Battle of the sexes

By Wendy Soderburg and Max Morse

There are some formidable female college basketball teams in the United States. To prepare for them, the UCLA women's basketball squad needs a little something extra to toughen themselves up for game time — so they practice against men.

When it's practice time at Pauley Pavilion, the members of UCLA's women's basketball team find themselves scrimmaging against some pretty formidable-looking opponents. There's "Candace Parker," star forward for the University of Tennessee Lady Vols, appearing unusually muscular and macho. Or "Briann January," point guard for the Arizona State University Sun Devils, looking like she could use a shave.

There's no need to break out the Nair, however. "Candace" and "Briann" are actually men — full-time UCLA students, as a matter of fact — who play a critical role as members of the Lady Bruins' "scout" team.

In college and in the pros, scout teams are comprised of non-starters on football and basketball squads who mimic upcoming opponents so that the starters can practice against the kind of playing style they'll be facing in the real game. For some collegiate women's basketball programs, that's a man's job. So six days a week, the members of our intrepid male scout team offer themselves up as practice partners for the female Bruin hoopsters, participating in their drills, watching game films of other teams and assuming the roles of opposing players such as Parker and January.

"These guys, they help us so much," says Head Coach Kathy Olivier. "They're stronger and they're quick, and they really take pride in making our players better. They love seeing improvement. They're a big part of our success."

So dedicated are these dudes that they'll show up for practice even when they're hurt....

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