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	<channel>		<title>RUWT? News - WNBA</title>
		<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com</link>
		<description>RUWT? News - WNBA</description>
		<language>en-us</language>
		<copyright>Copyright 2006-2007 areyouwatchingthis.com</copyright>
		<lastBuildDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:14:50 GMT</lastBuildDate>
		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:14:50 GMT</pubDate>
		<generator>RUWT?</generator>

		
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				<title><![CDATA[Kings owner will no longer operate WNBA franchise]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer

SAN FRANCISCO(AP) -- The Sacramento Monarchs folded on Friday, a
shocking and disappointing development for the WNBA and one of
its original eight franchises.

The decision was largely based on the Maloof family's desire to
focus all its energy and efforts on the NBA's Sacramento Kings.
Maloof Sports & Entertainment had owned both teams.

Now, the WNBA is left scurrying to try to find a new owner for
the organization and a suitable market: with the most logical
place being the Bay Area, perhaps in Oakland or San Jose.

League president Donna Orender said in a statement Friday that
the league is in discussions with potential investors to
relocate the Monarchs to the San Francisco area in time for next
season.

The Monarchs franchise was one of the league's original eight
teams and it won the WNBA championship in 2005 and the Western
Conference title the following season.

The Monarchs' Web site - http://www.wnba.com/monarchs/ - for
most of the day carried a message reading, "PICTURE YOURSELF as
a 2010 MONARCHS Season Ticket Holder." It was changed by the
afternoon, when the site carried only Orender's statement.

While it was difficult to reach anyone in the franchise's
offices Friday, the team said it would not comment on the
situation further and directed inquiries to the WNBA. Some
employees work for both the Kings and Monarchs, so it was
unclear how many jobs might be affected.

"We enjoyed our time with the WNBA and the Monarchs," co-owner
Joe Maloof said in a statement. "We are extremely proud of an
amazing run that included six straight playoff appearances and
the 2005 WNBA Championship. All of our resources are now
dedicated to bringing the Sacramento Kings back to championship
caliber form."

Sacramento had several familiar faces when it comes to women's
basketball in the area: former Stanford star Nicole Powell,
Olympic gold medalist Kara Lawson, and Courtney Paris, the
former Oklahoma star from nearby Piedmont, Calif.

The franchise is scheduled to have the second pick in the 2010
WNBA draft.

"The Bay Area has been a desirable market for the WNBA and the
availability of the Monarchs provides an opportunity to move a
well-known franchise and broaden its fan base within Northern
California," Orender said in the statement. "Maloof Sports &
Entertainment, owner of the Monarchs, has deemed it essential to
focus all of its resources on the Sacramento Kings at this time.
We understand this decision was a difficult one for them and
appreciate the vision, leadership, and support of the Maloof
family over the past 10 years."

Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment, which runs the NHL's San
Jose Sharks and HP Pavilion - a potential WNBA venue - could be
an option explored by the WNBA. The organization had not yet
been contacted by the WNBA.

"Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment is always interested in
listening to proposals to bring high-quality events into HP
Pavilion at San Jose that are mutually beneficial to both the
City of San Jose as well as our organization," SVSE president
and CEO Greg Jamison said in a statement, responding to an
inquiry by The Associated Press. "We have not had any discussion
with the WNBA to bring a team to San Jose."

The Oakland-based Golden State Warriors are in support of the
idea of a WNBA team playing in Oakland, but would not affiliate
themselves with a franchise. That would have to be worked out
with the City of Oakland and Alameda County. The Warriors play
at Oracle Arena.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[wnba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/135718-Kings-owner-will-no-longer-operate-WNBA-franchise</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/135718-Kings-owner-will-no-longer-operate-WNBA-franchise</guid>
				<pubDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:48:12 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Minnesota Lynx get 1st pick in WNBA draft]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[NEW YORK(AP) -- The Minnesota Lynx will have the top pick in next
year's WNBA draft.

The Sacramento Monarchs, who finished with a league-low 12 wins
this year, received the second pick in the draft lottery
Thursday, followed by the Connecticut Sun, the Lynx again with
the fourth pick, and the Chicago Sky.

Minnesota has two lottery picks because it received New York's
first-round selection in a three-team trade on May 5 that also
involved Los Angeles. The No. 1 pick ended up being the one the
Lynx got from the Liberty.

The remaining draft order is San Antonio, Washington, Tulsa, Los
Angeles and Atlanta.

Seattle, Indiana and the Sparks round out the final first-round
picks in the 13-team draft.

The draft date has not been announced.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[wnba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/131664-Minnesota-Lynx-get-1st-pick-in-WNBA-draft</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/131664-Minnesota-Lynx-get-1st-pick-in-WNBA-draft</guid>
				<pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:59:54 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Taurasi pleads guilty to DUI, serves day in jail]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[PHOENIX (AP) --  Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi pleaded guilty
to a drunken-driving charge stemming from her July arrest.

Taurasi, an all-star guard on the WNBA champions, spent a day in
jail after a judge suspended nine days of her sentence.

Taurasi's blood-alcohol level was 0.17 percent when she was
pulled over on July 2 following a 93-81 victory over the Seattle
Storm. That's more than twice Arizona's legal limit of 0.08
percent.

A police officer who stopped Taurasi's vehicle after seeing it
drift outside a traffic lane near downtown Phoenix claims she
was driving nearly 20 mph over the 35 mph limit.

While Taurasi pleaded guilty to DUI on Oct. 12, charges of
extreme DUI and speeding were dropped.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[wnba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/129924-Taurasi-pleads-guilty-to-DUI-serves-day-in-jail</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/129924-Taurasi-pleads-guilty-to-DUI-serves-day-in-jail</guid>
				<pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:17:52 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Kathy Betty new owner of Atlanta Dream]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By CHARLES ODUM
AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA(AP) -- The Atlanta Dream will remain in Atlanta under new
ownership.

Kathy Betty will replace Ron Terwilliger as the managing partner
of the Dream, WNBA president Donna Orender announced Thursday.

Terwilliger has sought investors since the team's 2008 inaugural
season. The Dream reached the playoffs this year after finishing
with a 18-16 record. It was the second-largest turnaround in
WNBA history after winning just four games in their first
season.

The team will be owned by Dream Too, LLC, an investment group
led by Betty. The deal is pending approval of the WNBA Board of
Governors.

Betty serves as the CEO of the Garry Betty Foundation to fund
cancer research, established by her late husband, the former
Earthlink CEO.

Orender credited Atlanta city council president and mayoral
candidate Lisa Borders for "saving the Dream."

"The Dream belongs in Atlanta," Orender said. "Lisa understands
that and so do I. In the midst of a tough political campaign,
she carved out time to bring sponsorships to the table and find
investors who will make the Dream a continued reality for the
staff, players and, of course, our fans."

Betty said the Dream provide "accessible and affordable
world-class entertainment for the families of Atlanta."

"In addition, the fact that these women serve as role models for
youth, and especially young girls, is something I feel strongly
about," she said.

Behind Angel McCoughtry, the top pick in the 2009 draft, the
Dream improved from 4-30 in 2008 to two games above .500 this
season while advancing to the playoffs.

McCoughtry, who was selected rookie of the year, was supported
by teammates Iziane Castro Marques, Sancho Lyttle, Erika de
Souza and Chamique Holdsclaw. Marynell Meadors, also the team's
general manager, was named coach of the year for the team's
14-game improvement.

"I am confident Kathy's passion for the game and the Atlanta
community, as well as her vision for the Dream, will ensure that
the team continues to build on its strong start," Orender said.

Average attendance for Atlanta home games dipped from 8,316 in
2008 to 7,102 in 2009.

The league says its average attendance was 8,039, a slight
increase from the 2008 average.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[wnba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/129788-Kathy-Betty-new-owner-of-Atlanta-Dream</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/129788-Kathy-Betty-new-owner-of-Atlanta-Dream</guid>
				<pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:01:05 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[WNBA's Detroit franchise moving to Tulsa, Okla.]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By MURRAY EVANS
Associated Press Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY(AP) -- The three-time WNBA champion Detroit Shock
are moving to Tulsa in hopes that a small-yet-enthusiastic
market will embrace what will be the city's only major pro
sports team.

League President Donna Orender and other officials made the
announcement Tuesday that the Shock was being sold and
relocated, a day after The Associated Press reported the move.
Gov. Brad Henry was among those who attended the press
conference.

The announcement came five days after a Tulsa ownership group
said it would apply to the WNBA to purchase a franchise. The
sale and move need WNBA Board of Governors approval, and the
purchase price wasn't revealed.

Former Tulsa and Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson already has
been named coach and general manager of the new team, which will
play at 18,000-seat BOK Center downtown.

"You could really feel the energy rise in Tulsa," Orender said.
"Our expectation is that they will achieve greatness."

Oklahoma City businessmen Bill Cameron and David Box lead the
Tulsa WNBA ownership group, formally known as Tulsa Pro Hoops
LLC. Cameron is the CEO and chairman of the board of American
Fidelity Assurance Co., a private, family-owned life and health
insurance company. Box is founder of The Box Talent Agency, the
largest talent agency in Oklahoma.

Box said the team's color scheme and nickname are yet to be
determined.

Tulsa County has a population of about 592,000 and Tulsa is the
second-smallest city with a WNBA franchise. The smallest is
Uncasville, Conn.

Despite the market size, the WNBA could succeed in Tulsa if the
team, and product, are marketed properly, said Clay Stoldt, the
chair of Wichita State University's Department of Sport
Management.

"If you take a look at the whole landscape of pro sports, there
are a number of franchises in cities that are smaller than the
average for their leagues that do quite well," Stoldt said. "The
Oklahoma City NBA franchise is off to a good start. There's San
Antonio's NBA franchise, and Salt Lake City's as well.

"But the flip side of that, just because you're the one major
professional sports franchise in your community, that's not
going to be an automatic ticket to success."

Stoldt said the Tulsa WNBA franchise made a shrewd move in
hiring Richardson, who remains popular in the region. Richardson
guided Tulsa to the 1981 National Invitation Tournament title
before winning the 1994 NCAA crown at Arkansas.

"Stars sell tickets and they've got a star with Nolan," he said.

If the Tulsa franchise can translate the enthusiasm for women's
basketball in Oklahoma from the winter to the summer - when the
WNBA plays - that could also bode well, said Mark Nagel, a
professor who teaches sports management at the University of
South Carolina and a former assistant women's basketball college
coach.

"That's the biggest thing the WNBA has not been able to do,"
Nagel said. "If the WNBA can pull those fans over during the
summer, it will be successful."

The Tulsa roster includes six-time All-Star Katie Smith, who
played for U.S. teams that won Olympic gold medals in 2000, 2004
and 2008; Alexis Hornbuckle, who won two NCAA titles with
Tennessee; and Cheryl Ford, the daughter of former NBA star Karl
Malone.

"We are real excited to have their roster. I'm just pinching
myself," Cameron said. "Wonderful players. A great team, a great
coach, a great arena, a great city - that's quite a
combination."

Cameron also is a part of the ownership group of the NBA's
Oklahoma City Thunder. He said initially there will be no
connection between the Thunder and the WNBA franchise but didn't
rule it out in the future.

"The hospitality that the NBA has received in Oklahoma has been
tremendous," NBA Commissioner David Stern said in videotaped
remarks shown during the news conference. "You welcomed the New
Orleans Hornets in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and you have
embraced the Thunder and the (Tulsa) 66ers. I know you will give
this WNBA team the same warm reception."

The move will end a chapter in one of the most successful teams
in recent WNBA history: Detroit made its WNBA debut in 1998 and
won titles in 2003, 2006 and 2008. The Shock lost last month to
the Indiana Fever in the Eastern Conference finals after
rallying to earn a playoff spot.

In the 2003 WNBA finals, Detroit did draw 22,076 fans - setting
a record for the largest crowd to watch a women's professional
basketball game - but most games were poorly attended at The
Palace of Auburn Hills in a state with four major professional
teams along with Michigan and Michigan State athletics.

Tom Wilson, the president of Palace Sports and Entertainment,
the Pistons and the Shock, called the decision to part with the
franchise "one of the toughest we have ever made."

"The Shock has been a true force in the WNBA, but the fact of
the matter is that the economic realities have caused us to make
this decision," Wilson said in a statement.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[wnba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/127652-WNBAs-Detroit-franchise-moving-to-Tulsa-Okla</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/127652-WNBAs-Detroit-franchise-moving-to-Tulsa-Okla</guid>
				<pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:28:50 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[AP source: Detroit Shock are moving to Tulsa]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By LARRY LAGE
AP Sports Writer

The WNBA's Detroit Shock are moving to Tulsa, Okla., a team
official told The Associated Press.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity Monday because
he was not authorized to make the announcement.

Detroit made its debut in the league in 1998 and won titles in
2008, 2006 and 2003. The Shock lost last month to the Indiana
Fever in the Eastern Conference finals after rallying to earn a
playoff spot.

Last week, a group of investors in Tulsa said they would
formally apply to the WNBA to purchase a franchise.

Lead investor Bill Cameron has said his group, called Tulsa Pro
Hoops LLC, will exercise its option to buy a WNBA team and
expected a decision from the league by the end of October with
the goal of having a team in Oklahoma next season.

Cameron and fellow investor David Box - both Oklahoma City
businessmen - announced last month that former Tulsa and
Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson would serve as the WNBA team's
coach and general manager if Tulsa landed a franchise.

A spokesman for Cameron and Box said neither one was available
for comment Monday but said a news conference was scheduled for
Tuesday morning and that "details would be forthcoming then."

Richardson didn't immediately return a phone message left at his
Arkansas home.

The Shock had a lot of success on the court, but not in the
stands in a state with four major professional teams along with
Michigan and Michigan State athletics.

In the 2003 WNBA finals, Detroit did draw 22,076 fans - setting
a record for the largest crowd to watch a women's professional
basketball game - but most games were sparsely attended with a
curtain covering up the upper level of The Palace of Auburn
Hills.

Tulsa, with about 385,000 people, would be the second-smallest
city with a WNBA franchise - after Uncasville, Conn. The team
would play at the BOK Center, which holds about 18,000 and
opened last year.

Cameron and Box are members of the ownership group of the Tulsa
Talons of arenafootball2. Cameron also is part of the ownership
group of the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder.

That group bought the then-Seattle SuperSonics and the WNBA's
Seattle Storm in July 2006, but sold the WNBA franchise to
Seattle investors before moving the NBA franchise to Oklahoma
City last year. The Shock's move would give the state of
Oklahoma two professional basketball teams.

---=

Associated Press Writer Murray Evans contributed to this report
from Oklahoma City.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[wnba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/127434-AP-source-Detroit-Shock-are-moving-to-Tulsa</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/127434-AP-source-Detroit-Shock-are-moving-to-Tulsa</guid>
				<pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:11:30 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Lisa Leslie keeping busy in weeks after retirement]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By VIN A. CHERWOO
AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK(AP) -- Lisa Leslie isn't just sitting around after her
recent retirement from the WNBA.

In the three weeks since playing her last game for the Los
Angeles Sparks, the three-time MVP has been traveling and making
public appearances while trying to line up broadcasting work.

"I've been on the hustle and bustle," Leslie said. "This is my
second time here in New York, I've been to Atlanta. And in L.A.,
working and doing appearances, whether it's been 'Good Morning
America,' 'Good Day LA,' NBATV. I feel I've been working hard
already."

Leslie, who is starting a basketball academy in Los Angeles
bearing her name, will be involved in broadcasting some college
basketball games this winter and wants to branch out to other
areas as well. She was pleased with her recent work on NBATV and
said other networks have also expressed interest.

"I'm versatile enough not just to be linked to sports," she
said. "I can do anything, when it comes to children, family
topics, politics. I try to stay well-versed on pretty much
everything."

Leslie also said she would like to get into acting and expressed
interest in appearing on former NFL star Michael Strahan's FOX
sitcom, "Brothers."

"I have to put that out there," she said. "I'm sure he's going
to need a date soon on that show."

The nine-time All-Star was in New York this week to help drug
and medical device maker Covidien kick off a liver cancer
awareness campaign. The American Liver Foundation has dedicated
October as Liver Awareness Month.

Leslie's stepfather, Tom Espinoza, was diagnosed with liver
cancer in December 2000 and died the following month.

"It's tough when you watch someone you love die very quickly in
front of your eyes," she said. "To be diagnosed with the liver
cancer, and then go to the hospital, and you think the doctors
are there to treat and help make you better, and they were in a
very short period of time (saying) 'there's nothing else we can
do."'

Earlier this year, the Journal of Clinical Oncology reported
that the rate of liver cancer in the United States had tripled
in a 30-year period from 1975 to 2005, from 1.6 cases per
100,000 people to 4.9. Also, the American Cancer Society
estimated nearly 23,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed
with the disease in 2009.

Covidien has created a new Web site,
www.mylivercanceroptions.com, aimed at educating people about
the disease as well as discussing treatment options, something
Leslie said her family didn't have eight years ago.

"We didn't have any other resources just because you have a
doctor ... and you take their word for it," she said. "When it's
kind of like there's nothing else they can do, you don't think
to search and maybe find out if there are other options."

Leslie, whose playing days ended when the Sparks were eliminated
in the Western Conference finals by eventual champion Phoenix on
Sept. 26, said she watched most of the WNBA finals, but missed
the decisive Game 5 because she was traveling.

One of the league's public faces since its inception, Leslie was
pleased by the improved ratings for the finals, which saw a
nearly 75-percent increase in viewers from 2008.

Previously involved with the WNBA's support of breast health
awareness, Leslie acknowledged retirement would allow her more
time to lend her name to other causes.

"If I can help change one person's life," she said, "I'll feel
good about that."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[wnba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/127022-Lisa-Leslie-keeping-busy-in-weeks-after-retirement</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/127022-Lisa-Leslie-keeping-busy-in-weeks-after-retirement</guid>
				<pubDate>Sat, 17 Oct 2009 07:33:51 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Tulsa group to formally apply for WNBA team]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By MURRAY EVANS
Associated Press Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY(AP) -- With new supporters on board, a group of
investors in Tulsa said Thursday they will formally apply to the
WNBA to purchase a franchise.

Lead investor Bill Cameron said his group, called Tulsa Pro
Hoops LLC, will exercise its option to buy a WNBA team and
expected a decision from the league by the end of October. The
goal is to have a team in Tulsa for the 2010 season, Cameron
told The Associated Press.

"Obviously we are waiting on pins and needles until they tell
us," Cameron said.

Cameron said Scott and Katie Schofield are the latest investors
to join the group, which announced in July that it hoped to gain
enough financial support to bring a team to Tulsa in 2010.

The league had set a Sept. 1 deadline for Tulsa to get a
franchise by next season, but WNBA president Donna Orender later
softened that deadline. Cameron said the investor group didn't
want to make the application "until we felt we were at the point
where we could make a credible presentation."

"We've been working hard to get there," Cameron said. "It's kind
of like you just finished your exams and turned in your midterm
paper. We've still got plenty of stuff to do but there is a
sense of accomplishment. We feel good about where we are."

Phone messages left with WNBA spokesman Ron Howard late Thursday
weren't immediately returned.

The Schofields have roots in Oklahoma, with Katie having played
basketball at Bishop Kelley High School in Tulsa. She later
attended what is now St. Gregory's University and Oklahoma State
University in the 1980s. The couple lives in the Washington,
D.C., area.

"I never imagined when I was growing up playing 6-on-6
basketball that something even remotely close to a WNBA team
would ever be reality in Oklahoma and that I would be involved
in it," Katie Schofield said.

Last month, Cameron and fellow investor David Box - both
Oklahoma City businessmen - announced that former Tulsa and
Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson would serve as the WNBA team's
coach and general manager should the city of Tulsa land a
franchise.

That announcement "generated a lot of interest in the team" and
allowed the investor group "to put a face on the team so that
people understand that we are committed to winning with Nolan
and we are serious about this," Cameron said. "It has helped
make this more tangible."

The Tulsa team would play at the downtown BOK Center.

Besides Box, Cameron and the Schofields, the group of investors
includes Don and Pat Hardin, Sam and Rita Combs, Pat Chernicky,
Stuart and Linda Price and Paula Marshall, all from the Tulsa
area.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[wnba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/126685-Tulsa-group-to-formally-apply-for-WNBA-team</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/126685-Tulsa-group-to-formally-apply-for-WNBA-team</guid>
				<pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:12:55 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Fever to stay in Indiana]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[INDIANAPOLIS(AP) -- The Indiana Fever will remain in Indianapolis
for the 2010 season, despite speculation that ownership would
not keep the team.

The Fever lost to the Phoenix Mercury last week in the WNBA
Finals.

A letter to the fans posted this week on the team's Web site -
signed by owner and CEO Herb Simon, president Jim Morris and
general manager Kelly Krauskopf - says the team is looking
forward to another great season in 2010 and for many years to
come.

Team officials have said the Fever had lost money each year of
their existence, and attendance would have to increase
significantly for the team to be safe. The letter noted that the
Fever set a WNBA playoffs record for average attendance.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[wnba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/126300-Fever-to-stay-in-Indiana</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/126300-Fever-to-stay-in-Indiana</guid>
				<pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:10:40 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Mercury's Cappie Pondexter undergoes eye surgery]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[PHOENIX(AP) -- The Phoenix Mercury say All-Star guard Cappie
Pondexter underwent successful surgery on her right eye, which
she injured in last week's WNBA championship game against the
Indiana Fever.

Officials with the WNBA champions say the procedure was done
Tuesday to prevent retinal detachment. It was deemed necessary
after a collision in Friday night's decisive Game 5.

Pondexter scored 24 points, helping Phoenix win its second title
in three years.

Mercury officials say Pondexter will return to her hometown of
Chicago to recover before heading overseas where she'll play for
Russia's UMMC Ekaterinburg team in the offseason.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[wnba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/126298-Mercurys-Cappie-Pondexter-undergoes-eye-surgery</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/126298-Mercurys-Cappie-Pondexter-undergoes-eye-surgery</guid>
				<pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:01:12 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[TV viewership increases for WNBA playoffs]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[NEW YORK (AP) --  Television viewership was up for the WNBA
playoffs this season.

ESPN said Tuesday the five-game finals averaged 548,000 viewers,
up 73 percent from 316,000 in 2008. The 13 postseason games
aired on ESPN2 averaged 435,000 viewers, a 54 percent increase
from the 282,000 last year.

The Phoenix Mercury won their second WNBA title Friday, beating
the Indiana Fever 94-86 in Game 5.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[wnba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/126251-TV-viewership-increases-for-WNBA-playoffs</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/126251-TV-viewership-increases-for-WNBA-playoffs</guid>
				<pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:22:36 GMT</pubDate>
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			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Mercury team, fans celebrate 2nd title in 3 years]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[PHOENIX(AP) -- Diana Taurasi knew how to rile up the already
raucous crowd of about 1,000, many dressed in purple and orange.

"Personally, in my career, any other championship, nothing can
compare, hands down," the WNBA MVP said Monday night at a rally
in the entrance to U.S. Airways Center to honor the Phoenix
Mercury's second WNBA championships in three years.

Taurasi, the league's leading scorer during the regular season,
was named MVP of the finals after scoring 26 points in Game 5, a
94-86 victory for the Mercury on Friday night over Eastern
Conference champion Indiana.

The Mercury also needed five games to beat Detroit in 2007.

Taurasi, who won three national championships at Connecticut and
two Olympic gold medals, said she got more satisfaction from
this title.

"Ten years from now, we're going to go down in history as one of
the best teams to ever play basketball," Taurasi told the crowd
at the rally on Monday. "And when you play sports that's all you
want. No ones going to care about who was MVP."

The team entered on a red carpet that started outside the
stadium, lined with fans and then reached a stage, splitting the
hundreds sitting and standing with signs and noisemakers in the
pavilion of the arena.

Taurasi, who averaged 22.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists
in the postseason, carried a large round cardboard penny onto
the stage with the No. 13 on one side and a picture of her
teammate Penny Taylor on the other.

Taylor had already returned to her native Australia but she was
cited as being part of the core along with Taurasi and
second-leading scorer Cappie Pondexter that led Phoenix to the
two titles.

Coach Corey Gaines called them his "pick-your-poison" trio
because if you tried to stop one, one of the others "would kill
you."

Taylor, who remained in Australia in 2008 and missed the first
half of this season recovering from left ankle surgery, scored
14.3 points and getting 3.4 assists a game in the postseason as
the first player off the bench. Taylor hit a pair of crucial
free throws in the final minute to help secure the win on
Friday, which capped a comeback from being down 2-1 with Game 4
in Indianapolis.

More than one person noted that Taurasi said after the win, when
asked what the team needed to do to repeat was to "re-sign Penny
Taylor."

Mary Ward, a Phoenix mother of two, said she was a season-ticket
holder and brought her daughters to the arena on Monday to show
them role models.

"It's something that I want my daughter to look forward to,"
said Ward, holding a handmade bright orange sign that read, 'We
Love Our Mercury.'

"I just wanted to support the Phoenix Mercury," she said. "They
did a wonderful job and we'll be back next year."

Mercury owner Robert Sarver attended several games, including
the final before driving to Indian Wells, Calif., for the
Phoenix Suns' outdoor preseason game with Golden State on
Saturday. He said the Mercury rejuvenated him by showing
commitment and mental toughness when facing elimination and
teamwork.

"These are all things you don't see often in sports, or in
business," Sarver said. "You guys deserve this championship."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[wnba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/126235-Mercury-team-fans-celebrate-2nd-title-in-3-years</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/126235-Mercury-team-fans-celebrate-2nd-title-in-3-years</guid>
				<pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:14:38 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Mercury celebrate second title in three years]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[PHOENIX(AP) -- Diana Taurasi knew how to rile up the already
raucous crowd of about 1,000, many dressed in orange and purple.

"Personally, in my career, any other championship, nothing can
compare, hands down," the WNBA MVP said Monday night at a rally
in the entrance to U.S. Airways Center to honor the Phoenix
Mercury's second WNBA championships in three years.

Taurasi, the league's leading scorer during the regular season,
was named MVP of the finals after scoring 26 points in Game 5, a
94-86 victory for the Mercury on Friday night over Eastern
Conference champion Indiana.

The Mercury also needed five games to beat Detroit in 2007.

Taurasi, who won three national championships at Connecticut and
two Olympic gold medals, said she got more satisfaction from
this title.

"Ten years from now, we're going to go down in history as one of
the best teams to ever play basketball," Taurasi told the crowd
at the rally on Monday. "And when you play sports that's all you
want. No ones going to care about who was MVP."

The team entered on a red carpet that started outside the
stadium, lined with fans and then reached a stage, splitting the
hundreds sitting and standing with signs and noisemakers in the
pavilion of the arena.

Taurasi, who averaged 22.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists
in the postseason, carried a large round cardboard penny onto
the stage with the No. 13 on one side and a picture of her
teammate Penny Taylor on the other.

Taylor had already returned to her native Australia but she was
cited as being part of the core along with Taurasi and
second-leading scorer Cappie Pondexter that led Phoenix to the
two titles.

Coach Corey Gaines called them his "pick-your-poison" trio
because if you tried to stop one, one of the others "would kill
you."

Taylor, who remained in Australia in 2008 and missed the first
half of this season recovering from left ankle surgery, scored
14.3 points and getting 3.4 assists a game in the postseason as
the first player off the bench. Taylor hit a pair of crucial
free throws in the final minute to help secure the win on
Friday, which capped a comeback from being down 2-1 with Game 4
in Indianapolis.

More than one person noted that Taurasi said after the win, when
asked what the team needed to do to repeat was to "re-sign Penny
Taylor."

Mary Ward, a Phoenix mother of two, said she was a season-ticket
holder and brought her daughters to the arena on Monday to show
them role models.

"It's something that I want my daughter to look forward to,"
said Ward, holding a handmade bright orange sign reading, "We
Love Our Mercury." "I just wanted to support the Phoenix
Mercury. They did a wonderful job and we'll be back next year."

Mercury owner Robert Sarver, who attended several games,
including the clincher before driving to Indian Wells, Calif.,
for the Phoenix Suns' outdoor preseason game with Golden State
on Saturday, said the Mercury rejuvenated him by showing
commitment and mental toughness when facing elimination and
teamwork.

"These are all things you don't see often in sports, or in
business, you guys deserve this championship," Sarver said.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[wnba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/126211-Mercury-celebrate-second-title-in-three-years</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/126211-Mercury-celebrate-second-title-in-three-years</guid>
				<pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:13:53 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Fever 86, Mercury 94]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By BOB BAUM
AP Sports Writer

PHOENIX (AP) --  The core of the dynamic Phoenix Mercury is a trio
as talented as any in the game.

No wonder they win WNBA championships.

Diana Taurasi, Cappie Pondexter and Penny Taylor - who led the
team to its 2007 title - did it again in 2009, when the Mercury
held off a late rally by the tenacious Indiana Fever for a 94-86
victory in the deciding Game 5 Friday night.

League and finals MVP Taurasi scored 26 points, Pondexter had
24, and Taylor made two crucial free throws with 37.7 seconds
left for the Mercury, who won the last two games to take the
intense series 3-2.

"This is what we do, we make big plays," Taurasi said, holding a
towel over her head in the champagne-drenched locker room. "We
have people that step up and love to live the moment. It's a
great team, great team."

When it was over, the three hugged in elation, and Taylor - the
Australian who joined the team Aug. 1 after reconstructive ankle
surgery - broke down in tears.

"I was only here from half the season but it was a long half and
it's been a hard half," she said. "Just the build up of that
emotion of wanting to do so well, and wanting to do well for
your teammates, wanting to win every game and it's just a
release right now that we have been able to do it,"

Tammy Sutton-Brown scored 22 points, and Jessica Davenport had a
career-high 18 for Indiana in its first finals appearance.
Tamika Catchings added 16 points and nine rebounds for the
Fever.

"I thought we played about as well as we could play," Fever
coach Lin Dunn said. "I thought there were a couple of times
that we missed some shots that maybe could have helped us win a
championship, but they didn't fall."

Sutton-Brown pointed to the crucial home loss in Game 4.

"We had an opportunity to close it out at home, and we let that
one slip away," she said, "but I think we came out and fought
hard tonight. Phoenix is a great team. I think it was a great
series. It was great for the WNBA."

Indiana rallied from 10 down in the second half to tie it at 80
on Sutton-Brown's layup with 4:29 to play, then Tangela Smith
made two 3-pointers, her only field goals of the night, to put
the Mercury ahead for good.

Her second, after Davenport scored for Indiana, put Phoenix
ahead 86-82 with 3:34 to go.

Pondexter's 9-footer made it 88-82 with 2:22 left, but the Fever
- who had led the series 2-1 - weren't finished. Davenport's
inside basket cut it to 88-84, then Catchings' rebound basket
made it 88-86 with 2:07 to play.

On the Mercury's next possession, Taylor took the ball and drove
the lane into a crowd of defenders. Davenport was called for the
foul, and Taylor's two free throws made it 90-86. Two free
throws apiece DeWanna Bonner and Taurasi provided the final
margin.

"Indiana's a great team," said Pondexter, who kept scoring
despite taking an elbow to the right eye in the second quarter.
"It just shows our resilience and how bad we really wanted to
win."

Taylor added 14 points and Bonner 13 for Phoenix. Katie Douglas
had her second straight rough shooting night. The Indiana star
was 4 of 14 for 13 points after going 2 of 14 in Game 4. The
Mercury made 10 of 17 3s.

"I don't know. I wasn't worried about it tonight," Douglas said.
"I got a feel for most of the shots, they just didn't fall."

Phoenix won it with the super-speed style that then-coach Paul
Westhead used in 2007 and Corey Gaines adopted when he took
over.

"When I first started coaching in the WNBA coach Westhead, who
is my mentor - who we owe this championship to as much as him
being here right now - he told me, `We're going to coach the
players as players, not women, ball players"' Gaines said. "And
it's funny how they embraced it because they enjoyed being
treated that way. Instead of being treated as women basketball
players, we treat them as ball players."

After a cold-shooting first quarter, the Mercury turned it on
with one of their best 10 minutes of the season, shooting a
finals record 76.5 percent (13 of 17) - and they even missed
their last two shots - in a second-quarter blitz.

Phoenix also set a finals second-quarter record for points,
outscoring Indiana 35-19 to take a 51-42 lead at the break.

Taurasi, after struggling with her shot against Catchings'
defense in the first four games, was 5 for 5 in a 13-point
second quarter, three of them 3-pointers. Her NBA-length 3 from
the top of the key with 6:19 left in the half gave her 10 points
already in the quarter and put Phoenix up 33-31.

The Mercury made 13 of their first 15 shots second-quarter
shots.

The Mercury led by as many as 10 in the third quarter, but
rookie Briann January - from nearby Arizona State - sank a
3-pointer with 36.7 seconds left to cut Phoenix's lead to 70-65
entering the fourth.

January's 3-pointer, followed by Sutton-Brown's inside basket
that made it 80-80 with 4:29 to go.

Phoenix Suns captains Amare Stoudemire, Steve Nash and Grant
Hill purchased the tickets in the upper bowl of US Airways
Center, then gave them away, leading to a sellout crowd of
17,313.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[wnba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/125557-Fever-86-Mercury-94</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/125557-Fever-86-Mercury-94</guid>
				<pubDate>Sat, 10 Oct 2009 05:02:49 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Pondexter, Taurasi lead Mercury to WNBA title]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By BOB BAUM
AP Sports Writer

PHOENIX(AP) -- The core of the dynamic Phoenix Mercury is a trio
as talented as any in the game.

No wonder they win WNBA championships.

Diana Taurasi, Cappie Pondexter and Penny Taylor - who led the
team to its 2007 title - did it again in 2009, when the Mercury
held off a late rally by the tenacious Indiana Fever for a 94-86
victory in the deciding Game 5 Friday night.

League and finals MVP Taurasi scored 26 points, Pondexter had
24, and Taylor made two crucial free throws with 37.7 seconds
left for the Mercury, who won the last two games to take the
intense series 3-2.

"This is what we do, we make big plays," Taurasi said, holding a
towel over her head in the champagne-drenched locker room. "We
have people that step up and love to live the moment. It's a
great team, great team."

When it was over, the three hugged in elation, and Taylor - the
Australian who joined the team Aug. 1 after reconstructive ankle
surgery - broke down in tears.

"I was only here from half the season but it was a long half and
it's been a hard half," she said. "Just the build up of that
emotion of wanting to do so well, and wanting to do well for
your teammates, wanting to win every game and it's just a
release right now that we have been able to do it,"

Tammy Sutton-Brown scored 22 points, and Jessica Davenport had a
career-high 18 for Indiana in its first finals appearance.
Tamika Catchings added 16 points and nine rebounds for the
Fever.

"I thought we played about as well as we could play," Fever
coach Lin Dunn said. "I thought there were a couple of times
that we missed some shots that maybe could have helped us win a
championship, but they didn't fall."

Sutton-Brown pointed to the crucial home loss in Game 4.

"We had an opportunity to close it out at home, and we let that
one slip away," she said, "but I think we came out and fought
hard tonight. Phoenix is a great team. I think it was a great
series. It was great for the WNBA."

Indiana rallied from 10 down in the second half to tie it at 80
on Sutton-Brown's layup with 4:29 to play, then Tangela Smith
made two 3-pointers, her only field goals of the night, to put
the Mercury ahead for good.

Her second, after Davenport scored for Indiana, put Phoenix
ahead 86-82 with 3:34 to go.

Pondexter's 9-footer made it 88-82 with 2:22 left, but the Fever
- who had led the series 2-1 - weren't finished. Davenport's
inside basket cut it to 88-84, then Catchings' rebound basket
made it 88-86 with 2:07 to play.

On the Mercury's next possession, Taylor took the ball and drove
the lane into a crowd of defenders. Davenport was called for the
foul, and Taylor's two free throws made it 90-86. Two free
throws apiece DeWanna Bonner and Taurasi provided the final
margin.

"Indiana's a great team," said Pondexter, who kept scoring
despite taking an elbow to the right eye in the second quarter.
"It just shows our resilience and how bad we really wanted to
win."

Taylor added 14 points and Bonner 13 for Phoenix. Katie Douglas
had her second straight rough shooting night. The Indiana star
was 4 of 14 for 13 points after going 2 of 14 in Game 4. The
Mercury made 10 of 17 3s.

"I don't know. I wasn't worried about it tonight," Douglas said.
"I got a feel for most of the shots, they just didn't fall."

Phoenix won it with the super-speed style that then-coach Paul
Westhead used in 2007 and Corey Gaines adopted when he took
over.

"When I first started coaching in the WNBA coach Westhead, who
is my mentor - who we owe this championship to as much as him
being here right now - he told me, `We're going to coach the
players as players, not women, ball players"' Gaines said. "And
it's funny how they embraced it because they enjoyed being
treated that way. Instead of being treated as women basketball
players, we treat them as ball players."

After a cold-shooting first quarter, the Mercury turned it on
with one of their best 10 minutes of the season, shooting a
finals record 76.5 percent (13 of 17) - and they even missed
their last two shots - in a second-quarter blitz.

Phoenix also set a finals second-quarter record for points,
outscoring Indiana 35-19 to take a 51-42 lead at the break.

Taurasi, after struggling with her shot against Catchings'
defense in the first four games, was 5 for 5 in a 13-point
second quarter, three of them 3-pointers. Her NBA-length 3 from
the top of the key with 6:19 left in the half gave her 10 points
already in the quarter and put Phoenix up 33-31.

The Mercury made 13 of their first 15 shots second-quarter
shots.

The Mercury led by as many as 10 in the third quarter, but
rookie Briann January - from nearby Arizona State - sank a
3-pointer with 36.7 seconds left to cut Phoenix's lead to 70-65
entering the fourth.

January's 3-pointer, followed by Sutton-Brown's inside basket
that made it 80-80 with 4:29 to go.

Phoenix Suns captains Amare Stoudemire, Steve Nash and Grant
Hill purchased the tickets in the upper bowl of US Airways
Center, then gave them away, leading to a sellout crowd of
17,313.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[wnba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/125556-Pondexter-Taurasi-lead-Mercury-to-WNBA-title</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/125556-Pondexter-Taurasi-lead-Mercury-to-WNBA-title</guid>
				<pubDate>Sat, 10 Oct 2009 05:00:43 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Fever-Mercury Preview]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By BOB BAUM
AP Sports Writer

Indiana (22-12) at Phoenix (23-11), 9:00 p.m. EDT

PHOENIX (AP) --  There is no homecourt advantage in these WNBA
finals.

Each team can claim a victory in the other's arena, and that
should be some comfort to the Indiana Fever when they face the
Phoenix Mercury in the deciding Game 5 on Friday night.

In fact, Indiana has won two of three in Phoenix, once in the
regular season then again in Game 2. The most important road
victory, though, came when Phoenix got back in its fast-paced
groove for a 90-77 victory Wednesday night in Indianapolis.

That sent the series back to Arizona, where Diana Taurasi,
Cappie Pondexter, Penny Taylor and the rest of the Mercury can
claim the franchise's second title in three years.

"Our strength all year has been our confidence in our attack and
I felt like we got that back," Taylor said after Wednesday's
win. "We were playing with confidence and attacking every single
time down the floor and that's hard to defend for 40 minutes."

There was no player or coach availability as the teams traveled
on Thursday.

The teams have traded wins since the Mercury opened the series
with a wild 120-116 overtime win in the highest-scoring game in
WNBA history.

In winning its fifth consecutive elimination game, Phoenix
simplified its sometimes complex offense to what coach Corey
Gaines said was "one play, over and over again."

That might be a stretch, but the Mercury did move the ball with
more ease than at any other time in the series. Time and again,
a Phoenix player would drive to the basket, draw a double-team
and toss the ball out to a wide-open shooter.

"The plan was to space the floor," said the Mercury's Tangela
Smith, who made 4 of 6 3-pointers. "When we looked at the film,
we realized we didn't have good spacing. We wanted to keep
everyone spaced out. It worked. That's what we need to continue
to do in Game 5."

The Mercury made 10 of 24 3-pointers, compared with 2 of 18 for
the Fever. Indiana's best shooter, Katie Douglas, was 2 of 14
overall, 1 of 7 on 3s.

"Katie Douglas, you've seen her shoot, she doesn't shoot 2 of
14," Fever coach Lin Dunn said. "I thought Tamika Catchings was
scoring well, she was aggressive. But they had five people in
double figures, we had three. There is the difference in the
ball game."

Gaines has repeatedly said he didn't think it was the Indiana
defense, just poor play by Phoenix, that had shut down the
potent Mercury attack. He said the same thing when asked about
what his team's defense did to slow down the Fever in Game 4.

"Truthfully, nothing, they just missed shots," Gaines said, "and
then in the fourth quarter, like most teams, if you're behind
those shots are tougher to take. The shots are easier to take
when you're up by 10, 12, 11 points."

Catchings, who had 24 points and 12 rebounds in Game 4, said
Indiana won't go down without a fight, not after she waited
eight years in the league to finally reach this moment.

"I mean, it's an awesome feeling to think about winning a
championship," she said, "and it's kinda like I don't want to
get too excited because I want to make sure it happens first."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[wnba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/125304-Fever-Mercury-Preview</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/125304-Fever-Mercury-Preview</guid>
				<pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:54:36 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Mercury look to win second title in 3 years]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By BOB BAUM
AP Sports Writer

PHOENIX(AP) -- There is no homecourt advantage in these WNBA
finals.

Each team can claim a victory in the other's arena, and that
should be some comfort to the Indiana Fever when they face the
Phoenix Mercury in the deciding Game 5 on Friday night.

In fact, Indiana has won two of three in Phoenix, once in the
regular season then again in Game 2. The most important road
victory, though, came when Phoenix got back in its fast-paced
groove for a 90-77 victory Wednesday night in Indianapolis.

That sent the series back to Arizona, where Diana Taurasi,
Cappie Pondexter, Penny Taylor and the rest of the Mercury can
claim the franchise's second title in three years.

"Our strength all year has been our confidence in our attack and
I felt like we got that back," Taylor said after Wednesday's
win. "We were playing with confidence and attacking every single
time down the floor and that's hard to defend for 40 minutes."

There was no player or coach availability as the teams traveled
on Thursday.

The teams have traded wins since the Mercury opened the series
with a wild 120-116 overtime win in the highest-scoring game in
WNBA history.

In winning its fifth consecutive elimination game, Phoenix
simplified its sometimes complex offense to what coach Corey
Gaines said was "one play, over and over again."

That might be a stretch, but the Mercury did move the ball with
more ease than at any other time in the series. Time and again,
a Phoenix player would drive to the basket, draw a double-team
and toss the ball out to a wide-open shooter.

"The plan was to space the floor," said the Mercury's Tangela
Smith, who made 4 of 6 3-pointers. "When we looked at the film,
we realized we didn't have good spacing. We wanted to keep
everyone spaced out. It worked. That's what we need to continue
to do in Game 5."

The Mercury made 10 of 24 3-pointers, compared with 2 of 18 for
the Fever. Indiana's best shooter, Katie Douglas, was 2 of 14
overall, 1 of 7 on 3s.

"Katie Douglas, you've seen her shoot, she doesn't shoot 2 of
14," Fever coach Lin Dunn said. "I thought Tamika Catchings was
scoring well, she was aggressive. But they had five people in
double figures, we had three. There is the difference in the
ball game."

Gaines has repeatedly said he didn't think it was the Indiana
defense, just poor play by Phoenix, that had shut down the
potent Mercury attack. He said the same thing when asked about
what his team's defense did to slow down the Fever in Game 4.

"Truthfully, nothing, they just missed shots," Gaines said, "and
then in the fourth quarter, like most teams, if you're behind
those shots are tougher to take. The shots are easier to take
when you're up by 10, 12, 11 points."

Catchings, who had 24 points and 12 rebounds in Game 4, said
Indiana won't go down without a fight, not after she waited
eight years in the league to finally reach this moment.

"I mean, it's an awesome feeling to think about winning a
championship," she said, "and it's kinda like I don't want to
get too excited because I want to make sure it happens first."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[wnba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/125302-Mercury-look-to-win-second-title-in-3-years</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/125302-Mercury-look-to-win-second-title-in-3-years</guid>
				<pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:53:19 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Mercury 90, Fever 77]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By CLIFF BRUNT
AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) --  The high-scoring Phoenix Mercury saved their
season with defense.

The Indiana Fever led the WNBA finals series 2-1 and had a
chance to clinch their first title in front of an active sellout
crowd that included local celebrities such as Indianapolis Colts
players Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne. None of that mattered
as the Mercury beat the Fever 90-77 on Wednesday night to tie
the series and force Game 5 Friday in Phoenix.

Indiana shot 2-for 13 in the fourth quarter, stifling any chance
it had of overcoming the 72-65 deficit it faced going into the
period. The Fever scored 12 points in the quarter, the
third-lowest total in a fourth quarter in finals history.

While Phoenix defended well, Indiana's stagnant offense helped.

"In the fourth quarter, nobody wanted to take the shot for them,
so they were just passing it around," Phoenix center Tangela
Smith said. "That's what we wanted."

Tamika Catchings, who led Indiana with 24 points and 12
rebounds, agreed that her teammates became hesitant. She said
this is the wrong time for that.

"Hopefully, that's out of our system and we'll get to Phoenix
Friday and we'll be ready to play," she said.

Catchings shot 11-for-17 and Ebony Hoffman scored 17 points on
7-for-10 shooting. The rest of the team shot 11-for-44.

All-Star Katie Douglas, who was hoping to celebrate a clinching
win in her hometown, scored seven points on 2-for-14 shooting.

"I thought Katie got some great looks, looks she had been
knocking down from the 3-point line to the rim," Indiana coach
Lin Dunn said. "Maybe toward the end, she passed up some shots
because she had missed them."

Indiana's bench, which both coaches had said was the reason the
Fever were leading the series, struggled on Wednesday. The Fever
bench shot a combined 2-for-16 from the field.

Indiana rookie reserve Briann January, whose quickness had been
a matchup nightmare for the Mercury, shot 1-for-9 and finished
with eight points. Phoenix's Diana Taurasi said stopping January
was a key.

"In these games, we've struggled when everyone has gotten their
points, especially Briann when she comes in and changes the
game," Taurasi said. "Sometimes you focus on certain things and
you get them done."

Phoenix's offense was in tune as usual. Cappie Pondexter scored
22 points, Penny Taylor added 17 points and Taurasi and Smith
each scored 16.

The Mercury shot 10-for-24 from 3-point range. Phoenix felt
Indiana controlled the tempo and slowed it down the past two
games, but the Mercury felt they regained control on Wednesday.

"Our strength all year has been in our confidence in our attack,
and I felt we got that back," Taylor said. "We were playing with
confidence and attacking every single time down floor, and
that's hard to defend for 40 minutes."

Phoenix shot 72 percent from the field in the first quarter to
jump out to a 33-22 lead. The Fever held the Mercury to 16
points in the second quarter and cut their deficit to 49-47 at
the half.

Indiana tied the score at 59 on a layup by Catchings with 4:30
left in the third quarter, but Phoenix went on a quick 6-0 run
to force a timeout and put the fans, who had been standing in
anticipation of a Fever lead, back in their seats. The Mercury
extended their lead to 72-65 at the end of the third quarter.

Indiana trimmed its deficit to 72-68 on a steal and layup by
Catchings, but the Fever went cold and the Mercury pulled away
with a 12-2 spurt. A 3-pointer by Taylor made it 84-70 with 2:33
to go.

Dunn was disappointed to lose at home, but focused on the fact
that her team still could win the championship.

"They had to win," Dunn said of the Mercury. "They had to do it
the hard way. Now, we've got to go out there and do it the hard
way, too. The only situation we've got here is that we're tied."

Taurasi was glad to earn another chance, but she wouldn't
promise a victory on Friday.

"I'm going to guarantee that we're going to come out and leave
it all on the floor," she said. "I'm going to guarantee that the
minute the game ends, we're going to be spent physically and
emotionally - and hopefully we're holding the trophy."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[wnba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/125143-Mercury-90-Fever-77</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/125143-Mercury-90-Fever-77</guid>
				<pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:43:58 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Mercury even WNBA finals with 90-77 win over Fever]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By CLIFF BRUNT
AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS(AP) -- The high-scoring Phoenix Mercury saved their
season with defense.

The Indiana Fever led the WNBA finals series 2-1 and had a
chance to clinch their first title in front of an active sellout
crowd that included local celebrities such as Indianapolis Colts
players Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne. None of that mattered
as the Mercury beat the Fever 90-77 on Wednesday night to tie
the series and force Game 5 Friday in Phoenix.

Indiana shot 2-for 13 in the fourth quarter, stifling any chance
it had of overcoming the 72-65 deficit it faced going into the
period. The Fever scored 12 points in the quarter, the
third-lowest total in a fourth quarter in finals history.

While Phoenix defended well, Indiana's stagnant offense helped.

"In the fourth quarter, nobody wanted to take the shot for them,
so they were just passing it around," Phoenix center Tangela
Smith said. "That's what we wanted."

Tamika Catchings, who led Indiana with 24 points and 12
rebounds, agreed that her teammates became hesitant. She said
this is the wrong time for that.

"Hopefully, that's out of our system and we'll get to Phoenix
Friday and we'll be ready to play," she said.

Catchings shot 11-for-17 and Ebony Hoffman scored 17 points on
7-for-10 shooting. The rest of the team shot 11-for-44.

All-Star Katie Douglas, who was hoping to celebrate a clinching
win in her hometown, scored seven points on 2-for-14 shooting.

"I thought Katie got some great looks, looks she had been
knocking down from the 3-point line to the rim," Indiana coach
Lin Dunn said. "Maybe toward the end, she passed up some shots
because she had missed them."

Indiana's bench, which both coaches had said was the reason the
Fever were leading the series, struggled on Wednesday. The Fever
bench shot a combined 2-for-16 from the field.

Indiana rookie reserve Briann January, whose quickness had been
a matchup nightmare for the Mercury, shot 1-for-9 and finished
with eight points. Phoenix's Diana Taurasi said stopping January
was a key.

"In these games, we've struggled when everyone has gotten their
points, especially Briann when she comes in and changes the
game," Taurasi said. "Sometimes you focus on certain things and
you get them done."

Phoenix's offense was in tune as usual. Cappie Pondexter scored
22 points, Penny Taylor added 17 points and Taurasi and Smith
each scored 16.

The Mercury shot 10-for-24 from 3-point range. Phoenix felt
Indiana controlled the tempo and slowed it down the past two
games, but the Mercury felt they regained control on Wednesday.

"Our strength all year has been in our confidence in our attack,
and I felt we got that back," Taylor said. "We were playing with
confidence and attacking every single time down floor, and
that's hard to defend for 40 minutes."

Phoenix shot 72 percent from the field in the first quarter to
jump out to a 33-22 lead. The Fever held the Mercury to 16
points in the second quarter and cut their deficit to 49-47 at
the half.

Indiana tied the score at 59 on a layup by Catchings with 4:30
left in the third quarter, but Phoenix went on a quick 6-0 run
to force a timeout and put the fans, who had been standing in
anticipation of a Fever lead, back in their seats. The Mercury
extended their lead to 72-65 at the end of the third quarter.

Indiana trimmed its deficit to 72-68 on a steal and layup by
Catchings, but the Fever went cold and the Mercury pulled away
with a 12-2 spurt. A 3-pointer by Taylor made it 84-70 with 2:33
to go.

Dunn was disappointed to lose at home, but focused on the fact
that her team still could win the championship.

"They had to win," Dunn said of the Mercury. "They had to do it
the hard way. Now, we've got to go out there and do it the hard
way, too. The only situation we've got here is that we're tied."

Taurasi was glad to earn another chance, but she wouldn't
promise a victory on Friday.

"I'm going to guarantee that we're going to come out and leave
it all on the floor," she said. "I'm going to guarantee that the
minute the game ends, we're going to be spent physically and
emotionally - and hopefully we're holding the trophy."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[wnba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/125142-Mercury-even-WNBA-finals-with-90-77-win-over-Fever</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/125142-Mercury-even-WNBA-finals-with-90-77-win-over-Fever</guid>
				<pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:41:47 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Mercury-Fever Preview]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By CLIFF BRUNT
AP Sports Writer

Phoenix (23-11) at Indiana (22-12), 7:30 p.m. EDT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) --  Diana Taurasi hasn't found her rhythm during
the WNBA finals and the Phoenix Mercury are paying for it.

The Indiana Fever lead the series 2-1 and can win its first
championship on Wednesday night in Game 4. Indiana's odds of
closing out the best-of-five series increase if Taurasi, the
league's MVP, has another poor shooting performance.

Taurasi is averaging 20 points per game in the finals, but she's
making fewer than a third of her shots while being hounded by
defensive player of the year Tamika Catchings.

Indiana held Taurasi to 6-for-16 shooting and won Game 3 86-85
on Sunday. Catchings doesn't expect another off night from the
league's regular-season scoring champion.

"She missed quite a few wide open shots," Catchings said. "Don't
look for her to miss those next game."

Indiana guard Katie Douglas said the Fever will continue to try
to disrupt Taurasi and support Catchings with aggressive team
defense.

"We've done a tremendous job on her, but at the same time, no
one's relaxing," Douglas said. "She's the MVP of the league,
she's a bomb waiting to go off. Just one 3-pointer or layup
could erupt the volcano that she can become."

Taurasi shot 46 percent in the regular season, but is at 33
percent in the finals. She recognized that she was in a slump
and said she's been spending extra time on her shot.

"I went back and watched the film yesterday, the whole game from
minute one to the end," she said. "It comes down to getting
shots and knocking down shots."

Phoenix coach Corey Gaines took responsibility for Taurasi's
struggles, saying he needs to get his scorers in better
position.

"It's an adjustment on my end, and we're going to get that
done," he said. "She's doing what she's supposed to do."

Gaines said his team remains confident that it can win its
second title in three years. He said the Mercury had many good
moments in Sunday's loss and could have won.

Taurasi has drawn attention away from Cappie Pondexter, who is
averaging 19.3 points and 5.0 assists in the series. The
All-Star, who finished fourth in the MVP balloting, is causing
headaches for the Fever.

"We have to do a better job with that," Catchings said. "When
she gets the ball up top in the middle, it destroys our defense
and all our defensive principles. We've tried a little bit of
everything. I think the biggest thing is just tightening it up."

While Taurasi has struggled, the Fever have shot surprisingly
well. Indiana was the worst shooting team in the league during
the season, but has shot 50 percent during the finals.

Indiana has countered Phoenix's high-scoring offense with
balance. Catchings, the runner-up to Taurasi in the MVP
balloting, is just fifth on her team in scoring during the
finals. She is averaging 13.3 points and shooting 36 percent,
but she also is averaging 9.0 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 2.7
steals.

"The thing that I've always tried to do is whatever it takes to
make this team win, whether it be rebounding or distributing,"
she said. "I think this year, our team has finally gotten the
point."

Taurasi said Indiana's bench of Briann January, Jessica
Davenport and Jessica Moore have been the difference. She
singled out January, a rookie point guard who is averaging 15
points in the series. January scored 10 points in a 1:16 stretch
at the end of the third quarter of Game 3 that gave the Fever a
boost.

"She's been their spark, she's been their heart in a lot of
ways," Taurasi said. "She's been coming into games, and not
being shy of shooting, being aggressive, making winning plays.
She has just been nails, really. She's played like a 10-year vet
with no conscience."

The series has been entertaining, with close games and the
highest-scoring game in WNBA history. The league says television
viewership for the finals are up 51 percent compared to last
year's Detroit-San Antonio series through Game 3. The rating of
0.4 is up 33 percent from last year.

Taurasi said she relishes moments like these, being down 2-1 and
facing a crowd that booed her in pre-game introductions before
Game 3, a rarity in women's basketball. Taurasi said the boos
sound like cheers to her, and she looks forward to the
challenge.

"You can't be afraid of the moment, you can't be tentative about
it," she said. "You have an opportunity to do something
special."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[wnba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/124863-Mercury-Fever-Preview</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/124863-Mercury-Fever-Preview</guid>
				<pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:38:37 GMT</pubDate>
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