Renee Brown recalls getting her job with the new WNBA in 1996 and almost immediately hopping on a plane for Europe to sign up players for the leagues 1997 launch. She has some funny stories of tracking down people in those olden days before everyone was constantly accessible by cell phone.Brown, the leagues chief of basketball operations and player relations, knows the history of the WNBA because she lived at the epicenter of it. Now, after 20 years, Brown is leaving the league, and its important to both applaud her contributions and also think about what qualities the WNBA should look for in her replacement.The timing is perfect for me, Brown said Tuesday in regard to ending her tenure after the WNBAs 20th anniversary season. She started as director of player personnel, and then her duties expanded. In 2005, the title of chief of basketball operations was added. Brown also has had a longtime association with USA Basketball, including as a coach with the 1996 Olympic team.As congenial as she is, Brown doesnt often share much in-depth with the media. When asked Tuesday some of the bigger challenges she has faced in her time with the WNBA, Brown didnt offer any insight.Nothing, really, she said. Its all been so enjoyable for me to go to games, watch players get drafted, be a part of USA Basketball. Running camps and clinics for young people. Ive been very, very blessed.Brown also didnt give specifics on what she planned to do next. She said she wanted to stay involved in womens sports and womens empowerment, and would leave her options open. For now, though, she said her entire focus is on the on-going WNBA playoffs.This is all understandable; Brown doesnt want to talk about anything that might detract from whats happening on court. But this year has been one of transition for the WNBAs leadership: Lisa Borders became president in February, and former Phoenix Suns/Mercury executive Jay Parry was named senior vice president/chief operating officer in April. Now a new person will be taking over Browns high-ranking spot.Brown said she will help in the search for her replacement. As for what qualities are most needed, Brown said it depends on how the job will be defined going forward.Ill have to take Lisas lead in regard to what does she want in this role, Brown said. But I think the main part of it is theyve got to be passionate about wanting to help improve and continue the success of our league.Again, this is vague. But to some degree the WNBAs upper management always has had an element of vague to it. If you ask around the WNBA teams, youll find that communication between the league office and each franchise isnt always clear, or even frequent enough. Brown has worked many years at trying to fill in those gaps, but she also has had to wear multiple hats.The areas that Brown oversaw are things that, in the NBA, might be split among a few different people. Of course, the NBA is a much bigger industry, with 30 teams as opposed to 12. Its doubtful that the WNBA front office will be expanding soon, so knowing how much there is to do in Browns job impacts the kind of candidates the WNBA should interview.It has to be someone who works very well and is trusted by Borders, but who also develops a strong relationship with each of the 12 franchises. And be someone whom the players, their union, and their agents feel they can talk to as well.Yeah, thats a lot to do. Which means a multitasker with great people skills who is also not afraid of confrontation and mediation. It also should be someone who is already familiar with the WNBA and can take the handoff from Brown and hit the ground running. As opposed to spending a year or two just figuring out stuff that everybody whos in or around the WNBA already knows.Brown didnt talk about the challenges, but theyre not a mystery. They include scheduling/travel, balancing the demands of players overseas careers, and dealing with how the franchises are run differently.The latter is true in any professional league; there are always teams that have better ownership and management than others. But there is also a standard that leagues try to enforce with all their teams.The WNBA has some teams that are affiliated with NBA teams, and some that arent. There can be pluses and negatives to both. Teams have different housing/practice facility situations. Some teams have longtime pros in media, community relations and ticket sales, while others have more of a revolving door in those roles.Thats not to suggest theres any magic wand or mandate from above that will easily equalize everything. But Brown surely has had to deal with the specific concerns that each franchise has, and thats a crucial ongoing task for her replacement.Due diligence in hiring for this job would include talking to retired players, including recent retirees such as Tamika Catchings. Also to people like Dan Hughes and Lin Dunn, who had experience in both coaching and in the front office in pro basketball. Get insight from people still in the league and those who have stepped away.Brown was asked about the changes in the WNBA that have happened in her tenure in regard to the product put on the court, which I think is now consistently very good.She pointed to things such as the 8-second back-court violation, the 24-second shot clock, and the reset to 14 seconds after an offensive rebound as all contributing to more possessions, which equals more offense.What shes most proud of from a cultural standpoint is that young female players now have so many women role models to follow.When you ask a player who she wants to be like, Brown said, its great to hear them say someone like Diana Taurasi or Lisa Leslie or Maya Moore. It warms my heart and is very meaningful to me.Brown is from Henderson, Nevada. She played at UNLV, then got into officiating, and then became a coach, starting at the junior high level. When she looks back on how her path led to the WNBA, she feels like it was serendipitous. She recalls getting involved in USA Basketball just by going to a practice in Colorado Springs run by current Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer, and waiting to talk with her.Ive been fortunate that every step along the way has been a step of growth and opportunity, Brown said. So much of my career came from people recognizing my love of the game.That love has been a guiding force in the WNBA. As the league starts its next chapter, it needs someone with the same commitment to keep building on what Brown has done. Nike Shox Shoes . They reached the 100-point plateau for the fourth time in five games, bested the visiting Trail Blazers by 34 in the paint and scored 19 of the final 25 points in regulation. Mens Nike Shox Clearance . 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CLEVELAND (3-13) at PHILADELPHIA (7-9)Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBSOPENING LINE -- Eagles by 4SERIES RECORD -- Browns lead 31-16-1LAST MEETING -- Eagles beat Browns 17-16, Sept. 9, 2012AP PRO32 RANKING -- Browns No. 32, Eagles No. 28BROWNS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (25), RUSH (22), PASS (21).BROWNS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (27), RUSH (30), PASS (22).EAGLES OFFENSE -- OVERALL (12), RUSH (14), PASS (12.EAGLES DEFENSE -- OVERALL (30), RUSH (32), PASS (28).STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES -- Hue Jackson makes debut as Browns coach after two seasons as Cincinnatis defensive coordinator. Second head-coaching stint for Jackson, who went 8-8 with Oakland in 2011. ... QB Robert Griffin III also makes Cleveland debut after three seasons with Washington. RG3, who did not make start last season, completed several long passes during exhibition season, but struggled underneath. ... Griffin is 25th QB to start for Browns since `99. ... Browns have lost NFL-record 11 straight openers and are 1-16 in Week 1 since 1999. Only win came in 2004 against Baltimore under coach Butch Davis. ... Browns have 17 rookies, 13 draft picks this year, and have 27 new players on roster from year ago. ... WR Corey Coleman dealt with hamstring issue and struggled during preseason. Browns need him as deep threat while Josh Gordon serves latest four-game drug suspension. ... Pro Bowl LT Joe Thomas has not missed snap since joining team in 2007. His consecutive plays streak of 8,959 is current longest in league. ... Two-time Pro Bowl CB JJoe Haden looking to bounce back from injury-riddled 2015 season.dddddddddddd... Second-year C Cam Erving has to replace Pro Bowler Alex Mack, who left as free agent. ... Doug Pederson makes coaching debut for Eagles. Pederson was one of the 24 QBs to start for Browns since 99. ... QB Carson Wentz makes NFL debut against team that couldve drafted him but instead traded No. 2 overall pick. ... RB Ryan Mathew averaged 5.1 yards per carry last season and now becomes featured back with DeMarco Murrays departure. ... WR Jordan Matthews has 152 catches since 2014, 10th-most receptions in NFL history through two seasons of career. ... WR Dorial Green-Beckham led rookies with 17.2 yards per catch average in 2015 while with Titans. ... DT Fletcher Cox had 8 1/2 sacks in last 12 games and signed contract that included $63 million guaranteed. ... Pro Bowl S Malcolm Jenkins had career-high 104 tackles last year. ... New defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has three starters who played for him elsewhere: LB Nigel Bradham, S Rodney McLeod, CB Leodis McKelvin. Backup LB Stephen Tulloch also played for Schwartz. Fantasy Tip: Mathews had TDs in five of past nine games and should carry workload on offense as Wentz eases into NFL after throwing just 24 passes in preseason and missing last three games.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jersyes Cheap Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '