For all of their physical differences, Katie Smith and Herb Williams are racking up a lot of similarities.
As Ohio State basketball greats — Smith from 1992 to '96, and Williams from 1977 to '81 — both left as the all-time scoring leader for their gender. Both went on to lengthy professional careers before moving into coaching. Tonight, when the New York Liberty opens the 2016 WNBA season at the Washington Mystics, Smith and Williams will begin their second year working together under Liberty coach Bill Laimbeer.
In both cases, their current positions represent somewhat unexpected developments in their career arcs.