Sancho Lyttle, Houston Comets

By Mike Slane

July 1, 2008 - Lisa Leslie, Lauren Jackson… Sancho Lyttle?

In a survey conducted by WNBA.com prior to the 2008 season, one general manager had Lyttle ranked ahead of the two legends as the WNBA’s top center. That just shows how high some people are on the fourth-year player, who has only started two games for the Houston Comets this season.

In those two starts last week, replacing an injured Tina Thompson, Lyttle showed the rest of the league what the anonymous GM saw – her true potential. Lyttle is averaging 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds for the season, but averaged 19 and eight in her previous two games.

"Whenever she’s called upon, she’s always ready,” said Comets Head Coach Karleen Thompson.

It’s not easy playing in place of Tina Thompson, a six-time All-Star, but Lyttle took advantage of her first start of the season on Thursday, impressing her teammates and coach with a career-high 26 points on an outstanding 10-of-12 shooting from the floor in a win over the Silver Stars.

“Sancho was a beast! She went in the game and went to work,” said Michelle Snow. “She posted hard and wide. She was an easy target and she just turned around and took the shot. She got the easy jumpers and layups, and she crashed the boards. She also played hard on defense. It was an all around magnificent game.”

"Sancho just really showed up for us tonight,” Karleen Thompson added.

Lyttle followed her career night with her first double-double of the season, posting 15 points and 10 boards in a victory over the Fever on Saturday. She shot 7-of-9 from the floor to help push her season field goal percentage to 63.6, which ranks third in the league.

Lyttle also eclipsed her minutes total for her previous nine games with 62 over the past two and will likely continue to find playing time while Tina Thompson sits with a broken finger. If her two previous performances don’t earn her playing time even after Tina Thompson returns, it's difficult to tell what will.