The first coaching change of the season in the WNBA has come and gone. It ought not be the last, but let's not name names.
Sonny Allen did the resign/retire combo in Sacramento, responding to the fact that his highly talented team is highly underachieving with a 6-6 record
Described as a "nice man" by Sacramento players, it could be inferred that Allen was too laid-back, too much like a grandfather and not enough of a task-master. That will not be a problem with fiery Maura McHugh, who is deserving of this opportunity.
McHugh proved herself to be a very good coach in the ABL when she took her Long Beach team to the league finals against Columbus. It helped, of course, that she had Yolanda Griffith on the roster. And look at her good fortune -- Yo is around once again.
The Monarchs have every reason to believe that they will be a better team now.
They are the highest-scoring team in the WNBA at 72.4 points per game. They are healthy now, with Ticha Penichero back in the lineup after missing the first nine games of the season with an ankle injury. Ruthie Bolton-Holifield's knees are never going to be 100 percent again, but she's also back out on the floor making defenses pay attention. They have perhaps the best athlete in the league in Griffith.
Sacramento is also as deep as it has ever been with the additions of Edna Campbell and Kara Wolters and the strong bench play of LaKeisha Frett.
Sacramento's break-even start is perfectly logical considering the team's numerous late camp arrivals and injuries to Bolton-Holifield and Penichero.
What is also perfectly logical is that this coaching change should spur the Monarchs back into contention in the West where they belong.
Who's hot
Houston. The Comets tallied their ninth straight victory Wednesday by beating Washington, the first feat considerably more remarkable than the second. Just for the record, Tina Thompson and Janeth Arcain account for 61.3 percent of Houston's scoring so far this season.
Imagine if Sheryl Swoopes has been able to play...
Who's not
Charlotte. The Sting are 1-7 in their last eight games, breaking a seven-game losing streak Wednesday with a 74-50 over the sliding Shock. Charlotte can find all the optimism it wants in the fact that is has lost four games by four or fewer points, but there's no getting around the fact that this is not a very good team -- at least not a very good defensive team. Charlotte is second-to-last in the league behind Detroit, allowing opponents an average of 74.1 points a game.
Oddly enough, the Sting might be right to remain hopeful. Entering Wednesday night's game with a 1-10 mark, they were just 3 ½ games out of a playoff spot.
Around the league
Cleveland is proving itself a very good team, having won seven in a row. The Rockers lead the league in scoring defense, allowing 54.8 points per game and an opposing field-goal percentage of 35.6. They are also proving themselves to be an opportunistic team, having posted a 6-0 record against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 3-3 against the West/
Los Angeles, heading home after a 1-3 road trip, rested guard Mwadi Mabika in Detroit Tuesday night because of knee tendinitis. She is expected to play Sunday against Miami.
With eight rebounds Wednesday against Miami, Utah's Natalie Williams reached the 700-rebound mark for her WNBA career. In fact, she's at 702. And that's not bad for a WNBA career that began just 74 games ago.
With Brandy Reed gone to the doghouse for the rest of the season (O.K., technically suspended), and Tonya Edwards gone to the cellar (O.K., Charlotte), Trish Fallon is emerging as an important player for the Phoenix Mercury. The 6-foot-3 Australian is second on the Mercury in scoring at 10.4 points a game, shooting better than 51 percent from the field.
Michelle Smith of the San Francisco Chronicle is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.
