Hampton Roads Pro-Am playoffs set to begin

Norfolk State's Rachel Gordon finished 3rd in the league in scoring.

Who will be named the regular season most valuable player of the Hampton Roads 7 Cities Women's Basketball Pro-Am?

Despite our best efforts, league CEO and operator James Flood Jr. wasn't telling. So it looks like we'll find out with everyone else when the four-team playoff series begins Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Maury High School in Norfolk.

The MVP will be named prior to tipoff of the playoff opener pitting undefeated Talk Family Va./Norfolk Express Alumni (led by Old Dominion's Chelisa Painter and Galaisha Goodhope) against Academic Athletics (ex-South Carolina State standout Trinese Fox, former Radford star Kymesha Alston). The second semifinal will commence Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and feature Towne Bank (former George Washington ace Danni Jackson, ex-George Mason star Amber Easter) against Optima Health Family Care  (Norfolk State's Rachel Gordon, ODU's Shae Kelley and Ashley Betz-White).

The championship game is set for Aug. 3 at 3 p.m.

Chelisa Painter

Flood said this year the pro-am took another step forward as a must-play event for the area's top players, as the league featured more teams (six, up from five the previous two seasons), a deeper talent pool, more competitive games and a healthier contingent of players from the Peninsula (Hampton and Newport News).

"It's gone extremely well," said Flood, whose goal is to feature an eight-team league. "But we're going to keep on building."

While Flood declined to reveal the MVP, no doubt strong consideration went to ODU's Painter, the 6-1 George Washington transfer who has delivered at both ends of the floor. Painter posted a 17-point, 16-rebound effort in last week's regular-season finale and finished with a league-high 16.5 scoring average, more than two points higher than anyone else.

For more information about the league and teams, visit the pro-am website.