Sting Weekly Update
June 5, 2006 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Charlotte Sting News Release
THE WEEK AHEAD
Friday, June 9 - vs. Fever - 7:00 p.m.
Radio: WNMX 106.1 FM
After a quick road trip to Connecticut, the Sting return home to host the Indiana Fever for the first time this season. The Fever started the season 4-0 but have dropped their last two games, falling to Houston and Minnesota. Tamika Catchings missed both games due a strained arch. She is currently listed as day-to-day. Indiana faces the Washington Mystics at home on Wednesday before traveling to Charlotte on Friday. Tamika Whitmore leads the Fever in scoring averaging 17.7 points.
WEEK IN REVIEW
Date Opponent Time/Result
June 1 vs. CON L, 65-89
The Sun used a 9-0 run early in the second quarter to open up a double-digit lead over Charlotte and never looked back in an 89-65 win at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. LaToya Bond led the way for Charlotte with 14 points while Kelly Mazzante and Tammy Sutton-Brown added 12 and 13 respectively. Connecticut's Nykesha Sales led all scorers with 18 while Margo Dydek tallied a double-double posting 16 points and 15 rebounds.
Date Opponent Time/Result
June 3 at. CON L, 71-89
In the second half of a home-and-home series, the Sting battled the Sun tight in the first half but could not sustain the momentum after the break as the Sun raced out on a 16-0 to start the third quarter. Charlotte could not close the deficit as they suffered an 89-71 loss. Kelly Mazzante scored 13 points to lead Charlotte. Six players scored in double-figures for the Sun.
UPCOMING STING COMMUNITY EVENTS
June 6: Sting players Tammy Sutton-Brown and Sheri Sam along with community relations ambassador Andrea Stinson and team mascot Buggsy will host a reading timeout and then make ice cream with the kids at the YWCA on Park Road at 3:30 p.m.
MONIQUE CURRIE CHAT
Sting rookie Monique Currie will join fans for a live chat on CharlotteSting.com on Thursday, June 8 at 2 p.m.
MAZZANTE MAKING HER MARK
After averaging 2.3 points, 1.0 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 0.3 steals for the Sting in her first two seasons, Kelly Mazzante has played well for Charlotte to start the 2006 season. The 6-0 guard has posted double figures in three games for the Sting this season and is averaging 10.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.8 steals through five games.
ALL-STAR VOTING
Five Sting players - Monique Currie, Allison Feaster, Sheri Sam, Tangela Smith and Tammy Sutton-Brown - are listed on the 2006 WNBA All-Star ballot. Fans can send their favorite stars to the WNBA All-Star game on July 12 in New York City by casting their vote on wnba.com or at a Sting game at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Voting runs through June 25.
ROOKIES RISING
Two Sting rookies have made an impact early in their first campaign. Monique Currie is averaging 9.8 points, ranking her sixth among rookies in that category. LaToya Bond, is right behind her, ranking seventh averaging 9.2 points. Currie is also ranked fifth among rookies with 3.6 rebounds, sixth in assists with 2.0 and fourth in steals with 1.4. Bond meanwhile is ranked second among rookies in assists with 2.6, second in field goal percentage shooting .500 from the floor and sixth in steals with 1.2.
CAPTURING THE ROCK
As a team, Charlotte is currently ranked second in the league in steals averaging 10.6. In addition, three Sting players are ranked among the top 20 in the WNBA in this category. Sheri Sam is ranked fifth with 2.2 while Kelly Mazzante is tied for 12th with 1.8 and Helen Darling is tied for 19th with 1.6.
STING ON ESPN2
Catch the Sting on ESPN2 on Tuesday, June 13 as they travel to the nation's capital to face the Mystics. Charlotte defeated Washington in their first meeting, 73-63, on May 25
CAROLINA CONNECTIONS
Several players with ties to the Sting and the Carolinas will be on the court when the Fever visit the Sting on Friday. Fever forward Charlotte Smith was selected by the Sting with the 33rd overall pick in the 1999 WNBA Draft. A native a Shelby, North Carolina, Smith spent six seasons with the Sting where she averaged 6.1 points and 3.5 rebounds in 185 games. She also attended the University of North Carolina and currently works as an assistant coach for the Tar Heels. Fever rookie La'Tangela Atkinson also played her college basketball at the University of North Carolina. Fever Head Coach Brian Winters played his college basketball at the University of South Carolina where he was named an All-American. Olympia Scott meanwhile spent one season with the Sting, playing with the team during the 2004 season.
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