Gosman Gymnasium was graced by Basketball Hall-of-famers Dave Cowens and Bill Laimbeer last weekend, as well as Alex-Celtic M.L. Carr and the diminutive Muggsey Bogues.

They came to scout potential WNBA players. With the NCAA womens Final Four a Commuter Rail ride away at the TD Banknorth Garden this past weekend, Brandeis was an appropriate setting.

With the WNBA draft this week, dozens of WNBA executives and coaches made the car ride over from their respective whereabouts.

Some women had been playing overseas while others were playing in March Madness days ago. All the players are on the free agent market, hoping to catch a coach's attention.

The 88 participants were divided into teams and played 20 -minute pick-up games from 8 am to 3:30 pm. With a running clock and substitutions, time for making an impression was short. Stephen Key, Dave Cowens assistant on the expansion Chicago Sky explained what he and other coaches look for out of the players.

Consistency, first would stick on my mind. If theyre consistently making baskets or making the other players better or that I can see what theyre trying to get done.”
Bill Laimbeer, the head coach for the Detroit Shock and 2003 WNBA coach of the year was blunt on the odds of the participants making the league.

Very, very slim. For our team [The Shock], were very deep and were only gonna carry 11 or 12 but the league is so competitive that it is very difficult for anybody, even a first or second round pick to make the team.”

Thanks to the hospitable Brandeis womens basketball team, these women were able to display their talents at the Shapiro Gym.