May 22nd, 2008: Washington at New York

New York Liberty 79, Washington Mystics 60

Taj McWilliams-Franklin is a force of nature, Erlana Larkins is a badass, and there are Liberty players everywhere.


Now that's more like it, Libkids. Not completely perfect- you need to lay off the laying off, and the passing could be a little sharper- but the intensity is much more Liberty-like.

The kid who did the anthem could be good in a few years if she stops trying to sing like she's already finished puberty.

Nakia Sanford's 'tude bothers me. It's one thing to be a badass during the game and get into shit in the post. I get that. But starting a pissing match with the mascot just looks petty. I know she came into the league late, but she's still been around long enough to know better. She was tough, to be sure, and set some mean screens, but any Washington post player was going to be overshadowed by Taj tonight. They say old age and treachery beats youth and skill every time- but it helps to have old age, treachery, and skill. Taj didn't hit every shot she took, but she was always in position and knew how to get the call. It's hard to believe how long she's been around- she was on tonight. And so much for Alana Beard not playing. You have no idea just how low my heart sank when I saw her on the floor and sinking her practice shots. But she and Taj were pretty much it on offense for Washington- 26 and 24, was it? Or 26 and 20? Something ridiculous like that. Monique Currie was just kinda there, aggressive on the boards but not on offense- or if she was driving, she wasn't taking shots and getting fouled, which I recall was her strength in Charlotte. Nikki Blue felt like she was just kinda there. I don't recall Rollins using his bench much, except for Gardner and Miller- I have to admit, I was looking forward to coming home to lots and lots of angry Maryland fans posting on the thread about the lack of playing time Langhorne had, even in blowout time.

Loree needs to either trim the 'fro or restrain it in the braids again. The loose curls are gonna drive me even crazier than the missed passes. I'm enjoying the snazzy moves she's added to her game- the over-the-shoulder pass to Tiffany and the between-the-legs pass to Cathrine (I think) come to mind immediately- but she's got to keep it together all through the game. Shameka- loved the rebounding, and the way she hit the shots at the end of the shot clock, but her feet on her jumpshot are gonna kill me dead one of these days. Cathrine set a Screen Of Where The Hell Do You Think You're Going, Bucko- not a Screen Of Death, but close enough that it brought back memories. We need more Screens Of Death. We also need to box out. Janel- good Lord, Janel's hands on defense! Everyone's hands on defense! Either the Mystics were sloppy with their ballhandling or we were on them like flies on honey, because there were a lot of great, great steals. And Janel brought enough kickass for everyone- I just hope the thumb doesn't cause her too much trouble for the road trip. The racing stripe on her head is a little less noticeable now that it's more of a Mohawk and less of a wannabe Mohawk, but I still prefer her as a redhead, FWIW. Erin didn't play a lot, or make a big impact, but she was hopping mad by the end of the game- she was arguing one of Tiffany's fouls with the ref, and I'm pretty sure I saw her mouth form the word "bullshit". But tonight was about the kids. Lord have mercy, Erlana Larkins. She fears nothing and no one. What's not to love about that kind of enthusiasm? When she knocked down Amber Jacobs- okay, okay, for no good reason and it should have been a foul- I was like "did she just do that? OMG, was that a Screen Of Death?" She still has a lot to learn, and had a lot of work to do with Janel out, but she was most excellent tonight. Tiffany also helped pick up the slack- I love the way she works, just works. And Leilani! That one play where she got the steal and went coast-to-coast through and around the three Mystics- holy HELL! While I refuse to be sold on her until this becomes the rule and not the exception, that kind of grit gave her a little bit of the right to wear the number she chose. (My section has taken to calling her Sue because of it. I'm trying not to turn it into "Little Sue" because that'll turn it into "Little Suzie".) Ashley didn't do much statistically, but Ashley Battle is where difference-making happens. She was involved in one play where Loree threw a crazy pass that she barely snared and shot over to Shameka, who hit the jumper. Shades of Spoon to VJ to Crystal. We didn't see much of Lisa. :( And Essence looks like she's still trying to adjust to the pace of the game and to her teammates.

There were a lot of former Liberty players in the house tonight. Of course, Crystal Robinson was on the opposing bench, sharply dressed (although she does seem to have put on a little weight, but she's wearing it well, if you know what I mean). And then there was Spoon, in her usual place with a lovely lass (I think the same one she brought to the Connecticut game, but my eyes aren't *that* good). And Kym was on the sideline with A'riel (or some other little kid)… and Suuuuuuuuuue! So nice to see her again. She looks good. (We saw her in Penn Station after the game, so yay, closeup view.) I'm fairly certain Sue and Kym used Maddie to pass notes to Spoon. Either that, or they were all autographing something for somebody. But all things considered, if they were using Maddie to pass notes, I would not have been surprised. And then there was Kym's wardrobe malfunction, and I couldn't help but think that yes, it's very Kym to pull one's neckline back up on camera in front of thousands of people. A'riel or her stand-in looked very much like she wanted to be a Torch Patroller when she grows up. So cute, Libkids!

Return of the Golden Maddie! Lisa Willis won round one handily. Cathrine might have stood a better chance if she hadn't broken into a fit of laughter as soon as she was done with her line. Tactical bloopers in Tic-Tac-Toe.

Fleet Week, so water-based military people were saluted.

Denise, we must stop meeting like this. I've already been at three of her games, and at two of them she's had the worst luck with linesmen. Seriously, one guy seemed to think there was a charge circle in the WNBA, which resulted in a couple of bad calls. There were misses on both sides; obviously, I'm going to remember the ones that went against the Liberty better than the ones that went against the Mystics, like the travel on a player who was wrapped up or the block on a very set Shameka.

I had the pleasure of eating dinner with thesixthwoman, mathmaggie, and Keira. However, I've been sworn to secrecy by the cult of the quesadilla, so further more deponent sayeth not. ;)

In conclusion, because you knew I'd get there eventually, I love the enthusiasm, I love the energy, I love the little moments between teammates, but I'm not so in love with the fouls and the unraveling.