Archives: Today in the WNBA | The WNBA Weekly Recap

PHOTO OF THE WEEK It was an event you will tell your grandchildren about. Check out a special Photo Essay to remember the WNBA's historic and remarkable Liberty Outdoor Classic. Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images

An Event Like No Other: The Outdoor Classic WNBA Plays Outdoor Contest: Around the world, and especially across New York City, basketball lovers are suiting up in their replica tank-top jerseys, polyester shorts and high-top sneakers. They are, moreover, joining their friends and playing some pick-up basketball in their neighborhoods under the beautiful summer weather conditions. It was only fitting, therefore, for the WNBA to organize outdoor basketball. Sure, there is always the wind factor and humid temperatures that impact the level of play. But come on, basketball was one sport that was designed to be played both indoors and outdoors. Saturday’s Outdoor Classic, furthermore, didn’t disappoint as the Fever and Liberty clashed in the very first professional hoops game played outdoors in North America. Indiana ran away with the victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, NY, but both teams and, most importantly, the nearly 20,000 fans in attendance enjoyed the spectacle. Check out a special Photo Essay for a complete retrospective of this historic and memorable event. ALSO MAKING HEADLINES ... The Elated Wild, Wild West: If you had predicted that all seven teams in the Western Conference would have at least 11 wins by the conclusion of Week 9 and have some kind of proof of it (perhaps on tape recorder or posted somewhere on the web), please start a thread on the WNBA.com Fan Voice titled “I am a WNBA genius.” Predicting this forecast would be as noteworthy as predicting when the next winter blizzard will happen in New York City in the month of April. Good luck with that. Nonetheless, it is true that every squad in the West has at least 11 wins and you could basically say that every club has a legitimate chance of reaching The Finals. Minnesota defeating first-place San Antonio and Houston outlasting Los Angeles in overtime on Saturday, furthermore, could prove to be very significant when the playoff race heats up after the Olympic break. Augustus QUOTE OF THE WEEK "I'm still loving playing more than anything in the world and I feel like I'm enjoying it more and more every year." -- Seattle's Lauren Jackson, after arriving in Australia to practice with the national team for the Summer Olympics in Beijing. Jackson

WHO WAS HOT Cheryl Ford, Shock Three Games: 19-28 FG Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Mystics Three Games: 21-35 FG, 4-5 3-pt FG Candice Wiggins, Lynx Two Games: 15-28 FG, 6-11 3-pt FG, 15-17 FT Candace Parker, Sparks Three Games: 26-43 FG, 10-14 FT

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WHO WAS NOT Candice Dupree, Sky Three Games: 14-50 FG, 0-1 3-pt FG Coco Miller, Mystics Three Games: 2-16 FG, 1-6 3-pt FG Ruth Riley, Silver Stars Three Games: 2-12 FG, 0-3 3-pt FG Swin Cash, Storm Two Games: 4-16 FG

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UPCOMING NATIONAL TV GAMES Tues. Storm-Lynx, 1 ET (NBA TV) Tues. Sparks-Shock, 7 ET (ESPN2) Wed. Liberty-Mystics, 11:30 ET (NBA TV) Thurs. Sparks-Sun, 7 ET (NBA TV) Thurs. Shock-Comets, 9:30 ET (ESPN2) Fri.. Sparks-Liberty, 7:30 ET (NBA TV) Sun. Sun-Mystics, 4 ET (NBA TV) Sun. Sparks-Lynx, 6 ET (NBA TV) Sun. Mercury-Fever, 9 ET (NBA TV)

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Kenlaw

KENLAW REPLACES ROLLINS IN D.C. It’s a new beginning for the Mystics. Washington decided to relieve Tree Rollins of his head coaching duties and replace him with assistant Jessie Kenlaw. The team, consequently, responded after losing their last two games by a combined 58 points with an impressive triumph over the Storm on Sunday. Kenlaw, who served as the lead assistant coach for the 2004 WNBA champion Seattle Storm, had to like what she saw from her club. She, moreover, received an effervescent performance from Taj McWilliams-Franklin, who racked up 22 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 from downtown. In addition, team leader Alana Beard appeared re-energized as she matched her career high with nine assists to go along with nine points.

THE FRESHEST TEAM OF THE WEEK Every week in the WNBA there is a Team of the Week. Not officially or nothing like that, but there seems to always be at least one squad that flourishes and goes on an inspiring winning streak. This week, furthermore, that honor belongs to the Sacramento Monarchs, who have reeled off four consecutive victories including an unexpected triumph over the Shock on Sunday. In fact, it’s such an extraordinary win that it ended Detroit’s perfect home record his season. Despite playing with an ailing leg, Rebekkah Brunson recorded 18 points and seven rebounds, while Kara Lawson buried a go-ahead jumper with 38.9 seconds remaining. Sacramento currently sits in the fourth and final playoff spot in the competitive Western Conference.

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