Off the Court with Yelena Leuchanka

Atlanta Dream — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 21:07:14 +0000

Dream center Yelena Leuchanka was recently featured in JEZEBEL Magazine’s annual “Most Beautiful Atlantans” edition. But it wasn’t always that easy for Leuchanka, who struggled with her height and build as a teenager. Find out in her own words, how Leuchanka found confidence through basketball and why she thinks it’s important to define herself as more than just an athlete.

See more: Yelena’s Photo Gallery

When did you become interested in modeling? Was it something you always wanted to pursue?

It definitely was not something I always wanted to pursue. I never thought about it until about 3-4 years ago. It actually happened in Russia when I played there. We were doing a photo shoot for a website, and after I finished the photographer asked me if I ever thought about modeling and asked me if I had ever done any professional photo shoots. When I said no, he said that I should give it a try. So afterwards, I arranged my first solo photo shoot. It took 8 hours, but I actually enjoyed it! At that moment I realized that modeling was something something I also want to pursue while playing basketball.

When did you start to become serious about your modeling? Was it a natural fit or did it take time to adjust to the fashion world?

After my first photo shoot in Russia, I saw the results and got good feedback. So for the first timer, it was pretty good lol. It was fun, even though the photo shoots take a long time. After that, I started to pay attention to the fashion world definitely more than I used to. I started to study pictures, poses and facial expressions. I feel like there is so much to learn. So I guess I would say it was natural fit.

How would you describe your personal style? Favorite stores? Any favorite places to shop in Atlanta?

I guess I don’t have that one style that I go by. Sometimes it can be funky and edgy and sometimes it’s more of a classic look. For me, it’s about how I feel during that time and what I feel like wearing. I follow trends but I also like to put things together on my own and if I think it’s ”hot” I’m going to wear it no matter what! Favorite stores? Hmmm… I travel so much and always in different parts of the world, so I like to find new boutiques and stores. But I also loveeeee bargains! In America, I absolutely love stores like T.J. Maxx, Ross, Filene’s Basement, BCBG, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus ….I mean I can go on and on. Atlanta has a great shopping…. good malls and boutiques! Buckhead has great shopping, but I also shop in Atlantic Station. Atlantic Station had had one of my favorite boutiques TASTE, until it recently closed. So I guess I find something for myself a little bit of everywhere.

We’ve seen a few female athletes become models in recent years, most notably Lisa Leslie and Gabrielle Reece. Were they an inspiration to you and do you see yourself following in their footsteps?

I definitely followed both and have seen what they have done besides excelling at their sports. I think it amazing what they did not just for themselves but for other female athletes. So of course they were an inspiration to me. Growing up and seeing them doing it gave me the same confidence that I could do it too. And I just hope that will give more confidence for younger female athletes as well.

You were just recently featured in JEZEBEL Magazine’s annual “Most Beautiful Atlantans” issue and were also featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution this season. What’s been the feedback, and is it important to you that people see you as more than just an athlete?

To be honest, I was really surprised to be featured in ”Most Beautiful Atlantans.” But when I found out, I was extremely happy! So far I have been getting a lot of great feedback, so I guess that’s a good thing! I think one of the main things has been that people see me more than just a basketball player. And to be honest that feels great. I am not doing this just for myself but also for other female athletes. In the WNBA there are so many beautiful women, who show that athletes also have a feminine and stylish side. It’s just society sees it differently sometimes, so in a way I am trying to follow in the footsteps of Lisa Leslie and Gabrielle Reece to prove people wrong. We are more than just athletes!

You’ve talked about some of the struggles you had growing up to be comfortable in your own skin. What is the message you want to send to young girls?

When I was younger, I felt like I was always different and didn’t fit in. I was never a skinny girl and was always taller than everybody around me. As a teenager, going to school every day was torture for me. I got laughed at, pointed out and teased. I didn’t have a lot of friends at that age. So when basketball came around, I found my world where I felt like I fit in. The older I got, the more I realized that I am the way I am for a reason and I am going to use it to my advantage. I started to love myself. The message I want to send to the young girls is to love yourself for who you are no matter what. We are the way we are for a reason, and we are all beautiful in our own way. Once we start loving ourselves and feel beautiful inside, people will also recognize it.

Great Expectations

Atlanta Dream — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:08:02 +0000

The Atlanta Dream have come a long way since their inaugural 2007 season. Currently leading the Eastern Conference at 7-2, their 4-30 mark of three years ago seems a distant memory. “It’s a different team,” said Izi Castro Marques, one of two remaining players from three years ago. “We are now used to each other and we know each other and know how everybody plays, especially the five starters.” The Dream experienced most of its growing pains after that first year. There were no Terrible Twos for the ball club that went 18-16 in 2009 and contended in the playoffs, losing in the first round to the defending champion Detroit Shock. “(Last year) we had two important players out for the last game,” Castro Marques said. “So that cut us a little bit short. So we definitely want to make it all the way to the Finals this year. I think it was a great experience, especially for the younger players to get that feeling, and everybody wants to taste that again.” This season the Dream are picking up where they left off, already jockeying for a seat at the table of elite teams. “We raised the bar from last year,” head coach Marynell Meadors said. “We wanted to win more games than we did last year and go deeper into the playoffs. If you get us into the playoffs, and we’re injury-free, we’ve got a chance to win.” Atlanta quietly opened the 2010 season 6-0, turning in road wins against Phoenix and San Antonio to stay the last unbeaten team in the league. Their first loss came from the Seattle Storm, who entered the game with the second-best record. Although the Storm have the league’s best record at 8-1, the Dream lead the East by a full game (7-2). “So far so good,” Meadors said. “We played most of our games on the road, which is really difficult, but we’re coming together. We’ve got great chemistry.” The chemistry starts with second-year guard Angel McCoughtry. The MVP candidate was also named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for two consecutive weeks, and Player of the Month for May. Despite averaging 21.2 points, second-highest in the league, McCoughtry’s coach describes her as an “unselfish” player. “I’ve been that way since I started playing the game,” McCoughtry said. “It’s just instilled in me. I love the game, I enjoy playing, so when you enjoy playing, it shows.”

It Takes Three
Along with McCoughtry, Erika de Souza and Sancho Lyttle have made for a three-woman wrecking ball. Chicago Sky center Sylvia Fowles called them “the heads of the snake.” These three were crucial in last Saturday’s overtime win over the Mystics. McCoughtry notched 23 points while Lyttle and de Souza both posted double-figure points and rebounds, grabbing key offensive boards to keep the ball away from Washington down the stretch. “Mentally we got a little bit better,” Meadors said about the victory. “We were physically tired on Friday, we were still tired on Saturday but we dug deep and got a win.” As for the rest of the season, the Dream players recognize the importance of team camaraderie. McCoughtry, who serves as team captain, pointed specifically to excellent chemistry as both the reason for the Dream’s fast start and the tool that will carry them deep into the postseason. “We love each other and play for each other,” she said. “It’s hard to beat teams when they play together.”

By Lauren Harper

The A.P. Wire: A Rollercoaster Ride

Atlanta Dream — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:57:58 +0000

Hey Dream fans!!!

It’s been an exciting few weeks here in Oxford, MS but we still have a long way to go. The Ole Miss Lady Rebels are 5-3 now and right in the middle of the pack in the SEC. We won five games in a row, beating nationally ranked teams LSU and Georgia and were in first place. It was the first time the Ole Miss women had won at Georgia in that arena. We even had two players on the team to be named Player of the Week during that five-game stretch.

But we are still not where we need to be. We just lost our last two conference games that we should have won against South Carolina and Florida. But that’s how it is in this conference. You can be on top one week and then some team will try to catch you when you are still enjoying that last win. But we are a strong team and will bounce back and we know we have too.

I am enjoying this season and the coaching perspective I have gained, but I cannot wait to get back to Atlanta! I want so badly to get out on the court and help this team but this is their moment and their season. I will continue to do my best to give them the advice and teaching that they need to get them to the tournament. And in the process, I will keep learning as a player and as a coach to be the best.

Miss you Dream fans, you are the best!

Til next time,
AP #22

2010 Women Out Front

Atlanta Dream — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:47:34 +0000

The A.P. Wire: Bringing in the New Year!

Atlanta Dream — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:21:13 +0000

Hey Dream Fans!

Happy New Year too ALL! I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas and had the chance to be with their loved ones from all over. I was able to be with my husband’s family and it was so much fun. We also had a Christmas Party with the Ole Miss girls and it was very nice as well.

The Lady Rebels are doing find by the way. We lost a couple of games we should have won, but all that is behind us and its Conference time now. From here on out we are playing for the Big Dance and each game is going to be tough. We are 9-4 and excited about the road ahead.

I met with the Shot Doctor the week before Christmas and it went great. I am supposed to meet with him again before the season.

Until next time Fans…

Love ya and Go Dream!

Armintie “AP” Price

Shalee Lehning Blog: Basketball & Books

Atlanta Dream — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:48:18 +0000

Shalee’s Graduation Photos!

Hello everyone! It has been a while since I have blogged. The past few months have just flown by. For those of you that don’t know, in September, I separated my AC joint in my shoulder the game before playoffs. I was running after a loose ball and collided with Washington’s Lindsey Harding. I had to have surgery to repair the ligaments around my AC joint. It was so incredibly hard for me to have to watch my team on TV in the first round of playoffs. To give you a little perspective on the magnitude of my injury, Sam Bradford, quarterback for Oklahoma, had a 2nd degree sprain in his shoulder and missed most of his season… I had a 4th degree separation. Doctors say my injury is the equivalent to an ACL tear in the knee. My original plan was to graduate in December from Kansas State and then go to Europe to play in January. It appears that God had a different plan for me.

I returned to K-State to finish my degree. At first I had some major adjustments to make. First of all, I was COMPLETELY out of “school” mode since I had an enjoyable summer traveling around playing basketball with NO homework. I always said my dream was to just play basketball and not have to worry about homework. It was all I thought it would be! So my first challenge was getting myself back into study mode. My second challenge was doing homework while my shoulder was in a sling. Unfortunately, my major didn’t just have “homework” where I had to study. I’m a broadcast journalism major so I had to tote around a camera and tripod for multiple projects. It was quite a challenge, let me tell you! Luckily, I have really great friends and they volunteered to carry my equipment as I worked on different news stories. It is funny now because my friends learned a lot about the news so they will talk to me using news “lingo” as if they know what is going on! The third challenge was not playing basketball. Not only could I not play, I couldn’t do much of any physical activity since my shoulder was in a sling, not to mention the pain that came along with it. With time I adjusted, and before I knew it I was back into student mode.

While I was finishing school, I did a form of student coaching with the women’s basketball team. I didn’t really do much but it was a way for me to stay involved with the program and basketball so I didn’t go through total withdrawal. The first KSU game, I was sitting on the bench and tears welled up in my eyes as I remembered my time at K-State. College was definitely a great four year so of my life. I’m blessed that basketball didn’t end there for me. Going to Atlanta definitely made dealing with the end of college basketball more bearable.

The semester flew by and now it is December. As of last weekend, I’m officially a college graduate! I’ve always thought the word “alumni” meant that you were old, but I now fit in that description so I don’t have those thoughts anymore! Graduating was a great experience. It is nice accomplishing something that you’ve worked your whole life for. The moment I made the team in Atlanta, I knew no matter what I was still going back to finish my degree. I went to school for 18 years of my life, why would I stop when I only had one semester left to get what I worked for? It’s also reassuring that I have other avenues to pursue once basketball ends for me, and at some point, it will end. Injuries like the one I recently suffered are a nice reminder that life can drastically change at any moment.

Graduation was on Saturday and a group of my family and friends came to support me on that special day. I invited everyone to my house to eat and socialize. It was really nice to spend some time with the people that had supported me so much through my basketball career. It was cool to see how they wanted to celebrate my academic success as well. Some of our dear friends from Sublette drove the 5 hours to come to the ceremony. I was blown away by their willingness to drive so many hours to watch an hour ceremony. As we all know, graduation ceremonies are the most exciting events to attend in the world, unless you are the one graduating, but even then you want it to get over fast! What was also neat about this day was that my two best friends Danielle Zanotti and Marlies Gipson graduated at the same time. We have known each other since our freshman year and since then we’ve formed a bond that only teammates can have. It’s pretty awesome how we came in together and are leaving…together.

So I’m sure all of you are thinking what happens now? My priority right now is rehabbing my shoulder. I plan to stay here at KSU to work out and rehab. I’m on schedule as it relates to my progress and we are shooting for me to be completely released to play full contact in February. As of now, my shoulder is recovering nicely. I’ve been out of the sling for almost two months and can do all normal daily activities just fine without noticing my shoulder holding me back. I’m able to dribble and shoot close shots right now. I also have been riding a bike and elliptical to work on my cardio and lifting lower body. It is a slow and frustrating process but I’m happy to see the progress I’ve made. I’m just a few degrees away from having my range of motion completely back. The range of motion has been the most frustrating part. I’m a person that wants to just work hard and build strength back immediately. Most of the other injuries I’ve faced before now have been injuries which I can do x-amount of exercises and then I’m ready to go. Unfortunately with this injury, I have to be patient and get my range of motion back before I can start strengthening my arm. If I can make as much progress the next two months as I’ve made in the past three, I will be ready to roll by February and have four months to get ready for Atlanta.

Well, that is what has been going on in my life the past few months. It has been a busy time but very fulfilling. I’m excited to see what the next chapter of life after college consists of. I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. May God bless you all.

Merry Christmas,
Shalee

The A.P. Wire: Tis the Season

Atlanta Dream — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:34:06 +0000

Hey Dream fans!!

Wow…I’ve been so busy that I almost forgot to check in with you guys… but I will say something. Time is flying by and the Dream season will be here soon. The season here at Ole Miss is going well. We lost a tough game on Sunday against ninth-ranked Ohio State by two points. But I do believe games like that will help us in conference play the next two months.

We have a great group of girls that are giving it their all every game. I do wish at times that I was out there to help, but I will have my time in Atlanta. I am still working out every day and this weekend the Shot Doctor comes and I am excited.

Well this is my first Christmas with my husband and we did put up a tree…lol. It is so cute… I will have to get a picture to show everyone. I miss all of you fans and pray that you all have a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a Blessed New Year!!!!!! GO DREAM!

Til next time,

Armintie “A.P.” Price

Armintie’s “A.P. Wire Dream Blog”– Happy Thanksgiving!

Atlanta Dream — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:47:43 +0000

Hey Dreamers!

I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving. My husband and I spent the week in Boca Raton, Florida with the Ole Miss team. We had a tournament at FAU (Florida Atlantic University) and we won the tourney!!

Now we are back at home enjoying our house. Yes, my husband and I built a house! We were able to move in together right after the honeymoon. My house is about 45 minutes from Oxford where the Ole Miss campus is located. I do drive back and forth every day to work.

I am still working out with the girls every day and on the road I am on the scout team… lol. We travel again on Tuesday to Little Rock, Arkansas for our next game. So in the month of November, we are 5-1. Hopefully in December we can be undefeated! Well that’s all I have this time fans.

Talk to u soon

Armintie’s “A.P. Wire Dream Blog”

Atlanta Dream — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:19:55 +0000

Armintie’s Wedding Photo Gallery

Hey Dream fans!

It’s been a busy offseason for me. As some of you might know, I got married last month. Well the wedding was great! I didn’t think the rain was going to hold up but it did. About 500 people showed up and everything was perfect. We had the reception in a tent outside and it was beautiful.

After the wedding, we headed to the West Indies island of St. Maarten for our honeymoon. It was wonderful! Then I was back to work at Ole Miss, moving into my office. If you don’t know already, this is my first season as an assistant coach on the staff. I have been working out with the girls every day and I lift weights with them as well. Recently I scouted my first exhibition game and we won! So I was excited about that. I was very nervous but I think I am getting the hang of things.

We had our first game on Friday and we won, so the season is off to a good start. I am looking forward to meeting with the “Shot Doctor,” as they call him, next month to get my shooting skills where they need to be.

I am still waiting for our professional pictures from the wedding, but I’m sharing some that my sister took with her camera.

Enjoy!

Kathy Betty as new Atlanta Dream owner

Atlanta Dream — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:49:34 +0000

Kathy Betty, a prominent Atlanta businesswoman and sports advocate, will become the new managing partner of the Atlanta Dream pending WNBA Board of Governors approval, league President Donna Orender announced today. The team will be owned by Dream Too, LLC, an investment group led by Betty.

“I am confident Kathy’s passion for the game and the Atlanta community, as well as her vision for the Dream, will ensure that the team continues to build on its strong start,” said Orender. “Atlanta has been a great market, and Lisa Borders has been a constant ambassador. We look forward to building upon the success the team enjoyed both on and off the court this past season. At the same time, on behalf of the league, I want to extend our thanks to Ron Terwilliger for helping bring the WNBA to Atlanta in 2007.”

In addition to serving as the CEO of the Garry Betty Foundation, established by her late husband Garry Betty, former Earthlink CEO, to fund cancer research, Betty is a former partner with Ernst & Young and previously served as the Executive Vice President of Scott Madden, Inc., an Atlanta-based management consulting firm. Betty has compiled a lengthy track record of business success and community involvement. She also is a major contributor to Georgia Tech’s men’s and women’s basketball programs.

“The opportunity to own the Dream, which is all about providing accessible and affordable world-class entertainment for the families of Atlanta, is what excites me,” said Betty. “In addition, the fact that these women serve as role models for youth, and especially young girls, is something I feel strongly about.

“I want to personally thank Lisa Borders for her diligent work in saving the Dream. The Dream belongs in Atlanta. Lisa understands that and so do I. In the midst of a tough political campaign, she carved out time to bring sponsorships to the table and find investors who will make the Dream a continued reality for the staff, players and, of course, our fans.”

In 2009, the Dream recorded the second-largest one-year turnaround in WNBA history, finishing with an 18-16 record after going 4-30 in its inaugural campaign in 2008 to earn the second seed in the Eastern Conference and their first-ever WNBA Playoff berth. Forward Angel McCoughtry, the top pick in the 2009 WNBA Draft quickly emerged as a star and earned adidas Rookie of the Year honors, while Marynell Meadors was named WNBA Coach of the Year this past season.