Well, well, well. What an incredible week it's been. We've seen some games that have gone down to the wire and some marvelous clutch plays made at crunch time. We've seen the Eastern Conference become hella competitive with three teams going 4-1 and the Atlanta Dream bound to improve. And we've witnessed a perennial playoff contender in the NY Liberty go winless in 5 games before beating an undefeated Indiana Fever in the biggest upset thus far.
***
Question: who's the Western Conference's leading scorer? Nope. Not her either. Think again. It's Sparks' point guard Kristi Toliver. Yes. No lie. The Maryland alum has been enjoying an outstanding beginning to the 2012 season -- albeit with an unfortunate record setting bump along the way.
KRISTI TURNOVER
Sparks' Toliver Redeems Herself
After Setting a Dubious Record
After Setting a Dubious Record
It's been said that 12 turnovers for any team is the absolute limit before being declared sad. Well, on May 29th, playing the Tulsa Shock in Los Angeles, Toliver managed to collect a whopping 14 TOs all by her lonesome. It broke a record of 11 set by Michelle Edwards way back in 1997 and shared by such league luminaries as Diana Taurasi, Chamique Holdsclaw, and Crystal Langhorne. (I wonder of big Crystal was ruinning point in that game). You would think that the 14 TOs would amount to a losing effort. Wrong. Tollie was able to redeem herself in dramatic fashion with a running pull-up three at the buzzer. The crowd at Staples went beserk and a dancing Kristi was swarmed by her teammates, including fellow Maryland Terp Marissa Coleman. Toliver coluld've lost her emotional bearings, but she appeared calm in that final timeout huddle. I attribute some of that to new Sparks coach Carol Ross who's been doing a great job with her ladies.
PRINCE AND THE REVOLUTION
Chicago Sky's Prince Out To Lead Team To
First Post Season Ever
First Post Season Ever
Don't know what Epiphanny Prince is eating in the morning but it's working. She's dropped 30+ points two games in a row and leads the league in points per game at 23.8. Prince put her dancing shoes on and led Chi-Town to a tight 94-92 OT victory over the Atlanta Dream this past Saturday. In a duel with Angel McCoughtry, "Piff" was virtually unstoppable, sinking 33 points on 12-25 shooting and adding 5 assists and 9 rebounds. I always get a kick out of the smaller players doing the grandest things and the Sky couldn't be more pleased either. It's a pivotal year for them with the much publicized off season moves they've made. Expect Rutgers alum Prince to play a huge part both now and down the stretch.
BIRD WATCHING
Bird Has Much On Her Mind
with Storm Suffering a Bad Start
with Storm Suffering a Bad Start
Two weeks into the season and The Storm already lose a 5 game season series to the Los Angeles Sparks. The newly improved, supercharged Sparks have beaten Seattle three straight, including a mind-boggling come from behind victory in the season opener -- in Seattle. I can't pin the Storm's 1-4 slide solely on the absence of star center Lauren Jackson (currently training with the Aussies for the Olympics). I feel there are two other factors responsible. One, the trading away of Le'Coe Willingham and Swin Cash. I thought the deal would be a debit for Seattle and it seems evident now. Two, I'm not convinced that Bird is functioning at 100% since her hip surgery. Like any respected veteran, she's demonstrated spurts of speed here and there but she does not appear to be quite as sharp as in past seasons -- especially on defense. The All Star and Olympian will undoubtedly remain with the Storm for the remainder of her career, but the buzz is that the team is on the verge of making a big move within the season. By the way, they play the Minnesota Lynx next.
CAPPING A VICTORY
Pondexter Digging Liberty Out Of Doldrums
I had no idea the Liberty would lose their first four games. I never expected them to go far this season, but they looked like a 90s team playing against 21st century talent. Like many, I thought the undefeated Fever would beat winless New York two games in a row in their home and home. However the Fever were playing on the road and the old sports adage says that strange things happen on the road. In an impressive 87-72 victory on Sunday, the Liberty played the type of defense they're known for, forcing 21 TOs and taking the umphh out of Tamika Catchings' 19 points. It's the type of defense that left you wondering what took 'em so long? Guard Cappie Pondexter dazzled the Prudential crowd with 25 buckets and Plenette Pierson (really beasting right now) and Essence Carson each added 16. A win over a stellar team should give the Liberty all kinds of momentum. They'll need all of it for the Eastern Conference champ Atlanta Dream in their next game on June 5th.
JENNY ON THE BLOCK
Shock's Lacy Making a Case For
WNBA's Most Improved Player
I've said it on Twitter but it bares repeating: The Shock have the best 0-6 start of any team in league history. Though the Minnesota Lynx have yet to taste defeat, I find their complete opposite counterparts more exciting. The Shock are younger, faster, and wear better uniforms. Coach Klop's ladies have been so close to clinching victory time and time again. You feel bad for them, but you also feel good about their potential. And that's not the only thing you feel good about if you're a Shock fan. Jennifer Lacy is having a significantly better season than last. She dropped 19 points in Sunday's game versus the Phoenix Mercury and is currently averaging 10.2 points a contest -- much of that off the bench. Her PPG last year? A mousey 6.3. If I have a 6'3" player on my squad I'm expecting more production and it appears that both Lacy and the Tulsa staff agree. So far, she's my favorite for Most Improved Player of 2012. Keep up the good work, Lace.
DISHIN AND SWISHIN
Mercury's Prahalis Looking Better and Better
At the end of preseason, Phoenix Mercury coach Corey Gaines didn't seem too enamored with first round draft pick Samantha Prahalis. He didn't say she was awful but didn't say he was impressed either. But then Gaines rarely seems impressed at anything. When I heard him say that the point guard spot would be filled by committee, I didn't expect Prahalis to start. Not with Alexis Gray Lawson performing so famously in before the regular season began. As fate would have it Prahalis has been starting and though she hasn't gone off the charts she's performed very well with the Taurasi less, Penny-less Mercs. In fact, she's the league leader in dishes (6.2 a game). Rather remarkable due to not having Penny Taylor or Diana Taurasi to pass off to. Now on the other hand, yes, Sam's shot selection could use work. But her 19 points off 7 for 16 shooting against Tulsa on Sunday suggest that her field goal percentage can and will improve. Also worth noting -- only 2 turnovers in the same game. I really like this kid. Her feisty swag and determination reminds me of DT when she was a rookie. She's like her kid sister in a way.
And there you have it. Tales of the unexpected in week two of WNBA 2012.
- WNBA Jones
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