The WNBA Returns to Action: Eastern Conference

After a month-long break for the Olympic Games, the WNBA resumes on September 1 with twelve teams in action, kicking off a three week sprint to the playoffs. Each team has between seven and nine games left to stake their claim on one of the precious few playoff berths and has little margin for error. Unlike the Western Conference, the East is as tight as it has ever been this late in a season, with only two games separating all six teams. Here is how the Eastern Conference looks as the action gets under way.

Sting Leaders: Points Allison Feaster, 11.7 ppg Rebs. Tammy Sutton-Brown, 6.7 rpg Assts. Dawn Staley, 4.4 apg Blocks T. Sutton-Brown, 2.16 bpg Steals Dawn Staley, 1.44 spg

Charlotte Sting

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Record: 12-13 (T-2nd)
Games Out of First Place: 1.0
Remaining Games: 5 home, 4 away
What they need to do: Let's just get the words "anyone's ball game" out there now, because it applies to the Sting as well as the other five Eastern Conference. If Charlotte wants to be one of the four teams that qualifies for the playoffs, they need to put the ball in the basket. They are currently last among all 13 WNBA teams with 61.1 points per game. On the flip side, it has been their defense that has kept them competitive, surrendering only 62.9 ppg, which is best in the league. Forward Allison Feaster is an All-Star and has emerged as another consistent scorer for Trudi Lacey's squad. However, she is the only player to score in double figures. Rookie Nicole Powell really started to play well before the break, so she could be another option for the Sting down the stretch.

Sun Leaders: Points Nykesha Sales, 15.8 ppg Rebs. Taj McWilliams-Franklin, 7.0 rpg Assts. Lindsay Whalen, 5.2 apg Blocks McWilliams-Franklin, 1.30 bpg Steals Nykesha Sales, 2.11 spg

Connecticut Sun

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Record: 13-14 (T-2nd)
Games Out of First Place: 1.0
Remaining Games: 4 home, 3 away
What they need to do: Perhaps the biggest surprise in the Eastern Conference so far in 2004, many experts picked the Sun to finish near the bottom of the pack. Instead, the Sun sent three All-Stars to The Game at Radio City. Towards the middle of the season, Connecticut was one of the league's hottest teams and even spent a few weeks in first place before falling back to the pack near the end of July. Nykesha Sales has been one of the most consistent players in the league this season, as has frontcourt partner Taj McWilliams-Franklin. Rookie sensation Lindsay Whalen has lived up to all of the billing and is currently third in the WNBA with 5.2 assists per game. In order to make the playoffs, the Sun have to commit fewer turnovers and sure up their defense, which is allowing 69.4 points per game.

Shock Leaders: Points Swin Cash, 17.0 ppg Rebs. Cheryl Ford, 9.4 rpg Assts. Elaine Powell, 4.7 apg Blocks Ruth Riley, 1.44 bpg Steals Deanna Nolan, 2.04 spg

Detroit Shock

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Record: 13-14 (T-2nd)
Games Out of First Place: 1.0
Remaining Games: 3 home, 4 away

What they need to do: Inconsistency has plagued the defending champs all season long, but the Detroit Shock are probably the most dangerous team in this pack because they have proven they can win the big games and could not have forgotten how to do so in just one season. The talent is in place (as evidenced by the five Shock representatives in The Game at Radio City) and Olympians Swin Cash and Ruth Riley saw fewer minutes than some of their teammates and should be rested for the finish. Coach Bill Laimbeer has kept his team loose during the break, even taking them fishing, but the Shock have fewer games than their competitors, so they cannot afford to slip up.

Fever Leaders: Points Tamika Catchings, 17.1 ppg Rebs. Tamika Catchings, 7.4 rpg Assts. Tamika Catchings, 3.3 apg Blocks Tamika Catchings, 1.22 bpg Steals Tamika Catchings, 2.04 spg

Indiana Fever

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Record: 12-15 (4th)
Games Out of First Place: 2.0
Remaining Games: 3 home, 4 away

What they need to do: The break could not have come at a better time for the Indiana Fever, who dropped from first to fourth in the blink of an eye (or six consecutive losses). Of course, in the Eastern Conference, no team is out of the race, and certainly not with a player of the caliber of Olympic starting forward Tamika Catchings at the center of it all. Indiana has a poor road record, something they must address as four of their final seven games will be played away from the Conseco Fieldhouse. More importantly, the Fever need greater production from players not named Tamika Catchings, who leads the team in just about every statistical category.

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Record: 13-12 (1st)
Games Out of First Place: N/A
Remaining Games: 5 home, 4 away

What they need to do: Will the real New York Liberty team please stand up? Will it be the team that won six games in a row at the start of the season? Perhaps the team that lost six in a row immediately afterwards? Since coach Pat Coyle took over, New York has righted the ship, winning four of its last five games and and taking the conference lead. If Elena Baranova plays like she did for Russia in the Olympics, Becky Hammon continues to show no signs of weakness in her knee, Vickie Johnson and Crystal Robinson keep hitting big shots and the team stays undefeated at Radio City Music Hall, expect to see the Liberty in the playoffs (back at Madison Square Garden).

Mystics Leaders: Points Chamique Holdsclaw, 19.0 ppg Rebs. Chamique Holdsclaw, 8.3 rpg Assts. S. Dales-Schuman, 2.7 apg Blocks Alana Beard, 1.00 bpg Steals Alana Beard, 2.04 spg

Washington Mystics

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Record: 12-14 (3rd)
Games Out of First Place: 1.5
Remaining Games: 4 home, 4 away

What they need to do:
Just like the Phoenix Mercury, the Mystics have already made tremendous strides since a disappointing 2003 campaign. Alana Beard really took her game to the next level prior to the break, leading her team in scoring in seven of their last nine games. However, in order for the Mystics to make the playoffs, perennial MVP candidate Chamique Holdsclaw must rebound from whatever it is that is bothering her and contribute with points, rebounds and veteran leadership. Her 19 points and 8 rebounds a game are simply irreplaceable.