June 22, 2006 - The WNBA Triple Threat Fantasy Challenge is now into week six, meaning we are nearing the halfway point in this fantasy basketball marathon. And once again, with another WNBA week in the books, we've seen some shuffling at the top of the Triple Threat Leaderboard.

The one and only Lisa Leslie of the Sparks continues her season long reign atop the Triple Threat charts, with her PRA average holding steady at 36.1 per game. It appears that she might have some competition soon for the top spot.

The Phoenix Mercury's Diana Taurasi has narrowed the margin between first and second place, raising her PRA to 32.9. Taurasi continues to lead the league in scoring, averaging 25.3 points per game, which would be a WNBA record if the season ended today. Taurasi's outstanding offensive ability combined with the Mercury's frenetic offensive style equals a must-choose for your Triple Threat entry.

After missing some time due to injury a few weeks ago, Indiana's Tamika Catchings has picked up where she left off as one of the WNBA's top all-around players, and moves up a spot in the rankings this week, checking in at third with a 29.4 PRA. Catchings' line last week is another illustration of how playing the matchups can be so important to your success in the Triple Threat Challenge. On the road against a tough defensive team in Detroit, Catchings was held to three points and four rebounds. However her next game was a different story. At home against a weaker defensive team in the Charlotte Sting, Catchings returned to form with 27 points and 13 rebounds. Of course the difference will not always be this extreme, but it's worth your time to keep an eye on who is playing whom where.

A newcomer to the top five, Detroit's Cheryl Ford has been a near-automatic double-double over the last few weeks, pulling off the feat in six of her last seven games. The 2005 rebounding leader has been dominant on the boards again this year (12.4 rpg), but the factor that has launched Ford into the top echelon of the league has been her increased scoring. Currently averaging 10.6 ppg for her career, Ford has scored in double figures in every game this season. Already known as one of the league's top rebounders and defensive players, Ford is coming closer to being known as one of it's top frontcourt scoring threats as well. She currently ranks 12th in the league with 15.1 ppg for the 2006 season, and ranks fourth in the WNBA with a PRA of 29.2.

Rounding out the top five is the other half of Phoenix's dynamic backcourt duo, rookie Cappie Pondexter. The Chicago native is ranked fourth in the WNBA with 22.1 ppg, while adding 3.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists for good measure. In case you were wondering, the last time two teammates finished a season in the top five in the league scoring rankings... Tina Thompson (19.3) and Janeth Arcain (18.5) for the Houston Comets in 2001. At their current pace Pondexter and Taurasi look like they will have a chance to become the highest scoring pair of teamates in WNBA history.

Pondexter, with a PRA of 28.6, just edged out Seattle's Lauren Jackson, who has been hampered by both nagging injuries and a lack of shot opportunities. Jackson has attempted fewer than 10 shots in three of her last four games, although she did put up 27 points and 10 rebounds last week against the Sky. However after suffering a knee injury in that game last Thurday against Chicago, Jackson has not practiced with the Storm, yet vows to remain in the starting lineup. She hasn't missed any playing time yet due to the injury, but keep an eye on the situation for any further developments.

WNBA.com Daily Expert Pick

Thurday, June 22nd Cheryl Ford Detroit at Charlotte

Friday, June 23rd Diana Taurasi Phoenix vs. Indiana

Saturday, June 24th Seimone Augustus Minnesota vs. New York

Sunday, June 25th Lisa Leslie Los Angeles vs. San Antonio

Tuesday, June 27th Cheryl Ford Detroit at San Antonio

Wednesday, June 28th Diana Taurasi Phoenix vs. Minnesota

Last week’s expert picks:
I didn't have the best week, as my entry has plummeted all the way to 206th, ranking in the 95th percentile. After a slow start to the week, I enjoyed a solid weekend with Siemone Augustus' 32 point outburst against the Mercury, as well as a double-double from Cheryl Ford on Saturday with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Looking ahead, I think the key to my return to the leaderboard is using Diana Taurasi more often. I've had her in my lineup once so far, which is not very Guru-like since she is the leading scorer in the WNBA.

Scoring Isn't Everything
When choosing your Triple Threat entries, of course you will be looking to put some big-time scorers in your lineup. Since the last time I checked, points come in two and threes while assists and rebounds come in ones, so even an average scoring performance from a top player can be as effective as a big rebounding effort. The problem is that sometimes it's hard to always score a lot of points, be it simply a night where the shots aren't falling, being guarded by a tough defender, or just not getting enough shot opportunities. If you combine this with a player who isn't much of a rebounder or passer, your Triple Threat ranking will surely be taking a dive.

I took a look at some of the top players to see which players had a high percentage of their PRA consist of scoring, and which players had lower percentages. These are the players who can still give you a solid point total in your entry even if they don't manage to put up a big amount of points. If you choose a player with a higher percentage, you better hope they get their points because they won't be able to help you much otherwise. As a reminder, if you want to look up any WNBA stats and see how your favorite player and team is doing, be sure to check out WNBA.com's brand new statistics page here.