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1999 WNBA Preview: Western Conference
Houston remains the best in the West
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Dydek can soar inside, but Utah
needs shooting stars to improve its prospects.
Jogn W. McDonough |
Teams are listed in predicted order of finish.(the top three
teams in each conference make the
playoffs.)
Western Conference
Eastern Conference
HOUSTON COMETS
1998 Record: 27-3, WNBA
Champs
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 Natalia Zassoulskaia (Russia), G Sonja Henning (ABL's Portland
Power)
Bottom Line: Henning and Jennifer Rizzoti (ABL's New England Blizzard) will take
over for point guard Kim Perrot, who is battling cancer. Zassoulskaia and C Kara
Wolters (Blizzard) will provide depth for the Comets, still favored to win the
title, especially if Cooper has another MVP
year.
PHOENIX
MERCURY
1998 Record: 19-11, WNBA
Runners-Up
Coach: Cheryl Miller (Third Season With
Phoenix)
Top Returning Players: F-C Jennifer Gillom (20.8 ppg), G Michele Timms (5.3
apg), G Bridget Pettis (11.3
ppg)
Key Newcomers: G Edna Campbell (ABL's Xplosion), F Clarissa Davis-Wrightsil
(ABL's
Lasers)
Bottom Line: Miller added more players who fit her up-tempo style, and the
Mercury, a shoo-in for the No. 2 playoff spot, has inched even closer to
Houston.
SACRAMENTO
MONARCHS
1998 Record:
8-22
Coach: Sonny Allen (First Season With
Sacramento)
Top Returning Players: G Ticha Penicheiro (league-high 7.5 apg), G Latasha
Byears (14.2
ppg)
Key Newcomers: F-C Yolanda Griffith (ABL's Chicago Condors), G Kedra
Holland-Corn (ABL's
Lasers)
Bottom Line: With a great draft, Sacramento has the talent to make the biggest
jump in the standings, particularly if G Ruthie Bolton-Holifield returns to form
after her knee
injury.
MINNESOTA
LYNX
Expansion
Team
Coach: Brian
Agler
Top Players: G Kristen Folkl (Stanford), G Katie Smith (ABL's Quest),
G Tonya Edwards (Quest), G-F Trisha Fallon
(Italy)
Bottom Line: Five members of two-time ABL champion Columbus rejoin coach Agler
for another run at the top. They won't make the playoffs in this league just
yet, but their built-in chemistry should bring home a .500
record.
LOS ANGELES
SPARKS
1998 Record:
12-18
Coach: Orlando Woolridge (First Season With Los
Angeles)
Top Returning Players: C Lisa Leslie (19.6 ppg, league-high 10.2 rpg), G Penny
Toler (12.3 ppg, 4.8 apg), G Tamecka Dixon (16.2
ppg)
Key Newcomers: F DeLisha Milton (ABL's Power), C Clarisse Machanguana (ABL's
Lasers)
Bottom Line: The Sparks didn't address their primary need in the draft -- they
still don't have a bona fide point guard -- and are therefore headed for
another underachieving
season.
UTAH
STARZZ
1998 Record:
8-22
Coach: Frank Layden (Second Season With
Utah)
Top Returning Players: F Wendy Palmer (13.5 ppg), C Margo Dydek (league-high 3.8
blocks per game), C Elena Baranova (9.3
rpg)
Key Newcomers: C Natalie Williams (ABL's Power), G Debbie Black (ABL's
Xplosion)
Bottom Line: The young Starzz got older in a hurry with Black, a 32-year-old
vocal leader, and 1997-98 ABL MVP Williams, 28. But Utah needs to shore up its
perimeter game before it can contend in this tough
conference.
Eastern Conference
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