Meet the 2010 Lynx: #24 Chardé Houston, forward

The fourth of a six-part series profiling the Minnesota Lynx roster as the 2010 season approaches.

BY MIKE PEDEN

3rd-year forward Chardé Houston considers herself a woman of strength, regardless of what role she plays.

Her skills are stronger. She earned her first WNBA All-Star Game appearance last year, tallying 16 points and 6 rebounds in a 130-118 win for the Western Conference. Houston also found range, draining 33% of her three-point shots in 2009. She made no attempts from beyond the arc as a rookie.

Her academics are stronger. While playing overseas, Houston took college classes toward a Masters degree in psychology.

"Your life has to be very structured," she said. "I have a huge calendar. Everything that I have to do for a particular day is written down on that calendar because I know that if it's not there, there's a chance that it won't get done."

Her mental state is stronger. Houston made the news last month after she tweeted her experience on board a diverted Delta flight. Another passenger claimed to have explosives in his bag. The situation was handled without incident, but Houston took the ordeal as a reminder to live with a purpose.

"A lot of people have not been able to walk off a plane the way I did. It definitely gives me a new outlook on life," she said.

Now Houston hopes to make other women stronger through a program she launched while playing overseas. Through her non-profit organization, Project Y.O.U., Houston runs Women of Strength. The group features women representing core values, such as talent and nutrition, working to give females the tools for self-empowerment.

"A lot of adults don't have the interviewing skills that they need. They don't know how to dress properly for an interview," she said. "We educate everybody on the importance of taking care of your body and presenting yourself the right way."

Houston believes this year's Lynx team features many strengths, from drafting Virginia's Monica Wright in the first round to acquiring veterans to give last year's youngest team in the league more durability.

Wright was a challenge for Houston to guard during practice.

"She's going to be able to push our veterans, and our veterans are going to teach her a lot," she said. "She's like a sponge. She wants to learn everything."

Houston also got to play with Lindsay Whalen overseas in Prague. Before that, Houston had only faced Whalen as an opponent when Minnesota and Connecticut would match up.

"She's going to get the ball where it needs to go, so you have to be ready at all times," Houston said.

Even though the Lynx are down two players to start the season, Houston and her other teammates are ready to bond with resiliency.

"Like Coach Reeve said, for one man down, it's one man up," she said. "We still have the talent to do what we need to do."