By Matthew Brennan, WNBA.com
June 16, 2008 - The 2008 WNBA season and the Pick One Challenge are in full swing as the calendar is halfway through the month of June. Here is a look at what went down last week and what to look forward to in the second week of June, which features six days with at least one game on the schedule.
Last Week's MVP: Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm
Last season's WNBA MVP averaged 18.7 points and 10.3 points in three games last week. Jackson currently ranks sixth in the WNBA in PRA (points+rebounds+assists) with an average of 28.5. Obviously she is always a solid pick as she gears up to lead Australia in the Beijing Olympics. The Storm will host two Eastern Conference opponents this week as Indiana and Connecticut vist the Emerald City.
Rookie Watch
Candace Parker continues to lead the PRA rankings among rookies with a 31.1 average, but her PRA has dropped three points since last week as she adjusts to the daily grind of the WNBA season. Minnesota's Candice Wiggins is on the rise, as she has moved up to 13th overall among all WNBA players with a 24.3 PRA. Chicago's Sylvia Fowles, sidelined with a knee injury, and Lynx teammates Nicky Anosike and Charde Houston round out the top five among rookies.
An additional nod on the rookie front this week goes to Detroit's Tasha Humphrey. The 11th overall pick in the draft got the start on Saturday against the Mercury and responded with 28 points and eight rebounds. Humphrey only had a total of 19 points and four rebounds in her first six games, so she definitely had the suprise performance of the week. It will be hard to keep Humphrey off the court with performances like that, so keep an eye on her as the season moves on.
Last Week's Picks
My entry moved from the 70th percentile last Sunday to the 81st percentile this week, a jump of over 20 percent from where I stood two weeks ago. My picks record a total of 22 points or higher in every game last week, highlighted by 28 points, seven rebounds, and two assists from Atlanta's Betty Lennox on Wednesday night.
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WNBA.com Daily Expert Pick |
 Monday, June 16Michelle Snow Houston vs. Atlanta |
 Wednesday, June 18Katie Douglas Indiana vs. New York |
 Friday, June 20Monique Currie Washington vs. Atlanta |
 Saturday, June 21Anna DeForge Houston vs. Minnesota |
 Sunday, June 22Shameka Christon New York vs. Phoenix |
Monday: Michelle Snow, Houston vs. Atlanta
Michelle Snow has been one of the league's best centers during her career, although she is off to a slow start this season with only 7.3 points per game. She has still been a solid rebounder with 6.8 boards per contest and should post a good effort against an Atlanta team that is still looking for its first win of the season.
Wednesday: Katie Douglas, Indiana vs. New York
Katie Douglas is posting an MVP-type season in her return to her home state of Indiana. Douglas, who led the Fever with 17 points on Sunday, is currently sixth in the league with 18.9 points and ranks eleventh with 4.0 assists. She has also been on the court more than any player in the WNBA as she leads the league in minutes per game. The Fever will host the Liberty on Wednesday with both teams tied in the Eastern Conference standings.
Friday: Monique Currie, Washington vs. Atlanta
One of the top players in the WNBA's stellar 2006 rookie class, Monique Currie is firmly entrenched in the Mystic's starting lineup. She is averaging 11.8 points and 3.9 rebounds in her first ten games, all starts. The Mystics will take on the Atlanta Dream for the second time this season on Friday night, and Currie posted 14 points and five rebounds in the first meeting between the teams on May 27.
Saturday: Anna DeForge, Minnesota vs. Houston
The veteran guard Anna DeForge is now in her seventh WNBA campaign and is playing a big part in Minnesota's excellent start to the season. DeForge is averaging 9.2 points and 3.4 rebounds and provides a veteran presence to the Lynx lineup. She posted her best game of the season so far in her first meeting with the Comets, scoring a season-high 19 points with six rebounds and four assists back on May 27.
Sunday: Shameka Christon, New York vs. Phoenix
Shameka Christon has been the main offensive threat for the Liberty this season, averaging 14.6 points over her first nine games. Christon has reached double figures in scoring in eight of those games. The former Arkansas star should be in line for a solid offensive game against the Mercury, who are giving up a league-high 88.1 points to their opponents in their fast-paced style of play.