Storm�s Lauren Jackson, Sky�s Candice Dupree
Honored as WNBA Players of the Week

NEW YORK, June 18, 2007 -- Candice Dupree of the Chicago Sky and Lauren Jackson of the Seattle Storm were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, June 11, through Sunday, June 17.

This is the first Player of the Week honor for Dupree, who averaged 23.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 blocks, and shot 60 percent from the field (29-for-48) and 80 percent from the free-throw line (12-for-15) as the Sky posted a 2-1 record on the week.

On June 17, Dupree posted 28 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter to lead the Sky to their first-ever franchise win over the Connecticut Sun (87-74). She also added eight rebounds, two assists, a block and converted 10-of-14 field goals and 8-of-9 free throws to secure the Sky's sixth victory this season, topping their win total from their inaugural campaign in 2006.

Dupree recorded her second double-double of the season two days later, on June 15 against the New York Liberty, with 24 points and 13 rebounds, along with three assists, three blocks and 55 percent shooting (11-for-20), in a 73-66 Sky victory.

Dupree is currently ranked third in the league in blocks with 1.67 per game, behind Jackson who leads with 2.29 per game.

A seven-year veteran, Jackson earns her eighth weekly honor as she averaged 22 points, six rebounds, two blocks and shot 49 percent from the field (22-for-45), 40 percent from beyond the arc (6-for-15) and 89 percent from the free throw line (16-for-18) as the Storm posted a 2-1 record on the week.

On June 12, Jackson scored 13 of her game-high 19 points in the second half against the Chicago Sky, as the Storm turned a two-point deficit at the intermission into an 81-69 win. She also tallied four rebounds, four blocks and hit 7-of-18 field goal attempts and went a perfect 5-for-5 on free throws.

On June 14, she reached 30 points for the third time this season and the 11th time in her career as the Storm defeated the Houston Comets, 84-71. She also added seven rebounds, two blocks and matched her career-high with five three-pointers (5-for-7). In between these efforts, Jackson grabbed her 1,500th career rebound against the Indiana Fever on June 13.

Other candidates for WNBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Houston's Tina Thompson, Indiana's Tamika Catchings, Sacramento's Rebekkah Brunson and San Antonio's Sophia Young.

The WNBA tipped off its second decade of play on May 19, 2007, featuring comprehensive national television coverage. ESPN2 and ABC will combine to televise up to 36 games nationally during the regular season and playoffs. The second straight year of "WNBA Tuesdays" on ESPN2 includes five doubleheaders and WNBA action on 11 of 14 Tuesday nights in-season. NBA TV will complement ABC and ESPN2's coverage by televising 70 regular-season and up to nine playoff games. The WNBA All-Star Game will be played at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. on July 15 at 3:30 pm ET with live coverage on ABC.