

As long as the game is played the right way, then why should it matter whether a male or female is on the court? 

As far as publicity and television time goes, you don't hear or see much from the women unless it's Tennessee's Candace Parker.

Parker, who stands at 6'4, averages  20.6 PPG along with 8.8 rebounds per game.  Do you care?  Maybe—but doubt it.

Also known as "CP3", Parker is the complete player and maybe the best player ever in women's college hoops.

CP3 can do just about anything a guy can do, and yes, that includes dunking a basketball.

She is one of six women to ever dunk in a college game, and beat five males in the 2004 High School All-American Game.  She is also the first woman to dunk in a NCAA tournament game.

Parker also led team Tennessee Lady Vols' to a national championship last year.

Unfortunately, this will be her last season in college basketball.  Parker will forgo her final season of eligibility, play for the Olympic team during the summer, and then enter the WNBA Draft.

The Los Angeles Sparks, who have the number one pick in this year's draft, is almost guaranteed to select CP3 No. 1 overall.

Another unknown in college basketball is Oklahoma's Courtney Paris. 

If there is a women you can compare to Shaquille O'Neal, it's Paris.  But of course it's minus the dunks.

She is an outstanding rebounder, and "beast" is the only word to describe her on the court. 

Paris leads the nation in rebounding pulling 15 RPG, while scoring 17.6 PPG.

Ever heard of her?

First is the Phoenix Mercury's Diana Taurasi, who is probably the greatest women's college player of this era.

Outside of Candace Parker, Taurasi is one of the most popular names in women's basketball. 

While attending college at the University of Connecticut, Taurasi led the her team to three straight national titles.

Taurasi went on to the WNBA, where she won Rookie of the Year and a championship in 2007. 

But aside from all the stats and accomplishments, women's basketball just doesn't get the respect it deserves.

Basketball is one of America's most popular sports, and the men are one who get all the recognition.

Understandably so, because where are else are you going to find high-flying and pure athleticism in basketball?

But the women are just as talented as the men.  We're talking about people who play the game the way it should be played.

Fundamentals, unselfishness, and a lack of arrogance are what's great about women's basketball.

Bottom line, women need love, too.

Michael Whittenberg is a senior writer for BleacherReport.com.  His entire archive can be found here.

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