Dishin & Swishin September 14, 2011 podcast: It’s that time! Cheryl Ford, Sophia Young & Temeka Johnson talk WNBA Playoffs
Sophia Young
It is one of the most wonderful times of the year, right up there with Christmas, the NCAA tournament, and the kids going back to school! It is time for the WNBA Playoffs, and despite the amazing record of the Minnesota Lynx, I believe this might be the most wide open playoffs in years. Anyone can win either conference, and it should make for some exciting basketball.
What is it like to be in the WNBA Playoffs? The excitement and enthusiasm of the fans, that little bit extra atmosphere that goes with a short series. Cheryl Ford has the championship rings to support her claim that she knows what the playoffs are like. The Top 15 in WNBA History nominee played in numerous playoff series with the Detroit Shock, with and against many of the players in this year’s playoffs: Kara Braxton and Plenette Pierson are on the New York Liberty, Katie Smith is on the Seattle Storm, Alexis Hornbuckle and Taj McWilliams-Franklin are on the Lynx, and Shavonte Zellous is on the Indiana Fever. Add to that, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve was an assistant coach in Detroit, and you understand just a little bit of why Detroit was a playoff pedigree team. Ford and I talked about her playoff experience, her thoughts on this year’s playoff series, her upcoming season in Italy and her health.
Despite the fact that I feel that both the San Antonio Silver Stars versus Minnesota and the Phoenix Mercury versus the Seattle Storm have excellent chances of success, there is no doubt the Lynx and Storm are the favorites in their series.
Minnesota swept the season series with San Antonio, but the games were generally close and within a possession or two for most of the game. I talked with one of my favorite Dishin & Swishin guests, the newest American on the Stars roster, All-Star forward Sophia Young. We discussed this year’s team, from the amazing play of point guard Becky Hammon to the great contributions of the two rookie Danielles: Robinson and Adams. Young also talked about what she feels San Antonio needs to do to beat the Storm, and what the key to the series will be. There is no doubt that she will have to be an impact player for the Silver Stars to advance.
The other Western Conference series is loaded with just as much star power, and features MVP candidates on both sides. Sue Bird and Swin Cash helped keep the Storm in contention while Lauren Jackson recovered from hip surgery, and now with last year’s MVP playing strong again, the defending champions are rolling into the playoffs. They won three out of the four games against Phoenix, but all of those games featured missing players on one or both sides, so it is tough to look at the two teams at full strength. Phoenix has its own pair of MVP candidates, scoring leader Diana Taurasi and do-everything forward Penny Taylor. Temeka Johnson has earned her stripes at the point on the Mercury, and fearless is one word I would use to describe her. Johnson and Ketia Swanier have split time fairly evenly this season at the point, and they will both need to protect the ball and defend strongly against Bird. I talked to Johnson about the two teams in this series, and how they always seem to have to run through the other in the playoffs. We also discussed the Mercury’s season, and what the keys are to defeating the Storm and advancing.
So can the underdogs pull it off and upset the top two seeds out west? It is a “dog day afternoon” on Dishin & Swishin, I hope you enjoy the podcast.
Dishin & Swishin: The World of Women’s Hoops is an Internet Radio Show hosted by David Siegel, devoted to the many facets of women’s basketball. From players to coaches to administrators and journalists, David strives to bring you an entertaining listen that also leaves you with something you didn’t know before. Enjoy!
