By Matthew Brennan, WNBA.com
September, 2009 - The 2009 WNBA season and the Pick One Challenge enters the final week, with six days of games starting on Tuesday. For those on the leaderboard, this is your last chance to move up in the standings and grab a shot at first place. Heading into Sunday's games there were still 13 players within 100 points of the lead.
Last Week's MVP: Cappie Pondexter, Phoenix
Pondexter was a model of consistency this week as the Mercury racked up a 2-1 record while gearing up for the playoffs. The WNBA All-Star averaged 21.7 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.0 rebounds. She is currently second in the league with a 28.6 PRA (points+rebounds+assists) after checking in at third last season with 29.2.
Rookie Watch
Just when it looked like Atlanta's Angel McCoughtry had all the momentum in the race for Rookie of the Year, DeWanna Bonner struck back with two big games this week. In terms of PRA, they are neck and neck with Bonner's 17.8 just edging McCoughtry's 17.2. McCoughtry has gotten off to an uneven start in September after dominating in August, posting a monster 26-point, 10-assist, five-rebound game in between being held to single-digit scoring in her other two appearances. If you have already selected them this season, other rookies that you must choose in the final week if you haven't already include Detroit's Shavonte Zellous and Connecticut's Anete Jekabsone-Zogota.
Last Week's Picks
My entry dropped to 178th place overall, so I am going to use some rookies in the final week at a last-ditch attempt to move up into the top 100 in the final rankins. Penny Taylor was my top performer of the week with a total of 21 on Saturday.
 Tuesday, September 8Kia Vaughn New York vs. Indiana |
 Wednesday, September 9Rashanda McCants Minnesota vs. Detroit |
 Thursday, September 11Vickie Johnson San Antonio at Sacramento |
 Friday, September 12Tan White Connecticut at Atlanta |
 Saturday, September 13Shalee Lehning Atlanta at Washington |
 Sunday, September 14Chante Black Connecticut vs. Indiana |
Tuesday: Kia Vaughn, New York vs. Indiana
I'm using a few rookies over the final week and I will start with Vaughn, who has saw her playing time increase last week with the Liberty out of contention. Vaughn's two games in September have been the most minutes played this season, and she responsed with 8.0 points and 2.0 rebounds. She has only scored in double-figures three times this season but I think she can have a big game on Tuesday for her hometown Liberty.
Thursday: Rashanda McCants, Minnesota vs. Detroit
McCants had had a few solid games off the bench in her rookie campaign with the Lynx so I will be looking to strike gold when she faces the Shock on Wednesday night at the Palace. Her career-high of 14 points came against Detroit back on July 31.
Thursday: Vickie Johnson, San Antonio at Sacramento
Johnson will retire after this season, but heated up last week as her final WNBA campaign enters the home stretch. After scoring no more than 16 points in a game over the first three months of the season, Johnson is averaging 22.0 points over the first two games of September. She scored 12 points with a season-high five assists in her last meeting with the Monarchs back in August.
Friday: Tan White, Connecticut at Atlanta
White has been a welcome addition to the Sun, averaging 9.4 points while making 14 starts. She will enter Friday's game against the Dream averaging 14.0 points in her last three games.
Saturday: Shahlee Lehning, Atlanta at Washington
Lehning has seen a lot of playing time this year after being selected in the second round of April's draft by the Dream. She dished out a career-high ten assists on Saturday against the Mercury and I'm hoping that she can continue the momentum into the last week of the season. Lehning is averaging 3.8 assists for the whole season but is handing out 6.3 over her last six games.
Sunday: Chante Black, Connecticut vs. Indiana
The latest in a line of former Duke stars to come into the WNBA, Black is averaging 3.0 points and 3.2 rebounds per game as a rookie. Indiana will likely be resting their starters in this game, while Connecticut may or may not be locked into a playoff spot, so time will tell how much playing time the 6-5 Black receives. Her best game this year was an 11-point, eight-rebound outing against San Antonio back in June.