Nicole Ohlde and the Lynx improved to 4-1 in their last five with Sunday's win. Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE/Getty Images WNBA Photo Gallery: June 11, 2006

Douglas GAME OF THE NIGHT The final score didn't indicate that it was the game of the night, but the Sun's 85-71 win over the visiting Mystics proved that Connecticut, at least for now, is the best team in the Eastern Conference even when it's not at full strength. Katie Douglas scored 26 points and Nykesha Sales added 24 to lead the Sun to their fifth straight win and a league-best 7-1 record. The most impressive aspect of the victory was who didn't play for the Sun. Forward Taj McWilliams-Franklin, the team's third-leading scorer and top rebounder, missed her second straight game while in Italy attending the high school graduation of her daughter. Washington began the day second in the East, but dropped to third following Indiana's 69-62 win over Seattle. ALSO MAKING HEADLINES ... Oops without Swoopes: The Comets lost for the second time in three games without 2005 MVP Sheryl Swoopes in the lineup, falling 75-62 at Minnesota on Sunday. Houston isn't sure when Swoopes, who has been sidelined with back spasms, will return. McConnell-Serio WHAT THEY'RE SAYING "That's been the knock on us all season, that we're soft. I was happy to see us respond tonight. In all of our wins this year, we've been able to respond." -- Lynx coach Suzie McConnell-Serio on her team's response to the physical play in the second half of a 75-62 victory over Houston.

Beard WHO'S HOT Alana Beard, WAS: 29 pts, 12-23 FG Nykesha Sales, CON: 24 pts, 9-14 FG Nicole Ohlde, MIN: 16 pts, 8-11 FG

Hodges WHO'S NOT Roneeka Hodges, HOU: 1-9 FG 0-6 3-pt FG, 2 pts Coco Miller, WAS: 1-6 FG, 2 pts Amber Jacobs, MIN: 1-6 FG, 2 pts

Augustus ROOKIE WATCH Maybe Seimone Augustus' teammates were guilty of standing around and watching the star rookie early in the season, leading to Minnesota's 0-3 start. That isn't the case any longer. Augustus continued her stellar play with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists and received ample support from the rest of the Lynx, who improved to 4-1 in their last five with a 75-62 win over the visiting Comets. Augustus has been Minnesota's leading scorer in every game this season.

Douglas FILLING THE BOXSCORE With Taj McWilliams-Franklin out of the lineup for the second straight game, Katie Douglas more than compensated for her absence in the Sun's 85-71 win over the Mystics. Douglas collected 26 points on 10-of-17 shooting, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range, seven rebounds, four steals and two assists.