By Matthew Brennan, WNBA.com
June 29, 2009 - The 2009 WNBA season and the Pick One Challenge closes out the month of June. There are five days of games this week with Wednesday featuring only one game. Heading into Monday's action you will have 61 players left to choose for the 2009 season.
Last Week's MVP: Cappie Pondexter, Phoenix Mercury
The former Rutgers star averaged 23 points over three games last week. She currently ranks fourth in the WNBA with 20.4 points per game, and is one tenth of a point behind Lauren Jackson for the league lead in PRA (points+rebounds+assists) with 29.8 per contest. Pondexter and the Mercury host Seattle on Wednesday and then will travel to Los Angeles to face the Sparks on Sunday, live on NBA TV at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Rookie Watch
Phoenix's DeWanna Bonner snapped a cold streak of games with 19 points on Saturday. She continues to lead rookies in PRA with 18.1, which ranks 35th overall among WNBA players. Our big gainer this week is Detroit's Shavonte Zellous, who is averaging 21.5 points over her last two games. Zellous was tied with the injured Marissa Coleman for second among rookies with a 16.3 PRA heading into Sunday's action.
Last Week's Picks
My picks scored a total of 139 points last week, highlighted by 48 from Shavonte Zellous on Sunday. My other rookie selection from the week, Chicago's Kristi Toliver, did not work out as she managed only a single rebound for a Saturday total of two points to my entry. My other three picks all scored 20 points or better, led by 25 from Candice Wiggins on Monday. Heading into Sunday's game I was in 199th place overall and in the 91st percentage.
 Tuesday, June 30Angel McCoughtry Atlanta vs. Minnesota |
 Wednesday, July 1Lauren Jackson Seattle at Phoenix |
 Thursday, July 2Quanitra Hollingsworth Minnesota vs. Sacramento |
 Friday, July 3Becky Hammon San Antonio vs. Chicago |
 Sunday, July 5Betty Lennox Los Angeles vs. Phoenix |
Tuesday: Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta vs. Minnesota
The top pick in this year's WNBA Draft bounced back with 12 points on Saturday after she was held scoreless on Friday night against Detroit. McCoughtry, who is averaging 11.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game in the infancy of her WNBA career, will face the Lynx for the first time when they visit the ATL on Tuesday. The Dream have lost three of their last four after a 3-2 start to the season.
Wednesday: Lauren Jackson, Seattle at Phoenix
Jackson went for 25 points and eight rebounds in her first meeting of the season against Phoenix on June 21, so I will be happy with something similiar on Wednesday. Jackson leads the league with 23.4 points, ranks seventh with 7.0 rebounds, and has helped Seattle jump out to the lead in the Western Conference after the first month of the season.
Thursday: Quanitra Hollingsworth, Minnesota vs. Sacramento
The 9th overall pick in the 2009 Draft has seen more minutes as of late and is demonstrated some rebounding ability with her 6-5 height. She is averaging 6.5 rebounds over her last two games, so hopefully she can grab a few, and score a few baskets, against struggling Sacramento. Hollingsworth scored five points and added five boards in her first meeting with the Monarchs earlier this season.
Friday: Becky Hammon, San Antonio vs. Chicago
Hammon is off to another strong season when she is in uniform for San Antonio, averaging 20.3 points over her first four games for the Silver Stars. She enters this week off of a season-high 26 points against Sacramento on Friday. If Hammon and the Silver Stars can get past Washington on Tuesday, then they will be going for a sweep of their four-game homestand when the Sky visit on Friday night.
Sunday: Betty Lennox, Los Angeles vs. Phoenix
Betty Lennox has been a bit inconsistent when it comes to scoring this season, but she is having the best rebounding campaign of her career so far with 5.7 per game. I think that she should be in line for a big game against the run-and-gun Mercury on Sunday at STAPLES Center. Remember, Lennox went off for 44 in a game last season, but I would be happy with half of that against Phoenix. This will be the first game in a week for the Sparks.