Basketball Hall-of-Famer and ESPN analyst Nancy Lieberman answers your questions and e-mails throughout the year. Click here to submit a question of your own.

Wait, this has to be a typo. The Minnesota Lynx are 3-0? Are they for real? Can they really stay in the playoff race in the West? And what role do you think Candice Wiggins will be playing by the end of the season?
- Kent, Bongards, Minn.

I did mention in our preview shows that I thought the Lynx were the sleeper team in the West. I'll pat myself on the back for that one… :)

The Lynx are really young. But they are also really talented. They will make some mistakes during the season, but by the look of things so far, they have the talent to overcome them. They have some of the hottest young players in the league. Nicky Anosike is going to be a better pro than she was a college player. Wiggins is in a perfect role for her, because even though she is coming off the bench, she brings extraordinary quickness and firepower to this team. Charde Houston… oh my goodness… everyone was waiting for Charde Houston to step up and show her talent. I think she's a great fit in Coach Zierden's system. Seimone Augustus is already a star and she is so much better that advertised. Her defense has gotten better. And her offense has just gotten better. She's one of the best scorers in the league. And Anna DeForge has been a great addition for them, too. She can give you those 19-, 15-point nights and she is always going to give you good, solid minutes and plenty of leadership with her younger teammates.

I think that this team fits together. And they have found a really nice balance with Noelle Quinn at the point. She is such a great passer and really just a solid, solid player. I think she is figuring out her role more and more with each game.

And let's remember that they're doing this all without Lindsey Harding. When she comes back, they should be even more effective.

What do you think about the Phoenix Mercury? What do you think is wrong the defending champions this year?
- LeyLey, Raleigh, N.C.

I don't think there is anything wrong with the Mercury. I think one of the things for them is that their big-time players weren't there until the day before their first game. It is going to take a little bit of time to create some continuity for them. But once that happens, I think they are going to be fine. They still have Diana, they still have Cappie, they still have Tangela and they are well coached by Corey. You never want to lose your first few games, but I think they are a fringe team on the cusp of the playoffs and I think they can pull it together.

Nancy, you are on target. L.A. is a tough matchup for anyone because of their talented bigs, Lisa Leslie (6'5"), Candace Parker (6'4") and DeLisha Milton-Jones (6'1"), not to mention Murriel Page (6'2") and Christi Thomas (6'3") on the bench. But Seattle's group of Yo (6'3"), LJ (6'5") and Cash (6'1"), with Ashley Robinson (6'4") and Shyra Ely (6'2") on the bench, is not bad either. What is your take on the strength of both of these front lines and the match up between them?
- Harry-O, Corpus Christi, Texas

Great question, Harry-O. These two teams very well could match up in the playoffs. Certainly Seattle on paper is more experienced up and down the court. And even though Ashley Robinson hasn't gotten a lot of time, she is very athletic and a terrific shot-blocker. She provides a presence down in the defensive paint. Yolanda is Yolanda: She still knows what to do when she is on the court and she is so long and athletic. Milton-Jones adds a lot to the Sparks' frontcourt. But I think as she gets older, she is going to continue to play further away from the basket.

Wow, I think this matchup would be very competitive. You have Lauren Jackson, last year's MVP, Lisa, who is a former MVP, and Candace Parker, who is going to be an MVP. There is just a lot of talent out there. I can't tell you who is better, but I can tell you it is going to be fun to watch them battle it out for some time.

Hey Nancy, thus far in the season, which of the "lower-profile" rookies has been the most pleasantly surprising in their first few games?
- Howie, Philadelphia

Without a doubt, I have to mention Nicky Anosike, because nobody really knew exactly how she would fare in this league. I bet you if asked people a month or so ago, nobody would be saying Nicky Anosike would be starting. But she is. And she is impactful. She just looks good. I was in Minnesota last week, checking out their practice session. Nicky is quick… she is athletic. She can finish around the basket. She is bright. She is more than a fringe player to that team.

Nancy, with Atlanta being the newest team, how many games do you anticipate them winning this year? And how good will it be to see a "Little of this and a whole Latta that" once again? Go Tar Heels!
- Gabby, Bronx, N.Y.

Obviously it's cool for Ivory and Camille that they are going to get a chance to play together as professionals, but they are a very young team. Through no fault of her own, Marynell Meadors has a bunch of players who either didn't get a lot of time with their former teams or got marginal minutes. And now they are being asked to be major factors and impact players. That is a whole different mentality. And then you are also asking them to mesh together in the span of a few weeks? It's not an easy thing to do.

Still, I think they should win five, maybe six games. I don't really expect much more than that in a season where all of the other teams in the league are very, very talented. I hope they can do better, but those players are going to have to play beyond their years.

Dearest Nancy. First of all, I am NOT crazy. But with your celebrity status… could you please get Oprah Winfrey involved in the WNBA? You know that whatever she touches turns to gold. She can bring A LOT of attention to the league! The WNBA is all about empowering women and these players are great role models for girls and women of all kinds and nationalities, as you know. So let's get all your powerful women in the WNBA together and approach the great Oprah Winfrey to give us even more cred and to help us to become a greater and more widely followed women's sporting event. Love you, Nancy, and all of your contributions to the WNBA. Take care, sisterfriend.
- Sydni, Phoenix

First, Sydni, yes, I think you are crazy. ;)

Secondly, Oprah Winfrey for me, like many others, is a hero for what she has done for women of every slice of life. She has shown the power of being so positive. I have got to believe that Oprah would do anything that she could for anybody. She is an angel. Really, she is an angel. To be able to have her power, her status and her influence… and to use it for so much good is just incredible.

And you are right, she does turn things into gold. Given the opportunity to talk to her, there would be no doubt in my mind that I would show her the virtues of who we are and what we are and hopefully her heart would be supportive in that direction. She would see the health, the wellness, the competitiveness and the opportunity for women.

So, I am going to cut this response short because I am going to use my iPhone right now to call Oprah in Chicago. I am on my way to Harpo.

P.S. Do you think she will mind if I call her collect? ;)