Gemelos Signs With Connecticut

By Bob Phillips

The Connecticut Sun have added Jacki Gemelos, a 6-0 guard who was
injured throughout college and her early pro career, but who has been
injury-free for the past five seasons.

UNCASVILLE—The Connecticut Sun announced the signing Jacki Gemelos on Thursday. The 6-0 guard had been signed to a training camp contract with the Sun but was released due to the league roster cut-down date.

“Before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Jacki was playing some of the best basketball of her career,” Sun head coach and general manager Curt Miller said. “She is a veteran guard that adds versatility and depth to our backcourt.

“In this unique and uncertain season, you can’t undervalue the impact a positive player with a reputation as a uniter can have on a team,” continued Miller. “I truly appreciate Jacki’s history of fighting through adversity and gratitude through these unprecedented times. She is someone I want in the foxhole with us in Florida.”

Gemelos was touted as “the next Diana Taurasi” but five ACL surgeries spanning nearly six years—the first coming near the end of her scholastic career in at St. Mary’s High School in Stockton, Calif.—slowed that train down considerably. She did go to the University of Southern California as the No. 1 recruit in the country in 2006. After being red-shirted as a freshman, Gemelos was slowed prior to the start of her sophomore year at SC (in September) when she tore the ACL and meniscus in her right knee—the same knee she had injured in high school. In October of 2007, she tore her ACL in her left knee. After surgery, and recovery from that operation, an MRI showed that her body had rejected the graft eight months into her rehab, requiring a fourth surgery.

She ended up playing 11 games in the 2009-10 campaign, and finally was well enough to play a full season in 2010-11—her fifth year at SC. Gemelos had one more season of eligibility, but wouldn’t you know it, she tore up her left knee again in early December, nine games into the 2011-12 season. After recovering from her fifth surgery, Gemelos was the very definition of “walking wounded.” Nonetheless, the Minnesota Lynx took a flyer on the determined warrior but released her just prior to the 2013 season.

And so it was off to Greece for Gemelos, an American of Greek decent, where she played for Panathinaikos and scored 16.9 points a game for the defending Greek League champs. That effort earned her a look-see by the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, then coached by her USC mentor, Michael Cooper, but it didn’t work out for Gemelos. Naturally, she was crushed.

But not defeated.

She worked out feverishly with Fabrice Gautier, a physical therapist who had previously worked with NBA stars Tony Parker and Joakim Noah, and conditioning coach Bruce Deziel, who vigorously pushed Gemelos to strengthen her body. Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, who also played at USC (with Cheryl Miller) and helped lead the Houston Comets to four straight WNBA championships in the league’s infancy, worked on Gemelos’s mental preparedness before becoming the Trojans’ head coach. Cooper-Dyke, who also happens to be Michael Cooper’s sister, currently coaches a Texas Southern.

Next, it was off to Italy where Gemelos played for PF Umbertide for the 2014-15 campaign and was offered a tryout by the Chicago Sky. She was the Sky’s last cut but re-signed with the team in the middle of the 2015 season. Sun fans might recall when she came off the bench and banged a three-pointer over the out-stretched arms of former UConn standout Kelly Farris in the fourth quarter that lifted the Sky over the Sun in her first game with the Sky.

“You know, I’ve shot a million threes in my life, and it’s just a great, great feeling to hit my first shot,” Gemelos told The Chicago Tribune after the game.

On June 15, the WNBA announced plans to tip off the 2020 Season which included the single site location for a 22-game regular season, an update on player salary and benefits and that the season will feature “bold commitment to social justice.” For more information on the Sun and 2020 WNBA season, visit connecticutsun.com.

—with staff reports

#ctsun / @ConnecticutSun / #wnba / @wnba /@jacki23 @JackiG_23

Sun Sign Mompremier

The Connecticut Sun added 6-4 forward and former Miami star Beatrice
Mompremier to their 2020 mix today.

UNCASVILLE—The Connecticut Sun announced on Tuesday that they have signed 6-4 forward Beatrice Mompremier. A University of Miami graduate, Mompremier was drafted No. 20 overall by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2020 WNBA Draft. Collegiately, she played her first two years at Baylor University before transferring to her hometown of Miami.

During her time with the Hurricanes, she posted 34 double-doubles, scored in double digits 45 times, and grabbed 10 or more rebounds in 35 games. As a senior, Mompremier averaged 16.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. As a junior she averaged 16.7 points and 12.2 rebounds per contest. The 2020 Lisa Leslie Award finalist is just one of three Miami players to score at least 1,000 points and haul down at least 1,000 rebounds in school history. She is also the ‘Canes all-time leader in single-season and career rebounding average.

At Baylor. Mompremier Mompremier was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman team, co-led the team in rebounds per game (6.1) and ranked fifth in points per game (7.2) as a freshman, and averaged 8.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in her sophomore season,.

“We are excited to add Beatrice to our roster,” said Sun head coach and general manager Curt Miller. “She is a young and talented post player with a high ceiling. Beatrice is a proven collegiate rebounder and crafty scorer who will have the ability to contribute during her rookie season.”

On June 15, the WNBA announced plans to tip off the 2020 Season which included the single site location for a 22-game regular season, an update on player salary and benefits, and that the season will feature “bold commitment to social justice.” For more information on the Sun and upcoming2020 WNBA season, visit connecticutsun.com.

—Staff Reports

#ctsun / @ConnecticutSun / #wnba / @wnba /

Bees Announce Season To Start on July 2

NEW BRITAIN—The 2020 season has been a long strange trip, to say the least, for sports fans in Connecticut and throughout the nation. Lacrosse fans were no doubt disappointed when the National Lacrosse League, which lists the New England Black Wolves among its members, was halting play in March. So, too, the 2020 season is in question for the Hartford Yard Goats, the AA Eastern League affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, who play their games at Dunkin’ Donuts Park in downtown Hartford. Events scheduled at the Waterford-New London Speedbowl have been suspended, while opening night at Stafford Springs Motor Speedway is still on Friday night—with a significantly reduced hoping to follow the New England Blackwolves at the Mohegan Sun Arena when Connecticut sports fans got some good news—finally—when the New Britain Bees announced this morning that their maiden season in the Futures League of Collegiate Baseball would begin on Thursday, July 2, with a contest vs. the Worcester Bravehearts at New Britain Stadium. First pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m.

The season, originally scheduled to commence on May 28, has been on spiritual hold along with most other sports in the United States because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to provide summer entertainment while addressing health concerns of the fans, players, umpires and employees, the following procedures will be in effect for the 2020 season:

Socially Distant Seating

➢The club is considering altering its existing facility seating manifest to allow for proper distancing, thus decreasing the overall ballpark capacity to parameters set forth in public health guidelines. It is contemplated that, at least initially, the ballpark will open at 25 percent of its capacity.

➢The team will keep close track of bodies in seats to insure no more than 25 percent of the ballpark's capacity is inhabited during this phase of the reopening.

➢Rows and seats will be skipped as necessary to maintain proper distancing between parties and stay under the 25 percent capacity guideline.

➢Group and hospitality areas will operate with reduced capacity to promote proper distancing. It is contemplated that, at this time, the suites, the picnic area and party deck, along with any buffet style group seating areas will not operate.

➢If reassignment is necessary to execute the reduced capacity, season ticket holder seats will be re-assigned first, followed by placement of existing group purchasers. Remaining tickets for each game will then be available for single-game purchase

Ballpark Cleanliness/Enhanced Cleaning Practices

➢Increased regularity of washdowns and cleanings.

➢Club will put in use addition of disinfectant-spraying backpacks for no-wipe cleaning of ballpark surfaces.

➢Addition of public-and employee-facing hand-sanitizing stations around the ballpark.

➢Club is considering the addition of ionizers and/or disinfectant foggers in enclosed ballpark areas.

➢All cleaning crew staff will be provided sufficient PPE by the club at all times

All employees and staff will be required to “self-check” their temperatures on a daily basis. Upon arrival, they will enter the ballpark via the Employee Gate where will sign in and record their temperatures. Any employee with a temperature of 100.4 or greater will not be allowed to enter New Britain Stadium. In addition, all fan-facing staff members will be required to wear gloves and masks.

For the time being, the clubhouse will not be open. Players and coaches will arrive in uniform and will be provided with pre-packaged meals. Eliminated will be items commonly spit by ballplayers—including seeds, gum and peanuts. Players will be regularly tested.

In the event of a positive test by a player or employee, the club is implementing the following procedure:

➢Athletes shall inform their coaches, and follow state and local testing and contact tracing protocols.

➢Staff or players who report symptoms or test with a positive result will be isolated.

➢Symptomatic persons will be tested and will be quarantined until test results return.

➢If confirmed positive the athlete will be excluded until they’ve been fever free for 72 hours and other symptoms have improved.

➢Other contacts will be investigated by the local health department.

➢The Local Health Dept. will be notified and contract tracing investigation will be conducted. The health department will determine if other athletes have been exposed.

➢A potential exposure means having close contact within 6 feet and in close contact for 15 minutes or greater with a confirmed or suspected.

➢Potential exposure will be required to be test prior to returning to work

Fans entering New Britain stadium will be greeted by bilingual social distancing signage, announcements and awareness campaigns upon entering ballpark. The Bees will work with ballpark security and local law enforcement to encourage proper distancing upon entry to the ballpark, including walkways and sidewalks leading to ballpark entrances. Stanchions and/or spacing markers may be used to promote proper distancing between customers waiting on lines and in areas of anticipated foot traffic. Additional gates (when applicable) will be utilized to create more spread among fans as the enter the ballpark. In addition, fans will not be allowed to bring bags into the stadium.

Tickets for all home games are now on sale. All tickets will be sold on a general admission basis at $7 and are limited to 25 percent of the ballpark’s 6,146 capacity (1,537 fans per game). Tickets can be purchased on a first-come, first-serve basis by clicking here. Parking will be free for the 2020 season.

“We are extremely pleased to be able to provide the community of Central Connecticut with an affordable, family entertainment option this summer,” said Bees GM Brad Smith. “We appreciate the spirit of partnership the city has shown during this process and are excited to be able to be part of the healing of our region as we all try to get back to enjoying recreational time with family and friends again.”

The Bees, formerly affiliated with the independent Atlantic League, announced this season that they will join the Futures League of Collegiate Baseball—an amateur circuit made up of college players similar to the Cape Cod League.

To download the Bees’ 2020 schedule, click HERE.

A complete listing of all procedures for fans, players and employees to follow is available by clicking HERE.

—Staff Reports

#nbbees / @NewBritainBees / #BEESBALL