First off, I can’t seem to keep up-to-date with anything electronic, so forgive me for this being late. I actually wrote it right after Game 1, so you can kind of get an idea of how not-so-smart I can be.
NOW, congrats to Diana Taurasi for winning her first (probably of many) MVPs. She’s very deserving of it this year, since she has elevated her game to a higher level (if that’s even possible).
Secondly, congrats to the Mercury for a very hard-earned win in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. It was one hell of a game!
Here’s a few stats for you to wrap your mind around:
1. Take a good look at all the past MVP winners:
Cynthia Cooper (HOU) 1997, 1998
Yolanda Griffith (SAC) 1999
Sheryl Swoopes (HOU) 2000, 2002, 2005
Lisa Leslie (L.A.) 2001, 2004, 2006
Lauren Jackson (SEA) 2003, 2007
Candace Parker (L.A.) 2008
Diana Taurasi (PHO) 2009
Now, doesn’t it seem like it has a Western Conference flavor to it? Does this say anything about the talent spread throughout the league, or is it just a mere coincidence that all MVP winners are from the Western Conference?
2009 Game 1 WNBA Finals
Phoenix 120 Indiana 116 F/OT
INDIANA: Indiana averaged 70+ points in the regular season. Now, I know that Phoenix has the worst defense in the league, and maybe tonight’s score reflected that. OR, maybe Indiana didn’t know they had that kind of offensive power.
Ebony Hoffman had the biggest 27 points of career. Obviously, it’s a new record for her, but she hit some pretty huge shots for the Fever.
Katie Douglas landed the 3PT that sent the game into OT, and took my breath away (not for good reason). She was phenomenal tonight. Of all the Fever players, Douglas didn’t seem to look fatigued at all. She led all players with 30 points.
Tamika Catchings had a very difficult game, not so much for the fact that she fouled out with 8 points, but the fact that she had to guard Taurasi the whole game. Catch is the greatest defender in the league, there’s no doubt about that. She has nothing to hang her head about in this game. She had some terrific shots and some huge steals.
Rounding out the Fever roster tonight: Tammy Sutton-Brown had 19 points, Tully Bevilaqua had 14 points, and the rook off the bench Briann January contribUted a pretty big 11 points for Indiana. Again, Indiana only averages 70 some odd points, so 36 additional points tonight make you wonder why they haven’t done that more often. They shot 55.6% from the field, a little better than Phoenix.
PHOENIX: The BIG 3
TAURASI, PONDEXTER, TAYLOR: Without either one of these 3 players, Phoenix would not be in the Finals.
First off, Taurasi is a monster at any moment throughout the game. You have to know where she’s at all times because once she gets the ball, it’s on. I think her 22 points was a little quite tonight, even though she was huge down the stretch. She was a little sluggish in the first half, but was light’s out in the second.
Cappie Pondexter only had 2 points in the first half if I remember correctly. Finishing with 23 points isn’t bad. I think CP needs to get her head on a little straighter. This is the second game in a row where she’s picked up a technical. I understand she was irked by Douglas, but come one Cappie, not right in front of the officials. However, she key plays and shots for Phoenix down the stretch.
Ah, Penny Taylor. What a shinny penny you are too. I gotta say, this woman is the deal sealer for the Mercury. When the stars are off their game, Penny comes in and gives Phoenix the adreneline they need. She’s such a great athlete, and she’s very smart. She made very, very important shots for Phoenix to give them momentum to get back into the game when they were down double digits. They definitely missed her last year. In 2007, she was the backbone to their championship run. She’s the spine of this star-studded team, and it’s such a joy to see her play basketball.
As for the Youngin’, this girl’s got game! The thing that I like most about watching Bonner is that she doesn’t play like a rookie. She has her moments of course, but she comes off the bench and is constantly involved in the offense. She takes good shots, and she creates a little at the same time. She’s always moving, and it seems like she’s always on the end of someone’s pass. Tonight, she was hustling and gunning for rebounds and getting shots and just being aggressive. The Phoenix organization has to be so stoked for getting this woman. She’s a fantastic addition to this team, and I know that I’m going to look forward to watching her in years to come. She ended the game with 15 points.
Tameka Johnson; wow. I’m so thrilled to see her in a Mercury uniform. She’s got speed, she’s got the pass, she’s got the aggressiveness, and she’s got the big-time shot in her arsenal. She made some BIG 3s for Phoenix. She finished the game with 13 points, and Tangela Smith added a quiet 14 for Phoenix. The Mercury shot only 50% from the floor.
STATS FOR THIS GAME: It was the highest scoring game in WNBA history, Indiana scored a franchise high 116 points, both teams had lousy FG%, but 84.4% FT shooting, there were 19 lead changes, and the game was tied 13 times.
For a game 1 thriller, I can’t wait until Game 2.
Since Game 3 has already come and gone, a little up-to-date news that I can keep up with. The Fever had a record sell-out crowd for Game 3 that saw more than 18,000 fans witness a nail-bitter that went to Indiana. Game 4 is this Wednesday, 7:30 ET and Game 5 is Friday at 9 ET.
Also, congrats to Marynell Meadors for her Coach of the Year. She did a fantastic job with the Dream, and next year will sure be more exciting than this season. AND, congrats to Angel McCoughtry on her Rookie of the Year award. She had a fantastic rookie season.
Also, word has it that WNBA Prez Donna Orender WILL remain with the WNBA. I love what she’s done so far, and I’m thankful she’s staying aboard with us.
