2010, helping the Cardinal to a 12-1 record and a final ranking of

Earlier this week, Natalie Achonwa of the University of Notre Dame was named one of the top fifty players in America. White Sox Jerseys China . In an early season watch list for The Naismith Trophy, which recognizes the womens college player of the year, the Guelph, Ontario native was one of two Canadians acknowledged. She made the accomplishment while rehabbing from a meniscus tear in her right knee, which forced her to miss the first three games of the season. If the injury sounds familiar, its the same one that has sidelined Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose for the rest of the NBA season. However, Achonwa, a 63 forward, underwent a different surgical procedure which allowed her to get back on the court in four weeks to compete in her final year. In Achonwas first three seasons at Notre Dame, they have made it to the Final Four each time and lost in the championship game twice. "I always say its like we went to the ball three years in a row, and we never got the crown," she states. "We were always the bridesmaid and never got to wear the dress. I know the three seniors and captains between us - we want to leave Notre Dame a legacy. The class before us with Skylar Diggins and Kaila Turner, they really started something and we battled with them for three years to three Final Fours, and this year we want that ring. After all weve been through, thats whats pushing us to leave Notre Dame on a high note." This seasons Fighting Irish squad is already off to a strong start, undefeated at 5-0 and ranked No. 5 in the country. In a rare NCAA game on Sunday December 1, they will host Duquesne at Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto, Ontario. "One of the reasons I came to Notre Dame is you have opportunities like this," she says. "We went to Europe this year, weve done so much and now coach is letting me have a senior game back at home. Im just really blessed for the opportunity to be able play in front of my family and friends." Achonwa isnt a stranger to playing in Canada or for her country. As a member of the Senior Womens National Team, she helped the squad to a silver medal at the FIBA Americas tournament this summer and a berth to the World Championships in 2014. Yet for all their success, the hype surrounding Canada Basketball still resides with the mens team. A program ranked 26th in the world and has fallen short of expectations in recent years, while the women seemingly get no respect. "I dont know if its about respect," Achowna says. "But more recognition that we are good and that we do compete for medals. Its just the popularity of womens basketball as a whole, its sad. Just because we cant dunk or throw alley-oops, people dont see it as entertaining. I think thats changing even with the Olympics two years ago and that brought some awareness back to the program. Just the rise and talent and how well weve been competing the last couple of years, and continuing on in the future. Im hoping it will bring some recognition in womens basketball." Her inclusion on the Naismith watch list already indicates that Achonwa is primed to be the recipient for more recognition, which will be key as she prepares for life after South Bend, Indiana. "I definitively want to continue to play outside of Canada Basketball, I want to play professionally as well," she says. "If I get drafted this year that would be great, but we have a very competitive class and theres a lot of great players." What may come off as false modesty is the reality that its not easy to make a WNBA roster, particularly with only 12 teams in the league. "Theres a great difference between the WNBA and NBA. If youre not a top five pick, youre trying out for a team, youre not on the team. If I make a team, I would love to be in the WNBA, but I would play overseas." However, right now shes more concerned with how shes going to finish this week, playing basketball at home with her friends and family watching, and taking one more step towards winning a national championship. Chicago White Sox Store . That assertion is getting harder and harder to make, especially given the way 23-year-old Danilo Gallinari has been playing this season. Fake White Sox Jerseys . -- Aaron Rodgers looked fine on the practice field Thursday. https://www.cheapwhitesox.com/ . Heavily-criticized after allowing a dozen goals on 58 shots in two games in Boston, Luongo continued his dominance at home. Hes now allowed two goals in three home games in this series.Lake Forest, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is joining the Chicago Bears in the same role, the team announced Tuesday. Fangio, the architect of one of the NFLs premier defenses during a four-year run in San Francisco, bolted the 49ers after being passed over in favor of defensive line coach Jim Tomsula to become Jim Harbaughs successor as the teams head coach. The longtime NFL assistant instead joins the staff of newly named Bears head coach John Fox, where Fangio will be in charge of rebuilding a defense that was one of the leagues most porous units Chicago has ranked 30th overall in total defense in each of the past two seasons, while the 442 points the Bears allowed in 2014 were surpassed only by Oakland for the most in the league. Chicago finished 30th in scoring defense the previous year. In contrast, tthe 49ers ranked in the top five in total defense in each of Fangios four years at the helm, and were one of only three teams to record 25 or more takeaways in each of the last three seasons. Chicago White Sox Shirts. . San Francisco also finished second, second and third in scoring defense from 2011-13 before ending 10th in that category this past year. Those numbers helped the Niners reach the NFC Championship Game in three straight seasons from 2011-13, as well as an appearance in Super Bowl XLVII. The 56-year-old Fangio also served as the defensive coordinator for Indianapolis (1999-2001) and Houston (2002-05) and will entering his 29th season as an NFL assistant. Additionally, he was the defensive coordinator under Harbaugh at Stanford in 2010, helping the Cardinal to a 12-1 record and a final ranking of fourth in the Associated Press Top 25. ' ' '