by Matthew Brennan, WNBA.com

May 12, 2008

73 Days, 73 WNBA Players

Welcome to a new season of the WNBA Pick One Challenge where we will be picking one WNBA player per day and totaling their points, rebounds, and assists. The entry that finishes with the highest total at the end of the season will win a trip to a WNBA Finals game. There are several different ways that you can take part in the game, either by taking on the rest of the entries, starting a league with your friends, or taking on my picks in the "Beat The Guru" league. To join my league just search for "Beat The Guru" at this page.

This season's WNBA schedule, which includes a one-month break for the 2008 Summer Olympics, features 73 days with at least one game, so you will be selecting 73 players. That is an average of about five players on each WNBA team, and you can only choose a player once per season.

Rookies Double Up

The other crucial rule to know about the Pick One Challenge is that all rookies will be credited with double points. For example, if you pick Candace Parker on opening day against Phoenix and she scores 20 points with 10 rebounds and five assists, your entry will receive a total of 70 points. Parker, Chicago's Sylvia Fowles, and Minnesota's Candice Wiggins should all be excellent Pick One Challenge options off the bat, although there will be plenty of other rookies in a talented 2008 draft class who should emerge as viable options as the season goes on.

WNBA.com Daily Expert Pick

Saturday, May 17 Cappie Pondexter Phoenix vs. Los Angeles

Sunday, May 18 Janel McCarville New York vs. Connecticut

This Weekend's Picks

Tho start the season I am selection Cappie Pondexter of the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday and New York's Janel McCarville on Sunday. Pondexter, who just got back to the United States this week after a busy offseason playing in Europe, will help the Mercury start defense of their 2007 WNBA title when they take on the Los Angeles Sparks at 3:30 p.m. ET, live on ABC. Pondexter averaged 17.2 points and 4.0 assists in 2008, which was only her second WNBA season.

McCarville, a former number one overall pick in the WNBA Draft, took home the WNBA's Most Improved Player award in 2007 after averaging a career-high 10.4 points and 4.8 rebounds in her first year in New York. The Libery will open the season at home on Sunday when they take on the Connecticut Sun at 4:00 p.m. ET.

Last Season's Top Ten

The top ten returning players in combined average points, assists, and rebounds are listed here along with their outlook for 2008. All of these players should be the ones to choose when you are looking for an almost guaranteed boost in your points total. Please note that Lisa Leslie, who was ranked second in the 2006 season, will return to action for 2008 after sitting out last season and should rank among the league leaders throughout the season.

1. Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm PRA: 34.8 (23.8 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 1.3 apg) Lauren Jackson was the best player in the WNBA last season and proved it by taking home the MVP Trophy and leading the league with 23.8 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. She was also the Pick One Challenge MVP, leading all WNBA players with a PRA of 34.8, nearly 5.0 more than her closest competitor. Expect more of the same from Jackson this season as she is just entering the prime of her already outstanding career. One note to pay attention to is that Jackson will likely miss a few games this season to train with the Australian national team for the 2008 Olympics.

2. Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever PRA: 30.2 (16.6 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 4.7 apg) Tamika Catchings has been one of the WNBA's best all-around players throughout her career, and turned in another fine season in 2007 before a foot injury hampered her down the stretch. As Catchings is still recovering from the injury heading into this season, keep a close eye on her status to see when she will return to the Indiana lineup. Even at less than 100 percent she is capable of posting a huge game for the Fever.

3. Seimone Augustus, Minnesota Lynx PRA: 28.9 (22.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.3 apg) Seimone Augustus posted another gaudy scoring average in her second WNBA season, and she is now established as one of the league's top offensive threats. The former LSU star ranked second in the WNBA with 22.6 points per game and should only gets better as she tries to lead the Lynx to the postseason for the first time in her career. If Augustus can also increase her rebounding and assists averages, she has the potential to lead the league in PRA at some point over the next decade.

4. Tina Thompson, Houston Comets PRA: 28.3 (18.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.8 apg) Tina Thompson showed no signs of slowing down in her 11th WNBA season, posting 18.8 points and 6.7 rebounds for the Houston Comets. She also set a new career-high with 2.8 assists per game and knocked down 52 shots from three-point range. Thompson will be playing her first season withouth running mate Sheryl Swoopes, but should remain the main offensive option and the go-to veteran presence for the young Comets.

5. Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury PRA: 27.7 (19.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 4.3 apg) Diana Taurasi captured her first WNBA title last season with the Mercury, adding to her already impressive trophy collection. Her scoring average took a dip from 25.2 to 19.2 as the emergence of Cappie Pondexter and Penny Taylor meant that she no longer had to carry as much of the offensive load. With Taylor sitting out at least the first half of the season to concentrate on the Olympics, look for Taurasi's scoring totals to increase once again. Over the first four seasons of her career she has also been good for around four rebounds and assists per game.

6. Penny Taylor, Phoenix Mercury PRA: 27.0 (17.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.9 apg) Penny Taylor was the breakout star of the 2007 season as she helped lead the Mercury to a WNBA title. She set new career-highs across the board with 17.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists while starting in 34 games for Phoenix. Taylor was one of the top ten players in the league last season in PRA, but she will sit out the first half of the season to train with Australia for the 2008 Olympics. Taylor should be one of your top choices in September if she returns to the Mercury after trying to lead Australia to a gold medal in Beijing.

7. Becky Hammon, San Antonio Spurs PRA: 26.6 (18.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 5.0 apg) Becky Hammon showed why she is one of the best guards in the WNBA last season after she was traded to San Antonio as she posted a career-best season. The veteran posted a career-high 18.8 points per game and also dished out a league-leading 5.0 assists, ranking as the best player under six feet tall in the PRA rankings. Hammon should be ready for another outstanding season as she hopes to lead the Silver Stars deeper into the playoffs during her tenth WNBA campaign.

8. Alana Beard, Washington Mystics PRA: 26.1 (18.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.0 apg) Alana Beard played last season with a shoulder injury, but it didn't slow her down at all as she posted 18.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in 33 games during her fourth year. Now established as one of the league's elite players and the face of the Washington Mystics, expect Beard's numbers to increase even more as she enters the prime of her career. Cracking the 20.0 ppg mark for the first time should not be out of the question for the former Duke star.

9. Cheryl Ford, Detroit Shock PRA: 25.7 (13.0 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 1.5 apg) Cheryl Ford was limited by injuries to only 15 games last year, but averaged a a double-double for the third time in her five-year career with the Detroit Shock. Ford has been one of the WNBA's elite rebounders throughout her career, but she also can score with a career-average of 11.4 points per game. If Ford can stay healthy for the whole 2008 campaign she should be in line for her best season yet as she enters her prime.

10. Candice Dupree, Chicago Sky PRA: 25.6 (16.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.4 apg) Candice Dupree increased her numbers in 2007 to follow up strongly on a stellar 2006 rookie campaign, averaging 16.5 points and 7.7 rebounds. Dupree is the franchise player for the Chicago Sky and will only get better as she gains more experience on the professional level. She should get closer to potentially averaging a double-double as her career continues.