WNBA playoff series previews

A look at the four first-round series in the WNBA playoffs, which start Thursday:

Tina Charles (18.0 ppg, 10.5 rpg) was the league's top rebounder and tied Candace Parker for the most double-doubles (18). Veteran guard Kara Lawson, mostly a reserve in her 10-year career, started at least 30 games for the third time and averaged career highs in scoring (15.1), assists (4.0) and rebounds (3.9). She also set the franchise-mark with 74 3-pointers made. Asjha Jones (12.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg) returned for the final two games after missing 14 due to a strained left Achilles tendon. Renee Montgomery (11.6 ppg), a former starter, is a solid reserve. The Sun have a good mix of veterans and young players, with six who began the season with three years or fewer experience and four with seven or more. The Sun were fourth in scoring (81.6) and sixth in rebounding (34.4), field-goal shooting (43 percent) and 3-point shooting (35.6 percent). Charles averaged 21.8 points and 10.3 rebounds in Connecticut's four wins against New York.

Cappie Pondexter (20.4 ppg, 4.5 apg, 4.3 rpg) was again the catalyst on offense, finishing third in the league in scoring. Plenette Pierson (12.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg) missed eight games with a left knee strain and Kia Vaughn (6.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg) was out for three due to a concussion as the Liberty struggled defensively heading into the midseason break. Essence Carson (11.6 ppg) had some big games, and Nicole Powell and Leilani Mitchell are key 3-point shooters. New York has won just two of nine regular-season meetings with Connecticut the last two years. The Liberty were 10th scoring (73.1), eighth in field-goal shooting (42.5 percent), nine in assists (15.7) and 10th in steals (7.4). They were about middle of the pack in rebounding (33.4) and 3-point shooting (36 percent). Pondexter averaged 16.8 points -- including just six points in one game -- against the Sun, and Pierson 13.6 points and 5.8 rebounds. The teams have met twice in the playoffs -- both times in the conference semifinals -- with Connecticut winning in 2004 and the Liberty advancing in 2008.

The Fever, who lost to Atlanta in three games in the conference finals last year, were again led by reigning MVP Tamika Catchings (17.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 3.1 apg) and Katie Douglas (16.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.2 apg). Briann January (10.3 ppg, 3.9 apg) and Shavonte Zellous (7.5 ppg) were also solid starters, but both missed the last three games due to concussion-like symptoms. Fever coach Lin Dunn was hoped to have them cleared to practice by Thursday. Indiana tied with Minnesota for the league lead in 3-point shooting at 40 percent -- though the Fever had 110 more attempts -- and were sixth in scoring (78.3), but ninth in overall field-goal shooting (42 percent). Defensively, they were third in total steals (324) and allowed the second-fewest points (72.3). Douglas and Catchings combined to average 35.2 points -- right around their season numbers -- against the Dream.

McCoughtry (21.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.9 apg) won her first scoring title -- after narrowly finishing behind Diana Taurasi a year ago. Sancho Lyttle (14.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg) and Lindsey Harding (12.3 ppg, 4.5 apg) were solid starters all season, and Erika DeSouza (11.6 ppg, 8.2 rpg) provided a strong boost after missing the first half of the season while training with the Brazilian national team for the London Olympics. Armintie Price (8.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.5 apg) rounds out the starting lineup, and rookie Tiffany Hayes (8.6 ppg), Aneika Henry (4.8 ppg) and Cathrine Kraayeveld (4.6 ppg, 40 percent 3-point shooting) are strong reserves. Atlanta led the league in steals (333) for the second straight year, and was fifth in scoring (78.6) and rebounding (34.8), and fourth in shooting (43 percent). McCoughtry was around her season averages against the Fever, and Lyttle averaged 11.6 points and 8.4 rebounds.

Seimone Augustus (16.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg) missed three games earlier this month due to a sprained right foot, but was at her scoring average the last two games while playing about 22 minutes in the four games since her return. Reigning Rookie of the Year Maya Moore (16.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.6 apg) picked up her production in her second season. Lindsay Whalen (11.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 5.4 apg), Rebekkah Brunson (11.4 ppg, 8.9 rpg) and Taj McWilliams-Franklin (8.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg) are solid veterans, and Monica Wright (8.6 ppg) is the top reserve. Minnesota led the league in scoring (85.9), field-goal shooting (47 percent) and assists (20.8), and was tied for first in 3-point shooting (40 percent). while allowing the second-fewest points (73.1). The Lynx were also the top rebounding team (37.8), and finished second in blocks (159) -- led by McWilliams-Franklin's 46. Moore and Brunson were around their season averages against the Storm, and Augustus averaged 14.7 points in three meetings.

Sue Bird (12.2 ppg, 5.3 apg) led the offense without Jackson, and Camille Little (11.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg) was a solid starter. Jackson averaged 10.2 points -- a little more than half her career average -- and 5.6 rebounds after joining the team. Ann Wauters (9.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg) started 17 of the 25 games she played, and 16-year-veteran Tina Thompson (8.9 ppg) hit some key shots. Shekinna Stricklen (8.0 ppg) played solid minutes as rookie, and Tanisha Wright (7.9 ppg) and Katie Smith (6.7 ppg) are key veteran starters. The Storm finished 11th in scoring (71.2), 10th in rebounding (31.9) and last in steals (205). However, they were tops in scoring defense (71.7) and field-goal shooting defense (39 percent). Bird averaged 19 points in the two meetings at home and 6.0 in the two on the road -- both in the first three weeks of the season. Seattle's three losses were all by double digits.

Kristi Toliver (17.5 ppg, 4.9 apg) led the team in scoring and is a strong candidate for the league's most improved player award. Candace Parker (17.4 ppg, 9.7 ppg) was healthy the entire season for the first time since her rookie year in 2008, and led the league with 76 blocks. Nneka Ogwumike (14.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg), the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft should win Rookie of the Year honors. Alana Beard (11.4 ppg) bounced back year after missing the last two seasons with Washington due to injuries, and DeLisha Milton-Jones (10.0 ppg) also scored in double digits as the five regular starters accounted for 82 percent of the scoring. Los Angeles was second in scoring (84.0) and field-goal shooting (46 percent), third in rebounding (37.9) and tops in blocks (5.3). Parker averaged 16.3 points and 12.3 rebounds, and Beard 17.0 points against the Silver Stars.

Danielle Adams (11.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg) had a solid second season and Jia Perkins (10.6, 2.8 rpg) was a valuable veteran reserve again. Danielle Robinson (9.9 ppg) and Shameka Christon (7.9 ppg) -- who missed most of the last two seasons with Chicago due to injuries -- hit some big shots. The Silver Stars were third in scoring (82.1) and field-goal shooting (44.5 percent) and second in assists (18.9). However, they were just eighth in rebounding (33.2). San Antonio won the first three meetings, all in a 13-day span in June; Los Angeles won by 24 points on Aug. 24. Hammon averaged 17.7 points and 7.7 assists and Young 22.3 points in the three wins, and the two combined for 14 points in the loss.