WESTERN CONFERENCE
MINNESOTA LYNX
2013: 26-8, 1st; beat Seattle 2-0 in conference semifinals; beat Phoenix 2-0 in conference finals; beat Atlanta 3-0 in WNBA Finals.
COACH: Cheryl Reeve, 5th season.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Lindsay Whalen (14.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 5.8 apg), G Seimone Augustus (16.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.5 apg), F Maya Moore (18.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.0 apg), F Rebekkah Brunson (10.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 1.5 apg), C Janel McCarville (6.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.9 apg).
KEY ADDITIONS: None.
KEY LOSSES: None.
OUTLOOK: Minnesota basically didn’t make any key roster moves and has had three trips to the finals in the past three seasons - winning two championships. Despite injuries to Brunson, Monica Wright and Devereaux Peters, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Lynx in the finals again. Moore has put up MVP numbers over the past few seasons despite not winning the award.
___
LOS ANGELES SPARKS
2013: 24-10, 2nd place; lost to Phoenix 2-1 in conference semifinals.
COACH: Carol Ross, 2nd season.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Lindsey Harding (10.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 5.2 apg), G Kristi Toliver (14.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.4 apg), G Alana Beard (6.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.4 apg), F Nneka Ogwumike (14.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.3 apg), F Candace Parker (17.9 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 3.8 apg).
KEY ADDITIONS: G Candice Wiggins (free agent, Shock).
KEY LOSSES: F Marissa Coleman (free agent, Fever).
OUTLOOK: The biggest news coming out of Los Angeles this offseason was a change in ownership. With a group led by Magic Johnson now in charge, the Sparks are looking for a bright future and hope to win their first championship since 2002. The Sparks have the reigning MVP in Parker, who is one of the league’s most unique talents. They were a basket away from getting past Phoenix last season in the conference semis.
___
PHOENIX MERCURY
2013: 19-15, 3rd place; beat Los Angeles 2-1 in conference semifinals; lost to Minnesota 2-0 in conference finals.
COACH: Sandy Brondello, 1st season.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Diana Taurasi (20.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 6.2 apg), G Penny Taylor (8.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.7 apg), F Candice Dupree (15.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.9 apg), F DeWanna Bonner (14.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.4 apg), C Brittney Griner (12.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.0 apg).
KEY ADDITIONS: G Erin Phillips (trade, Fever), F Mistie Bass (free agent, Sun).
KEY LOSSES: F Lynetta Kizer (trade, Fever).
OUTLOOK: One of the most talented starting lineups in the league led by Taurasi when everyone is healthy. Griner and Taylor missed time last year because of injuries. The 6-foot-8 Griner is primed to make a big jump in her second season. The Mercury added depth with Phillips and Bass and will try and find a way to advance out of the Western Conference.
___
SEATTLE STORM
2013: 17-17, 4th place; lost to Minnesota 2-0 in conference semifinals.
COACH: Brian Agler, 6th season.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Sue Bird (DNP-Injury), G Tanisha Wright (11.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 4.1 apg), F Shekinna Stricklen (10.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 0.8 apg), F Crystal Langhorne (12.0 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.1 apg), F Camille Little (10.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.4 apg).
KEY ADDITIONS: F Crystal Langhorne (trade, Mystics), G Jenna O’Hea (trade, Sparks).
KEY LOSSES: F Tina Thompson (retirement).
OUTLOOK: Seattle surprised many people by making the playoffs last season despite Bird and Lauren Jackson missing the season. Bird’s back but Jackson’s still out for the year because of an injury and training for the world championship. Agler gets the most out of his talent and making it back to the playoffs again wouldn’t be a surprise.
___
SAN ANTONIO STARS
2013: 12-22, 5th place.
COACH: Dan Hughes, 8th season.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Becky Hammon (2 ppg, 1 rpg, 1 apg), G Danielle Robinson (11.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 6.7 apg), G Kayla McBride (Rookie), F Sophia Young-Malcolm (DNP-Injury), F C Danielle Adams (14.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.2 apg)
KEY ADDITIONS: G McBride (draft, No. 3).
KEY LOSSES: None.
OUTLOOK: The Stars season was derailed early on when both Hammon and Young-Malcolm were lost to injuries for the year. With both players back, as well as the addition of McBride, the Stars are poised to make a run to the playoffs. San Antonio also made news in the offseason changing its nickname to just Stars.
___
TULSA SHOCK
2013: 11-23, 6th place.
COACH: Fred Williams, 1st season.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Skylar Diggins (8.5 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 3.8 apg), G Odyssey Sims (DNP-Rookie), G Riquna Williams (15.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.8 apg), F Glory Johnson (15.0 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 1.1 apg), C Courtney Paris (3.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 0.5 apg).
KEY ADDITIONS: G Sims (draft, No. 2), G Jordan Hooper (draft, No. 13).
KEY LOSSES: G Candice Wiggins (free agent, Sparks).
OUTLOOK: Tulsa may have one of the most talented young backcourts in the league with Diggins and Sims. Diggins has dominated the preseason and is poised for a breakout second year. With the improved backcourt and Williams’s scoring ability - she had a league-record 51-point game last season - and the Shock will be able to put points on the board. The one area which Tulsa is lacking is up front and with Liz Cambage out for the season training with Australia for the world championship, the Shock will need everyone to contribute on the boards.
_____
EASTERN CONFERENCE
CHICAGO SKY
2013: 24-10, 1st place; lost to Indiana 2-0 in conference semifinals.
COACH: Pokey Chatman, 4th season.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Epiphanny Prince (15.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.0 apg), G Courtney Vandersloot (8.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 5.6 apg), F Elena Delle Donne (18.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.8 apg), F Jessica Breland (5.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 0.6 apg), C Sylvia Fowles (16.3 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 0.4 apg).
KEY ADDITIONS: F Breland (free agent, Fever), F Sasha Goodlett (free agent, Fever).
KEY LOSSES: F Swin Cash (trade, Dream).
OUTLOOK: Chicago is coming off the most successful season in franchise history with a regular season conference title and a first trip to the playoffs. Delle Donne has added 12 lbs of muscle and looks primed to build on last season’s impressive rookie campaign. The only thing that stands in the way of a run at the Eastern Conference title is the health of Fowles, who is out for the early part of the season with a torn labrum. The Sky signed Breland and Goodlett in the offseason to help some of the loss of Fowles.
___
ATLANTA DREAM
2013: 17-17, 2nd place; beat Washington 2-1 in conference semifinals; beat Atlanta 2-0 in conference finals; lost to Minnesota 3-0 in WNBA finals.
COACH: Michael Cooper, 1st season.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Tiffany Hayes (11.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.7 apg), G Jasmine Thomas (8.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.1 apg), G Shoni Schimmel (DNP), F Angel McCoughtry (21.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.4 apg), F Erika de Souza (12.9 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 1.3 apg),
KEY ADDITIONS: G Schimmel (draft, No. 8), F Swin Cash (trade, Sky), G Celine Dumerc (free agent)
KEY LOSSES: G Alex Bentley (trade, Sun), F Courtney Clements (trade, Sky).
OUTLOOK: Atlanta has made the WNBA Finals three times in their six years as a franchise, yet still hasn’t won a game in the championship round. McCoughtry is one of the top offensive players in the game and the addition of Cash and Schimmel should help the offense. The other key for the Dream this season is how quickly they will be able to adapt to new coach Cooper.
___
WASHINGTON MYSTICS
2013: 17-17, 3rd place; lost to Atlanta 2-1 in conference semifinals.
COACH: Mike Thibault, 2nd season.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Ivory Latta (13.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 4.4 apg), G Kara Lawson (10.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.5 apg), F Monique Currie (10.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.5 apg), F Kia Vaughn (6.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 0.6 apg), C Stefanie Dolson (DNP-Rookie).
KEY ADDITIONS: G Lawson (trade, Sun), G Bria Hartley (trade, Storm), C Dolson (draft, No. 6).
KEY LOSSES: F Crystal Langhorne (trade, Storm), G Matee Ajavon (trade, Dream).
OUTLOOK: Thibault has almost completely overhauled the roster from when he took over and nearly half of the team is made up of rookies and sophomores, including the UConn duo of Dolson and Hartley. The Mystics surprised many by making the playoffs last season and almost upended the Dream in the opening round. Now with some playoff experience under their belt, this young squad could be dangerous.
___
INDIANA FEVER
2013: 16-18, 4th place; beat Chicago 2-0 in conference semifinals; lost to Atlanta 2-0 in conference finals.
COACH: Lin Dunn, 7th season.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Briann January (9.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 3.7 apg), G Shavonte Zellous (14.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.7 apg), F Tamika Catchings (17.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.4 apg), F Karima Christmas (8.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.1 apg), F Erlana Larkins (7.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.9 apg).
KEY ADDITIONS: F Natasha Howard (draft, No. 5), F Marissa Coleman (free agent, Sparks).
KEY LOSSES: G Katie Douglas (free agent, Sun), F Jessica Breland (free agent, Sky), F Sasha Goodlett (free agent, Sky).
OUTLOOK: Indiana won its first WNBA championship two seasons ago and the Fever are poised to try and win another led by Catchings. Coach Dunn announced that she will retire after this season and the team would love nothing more than to send her out on top. Catchings has a solid group around her led by Zellous, January, Larkins and Coleman.
___
NEW YORK LIBERTY
2013: 11-23, 5th place.
COACH: Bill Laimbeer, 2nd season.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Cappie Pondexter (16.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.0 apg), G Essence Carson (14.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.8 apg), F Plenette Pierson (11.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.5 apg), F Kara Braxton (8.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.2 apg), C Tina Charles (18.0 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 1.4 apg)
KEY ADDITIONS: C Charles (trade, Sun).
KEY LOSSES: F Kelsey Bone (trade, Sun), G Katie Smith (retirement).
OUTLOOK: New York made a blockbuster trade right before the draft acquiring former MVP Charles giving the Liberty another marquee player to go alongside Pondexter. The Liberty also will see the return of Carson, who was sidelined for most of last season after tearing the ACL in her left knee. Another huge boost for the Liberty will be a return to Madison Square Garden after the franchise spent the last three seasons in New Jersey as the arena was undergoing a $1 billion renovation.
___
CONNECTICUT SUN
2013: 10-24, 6th place.
COACH: Anne Donovan, 2nd season.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Katie Douglas (15.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.5 apg), G Alex Bentley (8.3 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 2.8 apg), F Chiney Ogwumike (DNP-Rookie), F Alyssa Thomas (DNP-Rookie), F Kelsey Bone (6.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 0.7 apg).
KEY ADDITIONS: F Ogwumike (draft, No. 1), F Thomas (trade, Liberty), F Bone (trade, Liberty), G Douglas (free agent, Fever), G Bentley (trade, Dream).
KEY LOSSES: G Kara Lawson (trade, Mystics), C Tina Charles (trade, Liberty), F Mistie Bass (free agent, Mercury)
OUTLOOK: After a sixth place finish last season, the Sun completely remade their roster, starting with the trades of Lawson and Charles. Donovan has a young team now led by Ogwumike and Thomas and she hopes the two college All-Americans can develop quickly at the pro level. The addition of Douglas should help ease the transition if she is totally recovered from last season’s back injury.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.