May 30, 2007

WACO, Texas - Off the Court with Bernice Mosby will run periodically during the 2006-07 season. Join the senior forward and tri-captain Bernice Mosby as she takes fans on a behind-the-scenes look at the Lady Bears' season.

I thought that once our season was over with, I would have plenty of time to write a final journal. Heavens knows Ms. Julie (Lady Bear media relations) has been on me to `get it done'! However, things have been busier than ever.

First off, I want to thank the "Lady Bear Nation" for their fantastic support of our program and for the way they embraced me in my short time here. Our fans are the best!!!

I feel truly blessed for the two years I spent in Waco. I met some of the most wonderful people who helped me grow as a person. Things happen for a reason and even though I experienced some adversity throughout my collegiate career, I feel that I am a stronger person for it and it led me to Baylor, which turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me! I not only grew as a basketball player but as a person as well.

In addition, the response by the Baylor and basketball communities to the recent house fire that my family suffered has been heartfelt, overwhelming and sincerely appreciated.

I am so blessed.

OK, now that I've gotten the important things addressed, I'll go on with my journal regarding what's happened since we lost to N.C. State. What a bummer. We gave it our all but just fell short to a very good basketball team. There was so much emotion attached to that game, Coach Yow's illness and my family's house burning two days before the game. It was a real letdown when we lost. Needless to say, the flight home was pretty quiet.

After returning from Raleigh, it was back to catching up on sleep and class work. I knew that there was a good possibility of being invited to attend the WNBA Pre-Draft Camp and the draft itself so I needed to try to get ahead on my schoolwork.

I went to Cleveland for the pre-draft camp and thought I did pretty well. Stayed after the camp was over with because I was invited to attend the live WNBA Draft. Coach Mulkey, Jennifer (Roberts) and Damion (McKinney) were there with me and I was really shocked when I was the sixth player chosen. Can you believe it, I'm the fourth Baylor player in the last seven seasons to be drafted in the first round. This coaching staff sure has a good track record preparing players for the next level!!!

I'm now ready to embark on the next phase of my basketball career. As you all probably already know, I'm off to be a Washington Mystic. How coincidental is it that the two other players drafted by them I played against this season, Gilllian Goring (N.C. State) and Megan Vogel (South Dakota State).

After the draft, I returned to Waco to try to finish my classes and work out. Shaun (McPherson, strength and conditioning coach) really put me through the wringer but it will help when I get to training camp, which begins on April 22.

We had our Lady Bear Appreciation Banquet on April 17, it was bittersweet. It was good to see everyone but it was also sad in that I knew that I wouldn't see most of them again for a very long time. However, it did allow me to express my appreciation to everyone in a public forum.

After that, I had to go to Chicago to participate in the WNBA's Rookie Orientation then off to my new home in the nation's capitol. The WNBA season has started now, try to catch me on the tube.

Well, it's time to wrap this up...again; I want to express my appreciation to everyone who even had the tiniest part in my wonderful two-year experience in Waco.

Blessings,
Bernice (BMo)

PS - The Mystics play at Houston on Friday, June 22 and at San Antonio (hello, Sophia!!) on Tuesday, August 7.