The Bum's 2017 WNBA Picks-Trends-News !

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA Capsules
June 17, 2017

PHOENIX (AP) Brittney Griner scored 27 points and Diana Taurasi inched closer to the WNBA scoring record Friday night as the Phoenix Mercury beat the Chicago Sky 86-78.

Taurasi scored 15 points and is 14 shy of passing the 7,488 points Tina Thompson had from 1997-2013 heading into a Sunday game in Los Angeles. Phoenix's star was just 2 of 10 from the field and had nine points, all in the first half, until making six free throws in the final minute.

Jessica Breland's 3-pointer pulled Chicago within 80-75 with just under a minute to play. On the ensuing possession, Cappie Pondexter fouled Taurasi on a shot and then was ejected after picking up two technical fouls. Taurasi made four free throws and after Kahleah Copper's three-point play with 32 seconds left, she added two more to close out the scoring.

Phoenix (6-4) closed out the second quarter with an 11-4 run to lead 45-32 at the half. It could have been worse but the Sun made just 12 of 21 free throws. They finished 28 of 39 from the line.

Allie Quigley led Chicago (2-8) with 19 points, Breland had 18 and Pondexter 13. The Sky was 15 of 21 from the line.

LIBERTY 102, WINGS 93, OT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Shavonte Zellous scored 28 points, including the tying jumper with less than a second remaining in regulation, and the Liberty beat the Wings.

Tina Charles added 25 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks for the Liberty (7-4), who outscored Dallas 14-5 in OT and have won five of six. Sugar Rodgers contributed 19 points, including two free throws with 2:53 left in overtime that put New York up for good 92-91, their first lead since the first quarter. Bria Hartley added 17, including an off-balance 3-point heave from the left wing that banked in as the shot clock expired to make it 100-93 with 37.9 seconds to play.

Skylar Diggins-Smith had 23 points for Dallas (4-8), which has lost six of seven. She missed a free throw with 7.1 seconds left in regulation that would have given the Wings a three-point lead. Allisha Gray had 16 points and Glory Johnson 11 points and 11 rebounds.

After the Diggins miss, Zellous inbounded the ball, got it back and then knocked down a 15-foot jumper over Johnson from the right wing with less than a second to play to tie the game at 88. Zellous had missed a step-back from near the same spot with 9.1 to go with Diggins-Smith getting the rebound and foul.

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday’s Den: Pac-12 football trends…….

Taking a look at some trends involving Pac-12 football teams…….

USC scored 45+ points in three of its last four bowls, last three of which were decided by a total of 8 points. Underdogs covered 4 of their last 5 bowls. Since 2011, Trojans are 23-12 as home favorites.

UCLA is 2-8-1 vs spread in its last 11 non-conference games; they’re 0-4 vs spread in last four games as a home underdog.

Utah won its last four bowls; Kyle Whittingham is 10-1 in bowls. Utes are 28-11 the last three years, with a +24 turnover ratio- they covered eight of last ten as a road underdog. That said, Utah has only nine starters back this year and could regress some.

Last year, Colorado played in its first bowl since 2007; their last bowl win was in ’04. Under coach MacIntyre, Buffaloes are 10-2 as a home favorite.

Arizona State is 11-14 the last two years; they didn’t go to a bowl LY. ASU is 2-3 in its last five bowls, with average total of 76.4 in those games. Sun Devils are 17-9 as home favorites, 5-10 as road underdogs under Todd Graham.

Arizona has 14 starters back this year its offensive line has 89 returning starts. Wildcats are 3-1 in bowls under RichRod, scoring 41.5 pts/game, but were favored in all four games (1-3 vs spread). Arizona is 5-13 vs spread as a road dog under RichRod.

Washington is 27-14 under Petersen, with a +36 turnover ratio- they were +18 LY. Huskies are 6-3 in last nine games as a road favorite- their OL has 97 returning starts this season.

Since 2010, Stanford is 76-18; they won their last three bowls. Cardinal is 7-2-1 vs spread as an underdog in the Shaw era. All that, and they’re -2 in turnovers the last four years. Unusual for a team to win that much without a really good turnover ratio.

Oregon has 17 starters back and a new coach; from 2012-14, they were +55 in turnovers, but were +5/-3 last two years. Ducks are 3-10 vs spread in last 13 home games, 3-8-1 in last dozen non-league games. Oregon is 12-7-1 vs spread in last 20 road games.

Washington State has improved dramatically under Mike Leach, but they started last two years by losing to a I-AA team. Since 2013, Coogs are 14-4 as road underdogs, 10-6 as home favorites. Senior QB Falk has 28 starts under his belt.

Oregon State is 0-11 on road (5-6 vs spread) under Anderson; they have 15 starters back, should be much-improved. Since 2013, Beavers are 4-9 vs spread in non-league games.

Cal Bears have #110 experience team this year, with a new coach; they’re 7-2-1 vs spread in last 10 non-league games, but since ’07, they’re 5-15 as a road favorite. Cal’s coordinators were both head coaches LY, one at I-AA Eastern Washington, the other at Fresno State.

[StarDust Bum]

SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY JUNE 17, 2017
Time (ET) Away Home Site
8:00 PM Connecticut Sun Minnesota Lynx Target Center

SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY JUNE 18, 2017
Time (ET) Away Home Site
3:00 PM Dallas Wings Washington Mystics Verizon Center
5:00 PM Phoenix Mercury Los Angeles Sparks Staples Center
6:00 PM Indiana Fever Chicago Sky Allstate Arena
7:00 PM San Antonio Stars Seattle Storm KeyArena

SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY JUNE 21, 2017
Time (ET) Away Home Site
1:00 PM San Antonio Stars Dallas Wings College Park Center

SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY JUNE 23, 2017
Time (ET) Away Home Site
7:30 PM Chicago Sky Atlanta Dream McCamish Pavilion
7:30 PM Connecticut Sun New York Liberty Madison Square Garden
8:00 PM Dallas Wings San Antonio Stars AT&T Center
8:00 PM Washington Mystics Minnesota Lynx Target Center
10:00 PM Phoenix Mercury Seattle Storm KeyArena


Updated Sat Jun 17 12:04 AM EDT

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LEAGUE STANDINGS

Rank Team W L PCT GB CONF HOME ROAD L-10 STREAK

#1 Minnesota Lynx9 0 1.000 - 4-0 3-0 6-0 9-0 W 9

#2 Los Angeles Sparks7 3 0.700 2.5 4-1 5-0 2-3 7-3 W 3

#3 Washington Mystics7 3 0.700 2.5 5-0 5-1 2-2 7-3 W 1

#4 New York Liberty7 4 0.636 3 1-1 5-2 2-2 6-4 W 1

#5 Phoenix Mercury6 4 0.600 3.5 2-2 3-3 3-1 6-4 W 1

#6 Atlanta Dream5 5 0.500 4.5 2-5 2-1 3-4 5-5 L 1

#7 Seattle Storm5 5 0.500 4.5 1-2 4-2 1-3 5-5 L 3

#8 Indiana Fever5 6 0.455 5 2-1 5-1 0-5 5-5 W 1

#9 Connecticut Sun4 5 0.444 5 3-3 2-2 2-3 4-5 W 3

#10 Dallas Wings4 8 0.333 6.5 3-4 2-4 2-4 3-7 L 3

#11 Chicago Sky2 8 0.200 7.5 1-4 0-4 2-4 2-8 L 1

#12 San Antonio Stars0 10 0.000 9.5 0-5 0-5 0-5 0-10 L 10

[StarDust Bum]

Date W/L/T % Units

06/16/2017................ 2-1-1................ 66.67%............... +4.50
06/15/2017................ 2-2-0 ................50.00%................ -1.00
06/14/2017................ 1-1-0................ 50.00%................ -0.50
06/13/2017................ 2-2-0................ 50.00%.................-1.00
06/11/2017................ 2-4-0................ 33.33%.............. -12.00
06/10/2017................ 3-3-0................ 50.00%................ -1.50
06/09/2017................ 2-4-0................ 33.33%............... -12.00
06/07/2017................ 1-1-0................ 50.00% .................-0.50
06/06/2017................ 5-1-0................ 83.33%.............. +19.50
06/04/2017................ 1-3-0................ 25.00%............... -11.50
06/03/2017................ 3-3-0................ 50.00%................. -1.50
06/02/2017................ 0-2-0................. 0.00%................ -11.00
06/01/2017................ 1-1-0................ 50.00%................. -0.50

Totals:....................25 - 29 - 1.............45.09%.................- 29.00

best bets:

06/16/2017................ 2-1-1................ 66.67%............... +4.50
06/15/2017................ 2-2-0 ................50.00%.................... -1.00
06/14/2017................ 1-1-0................ 50.00%.................... -0.50
06/13/2017................ 2-2-0................ 50.00%.....................-1.00
06/11/2017................ 2 - 4 - 0................ 33.33%.... .......... -12.00
06/10/2017................ 3 - 3 - 0................ 50.00%................ -1.50
06/09/2017................ 2 - 4 - 0................ 33.33%............... -12.00
06/07/2017................ 1 - 1 - 0................ 50.00% .................-0.50
06/06/2017................ 5 - 1 - 0................ 83.33%.............. +19.50
06/04/2017................ 1 - 3 - 0................ 25.00%............... -11.50
06/03/2017................ 3 - 3 - 0................ 50.00%................. -1.50
06/02/2017.................0 - 2......................00.00%................-11.00
06/01/2017................ 1 - 1 - 0................ 50.00%................ -0.50

Totals:....................25 - 29 - 1.................45.09%.................- 29.00

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Saturday's six-pack

— Anthony Rizzo led off Friday’s game with a home run that was changed to a foul ball; Joe Maddon got thrown out…….before an out was recorded in the game.

— Cubs have only 4 quality starts in 14 games this month, one in their last nine games.

— Entering Friday night’s games, 48% of replay reviews resulted in overturned calls.

— Jimmer Fredette made 92-100 3-pointers at a charity exhibition this week. Amazing.

— Orioles drafted Zach Jarrett in the 28th round of the draft; he was a power-hitting outfielder for NC-Charlotte, and is the son of NASCAR legend Dale Jarrett.

— Four guys, including Paul Casey/Brooks Koepka, are tied atop the US Open leaderboard at -7.

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA

Saturday, June 17

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Trend Report
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8:00 PM
CONNECTICUT vs. MINNESOTA
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Connecticut's last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Connecticut's last 12 games when playing Minnesota
Minnesota is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Minnesota's last 6 games


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WNBA
Dunkel

Saturday, June 17


Connecticut @ Minnesota

Game 665-666
June 17, 2017 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Connecticut
116.286
Minnesota
124.706
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Minnesota
by 8 1/2
165
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Minnesota
by 10 1/2
161 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Connecticut
(+10 1/2); Over




WNBA
Long Sheet

Saturday, June 17

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CONNECTICUT (4 - 5) at MINNESOTA (9 - 0) - 6/17/2017, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in home games on Saturday games over the last 3 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 28-14 ATS (+12.6 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 21-10 ATS (+10.0 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) in a road game where where the total is greater than or equal to 150 over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 15-6 ATS (+8.4 Units) in June games over the last 3 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 22-10 ATS (+11.0 Units) in May, June, or July games over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) when playing with 2 days rest over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 16-5 ATS (+10.5 Units) against Western conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 15-4 ATS (+10.6 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 16-5 ATS (+10.5 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) revenging a home loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 10-2 ATS (+7.8 Units) in road games revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 23-10 ATS (+12.0 Units) after allowing 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 10-2 ATS (+7.8 Units) after a win by 10 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 22-9 ATS (+12.1 Units) after scoring 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 20-8 ATS (+11.2 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
CONNECTICUT is 5-2 against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
MINNESOTA is 4-3 straight up against CONNECTICUT over the last 3 seasons
5 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Sun (4-5) at Lynx (9-0)
Date: June 17, 2017 8:00 PM EDT

A season ago, the Connecticut Sun accounted for one-third of the Minnesota Lynx's six losses. They have just one more shot in 2017.

The two teams meet for the third and final time this season on Saturday at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.

The Sun were 14-20 in 2016, but somehow figured out the league's best team, taking two of three from the Lynx. Minnesota was 27-4 against the rest of the league.

The 2017 version of the Sun, 4-5 after a 96-76 thrashing of New York on Wednesday, is looking for its fourth straight win.

"We are competing," Sun guard Courtney Williams told the Hartford Courant after the game. "It doesn't matter who is in front of us."

Williams led Connecticut with 22 points in the win.

Despite playing without Alex Bentley, who is playing in a European tournament with the Belarussian national team, and Chiney Ogwumike, who was lost for the season with an Achilles tendon injury, the Sun seem to be righting the ship after a 1-5 start.

"They are excited," Connecticut coach Curt Miller told the Courant. "I'm really pleased with the way we've played our last five games and I want to keep the momentum going."

Keeping it going will be a tough task.

Minnesota has beaten the Sun twice already this season and is seeking to push its record to 10-0.

"They fought through some injuries early on. ... They've just been dealing with a lot," Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said of the Sun, according to the team's website. "I think that the biggest thing is Alyssa Thomas' move to the (power forward position) as a result of those injuries. I think she is finding matchups that she likes there. They are scoring like crazy."

Thomas has scored 18 points and shot 50 percent from the field in each of the Sun's past three games.

The Sun lead the WNBA in 3-point shooting (41.1 percent) and made 15 of 32 against the Lynx in the first two meetings between the teams.

"I know the three ball, when they do shoot it, it's a really high percentage. You look at their shot chart, it's really impressive the percentage from three," Reeve said. "There are real matchup problems for us."

For the Lynx, this season is starting to look familiar: Minnesota won its first 13 games -- a WNBA record -- a year ago.

Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson credits focus for the hot start.

"We don't want to be one of those teams that comes along as the season progresses, we want to be ready from the beginning of training camp moving forward," Brunson said of her team's undefeated start. "Every game is important to us. ... It's extremely important for us to come out and just play as well as you can from the beginning."

Saturday's game is the first of three on the road for Connecticut. The Sun will be in New York on Friday for a rematch with the Liberty.

Minnesota will host the Washington Mystics on Friday in what figures to be a match-up of first-place teams.

WNB HEAD TO HEAD

May 26, 2017 Score ATS Results
MIN « 82 Cover: 7.5
CONN 68 Under: 150
Tools: Recaps

May 23, 2017 Score ATS Results
CONN 78 Cover: 10.5
MIN « 80 Under: 158
Tools: Recaps

Sep 4, 2016 Score ATS Results
CONN 79 Over: 172
MIN « 93 Cover: 4
Tools: Recaps

Aug 26, 2016 Score ATS Results
MIN 80 Over: 164
CONN « 84 Cover: 12
Tools: Recaps

Jul 7, 2016 Score ATS Results
MIN 89 Over: 182
CONN « 93 Cover: 15.5
Tools: Recaps

[StarDust Bum]

SATURDAY, JUNE 17

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

CONN at MIN 08:00 PM

CONN +9.0

O 162.0

[StarDust Bum]

B]Thomas and Thomas help Sun hand Lynx first loss, 98-93
June 17, 2017
[/B]
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Jasmine Thomas and Alyssa Thomas scored 20 points each and the Connecticut Sun handed the Minnesota Lynx their first loss this season, 98-93, on Saturday night.

Alyssa Thomas' 20 points are a season high as she reached 1,000 for her career and added a career-high eight assists. The Sun (5-5), who won their fourth straight, had a season-high 26 assists to go with 55-percent shooting from the field, including 45 percent (10 for 22) on 3-pointers.

Maya Moore scored 22 points to lead the Lynx (9-1), who shot 51 percent. Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota's leading scorer at nearly 22 points per game, was held to 12. The Lynx were outrebounded 36-21.

Jonquel Jones gave Connecticut lead for good at 81-79 on a long jumper with 7 1/2 minutes left. The Sun went up by eight but Maya Moore hit a 3 to cut the lead to 96-93 with 21 seconds remaining. Jasmine Thomas missed a pair of free throws with 19 seconds left but Moore was short of the rim with a 3-pointer.

[StarDust Bum]

SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY JUNE 18, 2017
Time (ET) Away Home Site
3:00 PM Dallas Wings Washington Mystics Verizon Center
5:00 PM Phoenix Mercury Los Angeles Sparks Staples Center
6:00 PM Indiana Fever Chicago Sky Allstate Arena
7:00 PM San Antonio Stars Seattle Storm KeyArena

SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY JUNE 21, 2017
Time (ET) Away Home Site
1:00 PM San Antonio Stars Dallas Wings College Park Center

SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY JUNE 23, 2017
Time (ET) Away Home Site
7:30 PM Chicago Sky Atlanta Dream McCamish Pavilion
7:30 PM Connecticut Sun New York Liberty Madison Square Garden
8:00 PM Dallas Wings San Antonio Stars AT&T Center
8:00 PM Washington Mystics Minnesota Lynx Target Center
10:00 PM Phoenix Mercury Seattle Storm KeyArena

SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY JUNE 24, 2017
Time (ET) Away Home Site
7:00 PM Los Angeles Sparks Indiana Fever Bankers Life Fieldhouse

Updated Sun Jun 18 12:04 AM EDT

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LEAGUE STANDINGS

Rank Team W L PCT GB CONF HOME ROAD L-10 STREAK

#1 Minnesota Lynx9 1 0.900 - 4-0 3-1 6-0 9-1 L 1

#2 Los Angeles Sparks7 3 0.700 2 4-1 5-0 2-3 7-3 W 3

#3 Washington Mystics7 3 0.700 2 5-0 5-1 2-2 7-3 W 1

#4 New York Liberty7 4 0.636 2.5 1-1 5-2 2-2 6-4 W 1

#5 Phoenix Mercury6 4 0.600 3 2-2 3-3 3-1 6-4 W 1

#6 Atlanta Dream5 5 0.500 4 2-5 2-1 3-4 5-5 L 1

#7 Connecticut Sun5 5 0.500 4 3-3 2-2 3-3 5-5 W 4

#8 Seattle Storm5 5 0.500 4 1-2 4-2 1-3 5-5 L 3

#9 Indiana Fever5 6 0.455 4.5 2-1 5-1 0-5 5-5 W 1

#10 Dallas Wings4 8 0.333 6 3-4 2-4 2-4 3-7 L 3

#11 Chicago Sky2 8 0.200 7 1-4 0-4 2-4 2-8 L 1

#12 San Antonio Stars0 10 0.000 9 0-5 0-5 0-5 0-10 L 10

[StarDust Bum]

Eastern-leading Mystics host Wings

The Washington Mystics own the best record in the Eastern Conference despite dealing with absences and injuries. One of the wins came against the Dallas Wings, who are scuffling despite Skylar Diggins-Smith's stat-stuffing season.

The teams will meet for the second time in under two weeks when the Mystics host the Wings on Sunday.

Washington (7-3) capped a stretch of three games in six days with a dominant 88-70 win over the Indiana Fever on July 11. The victory followed a 25-point loss to Minnesota, the WNBA's lone undefeated team.

Elena Delle Donne skipped the Lynx matchup with a groin injury, but returned with 25 points in 25 minutes against the Fever.

Dallas (4-8) has dropped three in a row, including Friday's 102-93 overtime setback against the New York Liberty.

The Mystics led by as many as 21 points, hit 10 of 21 3-pointers and outrebounded Indiana 43-23. Ivory Latta and Tayler Hil each scored 12 points.

"Obviously every win is a good win but to bounce back that way is probably as satisfying as anything to have a game we needed to win," Mystics coach Mike Thibault said.

Delle Donne, the WNBA's third-leading scorer with 21.1 points per game, is the center piece of Washington's attack. That's especially true with Emma Meesseman still overseas with the Belgium National Team. Meesseman, who led the league in 3-point shooting last season, has only played in four games with the Mystics this campaign.

Thibault spent the first 10 games working around Meesseman's absence, but also incorporating several new players, including shooting threat Kristi Toliver, center Krystal Thomas and rookie Shatori Walker-Kimbrough.

"We are still not 100 percent healthy and not everybody is here," Thibault said. "But if you told me at the end of training camp that after 10 games we would be 7-3 despite all the stuff that has gone on, I would say, 'OK, we'll take it.' So there we are. Now we have a week to try and get healthy and get stuff cleaned up, better execution. It's a good position to be in."

Washington won at Dallas 101-89 on June 6 despite 23 points and seven assists from Diggins-Smith. The Wings shot 37.7 percent from the field. The starting backcourt of Diggins-Smith and Allisha Gray finished 8 of 29.

"They were aggressively defensively, getting in our space," Wings coach Fred Williams said following the first matchup with Washington. "They kind of clogged up the drive lanes for us."

Delle Donne also had 23 points while Toliver added 17 points with three 3-pointers in the first meeting.

"For us defensively, we just didn't switch on the backside for a few plays and they made a few big shots when they needed to," Williams said.

Diggins-Smith ranks among the top 10 in the league in scoring (16.8), assists (5.4) and steals (1.5).

[StarDust Bum]

Taurasi eyes scoring record as Mercury visit Sparks

Diana Taurasi will have a chance to become the WNBA's all-time leading scorer when the Phoenix Mercury visit the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday afternoon at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Taurasi, a three-time WNBA champion, needs 14 points to break the league record of 7,488 set by Tina Thompson from 1997-2013.

"I think it's huge," Taurasi told ESPN. "Obviously, Tina's on top. Tina's just been so great for the game of basketball, men's or women's, really. She set the standard so high, and I just have the ultimate respect for her. So to even come close to this, I would have never dreamed of it as a little kid. It's just great for our league to keep setting the bar higher for our next generation, too."

Phoenix (6-4) has won two of its last three games and four of six since suffering a 69-67 loss to New York. Brittney Griner scored 27 points and Taurasi added 15 to lead the Mercury to an 86-78 victory over Chicago on Friday.

Los Angeles (6-3) has won three in a row and five of its last six since suffering back-to-back road losses against Indiana and Atlanta. The Sparks are coming off an 80-75 victory over the winless San Antonio Stars. The Sparks nearly squandered a 20-point second-half lead, but big baskets by Candace Parker and Chelsea Gray helped them withstand a late charge by the Stars.

Parker led Los Angeles with 20 points and Gray had 19 in the win over San Antonio. Nneka Ogwumike, the reigning WNBA MVP, had 16 points and nine rebounds.

It was the second game in a row that the Sparks nearly blew a big lead. They led Dallas 72-52 going into the fourth quarter Tuesday before the Wings battled back to get within eight.

"No matter what your lead is, you can't let your guard down like that," Ogwumike told the Long Beach Press-Telegram.

Earlier this week, Parker explained that she is wearing orange sneakers as a tribute to the late Pat Summitt, her college coach at Tennessee. Summitt, who died June 28, 2016, following a five-year battle with Alzheimer's disease, led the Lady Vols to eight NCAA championships and amassed 1,098 career wins, the most in NCAA history.

"I'll be wearing orange kicks all June," Parker told the Press-Telegram following Tuesday's win over Dallas. "It was my coach's birthday and the month she passed away."

[StarDust Bum]

Sky vie for first home win against Fever

ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Something has to give Sunday.

The Chicago Sky are 0-4 on their home court while the Indiana Fever are winless in five WNBA road games as the teams meet at Allstate Arena.

The Sky (2-8) hope for more consistency and to break out of a slump that has included six losses in their last seven games, including an 86-78 setback on Friday at Phoenix.

"When it's time to turn it up and turn it to another level we just haven't done that," Chicago guard Allie Quigley said. "So, we've just got to find a way to do that."

The Fever (5-6) have dominated the Sky over the past two seasons with six wins in seven meetings. Sunday's game is the first of three regular season games in 2017.

Indiana is coming off an 85-74 victory over Atlanta, an encouraging outing, according to Fever coach Pokey Chatman.

"We had real good effort from the whole roster tonight, and we set the tone early," said Chatman, who makes her first Allstate Arena visit since last year's dismissal as Chicago coach. "We didn't let Atlanta get out in transition, that was the key."

Erica Wheeler scored 20 points and added seven assists while the Fever bench outscored their Dream counterparts 33-11.

Both teams are ranked near the bottom in offensive production. Indiana is ninth at 79 points per game while Chicago is 10th at 76.8.

Indiana has won three of its last five, but has only one winning streak this season -- back-to-back victories over Connecticut and Los Angeles in late May.

Candice Dupree averages a team-high 14.5 points for the Fever.

Quigley tops the Sky with 15.4 points and is among four players in double figures, including Tamera Young (13.5), Cappie Pondexter (12.7) and Stefanie Dolson (12.1).

Sky coach Amber Stock likes those offensive options.

"It's nice when you have perimeter players who not only can attack the rim but also read the screens and of course shoot the ball well from the perimeter," she said. "They do a great job of not only scoring, but they do a great job of leading our team and acting as floor generals.''

Pondexter moved into seventh all-time in WNBA history for free throws Friday, surpassing Lauren Jackson's total of 1,391. Pondexter is six free throws away from moving past Swin Cash (1,397) for sixth.

[StarDust Bum]

Stars' Plum goes back to Seattle to face Storm

Kelsey Plum could never have expected the start of her pro career to go like this.

Plum, the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft by the San Antonio Stars, returns to Seattle for a homecoming of sorts Sunday.

The former University of Washington standout, who never scored fewer than 20 points as a senior in breaking NCAA season and career scoring records, is averaging 3.6 points and shooting 25.7 percent from the field for the Stars (0-10).

The 5-foot-8 guard suffered a sprained right ankle in a preseason practice and missed the first three games of the season. She has appeared in the past seven games and made four starts but is averaging just 14.1 minutes and hasn't played more than 28 in a game.

"It's been difficult to try and get back, and not even to get back but play at the level I'm capable at," Plum said. "It's a tough shift regardless for rookies so it's been an experience for me that is going to help me in the long run. For now, it's not easy."

Plum's season high is eight points. She was held scoreless in her past two games and, despite starting, played less than five minutes in an 80-75 loss Thursday at Los Angeles.

"It's definitely frustrating at times because I'm not moving the way I usually do. That change of speed is how I create things for me and my teammates so it's frustrating," Plum said. "Percentage-wise? Let's just say not 100. At the end of the day, I'm playing and it's not an excuse for how I'm playing."

Guard Kayla McBride leads four Stars in double-figure scoring at 15.8 points per game. San Antonio is committing a league-high 16.9 turnovers, leading to a league-low scoring average of 73.7 points.

Guard Jewell Loyd tops the Storm at 19.8 points per game, with forward Breanna Stewart averaging 16.8 points and a team-high 8.0 rebounds.

But Seattle (5-5) has lost three in a row, including a 91-86 overtime defeat at home to Atlanta on Tuesday.

"There is the WNBA for you," Storm point guard Sue Bird, who is averaging a league-best 7.5 assists, told The Seattle Times. "If you show up and you don't play your best, you won't beat anybody. I don't care what their record is."

[StarDust Bum]

Date W/L/T % Units

06/17/2017................ 2-0-0............... 100.00%............. +10.00
06/16/2017................ 2-1-1................ 66.67%............... +4.50
06/15/2017................ 2-2-0 ................50.00%................ -1.00
06/14/2017................ 1-1-0................ 50.00%................ -0.50
06/13/2017................ 2-2-0................ 50.00%.................-1.00
06/11/2017................ 2-4-0................ 33.33%.............. -12.00
06/10/2017................ 3-3-0................ 50.00%................ -1.50
06/09/2017................ 2-4-0................ 33.33%............... -12.00
06/07/2017................ 1-1-0................ 50.00% .................-0.50
06/06/2017................ 5-1-0................ 83.33%.............. +19.50
06/04/2017................ 1-3-0................ 25.00%............... -11.50
06/03/2017................ 3-3-0................ 50.00%................. -1.50
06/02/2017................ 0-2-0................. 0.00%................ -11.00
06/01/2017................ 1-1-0................ 50.00%................. -0.50

Totals:....................27 - 29 - 1.............48.21%.................- 19.00

best bets:
06/17/2017................ 2-0-0............... 100.00%................. +10.00
06/16/2017................ 2-1-1................ 66.67%................... +4.50
06/15/2017................ 2-2-0 ................50.00%.................... -1.00
06/14/2017................ 1-1-0................ 50.00%.................... -0.50
06/13/2017................ 2-2-0................ 50.00%.....................-1.00
06/11/2017................ 2 - 4 - 0................ 33.33%.... .......... -12.00
06/10/2017................ 3 - 3 - 0................ 50.00%................ -1.50
06/09/2017................ 2 - 4 - 0................ 33.33%............... -12.00
06/07/2017................ 1 - 1 - 0................ 50.00% .................-0.50
06/06/2017................ 5 - 1 - 0................ 83.33%.............. +19.50
06/04/2017................ 1 - 3 - 0................ 25.00%............... -11.50
06/03/2017................ 3 - 3 - 0................ 50.00%................. -1.50
06/02/2017.................0 - 2......................00.00%................-11.00
06/01/2017................ 1 - 1 - 0................ 50.00%................ -0.50

Totals:....................27 - 29 - 1.............48.21%.................- 19.00