We've reached (and passed) the nominal midway point of the season, the All-Star Game, so it seems like a logical time to make my personal picks for the postseason awards, to take a gander back at the excitement we've already seen in the first half and to look ahead to what the next month and beyond will bring.

Completely Unofficial Postseason Award Picks

• Most Valuable Player: Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm (right)
Why? Tamika Catchings is an unbelievable player on the best team in the league, but Jackson has done more individually and put up better numbers with less around her.

• Defensive Player of the Year: Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever
Why? A consolation prize for one of the league's brightest stars.

• Rookie of the Year: Armintie Price, Chicago Sky
Why? Lindsey Harding was the consensus favorite until her season-ending injury last week. Price should continue to get lots of playing time in Chicago, and if her offensive game matures at all, she'll take this one home.

• Coach of the Year: Dan Hughes, San Antonio Silver Stars
Why? Yes, he has plenty of talent in Becky Hammon, Sophia Young and the like. But to make this team gel as quickly as it has into a serious contender for the Western title is impressive.

• Most Improved Player: Rebekkah Brunson, Asjha Jones, Cathrine Kraayeveld, Janel McCarville, Jia Perkins, Nicole Powell, Erin Thorn or somebody else…
Why? OK, this one is tough to call.

WNBA Goes to Washington

It was a memorable weekend at the 2007 All-Star Game in Washington, D.C. From the BE Tour to the Women of Inspiration Luncheon featuring U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, from the Nike Court Refurbishment and team practices at the Boys & Girls Club to the AOL Welcome Party, it was a memorable experience.

Oh yes, and there was the All-Star Game, too. Shock forward Cheryl Ford took home the MVP trophy with a 16-point, 13-rebound performance that helped the East to a 103-99 win. West forward Tina Thompson was the game's high scorer with 19 points, but Katie Douglas countered with 18 for the East as they won their second straight midsummer classic.

Indiana, Detroit Battle it Out

Eastern foes the Fever and Shock each had three All-Stars representing them in Washington. And after narrow victories Wednesday over Chicago and New York, respectively, Indiana (16-4) and Detroit (15-5) still own the league's two best records. There's little reason to think their standings will change, as they have won a combined 10 straight games and a combined 14 of their 18 road tilts.

On Friday, the two sides play each other at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indiana in a matchup that could help determine where each sits come playoff time.

"It's big," says Shock guard Katie Smith (pictured, left). "We're battling for first place in the East and we play each other three more times. Right now we're kind of separating ourselves from everybody.

"I'll tell you what, it's going to be a battle at their place and they definitely want to prove a point, they definitely want to show that they're the top team and we've got to go out and get ready to play and just give everything we have."

Fighting for the Postseason

After Indiana and Detroit, there are a whole mess of teams still vying for the six remaining playoff spots. San Antonio and Sacramento are going back and forth for the lead in the West, and both look likely to make the postseason. Phoenix has also been hot, winning five of their last seven games, thanks in large part to Penny Taylor, whose 32 points led them past the Storm on Tuesday.

Back in the East, New York and Connecticut are currently in playoff position, but the Mystics have come back to life after a horrible start to the season and the surprising Sky are only two games back despite their recent five-game slide. It looks like it's going to go down to the wire!

Stat Lines of the Week

• Tamika Catchings, Indiana vs. Chicago (7/18): 22 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists
• Cheryl Ford, Detroit vs. New York (7/18): 19 points, 18 rebounds
• Becky Hammon, San Antonio vs. Los Angeles (7/17): 25 points, 6 assists
• Penny Taylor (right), Phoenix vs. Seattle (7/17): 32 points, 7 rebounds
• Lauren Jackson, Seattle vs. Phoenix (7/17): 33 points, 11 rebounds
• Tina Thompson, West vs. East (7/15): 19 points, 6 rebounds
• Lindsay Whalen, Connecticut vs. Sacramento (7/12): 22 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds
• Michelle Snow, Houston vs. Minnesota (7/12): 24 points, 9 rebounds

Pull Up a Seat

Stick around for a while, won't you? There are some wonderfully exciting games on tap for the coming week. Here are the matchups you absolutely cannot miss, including Friday's matchup of the league's top two teams, as the Shock and Fever face off in Indiana:

• Friday: Detroit and Indiana, 7 p.m. ET; Sacramento at San Antonio, 8 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Indiana at Chicago, 8 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
• Sunday: Seattle at New York, 4 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
• Tuesday: Detroit at Connecticut, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
• Wednesday: Phoenix at Minnesota, 1 p.m. ET (NBA TV)

Injury Watch

• Sue Bird (right) has missed the Storm's last four games after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on her knee. She is expected to return for Seattle's game Friday in Connecticut.
• In consecutive nights last week, San Antonio's Erin Buescher and Minnesota's Lindsey Harding were both ruled out for the rest of the season with ACL injuries.
• Rebekkah Brunson injured her left calf during Thursday night's loss to the Connecticut Sun and did not play in Sunday's All-Star Game. She is questionable for the Monarchs game Friday in San Antonio.
• Fellow All-Star Kara Braxton did not play Wednesday due to a sprained ankle.
• Sheryl Swoopes has now missed 18 games for the Comets with back issues. No timetable has been set for her return.
• Though point guard Temeka Johnson return to the Sparks lineup on Tuesday, LaToya Thomas has missed L.A.'s last five games.

Closing Number: 26.6

Seattle's Lauren Jackson has averaged a 26.6 efficiency mark through Thursday, the best in the league.