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Mosby Returns To Bay Area For WNBA Matchup

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By KATHERINE SMITH

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 5, 2008

TAMPA - Bernice Mosby grew up in Hernando County never imagining venturing outside of Florida, let alone the United States.

A basketball provided Mosby with the passport to see parts of the world she thought she would only read about. Her journey began in college and continues today with the WNBA.

"This is another world from where I'm from," Mosby said. "I've been able to travel and see the world. Growing up, I was with my family all the time and I thought I wasn't going anywhere.

"But when I started playing basketball and started traveling, it really opened my eyes to what's out there."

Basketball has brought Mosby full circle. The speedy forward is back in the Bay area, close to her hometown of Brooksville for tonight's WNBA preseason game between her Washington Mystics and the Sacramento Monarchs. Tip-off is 7 p.m. at the University of Tampa.

"I think basketball is very big, especially in Tampa," said Mosby, who won't play tonight while she recovers from a knee injury. "I think the small counties around it don't give it that much recognition, but I know a lot of girls around here who love basketball and love the WNBA.

"It's a great honor to reach out to this area and show what the WNBA is all about."

When Mosby graduated from Hernando High School in 2002 as the county's all-time leading scorer with 2,163 points, she didn't go far for college. Mosby joined the Florida Gators and immediately made an impact.

She earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors in 2003, was twice selected SEC Player of the Week and in 2004, she was named the SEC Sixth Woman of the Year.

Despite the accolades, something was missing. Mosby wasn't happy.

"It took a lot of me finding out who Bernice is, not who everybody else wants me to be," Mosby said. "I found out who I am at Baylor.

"I began to love myself and it changed my whole life."

After 2 1/2 years at Florida, Mosby, who averaged 15.6 points and 8.6 rebounds and became only the 18th Gator to surpass the 1,000-point mark, transferred to Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

It was playing for the Lady Bears and Coach Kim Mulkey that Mosby rediscovered her love of basketball.

An injury she suffered last season reaffirmed that love. Last year, the Mystics took Mosby in the WNBA draft with the sixth pick overall, fulfilling a dream. Her bubble burst when she underwent microfracture surgery on her left knee near the end of November.

"With this injury, I'm still learning to appreciate myself," she said. "Sometimes people can take sports for granted and looking at basketball right now, I don't take it for granted. I think this injury was for a reason.

"I think it was God asking me how bad do I want it, how bad am I going to work for it, how bad do I want to play again."

Bad enough that she's endured grueling and at times painful workouts. The Mystics are looking forward to getting Mosby back on the court and if all goes according to her rehabilitation plans, she will be ready when the regular season starts on May 17.

"She brings speed and she's one of the best rebounders in the league," Washington coach Tree Rollins said. "We miss her when she's not on the court."

Reporter Katherine Smith can be reached at (813) 259-7860

or ksmith@tampatrib.com.

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