Archives: Today in the WNBA | The WNBA Weekly Recap

PHOTO OF THE WEEK The Fever practiced outside Conseco Fieldhouse on Thursday to tune up for the Liberty Outdoor Classic July 19 at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. Buy tickets. Ron Hoskins/NBAE/Getty Images

An Awe-Inspiring Performance From Parker Rookie Drops In 40 Points in Win: We all knew it would eventually happen. Her talents are extraordinary. Her desire is supreme. Candace Parker, moreover, is one of very few players in the WNBA who can have invincible performances. It showed on Wednesday when the rookie sensation erupted for a season-best 40 points during L.A.’s overtime triumph over Houston. Her scoring outburst fell one point shy of the franchise record set by teammate Lisa Leslie in 2006 and it was the first time since high school that CP3 exploded for 40 or more in a game. Earlier this season, Parker became just the second player in league history to dunk in a game. In fact, the former University of Tennessee All-American flushed home two jams in back-to-back games. In addition, she has racked up 30 or more points in three games this season -- two against rival Phoenix. Irrespective of all these accomplishments, Parker’s ultimate goal is to win a WNBA championship. As a result, expect a modest Candace until she achieves that objective. ALSO MAKING HEADLINES ... Taurasi Makes More History: It’s noteworthy, on one hand, when a player eclipses a milestone. It’s illustrious, on the other hand, when a player surpasses a landmark faster than anyone else in the league’s history. Diana Taurasi, one of the game’s all-time greatest scorers, reached 3,000 career points on Tuesday. It only took the three-time All-Star 151 games to attain that mark – 12 games quicker than Lauren Jackson. While setting this record, Taurasi helped Phoenix overcome a 14-point deficit with a game-high 30 points to jolt Houston. DT, furthermore, capped her tremendous performance with a 3-pointer with 42.6 seconds remaining followed by a game-sealing block on the defensive end. Despite becoming the fastest player to 3,000, nonetheless, the former UConn standout believes her teammate Cappie Pondexter, who erupted for a season-best 33 points in a loss to the Monarchs on Saturday, will reach the milestone even faster. In 81 games, thus far, Pondexter has 1,576 points. She definitely has a shot (wink wink). Taurasi QUOTE OF THE WEEK "We started getting tough with them, we started fighting back ... not allowing them to take advantage of us or dictate how we're going to play." -- Liberty guard Loree Moore, after New York overcame an 18-point deficit against Detroit to pull off the second largest comeback victory in franchise history. Moore

WHO WAS HOT Ann Wauters, Silver Stars Three Games: 21-38 FG, 5-8 FT Janel McCarville, Liberty Two Games: 10-18 FG, 8-9 FT Cappie Pondexter, Mercury Three Games: 26-53 FG, 6-15 3-pt FG, 17-21 FT Lindsay Whalen, Sun Two Games: 17-29 FG, 3-9 3-pt FG, 16-19 FT

Wauters

WHO WAS NOT Alana Beard, Mystics Three Games: 10-38 FG, 0-9 3-pt FG, 6-11 FT Tamika Catchings, Fever Two Games: 2-17 FG, 1-4 3-pt FG Matee Ajavon, Comets Three Games: 4-18 FG, 1-6 3-pt FG Tamera Young, Dream Three Games: 8-24 FG, 0-2 3-pt FG, 6-12 FT

Beard

UPCOMING NATIONAL TV GAMES Mon. Silver Stars-Sparks, 10:30 ET (NBA TV) Tues. Liberty-Sun, 7 ET (ESPN2) Tues. Silver Stars-Mercury, 9 ET (ESPN2) Wed. Sky-Shock, 12 ET (NBA TV) Thurs. Mystics-Liberty, 7:30 ET (NBA TV) Thurs. Sparks-Mercury, 10 ET (NBA TV) Fri. Shock-Mystics, 7 ET (NBA TV) Fri. Sun-Sky, 8:30 ET (NBA TV) Sat. Fever-Liberty, 7:30 ET (NBA TV) Sun. Storm-Mystics, 4 ET (NBA TV) Sun. Monarchs-Shock, 6 ET (NBA TV)

Smith

Catchings

USA IS NOW OFFICIALLY STOCKED In addition to being extremely talented and well-rounded, USA Basketball will also be very experienced. The final three players were named to the national team on Thursday to round out the official 12-member squad that will head to Beijing next month for the Summer Olympics. They include Tamika Catchings, who has captured an array of medals throughout her international career, DeLisha Milton-Jones, a primary offensive weapon used to attain gold at eight tournaments, and Kara Lawson, a crafty veteran who will provide backcourt leadership. USAB, furthermore, realizes the competition will be challenging and that it will need every player to play at the highest level. As a result, expect the team to go to China with a great deal of enthusiasm and unity. Check out the home of USA Basketball

THE BEST OF THE BEST There is undoubtedly a great deal of parity, especially in the Western Conference, in the WNBA this season. In fact, no team has less than nine wins in the West and four teams have at least 10 victories in the East. Moreover, the three teams with the best overall record, the Silver Stars, Shock and Storm, are a combined 32-2 at home this year. Those three teams, indeed, are the hottest clubs in the league right now. San Antonio, for one, has won seven straight, including a comeback victory over Atlanta on Friday. Seattle, similarly, has won six consecutive games, including a dominant victory against L.A. in Lauren Jackson’s last game before heading to Australia to practice for the Olympics. Detroit, meanwhile, is a perfect 9-0 at home but allowed New York at Madison Square Garden to pull off the second largest comeback win in franchise history.

Jackson