Archives: Today in the WNBA | The WNBA Weekly Recap

PHOTO OF THE WEEK Katie Douglas recorded 24 points as the Fever set a single-game franchise scoring record with 103 points in Sunday's victory over the Mercury. Ron Hoskins/NBAE/Getty Images

A Retrospective of the 2008 WNBA Regular Season What a Regular Season It Was!: It started with a sensational debut by an eventual rookie MVP candidate and proceeded with extraordinary individual performances, fantastic finishes, historic highlights and an unforgettable playoff race. Whether it was Candace Parker joining Lisa Leslie as the only two players in WNBA history to dunk in a game, Diana Taurasi becoming the fastest to 3,000 points or the Fever playing the Liberty in the first ever professional outdoor basketball game in North America, the 2008 WNBA regular season featured many spectacular moments. It’s hard to single out one performance or moment as “the defining highlight” of the year. In fact, it always felt that after each breakthrough or storyline, a new one captured our attention. My question to you, nonetheless, is; if you had to pick out one specific moment or performance throughout the season, which one would you classify as the most breathtaking? In addition to the aforementioned choices, think about the triple-overtime thriller at Madison Square Garden, Nancy Lieberman coming out of retirement and the U.S. Women capturing their fourth straight gold medal. ALSO MAKING HEADLINES ... It's Playoff Time!: Are you excited about these first-round playoff matchups? I know I am. In a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals, the Shock will play the Fever. Unlike last season, however, it will be Taj McWilliams-Franklin, not Cheryl Ford, who Indiana will have to contain in the middle. In the other series out East, neighbors Connecticut and New York will go head-to-head. The big question here is; will the Liberty be able to slow down Lindsay Whalen and the Sun’s tenacious backcourt attack. In the West, meanwhile, although they will not have Lauren Jackson until the Finals if they can advance that far, the Storm will try to upset Candace Parker and the Sparks. The No. 1 seeded Silver Stars, perhaps the favorites to win it all, will clash with the biggest surprise of the 2008 season, the Monarchs. No matter who comes out unscathed when the playoffs conclude, we know one thing for sure; there will be a new champion. Whalen QUOTE OF THE WEEK "I just tried to encourage her. I told her she'd be all right. Nobody wants to see anybody get hurt.'' -- Tamika Catchings, after witnessing her Olympic teammate and good friend Seimone Augustus suffer a mild concussion on Tuesday. Candice Wiggins injured her right knee during the game as well. Catchings

WHO WAS HOT Ann Wauters, Silver Stars Three Games: 19-31 FG, 1-1 3-pt, 7-12 FT Tan White, Fever Four Games: 21-45 FG, 10-22 3-pt, 12-13 FT Cappie Pondexter, Mercury Three Games: 25-51 FG, 17-18 FT Charde Houston, Lynx Three Games: 22-34 FG, 11-16 FT

Wauters

WHO WAS NOT Betty Lennox, Dream Three Games: 11-36 FG, 3-16 3-pt Coco Miller, Mystics Four Games: 8-21 FG, 1-5 3-pt FG Alexis Hornbuckle, Shock Three Games: 3-18 FG, 1-6 3-pt Cathrine Kraayeveld, Liberty Four Games: 8-28 FG, 5-16 3-pt

Lennox

UPCOMING NATIONAL TV GAMES Playoffs tip off Thursday

Parker

Bird

WHO IS THE WNBA MVP? The 2008 WNBA MVP race has been one to remember. Similar to the NBA, where there were four legitimate MVP candidates, the WNBA has around the same number, if not more, contenders for this season’s prestigious award. Among the favorites are San Antonio’s Sophia Young and Becky Hammon, Connecticut’s Lindsay Whalen, Seattle’s Sue Bird and Los Angeles’ Candace Parker. All of have had memorable seasons, but as Adam Hirshfield discusses in his latest Race to the MVP rankings, the winner will be determined based on what is classified as “most valuable.” If it comes down to consistency, it’s hard to go against Young; if leadership is the ruler of all, Hammon, Bird and Whalen may be the frontrunners, if you think it's about all-around excellence, Parker may be the choice. Help decide the winner by voting now.

DREAM HOPE FOR DREAM FUTURE It was a difficult opening campaign for the expansion Atlanta Dream. They started 0-17, and at times, you had to wonder if they were ever going to win a game this year. But with a great deal of heart and determination, the Dream managed to remain competitive for the remainder of the season. They, in fact, defeated the playoff-bound Sparks on Thursday to finish with a hard-earned four victories in their first year of existence. With young rising talent like Tamera Young and Iziane Castro-Marques, who scored 23 in the triumph in Los Angeles, and a top draft pick to look forward to, you can certainly expect an even greater spirit from the Dream in 2009.

Young