April 15, 2008

PHILADELPHIA- Temple University senior Lady Comfort has signed a rookie contract with the WNBA's LA Sparks, joining former Owls Candice Dupree ('06) and Kamesha Hairston ('07) in the longest running professional women's league in history.

Comfort and 2008 Draft picks Candace Parker, Shannon Bobbitt and Sharnee Zoll are all competing for spots on an already impressing Sparks roster, which features Lisa Leslie, Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Sydney Spencer and Temecka Johnson.  The Sparks, coached by NBA legend Michael Cooper, are one of the founding members of the WNBA and captured championships in 2001 and 2002.

A 6-2 center, Comfort led Temple in rebounding (8.4), blocks (38) and field goal percentage (.467) and was second in scoring (9.4).  She was named to the Atlantic 10's Second Team and All-Tournament Team, helping the Owls to an A-10 regular season title, a #1 seed in the Conference Tournament and their fifth straight NCAA Tournament.  She collected seven double-doubles but it was her standout performance against Duquesne on Feb. 17 that really turned heads.  The senior scored 16 points, collected a career-high 18 rebounds and added two blocks to aid in Temple's 74-66 victory. Comfort is Temple's all-time leader in field goal percentage, making nearly 53% of her shots.  She is also sixth on the all-time rebounding and blocks lists with 771 boards and 115 blocks.  The Pensacola, Fla. native was voted to the Philadelphia Big Five's Second Team.