Team-by-team look at the WNBA, which opens its eighth season Thursday:
EASTERN CONFERENCE CHARLOTTE STING
LAST SEASON: 18-16, tied for 2nd place; lost 2-0 to Connecticut in first round.
COACH: Trudi Lacey, 2nd season, 18-16.
ADDED: F-C Olympia Scott-Richardson (free agent); G-F Nicole Powell (draft, No. 3, Stanford); F Kelly Mazzante (draft, No. 18, Penn State); F Jenni Benningfield (draft, No. 22, Vanderbilt); G Jia Perkins (draft, No. 35, Texas Tech); C Tera Bjorklund (free agent); F Mery Andrade (dispersal draft, Cleveland); F La'Keisha Frett (free agent, Sacramento); G Rita Williams (free agent).
LOST: G Kelly Miller (trade, Indiana); F Rushia Brown; F-C Shalonda Enis.
STRENGTHS: Perimeter shooting, experience. The Sting were third in the league in 3-point shooting at 36.2 percent. Charlotte has seven players with at least five years' experience in the league.
WEAKNESSES: Frontcourt and Scoring. Charlotte needs more production in the post, and will rely on Scott-Richardson and Mazzante to help improve. Powell's versatility will also add to the offense; she can play anywhere from point guard to power forward. The Sting were 12th in the league in scoring last season, averaging just 65.2 points.
CONNECTICUT SUN
LAST SEASON: 18-16, tied for 2nd; lost 2-0 to Detroit in conference finals.
COACH: Mike Thibault, 2nd season, 18-16.
ADDED: F Asjha Jones (trade, Washington); PG Lindsay Whalen (draft, No. 3, Minnesota); F Jessica Brungo (draft, No. 16, Penn State); G Candace Futrell (draft, No. 29, Duquesne); G Jen Derevjanik (free agent); F Le'Coe Willingham (free agent).
LOST: G Shannon Johnson (trade, San Antonio); F Rebecca Lobo (retired); G Adrienne Johnson; F-C Jessie Hicks (free agent, San Antonio).
STRENGTH: Perimeter shooting. Nykesha Sales (16.1 points) and Katie Douglas (12.0) combined to shoot 38.4 percent on 3-pointers. Whalen's scoring and passing skills will help improve the inside game.
WEAKNESS: Defense. Connecticut was sixth in the East in scoring defense (70.9 points) despite being second in field-goal defense (41.1 percent).
DETROIT SHOCK
LAST SEASON: 25-9, 1st, beat Los Angeles 2-1 to win championship.
COACH: Bill Laimbeer, 3rd season, 34-22.
ADDED: G Merlakia Jones (free agent, Cleveland); G-F Chandi Jones (post-draft trade, Phoenix, No. 8, Houston); F-C Iciss Tillis (draft, No. 11, Duke); C Stacy Stephens (free agent).
LOST: G Sheila Lambert (trade, Phoenix); G Kedra Holland-Corn (trade, Houston); F-C Astou Ndiaye-Diatta (free agent, Indiana).
STRENGTHS: Experience, depth. All five starters from last year's championship team. Adding veteran Merlakia Jones and rookies Chandi Jones and Tillis gives Detroit a solid first three off the bench.
WEAKNESS: Turnovers. Detroit averaged a league-leading 17.9 turnovers per game last season, 1.5 more than second-place Minnesota.
INDIANA FEVER
LAST SEASON: 16-18, tied for 5th.
COACH: Brian Winters, 1st season.
ADDED: G Kelly Miller (trade, Charlotte); F Deanna Jackson (dispersal draft, Cleveland); C Ebony Hoffman (draft, No. 9, USC); F-C Ieva Kublina (draft, No. 31, Virginia Tech); F-C Astou Ndiaye-Diatta (free agent, Detroit); G-F Kate Starbird (free agent).
LOST: F Sonja Henning (retired), F Coquese Washington (retired).
STRENGTH: Improved backcourt. Jackson adds athleticism and versatility at shooting guard after averaging 7.2 points and 2.6 rebounds for Cleveland. Miller was 11th in the league in scoring in the preseason, averaging 12.7 points. Both should help Tamika Catchings, who was third in the league in scoring at 19.7 points per game and led the Fever with averages of 8.0 points, 3.4 assists, 1.03 blocks and 2.1 steals.
WEAKNESS: Defense. The Fever were 12th in the league in rebounding (29.1) and opponents' field-goal shooting (.439), and eighth in scoring defense (68.3 points).
NEW YORK LIBERTY
LAST SEASON: 16-18, tied for 5th.
COACH: Richie Adubato, 6th season, 93-69.
ADDED: C Ann Wauters (dispersal draft, Cleveland); F Shameka Christon (draft, No. 5, Arkansas); F Amisha Carter (draft, No. 17, Louisiana Tech); G Cathy Joens (draft, No. 30, George Washington); G Tasha Pointer (free agent); F DeTrina White (free agent).
LOST: G Teresa Weatherspoon (free agent, Los Angeles); F Tamika Whitmore (free agent, Los Angeles); F-C Linda Frohlich (free agent).
STRENGTH: Inside game. The Liberty were last in the league in rebounding last season, and then lost third-leading rebounder Whitmore to free agency. However, Tari Phillips moving to power forward, and the addition of Wauters should help. Also, Christon averaged 6.9 rebounds at Arkansas last season.
WEAKNESS: Leadership. Weatherspoon spent seven years with the Liberty as one of the team's original players. Becky Hammon, who missed two-thirds of last season due to a torn ACL, will replace Weatherspoon at point guard.
WASHINGTON MYSTICS
LAST SEASON: 9-25, 7th.
COACH: Michael Adams, 1st season.
ADDED: C Chasity Melvin (dispersal draft, Cleveland); G Alana Beard (draft, No. 2, Duke); G Tamicha Jackson (trade, Phoenix); C Kaayla Chones; (draft, No. 15, N.C. State); F Evan Unrau (draft, No. 28, Missouri); F-C Petra Ujhelyi (free agent).
LOST: F Asjha Jones (trade, Connecticut); G Helen Luz; G Zuzana Zirkova.
STRENGTH: Offense. Beard averaged 19.7 points in four years at Duke, and will help complement Chamique Holdsclaw (20.5 points, 10.9 rebounds in 2003). Stacey Dales-Schuman and Coco Miller improved their scoring, rebounding and assists averages last season.
WEAKNESS: Defense. Opponents made 45.5 percent of their shots, including 35.5 percent on 3-pointers. Mystics allowed more points 73.5 per game than any team.
WESTERN CONFERENCE HOUSTON COMETS
LAST SEASON: 20-14, 2nd, lost 2-1 to Sacramento in first round.
COACH: Van Chancellor, 8th season, 161-59.
ADDED: G Kedra Holland-Corn (trade, Detroit); G Felicia Ragland (free agent); G Gordana Grubin (free agent); C Pollyanna Johns Kimbrough (dispersal draft, Cleveland); F-C Lucienne Berthau (dispersal draft, Cleveland); F Vanessa Nygaard (free agent); G Sheila Lambert (free agent).
LOST: G Cynthia Cooper (retirement); G Ukari Figgs (retirement); F Mfon Udoka (waived); F-G Kelley Gibson; G Itoro Umoh-Coleman.
STRENGTH: Defense. Houston allowed fewest points in the league last season at 63.0, and was fourth in limiting opponents to shooting 40.6 percent from the field.
WEAKNESS: Rebounding. The Comets were 10th in rebounding (30.3 per game), and 13th in offensive rebounding percentage (27.3). Development of Michelle Snow should help. Snow was selected as league's most improved player last season after averaging 9.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and shooting 49.8 percent from the field. She also set a team record with 62 blocked shots.
LOS ANGELES SPARKS
LAST SEASON: 24-10, 1st, lost 2-1 to Detroit in finals.
COACH: Michael Cooper, 5th season, 105-25.
ADDED: G Teresa Weatherspoon (free agent, New York); F Tamika Whitmore (free agent, New York); F-C Christi Thomas (draft, No. 12, Georgia); G Doneeka Hodges (draft, No. 25, LSU); F Monique Coker (free agent); F Laura Macchi (free agent); G Raffaella Masciadri (free agent).
LOST: F-C Jennifer Gillom (retired); G-F Nicky McCrimmon (released); F Vanessa Nygaard (waived); F Lynn Pride (released), G Shaquala Williams (waived), G Sophia Witherspoon (free agent).
STRENGTH: Depth. Weatherspoon and Whitmore add to a team that fell one win short of a third straight championship.
WEAKNESS: Injuries. All five starters missed games last season, including 11 by Lisa Leslie. DeLisha Milton-Jones returned in the final preseason game after recovering from a torn ACL in her right knee.
MINNESOTA LYNX
LAST SEASON: 18-16, tied for 4th, lost 2-1 to Los Angeles in first round.
COACH: Suzie McConnell Serio, 2nd season, 18-16.
ADDED: F Nicole Ohlde (draft, No. 6, Kansas State); C Vanessa Hayden (draft, No. 7, Florida); F Tasha Butts (draft, No. 20, Tennessee); G Amber Jacobs (draft, No. 33, Boston College); F Amanda Lassiter (trade, Seattle); F Gwen Slaughter (free agent); F Stacey Lovelace-Tolbert (free agent).
LOST: F Sheri Sam (trade, Seattle); C Janell Burse (trade, Seatle); C Jordan Adams (waived); G Georgia Schweitzer (retired).
STRENGTH: Backcourt. Katie Smith averaged 18.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 45.7 percent shooting from the field. Teresa Edwards, 39, led the Lynx with 4.4 assists per game, and Helen Darling averaged a career-high 3.8 for Cleveland.
WEAKNESS: Roster changes. The team will look to find the right mix on the court after trading All-Star Sam and leading shot-blocker Burse. Ohlde has been impressive in the preseason.
PHOENIX MERCURY
LAST SEASON: 8-26, 7th.
COACH: Carrie Graf, 1st season.
ADDED: G Diana Taurasi (draft, No. 1, Connecticut); F Penny Taylor (dispersal draft, Cleveland); F Shereka Wright (post-draft trade, Detroit, No. 13, Purdue); C Ashley Robinson (draft, No. 14, Tennessee); C Lindsay Taylor (post-draft trade, Houston, No. 26, Santa Barbara); Tonya Edwards (free agent); G Nikki McCray (free agent, Indiana).
LOST: F Edneisha Curry (waived); F Lisa Harrison (retired); G Tamicha Jackson (trade, Washington); C Sonja Mallory (waived).
STRENGTHS: Backcourt. Taurasi's passing and playmaking skills instantly improves the team. She'll combine with McCray and Anna DeForge, who showed improvement in her second season last year.
WEAKNESS: Inexperience. Coming off a disastrous season, the Mercury are in a rebuilding mode. Including Taurasi, Phoenix has four rookies, two second-year players and five in their third year. Taurasi will also be going through a hectic year. In addition to leading UConn to the national championship last month, she will play on the U.S. national team in the Olympics.
SACRAMENTO MONARCHS
LAST SEASON: 19-15, 3rd, lost 2-1 to Los Angeles in conference finals.
COACH: John Whisenant, 2nd season, 11-4.
ADDED: F Rebekkah Brunson (draft, No. 10, Georgetown), G Giuliana Mendiola (free agent).
LOST: F La'Keisha Frett (free agent, Charlotte).
STRENGTH: Defense. The Monarchs improved from overall defensive ranking of 13th in 2002 to best last year. Sacramento increased its steals and defensive turnovers, and lowered opponents' shooting percentages.
WEAKNESS: Offense. Sacramento was 12th in overall offense, shooting just 40.9 percent including 31.7 percent on 3-pointers. Ticha Penicheiro shot 30.2 percent, the third-lowest among players with at least 400 minutes.
SAN ANTONIO SILVER STARS
LAST SEASON: 12-22, 6th.
COACH: Dee Brown, 1st season with team, 16-16 overall.
ADDED: G-F Agnieszka Bibrzycka (free agent); C Mandisa Stevenson (free agent); G Toccara Williams (draft, No. 34, Texas A&M); C-F Jessie Hicks (free agent); G Shannon Johnson (trade, Connecticut); LaToya Thomas (dispersal draft, Cleveland).
LOST: G Jennifer Azzi (retired); F Sylvia Crawley (retired); F LaTonya Johnson (waived); C Tausha Mills (free agent); G-F LaQuanda Quick (free agent).
STRENGTH: Frontcourt. The 7-foot-2 Margo Dydek led the league in blocks for sixth straight season, averaging 2.9 per game, and was ninth in rebounding with 7.4. Gwen Jackson added 6.2 rebounds, and Thomas had 10.8 points and 5.1 rebounds for Cleveland.
WEAKNESS: Shooting. San Antonio was a league-worst 38.3 percent from the field, including just 29.5 percent on 3-pointers. The Silver Stars are hoping Shannon Johnson is the answer. She averaged 12.4 points and 5.8 assists while shooting 43.3 percent for the Sun last season.
SEATTLE STORM
LAST SEASON: 18-16, tied for 4th.
COACH: Anne Donovan, 2nd season with team, 63-67 overall.
ADDED: C Janell Burse (trade, Minnesota); F-G Sheri Sam (trade, Minnesota); F Trina Frierson (draft, No. 19, Louisiana Tech); G Michelle Greco (free agent); G Betty Lennox (dispersal draft, Cleveland).
LOST: G Sandy Brondello (suspended list); F Alisa Burras (free agent); F Amanda Lassiter (trade, Minnesota); G-F Tonya Massaline (waived); C-F Danielle McCulley (waived); F-C Jung Sun-Min (free agent); G Rita Williams (waived).
STRENGTH: Offense. Seattle led league in offensive efficiency, averaging 102.4 points per 100 possessions, and was third in scoring at 70.2 points per game. Lauren Jackson will try to follow up an MVP season in which she averaged a league-leading 21.2 points. Sue Bird was second in the league with 6.5 assists.
WEAKNESS: Consistency. The Storm missed the playoffs despite ranking second in league in scoring differential. That was partly inflated due to four wins by at least 25 points. Seattle lost five straight down the stretch, including three to non-playoff teams.
EASTERN CONFERENCE CHARLOTTE STING
LAST SEASON: 18-16, tied for 2nd place; lost 2-0 to Connecticut in first round.
COACH: Trudi Lacey, 2nd season, 18-16.
ADDED: F-C Olympia Scott-Richardson (free agent); G-F Nicole Powell (draft, No. 3, Stanford); F Kelly Mazzante (draft, No. 18, Penn State); F Jenni Benningfield (draft, No. 22, Vanderbilt); G Jia Perkins (draft, No. 35, Texas Tech); C Tera Bjorklund (free agent); F Mery Andrade (dispersal draft, Cleveland); F La'Keisha Frett (free agent, Sacramento); G Rita Williams (free agent).
LOST: G Kelly Miller (trade, Indiana); F Rushia Brown; F-C Shalonda Enis.
STRENGTHS: Perimeter shooting, experience. The Sting were third in the league in 3-point shooting at 36.2 percent. Charlotte has seven players with at least five years' experience in the league.
WEAKNESSES: Frontcourt and Scoring. Charlotte needs more production in the post, and will rely on Scott-Richardson and Mazzante to help improve. Powell's versatility will also add to the offense; she can play anywhere from point guard to power forward. The Sting were 12th in the league in scoring last season, averaging just 65.2 points.
CONNECTICUT SUN
LAST SEASON: 18-16, tied for 2nd; lost 2-0 to Detroit in conference finals.
COACH: Mike Thibault, 2nd season, 18-16.
ADDED: F Asjha Jones (trade, Washington); PG Lindsay Whalen (draft, No. 3, Minnesota); F Jessica Brungo (draft, No. 16, Penn State); G Candace Futrell (draft, No. 29, Duquesne); G Jen Derevjanik (free agent); F Le'Coe Willingham (free agent).
LOST: G Shannon Johnson (trade, San Antonio); F Rebecca Lobo (retired); G Adrienne Johnson; F-C Jessie Hicks (free agent, San Antonio).
STRENGTH: Perimeter shooting. Nykesha Sales (16.1 points) and Katie Douglas (12.0) combined to shoot 38.4 percent on 3-pointers. Whalen's scoring and passing skills will help improve the inside game.
WEAKNESS: Defense. Connecticut was sixth in the East in scoring defense (70.9 points) despite being second in field-goal defense (41.1 percent).
DETROIT SHOCK
LAST SEASON: 25-9, 1st, beat Los Angeles 2-1 to win championship.
COACH: Bill Laimbeer, 3rd season, 34-22.
ADDED: G Merlakia Jones (free agent, Cleveland); G-F Chandi Jones (post-draft trade, Phoenix, No. 8, Houston); F-C Iciss Tillis (draft, No. 11, Duke); C Stacy Stephens (free agent).
LOST: G Sheila Lambert (trade, Phoenix); G Kedra Holland-Corn (trade, Houston); F-C Astou Ndiaye-Diatta (free agent, Indiana).
STRENGTHS: Experience, depth. All five starters from last year's championship team. Adding veteran Merlakia Jones and rookies Chandi Jones and Tillis gives Detroit a solid first three off the bench.
WEAKNESS: Turnovers. Detroit averaged a league-leading 17.9 turnovers per game last season, 1.5 more than second-place Minnesota.
INDIANA FEVER
LAST SEASON: 16-18, tied for 5th.
COACH: Brian Winters, 1st season.
ADDED: G Kelly Miller (trade, Charlotte); F Deanna Jackson (dispersal draft, Cleveland); C Ebony Hoffman (draft, No. 9, USC); F-C Ieva Kublina (draft, No. 31, Virginia Tech); F-C Astou Ndiaye-Diatta (free agent, Detroit); G-F Kate Starbird (free agent).
LOST: F Sonja Henning (retired), F Coquese Washington (retired).
STRENGTH: Improved backcourt. Jackson adds athleticism and versatility at shooting guard after averaging 7.2 points and 2.6 rebounds for Cleveland. Miller was 11th in the league in scoring in the preseason, averaging 12.7 points. Both should help Tamika Catchings, who was third in the league in scoring at 19.7 points per game and led the Fever with averages of 8.0 points, 3.4 assists, 1.03 blocks and 2.1 steals.
WEAKNESS: Defense. The Fever were 12th in the league in rebounding (29.1) and opponents' field-goal shooting (.439), and eighth in scoring defense (68.3 points).
NEW YORK LIBERTY
LAST SEASON: 16-18, tied for 5th.
COACH: Richie Adubato, 6th season, 93-69.
ADDED: C Ann Wauters (dispersal draft, Cleveland); F Shameka Christon (draft, No. 5, Arkansas); F Amisha Carter (draft, No. 17, Louisiana Tech); G Cathy Joens (draft, No. 30, George Washington); G Tasha Pointer (free agent); F DeTrina White (free agent).
LOST: G Teresa Weatherspoon (free agent, Los Angeles); F Tamika Whitmore (free agent, Los Angeles); F-C Linda Frohlich (free agent).
STRENGTH: Inside game. The Liberty were last in the league in rebounding last season, and then lost third-leading rebounder Whitmore to free agency. However, Tari Phillips moving to power forward, and the addition of Wauters should help. Also, Christon averaged 6.9 rebounds at Arkansas last season.
WEAKNESS: Leadership. Weatherspoon spent seven years with the Liberty as one of the team's original players. Becky Hammon, who missed two-thirds of last season due to a torn ACL, will replace Weatherspoon at point guard.
WASHINGTON MYSTICS
LAST SEASON: 9-25, 7th.
COACH: Michael Adams, 1st season.
ADDED: C Chasity Melvin (dispersal draft, Cleveland); G Alana Beard (draft, No. 2, Duke); G Tamicha Jackson (trade, Phoenix); C Kaayla Chones; (draft, No. 15, N.C. State); F Evan Unrau (draft, No. 28, Missouri); F-C Petra Ujhelyi (free agent).
LOST: F Asjha Jones (trade, Connecticut); G Helen Luz; G Zuzana Zirkova.
STRENGTH: Offense. Beard averaged 19.7 points in four years at Duke, and will help complement Chamique Holdsclaw (20.5 points, 10.9 rebounds in 2003). Stacey Dales-Schuman and Coco Miller improved their scoring, rebounding and assists averages last season.
WEAKNESS: Defense. Opponents made 45.5 percent of their shots, including 35.5 percent on 3-pointers. Mystics allowed more points 73.5 per game than any team.
WESTERN CONFERENCE HOUSTON COMETS
LAST SEASON: 20-14, 2nd, lost 2-1 to Sacramento in first round.
COACH: Van Chancellor, 8th season, 161-59.
ADDED: G Kedra Holland-Corn (trade, Detroit); G Felicia Ragland (free agent); G Gordana Grubin (free agent); C Pollyanna Johns Kimbrough (dispersal draft, Cleveland); F-C Lucienne Berthau (dispersal draft, Cleveland); F Vanessa Nygaard (free agent); G Sheila Lambert (free agent).
LOST: G Cynthia Cooper (retirement); G Ukari Figgs (retirement); F Mfon Udoka (waived); F-G Kelley Gibson; G Itoro Umoh-Coleman.
STRENGTH: Defense. Houston allowed fewest points in the league last season at 63.0, and was fourth in limiting opponents to shooting 40.6 percent from the field.
WEAKNESS: Rebounding. The Comets were 10th in rebounding (30.3 per game), and 13th in offensive rebounding percentage (27.3). Development of Michelle Snow should help. Snow was selected as league's most improved player last season after averaging 9.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and shooting 49.8 percent from the field. She also set a team record with 62 blocked shots.
LOS ANGELES SPARKS
LAST SEASON: 24-10, 1st, lost 2-1 to Detroit in finals.
COACH: Michael Cooper, 5th season, 105-25.
ADDED: G Teresa Weatherspoon (free agent, New York); F Tamika Whitmore (free agent, New York); F-C Christi Thomas (draft, No. 12, Georgia); G Doneeka Hodges (draft, No. 25, LSU); F Monique Coker (free agent); F Laura Macchi (free agent); G Raffaella Masciadri (free agent).
LOST: F-C Jennifer Gillom (retired); G-F Nicky McCrimmon (released); F Vanessa Nygaard (waived); F Lynn Pride (released), G Shaquala Williams (waived), G Sophia Witherspoon (free agent).
STRENGTH: Depth. Weatherspoon and Whitmore add to a team that fell one win short of a third straight championship.
WEAKNESS: Injuries. All five starters missed games last season, including 11 by Lisa Leslie. DeLisha Milton-Jones returned in the final preseason game after recovering from a torn ACL in her right knee.
MINNESOTA LYNX
LAST SEASON: 18-16, tied for 4th, lost 2-1 to Los Angeles in first round.
COACH: Suzie McConnell Serio, 2nd season, 18-16.
ADDED: F Nicole Ohlde (draft, No. 6, Kansas State); C Vanessa Hayden (draft, No. 7, Florida); F Tasha Butts (draft, No. 20, Tennessee); G Amber Jacobs (draft, No. 33, Boston College); F Amanda Lassiter (trade, Seattle); F Gwen Slaughter (free agent); F Stacey Lovelace-Tolbert (free agent).
LOST: F Sheri Sam (trade, Seattle); C Janell Burse (trade, Seatle); C Jordan Adams (waived); G Georgia Schweitzer (retired).
STRENGTH: Backcourt. Katie Smith averaged 18.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 45.7 percent shooting from the field. Teresa Edwards, 39, led the Lynx with 4.4 assists per game, and Helen Darling averaged a career-high 3.8 for Cleveland.
WEAKNESS: Roster changes. The team will look to find the right mix on the court after trading All-Star Sam and leading shot-blocker Burse. Ohlde has been impressive in the preseason.
PHOENIX MERCURY
LAST SEASON: 8-26, 7th.
COACH: Carrie Graf, 1st season.
ADDED: G Diana Taurasi (draft, No. 1, Connecticut); F Penny Taylor (dispersal draft, Cleveland); F Shereka Wright (post-draft trade, Detroit, No. 13, Purdue); C Ashley Robinson (draft, No. 14, Tennessee); C Lindsay Taylor (post-draft trade, Houston, No. 26, Santa Barbara); Tonya Edwards (free agent); G Nikki McCray (free agent, Indiana).
LOST: F Edneisha Curry (waived); F Lisa Harrison (retired); G Tamicha Jackson (trade, Washington); C Sonja Mallory (waived).
STRENGTHS: Backcourt. Taurasi's passing and playmaking skills instantly improves the team. She'll combine with McCray and Anna DeForge, who showed improvement in her second season last year.
WEAKNESS: Inexperience. Coming off a disastrous season, the Mercury are in a rebuilding mode. Including Taurasi, Phoenix has four rookies, two second-year players and five in their third year. Taurasi will also be going through a hectic year. In addition to leading UConn to the national championship last month, she will play on the U.S. national team in the Olympics.
SACRAMENTO MONARCHS
LAST SEASON: 19-15, 3rd, lost 2-1 to Los Angeles in conference finals.
COACH: John Whisenant, 2nd season, 11-4.
ADDED: F Rebekkah Brunson (draft, No. 10, Georgetown), G Giuliana Mendiola (free agent).
LOST: F La'Keisha Frett (free agent, Charlotte).
STRENGTH: Defense. The Monarchs improved from overall defensive ranking of 13th in 2002 to best last year. Sacramento increased its steals and defensive turnovers, and lowered opponents' shooting percentages.
WEAKNESS: Offense. Sacramento was 12th in overall offense, shooting just 40.9 percent including 31.7 percent on 3-pointers. Ticha Penicheiro shot 30.2 percent, the third-lowest among players with at least 400 minutes.
SAN ANTONIO SILVER STARS
LAST SEASON: 12-22, 6th.
COACH: Dee Brown, 1st season with team, 16-16 overall.
ADDED: G-F Agnieszka Bibrzycka (free agent); C Mandisa Stevenson (free agent); G Toccara Williams (draft, No. 34, Texas A&M); C-F Jessie Hicks (free agent); G Shannon Johnson (trade, Connecticut); LaToya Thomas (dispersal draft, Cleveland).
LOST: G Jennifer Azzi (retired); F Sylvia Crawley (retired); F LaTonya Johnson (waived); C Tausha Mills (free agent); G-F LaQuanda Quick (free agent).
STRENGTH: Frontcourt. The 7-foot-2 Margo Dydek led the league in blocks for sixth straight season, averaging 2.9 per game, and was ninth in rebounding with 7.4. Gwen Jackson added 6.2 rebounds, and Thomas had 10.8 points and 5.1 rebounds for Cleveland.
WEAKNESS: Shooting. San Antonio was a league-worst 38.3 percent from the field, including just 29.5 percent on 3-pointers. The Silver Stars are hoping Shannon Johnson is the answer. She averaged 12.4 points and 5.8 assists while shooting 43.3 percent for the Sun last season.
SEATTLE STORM
LAST SEASON: 18-16, tied for 4th.
COACH: Anne Donovan, 2nd season with team, 63-67 overall.
ADDED: C Janell Burse (trade, Minnesota); F-G Sheri Sam (trade, Minnesota); F Trina Frierson (draft, No. 19, Louisiana Tech); G Michelle Greco (free agent); G Betty Lennox (dispersal draft, Cleveland).
LOST: G Sandy Brondello (suspended list); F Alisa Burras (free agent); F Amanda Lassiter (trade, Minnesota); G-F Tonya Massaline (waived); C-F Danielle McCulley (waived); F-C Jung Sun-Min (free agent); G Rita Williams (waived).
STRENGTH: Offense. Seattle led league in offensive efficiency, averaging 102.4 points per 100 possessions, and was third in scoring at 70.2 points per game. Lauren Jackson will try to follow up an MVP season in which she averaged a league-leading 21.2 points. Sue Bird was second in the league with 6.5 assists.
WEAKNESS: Consistency. The Storm missed the playoffs despite ranking second in league in scoring differential. That was partly inflated due to four wins by at least 25 points. Seattle lost five straight down the stretch, including three to non-playoff teams.
