HOUSTON COMETS The two-time defending WNBA champions Comets will find the road to the finals a little bit harder this year. With the addition of talent from the ABL spread throughout the WNBA, Houston is not necessarily the favorite to win a third crown. "I don't think that there is any doubt that everybody else has closed the gap on us talent-wise," coach Van Chancellor said. "And everybody in this league is so much better. The games are going to be so much closer. Yes, I think it's going to be a severe challenge. One is us working through a point-guard situation and everybody's chemistry. There's a great talent level improvement in the league." The Comets had the final pick in each of the first three rounds of the 1999 draft and still managed to land two national college players of the year in Kara Wolters and Jennifer Rizzotti. Both played for the ABL's New England Blizzard and were members of the Connecticut's 1995 undefeated national championship team. Houston selected Russian forward Natalia Zassoulskaia with its first pick and Sonja Henning, formerly with the ABL's Portland Power, as the second pick. Rizzotti and Henning will compete for the guard spot vacated by Kim Perrot. In the offseason Perrot was diagnosed with lung cancer and had surgery to remove a brain tumor. SI for Women's bottom line: Henning and Jennifer Rizzoti (ABL's New England Blizzard) will take over for point guard Kim Perrot, who is battling cancer. Zassulskaia and C Kara Wolters (Blizzard) will provide depth for the Comets, still favored to win the title, especially if Cooper has another MVP year. ROSTER No. 9 14 4   23 40 10     00   22 29 7 15 13 52 50 Name Janeth Arcain Cynthia Cooper Wanda Guyton Sonja Henning Tammy Jackson Monica Lamb Kim Perrot Roshonda Reed Jennifer Rizzoti Nyree Roberts LaCharlotte Smith Sheryl Swoopes Atlanta Tasouli Tina Thompson Polina Tzekova Amaya Valdemoro Kara Wolters N. Zasulskaya Pos. F G F G F C G G G C G F G F C F C F HT 5-11 5-10 6-1 5-7 6-2 6-5 5-5 6-0 5-6 6-3 5-7 6-0 5-10 6-2 6-4 6-1 6-7 6-3

SCHEDULE Jun. 10 -- at Orlando, 8 p.m. Jun. 12 -- Washington, 4 p.m. Jun. 17 -- Utah, 8:30 p.m. Jun. 19 -- at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Jun. 22 -- Los Angeles, 8 p.m. Jun. 24 -- at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. Jun. 25 -- at Washington, 7 p.m. Jun. 30 -- at Utah, 9 p.m. Jun. 28 -- Orlando, 8:30 p.m. Jul. 1 -- Cleveland, 8:30 p.m. Jul. 3 -- New York, 2 p.m. Jul. 6 -- Minnesota, 8:30 p.m. Jul. 8 -- at Sacramento, 10 p.m. Jul. 9 -- at Phoenix, 8 p.m. Jul. 11 -- Sacramento, 8 p.m. Jul. 16 -- at Utah, 9 p.m. Jul. 18 -- at Los Angeles, 8:30 p.m. Jul. 19 -- at Phoenix, 8 p.m. Jul. 23 -- at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m. Jul. 25 -- at Minnesota, 6 p.m. Jul. 27 -- Detroit, 8:30 p.m. Jul. 29 -- at Cleveland, 12 p.m. Jul. 31 -- Phoenix, 4 p.m. Aug. 2 -- Sacramento, 8:30 p.m. Aug. 6 -- Charlotte, 8:30 p.m. Aug. 8 -- at New York, 4 p.m. Aug. 12 -- Los Angeles, 8:30 p.m. Aug. 14 -- Minnesota, 4 p.m. Aug. 16 -- Utah, 8 p.m. Aug. 18 -- Phoenix, 8:30 p.m. Aug. 20 -- at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m. Aug. 21 -- at Sacramento, 10 p.m. Coach: Van Chancellor (third season with Houston) Top returning players: G Cynthia Cooper (league-high 22.7 ppg), F Sheryl Swoopes (15.6 ppg), F Tina Thompson (7.1 rpg) Key newcomers: F Natalie Zassoulskaia (Russia), G Sonja Henning (ABL's Portland Power). 1998 record and finish: 27-2, first in Western Arena: The Compaq Center Average home attendance: 12,602 Colors: Red and blue