By Matthew Brennan, WNBA.com
June 30, 2008 - The 2008 WNBA season and the Pick One Challenge move head into July as we march on towards the break for Beijing 2008. Here is a look at what went down last week and what to look forward to this week, which features five days with at least one game on the schedule.
Last Week's MVP: Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury
Taurasi led the Mercury to three straight wins last week, averaging 24.0 points. She also posted a season-high nine assists in a victory over Chicago. The Mercury have now won five of their last six games after a slow start to the season and Taurasi is leading the league with 24.7 points and ranks eighth in the WNBA with 4.1 assists. She is also the top three-point shooter in the league with 41 makes from beyond the arc.
Rookie Watch
Candace Parker continues to put together a spectacular rookie season, posting double-doubles in two of her last three games and ranking second in the the WNBA's top eleven in points, rebounds, and assists. Candice Wiggins would probably be a lock for Rookie of the Year in any other season, as she is averaging 17.1 points per game and has scored in double-figures in all but one contest this year.
Last Week's Picks
My entry had a rough week as I dropped from the 82nd to the 75 percentile as some rookie selections did not pan out as I had hoped. Sue Bird finished the week strong with 14 points, seven assists and five rebounds on Sunday night.
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WNBA.com Daily Expert Pick |
 Tuesday, July 1Tamera Young Atlanta vs. Phoenix |
 Wednesday, July 2Tammy Sutton-Brown Indiana vs. Chicago |
 Thursday, July 3Ivory Latta Atlanta vs. Houston |
 Saturday, July 5Matee Ajavon Houston vs. Sacramento |
 Sunday, July 6Alana Beard Washington vs. San Antonio |
Tuesday: Tamera Young, Atlanta vs. Phoenix
The Dream are still looking for their first win, but rookie Tamera Young has been a bright spot as the first draft pick in franchise history. Young, who is averaging 9.1 points and 5.5 rebounds this season, enjoyed a breakout game on Sunday when she scored a career-high 26 points against the Detroit Shock. You can watch Young and the Dream host Phoenix on ESPN2, with the game tipping off at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Wednesday: Tammy Sutton-Brown, Chicago vs. Indiana
The veteran Tammy Sutton-Brown is having another solid season for the Indiana Fever, posting 10.9 points and 5.9 rebounds. Sutton-Brown will take on the Sky's frontline on Wednesday as the Fever look to stay locked into a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.
Thursday: Ivory Latta, Atlanta vs. Houston
Ivory Latta has gotten a chance to play with the move to Atlanta and is averaging 12.7 points as a starter for the Dream. The former North Carolina Tar Heel also ranks seventh in the WNBA with 4.6 assists per game and seventh with 29 three-point field goals. Latta and the Dream are still looking for their first win and will try to knock off Houston in the Comets' first visit to A-Town. Latta scored 21 points against Houston earlier this season.
Saturday: Matee Ajavon, Houston vs. Sacramento
One of the top rookie guards in this talented class, Houston's Matee Ajavon is coming off of her best game of the season. Ajavon scored 24 points in 27 minutes in Saturday's win over Indiana. She is currently averaging 9.3 points and 2.3 rebounds for the Comets, who will face Sacramento on Saturday. Ajavon scored 14 points in the first meeting between the teams back in May.
Sunday: Alana Beard, Seattle vs. Washington
Alana Beard is one of the WNBA's elite scorers and is having another great season, checking in at sixth in the league with 18.6 points per game. She set a new career-high with 33 points earlier this season against Phoenix. Beard and the Mystics will face the San Antonio Silver Stars on Sunday, and you can watch the game live on ABC at 1:00 p.m. ET.