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Gift of gab; Mystics forward Stacey Dales-Schuman has been an instant success as a broadcaster.

Article Excerpt
Byline: Bob Cohn, THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Stacey Dales-Schuman was offered a sandwich the minute she entered the Connecticut Avenue recording studio to tape a few radio spots with her Washington Mystics teammates. Now that she also doubles as a member of the media, someone reminded her about Rule No.1: If someone offers free food, take it.

Don't worry, she said, she already knew that.

Dales-Schuman is at home behind both a microphone - she cut her promos flawlessly - and a dinner plate. Tough, double-session practices have burned off the calories and she works out on her own, but she still is one of those high-metabolism types who can live on the buffet line and stay maddeningly thin. Some mayonnaise with that? Absolutely. She proceeded to liberally apply the stuff, with apparent glee, from a squeeze bottle. "I'm a hog," she said while chomping on a giant turkey hoagie.

"She eats like a madwoman," said Indiana Fever coach Nell Fortner, who worked with Dales-Schuman in the studio during ESPN's coverage of the NCAA women's basketball tournament and is one of many who marvels at her appetite. "It's hilarious. There was food all over the desk. Then with 20 seconds to go before we went on, it's, like, clear the desk. I tell her she eats like a cow. She grazes all day long."

Barnyard imagery aside, Dales-Schuman is taking a big bite out of life, on and off the court.

The 6-foot-1 forward made the WNBA All-Star team as a rookie last season, substituting for injured teammate Chamique Holdsclaw. She was second on the Mystics in scoring behind Holdsclaw, but other traits have surfaced. Dales-Schuman is aggressive and intelligent, already...