SPARKS PREVIEW: SPARKS OPEN IN HOUSTON.Byline: Daily News What better way for the Women's National Basketball Association The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is an organization governing a professional basketball league for women in the United States. The league was formed in 1996 as the women's counterpart to the NBA. to kick off its fifth season than a rematch of two of the showcase teams. But that's the offering today when the Los Angeles Sparks The Los Angeles Sparks are a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1997, they are one of the 8 original WNBA teams and were one of the teams that participated in the league's inaugural game. and 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 , who met in the Western Conference finals last season, meet. The Sparks enter the Compaq Center Compaq Center may refer to:
WNBA World Ninepin Bowling Association WNBA Wannabe Nasty Boys Association WNBA Women's National Book Association, Inc. WNBA Warszawski Nurt Basketu Amatorskiego champion Comets receive their championship rings again. It will be a different game, though. Houston is without Sheryl Swoopes, the league's MVP (Multimedia Video Processor) A high-speed DSP chip from Texas Instruments, introduced in 1994. Officially introduced as the TMS320C80, it combines RISC technology with the functionality of four DSPs on one chip. who is out for the season after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament anterior cruciate ligament n. Abbr. ACL The cruciate ligament of the knee that crosses from the anterior intercondylar area of the tibia to the posterior part of the lateral condyle of the femur. in training camp, and Cynthia Cooper, who retired to become head coach of the Phoenix Mercury. ``It's amazing to me that every time we go down there something emotional is happening,'' said Sparks coach Michael Cooper, the former Laker whose team had the best regular-season record in the WNBA at 28-4. ``They always have their fans going and so we have to go down there and fight a lot of elements.'' The Sparks are as disappointed as Houston coach Van Chancellor that Swoopes is injured and Cooper is no longer a member of the Comets. In the absence of Cooper and Swoopes, forward Tina Thompson is the team's top threat. Thompson averaged 16.9 points and 7.7 rebounds last season. The team's backcourt features guard Janeth Arcain, who played a key role in eliminating the Sparks in the finals last year, and Amanda Lassiter, a draftee from Missouri. SPARKS vs. HOUSTON Time: Noon, at Compaq Center TV: Ch. 4 Matchup: The Comets finally enter a WNBA season without expectations of winning the championship. Cynthia Cooper has retired to coach the Phoenix Mercury and Sheryl Swoopes will miss the entire season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. That's 47 percent of Houston's offense from last year, when it won its fourth consecutive title. The Sparks are looking to build on their WNBA-best 28-4 record last year in coach Michael Cooper's first season. And what better way than with an opening-day statement that serves as a rematch of last year's Western Conference finals. Lisa Leslie (6- foot-5) is back to lead the Sparks from the post position. But with a bevy bevy a flock of birds. of help in the frontcourt allowing her to roam on the perimeter, as well as the retirement of Cooper and absence of Swoopes, Leslie is expected to carry the Sparks to the title. CAPTION(S): box Box: SPARKS vs. HOUSTON (see text) |
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