Was Marlies Askamp worth trading three first-round picks? Miami thought so and it acquired the versatile center for a heavy price tag to begin its expansion season. But she may have to carry this depleted team alone, especially since center Elena Baranova -- one the WNBA's original 16 players -- suffered a knee injury while playing overseas and is lost for the season.

The Sol should have kept some of their picks, something that figures to hurt the team as the season progresses. They did use their two picks wisely, however, by selecting Jameka Jones and Milena Flores, both of whom could become immediate impact players in the backcourt. After that, the talent pool is small and the remaining players were either unproductive last year or rode the bench.

The basics

Coach: Ron Rothstein, first year, former Heat and Pistons head coach

1999 finish: Expansion team

Arena: AmericanAirlines Arena

Average home attendance: Expansion team

Story Lines

Already a young team, the Sol will be without two veterans for the entire season. All-Star Sandy Brondello, who started all 32 of the Shock's games last season, will be preparing to play in the Olympics for Australia. And 6-5 center Elena Baranova tore her ACL.

As an expansion team, Miami must find starters for all five positions, but the most crucial of those may be the point guard position. Rothstein has three very different players to choose from: 33-year-old and 13-year veteran Debbie Black, rookie Milena Flores of Stanford and vocal leader and veteran Nadine Domond.

Players to watch

Umeki Webb: After starting all 30 games for the Phoenix Mercury in 1998, the 5-foot-10 guard was release last year. Known primarily as a defensive player, Webb has been focusing on improving her jumpshot.

Nevriye Yilmaz: The 6-4 center from Turkey has averaged double figures playing overseas, but has yet to prove herself in the WNBA.

Marlies Askamp: Expected to start at center, the 6-5 German joins the team late after finishing up the European season. She averaged 9.5 points for the Mercury last season.

Games to watch

June 1 vs. Indiana, 8 p.m.: Expansion team versus expansion team

June 21 at Washington, 7 p.m.: Sol could play in front of its largest crowd all year, as the Mystics lead the league in home attendance.

July 5 at Charlotte, 7 p.m.: With a month under its belts, Miami test themselves against one of the best teams in the East.

What you didn't know

Ron Rothstein finds himself in very familiar surroundings in Miami. In July of 1988 Rothstein was named the coach of another Miami expansion team - the NBA's Heat. He spent three years as the Heat's coach before returning to Detroit.

Sports Ticker contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2001 CNN/Sports Illustrated An AOL Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines.