Seven-year veteran Barbara Farris scored a career-high 20 points in Minnesota. David Sherman/NBAE/Getty Images WNBA Photo Gallery: June 24, 2006

Cash TODAY'S TOP STORY The Comforts of Home: The Mystics and Shock came into Saturday's matchup with identical 7-4 records, but that doesn't mean they were evenly matched. Swin Cash scored 19 as Detroit improved to 5-0 at the Palace with a 92-86 victory that dropped Washington to 1-5 on the road. As a further example of how important home court advantage is to these two teams, the Mystics won the previous showdown by a whopping 24 points at the MCI Center on June 3. ALSO MAKING HEADLINES ... Big Rookie on the Big Stage: While Seimone Augustus has yet to open the curtain on Broadway or grace the Madison Square Garden marquee, she did make her first appearance against New York an impressive one on Saturday. The No. 1 pick in this year's draft and the WNBA's second leading scorer had 29 points, but couldn't stop the Liberty from edging the Lynx, 93-83 in Minnesota. Beard WHAT THEY'RE SAYING “She’s huge. Sometimes I go in there and my eyes will just get big because they’re coming at you. They’ve definitely got the best frontcourt, I think, in the league." -- Washington guard Alana Beard on Detroit forward Cheryl Ford, who scored 18 points in the Shock's 92-86 win over the Mystics.

Ford WHO'S HOT Cheryl Ford, DET: 18 pts 8-9 FG, 2-3 FT Barbara Farris, NYL: 20 pts 8-12 FG, 4-5 FT

Robinson WHO'S NOT Crystal Robinson, WAS: 4-13 FG, 13 pts Nicole Ohlde, MIN: 2-8 FG, 7 pts

Baker SHINING OFF THE BENCH Rookie Sherill Baker is getting used to heating up quickly for the Liberty. Among all WNBA players who play less than 20 minutes per game, the 12th overall pick out of Georgia is third in scoring with almost nine per game. Baker eclipsed that mark Saturday, scoring 13 on 6-for-9 shooting in just 15 minutes of a New York road win.

Smith FILLING THE BOX SCORE Swin Cash (19 points), Deanna Nolan (18) and Cheryl Ford (18) may have outscored Katie Smith on Saturday, but that doesn't mean she didn't have an impact on the game. In addition to 17 points, the four-time All-Star distributed a career-best nine assists in Detroit's home victory.