Here's the next installment of "Ask Nancy" column on the WNBA
website. It's from last Saturday (May 31).

Of particular note, the last question writer asked Nancy what could
Oprah Winfrey do for the WNBA! But I do recall that she's had Swin
Cash appear as a guest on the show, twice! I do not know if Oprah
ever actually attended a WNBA game, but it would be interesting if
she did. :-)

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http://www.wnba.com/voices/asknancy_080531.html

ASK NANCY: May 31, 2008
Posted May 31 2008


Basketball Hall-of-Famer and ESPN analyst Nancy Lieberman answers
your questions and e-mails throughout the year.

To submit a question of your own, go to:
http://www.wnba.com/voices/asknancy.html

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QUESTION #1: Wait, this has to be a typo. The Minnesota Lynx are 3-0?
Are they for real? Can they really stay in the playoff race in the
West? And what role do you think Candice Wiggins will be playing by
the end of the season?
- Kent, Bongards, Minn.


NANCY'S REPONSE: I did mention in our preview shows that I thought
the Lynx were the sleeper team in the West. I'll pat myself on the
back for that one... :)

The Lynx are really young. But they are also really talented. They
will make some mistakes during the season, but by the look of things
so far, they have the talent to overcome them. They have some of the
hottest young players in the league. Nicky Anosike is going to be a
better pro than she was a college player. Wiggins is in a perfect
role for her, because even though she is coming off the bench, she
brings extraordinary quickness and firepower to this team. Charde
Houston… oh my goodness… everyone was waiting for Charde Houston to
step up and show her talent. I think she's a great fit in Coach
Zierden's system. Seimone Augustus is already a star and she is so
much better that advertised. Her defense has gotten better. And her
offense has just gotten better. She's one of the best scorers in the
league. And Anna DeForge has been a great addition for them, too. She
can give you those 19-, 15-point nights and she is always going to
give you good, solid minutes and plenty of leadership with her
younger teammates.

I think that this team fits together. And they have found a really
nice balance with Noelle Quinn at the point. She is such a great
passer and really just a solid, solid player. I think she is figuring
out her role more and more with each game.

And let's remember that they're doing this all without Lindsey
Harding. When she comes back, they should be even more effective.

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QUESTION #2: What do you think about the Phoenix Mercury? What do you
think is wrong with the defending champions this year?
- LeyLey, Raleigh, N.C.


NANCY'S REPONSE: I don't think there is anything wrong with the
Mercury. I think one of the things for them is that their big-time
players weren't there until the day before their first game. It is
going to take a little bit of time to create some continuity for
them. But once that happens, I think they are going to be fine. They
still have Diana, they still have Cappie, they still have Tangela and
they are well coached by Corey. You never want to lose your first few
games, but I think they are a fringe team on the cusp of the playoffs
and I think they can pull it together.

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QUESTION #3: Nancy, you are on target. L.A. is a tough matchup for
anyone because of their talented bigs, Lisa Leslie (6'5"), Candace
Parker (6'4") and DeLisha Milton-Jones (6'1"), not to mention Murriel
Page (6'2") and Christi Thomas (6'3") on the bench. But Seattle's
group of Yo (6'3"), LJ (6'5") and Cash (6'1"), with Ashley Robinson
(6'4") and Shyra Ely (6'2") on the bench, is not bad either. What is
your take on the strength of both of these front lines and the match
up between them?
- Harry-O, Corpus Christi, Texas


NANCY'S REPONSE: Great question, Harry-O. These two teams very well
could match up in the playoffs. Certainly Seattle on paper is more
experienced up and down the court. And even though Ashley Robinson
hasn't gotten a lot of time, she is very athletic and a terrific shot-
blocker. She provides a presence down in the defensive paint. Yolanda
is Yolanda: She still knows what to do when she is on the court and
she is so long and athletic. Milton-Jones adds a lot to the Sparks'
frontcourt. But I think as she gets older, she is going to continue
to play further away from the basket.

Wow, I think this matchup would be very competitive. You have Lauren
Jackson, last year's MVP, Lisa, who is a former MVP, and Candace
Parker, who is going to be an MVP. There is just a lot of talent out
there. I can't tell you who is better, but I can tell you it is going
to be fun to watch them battle it out for some time.

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QUESTION #4: Hey Nancy, thus far in the season, which of the "lower-
profile" rookies has been the most pleasantly surprising in their
first few games?
- Howie, Philadelphia


NANCY'S REPONSE: Without a doubt, I have to mention Nicky Anosike,
because nobody really knew exactly how she would fare in this league.
I bet you if asked people a month or so ago, nobody would be saying
Nicky Anosike would be starting. But she is. And she is impactful.
She just looks good. I was in Minnesota last week, checking out their
practice session. Nicky is quick… she is athletic. She can finish
around the basket. She is bright. She is more than a fringe player to
that team.

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QUESTION #5:
Nancy, with Atlanta being the newest team, how many games do you
anticipate them winning this year? And how good will it be to see
a "Little of this and a whole Latta that" once again? Go Tar Heels!
- Gabby, Bronx, N.Y.


NANCY'S REPONSE: Obviously it's cool for Ivory and Camille that they
are going to get a chance to play together as professionals, but they
are a very young team. Through no fault of her own, Marynell Meadors
has a bunch of players who either didn't get a lot of time with their
former teams or got marginal minutes. And now they are being asked to
be major factors and impact players. That is a whole different
mentality. And then you are also asking them to mesh together in the
span of a few weeks? It's not an easy thing to do.

Still, I think they should win five, maybe six games. I don't really
expect much more than that in a season where all of the other teams
in the league are very, very talented. I hope they can do better, but
those players are going to have to play beyond their years.

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QUESTION #6: Dearest Nancy. First of all, I am NOT crazy. But with
your celebrity status...could you please get Oprah Winfrey involved
in the WNBA? You know that whatever she touches turns to gold. She
can bring A LOT of attention to the league! The WNBA is all about
empowering women and these players are great role models for girls
and women of all kinds and nationalities, as you know. So let's get
all your powerful women in the WNBA together and approach the great
Oprah Winfrey to give us even more cred and to help us to become a
greater and more widely followed women's sporting event. Love you,
Nancy, and all of your contributions to the WNBA. Take care,
sisterfriend.
- Sydni, Phoenix


NANCY'S REPONSE: First, Sydni, yes, I think you are crazy. ;)

Secondly, Oprah Winfrey for me, like many others, is a hero for what
she has done for women of every slice of life. She has shown the
power of being so positive. I have got to believe that Oprah would do
anything that she could for anybody. She is an angel. Really, she is
an angel. To be able to have her power, her status and her
influence...and to use it for so much good is just incredible.

And you are right, she does turn things into gold. Given the
opportunity to talk to her, there would be no doubt in my mind that I
would show her the virtues of who we are and what we are and
hopefully her heart would be supportive in that direction. She would
see the health, the wellness, the competitiveness and the opportunity
for women.

So, I am going to cut this response short because I am going to use
my iPhone right now to call Oprah in Chicago. I am on my way to
Harpo. [Harpo is Oprah's production company.]

P.S. Do you think she will mind if I call her collect? ;)

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Steven
Sacramento, CA