A look at the two first-round series in the WNBA playoffs. The league changed the format for this postseason with both the first and second round being one game each.---No. 5 Indiana (17-17) vs. No. 8 Phoenix (16-18)Season Series: Fever won 2-1.Indiana: Tamika Catchings will have at least one more chance to play in front of her home fans. The 10-time All-Star who is retiring after the playoffs had a wonderful celebration after her final regular season home game Sunday. Now shes trying to win a second WNBA championship in her illustrious career. The Fever have been up-and-down all season and will need to put together a strong effort for 40 minutes against the Mercury.Phoenix: The Mercury might have been the biggest disappointment in the regular season. Predicting by the leagues GMs to win the title, Phoenix had to make a push in the final few weeks to even make the postseason. Despite having Brittney Griner in the middle, the Mercury have been inconsistent on defense this season, giving up 83.3 points a game. Like Catchings, Penny Taylor has announced shell retire after the playoffs. The Australian guard has helped the Mercury win three championships.Prediction: Phoenix.---No. 6 Atlanta (17-17) vs. No. 7 Seattle (16-18)Season Series: Storm won 2-1.Atlanta: This is the Dreams seventh playoff appearance overall and first since 2014. The game will be played at Georgia Tech where Atlanta will play its home games for the next two seasons. Angel McCoughtry has led the Dream all season in scoring (19.5). The offseason additions of Elizabeth Williams and Layshia Clarendon really have bolstered the team this season.Seattle: The Storm are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2013 after going 7-3 since the Olympic break. Breanna Stewart has already had a rookie season to remember. She set the WNBA record for defensive rebounds in a season, had the third most points ever by a first-year player and was third in blocked shots. The Storm won in Atlanta on Sept. 4.Prediction: Seattle. Wholesale Jordans Fast Shipping . Coach Tom Thibodeau says the former MVP will probably start travelling with the team in the next few weeks. Rose tore the meniscus in his right knee at Portland in November and was ruled out for the remainder of the season by the Bulls. Wholesale Retro Jordans Shoes . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. http://www.wholesaleairjordan.us/ . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. CTV Edmonton also says Pocklington gave a $100,000 cash deposit as part of the conditions of his bail, and that he will be out on bail until his appeal is heard. Discount Jordans . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. Cheap Jordan Shoes From China . Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. The Texas Rangers are finally back at their ballpark and they could use some home cooking. The Oakland As may be the perfect guests.The Rangers open a seven-game homestand with a three-game series beginning Monday night against AL West rival Oakland. Texas is coming off a 3-6 road trip out of the All-Star break.The West-leading Rangers (57-42) did win the final two on the road at defending World Series champion Kansas City. Sundays 2-1 victory ended a stretch in which the Rangers played only four home games in a 28-day span beginning on June 27.Very nice way to end this road trip, Texas manager Jeff Banister said. Opportunity to win a series, get back on a winning track, put a couple of games together than obviously were hard fought.Starting pitching has been an issue for Texas over the last three weeks. The Rangers did get consecutive solid starts out of ace Cole Hamels and A.J. Griffin against the Royals, and more help appears on the way.General manager Jon Daniels indicated Sunday that injured starters Derek Holland and Colby Lewis will rejoin the rotation on the first day theyre eligible to come off the disabled list, Aug. 20 and 21, respectively.Daniels also admitted the club could be in the market for a rental to boost the rotation before the trade deadline Aug. 1.I was hoping we wouldnt consider rentals, Daniels told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Were always open for long-term, controllable acquisitions.The injuries to the staff led to the reversaal of ground for the Rangers, who have seen what was once a 10-game lead chopped to 2 1/2 games.ddddddddddddWith a healthy rotation we would, like we did last year, not consider rentals, Daniels added. Its still not my preference, but weve got to be open to it.Though the As (45-54) are last in the AL West, theyve been hot since the All-Star break. Oakland is 7-3 since baseball resumed and is on a three-game winning streak, including Sundays 3-2 victory over Tampa Bay on Billy Butlers go-ahead home run in the eighth inning.The As took the lead in the eighth or later in each of the three wins against the Rays. Oakland has also won three consecutive series for the first time since 2014.Winnings definitely contagious, Butler told MLB.com. I feel like when you come from behind or make surges late, once you do them you have confidence as a team that youre going to do it.Oakland opens its nine-game road trip by sending right-hander Daniel Mengden (1-5, 5.52 ERA) to the mound against Texas. The Rangers counter with lefty Martin Perez (7-7, 4.37).The Rangers and Oakland are playing in Arlington for first time this season. The As have gone 4-3 in the first seven meetings, all in Oakland, but have lost the last three. Oakland will visit Globe Life Park for a series once each in July, August and September.Texas is 29-15 at home this year. ' ' '