August 7, 2006 - We are entering the penultimate week of the Triple Threat Fantasy Challenge, as there is little more than a week remaining in the WNBA regular season. So for the next to last time this season, let's check out the rankings on the Triple Threat Leaderboard.

For another week, Lisa Leslie of the Sparks remains at the top of the Triple Threat rankings with a PRA average of 33.2. However, her lead for top performer in the WNBA is the smallest that it has been for some time, as Phoenix's Diana Taurasi is closing in with her PRA average currently standing at 31.5. Taurasi has been on a scoring tear as of late, as she is averaging 29.2 ppg over her last five games. This week she broke the WNBA single-season records for three-point field goals made and attempted, and she is currently stands at 94-242 from long-range. Expect Taurasi to continue to pile up the points as she attempts to lead the Mercury to a playoff berth in the Western Conference.

Seattle's Lauren Jackson remains in third with a PRA average of 28.9. Jackson is coming off a big game on Sunday against Los Angeles, where she totaled 27 points and eight rebounds. However Jackson can still be a risk to select since she can be limited by her recurring shin and ankle injuries. In the Storm's previous game on Friday against the Shock, Jackson was limited to only ten minutes of action and scored six points.

Indiana's MVP candidate Tamika Catchings ranks in fourth with a 28.1 PRA average. Catchings, who ranks in the top ten among WNBA players in nearly every statistical category, is currently eighth in scoring (16.6), sixth in rebounding (7.7), and fifth in assists (3.8 apg). She had another stellar all-around outing in the Fever's narrow loss to the Shock on Tuesday, scoring 22 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and dishing out six assists.

In fifth place, Seimone Augustus and her PRA average of 27.7 just edged out Cheryl Ford and her 27.5 PRA. Augustus, who ranks second in the league in scoring with 22.3 ppg, continues to carry the offensive load for the Minnesota Lynx and shows no signs of hitting any rookie wall. On Sunday she tied her career high of 32 points for the fourth time this season in a close loss to the New York Liberty. She has scored 15 points or more in 26 of 28 games in 2006.

WNBA.com Daily Expert Pick

Thursday, August 3rd Diana Taurasi Phoenix vs. Charlotte

Friday, August 4th Cheryl Ford Detroit at Chicago

Saturday, August 5th Lisa Leslie Los Angeles at Phoenix

Sunday, August 6th Seimone Augustus Minnesota vs. San Antonio

Tuesday, August 8th Tamika Catchings Indiana at New York

Last week’s expert picks:
Well my entry has fallen back to 153rd, but at least I am still ranked in the 97th percentile. I elected to take Lauren Jackson out of my lineup on Sunday, since she did not play in the second half of Friday's game due to injury problems. Unfortunately for me, Jackson went on to score 27 points and grab eight rebounds, while my replacement Chamique Holdsclaw struggled from the field and finished with ten points and two rebounds. Such is life in the Triple Threat Fantasy Challenge.

No Rest
With the condensed season schedule, WNBA teams are now playing more games in a shorter amount of time, including many back-to-back games. For example, the Detroit Shock will be playing six games in nine days starting on Thursday, while the San Antonio Stars will play six games in the next ten days. We can use the WNBA stats page to see how some players fare on little or no rest. Listed here are the PRA averages of some top WNBA players in the second half of back-to-back games. You can see that there are some large differences between these numbers and some players' season averages. Listed here are the overall PRA average followed by the PRA average on zero days rest.

Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles , 33.2 PRA, 6g, 24.8 PRA
Diana Taurasi, Phoenix , 31.5 PRA, 3g, 36.0 PRA
Lauren Jackson, Seattle, 28.7 PRA, 2g, 35.5 PRA
Tamika Catchings, Indiana, 28.1 PRA, 2g, 28.0 PRA
Seimone Augustus, Minnesota, 27.7 PRA 4g, 20.0 PRA
Cheryl Ford,Detroit, 27.5 PRA, 5g, 25.6 PRA
Cappie Pondexter, Phoenix, 26.1 PRA, 2g, 31.0 PRA
Alana Beard, Washington, 25.9 PRA, 3g, 20.0 PRA
Sheryl Swoopes, Houston, 24.2 PRA, 1g, 27.0 PRA
Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Connecticut, 24.2 PRA, 5g, 25.0 PRA
Katie Douglas, Connecticut, 23.0 PRA, 5g, 27.8 PRA
Deanna Nolan, Detroit, 21.9 PRA, 6g, 27.3 PRA
DeLisha Milton-Jones, Washington, 20.6 PRA , 2g, 26.0 PRA
Jia Perkins, Chicago, 17.2 PRA, 3g, 26.0 PRA

Last week's picks:
7/27: Seimone Augustus, Minnesota (19 pts., 7 reb., 1 ast.)
7/28: Cappie Pondexter, Phoenix (27 pts, 5 reb., 0 ast.)
7/29: Tamika Catchings, Indiana (17 pts, 6 reb, 6 ast)
7/30: Chamique Holdsclaw, Los Angeles (10 pts., 2 reb., 0 ast.)
8/1: Katie Douglas, Connecticut (9 pts., 3 reb., 2 ast.)