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    <title>WNBA.com: News and Scores</title>
    <link>http://www.wnba.com/</link>
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    <copyright>Copyright (c) 2006 NBA Media Ventures, LLC. All rights reserved.</copyright> 
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      <title><![CDATA[Lynx 92, Mercury 110]]></title>
      <link>http://www.wnba.com/games/20100729/MINPHO/gameinfo.html?rss=true</link>
      <description><![CDATA[PHOENIX (AP) Penny Taylor had 22 points and seven assists and the Phoenix Mercury beat the Minnesota Lynx 110-92 Thursday night.
Phoenix's fourth win in five games put the Mercury two games ahead of San Antonio for second place in the WNBA's Western Conference with 10 games to .
Minnesota has lost five straight and is a half-game behind fourth-place Los Angeles in the West.
Candice Dupree added 18 points and eight rebounds and Diana Taurasi had 16 points and seven assists for the Mercury, who have scored 100 points in four of the last six games. They have also topped 90 points in a league-record eight straight.
Charde Houston scored 26 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead Minnesota.
Kara Braxton, playing in her first game in Phoenix since being traded to the Mercury from Tulsa on July 21, scored 20 points and grabbed six rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench.
The fast break was on early as Phoenix made 11 of its first 12 shots to open up a 23-point advantage late in the first half.
Taylor led four players in double figures by halftime with 16 points and four assists as the Mercury set a league record for points in the first half, taking a 69-50 lead at the break.
Phoenix was 30 for 43 from the field.
The highest-scoring team in the league has averaged 105.3 points a game in July and shot 60 percent from the field (47-of-79) on Thursday night, scoring 78 points in the paint.
The Mercury and Lynx set a league scoring mark on Saturday as Phoenix beat Minnesota 127-124 in double overtime.
The Mercury have won the season series with the Lynx in five of the last six years, splitting their games last season.
Copyright 2010 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited]]></description>
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      <title><![CDATA[WNBA Announces Postseason Dates and New Format for Conference Semifinals and Conference Finals]]></title>
      <link>http://www.wnba.com/news/postseason_dates_100729.html?rss=true</link>
      <description><![CDATA[NEW YORK, July 29, 2010 – As teams continue to jockey for playoff positioning, the WNBA today announced dates for the first two rounds of the postseason, as well as a new format for the conference semifinals and conference finals. Semifinals games will be played Aug. 25-30 with the conference finals played Sept. 2-8. Both series will now be played in a 1-1-1 best-of-three format, with the higher-seeded teams hosting games 1 and 3. In years prior, the first two rounds were played 1-2, with the higher-seed opening on the road.
“Every team plays hard to gain competitive home-court advantage in the postseason. This change provides incentive and reward for teams who perform at the highest-level, while giving fans the opportunity to see their playoff series tip-off at home,” said WNBA President Donna Orender.
The WNBA Finals, scheduled to begin on Sept. 12, will remain a 2-2-1 best-of-five format in which the higher-seeded team will host games 1, 2, and 5. All WNBA Playoff games will be televised nationally, with ESPN2 and ABC airing up to 10 games, including all contests during the WNBA Finals. NBA TV will also air up to 12 games as part of its conference semifinals and conference finals coverage.
In the Western Conference, the Seattle Storm (21-2) has locked up the No. 1 seed, and is on pace to surpass the WNBA record for best regular season winning percentage, held by the 1998 Houston Comets (.900). The Storm is led by a pair of WNBA All-Stars, center Lauren Jackson and point guard Sue Bird. Jackson ranks second in the league in scoring (22.3 ppg) and seventh in rebounding (9.3 rpg), while Bird ranks first in the league in assists (5.6 apg).
The defending WNBA champion, Phoenix Mercury, is showing signs of returning to championship form. Phoenix is 3-2 since the All-Star break, led by league scoring leader Diana Taurasi (23.9 ppg). On three separate occasions this season, the Mercury has set new-single game scoring records, including 123 points against the Tulsa Shock and 127 points the following game against the Minnesota Lynx in a thrilling double-overtime win.
In the Eastern Conference, each remaining regular season game has playoff implications that will help determine the top four seeds. All six teams in the Eastern Conference continue to be in playoff contention, with the Indiana Fever, Atlanta Dream, Washington Mystics, and Connecticut Sun leading the way. The Chicago Sky (12-13) is looking to make its first postseason appearance in franchise history.
WNBA fans can follow all the exciting league action and news on their favorite teams and players at www.wnba.com, as well as www.facebook.com/wnba and www.twitter.com/wnba. ]]></description>
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      <title><![CDATA[Rookie Rankings: July 29, 2010]]></title>
      <link>http://www.wnba.com/features/rookierankings_100729.html?rss=true</link>
      <description><![CDATA[July 29, 2010 -- It's about that time. With the stretch run upon us and teams vying for playoff berths it's time to bust out the 2010 version of the WNBA Rookie Approval Matrix. We introduced the Rookie Approval Matrix last year as a way to look at how the first-year players compare when you incorporate both their individual achievements and how their respective teams are performing. While team success may not be as critical for the Rookie of the Year Award as it might be for MVP, it's still a factor, and could be what gives the nod to one player over another in a tight race.
Luckily, it looks like we won't have to face that dilemma in 2010.
As a refresher, the upper right-hand corner is the best position to be in, while the lower left-hand corner is the least desirable. We must also again credit New York Magazine and its Approval Matrix for the inspiration. Without further ado, the 2010 WNBA Rookie Approval Matrix as it stands today.
	
No. 1: Tina Charles, Connecticut Sun (1st pick)
Skinny:.Yeah, the Rookie Approval Matrix isn't exactly done to correct scale. If it were it would probably be more noticeable just how far ahead Charles is of everyone else. But let us nitpick about Charles for a second. The league's leading rebounder has now failed to a record a double-double in three straight games and has averaged just 12.7 points and 8.0 boards during that span. The team has gone just 1-2 in that stretch, showing just how much the team relies on her production and how valuable she is. It might be a sign that she is hitting the proverbial rookie wall, or that teams are figuring out how to defend her. Either way, with the Sun in danger of losing its grip on a playoff berth, it'll be interesting to see how Charles does in these upcoming games.
Previous ranking: 1
	
No. 2: Epiphanny Prince, Chicago Sky (4th pick)
Skinny: While Prince still has a strong hold on the No. 2 spot, she is starting to fall back to the pack a bit. After starting the past week by scoring 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting in 20 minutes in a loss to New York, Prince has failed to reach double digits in scoring in her last two games, but her court time has been limited. Chicago has gone 1-2 over its last three games, keeping it on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs. Still, the Sky remain within striking distance, so count me as one person who would like to see Prince get more run. What could it hurt? She's proven herself to be an explosive scorer with some efficiency (.422) and could open things up more for Sylvia Fowles. Something tells me Chicago will keep treading water until they try something different.
Previous ranking: 2
	
No. 3: Kelsey Griffin, Connecticut Sun (3rd pick)
Skinny: This week, Griffin actually turned in her first double-digit scoring game since May 30 by totaling 10 points in a surprising loss to the Sparks. Griffin only attempted four field goals in the game though, something that is not out of the ordinary. Griffin typically gets her points on second-chance buckets and that doesn't figure to change for the remainder of the season because she has not been able to hit baskets at a consistent rate all year (she's shooting just .369 for 2010). In other words, don't expect to see Coach Mike Thibault draw up plays for her anytime soon.
Previous ranking: 3

	
No. 4: Kalana Greene, New York Liberty (13th pick)
Skinny: Greene is able to hold on to the fourth position in the rankings this week basically for one reason. In the Liberty's last game, a win over San Antonio, Greene poured in a season-high 17 points on a blistering 7-of-11 shooting from the field, including 2-of-2 from three-point range. Her previous high had been 13 points against Connecticut back on June 4. One should note that Greene also played a season-high 28 minutes against the Silver Stars. Her previous high? That was 27 minutes in that June 4 game versus the Sun. Hmmmm.
Previous ranking: 4
	
No. 5: Monica Wright, Minnesota Lynx (2nd pick)
Skinny: Even though the Lynx went 0-3 this past week and did a lot of damage to their playoff hopes, the effort turned in by Wright in all three games was commendable. She posted seven points and six rebounds against San Antonio, then 14 points, three assists and four boards versus Phoenix and lastly 12 points, three assists and four rebounds against Los Angeles. Wright is finally starting to resemble the all-around player we all expected her to be coming out of Virginia. However, I'd be remiss it I didn't make mention of her shooting struggles, which continue to hold her back. In the team's most recent affair, a loss to the Sparks, Wright shot just 4-of-13 from the floor and 2-of-6 from downtown.
Previous ranking: 5
Honorable Mention:
# Jayne Appel, San Antonio Silver Stars (4.0 PPG, 2.8 RPG, .536 FG%)
# Jana Vesela, Seatle Storm (3.0 PPG, .697 FG%, 9.9 MPG) ]]></description>
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      <title><![CDATA[On the Mend with Danielle McCray ]]></title>
      <link>http://my.wnba.com/cms/149999/on_the_mend_with_danielle_mccray?rss=true</link>
      <description><![CDATA[
Hi Fans,
Time is still winding down. Since the last blog, I have been working out every day, rehabbing my knee and just finished my last week of my two-week camp for 3rd- 12th grade girls and boys. My first camp experience went well. I had a good number of kids come out and learn a lot. I really enjoyed working with them all.
I have still been working hard on the court, getting shots up and getting back in shape.  My knee is on the right path and is on schedule to be cleared in seven more days. It amazes me how strong my knee feels right now. I have been cleared to workout 100%, but I can't have contact, so these last two months have been court workouts and getting better in different areas of my game. I can't explain how excited I am to be able to play again. It's been five months since I have played in an official basketball game and these months have been the toughest. But the good thing about it is, I have had great opportunities come my way while rehabbing and getting ready to play again.
I will be back in Connecticut in about two weeks to visit with my future teammates and coaches and to cheer them on during the three games I will catch. I'm so excited for what's ahead. The countdown is still rolling...AUGUST 5th!
Until then, Go SUN!!
-Danielle McCray
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      <title><![CDATA[First Half Wrapup with Renee Montgomery]]></title>
      <link>http://www.wnba.com/features/first_half_wrap_montgomery_100728.html?rss=true</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Connecticut Sun took on a new look this past season not only with big additions from the draft, but also with some offseason acquisitions as well. One of those additions was Renee Montgomery, who came over to the Sun after a January trade in exchange for Lindsay Whalen and the No. 2 pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft.
Montgomery recently sat with WNBA.com to discuss Connecticut's start, where they sat at the midway point and what it's going to take to close out strong.
WNBA.com: What's your take on Connecticut's start to the season?
Renee Montgomery: Our first half of the season was really good. We surprisingly gelled kind of quick in the beginning but then we had a couple of players that were injured and we had to 're-gel,' and we're still working on that right now.
WNBA.com: That was the one thing at the start of the season that everyone was wondering: How soon could the players get it all together? At this point, would you say it's going well?
Montgomery: It is. We still have a lot of work to do. It's hard to figure out. We pretty much have a whole new team. It's hard to figure out what combinations work well together, who doesn't. All the things you figure out during the season. Usually you have a core of players. It's easy because you just have to fill in a few pieces. But right now we pretty much remodeled our whole team and we have to figure out everything.
WNBA.com: Well you pretty much took on a whole new core…
Montgomery: We did. I think it's going to pay off once we start gelling and clicking and understand where each other is going to be.
WNBA.com: Coach Thibault said a few weeks ago that he expected everyone to be on the same page after the break. Do you think that's accurate?
Montgomery: I do. I think sometimes you have to get it wrong to get it right, and we've gotten it wrong enough times to try to figure things out. We've been in situations where we've said, “OK, we can't do that anymore we have to do this.” We're getting enough experience now to realize what's kind of working for us and what's not.
WNBA.com: Plus, you're playing in a conference where getting it wrong can drop a team a few spots in the standings.
Montgomery: That's the thing. We were higher than we are now. We were winning a lot games in a row and then we lost, I think, three out of five. How quickly things can change in the East it just shows you. And in the West it's a lot different. Although we aren't at the bottom, we still want to be at the top.
WNBA.com: Where do you go from here? Is it just a matter of taking what worked and improving on it?
Montgomery: It is. It's taking what worked and keeping it, [taking] what didn't work, throwing it out and trying again. We still haven't figured it all out. I think we're still going to get it wrong sometimes but we're still taking steps to make it better. ]]></description>
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      <title><![CDATA[Storm rallies from 18 down to beat Mercury 91-85]]></title>
      <link>http://www.wnba.com/games/20100727/PHOSEA/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp1021000140?rss=true</link>
      <description><![CDATA[SEATTLE(AP) Lauren Jackson scored a season high 33 points to help the Seattle Storm rally from an 18-point halftime deficit and beat the Phoenix Mercury 91-85 on Tuesday night to clinch the top seed in the Western Conference.
Sue Bird added 16 and Tanisha Wright 14 for Seattle (21-2), which won its 12th consecutive game. The Storm are 12-0 at home and 16-0 in conference play.
Diana Taurasi scored 27 and DeWanna Bonner 19 to lead Phoenix (10-13), which had won three in a row. The second-place Mercury dropped 11 games behind the Storm.
The Storm rallied from an 18-point halftime deficit to lead 65-64 early in the fourth quarter after Tanisha Wright scored on a three-point play.
The Mercury briefly regained the lead before 3-pointers by Wright and Jackson helped give the Storm a 77-68 lead with 5:18 left and cap a 33-7 run from midway through the third quarter.
Taurasi scored 16, Bonner 12 and Temeka Johnson 11 to help the Mercury to a 56-38 halftime lead.
Houston opened the 1998 season with a 25-2 record.
Copyright 2010 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited]]></description>
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      <title><![CDATA[Los Angeles uses defense to defeat Minnesota]]></title>
      <link>http://www.wnba.com/games/20100727/LASMIN/gameinfo.html?rss=true</link>
      <description><![CDATA[MINNEAPOLIS (AP) For Los Angeles Sparks coach Jennifer Gillom, Tuesday night's 71-58 victory at Minnesota was very significant.
Not only were the Sparks a game back of the Lynx for the final playoff spot in the WNBA's Western Conference. Not only was Los Angeles looking for its first winning streak of the season. But Gillom was playing against the team she coached just a year ago.
And that's why Gillom had a huge smile on her face afterward.
``You don't even know, a lot of satisfaction,'' said Gillom, who led Minnesota to a 14-20 record last season. ``I'm not going to lie, it's a great feeling to be back here with familiar faces and it's where I got my start. To come back and win is pretty amazing. It was a little emotional for me tonight, but it's a great win.''
Because besides securing a little vindication, Gillom watched her team play the way she would like - limiting turnovers, sharing the ball, rebounding and playing stingy defense.
Three days after using offense to win at Connecticut, Los Angeles (8-16) used its defense to win at Minnesota. The Sparks limited the Lynx (7-15) to 26 percent shooting overall and only 42 points over the final three quarters. In the second quarter, Los Angeles' zone defense contributed to Minnesota going only 2-for-20 from the floor.
Most importantly, Los Angeles held Minnesota star Seimone Augustus to a season-low six points. Minnesota's leading scorer, Augustus missed her first seven field goal attempts and was held without a basket before making a 3-pointer with 8:12 left in the third quarter.
``That's very rewarding, especially limiting Seimone because that's very hard to do,'' said Sparks center Tina Thompson, who led all scorers with 24 points. ``In my opinion, she's the most versatile player in the WNBA. She does a little bit of everything well, she has every shot you could think of on the court. Our guards did a great job on her and our zone helped.''
Thompson and Noelle Quinn (17 points) provided much of the offense for a Los Angeles team that trailed by as many as 12 points in the first quarter. Marie Ferdinand-Harris added 12 points for the Sparks.
It was clear that the Sparks, who now have two victories over the Lynx, knew the playoff implications of this game.
``We're a good team and sometimes when you can't put a string of wins together, your confidence can go down and you can start looking at each other,'' Quinn said. ``It's very satisfying to know that we have our first winning streak of the season.''
Leading 29-26 at halftime, the Sparks steadily stretched their cushion in the second half. Ferdinand-Harris scored 10 of her points in the third quarter and her transition basket with 2:54 to play in the third quarter gave Los Angeles a 46-39 lead. The lead grew to double digits in the fourth and the Sparks led 68-56 when Quinn drove to the basket and scored with 2:36 to play.
Lindsay Whalen and Monica Wright each finished with 12 points to lead Minnesota.
``I don't know where I can even start with any one thing,'' Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said. ``Probably the most frustrating thing is our inability to get the ball in the hole. In a game with this magnitude, you know (against) a team that is fighting for a playoff spot, we just haven't quite grasped how to win those kind of games.''
For the Sparks, a victory in an important game provides some much-needed confidence and momentum.
``This team is capable of making the playoffs and that is something we have really picked up lately,'' Gillom said.
Copyright 2010 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited]]></description>
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      <title><![CDATA[Greene, Pierson lead Liberty past Silver Stars]]></title>
      <link>http://www.wnba.com/games/20100727/SANNYL/gameinfo.html?rss=true</link>
      <description><![CDATA[NEW YORK (AP) The New York Liberty bounced back from a disappointing loss and got needed victory to keep pace in the Eastern Conference.
Rookie Kalana Greene scored a season-high 17 points, Plenette Pierson had 16 and the Liberty beat the San Antonio Silver Stars 77-72 Tuesday night. Cappie Pondexter added 13 points and Leilani Mitchell 10.
``It's awesome when we play great basketball, great team basketball,'' said Pondexter, who shot 4 for 12 from the field and finished eight points below her season average. ``It feels good not having to force everything or take all the shots.''
The Liberty (12-11) won for the fifth time in seven games and remained one game behind Connecticut for the fourth and final playoff position in the East.
``Right now we are trying to get to climb up to fourth, hopefully third and you never know, maybe we get to second,'' Pondexter said. ``We are going to keep fighting. We've shown a lot of resilience. We play hard, we work hard and we we just hope that it pays off.''
Greene, Pierson and Essence Carson helped the Liberty reserves outscore their Silver Stars counterparts 41-10. Pierson shot 8 for 10 from the field and Greene was 7 for 11.
``Plenette, Kalana, Essence all came in and gave us a big lift,'' Liberty coach Anne Dononvan said. ``More than half of our points came from those three, and 11 boards to go with it. When your number is called you've got to be ready to go. ... All three stepped up.''
Chamique Holdsclaw scored 18 points and Michelle Snow had 14 to lead the Silver Stars (8-15), losers of eight of their last 11. Sophia Young added 12 points and Becky Hammon 10.
``We've lost 4 or 5 games in the last stretch to a one-possession game,'' Hammon said. ``It's tough, we're having to battle through some things and we're just not closing well.''
The Liberty have had problems with that, too. New York was coming off an 82-75 loss at Atlanta on Sunday in which it led by a point with less than 3 minutes to go, but was outscored 11-0 until Mitchell hit a 3-pointer at the final buzzer. Against San Antonio, the Liberty built an eight-point lead early in the fourth quarter and held on for the win.
The Silver Stars got no closer than four until Roneeka Hodges' 3 with 44 seconds left pulled San Antonio to 75-72.
Pondexter lost the ball on the ensuing Liberty possession, but they got the ball back on a jump ball. Mitchell was fouled and made a free throw with 20.4 seconds to go, giving New York a four-point lead.
Hodges missed a long 3 on San Antonio's next possession. Carson missed two free throws for the Liberty with 16.1 seconds left. The Silver Stars turned the ball over on their ensuing possession and Taj McWilliams-Franklin hit a free throw with 5.8 seconds remaining to seal the win.
``We had stops tonight where we didn't get them in Atlanta,'' Donovan said. ``We've had different games where that's happened, at the end of games. There's no easy games in this league. No team is going to walk away with a big win. There's not been a game we haven't been in. In Atlanta, we just didn't close it down with stops. ... Tonight, we did. We got stops when we had to have them.''
New York also had a late letdown last Tuesday at Connecticut. The Liberty led by 13 points with more than 4 minutes left in regulation, but allowed the Sun to tie it before New York prevailed in overtime.
``We keep putting ourselves in a hole,'' said Greene, whose 3-pointer gave the Liberty a 67-59 lead with 8:11 left. ``We have a lead and give ourselves a cushion, then teams go on their run. We expect teams to go on a run, but it's how we react and we reacted beautifully (tonight).''
Mitchell made three 3-pointers and has 17 in the last five games while shooting 61 percent from beyond the arc during the stretch. For the season, she is at 46 percent.
``Lei is one of the best 3-point shooters in the league,'' Pondexter said. ``Teams are starting to realize that you can't leave her open. She's deadly.''
After Mitchell hit a 3 to open the third quarter, San Antonio scored the next six points to take a 42-39 lead on Holdsclaw's layup with about 8 minutes to go in the period. Pondexter had a layup and made two free throws to put the Liberty ahead 45-44 nearly 2 1/2 minutes later. Snow follwed with two free throws of her own to regain San Antonio's lead.
However, Pierson had hit a jumper to put New York ahead again, 47-46 near the midpoint of the third, and the Liberty didn't trail again.
Copyright 2010 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited]]></description>
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      <title><![CDATA[Jones lifts Sun to win over Mystics]]></title>
      <link>http://www.wnba.com/games/20100727/WASCON/gameinfo.html?rss=true</link>
      <description><![CDATA[UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) Asjha Jones scored 10 of her season-high 23 points in the fourth period and the Connecticut Sun snapped a two-game losing streak with an 88-78 win over the Washington Mystics on Tuesday night.
The Sun (13-10) moved with a half-game of the Mystics (13-9) for third place in the Eastern Conference.
Renee Montgomery scored 17 points for the Sun, while Tina Charles had 15 points and nine rebounds.
Crystal Langhorne had 23 points to lead Washington.
The Mystics, who trailed by as many as 16 in the third period, crept to within 71-69 on Katie Smith's 3-pointer with 6:13 left.
But Jones scored the next four points for the Sun, to push the lead back to six.
``Asjha wasn't going to let us lose,'' Connecticut coach Mike Thibault said.
Jones, who was Connecticut's leading scorer a season ago, has been slow to recover from an Achilles' tendon injury she sustained late last season.
``Coming into the game, I felt good,'' Jones said.
Kara Lawson had 11 points and seven assists for the Sun, including a driving layup with 48 seconds left to give Connecticut an 83-78 lead. Tan White, who made four late free throws, had 10 points.
``That's the kind of game that's going to happen a lot in the next few weeks,'' Thibault said. ``It's that close in our conference.''
Monique Currie had 18 for the Mystics and Marisa Coleman finished with 12, including three 3-pointers in the fourth period.
``Connecticut is a great team,'' Washington coach Julie Plank said. ``They were hungry after some tough losses. Every game from here is going to be tough. I was glad we came back, but can't afford to get down by that much on the road in a playoff race.''
The Sun shot 64 percent from 3-point range in the first half (7 of 11) and took a 43-31 halftime lead.
Montgomery's 3-pointer capped an 11-0 run early in the second period that snapped a 19-19 tie and gave the Sun a 30-19 lead.
Kerri Gardin, White and Montgomery made three consecutive 3-pointers in the first period to give the Sun a 17-10 lead.
Copyright 2010 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited]]></description>
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      <title><![CDATA[Catchings' double-double leads Fever past Sky]]></title>
      <link>http://www.wnba.com/games/20100727/CHIIND/gameinfo.html?rss=true</link>
      <description><![CDATA[INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Tamika Catchings had 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Indiana Fever to a 78-74 win over the Chicago Sky on Tuesday night for their fifth straight win.
Briann January added 15 points and Katie Douglas scored 13 for the Fever (16-7). Catchings' double-double was the 65th of her career, tying her for seventh all-time in WNBA history.
Indiana beat Chicago for the fifth time, marking the first time a team has beaten an opponent five times in the same regular season.
Sylvia Fowles had 18 points and eight rebounds, and Shay Murphy scored 12 for the Sky (12-13), who had won four of five entering the game.
The Fever remain one game ahead of Atlanta (16-9) for first place in the Eastern Conference.
Copyright 2010 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited]]></description>
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      <title><![CDATA[Lyttle lifts Dream over Shock 105-89]]></title>
      <link>http://www.wnba.com/games/20100727/ATLTUL/gameinfo.html?rss=true</link>
      <description><![CDATA[TULSA, Okla. (AP) Sancho Lyttle had 20 points and 14 rebounds and Iziane Castro Marques scored 23 points to help the Atlanta Dream beat the Tulsa Shock 105-89 Tuesday.
Ivory Latta led Tulsa with 23 points, a season high by any Shock player.
``We stayed very focused,'' Castro Marques said. ``From the beginning, we got out to a good start, maintained the lead from there, and that's what we did.''
Atlanta (16-9) scored at will, and the WNBA's best rebounding team outrebounded Tulsa 44-30. Alison Bales had 12 for Atlanta.
The Dream shot 51.9 percent and made 19 of 25 free throws.
The Shock (4-20), made it 18-14 late in the first quarter, but were outscored 26-4 over the next eight minutes.
``I guess it's the same old song, maybe a different tune at times, but the first half was an ugly half,'' Tulsa coach Nolan Richardson said. ``And that's the thing that has worried me in the second half of basketball, is our team not showing up. But in the second half today, I thought we played a lot better than we did in the first half, and executed a lot better and made a few shots.''
Copyright 2010 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited]]></description>
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      <title><![CDATA[First Half Wrapup with Iziane Castro Marques]]></title>
      <link>http://www.wnba.com/features/first_half_wrap_castromarques_100727.html?rss=true</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Iziane Castro Marques is doing her part to keep the Atlanta Dream contenders in the Eastern Conference. Averaging a career-best 16.8 points per game this season, Castro Marques ranks second on the team in scoring behind only Angel McCoughtry.
Izi recently sat with WNBA.com to discus the Dream's season and what it's going to take to remain a threat in the East.
WNBA.com: Atlanta was off to a ridiculously good start, winning six in a row to start the season. And now it's all about closing out strong. Let's talk about that a bit.
Iziane Castro Marques: At the beginning I don't think anybody knew how good we could be, besides the coaches of course. We kind of looked around and saw how the team would look this season and all the changes that we had. So as we started going we just saw how good we could be and we just started to play that way. I think a great advantage is that we're quick, young and have great rebounders. That makes our game perfect. Rebound the ball, we run and we can defend too. I think not many teams can keep up with us playing that way. So that's how we set our past all through the first half of the season. That's been worthwhile for us. When we don't play like that, we don't win. When we play like that, we win and nobody can keep it up. And I think that's what we have to do in the second half too. Just keep it working as good as we can. When things don't go our way, we have great players like Sancho (Lyttle), Erika (de Souza), Angel (McCoughtry) and myself that can take the game over sometimes and just try to get the win.
WNBA.com: You're having a pretty incredible season yourself so far. Just the other night you scored a season-high of 32 against the Sun. Personally, what is it like to go out there and be the person who helped your team win?
Castro Marques: It's great. I am embrace that leader part on my team. I am the oldest so they look out for me too. Me and Angel just take turns. That game was just like that. I was like, “Your turn, I'm tired.” And then she would say, “Iz, I'm tired, your turn.” So it's great. The coaches let me play my game and I feel very comfortable. I know my group, my teammates and like I said, I'm the oldest and they look out for me. Sometimes it's just a word that will help them to be better and give them the confidence that they need.
WNBA.com: You hit on a good point there too. Between you, Angel, Erika and Sancho, you guys do kind of play that “your turn, my turn” game. But on a night where you are not all on the same page, how do you right the ship?
Castro Marques: That's where the fire comes in. That's one of the things that we have too, some great fires. Sometimes we are down 10 or 15 points in the second half of the game and we just come back in the game and the fourth quarter is ours. And we go back to win the game because we have that fire inside of us. All of my teammates don't like to lose. We never give up. We always fight for any ball on the court, any play, so we always think there's a possibility to win. So that's what makes us, when things don't go our way, make things happen.
WNBA.com: Last season was quite the turnaround for the Dream. In only the franchise's second season, you guys made it to the playoffs but got bumped in the first round. If and when the playoffs roll around for Atlanta again, what does the team have to do differently this time around?
Castro Marques: Well, we definitely don't like to be kicked out of the first round (laughs). Last year we had two injured players that affected the team with Chamique [Holdsclaw] and Shalee Lehning and that kind of destroyed our rhythm at the time because we had some momentum going. Especially with Chamique, because we had a couple of games to take advantage of. But when Shalee got hurt, we didn't have any time and I think it really hurt us. So this year, we know how good we are. Everything's going well for us and we definitely think about being champions this year. I don't think we started the season thinking about that, but as the season's going we see how good we were and how we can beat anybody. You just a have to play hard and do what we're doing. If we keep doing that in the playoffs we definitely can think about the championship. We don't think about getting kicked off in the first round. We think about it all the way to the end and who knows? Maybe we get the ring on our fingers for next year. ]]></description>
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      <title><![CDATA[Race to the MVP: Week 11]]></title>
      <link>http://www.wnba.com/features/player_rankings_100727.html?rss=true</link>
      <description><![CDATA[SECAUCUS, N.J., July 27, 2010 -- As promised, we'll kick off this week's Race to the MVP with your e-mails.
If you watch Seattle play, you would know that Sue Bird is the one hitting the big shots at the most important pivotal points. Sue is having her best year ever, and Lauren is only picking up stats from routine playing time while really missing most of the interior shots she used to make. Lauren is not Seattle's &quot;go to&quot; player this year. Sue Bird is the primary reason for Seattle's awsome year. - Jakob, Iowa
While I definitely can agree with your observation (after all, Sue did hit that clutch three against the Mercury in that triple-overtime game two weeks ago), I think if you look at the big picture this season and match Jackson and Bird up against one another, LJ would come out on top. Now before you send along some hate mail, let's look at the comparison:
You might not catch Jackson running the offense at the point, which ideally is Bird's forte (5.5 assists per game, 2nd overall), but LJ has the better field-goal percentage, free-throw percentage and isn't far off from Bird's average from beyond the arc. You also have to consider Jackson's defensive play, where she ranks fifth overall in total blocks (30) and has hauled in 6.3 defensive rebounds per game (also fifth overall). Not to mention her five Player of the Week awards (a feat she matched in 2007 when she ultimately claimed the MVP) and two Player of the Month awards.
Again, I'm not diminishing the fact that Bird is a valuable piece of Seattle's success, but would she have the opportunity to nail a clutch shot if Jackson wasn't dropping an average of 21.8 points or snagging 9.2 boards per game? Besides, LJ can hit some clutch shots too. How about that three she nailed toward the end of the Lynx game a little over a week ago? Or the clutch free throws she made in that triple-overtime game against the Mercury? But let's be honest here: If we're going to sit and debate which member of the Storm is better than the other or more eligible for MVP consideration, we can at least both agree that Coach Agler is the one who wins in the end.
I think Angel should get it because she has scored over 20 points each game even though her team lost she has still done well in scoring, assists and some others.she is also hard working and never gives up when she has a bad night. Dionnedra, New Mexico
Last year's Rookie of the Year is looking even more impressive in her sophomore campaign, isn't she? I mean, she's playing with the grace and skill of a seasoned veteran and is more than willing to put the Dream on her back as they make a playoff run. While her scoring average is impressive, her efficiency takes a bit of a hit at times when she forces shots. Does this limit her chances as an MVP candidate? Absolutely not. As Angel continues to adapt to the WNBA and improve on her overall game, I think we'll start to see even bigger and better numbers down the line. Compared to last season, her three-point shot could use a little work, but you also have to consider she saw less court time last season - 21.6 mpg, compared to 31.3 this season. If not this season (which admittedly is not over yet), McCoughtry will likely be the one player the rest of the league is chasing in the future. Besides, all but one are giving chase this time around.
Race to the MVP - Overall Player Rankings
1. Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm (20-2)
# Last ranking: 1
I already got into the LJ argument above so there's not much more I can add that hasn't already been said. But if I have to find one thing, then let it be this: Over the past two seasons this time of the year has not favored Jackson, as injuries have sidelined her for the playoffs in two consecutive runs. Earlier in the season when LJ claimed her record-breaking 16th Player of the Week Award, she had this to say: &quot;Who knows what will happen if we go in there 100 percent healthy into the playoffs? I think that would be scary for a lot of people if we were completely healthy going into the playoffs.&quot; A healthy Storm team has already gone 20-2. Yes, scary indeed.
2. Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta Dream (15-9)
# Last ranking: 3
Angel McCoughtry makes the jump from three to two this week after helping the Dream snap a four-game losing streak. In what could only be described as a neck-and-neck battle with Tina Charles over the past few weeks has finally swayed in Angel's favor. For now at least. While Charles may have had a tough week (we'll get to that soon), the Dream's 1-4 record since returning from the break doesn't do Angel's numbers any justice. And while she'd probably be the first to tell you that she's not concerned about her personal achievements, it's hard to ignore the fact that she hasn't scored less than 20 points since she registered 10 back on July 1st against the Lynx. Since then Angel tied a season-high 32 and recorded two double-doubles.
3. Tina Charles, Connecticut Sun (12-10)
# Last ranking: 2
As I mentioned in the Week 11 Weekend Recap, Tina Charles has not posted up Tina Charles-esque numbers over the past few games. Against the Liberty, New York found ways to draw her out of the paint and into the perimeter, which in turn completely eliminated her rebounding options. She finished the game with 14 points and six boards and the Sun dropped a game to a Conference rival. Saturday against the Sparks was no better, as she finished the night with nine points and nine rebounds on 4-of-11 shooting, marking the first time in her young career that she's failed to register a double-double in two games. Mind you, that isn't so much a knock to her recent play as it is a credit to her overall ability. If she's good enough to warrant that sort of analysis than she's good enough to snap out of a slump. Rough weekend aside, Charles is still a top contender for the MVP trophy.
4. Sylvia Fowles, Chicago Sky (12-12)
# Last ranking: 4
Sylvia Fowles will rise and fall with the Chicago Sky, just as the Chicago Sky will rise and fall with Sylvia Fowles. Last week Fowles took a jump to No. 4 from the No. 7 slot. This week it's hard to adjust Fowles in either direction after she posted 12 points and 16 boards against the Liberty on Friday and 23 points and 12 boards Saturday against the Silver Stars. Might I also add that Fowles nailed her first career three-pointer against San Antonio this weekend. With one second left on the shot clock early in the fourth quarter, Shay Murphy inbounded a pass to Fowles who let one go from beyond the arc, banked it high off the glass and sank the prayer. Luck? Nah. Chicago's secret weapon has been revealed.
5. Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever (15-7)
# Last ranking: 5
Indiana is really starting to look like it has all the pieces in place. Perhaps this is the sort of thing Catchings had in mind when she said the team had to reach its peak to be ready to go for the playoffs. Or maybe Indiana has yet to reach its peak. Describe it anyway you'd like. Indiana is on fire in the East since returning from the break, posting a 4-1 record and knocking Atlanta from the No.1 spot. Catchings isn't the reason per se, but she's certainly a huge factor on both sides of the ball.
6. Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury (10-12)
# Last ranking: 8
There's something in the water in Phoenix. Either that, or this team has found the right chemistry and just the right time. The Mercury has won three straight and five of its last six behind Diana Taurasi's MVP-caliber play. She dropped 31 points Saturday in Phoenix's double-overtime win against the Lynx, 26 Thursday against the Shock (side note: in only 23 minutes of play) and toyed with the idea of setting a new single-game record when she dropped 44 points in the Mercury's triple-overtime loss to Seattle two weeks ago. This is the sort of play the Mercury can get behind. Taurasi's not only assuming her usual role as a leader-by-example, but she's also raising the game of everyone around her and it's starting to show in the standings.
7. Cappie Pondexter, New York Liberty (11-11)
# Last ranking: 7
Cappie Pondexter, much like Sylvia Fowles, stayed put in the same slot as last week's installment. Player of the Week honors aside, Cappie and Sylvia find themselves in a similar position. While Sylvia may be a bit higher in the rankings based on her points, rebounds and double-double streak, the one common element remains: if the dominate play of Cappie can translate to wins for New York, then she will move up the rankings as the Liberty moves up in the standings.
8. Crystal Langhorne, Washington Mystics (13-8)
# Last ranking: 6
Coach Julie Plank's &quot;Perfect 10&quot; (see also: last week's rankings) was near perfect Saturday against the Fever, hitting 5-of-6 shots from the field for 15 points and 13 boards. The feat may have marked her second straight double-double and 10th on the year, but the Mystics dropped a tough one to the Fever during a time when every game in the East is carrying serious playoff ramifications. No fault of hers though, as she continues to be the anchor of Washington's offense and a real factor in the team's playoff contention. This week she drops from sixth to eighth, but likely won't stay down for long if she can power the Mystics back into second place.
9. Candice Dupree, Phoenix Mercury (10-12)
# Last ranking: 12
Candice Dupree has spent the past 10 weeks in the &quot;Outside Looking In&quot; section of the Race to the MVP Rankings, varying from 11th place to 15th place along the way. But it's about time she cracks the Top 10, especially after her 32-point, 16-rebound night against the Lynx Saturday evening. But there are other elements to appreciate in Dupree's game. She is by far one of the most efficient scorers in the league, shooting a league-best .661. Only Washington's Crystal Langhorne comes close (.593). Dupree has also registered double figures in 20 of Phoenix's 22 games this season, her first with the team. Therein lies the rub: her first season in Phoenix. While she's certainly carrying her weight and Phoenix is starting to look more and more like a playoff contender with each passing game, there's no telling what Dupree is capable of as we head down the home stretch.
10. Sancho Lyttle, Atlanta Dream (15-9)
# Last ranking: 9
The month of July started off well for Sancho Lyttle as she registered a 10-14 double-double to kick things off. She has exhibited the same degree of consistency that the Dream has come to rely on all season, but she's falling short by just a rebound or two here or there to round out a double-double. Is a dub-dub a requirement in Race to the MVP Rankings? No. But a player like Lyttle is expected to be a battering ram in the paint and a vacuum under the rim. She may still be getting it done for the Dream, but not to the same degree that previously placed her at a higher point in the standings.
On the Outside Looking In (season averages)
11. Swin Cash (Seattle) 15.0 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.6 APG, 0.4 BPG, +15.00 EFF
12. Penny Taylor (Phoenix) 17.4 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.8 SPG, +19.55 EFF
13. Seimone Augustus (Minnesota) 19.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, +15.00 EFF
14. Erika de Souza (Atlanta) 12.8 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.8 SPG, +17.25 EFF
15. Rebekkah Brunson (Minnesota) 13.8 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 0.9 APG, 1.6 SPG, +18.41 EFF
# Dropped out: Monique Currie (Washington) ]]></description>
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      <title><![CDATA[12 Teams, Six Games, One Day]]></title>
      <link>http://www.wnba.com/news/12teams_oneday_100726.html?rss=true</link>
      <description><![CDATA[For the first time this season all 12 teams are in action in the same day, as a full slate of games is on tap for Tuesday starting at 1:30 PM ET.
As the season winds down and teams continue to jockey for position in the standings, you can't help but notice the playoff implications weighing on each and every matchup. On a day where the entire league will be buzzing, there's no better time than now to take note of the focal points in each game.
Atlanta Dream vs. Tulsa Shock – 1:30 PM ET on NBA TV
While this game may not have the total look and feel of a playoff game, it doesn't mean it can't alter postseason plans. Tulsa may very well be out of the picture at this point, given the team's 4-19 record. However, if you think the team's about ready to give up and roll over without a fight, you'd be mistaken. The Dream is still alive in the Eastern Conference after recently snapping a four-game skid this past weekend with a win over the Liberty. Since the break, Atlanta has posted a 1-4 record and dropped out of first place in the East. In an effort to maintain its place in the Conference and to potentially stake claim in home-court advantage come the end of August, Atlanta will come out firing on all cylinders to make sure the Shock doesn't pull off the upset.
Chicago Sky vs. Indiana Fever – 7 PM ET
Now here's an interesting matchup. While Indiana is looking to make a repeat run, Chicago remains hopeful that it can crack the postseason for the first time in franchise history. The Fever has been on a tear since returning from the break, winning four straight and claiming the No. 1 spot in the East. Tamika Catchings and Katie Douglas are hungry to return to the WNBA Finals this season and end the series with a different outcome than last time around. Chicago, currently tied for fifth place in the East with the New York Liberty, would be a second place team if they were in the West. However, since they are in the East, the competition is steep and each game from hereon in weighs heavily on the team's potential postseason berth. Sylvia Fowles has recorded a double-double in nine of her last 10 games. An injury to Shameka Christon has kept her out of the lineup since June 11, but the Sky has found ways to win in her absence. Rookie Epiphanny Prince, while somewhat inconsistent, has put up some strong numbers when she's “on.” The standings may label this as a Top vs. Bottom matchup, but don't think the Fever will take this game lightly. Even though Indiana holds a 4-0 lead on the season series, now is not the time to let up, especially when Chicago s playing with a win-or-die attitude.
Washington Mystics vs. Connecticut Sun – 7:30 PM ET
The battle between Washington and Connecticut is the sort of close-knit game you'd expect to see come this time of year. For these two teams, the difference between a win or loss could reward or punish by the end of the day. Should Washington win and Atlanta lose, then the Mystics can slip back into second place in the East. However if Washington loses, it will remain in third place, but Connecticut will have moved up one game in the standings to within striking distance of claiming third place. Heading into the game we will know beforehand whether or not to factor in the Atlanta-losing scenario. Either way you look at it, this is a chance for Washington to open up a bit more in the East or for Connecticut to pick up a game in the standings.
New York Liberty vs. San Antonio Silver Stars – 7:30 PM ET on ESPN2
New York, much like Chicago, is met with a must-win proposition heading into each game remaining on the team's schedule. The Silver Stars may not be intraconference opponents, but a win or loss could still pay dividends in the East. Cappie Pondexter, who continues to do everything in her power to keep the Liberty in contention, will be the obvious focal point on the Liberty side of the ball. For San Antonio, the veteran cast of Chamique Holdsclaw, Michelle Snow and Becky Hammon has had some trouble in finding a groove this season. The best win-streak San Antonio has put together was two straight back on May 20th and 22nd, registering wins over Los Angeles and Tulsa. Since then the schedule would appear to have taken on a win-loss-win-loss rhythm of sorts. But you can dissect it anyway you'd like and still come to the same conclusion: If the playoffs started today, the Silver Stars would be postseason bound. With Los Angeles and Minnesota hot on its trails, San Antonio can't take any games for granted.
Los Angeles Sparks vs. Minnesota Lynx – 8 PM ET
As mentioned above, Los Angeles and Minnesota are fast approaching San Antonio in the Western Conference standings. However, in a matchup that pits them against one another, the opportunity to pull away from the pack, if even just for one game, is an outcome both teams will be striving for. Although Minnesota has lost three straight, the Lynx can still take positives from the slump. For starters, the team has lost by no more than three points in either of those games. What's more, two of the three were hard-fought battles against top teams in the West; Seattle and Phoenix. In the end one could say they were still handed the loss, which is no doubt true. But in the grand scheme of things, the team's ability to play winning teams that closely could make them a potential sleeper pick going into the playoffs. All they have to do is guarantee they can get there. Then again, the same can be said of the Sparks. Despite a series of injuries derailing Los Angeles this season, the veteran leadership of Tina Thompson and the well-rounded play of Ticha Penicheiro keeps the Sparks in contention. There's still plenty of ground for Los Angeles to cover, but a win against Minnesota would put them in playoff position by the end of the day. Perhaps that's the easy part. The difficulty comes in maintaining that position for the remainder of the season.
Phoenix Mercury vs. Seattle Storm – 9:30 PM ET on ESPN2
The final game of the day pits the West's two hottest teams against one another in a match that will ultimately cut on win streak short. Will Seattle extend its streak to 12 straight? Can Phoenix top the Storm and extends its own streak to a season-best four in a row? No matter the case, each team comes into the game with 12 games remaining on the schedule. Since Seattle currently holds a 10-game lead over Phoenix, a Storm win would seal the No. 1 spot in the West. Seattle has shown the makings of a championship team throughout the course of the season, while Phoenix has more recently shown signs of returning to its championship form. Need proof? How about this: On three separate occasions this season, Phoenix has set new single-game scoring records. To make matters even more impressive, the Mercury set a new record of 123 points against the Shock two games ago and then followed up with 125 the very next game against the Lynx in a double-overtime win. The guns are blazing in Phoenix as they try to make a run through the Wild West's standings. If you needed just one more reason to watch these two teams face off again, just take a look at the last matchup; a triple-overtime game that ended (just barely) with a Storm victory. ]]></description>
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      <title><![CDATA[New York's Pondexter and Phoenix's Taurasi Named Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week]]></title>
      <link>http://www.wnba.com/news/players_of_the_week_100726.html?rss=true</link>
      <description><![CDATA[NEW YORK, July 26, 2010 – The New York Liberty's Cappie Pondexter and Phoenix Mercury's Diana Taurasi were named the WNBA's Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week presented by Kia Motors, respectively, for games played July 19-25. This is the second weekly honor for each player this season.
This marks the first season that Kia Motors – an official WNBA marketing partner – has presented the WNBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week award.
Pondexter earned the seventh Player of the Week honor of her career following a week in which she led the league in minutes (37.7 mpg), as New York posted a 2-1 record on the road. The Chicago native also was the league's fifth leading scorer (22.0 ppg) and tied for fifth in assists (6.0 apg). For the season, Pondexter ranks fourth in the league in scoring (21.2 ppg) and seventh in assists (5.0 apg).
Pondexter opened the week by scoring six of her game-high 24 points in overtime as the Liberty beat the host Connecticut Sun 82-74. She also added six rebounds and logged the first of three consecutive games with six assists. Pondexter next scored 16 points in a win at Chicago and capped the week with a team-high 26-point effort at Atlanta.

	
En route to earning the 12th Player of the Week award of her career, Taurasi led the defending champion Mercury to a pair of road wins in which Phoenix set a WNBA single-game scoring record in back-to-back games. On Thursday at Tulsa, Taurasi scored a game-high 26 points and added five assists in a 123-91 victory. Two days later she scored 11 of her 31 points in the second overtime and tied a league record for most free throws without a miss in a single game (14) as Phoenix defeated Minnesota 127-124 in the highest-scoring game in WNBA history. The sixth-year pro also contributed six rebounds and six assists against the Lynx as Phoenix further solidified its hold on second place in the Western Conference.
The league's leading scorer (23.8 ppg) thus far in 2010, Taurasi averaged 28.5 ppg during the week, second only to the 29.0 ppg posted by Minnesota's Seimone Augustus. She also tied for eighth in the league with 5.5 assists per game.
Other candidates for WNBA Player of the Week presented by Kia Motors were Atlanta's Angel McCoughtry, Chicago's Sylvia Fowles, Indiana's Briann January, Los Angeles' DeLisha Milton-Jones, Seattle's Lauren Jackson, Tulsa's Shanna Crossley and Washington's Crystal Langhorne.
The WNBA Western and Eastern Conference Player of the Week presented by Kia Motors are part of a series of oncourt performance awards called The WNBA Performance Awards Presented by Kia Motors. The series, currently in its second season, includes four of the WNBA's most prestigious year-end honors: Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, and Sixth Woman of the Year, along with the WNBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month. Kia Motors has been an official WNBA marketing partner since 2008.
For more information on this week's Players of the Week presented by Kia Motors winners, visit www.wnba.com/awards. ]]></description>
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