WNBA Breakdown: EASTERN CONFERENCE

By Vin A. Cherwoo,
AP Sports
Team-by-team look at the WNBA, which tips off its 11th season this weekend (teams listed in alphabetical order):

Western Conference Breakdown | WNBA Main


EASTERN CONFERENCE

CHICAGO SKY
2006: 5-29, 7th place
Coach:Bo Overton, 1st season

Key Additions: F Monique Currie (dispersal draft, Charlotte); G Armintie Price (draft, No. 3 overall, Mississippi); F Carla Thomas (draft, No. 10, Vanderbilt); G Dominique Canty (free agent, Houston); F Kayte Christensen (free agent, Phoenix).
Key Losses: G Chelsea Newton (trade, Sacramento).
Strengths: Frontcourt. Candice Dupree will be looking to build on her strong rookie campaign, when the All-Star forward averaged a team-high 13.7 points. Currie, third overall pick in the 2006 draft, averaged 10.0 points, 2.6 assists and 3.9 rebounds for the Sting last season. Canty brings some veteran leadership to the young Sky, but is coming off an injury-shortened season with the Comets in which she averaged career highs of 10.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 51 percent field-goal shooting in 15 games. Canty likely will be paired in the backcourt with rookie Price.
Weaknesses: Chemistry, experience. Chicago set the WNBA record for losses in its inaugural season, finishing last in the league in scoring, field-goal shooting, 3-point percentage and free throws. The Sky were also last in field-goal shooting defense and third worst in scoring defense. A new coach also means time to adjust to a new system.

CONNECTICUT SUN
2006:26-8, 1st; lost to Detroit in conference finals.
Coach:Mike Thibault, fifth season, 88-48.

Key Additions: C Kristen Rasmussen (free agent, Phoenix); F Kamesha Hairston (draft, No. 12, Temple); G Cori Chambers (draft, No. 26, Georgia); G Kiera Hardy (draft, No. 39, Nebraska).
Key Losses: F Taj McWilliams-Franklin (trade, Los Angeles); G Erin Phillips (torn ACL in right knee).
Strengths: Chemistry and experience. The Sun return largely the same nucleus that has played together since 2004. Connecticut finished with league-best 26 wins for the second straight season before falling short of a third straight trip to the finals. Connecticut starts four All-Stars - Lindsay Whalen (10.0 points and 4.8 assists in three-year career), Katie Douglas (16.4 points, franchise-record 73 3-pointers and career-high 62 steals in 2006), Nykesha Sales (13.0 points and 2.7 assists in 22 games) and Margo Dydek.
Weaknesses: Depth. Asjha Jones likely will replace McWilliams-Franklin in the starting lineup and the Sun will need to replace Phillips as well. Rasmussen, Jamie Carey and Megan Mahoney will need to provide valuable minutes as reserves. Despite a star-laden starting lineup, Connecticut has been slowed by injuries down the stretch and postseason the last two years.

DETROIT SHOCK
2006: 23-11., 2nd; beat Sacramento 3-2 to win championship.
Coach:Bill Laimbeer, sixth season, 90-68.

Key Additions: G Shannon Johnson (free agent, San Antonio); C Katie Feenstra (trade, San Antonio); G Ivory Latta (draft, No. 11, North Carolina).
Key Losses: G Kedra Holland-Corn (retirement); C Ruth Riley (trade, San Antonio).
Strengths: Experience, depth. Coming off their second championship in four years, the Shock return the core of the team intact. Detroit led the league in rebounding (37.8 per game) and blocks. Cheryl Ford (13.8 points) was the league's only player to average double digits in rebounding (11.3). The veteran Riley was dealt to San Antonio for third-year center Feenstra, who should continue to improve on a veteran-laden team. Johnson, a starter her entire career, will come off the bench for the Shock.
Weaknesses: Consistency. Detroit has the balanced talent to contend for the title every year, but is hampered by a lack of consistent play. Still, the Shock became the first team to win multiple championships without doing so in consecutive seasons. The Shock were seventh in the league in scoring (74.3 points), ninth in field-goal shooting (41.4 percent) and 13th in 3-pointers made (136) and steals (6.3 per game). A little improvement in these categories could result in the team's third title.

INDIANA FEVER
2006: 21-13, 3rd; lost to Detroit 2-0 in conference semifinals.
Coach:Brian Winters, fourth season, 57-45.

Key Additions: C Tammy Sutton-Brown (free agent, Charlotte); G Sheri Sam (dispersal draft, Charlotte); C Alison Bales (draft, No. 9, Duke).
Key Losses: F La'Tangela Atkinson (trade, Sacramento); F Olympia Scott (trade, Phoenix); F Charlotte Smith (retirement);
Strengths: Chemistry. The entire starting lineup is back, led by All-Star Tamika Catchings - the team's perennial leader in scoring (16.3 points), rebounds (7.5), assists (3.7), and steals (2.9). Veteran forward Tamika Whitmore is back for a second season with Indiana after averaging 15.5 points and 4.9 rebounds. Anna DeForge (10.2 points and 4.3 rebounds) and Tully Bevilaqua (6.6 points, 2.3 assists and 2.1 steals) anchor the backcourt. Center Ebony Hoffman will be looking to build on career highs of 6.4 points and 5.7 rebounds).
Weaknesses: Offensive balance. Despite the career season from Whitmore, the offense is too reliant on Catchings. Indiana bolstered its presence inside with the additions of veteran Sutton-Brown (11.2 points and 5.9 rebounds with Charlotte) and rookie Bales. Sam (10.6 points and 4.4 rebounds) should help reserves Tan White and K.B. Sharp in the backcourt.

NEW YORK LIBERTY
2006: 11-23, 6th.
Coach:Pat Coyle, 4th season, 40-46.

Key Additions: C Jessica Davenport (draft-day trade, San Antonio; No. 2, Ohio State); F Tiffany Jackson (draft, No. 5, Texas); G Shay Doron (draft, No. 16, Maryland); F Janel McCarville (dispersal draft, Charlotte).
Key Losses: G Becky Hammon (trade, San Antonio); C Kelly Schumacher (trade, Phoenix).
Strengths: Perimeter shooting. Although the Liberty have no starters remaining from the 2005 season, some strong 3-point shooters still remain, including Erin Thorn (43 percent in 2006), Cathrine Kraayeveld (33 percent) and Shameka Christon (33 percent). Doron shot 34 percent on 3s as a senior at Maryland. New York, which finished second to last in the league in rebounding (30.0 per game), addressed its weakness inside by adding Davenport, Jackson and McCarville.
Weaknesses: Inexperience, chemistry. Other than Barbara Farris (eighth season), Thorn (fifth) and Christon (fourth), none of the other players has more than two years of experience in the league. Davenport will start in the middle, with Jackson, McCarville and Farris- who started 33 games in her first season with the Liberty - serving as reserves. New York also finished 13th in scoring (69.8) and field goals made (822), and could struggle again while the young players gain experience.

"WASHINGTON MYSTICS
2006: 18-16, 4th.
Coach:Richie Adubato, 3rd season with team, 134-112 overall

Key Additions: F Bernice Mosby (draft, No. 6, Baylor); F Teana Miller (dispersal draft, Charlotte).
Key Losses: F LaTasha Byears (free agent, Houston);
Strengths: Offense. The Mystics led the league in field-goal shooting (46 percent) and were second in scoring (80.8 points) and 3-point percentage (35.8). Alana Beard (19.2 points) led four double-figure scorers for Washington, followed by DeLisha Milton-Jones (14.6 in 23 games), Chasity Melvin (11.9) and Nikki Teasley (10.7). Melvin was tops in rebounding (6.6) and Teasley led the league with 5.4 assists.
Weaknesses: Defense. Washington was 10th in the league in scoring defense (78.2 points) and rebounding (32.4) and tied for eighth in blocks (3.32) and opponents' field-goal shooting (43.2 percent). The Mystics also struggled away from the Verizon Center, totaling just five road wins. Without any major personnel changes, the Mystics could falter if faced with a major injury, such as the one that forced Milton-Jones to miss 11 games. Washington was 4-7 in her absence.

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