Doris Burke WNBA Television Personality Doris Burke is an original member of the WNBA's broadcast team, signing on as radio analyst for the New York Liberty in 1997. She also broadcasts WNBA, NBA, and men's and women's college basketball games for ESPN and ABC and is also a regular contributor to NBATV. After her career as a player at Providence College, where she set marks in career assists and free throws and is currently ninth in total scoring (1,372 points), Burke served as an assistant coach for her alma mater and was inducted into the Providence College Hall of Fame. She was the first woman to ever broadcast a New York Knicks game and has been nominated for an Emmy.

Joaquin Henson :  Nov 26 Martin comes of age Pondering the Playoffs Initial Thoughts on the 2005 Postseason With six of the eight teams set as of Friday morning, here are some initial thoughts heading into the weekend. I will be back once the rest of the matchups are set to give my take. Western Conference: Sacramento is an impressive team to watch in person. Sacramento's formula for success may not be sexy, but it is effective. This team's defensive philosophy is to keep fresh bodies on the floor at all times to apply great ball pressure, take away the high post/middle of the court, deny reversal passes and play very active post defense. Coach John Whisenant says he never watches the ball when his team is on the defensive end. Rather, he watches the feet and hands of the players off the ball. If he sees inactivity of any kind, he is making substitutions. The Monarchs thrive on rattling their opponents into mistakes and turning those into scoring chances. With Ticha Penecheiro playing perhaps the most well-rounded basketball of her career, a healthy Kara Lawson knocking down perimeter shots alongside Nicole Powell, Yolanda Griffith dominating the paint on both sides of the ball and a vastly improved Rebekkah Brunson filling in admirably for an injured DeMya Walker, Sacramento looks like the team to beat coming down the stretch. Seattle is clearly a talented, well-coached basketball team, and until someone takes it away, they remain WNBA champions. However, inconsistency has plagued this team and it just doesn't seem to have the same feel as a season ago. The concerns you must have if you are a Storm fan are these: 1. a defense which has been porous at times this season 2.an inability to win on the road, just 6-11 away from Key Arena. The good news for the Storm, Betty Lennox made her return this week. A first round match-up would be challenging. Houston boasts four Olympians with Swoopes, Thompson, Staley, and Arcain. With all that experience, this is a team which, despite its maddening inconsistency, that has got to worry teams. Swoopes is having yet another MVP season and has the ability to get hot and carry a team to wins. Thompson is a player that any coach would love to have in big spots. Dominique Canty continues to play solid basketball and has held down the starting job despite the addition of Staley. Staley, in tight spots, knows how to run a team and put the ball where it needs to be. Michelle Snow continues to improve and can be a factor in the paint on both ends. This is not a match-up I would want to face early in the playoffs. Phoenix and Los Angeles are still duking it out. Even if the Mercury are able to secure a spot in the playoffs, winning without Maria Stepanova would be tough. In a home loss to Houston on Thursday evening, the Mercury were outscored 42-22 in the paint. Having a 6-8 presence in the post relieves some of the pressure on the backcourt tandem of Anna DeForge and Diana Taurasi. Without a legit post, shots for this duo are harder to come by. L.A. is getting healthier. Lisa Leslie's production has risen steadily all year and when all is said and done, she will once again be among the league's leaders in several major categories. Chamique Holdsclaw has been Chamique Holdsclaw in purple; her numbers are outstanding. I'm just not sure that this team can pull itself together and have the chemisty necessary in time to provide a serious challenge in the playoffs. Eastern Conference: Connecticut has its concerns now after an impressive regular season. Coach Mike Thibault's frustration boiled over and led to his ejection after two technical fouls in their loss to Indiana on Tuesday. The Sun had been among the league leaders in scoring throughout the year, but have lost a bit of their flow or mojo on that end. In suffering only their second two game losing streak of the year, Connecticut scored only 58 and 63 points against New York and Indiana. Remaining is a home match-up with a desperate Washington team on Friday before closing out the regular season at Charlotte. With Sacramento's loss to Seattle on Thursday, all the Sun need to do is win one of their final two games to clinch homecourt throughout the playoffs by virtue of their tiebreak advantage over Sacramento. With Thibault at the helm, look for Connecticut to be ready. Indiana and New York will square off in round one of the playoffs. Indiana is a team that wins games on the strength of their defense. Tamika Catchings should be the Defensive Player of the Year in the WNBA. But lets give some credit to this organization for the acquisition of Tully Bevilaqua. She helped Seattle win a championship last year as the first person off the bench and made Sue Bird a better player in practice everyday. Bevilaqua is a tough on-ball defender and, along with Catch, gives the Fever the top leaders in steals in the WNBA. New York has been impressive in the absence of injured All-Star center Ann Wauters. Guard Becky Hammon has performed at a First Team All-WNBA level all season, but when Wauters went down, Hammon raised her level even more. Vickie Johnson, when healthy, is still a capable scorer. When she is putting points on the board, the Liberty go to another level offensively. Elena Baranova suffered an ankle sprain in the loss to Charlotte on Thursday evening... the Liberty need her in the postseason to be successful. Hats off to G.M. Carol Blazejowski and the coaching staff for the acquisition of La'Keisha Frett in '04 and Catherine Kraayeveld in '05. Both players fit into Coach Coyle's system and stay within their box. Both don't mind the dirty work, setting screens, playing defense or boxing out. And neither takes bad shots. Experience is on the Liberty's side. Detroit picked up a big, if not pretty, win on Thursday evening, beating Indiana 55-40 at the Palace. Washington has a tough out with a game in Connecticut on Friday before facing Detroit at home on Saturday. The early losses at home will, I think, eventually cost Washington a spot in the playoffs. This would set up a first round meeting between Detroit and Connecticut. Oh, the possibilities. Detroit is 3-1 vs Connecticut in 2005 and has outscored the Sun in the paint, 146-74. Detroit is one of the most physically-imposing teams in the league and one has the feeling this would be both a physical and mental challenge for Connecticut. If this series happens, it could be great! We'll know everything in 48 hours. In the meantime, enjoy these final games and get ready for another wild postseason. Posted by Doris Burke - Aug 26 2005 7:53AM How the West Was Won Previewing Seattle at Sacramento at 4 p.m. ET Saturday on ABC These two teams will square off twice in a five day span. The West title has been decided, but there is still plenty on the line. As Seattle has not proven it can consistently win on the road (5-10), the Storm would like nothing better than to gain some confidence for the postseason by beating the Monarchs at Arco Arena while also keeping the pressure on Houston in the race for second place in the West. The Monarchs are trying to keep winning games with a chance for homecourt throughout the playoffs, though Connecticut is clearly making that difficult. In the only prior meeting between these teams back on July 3rd, Lauren Jackson lit up the Monarchs with 31 points, 13 rebounds. She was joined in double figures by Suzy Batkovic who had 14 points. The Storm tries to blow teams away with scoring, averaging a league-leading 73 points per game. The Monarch reign by giving up a league-low 68 points per game. Which will prevail, offense or defense? DeMya Walker's return from a knee injury experienced a hiccup with a sprain in the Monarch's latest win, a 64-57 victory over San Antonio on Thurday night. Although Rebekkah Brunson seems to get better on a nightly basis, Walker's availability in the postseason would make Sacramento's chances for a title better. With Walker's quick first step in face-up situations, along with a legit 15-foot jumpshot and competitive attitude, the Monarchs are a much harder team to guard with her in the lineup. Though I usually pick a winner, this game is a toss-up. Posted by Doris Burke - Aug 19 2005 11:41AM

Handing Out the Hardware Postseason awards predictions With the end of the regular season a week away, it is time to narrow selections for postseason hardware. Usually at this point, my selections for all of the major awards, MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Coach and Rookie of the Year, are firmly established in my mind. It is just a matter of putting pen to paper before the deadline. Not so in the Summer of 2005. Coach of the Year and MVP candidates abound. Thankfully, there is another full week before ballots are due. In the meantime, here are some thoughts. MVP Lauren Jackson has played at a consistently high level on both ends of the floor. She is number one in the league in efficiency, a formula which factors in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, field goals made and attempted and turnovers. Consider that since entering the league in 2001, her lowest scoring average, (during her rookie campaign), is 15 points. How is it that she can average 18 points, 9 rebounds, get 9 double-doubles, average 35 minutes per game, get to the foul line 161 times, (all of which are in the Top 4 in the WNBA) and we think of this as 'normal?' Jackson has been a dominant force since entering this league. We shouldn't take her for granted. If I were trying to teach a young player how to play the game properly, I'd have her watch Tamika Catchings. You'd be hard pressed to find a player who plays harder or more unselfishly than Catch. A gifted offensive player who can score in a variety of ways and on virtually any single defender you could throw at her, Catchings is currently 7th in league with an assist average of 4.3 per game. Not surprisingly, she is second in the league in the aforementioned efficiency rating. Between points and assists, she is generating about 35% of Indy's scoring. But Indiana wins games based on their team defense and Catchings is a force on that side of the ball. She has a league-leading 2.9 steals per game and 7.9 rebounds per game, good for third in WNBA. Sheryl Swoopes's numbers are no less impressive. She leads the league in points and minutes per game. She is second in steals with 2.0 per game, third in free throws attempted and tenth with 4.1 assists per game. In the early absence of Tina Thompson, Swoopes provided the productivity and leadership necessary to vault the Comets back into playoff contention, a year after the proud franchise missed the postseason for the first time in its history. After a subpar 2004, a season in which Swoopes' game and age were questioned, she has put to rest any suggestion that she has slowed down. Sheryl still has the most dangerous first step in the WNBA. Sacramento and Connecticut both have viable candidates for the MVP award. Yolanda Griffith has led a revamped Monarch squad to the top of the Western Conference. The former MVP has been solid from both a productivity and leadership standpoint. Connecticut has two legitimate candidates in Nykesha Sales and Taj McWilliams-Franklin. Their respective teams balance may hurt the candidacy of these three players. DeMya Walker was the most dominant force on the Monarchs in the early part of the season before injuring her knee. Some would argue that Lindsay Whalen is the most valuable piece in the Connecticut puzzle. If either of these teams comes away with the championship, the regular season MVP will seem rather inconsequential. Coach of the Year Van Chancellor's Comets missed the playoffs for the first time last season and entered this year without a clear timetable for Tina Thompson's return. Even as Thompson returned, how effective could she be after giving birth in May? Sheryl Swoopes was coming off her worst season as a pro and the Comets still had no 'true' point guard. In the face of all these questions, Houston sits on 17 wins and could still finish in second place in the West. Who out there would have predicted that at the start of the year? Brian Winters saw his team finish 2004 in less than feverish fashion. Indiana dropped their final four games and missed the playoffs. There has been no such swoon this season as the Fever keep stringing together wins, trying desperately to fight off New York for 2nd place in the East. Winters and Indiana won't win any style points as this team guts out wins on the strength of gritty team defense. The acquisition of Tully Bevilaqua, a tenacious on-ball defender, was perfect for this organization. Mike Thibault had the Sun within a jumpshot of a championship last season. As a result, some would argue that Connecticut is doing what it should be doing this year. I disagree. Two wins in the last four games would give the Sun the best winning percentage in Eastern Conference history. Last year, the Sun won 18 games; this year they've already bested that by 7. The acquisition of Margo Dydek in the offseason, though not without its challenges, has paid big dividends for the Sun. And the good thing about dividends, if you stay invested, they just keep paying. Connecticut has a chance to keep the Sun shining in the Nutmeg state late into September, something all New Englanders can appreciate. Monarchs coach John Whisenant has had to make adjustments all season long. DeMya Walker had to become more of a focal point in the absence of Tangela Smith. Nicole Powell had to find her confidence and her footing in a new city, on a new team. Chelsea Newton needed to be prepared to start as a rookie. Whisenant then had to contend with the injuries to Kara Lawson and Walker and still maintain his advantage in the competitive Western Conference. Rebekkah Brunson needed to step up and become more of a force in the absence of Walker. Players make plays; coaches put their players in positions to do that. Coach Whiz has done all that all season while clinching the Western Conference regular season crown. This list could be even longer. Richie Adubato has the Mystics competing for a playoff spot this late in the season. Pat Coyle has the Liberty in position to finish as high as second. And after a wealth of changes in the off-season and some bumps in the road, Anne Donovan has the Storm primed again to wreak havoc come the postseason. All are worthy of some thought. Rookie of the Year Ah, at last, an easy one!! Temeka Johnson of the Washington Mystics has been stellar in arguably the toughest, most important position in the game, point guard. Coming out of LSU, Johnson's 5-3 frame was of major concern to many coaches/general managers. It need not have been. Thus far, Johnson has averaged just under 10 points per game with a better than 2:1 assist to turnover ratio, all while standing second overall with 5.3 assists per game. She knows how to run a team, can get into the lane and can knock down open shots. San Antonio's Katie Feenstra and Indiana's Tan White each had productive rookie campaigns. Feenstra's size and skill will help make her a productive post in the future. Tan White possesses the kind of physical gifts that can make her special. Defensive Player of the Year At number one in steals and number 3 in defensive rebounds, Tamika Catchings gets the nod. Indiana, as a unit, is one of the better defensive teams in the league. Catchings can guard multiple positions and her anticipation skills makes teams want to go away from her. She has been close to winning this award in the past. This year she breaks through. Posted by Doris Burke - Aug 19 2005 10:23AM

A War of Words Detroit Shock visit the Connecticut Sun this weekend In the aftermath of Detroit's 66-57 home win over Connecticut on July 20th, Bill Laimbeer and Mike Thibault exchanged words. Each has their own version of what transpired. Bill Laimbeer maintains that Thibault took exception to the uncontested three Deanna Nolan took at the end of a game that had already been decided. With regards to the shot, Thibault was quoted as saying, 'a pro should know better.' He also says that the shot was NOT the issue. His version is that after the game he said, 'good job', to which he was expecting a like reponse from Laimbeer. Instead, he believes Laimbeer made a comment that was uncalled for. The saga continued with the following quotes as highlights: Laimbeer: "He called me some four-letter words, and I called him a name you don't want to hear." Thibault: "He revealed his true class. He should have just enjoyed the win and gone in the lockerroom." All of this pregame drama makes for must-see tv. Add to the mix that ESPN will feature 'live' mics on both head coaches and the possibilities are simply delicious! Detroit leads the season series 2-1, with both wins coming on their home floor. The Shock need as many wins as they can muster to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Sun have a four-game lead in the East and need to keep winning in order to control the homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. With a franchise-tying-record 18 wins, Connecticut stands 3 games up on Sacramento, 15-7, in the win column. Over the last 8 games, a span in which the Sun are 6-2, Connecticut has allowed only one team to score 70 points, a 73-70 win over New York on Thursday night. They also lead the league in opponents field goal percentage defense, holding teams to .401 shooting. The Sun keep teams off balance with an array of defenses. Opponents must be prepared to face man to man, zone, traps, etc. When they are active and aggressive, decision making is at a premium. After boasting in the preseason that the Shock would win the East in dominant fashion while averaging 80 points per game, Bill Laimbeer's team has suffered through an inconsistent season. Jumping out to a 4-0 record, it looked as though Laimbeer would prove prophetic. Reality crashed in between June 8th and June 24th, a span which saw Detroit drop 5 of 6 games. If the season were to end today, they would be on the outside looking in. A major factor in Detroit's decline has been the hangover effect of the ACL tear Swin Cash suffered last season. Along with an array of basketball skills, the Shock lost their leadership. Deanna Nolan has performed admirably all season. Cheryl Ford remains one of the most dominant rebounders in the league. But inconsistency at other positions has cost the Shock. Ruth Riley, more than any other player, has been impacted by the late return of Cash. Teams are aware that they must take away Riley's ability to shoot from fifteen feet, and without Swin to draw multiple defenders, things are no easier in the post. Elaine Powell's five game suspension took its toll as well. The Sun are undefeated at home, a perfect 10-0. Detroit is just 2-7 on road and on a two game skid. Emotions will run high in this one. The Sun prevail and pick up a needed conference win. Posted by Doris Burke - Jul 29 2005 1:08PM

Battle of the Last Two Champions Detroit visits Seattle on Saturday This matchup features the last two WNBA champions and, yet, as we approach the stretch run, neither team has put itself in solid position for a playoff spot. Prior to the season, expectations were high for both teams. Seattle had just won its first championship behind young stars Lauren Jackson, Sue Bird and Betty Lennox. Detroit won the league title just 2 seasons ago behind its young stars, Swin Cash, Cheryl Ford and Ruth Riley. The key phrase in each of the last two sentences, 'young stars'! Seattle need look no further than Detroit to know that defending a title requires a certain level of maturity. It is an entirely different deal to be the young, hungry team pursuing a championship than it is to have the label, 'defending champion.' Detroit: The Shock picked up a critical home win against East leading Connecticut last time out. It was critical because Detroit needs to keep pace with New York for what is, right now, the last playoff spot in the East, and because the Shock now stare at five of their next six on the road. Their immediate future features a tough back to back, at Seattle on Saturday and at Sacramento on Sunday. Perhaps the best news to come out of the Connecticut win, the defense. Detroit held the one of the leagues highest scoring teams to 35 percent shooting, including 21 percent from 3-point range. Coach Bill Laimbeer has criticized his team all year for a lack of intensity. It is never a good thing when the coaching staff brings more competitive energy than the players on the floor. When Detroit is at its best, the Shock guard hard, dominate the glass and get out and run. Deanna Nolan is posting career highs with 16.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4 assists per game. She has been forced on multiple occasions to carry this team to wins. Swin Cash will play in her 7th game after returning from a knee injury. Her production and minutes are what one could expect, 6 points and 4 rebounds. Swin, in all likelihood, will not round into full form until next season. That means the Shock must get more productivity out of Ruth Riley and Cheryl Ford. Both players' scoring averages are down from a season ago. Elaine Powell sits this one out as the fifth game in a league-imposed five-game suspension. Sheila Lambert has been serviceable as a replacement, but Powell's reinstatement should boost the Shock. Seattle: Six of the Storm's final 13 games come against teams they are looking up at in the Western Conference standings, including two games each against Minnesota and Sacramento. Conference wins mean more than just a number in a win column, as the first tie break in the WNBA is conference record. And remember, the 2004 regular season was not always stellar for the Storm, but when the playoffs hit, Anne Donovan had this team prepared. The two most pressing concerns are the health of Lauren Jackson's right ankle and this team's inconsistency on the defensive side of the ball. Jackson resprained her surgically repaired right ankle last game out against the New York Liberty. She is expected to play. She simply must be healthy enough to be effective down the stretch for this team to have a shot at defending its title. The Storm also need to start guarding people... Seattle is dead last in points per game allowed giving up a porous 71.8 ppg. In the playoffs last season, only one time did Seattle allow a team to score 70 points. Injuries have impacted this team. Sue Bird's broken nose, Jackson's ankle and Janell Burse's ankle have all tested this teams toughness and ability to withstand adversity. But time is running short. Seattle is 7-3 at home. Detroit is just 2-5 on road. Seattle is riding a three-game wining streak. Detroit just snapped a three-game skid. I like the Storm in a tight one. Posted by Doris Burke - Jul 22 2005 5:37PM

Raising the Curtain on Act II, continued A team-by-team look at the second half: Western Conference And now for the Western Conference: Sacramento: The remainder of July is a critical time for the Monarchs as they play 7 of their next 8 games at Arco Arena. Win a significant portion of the battles before the end of the month and the pressure is on the remainder of the West to keep up with the conference leader. Sac will not win any beauty contests with their style, but as Al Davis so aptly put it: "Just win baby"... and that is exactly what they've done so far. Tangela Smith's departure to Charlotte has enabled DeMya Walker to elevate her play to All-Star status. Walker's quick first step in face-up situtations, serviceable jumpshot from 15 feet and athleticism are a handful to deal with for any defense. Couple her production with Yolanda Griffith and you have a combined 28 points and 12 rebounds per game. After languishing on the bench in Charlotte, Nicole Powell provides Sacramento with perimeter punch, albeit a bit inconsistent at times. For the Monarchs to advance deep into the playoffs, Kara Lawson must be healthy. Lawson's toughness and consistent perimeter shooting will prohibit teams from collapsing on the inside tandem of Walker and Griffith. The players and experience and perhaps most importantly, the hunger for a championship is there. Houston: Sheryl Swoopes is healthy and happy, a dangerous combination. There is not a better 1st step in the league. Janeth Arcain remains the consummate professional willing to whatever is necessary for the organization. Michelle Snow is on the verge of being scary good in the paint. Dominque Canty has comported herself well at the point position. In Van Chancelor's words, 'Kristen Rasmussen is the best non-stat player in the league, always in the right place at the right time.' Team chemisty is as good as it has been in awhile. All of this has enabled the Comets to position themselves within a half game of West-leading Sacramento. Keep in mind, this has been achieved without perennial All-Star Tina Thompson, (on the Injured List after giving birth to her first child in May.) While the timetable for Tina remains uncertain, the expectation is that she will be back within the next couple of weeks. And while stamina and conditioning issues may be a factor for Thompson throughout the remainder of this season, there are not many players in the league I'd rather have on my team come crunch time. A four-time WNBA champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, Thompson's presence on the floor will command the respect of opposing defenses. She could be effective in spots and that might just be enough. Houston, with Sancho Lyttle, Tari Phillips and Adrienne Goodson off the bench, is as deep as this team has been in its history. This team to be a major player in the second half. Los Angeles: The popular choice for league champion in the preseason. And why not? On paper, the Sparks are as individually talented as any team in the league. But is this team a 'paper tiger'? Talent doesn't always translate to championship. By far the most important off-season trade brought Chamique Holdsclaw to the 'city of angels' and her numbers have been divine, leading the team with 19 points and 7 rebounds. Lisa Leslie, bothered by a groin injury throughout the first half of the season, has still put up impressive numbers (15 points, 6 boards). Questions about these respective stars and their ability to co-exist have been laid to rest. Now the supporting cast must do its part. L.A. welcomes back Mawadi Mabika, one of the best athletes in the league. Mabila missed the first 16 games while recovering from knee surgery. She gives the Sparks athleticism and consistent scoring from the perimeter, either with the jumpshot or off the bounce. Nikki Teasley bears the responsibility of running a new system under first year head coach Henry Bibby. Her numbers are not up to her capabilities as she is averaging only 4 assists, while shooting just 33 percent from the floor. Her second half performance and the health of Tamecka Dixon (ankle), will play a significant role in the long-term success of this team. Minnesota: Congratulations to Katie Smith on scoring her 5000th point! There is something very special about having the chance to watch sustained excellence. Smith has been a scoring force since her collegiate days at Ohio State University. With a Final Four appearance, 2 Olympic Golds and 2 ABL championships, Katie has been at the top of this sport for a long time. Smith has put a timetable on the remainder of her career, saying she'll play 3 more seasons before pursuing a career in dentistry. We'll enjoy every moment. While I believe the Lynx will remain in contention for the playoffs, they may be a player or two away from a title. Second year player Nicole Ohlde continues to provide good numbers, 11 points, 6.5 rebounds from the post position. Svetlana Abrosimova, if she can keep her back healthy, can be an explosive slasher and spot up shooter for this team. This team simply must get better in the backcourt. Kristi Harrower is solid at the one and Amber Jacobs is a young talent with potential. However, the WNBA is increasingly explosive at the point and shooting guard postions (see Deanna Nolan, Lindsay Whalen, Becky Hammon, among many others). Suzie McConnell-Serio stokes the competitive embers of this team from the sideline... oh, if they only had Suzie in her prime as a player. Who knows how many points Smith might score in that scenario? Seattle: The Storm need to look no further than the Detroit Shock to know how hard it is to repeat as champions in an increasingly competitive WNBA. As reigning champions, the Storm are going to take oppenents best shots on a nightly basis. It takes a certain amount of maturity to contend with that. The Storm have a supremely talented trio in Lauren Jackson, Sue Bird and Betty Lennox. The supporting cast is solid with an ever-improving post presence in Janell Burse, the acquisition of Australian post Suzy Batkovic and small forward Izianne Castro-Marques. The next few weeks may go a long way in determining Seattle's chances of remaining in position to defend their crown. 7 of their first 8 games coming out of the All-Star break will be at Key Arena. The Storm went 5-2 at home in their first seven games... they must be at least that good during this stretch. As talented as this team is, they have been maddeningly inconsistent. Bird and Jackson have achieved at the highest levels. Jackson has an MVP award and a WNBA championship to go along with a couple of silver medals from the Olympics. Bird has 2 national titles, an Olympic Gold and a WNBA championship to her credit. Their leadership abilities will be tested in the dog days of summer. Phoenix and San Antonio have their work cut out for them with just six and five wins respectively. With only six road games remaining, Pheonix has by far the better shot at a playoff spot. The Mercury were agonizingly close a season ago. While Diana Taurasi and Anna DeForge have combined to average over 30 points per game between them, I believe the wear and tear of accumulating major minutes on a nightly basis will take its toll on both players. Uncertainty about whether or not Russian center Maria Stepanova will remain with the team for the remainder of the season clouds the forecast for this team. Dan Hughes' return to the league has been impacted by injuries to key players, most notably LaToya Thomas and rookie Kendra Wecker. Hughes will have an undermanned Silver Stars squad competing nightly and perhaps playing spoiler. Posted by Doris Burke - Jul 14 2005 8:10AM

Raising the Curtain on Act II A team-by-team look at the second half: Eastern Conference First up, the Eastern Conference: Connecticut: The Sun have the bulk of their schedule against the West out of the way. Out of conference, they are a sparkling 10-1. With both a four and five game homestand remaining on the schedule, Connecticut is poised to make a serious run at home court advantage throughout the playoffs. After a rocky start shooting the basketball, Nykesha Sales is back on track as one of the most quietly productive players in the league. Her key is taking quality shots versus off-balance, contested looks. Mike Thibault would like to see the Sun improve their rebounding and offensive flow. Lindsay Whalen should help with the latter. Her snub as an All-star, a gross omission, should serve as further motivation. Whalen is playing as well as any point guard in the league and she has yet to shoot it as well from the perimeter as she is capable....when she does, look out! Detroit: Complicating the second half is the five game suspension of starting point guard Elaine Powell. Prior to the All-star break, Powell was caught striking Mystics guard Coco Miller in their game on July 7. A similar incident in a game in Poland cost Powell her overseas season. While not yet a trend, the repeat incident is disturbing. The suspension comes at a time when competition for the 2nd and 3rd spots in the East is tight. Detroit will play 12 of their final 20 games away from the Palace. On the positive side, Swin Cash will continue to work her way back into the upper echelon of players after suffering her ACL injury. The Shock are talented without Cash. Regardless of how this season plays out, Deanna Nolan will have taken that 'next' step as a player. She has flat out carried the Shock on occasions this year and one hopes she has made the mental adjustment of bringing it every night and deferring to no one. Indiana: The Fever need to rebound from a streak that saw them drop 3 of 4 just prior to the break. Tamika Catchings was Tamika Catchings in the 63-65 home loss to Houston last game out, with 26 points and 7 rebounds. But no other Indiana player reached double figures. Indiana is not as physically talented as some of the East teams, so consistency is key for the Fever. Rookie guard Tan White brings amazing physical gifts as a scorer to Indiana. A leading candidate for Rookie of the Year Honors with 11 points per game, can she sustain her scoring in the second half of the season? Can Natalie Williams will her body and this team to critical wins? Much of Indy's success will hinge on these questions. New York: New York's strength lies in the ability of all 5 of their starters abilities to shoot the basketball. The Liberty run their sets as well as any team and when they are making shots, this team is difficult to contend with. The problem for the Liberty has been that their normally reliable shooters have struggled at times. A career 38% 3 point shooter, Crystal Robinson is shooting a career low 28% from behind the arc. Elena Baranova is at the same percentage after a 2004 season which saw her at 46%. Both players do a host of other things to contribute to the success of the team. C-ROB typically guards the oppenents best perimeter player and does an outstanding job on that end. Baranova is counted on for rebounding and defense. Becky Hammon has done an outstanding job running the offense from the point, boasting better than a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. A natural scorer, Hammon has found the perfect balance between scoring and putting teammates in position to score. A healthy Vickie Johnson has returned rejuvenated. Ann Wauters has become a force in the middle playing as well as any center in the league. Health and shot making will dictate the remainder of N.Y.'s season. Washington: Richie Adubato has the Mystics in the thick of things in the East. Alana Beard has picked up where she left off in the latter stages of her rookie campaign. Leading a group of four double-digit scorers with 14 points per game, Beard must be defined by much more than just her scoring ability. She is capable of influencing the outcome of a game from the defensive side as well. The last piece of the puzzle for Beard is consistent perimeter shooting. Temeka Johnson is making a strong push for Rookie of the Year with her 10 points and 5.7 assists per game. Her ability to push tempo, run a team and make teammates better with her passing ability has been critical to Washington's success. With veterans DeLisha Milton-Jones and Chasity Melvin inside, Washington will remain in the hunt for a playoff spot. Charlotte: Charlotte's history holds out hope for a miraculous finish. If the Sting make the playoffs it would be just that. Remember in 2001, when Charlotte started with a 1-10 record only to go on a tear and get to the WNBA Finals. Dawn Staley deserves it. Staley has been the ultimate team player throughout her career. And oh, what a career. A three-time gold medalist, two-time National player of the year at Virginia, 1994 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year, Dawn Staley is a future Hall-of-Famer. Before it is all said and done, she may do it as a player and/or a coach. This past season, Dawn led Temple to yet another NCAA tournament and a #15 national ranking... and she's only just begun with a clipboard. Don't count her out yet!!! As for the Western Conference... stay tuned Posted by Doris Burke - Jul 12 2005 4:23PM

Celebrating Dads and Daughters in New York Previewing the Mercury and Liberty game The Liberty New York struggled at the start of the season but has come around. Vickie Johnson is rounding back into her double-All-Star self and has become one the league's top scorer's off the dribble. VJ stands 7th overall in scoring in the nine-year history of the WNBA and, in all likelihood, will surpass the 3,000 point barrier on Saturday. Becky Hammon has become the poster child for unselfishness, sacrificing her two-spot scoring game to run the team from the point. Elena Baranova, the Ironwoman of basketball after playing nine straight 'year-round' seasons, looks to be breaking out after a double-digit performance in the upset of Detroit last Sunday. Add a legitimate center in Ann Wauters and the Liberty, despite the slow start of Crystal Robinson, have a formidable team. The Mercury Everyone's star attraction, Diana Taurasi, brings her show-stopping game to Broadway as part of the league's second highest scoring tandem with Anna DeForge (second only to Lisa Leslie and Chamique Holdsclaw). Taurasi and DeForge are tallying an eye-popping 33.5 points per game and average 37 minutes per game each. The Mercury also have Kamila Vodichkova, whose ability to shoot the ball drags the opponents' bigs out to the perimeter and opens the lane for the patented Taurasi/Vodichkova middle pick-and-roll. The X-Factor By game time on Saturday, the Phoenix Mercury should know one way or another the status of 6-8 Russian center Maria Stepanova. Stepanova played four seasons with the Mercury, averaging a career high 10 points and 6 rebounds in 2001, her last active season in the WNBA. Prior to the 2002 season, Stepanova announced that she was pregnant and would not return to the WNBA. Between the responsibilities of raising a young child and the pressure of the Russian National Team, she has yet to re-surface in the Phoenix organization. One need look no further than East-leading Connecticut to see what the addition of a highly skilled center can do for a team. 7-2 Margo Dydek of the Sun alters the game on both sides of the ball and her presence reverberates throughout the Sun's lineup. Stepanova can run the floor, block shots, and grab boards. Her presence would allow Vodichkova to utilize her high post shooting and passing ability... and the possibilities are intriguing!!! The Skinny Both teams got off to a slow start and both need a win. Plenty of symbolism lies in this matchup too. The league is celebrating Dad's and Daughter's Week, which is a great irony if you think about it. The Father of Liberty was George Washington (who has another city named after him as well, with a team - the Mystics - also struggling for wins) and the Phoenix was the only creature capable of renewing and reproducing on its own being, rendering the need for a father unnecessary... which brings me to another mythological thought: Mercury was the god of travel and thievery, which is rather symbolic because Diana and Company have traveled a long way to try to steal this one. Unfortunately for Mario Taurasi (Diana's Dad, who will be at the World's Most Famous Arena in honor of Dad's and Daughter's Week along with Martin Hammon, Becky's dad), I don't see that happening this time. Beating New York at home is a tough task for anyone. And who wants to upset the Father of our country the day before Father's Day? Posted by Doris Burke - Jun 17 2005 9:23AM

The 2004 Finals Rematch Seattle Storm at the Connecticut Sun , Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2 After an opening game loss to the Detroit Shock, the Connecticut have rebounded with a three-game winning streak to keep pace in the Eastern Conference. Any concerns over the knee injury (hyperflexion) that forward Taj McWilliams-Franklin suffered in their home-opening win against Pheonix were laid to rest with 15 points in 18 minutes in Saturday's 80-69 win over San Antonio. Taj has been stellar for the Sun. The Seattle Storm also put an embarrassing 68-50 home loss to rival Los Angeles (May 21) in its rearview mirror with a 4 game winning streak of their own. After an abysmal 3-15 shooting performance, including 2-13 from 3-point territory, for forward Lauren Jackson in the loss to the Sparks, the former MVP has been on a tear. Jackson has ripped off three double-doubles in the four-game span and was just named WNBA Player of the Week. Perhaps most telling in that stretch, L.J. has been to the foul line 23 times, averaging over 5 trips per game. She didn't take a single free throw against the Sparks. CONNECTICUT The Sun come into this game averaging a league-leading 75 points per game. Balance has been the key offensively as three starters are averaging double figures (McWilliams-Franklin 18.8, Nykesha Sales 12.3, Katie Douglas 11.3), while no starter is playing over 33 minutes per game. In addition, Sales has really yet to find her groove, shooting only 33 percent from the field, 22 percent from beyond the arc. Lindsay Whalen, Asjha Jones, and Brooke Wyckoff are all capable of double-digit efforts on a nightly basis and all have put up respectable numbers in support. Center Margo Dydek enjoyed a break-out game against her former team with an 11-point, 9-block performance in the Sun's win over San Antonio this past weekend. Dydek, who had struggled fitting in with the Sun, needed that kind of performance to boost her confidence and give her teammates a glimpse of the possibilities that exist with a 7-2 frame anchoring a committed defense. SEATTLE The Storm embark on an 8-day, 4-game road swing that starts with one of the toughest back-to-backs a team will face all summer. Game One is the rematch of last year's WNBA Finals at the Mohegan Sun Arena, then a quick turnaround and a date with the red-hot Detroit Shock on Wednesday. Ouch! Games at Washington and Charlotte, two teams in the East cellar, desperate for W's, will complete the trip for the defending WNBA champion Storm. The good news for Seattle, Suzy Batkovic, a 6-4 center from Australia was recently activated for the game with Connecticut. Batkovic and Lauren Jackson have known each other since they were teenagers and have played alongside one another the last several years for the Opals, the Australian Senior National Team. While teams expend an extraordinary amount of energy containing Jackson, support players around her must understand how best to exploit the defense. Batkovic brings a big body and a willingness to take shots generated from the attention paid to Jackson. THE MATCH-UP It wasn't until the second half of Game Three of the Best of 3 series in last year's Finals that either of these teams was able to get any real separation from each other. Seattle outscored Connecticut on their homecourt in the final 20 minutes of the 2004 WNBA season, 37-24, to win their first championship. Up until that point, neither team ended a half with more than a 5 point lead. Both teams are transition-oriented, with scoring options from multiple positions. Both teams bring a nice front court rotation into this game. In addition to McWilliams-Franklin and Dydek, the Sun come at you with Jones (8.3 ppg, 3.75 rpg) and Brooke Wycoff (5.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg). The Storm counter with Jackson, Janell Burse (11.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg), Iziane Castro Marques (7.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg) and Suzy Batkovic. However, this game may come down to the teams' respective point guards. Each can boast of quality leadership from the lead guard spot. Connecticut's Lindsay Whalen is light years ahead of where she began this time last year. Whalen's effectiveness off dribble penetration opens the floor to the rest of her teammates. Her passing ability is contagious. Her next adjustment must come as teams try to take away her angles to the rim. Sue Bird's improvement on the defensive end makes this match-up one of the more intriguing. At only 24 years of age, Bird boasts an impressive resume, with two NCAA championships, a WNBA title and an Olympic Gold Medal. Because of her ability to shoot the ball from deep, in the mid-range and off the bounce, Sue is equally adept in transition or half-court situations. The true measure of a player is how her game impacts those around her. These point guards raise the level of their respective teams. This game's outcome may rest in their hands. Game on! Posted by Doris Burke - Jun 6 2005 1:24PM

Diana Returns to Connecticut Previewing the Phoenix Mercury at Connecticut Sun Connecticut is off to a 1-1 start as it pursues its defense of last year's Eastern Conference Championship. You'll remember that they were just a Nykesha Sales jump shot from the title a year ago and I believe they have all the ingredients to be right there again this year. Phoenix has won just one of its first three games, but you have to expect a tough start for the Mercury as it plays 11 of its first 15 on the road. The good news is that they'll have plenty of home games in the second half of the season once starters Penny Taylor and Kamila Vodichkova return from Europe. CONNECTICUT Instead of taking a shot at a newcomer in the draft, Sun coach Mike Thibault traded for Margo Dydek, a 7-2 center who was a former top draft pick of the Utah Starzz. When the Starzz moved to San Antonio, the former five-time WNBA blocks leader saw playing time dwindle. Her move east to the most unselfish team in the WNBA might help this skilled player fulfill her promise as a dominant force in the paint. She'll need help, though, as Lindsay Whalen, Katie Douglas and Sales have combined for an uncharacteristic 26-percent from the field thus far. Taj McWilliams-Franklin, who may be the happiest player in the league with the addition of Dydek, moves from center to her more natural position as the power forward. McWilliams-Franklin is a solid defender and rebounder and underrated offensively. You'd be hard-pressed to find a player playing better basketball early on than Taj. Thibault thinks she can be the league MVP. If this team comes together, don't underestimate her chances. PHOENIX Until the two Europeans cross the pond, it will be hard to see just what this team is all about. For now, it is all about Diana Taurasi, but the continued improvement of Anna DeForge has made this a dangerous team on any given night. That duo takes about half the team's shots and when both are on their games, they are as good a tandem as there is in the league. And what of Taurasi's encore season? She came into the league with a three-straight NCAA title streak, two Tournament MVP's and more pressure to perform than any player in the league's history. All she did in her first year in the WNBA was win the Rookie of the Year, make First Team All-WNBA and find time to earn a Gold Medal in Athens. So, instead of going to Disneyworld, she spent the off-season designing her own shoe for Nike called Nike Air Taurasi (complete with soccer-style stitching in honor of her dad) and completed her degree in sociology at Connecticut. THE MATCH-UP Connecticut is a hard-working, transition-oriented team that looks for scoring on both its primary and secondary breaks. In the half-court, it is a traditional pick-and-roll team. The entire club feels that there is unfinished business from last season. Phoenix, for now, goes as far as DeForge and Tauarsi take it. Shereka Wright and Plenette Pierson add pop, but this team is undermanned until June 1. The pressure is on Connecticut this time as they need to keep the pace in the Eastern Conference while the Detroit Shock (3-0) is still without the services of Swin Cash. Be sure to tune in on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET on ABC to see how it shakes out. Posted by Doris Burke - May 27 2005 8:50AM

WNBA 2005 Predictions Forecasting the season ahead Most Improved: While we can debate whether a former #1 overall pick with career averages of 11 points, 6 rebounds and nearly 3 blocks per game should even be considered for a most improved award, I believe this is exactly what will happen. After suffering through a long losing season in San Antonio that saw decreased production in every category, I believe MARGO DYDEK will re-emerge under Mike Thibault. Connecticut can now put a SKILLED 7-2 player in the midst of quality passers and scorers, all of whom have a team first mentality. Defensive Player of the Year: Each and every season TAMIKA CATCHINGS puts up MVP type numbers. Consider CAREER averages of 18.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.33 steals and 1.16 blocks, and Catchings is easily among the leagues' most efficient and well-rounded players. What separates Catchings for me, is the all-out effort she gives on both ends of the floor each and every time she steps between the lines. Her length, athleticism, anticipation, rebounding ability and basketball IQ allows her to change a game on the defensive side of the ball. MVP: Sheryl Swoopes, Katie Smith, Yolanda Griffith, Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Diana Taurasi, Tamika Catchings...each of these players has the skills and the mentality to win the MVP award. And in fact, Swoopes and Griffith have already done so. But, like last year, I believe this to be a two person race between rivals Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson. Sometimes the performance of a team can separate one candidate from another. Seattle must integrate two new starters into the line-up, and, with the loss of Tully Bevilaqua, find a serviceable back-up for Sue Bird at the point. These are major challenges. . While Lisa Leslie will miss good friend and frontcourt running mate Delisha Milton on and off the court, the Sparks will once again reign behind the play and leadership of Leslie. In Milton, the Sparks lost a versatile,tough defender and rebounder. But, provided Holdsclaw stays healthy, Chamique provides potent scoring and rebounding production that opponents will have to contend with. With a wealth of talent around her, LISA LESLIE will repeat as MVP. ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: TAN WHITE: selected number 2 overall in the 2005 draft, will emerge as the league's most productive rookie. White gives the Fever another legit scorer alongside perennial all-star Tamika Catchings. Some observers have compared her game to Deanna Nolan of the Detroit Shock. Expect to see White exploit the attention defenses must direct at Catchings. As a senior at Mississippi State, she averaged 23.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists. While only a career 31% 3 point shooter, White keeps defenses off-balance with her ability to get to the rim. In her final season at MSU, White averaged six trips to the free throw line...and remember, those 7.7 rebounds came from a 5'7 inch frame! COACH OF THE YEAR: Before naming my prediction in this category, I want to welcome back two of the better coaches this league has seen. Dan Hughes resurfaces in San Antonio, Richie Adubato in Washington. Both men bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their respective organizations. Both have a history of producing playoff teams without always possessing the best talent. However, as someone once said, great players make great coaches. HENRY BIBBY has a reputation as being a hard-nosed defensive minded coach. Exactly what the Los Angeles Sparks need. Remember, when the Sparks were winning championships, it was Michael Cooper demanding quality defense from smart, talented basketball players. If health and a commitment to defense are present in LA, look out! WEST CHAMPION: LOS ANGELES SPARKS. L.A. was number one in points scored and field goal percentage last season. Capable offensive players abound with the likes of Leslie, Mabika, Holdsclaw, Dixon and Teasley. If the chemistry is right, the Sparks are a VERY tough out. EAST CHAMPION: CONNECTICUT SUN. Lindsay Whalen struggled out of the gates last season before finding her footing. There will be no such adjustment period for the point guard this year. Add a skilled 7'2 post player to perhaps the most selfless team in the league, along with one of the most talented coaches, and you have the recipe for success. Suns repeat in a very close race (as usual) in the East. OVERALL: CONNECTICUT SUN. I believe the Sparks are the more talented and dangerous group of basketball players. Before it is all said and done, the SUN may be the best TEAM. Posted by Doris Burke - May 23 2005 8:34PM