I had the opportunity this week to chat with WNBA basketball player and mom Tina Thompson, who this year kicked off her first season with the Los Angeles Sparks.
Despite being a native Angeleno -- having played hoops for Morningside High School and USC -- Tina began her professional career with the Houston Comets, where she played for 12 years.
Now she's back in town and making life in the city work as a pro basketball player with a 4-year-old son. Tina talks about traveling, balancing work and motherhood, family and how she's eager for her little boy to become a California kid.
That's in addition to offering some friendly mom advice to new mother -- and fellow Sparks teammate -- Candace Parker, who recently gave birth herself and showed up to her first post-delivery practice during our interview Tuesday. (You can hear Tina give a shout-out to "Can Can.")
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Before I chatted with Tina, I got the chance to watch the L.A. Sparks trounce the Seattle Storm at the Staples Center on Sunday. My friend Kathy, who blogs at Variety's Season Pass, CC and I enjoyed the lively but laid-back atmosphere, which included dance numbers, hoops contests and sports celeb sightings -- Hello L.A. Dodgers' Matt Kemp and L.A. Lakers' Trevor Ariza!
The season runs through September, so we'll definitely have to go again.
To make it a little easier on the wallet, the WNBA has generously offered a 15% off discount code for readers who want to catch a Sparks home game.
* For the July 5 game vs. Phoenix, here is the link:
http://www.ticketmaster.com/
Enter code: 3SPARKS
* For the August 4 game vs. San Antonio, here is the link:
http://www.ticketmaster.com/
Enter code: 4SPARKS
* And for the August 6 game vs. Seattle, here is the link:
http://www.ticketmaster.com/
Enter code: 4SPARKS
Thank so much, Tina! And good luck with the rest of the season!
Photo courtesy of WNBA
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