April 18, 2008

Senior guard Dominique Carter has been invited to the Phoenix Mercury Training Camp after a fantastic season on the Hilltop. Carter ends her prolific career with 1800 points, second on USF charts behind USF Hall-of-Famer Mary Hile-Nepfel (1977-81/2,324). The 1800 points are also good for third in West Coast Conference charts, trailing Saint Mary's Tracy Morris (1996-2000) by just two points. Carter scored 538 points in 30 games this season, good for sixth place on USF's single season scoring chart.

For the 2007-08 season, Carter earned her fourth consecutive WCC First Team selection, and is just the second four time First-Teamer following former Don Brittany Lindhe (1995-99). The Tracy, CA native was first in conference with a .518 3-point field goal percentage (43-83), second in both field goal percentage (.550/215-391) and free throw percentage (.823/65-79), and third in scoring with 17.9 points per game.

Carter heads to Phoenix today to prepare for tryouts on the 20th. Camp ends on April 30th. She spoke about her excitement upon receiving the news.

"It's a very big honor. I wasn't expecting it. Coach Haave called me into her office and it sounded like she was mad at me, but she said `I have fantastic news, you were invited to go to the Phoenix Mercury training camp.' I was ecstatic, I couldn't believe it. It's just an honor that I was invited, even if I don't make it, it will be a great experience. I'm excited, but I'm very, very nervous all at the same time," Carter said.

Haave was as far from mad at Carter as she could possibly be.

"I think it's well deserved. It's something that she's worked hard for. It's a great opportunity for her and I couldn't be more excited, or proud of her. Her teammates are really supportive of her, so it's not only a great thing for Dom, but it's a great thing for our program, we're all really excited," Haave said.

Phoenix won the 2007 WNBA Championship behind League MVP Cappie Pondexter (Rutgers `06) and guard Diana Taurasi (Connecticut '04). Corey Gaines, in his third year as Head Coach of the Mercury, played his senior season at Loyola Marymount (1987-88) after transferring from UCLA.

With a roster filled with stars and a Championship to defend, Carter's nerves are already showing.

"The fact that they are the defending WNBA Champion is where most of my nerves come from. They've got Diana Taurasi, Cappie Pondexter, two very good players. It's going to be a very tough team to make, but that's why I'm as nervous as I am. They also have Brooke Smith, who went to Stanford, who is very good. So it's going to be a lot of fun playing with some top name players," Carter stated.

Haave knows Carter has a tough road ahead.

"It's a great team. I took a look at the roster and she's got her work cut out for her. But I think for her growth, if she wants to continue playing, it's the perfect opportunity for her. It couldn't happen at a better time or with a better team. With them as defending Champions, she'll play against some good players. She'll get a taste at that level, which I think will be great," Haave said.

Two Mercury rookies taken in the draft are from the Bay Area. Center Kristen Newlin and forward/center Brooke Smith are both Stanford grads.

Phoenix opens their 2008 season at home versus the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday, May 17.