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2009 WNBA Finals: Game Five

Lyndsey D'Arcangelo — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:46:21 +0000

You can expect a knockdown, hard-fought battle in Phoenix tonight. The Mercury are back on their own home court, and ready to defend it to the fullest extent. But it’s clear that the Indiana Fever aren’t intimidated, not in the least. You can feel the tension and anticipation in the air … this is what the WNBA Finals are made of. The level of intensity has been raised to “dangerously high.”

“I don’t expect anything else,” Phoenix’s Cappie Pondexter said, according to ESPN.com. Pondexter and teammate Diana Taurasi are ready to air it all out and leave everything on the floor.

“At this point, if you don’t want to do that, you shouldn’t be on the court,” Taurasi added.

Diana Taurasi knows that in order to win another WNBA Championship, she's going to have to leave it all on the floor tonight.

That sentiment is echoing through both locker rooms. Tonight’s game on ESPN 2 (at 9:00 Eastern) promises to be as exciting as the previous four games. Only there’s a lot more at stake because after tonight, there are no more games to play. This is it, folks. Game five. It’s the end all be all to the 2009 WNBA Finals. Whoever wins tonight will walk away WNBA Champions.

And whoever loses will just walk away.

Image: Zuma Press

Post from: EveryJoe

2009 WNBA Finals: Game Five

Tuesday Was Diana Taurasi’s Day To Shine

Lyndsey D'Arcangelo — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:38:37 +0000

I know I’ve been posting a lot about Diana Taurasi lately, but she’s the hot topic in women’s basketball. On Tuesday, Taurasi was awarded the WNBA MVP during press conference before the first game of the WNBA Finals between the Phoenix Mercury and the Indiana Fever.

The award came as no surprise to players, coaches, fans and certainly, Taurasi herself. She is the league’s leading scorer and the best all-around talent. I’d go as far to say that she is the world’s best women’s basketball player.

According to ESPN.com, Taurasi received 27 first-place votes and 323 points overall in ballots cast by representatives of every WNBA team as well as nationally-respected reporters.

When she found out that she won the award, Taurasi’s response was simply, “I felt like a little kid again.”

As if accolades weren’t enough, Taurasi was handed another reason to smile after the Mercury shut down the Fever in overtime to win the first game of the series. The game was fast-paced and full of aggressive play by both teams. But the Mercury held on to take a 1-0 lead in the Finals.

Shine on, “D” … shine on.

Tune in for Game 2 tonight on ESPN 2.

Post from: EveryJoe

Tuesday Was Diana Taurasi’s Day To Shine

2009 WNBA Finals: Phoenix Vs. Indiana

Lyndsey D'Arcangelo — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:22:33 +0000

It looks as though it’s going to be the Phoenix Mercury vs. the Indiana Fever in the 2009 WNBA Finals. This is the second finals trip for the Mercury, who captured the title in 2007. Now, back with a vengeance, Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter will try to win a second ring.

However, they’ll have to contend with Indiana’s own Katie Douglas and Tamika Catchings (who might rival Taurasi for the 2009 MVP honor), first. Though the Fever haven’t ever been to the Finals before as a team, they have plenty of individual players who have.

Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter hope to win a second ring.

The match-up begins Tuesday night on ESPN 2. This is a WNBA Finals series that has the potential to go three games.

Image: ZumaPress

Post from: EveryJoe

2009 WNBA Finals: Phoenix Vs. Indiana

WNBA Brawl

Lyndsey D'Arcangelo — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:03:51 +0000

I was so excited to watch this game because it’s the first time Candace Parker has played live on ESPN. I wanted to see her in action. I wanted to see how well she and Lisa Leslie played off of one another. I couldn’t wait to watch.

I tuned in as soon as I got home, expecting to see a competitive game unfold before my very eyes. I had no idea that I was going to see a fight break out.

Apparently it had been a pretty physical game between the LA Sparks and the Detroit Shock. I hadn’t known that when I flipped on ESPN 2. All I know is that Candace and Plenette Pierson started going at it. Next thing you know, both team benches are on the court pushing and shoving one another, including the coaches. Lisa Leslie got pushed to the ground in the scuffle and three players were ejected. It was a mess.

This is something I expect to see in the NBA. Sorry fellas, but all that testosterone makes you act foolish sometimes in the heat of the moment. I thought that we women had more self control than that. Parker has been faulted before for letting her emotions get the best of her. And this time she went too far. There are going to be suspensions and fines handed out for sure. And with the WNBA regular season coming to a close, this doesn’t bold well for the Sparks.

I know many people expected Parker to shape a new image for the WNBA. But I don’t think this is what they had in mind …

Video provided by YouTube

Post from: EveryJoe

WNBA Brawl