Notebook: Bevilaqua Plans to Return
 Bevilaqua celebrates during Game 3. Otto Gruele Jr./NBAE/Getty |
Don't schedule the end of that career just yet. After a bounce-back season that saw her shoot a career-best 42.3% from three-point range and score nine points, grab five rebounds, hand out four assists and pick off four steals in relief of starting point guard Sue Bird when Bird broke her nose in the Storm's first-round series against Minnesota, Bevilaqua plans to return next season.
"I definitely feel like I still have a bit to give," Bevilaqua said yesterday, though she did leave the door open to changing her mind. "I'm not sure I'm ready to finish my career here."
One of the more difficult aspects of playing in the WNBA for Bevilaqua is having to leave her family, including husband Dirk, back home in Australia, especially this year because the season stretched all the way into October and Bevilaqua did not return home during the August break for the Olympics.
"It is tough for them they weren't able to be here," Bevilaqua said, adding she keeps in touch with lots of phone calls and e-mails.
There's also the radio broadcasts of David Locke and Elise Woodward, which Bevilaqua's family listens to through the Internet. Locke and Woodward regularly say hello to the family on the air, and Bevilaqua never misses an opportunity to do so during a post-game interview.
"My mum and dad both love him," Bevilaqua said of Locke. "They can visualize being at the game through is commentating."
"I've been very lucky," Bird said yesterday. "I've been lucky to be on great teams. I've been lucky to be coached by great coaches and surrounded by great players. I just always try to make the most of it. It definitely feels good. No doubt about that. It's definitely quite an accomplishment. I hope I keep adding to it."
According to research by the Detroit Shock's PR department following this year's Olympics, only five other female players have won Olympic gold, an NCAA Championship and a WNBA Championship - Shock forward Swin Cash (who teamed with Bird at UConn) and center Ruth Riley; Kara Wolters, another UConn product; and Houston Comets stars Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes.
