In The Lane With Lea B.




THE WINDY CITY:

I have to say that ending the regular season by beating the Chicago Sky for the best record in the WNBA was as sweet as it gets. We have to give the Sky their props because they brought a very talented team into Target Center and gave us a good run. The 65 Elena Delle Donne was everything that she was billed to be. She had 14 points, three blocked shots and although that was not enough to get her team a victory, there is no doubt that she will be named Rookie of the Year. She should also be in consideration for MVP for getting Chicago to the playoffs for the first time in team history. The WNBA saw a bump in ratings this season and Delle Donne was a big part of that. 455,000 tuned into ESPN2 to watch Chicago and Phoenix battle it out on opening day. The Skys attendance increased by 17 percent this season. So, not only is Delle Donne good for Chicago but she is good for the league. Let's hope we run into Elena, Sylvia Fowles, and the rest of their crew in the Finals!

PRE-GAME:

My night at Target Center before the Chicago game really was amazing from start to finish. I started the night off on the suite level where an event titled Links to the past, Lynx to the future was taking place. The event honored the past and celebrated the future of girls and womens basketball. Gophers head coach, Pam Borton, came through and gave a few words before heading out to meet some recruits. An almost voiceless Cheryl Reeve slipped in for a few minutes to talk about her team and how far things have come in womens basketball. Glen Taylor was a special surprise guest who spoke openly about wanting a WNBA franchise from the beginning because it was the right thing to do and its been a lot of fun for him as well. Dorothy McIntyre a friend of mine and one of the original pioneers in the fight for girls in sports, was honored on the Target Center floor. That night I appreciated watching some of the best womens players in the world as I remembered the many women who never had an opportunity to play.

POSTSEASON PLAY:

Being that the blog comes out every Thursday we will have already wrapped up the Seattle series before I write the next one. Trust me, Im not overlooking the Storm. I believe they will give us a good fight, and I also believe that we will triumph. The problem with a three-game series is it doesnt necessarily allow for the best team to prevail. One slip up on the road and your entire season is on the line. That is why the level of play goes up in the postseason because everything you have work for all season long can disappear in a flash. Our fans are amazing when the house is packed at Target Center.

I dont think Phoenix can knock LA out so Im looking forward to another go-around with the Sparks. Our matchup with LA has turned into a tremendous rivalry that is sure to include a few technicals, one or more ejections, and some of the best up-tempo basketball around. Ok, I will stop looking past games and stay focused but Im so looking forward to the Western Conference Finals! Here we go, the moment we have been waiting for all season long......The Playoffs!


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