By Jennifer Bellis
San Antonio Express-News
As a rookie, Ke-Ke Tardy is constantly learning on the court.
The Silver Stars’ second-round draft pick out of LSU is working on learning the pro style as well as meeting the demands of the top women’s professional league.
“It’s been a hard learning process,” Tardy said. “I came from the SEC and we ran a different type of offense and a similar type defensive scheme. I am learning (about) different players, their tendencies and to have them learn my tendencies.”
But when she leaves the court, the studying doesn’t end.
Tardy is completing her political science degree in the Alamo City, nearly 500 miles from the LSU campus in Baton Rouge, La.
“I always wanted to be a student or an athlete,” Tardy said. “It’s great that when I finish my school I have a chance to focus on being just an athlete.”
Already accepted into LSU’s law school, Tardy will take her finals at Trinity with a proctor next week. She spent much of last weekend’s road trip to Long Beach, Calif., writing a paper in the computer lab at the team’s hotel.
“It does add to the frustration,” Tardy said. “I’ll just be glad when I am done with the school work.”
Graduation takes place on May 23. If Tardy is one of the 11 who make the Silver Stars roster, she hopes to return to Baton Rouge for the ceremony, then head back to San Antonio for the team’s regular-season debut the next night vs. Seattle.
New threads: Reebok designed new uniforms for the league this season. The jerseys are tapered specifically for women and are designed to be worn untucked.
After one preseason game in the newly styled uniforms, the Silver Stars are giving positive reviews.
“I’m feeling them, I like them a lot,” All-Star guard Marie Ferdinand said. “They are feminine and comfortable. The ones we had last year were big and a lot of times the jersey would come out. The refs were always telling me to tuck it back in.”
First appearance: San Antonio fans can get their first look at the Silver Stars tonight, when the team has a free open practice at the UTSA Convocation Center from 5-6:30. The team will sign autographs for the first 1,000 fans for 30 minutes starting at 6:30.
The Los Angeles Sparks, the two-time defending WNBA champions, have an open practice session from 7-8:30, with autographs to follow.
The two teams meet in a preseason game at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the SBC Center. It is the final preseason game for both. Tickets are still available.