SPARKS WILL HAVE TO EARN 3RD TITLE WNBA TEAMS APPEAR STRONGER ACROSS BOARD.Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer The Sparks had two distinct story lines play out during their past two 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 championship seasons. In 2001, the question was whether they could win their first title, after 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 won the league's first four. Last season, the question was how dominant the Sparks could be. Coach Michael Cooper As the Sparks prepare for their back-to-back title defense and tip off their season Saturday on the road against the Connecticut Sun The Connecticut Sun are a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Uncasville, Connecticut. They began to play in the 2003 WNBA season. The Sun was the first WNBA franchise not to be owned by an NBA owner; the team is owned by the Mohegan Indian tribe. , the big question is whether the Sparks can three-peat, even though the league's talent level has increased with the loss of two teams. Cooper hasn't set any bold goals, but he does see a tough road ahead toward a third consecutive title. ``We expect every team to be better this year,'' Cooper said. ``And there aren't going to be any easy games. I think if we win this one, or whoever wins this one, it will mean a lot because of how good the league has gotten.'' The Sparks' roster is similar to last season, with just a few minor changes. The starters - Lisa Leslie She studied biology and chemistry at the Massamba School in Kinshasa. , Tamecka Dixon and Nikki Teasley - all are back. Leslie is arguably the top player in the WNBA. Her scoring dipped last season from 19.5 points per game to 16.9, and she was edged out in 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. voting by Sheryl Swoopes. But Leslie remains the league's all-time leading scorer, and because of her 6-foot-5 size and well-rounded skills, many consider her the league's premier player. The Sparks star concurs with Cooper that this championship will be the team's most difficult. ``We saw how hard it was for the Lakers to three-peat,'' Leslie said. ``Sacramento pushed them to the limit, and we feel like we're going to face that same type of response this year. It's not going to be easy.'' As the WNBA signed a new contract with its players and created the first free-agency system in women's professional sports Professional athletes are distinguished from amateur athletes because they're paid. Women's professional sports leagues are relatively new and most common in very economically developed countries, where investors are available to buy teams, and businesses can afford to sponsor them , Sparks general manager Penny Toler took advantage by signing Jennifer Gillom, the league's second-all-time leading scorer. Gillom spent the past six seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, and although she will turn 39 next month, she is expected to give the Sparks another scoring weapon. Around the league, the most intriguing addition is 40-year-old Cynthia Cooper, who rejoins Houston. Cooper had a stint coaching the Mercury, and she is reunited with Swoopes and Tina Thompson to give the Comets the look they had when they won their four championships. CAPTION(S): 5 boxes Box: (1) NUMBERS GAME (2) SPARKS ROSTER (3) SPARKS SCHEDULE TEAM-BY-TEAM CAPSULES (4) WEST (5) EAST - Joe Stevens |
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