WNBA playoffs begin tonight

Detroit opens it’s title defense vs. the Dream tonight. The WNBA Eastern Conference Semifinal series pits the second-seeded Atlanta team against the third-seeded Shock.

The Dream, in just their second year of existence, are making their first-ever appearance in the playoffs after posting an 18-16 record in the regular season, something that was thought to be impossible after they posted just four wins in their entire inaugural campaign.

The 1-2 opening round format, in which the lower seed plays at home first, could be a huge factor here. If veteran-laden Detroit is able to capture the opener at home, where it has won six straight, it could give them the mental edge over an Atlanta team getting a taste of the playoffs for the first time ever as a group.

Some fast facts about the first-round Shock-Dream matchup:

• Detroit snapped a three-game skid to Atlanta in their last meeting on August 27.
• The Shock lead the all-time series, 4-3.
• Atlanta is making its first trip to the playoffs, while Detroit is making its seventh straight and eighth overall.
• Erika de Souza posted three double-doubles vs. Detroit this season.
• Shavonte Zellous averaged 16.8 PPG vs. Atlanta this season.
• Detroit has won three straight opening-round series.

The second match up of the night features Los Angeles vs. Seattle in the Western Conference semifinal. The Sparks have been a thorn in Seattle’s side for years now. L.A. eliminated Seattle in a series that went the distance last season as well as in 2006. And with Tina Thompson now added to the mix, Candace Parker at full strength, Lisa Leslie motivated to win a title in her final season, the Sparks should present problems for the Storm once again in 2009.

Some fast facts about the first-round Storm-Sparks matchup:

• The Storm (74.82) and Sparks (74.50) are 11th and 12th in the league in points per game.
• Leslie has played in just one of the four games against the Storm this season. Parker has played in only two.
• Seattle was the two seed in 2004 when they won their only trophy.
• Lennox was part of that Storm championship team. Only Jackson and Bird remain off that roster.
• Leslie has spent her entire 13-year career with the Sparks. During that time, she’s made seven All-Star appearances and has won two titles.
• Milton-Jones and Leslie are the only two current Sparks from their 2002 championship team. Leslie has remained with the club over the years, while Milton-Jones left three seasons (2005-07) to play in Washington.

Be sure to catch both games tonight on ESPN2!

Making a Fashion Statement on WNBA Draft Day

With this year’s collegiate basketball season over (congrats UConn), and the 2009 WNBA Draft taking place on Thursday, April 9, rookie players are facing a lot of pressure. Sure, there’s the question of which player gets picked by which team. But equally important is what to wear on the big day? It’s a decision that each player attending the draft must make.

Fifteen of the top women’s basketball prospects have been invited to this year’s Draft. The list is highlighted by Renee Montgomery (Connecticut), Courtney and Ashley Paris (Oklahoma), Angel McCoughtry (Louisville), Kristi Toliver and Marissa Coleman (Maryland) and Kia Vaughn (Rutgers).

Do the players keep their Draft Day outfits simple or try to make a statement? Do they go with a dress or a suit? If they go with a suit, do they wear pants or a skirt? WNBA players have many options when putting their draft-day outfit together and through the years have shown their style with much success.

Last year, Candace Parker got things started in the right direction with her all-white pant suit. Any coincidence that a phenom from the NBA named LeBron James also wore all white on Draft day?

Perhaps the biggest fashion statement of last year’s draft came from No. 2 pick Sylvia Fowles (photo), who topped off her black pants, white shirt and black vest with a black fedora hat. Pretty Tough? You bet!

Making the right fashion choice can help make players’ memories of draft day all the better. They should smile – not cringe – when they look back at the photos from such an important day, so choosing an outfit wisely is of utmost importance.

Read what players have said in the past about their fashion choices and get all the deets about this year’s draft at WNBA.com.

Good luck to all (on the fashion choices as well as the draft picks)!