WNBA Women's National Basketball Association

Upcoming WNBA Storylines

June 14, 2004 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release


Mon 6/14 Connecticut at Los Angeles – The Sparks are the fastest paced team in the WNBA averaging 74.9 possessions per 40 minutes and the Sun are fifth in the league at 70.7 possessions per 40 minutes. Two of the best young point guards in the WNBA face off for the second time – The Sparks' Nikki Teasley leads the WNBA in assists per game at 5.8 and Whalen is tenth at 4.3. The Sparks took the first meeting of the season, 82-73, on May 27 – Teasley had seven points and six assists and Whalen had 10 points and seven assists. Los Angeles is ranked first in the league in three-point field goal percentage (43.1), and the Sun are ranked fourth (40.9)

Tue 6/15 San Antonio at Charlotte – Olympic point guards Dawn Staley (Charlotte) and Shannon Johnson (San Antonio) guard one another for the first time this season. Staley ranks third on the WNBA's career assists list (911) and Johnson ranks fourth (780). This season, however, Johnson is tied for third in the WNBA with 4.8 assists per game, while Staley is tied for 16th in the league at 3.4 assists per game. San Antonio has the fourth most efficient defense in the league allowing 91.9 points per 100 possessions, while Charlotte is 11th in the league at 99.2 points allowed per 100 possessions. The Sting is committing 4.5 more turnovers per game than their opponents – the largest negative turnover margin in the league. If Charlotte's maintains its current pace of forcing just 10.8 turnovers forced per game, it would be the lowest per game average in WNBA history (Utah – 12.2 in 2001). The Sting has two of the top three field goal percentage shooters in the league in Charlotte Smith-Taylor (.596) and Tammy Sutton-Brown (.547).

Seattle at New York – Number one in the West travels to number one in the East. After starting the season 6-1, the Liberty have dropped two games in a row including one to the last place Washington Mystics on Sunday afternoon. The Storm have the most efficient offense in the WNBA averaging 103.9 points per 100 possessions, while the Liberty have the most efficient defense in the league holding opponents to 90.5 points per 100 possessions. Seattle (+7.4) and New York (+4.2) rank first and second in the only stat that has ever mattered during the regular season in the WNBA – scoring differential. In each of the first seven WNBA seasons, the team that has paced the league in scoring differential during the regular season has won the WNBA Championship.

Wed 6/16 Sacramento at Indiana – The Fever average the fewest turnovers per game (11.9) in the WNBA, while the Monarchs force the most turnovers per game (18.6). Indiana ranks first in the WNBA in rebound percentage (55.3) and defensive rebound percentage (75.2) and ranks third in offensive rebound percentage (35.4). Sacramento ranks third in rebound percentage (52.4) and second in offensive rebound percentage (37.1). Opponents are connecting on a league-high 46.5 percent of their field goal attempts against the Monarchs, while Fever opposition nails 44.1 percent of their attempts (ninth in the league). Indiana is connecting on just 40.6 percent of its field goal attempts on the season – 11th in the league – while Sacramento is hitting just 40.7 percent of its attempts – 10th in the league.

Thu 6/17 San Antonio at Washington – After starting the season with high hopes, the Silver Stars are currently sixth in the West, while the Mystics are tied for fifth in the East, although the Mystics are coming off of an upset win over the number one team in the East, the New York Liberty. Chamique Holdsclaw, who is second in the league in scoring average (20.3), is trying to become the third player in WNBA history to average 20 or more points in consecutive seasons – Cynthia Cooper did it for three straight years (1997-99) and Katie Smith did it in 2000-01. Both teams are struggling offensively this season – San Antonio is averaging 87.4 points per 100 possessions (last in the league) and Washington is averaging 90.7 (12th in the league)

Sacramento at Minnesota – Two of the best point guards in the history of women's basketball – Sacramento's Ticha Penicheiro and Minnesota's Teresa Edwards – face each other for the second time this season. Edwards' Lynx took the first meeting 69-61 on May 22 as Edwards had nine point and seven assists and Penicheiro was held to five points and three assists. The Monarchs force a league-high 18.6 turnovers per game, while the Lynx commit a league-high 17.8 turnovers per game. The Lynx committed just 11 turnovers in the first meeting this year between the clubs. Minnesota has taken the most three-pointers in the league this season (149), but ranks 12th in the league in three-point shooting percentage (30.2). Sacramento opponents are connecting on 46.5 percent of their field goal attempts – last in the league – and 40.7 percent of their three-point attempts – 12th in the league.

Check out the Women's National Basketball Association Statistics



Women's National Basketball Association Stories from June 14, 2004


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.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central