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Shock and Fever picked to contend for title

May 17, 2007 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release


NEW YORK, May 17, 2007 - WNBA general managers predict the Detroit Shock and Indiana Fever will be leading contenders to win the 2007 WNBA Finals and that Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi will win her first MVP, according to respondents of the Fifth Annual WNBA.com GM Survey.

The exclusive GM survey coincides with the launch of a new WNBA.com in time for the 2007 WNBA season. The new site will provide fans with access to more than 100 live video webcasts of WNBA games, the WNBA Fan Voice section with interactive forums, and an expanded WNBA.com Fantasy Resource Center featuring the WNBA Pick One Challenge fantasy game.

Providing fans with an inside look into the minds of WNBA decision-makers on the 2007 WNBA season, the Shock and Fever each received 27 percent of the GMs votes to win the WNBA Finals. Two-time WNBA All-Star Taurasi, received 45 percent of the GMs votes to win the MVP award this season as the Indiana Fever's Tamika Catchings (27 percent) finished second and the Seattle Storm's Lauren Jackson (18 percent) finished third in the voting. Taurasi was also selected by GMs (36 percent) as the player they want taking a shot with the game on the line.

With 45 percent of votes in their respective conferences, GMs believe the Shock will win the Eastern Conference and Sacramento Monarchs will win the Western Conference this year.

The WNBA.com GM Survey revealed that despite not playing this upcoming season, 45 percent of GM's feel the Los Angeles Sparks' Lisa Leslie is the best center in the WNBA and 55 percent believe the Mercury's Taurasi is the best shooting guard. The Storm's Sue Bird (45 percent) was selected as the best point guard, the Fever's Catchings (45 percent) as the best small forward and the Storm's Jackson (45 percent) as the best power forward. GMs also picked Jackson as the best international WNBA player (73 percent).

Additional results of the WNBA.com GM Survey include:

- Lindsey Harding, Minnesota Lynx winning Rookie of the Year Award (45 percent)

- Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever winning Defensive Player of the Year (64 percent)

- Deanna Nolan, Detroit Shock most athletic player (64 percent)

- Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Los Angeles Sparks acquisition that will make biggest impact in 2007 (27 percent)

- Lindsay Whalen, Connecticut Sun best at making her teammates better (27 percent)

- Mike Thibault, Connecticut Sun best head coach (55 percent)

- Phoenix Mercury most fun team to watch in 2007 (73 percent)

- Minnesota Lynx WNBA most improved team in 2007 (36 percent)

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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