Wnba 2014 season long hoops thread- picks, news, stats !

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WNBA Regular Season League Standings - 2014


Eastern Conference

W L PCT GB CONF HOME AWAY ATS O/U

Chicago 3 0 1.000 - 3-0 2-0 1-0 3-0-0 1-2-0

Atlanta 2 0 1.000 0.5 1-0 1-0 1-0 0-2-0 1-1-0

Washington 1 1 .500 1.5 1-0 0-1 1-0 1-1-0 1-1-0

New York 1 1 .500 1.5 1-1 0-1 1-0 1-1-0 0-2-0

Connecticut 1 3 .250 2.5 0-2 1-1 0-2 2-2-0 1-3-0

Indiana 0 3 .000 3.0 0-3 0-2 0-1 1-2-0 2-1-0



Western Conference

W L PCT GB CONF HOME AWAY ATS O/U

Minnesota 3 0 1.000 - 1-0 1-0 2-0 1-2-0 3-0-0

San Antonio 2 1 .667 1.0 2-0 1-0 1-1 2-1-0 1-2-0

Phoenix 2 1 .667 1.0 2-1 1-1 1-0 2-1-0 0-3-0

Los Angeles 1 1 .500 1.5 1-1 0-1 1-0 1-1-0 0-2-0

Tulsa 0 2 .000 2.5 0-2 0-1 0-1 2-0-0 2-0-0

Seattle 0 3 .000 3.0 0-2 0-1 0-2 0-3-0 0-3-0

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WNBA
Dunkel

San Antonio at Los Angeles
The Sparks host a San Antonio team that is 1-5-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings between the two teams. Los Angeles is the pick (-8) according to Dunkel, which has the Sparks favored by 12. Dunkel Pick: Los Angeles (-8). Here are all of today's WNBA picks.

SUNDAY, MAY 25

Game 601-602: San Antonio at Los Angeles (3:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Antonio 106.675; Los Angeles 118.675
Dunkel Line & Total: Los Angeles by 12; 144
Vegas Line & Total: Los Angeles by 8; 154
Dunkel Pick: Los Angeles (-8); Under

Game 603-604: Indiana at Atlanta (6:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Indiana 108.287; Atlanta 119.935
Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 11 1/2; 157
Vegas Line & Total: Atlanta by 6; 148
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-6); Over




WNBA

Sunday, May 25

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Trend Report
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3:30 PM
SAN ANTONIO vs. LOS ANGELES
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Antonio's last 5 games when playing Los Angeles
San Antonio is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing Los Angeles
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Los Angeles's last 5 games when playing San Antonio
Los Angeles is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing San Antonio

6:00 PM
INDIANA vs. ATLANTA
Indiana is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Indiana's last 5 games when playing Atlanta
Atlanta is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Atlanta's last 5 games when playing Indiana

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WNBA
Long Sheet

Sunday, May 25

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SAN ANTONIO (2 - 1) at LOS ANGELES (1 - 1) - 5/25/2014, 3:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SAN ANTONIO is 15-6 ATS (+8.4 Units) in road games in May, June, or July games over the last 3 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 39-60 ATS (-27.0 Units) in a home game where where the total is greater than or equal to 150 since 1997.
LOS ANGELES is 7-18 ATS (-12.8 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
LOS ANGELES is 5-4 against the spread versus SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
LOS ANGELES is 6-4 straight up against SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
6 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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INDIANA (0 - 3) at ATLANTA (2 - 1) - 5/25/2014, 6:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
INDIANA is 94-132 ATS (-51.2 Units) as an underdog since 1997.
INDIANA is 35-55 ATS (-25.5 Units) as a road underdog of 3.5 to 6 points since 1997.
ATLANTA is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) when playing on back-to-back days over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
ATLANTA is 8-7 against the spread versus INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
ATLANTA is 9-6 straight up against INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
7 of 14 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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Preview: Silver Stars (2-1) at Sparks (1-1)

Date: May 25, 2014 3:30 PM EDT


With Becky Hammon trying to work her way back into All-Star form, point guard Danielle Robinson has given the San Antonio Stars a tremendous lift during their surprising start.

San Antonio seeks its first three-game win streak since 2012 on Sunday while trying to send the potentially short-handed Los Angeles Sparks to their worst start in four years.

Making her much-anticipated season debut, Hammon finished with eight points and four assists in 23 minutes for the Stars (2-1) in a 78-74 victory at Phoenix on Friday. The seven-time All-Star, who had been out with a sprained ankle, played in only her second game since 2012 after suffering a broken finger and torn ACL last season.

"Really happy to have her back on the court," said Robinson, who started alongside Hammon in the backcourt. "But at the end of the day it's going to be a team effort and people are going to have to step up."

Robinson has certainly elevated her play, averaging 18.0 points on 21-of-32 shooting with 6.0 rebounds and 5.7 assists over the first three contests. She put up 11.2 points, 6.7 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game last season.

On Friday, Robinson had 14 points, nine assists and eight boards to help put San Antonio on the verge of its best start since it opened 4-0 in her 2011 rookie season.

"We think she has become one of the better point guards in this league," Stars coach Dan Hughes said. "It's just fun to watch her develop year-to-year."

Robinson played a key role in San Antonio's only win in four meetings with Los Angeles last season, finishing with 18 points and seven assists in an 83-78 home win June 1. She'll try to help the Stars, who finished 12-22 in 2013, win three in a row for the first time since a 12-game run during their last playoff-qualifying season two years ago.

It isn't likely to be an easy task at Staples Center, where the Sparks (1-1) are coming off only their third home loss in 18 regular-season games dating to last season.

Since winning five straight in the series, San Antonio has dropped six of the last seven matchups - including an 0-2 mark in the 2012 playoffs. The Stars also have lost four straight in Los Angeles by an average of 23.5 points.

The Sparks are looking to avoid their worst start since opening 0-3 in 2010 after the Mercury went on a 13-3 run over the final 2 1/2 minutes to pull out a 74-69 victory at Staples last Sunday.

Candace Parker had 23 points and 11 rebounds and Alana Beard scored 16 for Los Angeles, which shot just 31.6 percent in the fourth quarter. Parker has 41 points and 17 boards through the first two contests, while Beard has scored a combined 33.

Nneka Ogwumike averaged 19.7 points in the Sparks' three wins over the Stars in 2013, but her status is uncertain after she sat out last Sunday's game with a back injury.

San Antonio's Davellyn Whyte will miss the rest of the season after sustaining an ACL tear in her right knee in practice earlier this week. The second-year guard played nine minutes in the first two games.

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Preview: Fever (0-3) at Dream (2-1)

Date: May 25, 2014 6:00 PM EDT


Tamika Catchings' absence has proven extremely costly for the winless Indiana Fever, who are off to another horrible start.

The Atlanta Dream contributed to Indiana's struggles last weekend.

Looking to avenge that double-overtime defeat, the Fever again try to pick up their first victory Sunday in Atlanta.

Still listed as day to day, Catchings has yet to take the court due to a sore back. Indiana has looked lost without the seven-time All-Star, dropping each of its first three games while shooting a WNBA-worst 61.4 percent from the foul line.

Indiana was outplayed in almost every facet of the game in Friday's 79-63 loss to Washington. The Mystics limited the Fever to 34.8 percent shooting and held a 41-31 edge on the glass.

"I am disappointed we did not play at a higher level," said coach Lin Dunn, whose team opened 1-7 last year. "We did not hit our open shots. We did not box out. It was not just one thing, everything was bad. It's been a long time since I have seen a Fever team with so little effort. Washington looked like a 10 and we looked like a six."

Backup guard Maggie Lucas had a team-high 12 points for Indiana, which made just 12 of 20 free throws. Briann January was the only starter to score in double figures, posting 10 points while shooting 3 of 8.

"We learned a lot about ourselves today," January told the team's official website. "We're going to take it and get better like we always do. We know what we need to get back to."

The Fever nearly got by the Dream before falling 90-88 in double OT last Saturday. Atlanta's Angel McCoughtry hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 8.8 seconds left in the second overtime and finished with a game-high 27 points.

The Dream (2-1), who pulled out a season-opening 79-75 win over San Antonio last Friday, couldn't keep up at unbeaten Chicago on Saturday. Erika de Souza had 18 points and 12 rebounds and Shoni Schimmel scored 17 for Atlanta, which was outscored 46-34 in the second half of the 87-73 defeat.

McCoughtry was a late scratch because of a shoulder issue, leaving her status for this game unclear.

"She's better," coach Michael Cooper said. "I think it was more of a precautionary measure for her because we play tomorrow. If that had been late in the season and we needed her, I'm sure she would have toughed it out."

The Dream, who swept the Fever in last season's Eastern Conference finals, are seeking a seventh win in eight meetings in the series.

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OVERALL SELECTIONS ON ALL WNBA GAMES:

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record

05/24/14 5-*1-*0 83.33% +*1950 Detail
05/23/14 4-*4-*0 50.00% -*200 Detail
05/18/14 1-*3-*0 25.00% -*1150 Detail
05/17/14 4-*4-*0 50.00% -*200 Detail
05/16/14 5-*5-*0 50.00% -*250 Detail

Totals 19-*17-*0 52.78% +150


*****..........................2 - 1

D. PLAYS.......................0 - 0

T. PLAYS.......................0 - 0


Sunday, May 25

Game Score Status Pick Amount

San Antonio - 3:30 PM ET San Antonio +9 500 *****

Los Angeles - Over 153.5 500 *****

Indiana - 6:00 PM ET Atlanta -7.5 500 TRIPLE PLAY

Atlanta - Over 148 500 DOUBLE PLAY

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WNBA
Dunkel

Minnesota at Chicago
The Lynx head to Chicago to face the Sky (4-0) and come into the contest with a 9-0 ATS record in their last 9 games against a team with a winning SU record. Minnesota is the pick (+1) according to Dunkel, which has the Lynx favored by 2. Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+1). Here are all of today's WNBA picks.

MONDAY, MAY 26

Game 651-652: Minnesota at Chicago (3:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota 118.332; Chicago 116.342
Dunkel Line & Total: Minnesota by 2; 167
Vegas Line & Total: Chicago by 1; 160 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+1); Over




WNBA
Long Sheet

Monday, May 26

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MINNESOTA (4 - 0) at CHICAGO (4 - 0) - 5/26/2014, 3:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in May games over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 29-16 ATS (+11.4 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 57-36 ATS (+17.4 Units) in road games against Eastern conference opponents since 1997.
MINNESOTA is 57-36 ATS (+17.4 Units) in road games in non-conference games since 1997.
MINNESOTA is 15-5 ATS (+9.5 Units) after 3 or more consecutive wins over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 3-1 against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 2-2 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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WNBA

Monday, May 26

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Trend Report
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3:30 PM
MINNESOTA vs. CHICAGO
Minnesota is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Minnesota is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago's last 5 games at home
Chicago is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home

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Preview: Lynx (4-0) at Sky (4-0)

Date: May 26, 2014 3:30 PM EDT


Maya Moore is the easy pick for the WNBA's top performer through the first 10 days of the season.

The honor of top team is up for debate, though it should be ironed out a bit Monday when Moore's Minnesota Lynx visit the Chicago Sky and Elena Delle Donne in a matchup of the league's only remaining unbeatens.

Moore set a league record with her fourth straight game of 30 points or more in Saturday's 87-82 home win over New York. She had 30 on 11-of-19 shooting against the Liberty and is averaging a WNBA-best 33.8, including a career-high 38 Friday at Tulsa.

"It's really kind of overwhelming," Moore said after a 5-for-8 effort from 3-point range Saturday. "I'm not really thinking too much - I'm just out there playing, worried about helping my team win."

The reigning WNBA Finals MVP extended her streak despite playing a season-low 31 minutes and suffering a first-quarter collision that left her with a cut over her right eye requiring five stitches.

"I needed an ice bag for my forehead when that happened," Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said. "I'm thinking, 'How are we going to score?'"

That's an especially pertinent question with Rebekkah Brunson, Monica Wright and Dev Peters all out for extended periods with knee injuries, though Minnesota (4-0) has gotten by. The Lynx are averaging a league-best 90.0 points even without the 23.7 the trio provided in 2013.

While Lynx guard Seimone Augustus has contributed heavily with 20.8 points through her first four contests, Moore has accounted for 37.5 percent of the team's scoring.

"We've got the biggest band-aid in maybe the history of the league right now with Maya Moore," Reeve told the team's official website.

While the Lynx have allowed 84.8 points on their early ascent to the top of the Western Conference, the Sky (4-0) have done it with defense in the East. Chicago is allowing a WNBA-low 69.3 points per game, and its 10.3 scoring margin is a league best.

Delle Donne's 23.5 points per game have accounted for 29.6 percent of the Sky's 79.5 points. She scored a season-high 27 in Saturday's 87-73 home win over Atlanta, which set a franchise record for Chicago's best start to a season.

"We're thrilled to be 4-0 and have all W's," Delle Donne said. "But it's early and we have to continue to get better and improve. Even tonight there were some lapses that we can't have."

Last season, the teams split two games with Rookie of the Year Delle Donne scoring a career-high 32 points in the first meeting, a 94-86 home overtime victory on Aug. 11. The Lynx defeated Chicago 79-66 on Sept. 14, their final regular-season contest before marching on to the WNBA title.

The Lynx and Sky met May 11 in the championship of the inaugural WNBA Preseason Tournament with Minnesota winning 79-69, though both teams spread their minutes around.

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RECORD AS OF SUNDAY:

*****..........................2 - 3

D. PLAYS.......................1 - 0

T. PLAYS.......................0 - 1


Monday, May 26

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Minnesota - 3:30 PM ET Minnesota +1.5 500 TRIPLE PLAY

Chicago - Over 160.5 500 DOUBLE PLAY

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Tuesday, May 27

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Seattle 0 0th New York -5.5 500 *****

New York 0 Under 142 500 *****

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Preview: Shock (0-2) at Silver Stars (2-2)

Date: May 28, 2014 8:00 PM EDT


After falling short in their bid to win three in a row for the first time in two years, the San Antonio Stars hope to bounce back against the WNBA's only winless team.

Jia Perkins already helped the Stars beat Skylar Diggins and the Tulsa Shock earlier this month, and she'll look to continue her run of strong play in this series Wednesday night in San Antonio.

The Stars (2-2) rallied late to defeat visiting Tulsa 80-76 on May 17 before winning 78-74 at Phoenix on Friday, putting themselves in position for their longest winning streak since a 12-game run in 2012.

San Antonio, however, lost 83-62 in Los Angeles on Sunday. The Stars came back from an early 16-point hole to take the lead in the second quarter, but were outscored 22-8 in the fourth.

"There's going to be runs in the game, but we had to exert a lot of energy to get ourselves back into that game, and I think it showed up in the fourth quarter," coach Dan Hughes said.

Perkins had 17 points but was the only San Antonio player in double figures. She's averaged 16.7 points in the last three games despite coming off the bench in the past two after Becky Hammon's return from injury.

Danielle Robinson is hoping to regain her shooting stroke, making just 3 of 9 shots for eight points Sunday after averaging 18.0 on 21-of-32 shooting in the first three contests. She finished with 17 points in the first meeting with the Shock (0-2), who are looking to avoid their fourth consecutive 0-3 start.

Perkins also played a key role with a team-high 20 points, including two 3-pointers in the final 45 seconds, as the Stars prevailed in a contest that had six lead changes in the final three minutes. Perkins has scored 20.0 per game while hitting 8 of 12 from 3-point range in her last three against the Shock.

Diggins had a promising season debut against the Stars with 20 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and three steals but missed 13 of 17 from the field. She averaged 8.5 points on 32.8 percent shooting in a disappointing 2013 rookie season.

Diggins also nearly led Tulsa to an upset of defending champion Minnesota on Friday, but her potential game-winner fell short at the buzzer in a 94-93 home loss. She finished with 21 points for Shock, who had erased a 16-point deficit.

"We don't have moral victories here, we wanted to win the basketball game," said Diggins, who has totaled 40 points in her last two versus San Antonio.

Tulsa's Riquna Williams had a league-record 51 points in a 98-65 rout at San Antonio on Sept. 9, but scored only four on 2-of-8 shooting there this month and shot 3 of 14 for 10 points Friday.

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WNBA
Dunkel

Tulsa at San Antonio
The Shock head to San Antonio tonight to face a Stars team that is 1-3 ATS in its last 4 home games. Tulsa is the pick (+6 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Stars favored by only 3. Dunkel Pick: Tulsa (+6 1/2). Here are all of today's WNBA picks.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28

Game 651-652: Tulsa at San Antonio (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Tulsa 109.415; San Antonio 112.504
Dunkel Line & Total: San Antonio by 3; 150
Vegas Line & Total: San Antonio by 6 1/2; 156
Dunkel Pick: Tulsa (+6 1/2); Under




WNBA
Long Sheet

Wednesday, May 28

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TULSA (0 - 2) at SAN ANTONIO (2 - 2) - 5/28/2014, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SAN ANTONIO is 37-20 ATS (+15.0 Units) in home games after a loss by 10 points or more since 1997.
TULSA is 18-9 ATS (+8.1 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
SAN ANTONIO is 7-3 against the spread versus TULSA over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 7-3 straight up against TULSA over the last 3 seasons
5 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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WNBA

Wednesday, May 28

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Trend Report
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8:00 PM
TULSA vs. SAN ANTONIO
Tulsa is 4-16 SU in its last 20 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Tulsa's last 5 games on the road
San Antonio is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games when playing Tulsa
San Antonio is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Tulsa

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Wednesday, May 28

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Tulsa - 8:00 PM ET San Antonio -6.5 500 DOUBLE PLAY

San Antonio - Under 157 500 DOUBLE PLAY

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Date WLT Pct Net Units Record

05/27/14 2-*0-*0 100.00% +*1000 Detail
05/26/14 1-*1-*0 50.00% -*50 Detail
05/25/14 1-*3-*0 25.00% -*1150 Detail
05/24/14 5-*1-*0 83.33% +*1950 Detail
05/23/14 4-*4-*0 50.00% -*200 Detail
05/18/14 1-*3-*0 25.00% -*1150 Detail
05/17/14 4-*4-*0 50.00% -*200 Detail
05/16/14 5-*5-*0 50.00% -*250 Detail

Totals 23-*21-*0 52.27% -*50

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Preview: Sun (1-3) at Fever (1-3)

Date: May 29, 2014 7:00 PM EDT


Katie Douglas has seen the best and worst of the Connecticut Sun during her two stints with the franchise, and in between the Indianapolis native experienced plenty of success with the Indiana Fever.

The veteran returns to Indiana for the first time as a visitor since signing with the rebuilding Sun during the offseason as both clubs seek a second straight win Thursday night.

The then-Orlando Miracle drafted Douglas with the 10th overall pick in 2001, and when the franchise moved to Connecticut two years later she helped lead the Sun to five straight playoff appearances and a pair of Eastern Conference championships.

Douglas was traded to Indiana in 2008 and won her only WNBA title with the Fever in 2012 before leaving for her second tour of duty with the Sun (1-3), who have a host of new faces after finishing a franchise-worst 10-24 last season.

Douglas finished with seven points and six rebounds Friday to help Connecticut beat Seattle 71-59.

'It's been coming,' coach Anne Donovan said. 'And I can't say that there won't be ups and downs as we move forward. We're a young team, but that's the team that comes to practice every day, that supports each other, that gets into each other, that works their tails off every day. We are talented enough for good things to happen to us.'

No. 1 overall pick Chiney Ogwumike had 18 points and seven rebounds - right on her averages thus far.

'I think win No. 1 means a lot because we had so many people contribute," Ogwumike said. "It feels good. I was running off the court like, `Yes! Yes!' It feels so good.'

Douglas' former team felt similarly Sunday after it went on the road and beat Atlanta 82-77 in overtime. Erlana Larkins had 13 points and 22 rebounds for the Fever (1-3), who have been without star Tamika Catchings since the start of the season due to lower back soreness.

While Catchings remains day to day, Larkins has shined. Her rebound total Sunday was two short of Chamique Holdsclaw's record set in 2003, and her 13.8 rebounds per game lead the league.

Larkins also is tied with the Dream's Angel McCoughtry for the WNBA lead in steals per game at 3.0 after finishing with a season-high six Sunday.

'I was just determined to be a contributor, give it all I had, and not let another one slip through our fingers," Larkins said. "The mission was to come out, be effective, and hold on to a win.'

Indiana was off to its worst start since 2001 and still has plenty to improve upon despite earning its first win. The Fever were held to a franchise-low four points in the fourth quarter against the Dream before Larkins had five points and five rebounds in the extra session.

Connecticut and Indiana split four meetings last season. Catchings missed the final meeting due to a back injury.