WNBA Finals: Game 3 coverage roundup

Penny Taylor #13 and Kelly Mazzante #33 of the Phoenix Mercury
watch from the bench in the final moments of Game Two of the
2009 WNBA Finals. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Copyright 2009 Getty Images. All rights reserved.

The 2009 WNBA Finals continue in Indianapolis as the Phoenix Mercury take on the Indiana Fever on their home court at Conseco Fieldhouse. The Fever will most likely host their first-ever Finals game in front of a sell-out crowd. The city embraced the decade-old franchise after they defeated nemesis Detroit Shock for the Eastern Conference title. Hundreds of screaming fans greeted the Fever at the airport when they returned from playing the first two games of the Finals in Phoenix.

Former NBA players turned executives helped spur the fan frenzy for both teams with generous buyouts of the upper bowls of arenas in both Indianapolis and Phoenix. Basketball legend and Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird started the trend during the playoffs. Phoenix Suns General Manager Steve Kerr made a similar move for the first game of the Finals. Not to be outdone, Suns head coach Alvin Gentry purchased the upper level of US Airways Center for Game 2.

During Thursday’s game, Phoenix had an injury scare when the Fever’s Briann January elbowed Mercury forward Penny Taylor in the mouth. Her front teeth cut her upper lip and a tooth was displaced. She will wear a mouthpiece in Game 3.

What do the head coaches think about Game 3?

Lin Dunn, Indiana Fever: I think that it is very important that as we come home that we don’t relax. We stole one from them there and I’m sure that they are going to try to steal one from us here.

Corey Gaines, Phoenix Mercury: It’s cold here coming in from the fun and sun of Phoenix. We came in here last time and took care of business. It’s not like it’s the impossible dream, like he haven’t won here before.

Around the Web:

• Mercury seek to silence Indiana crowd (azcentral.com)
• WNBA Finals Game 3: Preview and Game Thread (Swish Appeal)
• Catchings on the defensive (Indianapolis Star)
• Fever, Catchings could win title at home (AP/USAToday)
• Mercury defense looks for turnaround (azcentral.com)
• Could a WNBA championship save the Indiana Fever? (Daily Herald)

Game 1: PHO 120, IND 116 (OT) | Box | Video
Game 2: IND 93, PHO 84 | Box | Video
Game 3: Sun 10/4 – 4 PM ET
Game 4: Wed 10/7 – 7:30 PM ET
Game 5: Fri 10/9 – 9 PM ET
All times Eastern. All games televised on ESPN2.