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		<description>RUWT? News for Phoenix Mercury vs. Los Angeles Sparks 7/6/2009</description>
		<language>en-us</language>
		<copyright>Copyright 2006-2007 areyouwatchingthis.com</copyright>
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		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:51:04 GMT</pubDate>
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			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Mercury beat Sparks 104-89]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[LOS ANGELES(AP) -- Cappie Pondexter scored 21 points and Diana
Taurasi had 20, leading the Phoenix Mercury to a 104-89 victory
over the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday night.

Taurasi added a season-high six assists, five rebounds and three
blocks in her first game for the Mercury (8-4) since being cited
for drunk driving Thursday morning.

DeWanna Bonner had 17 points and 10 rebounds as Phoenix took a
half-game lead over second-place Minnesota in the WNBA's Western
Conference.

The Sparks' Candace Parker made her season debut after being
cleared to play Tuesday. Parker, who gave birth to a daughter on
May 13, had six points and four rebounds in 20 minutes. She was
the league's MVP and top rookie last season.

Tina Thompson and Betty Lennox scored 17 points apiece for the
Sparks (3-6). DeLisha Milton-Jones tied a season high with 15
points, all in the first half.

Los Angeles held a 53-45 lead with 38 seconds gone in the second
half, but Bonner had 12 points and six rebounds in the third
quarter. The Mercury led 81-70 at the end of the period.

Phoenix began the fourth quarter with an 11-0 spurt. The Mercury
also made 31 of 37 free throws in the game.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[wnba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/105662-Mercury-beat-Sparks-104-89</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/105662-Mercury-beat-Sparks-104-89</guid>
				<pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2009 04:34:19 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Mercury-Sparks Preview]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By DAN PIERINGER
STATS Writer

Phoenix (7-4) at Los Angeles (3-5), 9:30 p.m. EDT

The spotlight will undoubtedly be on reigning league MVP and
rookie of the year Candace Parker when she makes her season
debut for the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday night.

A portion of the attention, however, might be diverted because
of the controversy surrounding Phoenix Mercury guard Diana
Taurasi.

After missing the team's first eight games while on maternity
leave, Parker will take the court for the Sparks when they host
the Mercury, who expect to have Taurasi in the lineup three days
after she was cited for drunken driving.

Parker was cleared by doctors to practice Tuesday for the first
time since giving birth to her first child May 13. Though it's
been less than a week since her return to the court, she says
she's ready to help the short-handed Sparks (3-5), who will be
without star center Lisa Leslie for at least another week
because of a knee injury.

"I feel like I'm really beginning to get my rhythm back," Parker
said. "This was a great week of practice, and it felt good to be
with my teammates on the court. I'm not expecting to play 30
minutes, but I definitely can't wait to get back out on the
floor."

Parker became the first player in WNBA history to win MVP and
rookie of the year honors last season after finishing fifth in
the league in scoring with 18.5 points per game and first in
rebounding (9.5). She helped Los Angeles win 20 regular-season
games before losing to San Antonio in the Western Conference
finals.

"We're extremely happy to have her back," coach Michael Cooper
said. "After watching her practice this week, it looks like she
can play some minutes. It's a huge addition for us and a big
game for her to come back.

"Obviously she isn't 100 percent and we will take things slowly
but clearly Candace, even at less than 100 percent, is an
incredible player."

Phoenix's top player will get her share of attention Sunday as
well.

Taurasi, the WNBA's leading fan vote-getter for the July 25
All-Star game, was stopped for speeding early Thursday morning
after scoring 22 points in a 93-81 win over Seattle on Wednesday
night. The officer smelled alcohol and gave the three-time
All-Star and 2004 rookie of the year several field sobriety
tests before citing and releasing her.

After Friday's practice, Taurasi told reporters that the
situation was "just something that's embarrassing and
unfortunate for my family and the organization."

Taurasi said she couldn't comment on the specifics of the
incident because it was a legal matter, but said, "personally,
I'm going to have to do some things to make it straight."

The Mercury (7-4) are tied at the top of the conference, but
they've dropped three of their four road games.

The Sparks are 3-0 at home, where they routed Seattle 82-55 in
their last game last Sunday. Marie Ferdinand-Harris had a
season-high 15 points to lead five Los Angeles players scoring
in double figures.

Parker made her WNBA debut against Phoenix last May, finishing
with 34 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in a 99-94 road
victory. She averaged 26.8 points, 12.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists
as the clubs split four meetings in 2008.

Taurasi, who led the league with 24.1 points per game last
season, was held to 21.0 while shooting 34.7 percent from the
field against the Sparks in 2008.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[wnba]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/105444-Mercury-Sparks-Preview</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/wnba/news/105444-Mercury-Sparks-Preview</guid>
				<pubDate>Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:16:09 GMT</pubDate>
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