Make no mistake: Michael Cooper and Bill Laimbeer deserve a lot of credit for guiding their teams to the WNBA Finals.

After all, who could have ever predicted that after battling on the NBA hardwoods in the late-1980s, Cooper and Laimbeer would meet again 15 years later, as coaches in the WNBA? But while that unlikely reunion will steal a lot of the headlines this week leading up to Game 1 on Friday, let's not forget about the stars who will be on the court at tipoff.

The players on both rosters have combined for 16 All-Star game appearances. And when it comes to individual star power, nobody in this series tops L.A.'s Lisa Leslie or Detroit's Swin Cash. Leslie, a five-time All-Star, is the Sparks' leading scorer this season with an 18.4 scoring average. Swin Cash paced the Shock with 16.6 points per game.

While they most likely won't be matching up with each other very often in this series, it's critical that both Cash and Leslie play well for their team to have a chance at winning the WNBA crown.

A head-to-head look at their careers:

SWIN CASH VS. LISA LESLIE
Swin Cash, Detroit, 6-2, F, UConn '02		Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles, 6-5, C, USC '94
Playoff stats: 18.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.8 apg, 46.0 FG, 82.1 FT.		Playoff stats: 22.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.7 apg, 3.5 bpg, 60.9 FG, 68.4 FT.
Awards/honors: 2003 All-Star; Kodak All-American (2002); Most Outstanding Player at 2002 Final Four, leading UConn to perfect 39-0 mark and NCAA title, her second with the Huskies; second player in Big East history to lead conference in scoring and rebounding in same season; second overall pick in '02 WNBA draft.		Awards/honors: First player to sweep WNBA finals, regular-season and All-Star Game MVP awards in same season (2001); Olympic gold-medal winner ('96, 2000); only player to dunk in WNBA game; first to top 3,000 points; four-time All-WNBA first-team pick; scored 100 points in first half of high school game.
Best known for: Cash helped Detroit go from worst to first, but her performance in the 2002 NCAA title game still sticks out more than anything else. She had 20 points and 13 rebounds and made 10 of 12 free throws to help cap UConn's win over Oklahoma and the Huskies' perfect season. Cash's 15th double-double won her the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player award.		Best known for: Leslie dominated the WNBA in 2001, sweeping the MVP awards for the WNBA finals, regular season and All-Star Game. She had 24 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and a title game-record seven blocked shots in Game 2 of the WNBA finals as the Sparks swept Charlotte for their first WNBA title. Leslie record six double-doubles in seven playoff games.
What they're saying: "She made the play of the night when we needed it to win the game. That's what MVPs do." -- Detroit coach Bill Laimbeer after Game 2 of the East finals.		What they're saying: "Lisa Leslie is the Shaquille O'Neal of the WNBA. She is a handful. She is both an offensive and defensive threat.'' -- Sacramento coach John Whisenant.
In the clutch: In Game 2 vs. the Sun, Cash sprinted for a loose ball near the Shock bench, grabbed it and threw it blindly over her head to Kedra Holland-Corn. Cash then sprinted for the basket, where she got the ball back, put it in while getting fouled and capped the three-point play for a 73-69 lead with 52 seconds to play. In Game 1 of the first round, Detroit trailed by one point when Cash grabbed a long rebound and hit the game-winner on a putback with 4.7 seconds left. She then sealed the win by forcing a Rockers turnover with 2.4 seconds to play.		In the clutch: With the score tied at 62 -- and Los Angeles' hopes of a threepeat on the line -- in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals, Leslie hit a short baseline jump shot with 9.8 seconds to go to give the Sparks the lead for good. She then sank a pair of free throws with 6 seconds left as the Sparks held off Sacramento 66-63 Monday to reach the WNBA finals for the third consecutive season. Leslie finished with a game-high 26 points on 10-for-16 shooting from the field, with one 3-pointer, seven rebounds, two assists, three steals and three blocks in 38 minutes.
Nancy Lieberman says: "Cash doesn't just run the floor, she sprints it. She's more athletic than most and really redefining her position. That left-handed semi-hook she shoots when she comes from the left side of the floor and cuts across the lane to the right is incredible."		Nancy Lieberman says: "She's the consummate pro, the best post in the world, a perennial MVP candidate. She's also one of the best weakside defenders in the game. When you beat your player off the dribble, it only gets tougher because then you have to face Leslie."
Mechelle Voepel says: "If you try to stop her five different ways, she finds a sixth way to beat you. The play at the end of Game 2 of the East finals capsulizes why she's a good player. She made the tip, chased it down, threw the ball back in, ran down court and then finished. She's quick, strong, graceful and tenacious all at the same time."		Mechelle Voepel says: She's as consistent a dominant force as anybody in the history of women's basketball. There's isn't a game where she is not the center of attention -- literally. Every game she plays revolves around her."

Melanie Jackson coordinates ESPN.com's WNBA and women's college basketball coverage.