CHAMPS' BRAVADO SPARKS REACTION L.A. COACH CALLS FOR UNDEFEATED SEASON.Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer The Sparks already have drawn the ire of the WNBA WNBA Women's National Basketball Association WNBA World Ninepin Bowling Association WNBA Wannabe Nasty Boys Association WNBA Women's National Book Association, Inc. WNBA Warszawski Nurt Basketu Amatorskiego . They plan to go undefeated. The Sparks open the season today at noon against New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of . And, for the first time in league history, a team other than the Houston Comets The Houston Comets are a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas. Formed in 1997, the team is one of the original WNBA teams and after winning four championships in the first four years of the league's existence, the Comets are also the first dynasty of will be the defending champion defending champion n (SPORT) → defensor/a m/f del tÃtulo defending champion n (Sport) → champion(ne) en titre . Coach Michael Cooper ``It's not far-fetched,'' said Cooper, whose team was 34-5 last season, including the playoffs. ``It's not cocky. It's a statement I feel very confident about making. Why not make that statement?'' The Sparks are better as well. Last year, Lisa Leslie Leslie, a 6-foot-5 center, averaged 19.5 points and 9.6 rebounds and said her game is improved, having tweaked her shooting with her left hand and ball handling. The real challenge for Leslie and the team is how they'll handle their new position as defending champs. She hopes they emulate the Comets. ``Once you win a championship, I can see why you learn how you keep winning them,'' Leslie said. ``We have our hands full because now there's more than one team that knows how to win championships. And there's a lot more teams that are hungry to win one. Everybody's clawing and everybody's coming. It's a loose ball right now.'' Leslie's supporting cast of Tamecka Dixon, DeLisha Milton and Mwadi Mabika Mwadi Mabika (born July 27, 1976 in Kinshasa, Zaire (present Democratic Republic of the Congo)) is a Congolese basketball player and an All-Star in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She studied biology and chemistry at the Massamba School in Kinshasa. all are back, and all are expected to be improved individually. Milton, for example, worked on her outside shooting. ``If they're doubling Lisa, they're going to make the other players hit shots,'' Milton said. ``And I'm going to knock them down.'' In addition, there's rookie Nikki Teasley and veteran guard Sophia Witherspoon. The duo came to the Sparks on draft day for last year's starting point guard, Ukari Figgs, and second-round pick Gergana Slavtcheva. Teasley is expected to start at point guard despite some struggles in training camp. Cooper even evoked Magic Johnson's name when describing her play and athleticism. But the former North Carolina North Carolina, state in the SE United States. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean (E), South Carolina and Georgia (S), Tennessee (W), and Virginia (N). Facts and Figures Area, 52,586 sq mi (136,198 sq km). Pop. star must become comfortable with the professional game. ``She looks much better than most rookies,'' Cooper said. ``She has to figure out when her teammates want the ball and where they want the ball. She's never really been pushed in her workouts this hard. And she's learning how to push herself when she is fatigued or when she has injuries.'' SPARKS vs. NEW YORK Tipoff: Noon at Staples Center. TV/Radio: Channel 4; no radio. Sparks (0-0) update: The Sparks embark on their 2002 season with hopes of repeating as WNBA champions. They will play a similar fast-paced tempo as last season and will be led by last season's MVP, Lisa Leslie. They will have a one new look with rookie Nikki Teasley starting at point guard. Sparks coach Michael Cooper is so impressed with his squad that he set a goal to go undefeated, 32-0, this season. Liberty (0-0) update: New York's team looks much like last year: strong guards and weaknesses inside. It has a veteran squad, led by guard Teresa Weatherspoon. Last season, it lost to the Charlotte Sting in the Eastern Conference finals. It likely will battle with Charlotte and Cleveland for the East title this year. - Joe Stevens CAPTION(S): 2 boxes Box: (1) 2002 SPARKS SCHEDULE (2) SPARKS vs. NEW YORK (see text) |
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