Via Carol Anne and Stever, it's a moving profile of promising Pitt center Mercedes Walker, who overcame a chaotic West Philly childhood to become one of the leading bigs in the Big East. Her team may not be going places this year, but she's come very far.

And via pilight, a Candace Parker interview, with Christmas fluff and also more durable quotes.

Parker: "A couple of days ago I dunked, and I thought, 'Wow, I actually dunked it.' And one of my teammates said, 'That's not a big deal anymore.' And I laughed, because it was funny how no one thinks it's a big deal anymore."