2008 WNBA Preview Alex Smart

Just before I get into this team preview of the 2008 WNBA season I would like to say , this sport , has consistently given myself and my clients, a great opportunity to build our bankrolls for the upcoming NFL & CFB seasons.No matter what you think about these gals, and the lack of headlines they make, we have to remember as far as we are concerned, its about making cash, and this league has been very kind to me in that respect , since its inaugural season in 1997.

The WNBA is set to tip off its 12th season as the Phoenix Mercury host the LA Sparks this coming Saturday 17 May, tip off 3.30pm ET. Having lost Charlotte from the league in 2007, the league returns to 14 teams with the introduction of Atlanta.

To help you all out, let's take a quick look at how each team looks heading into the season with recent comings and goings.

Atlanta: Atlanta Dream make their introduction in to WNBA as the expansion franchise, but let's not dream ... Atlanta are going to struggle. Betty Lennox and Ivory Latta are capable scorers, but they take (and miss) a lot of shots. Katie Feenstra is a solid post player, and youngsters Camille Little and rookie Tamera Young should be very solid players in this league, but this team simply doesn't have the talent level yet needed to compete for a playoff spot.

Chicago: The Chicago Sky are in their third season and with it, their third head coach, Steve Key. Bo Overton resigned abruptly in March in one of those situations that was surrounded by innuendo and message board rumors. The Sky has a lot of youthful ability, including the addition of No. 2 overall pick Sylvia Fowles. That addition immediately makes the Sky an improved team from 2007. And given that they finished just two games out of the playoffs, the postseason is definitely within range. With another year under the collective belts of Candice Dupree and 2007 Rookie of the Year Armintie Price, the Sky will be a team that surprises some people in 2008.

Connecticut: Gone from the Suns of last year are perennial All-Stars Katie Douglas (traded to Indiana), Nykesha Sales (injured) and Margo Dydek (just had a baby) and in their places are names like Tamika Whitmore, Amber Holt and Ketia Swanier. With both Asjha Jones and Lindsay Whalen staying over from last season and that coach Mike Thibault has been successful in figuring out different ways to win in his time in the WNBA, Connecticut should at least contend for a playoff spot. How close Connecticut get may well fall on how rookies Holt and Swanier contribute.

Detroit: Bill Laimbeer's bunch won the title in 2006, won the East and were a win away from a second straight in 2007 and haven't lost any of their core players, except for Swin Cash, heading into 2008. Deanna Nolan, Cheryl Ford, Katie Smith and Kara Braxton are all back and hungry for revenge after losing Game 5 of the Finals at home. Ivory Latta and Katie Feenstra are off to Atlanta, but the Shock did add rugged veteran wing Sheri Sam and former No. 1 pick LaToya Thomas to the mix. Also new to the Motor City are first-round picks Alexis Hornbuckle and Tasha Humphrey who just add to the team's already solid depth. Detroit is a team that knows how to win and I expect them to be atop the East.

Houston: The Comets fall into the same bracket as Sacramento - contender or pretender. There's no doubting that Tina Thompson is still among the league's superstars, but she needs some help. Both Michelle Snow and Sancho Lyttle have question marks against their names. In the backcourt, Tamecka Dixon remains a solid scorer, but the truth is, her best days are behind her. The same can be said for Shannon Johnson, whom the Comets snagged off the free agent wire this winter. The Comet's season may come down to how much production Houston can get from both rookie guard Matee Ajavon who has impressed observers this preseason, and last year's first-round pick Ashley Shields.

Indiana: The Fever have been very dependent on Tamika Catchings, not just for her production but also for her winning mentality. Catchings health is still very much in question, but if Catch is deemed healthy, the Fever will be among the East's elite teams. The addition of Katie Douglas is huge to Indiana on both the offensive and defensive ends. In fact, with Tully Bevilaqua joining Douglas on the perimeter, Indiana may have the league's toughest defense. Given the health issues surrounding Catchings, the trio of Tammy Sutton-Brown and youngsters Tan White and Alison Bales will have to take on bigger roles.

Los Angeles: The Sparks won the lottery and selected do-everything superstar F/C/G Candace Parker with the top pick in the draft. The Sparks tied for the worst record in the league last year, but given all their recent additions they appear like the No. 1 team in anyone's book. Coach Michael Cooper's bunch have the WNBA's all-time greatest center, Lisa Leslie who returns to the fold from a year off to have a baby and it wouldn't be a surprise if she had another MVP season and the player many think may eventually supplant her as the best ever. Add DeLisha Milton-Jones, Temeka Johnson and Sidney Spencer, and it's no wonder why all the scribes pick the Sparks as their number one team.

Minnesota: I'm not sure what kind of team the Lynx are trying to build. There are a lot of young players who are promising, but still not proven at a pro level. Candice Wiggins will add some much-needed scoring punch to the Lynx and will complement All-Star Seimone Augustus nicely at the off guard position. But the loss of point guard Lindsey Harding will hurt the Lynx. Noelle Quinn will again adopt the role of floor leader while Nicole Ohlde should be more productive at power forward. It's going to be tough for Minnesota to compete with the rest of the very tough Western Conference.

New York: All five starters return from 2007. Erin Thorn, Shameka Christon, Cathrine Kraayeveld and league MIP Janel McCarville will all strive to improve on last year's improbable playoff run. And with the addition of first-round picks Essence Carson and Erlana Larkins to the mix, along with the continued development of Jessica Davenport and Tiffany Jackson, they look to be building something big in the Big Apple.

Phoenix: Paul Westhead is gone as head coach - his shoes being filled by Corey Gaines. Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter both come off huge winters overseas, but the loss of Penny Taylor until after the Olympics could prove the difference from being crowned champions again. Free agent signings Le'Coe Willingham and Barbara Farris, along with Tangela Smith will help fill the void in the post. Look for Dee and CP to be even more involved on the offensive side of things, but defense is still huge in the WNBA. They'll have to hold down the fort until Penny returns - but that may prove to be to late.

Sacramento: The loss of legendary center Yolanda Griffith and given young forward DeMya Walker who missed virtually all of last season, suffered another knee injury recently that will keep her out this year put the Monarchs in a hole. Sacramento's season and being in the playoff mix fall on their experienced players such as Ticha Penicheiro, Nicole Powell, Rebekkah Brunson and Kara Lawson. Rebekkah Brunson has the skills to be a bona fide star and Nicole Powell returns to help her out on the wing. First-round pick Laura Harper may get an early baptism as a starting post player. Some observers see the Monarchs as contenders once again, while others don't. My view is with the later.

San Antonio: It was a surprise to see how quickly the Silver Stars gelled last year having had so many changes in playing personnel. Becky Hammon returns to lead the way, while former teammate in New York, Ann Wauters, returns from overseas to join the squad. With a healthy Erin Buescher, this is a team that seems likely to contend for a playoff spot or maybe even the West title. San Antonio have the right mix of veterans and young players who are not necessarily the league's greatest talents but have a lot of skill and the ability to have big games when needed.

Seattle: This is the team that made the most significant changes in the offseason and will be one of the more intriguing teams in the league this year. Under different ownership and separated from the SuperSonics, the Storm have new components who are old hands in the WNBA. Sheryl Swoopes, Swin Cash and Yolanda Griffith were all added to the payroll to already included stars Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird. The Storm's chances of making the playoffs depends on their veteran's staying healthy for the whole season.

Washington: In short, the Mystics didn't make the moves that their Eastern rivals did this offseason and this may well hamper them in their quest for a playoff berth. Washington traded DeLisha Milton-Jones to L.A. for 37-year old Taj McWilliams-Franklin who should be able to add some rebounding and defense to the less-than-powerful front line. All-Star Alana Beard will likely be heading to Beijing to join the Olympic Team if she remains healthy and with the loss of Nikki Teasley at point, leaving the only other experienced interior player the Mystics have in Nakia Sanford, scoring may become a big issue for the Mystics.