DETROIT SHOCK The makeup of the Shock changed greatly after the 1999 draft. Detroit landed a veteran guard in Jennifer Azzi. Azzi, one of the game's bigger names, was a star at Stanford and a gold medalist in the 1996 Olympics. "We went from a veteran team to a young, athletic team after the draft," coach Nancy Lieberman-Cline said. But with the added talent comes greater expectations for the Shock, which finished fourth in the Eastern Conference last season. "We exceeded expectations so much last year that the bar has been raised," Lieberman-Cline said. "If we don't win 17 or 18 games people will be like 'What happened to the Shock'?" Azzi will teamed with another former Stanford player, draft pick Val Whiting. Whiting, 6-foot-2, should give Detroit some needed experience down low. Lieberman-Cline also drafted Alabama star Dominique Canty. Approximately half the Shock's roster is international players -- which is just fine with Lieberman-Cline. "There is a certain maturity level you find with the international players," Lieberman-Cline said. "They catch on so quick. I'm standing on the sidelines with an English-to-Portuguese dictionary, and they look over at me and say 'Coach, we know'." SI for Women's bottom line: In the draft the Shock picked up two productive veterans in Azzi and Whiting and two talented young players in G-F Dominique Canty and F-C Astou Ndiaye. After just missing the playoffs last year, Detroit will challenge Charlotte for the conference title in 1999. ROSTER No. 40 50   12 34 12 6 14       7 20     11 4         Name Tajama Abraham Natasha Anderson Jennifer Azzi Laura Baker Gergana Branzova Razija Brcaninovic Sandy Brondello Cindy Brown Lesley Brown Dominique Canty Latasha Dorsey Korie Hlede Aneta Kausaite C. Maria das Neves Astou Ndiaye Carla Porter Rachael Sporn Elena Thornikidou Val Whiting O. Zakauluzhnaya Pos. C F G G F C G F F G G G F G F F F F C C HT 6-2 6-0 5-8 5-8 6-4 6-8 5-7 6-2 6-0 5-10 5-7 5-9 6-0 5-7 6-3 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-2 6-7

SCHEDULE Jun. 12 -- at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Jun. 14 -- at Cleveland, 7 p.m. Jun. 17 -- Orlando, 7:30 p.m. Jun. 18 -- at Washington, 7 p.m. Jun. 20 -- at New York, 4 p.m. Jun. 22 -- Charlotte, 7:30 p.m. Jun. 24 -- Houston, 7:30 p.m. Jun. 26 -- Phoenix, 4 p.m. Jun. 28 -- New York, 7:30 p.m. Jul. 2 -- Los Angeles, 7:30 p.m. Jul. 4 -- Sacramento, 7:30 Jul. 6 -- at Utah, 9 p.m. Jul. 10 -- Washington, 1 p.m. Jul. 12 -- at Orlando, 12:30 p.m. Jul. 16 -- at Washington, 7 p.m. Jul. 17 -- Cleveland, 7:30 p.m. Jul. 21 -- Utah, 12 p.m. Jul. 23 -- at Cleveland, 7 p.m. Jul. 25 -- Charlotte, 5 p.m. Jul. 27 -- at Houston, 8:30 p.m. Jul. 28 -- at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m. Jul. 31 -- Cleveland, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2 -- Washington, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4 -- Minnesota, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 6 -- at Sacramento, 10 p.m. Aug. 9 -- at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m. Aug. 11 -- at Phoenix, 10 p.m. Aug. 13 -- New York, 8 p.m. Aug. 15 -- at New York, 4 p.m. Aug. 18 -- at Orlando, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 20 -- at Charlotte, 8 p.m. Aug. 21 -- Orlando, 7:30 p.m. Coach: Nancy Lieberman-Cline (second season with Detroit) Top returning players: G Korie Hlede (14.1 ppg), F Cindy Brown (10.0 rebounds per game) Key newcomers: G Jennifer Azzi (ABL's San Jose Lasers), center Val Whiting (ABL's Seattle Reign) 1998 record and finish: 17-13, fourth in Eastern Arena: The Palace at Auburn Hills Average attendance: 10,229 Colors: Red and yellow