Sacramento. New York. Los Angeles. Utah.

These are the teams that crop up first under the category of "Favorites to Win the WNBA Championship in 2001."

In a year when many teams got better and injuries change fortunes in an instant, however, there are other, less-frequently mentioned candidates who might be equally as capable of hoisting a trophy.

They are, to steal an utterly cliché phrase, the sleeper picks.

And here they are.

Eastern Conference: Detroit Shock
While the Shock is a team without any true marquee-worthy names, it is a team of undeniable depth of talent.

And with Greg Williams at the helm, the players are feeling much more warm and fuzzy than they apparently did in the Nancy Lieberman-Cline regime.

Williams has a fine combination of young players such as guards Dominique Canty, Edwina Brown and impressive rookie Deanna Nolan. Then there's the peaking talents such as slim-and-trim Wendy Palmer, Australian Carla Boyd, Brazilian guard Claudia Maria das Neves and center Astou Ndiaye-Diatta, followed by experienced veterans such as Rachel Sporn and Elena Tornikidou.

The best thing that might be said about the Shock is that they will be able to endure injury better that virtually any team in the league. That fact alone may take Detroit a long way this year.

Western Conference: Phoenix Mercury

	Brandy Reed has MVP-type talent and could lead Phoenix to the title.

In the Western Conference, no team is likely to run roughshod over the others and some of the battles could be epic. That's where the Mercury just might be able to sneak into contention.

Brandy Reed, her contract signed and her mood hopefully improving, is a legitimate MVP candidate. With Houston's Sheryl Swoopes injured out for the season, Reed won't have any standard to live up to but her own.

Phoenix has some very talented perimeter players in Bridget Pettis, Trisha Fallong and Tonya Edwards and Jennifer Gillom has the motivation of trying to win a title one last time before she calls it quits.

Australian point guard Kristen Veal is going to turn out to be the steal of the draft. Veal collected 13 assists in a preseason game against the Sacramento Monarchs last week, and while neither Ticha Penichero, Ruthie Bolton nor Yolanda Griffith were playing in that game -- not insignificant omissions to be sure but the fact is that this 19-year-old can play.

And then there's the Coop factor. Cynthia Cooper was perhaps the most intense competitor in the early history of this league. She will bring that intensity to her locker room and it remains to be seen how the players will respond. She will either inspire, or perhaps engender a resentment that sometimes follows from demanding coaches especially one still skilled enough to be playing at an All-Star level.

Go with option one.

The name game
More than a dozen WNBA players, either because of marriage or divorce are going by new names this season.

2000 Name/ 2001 Name -- Team
Tricia Bader/ Tricia Bader Binford -- Cleveland
Carla Porter/ Carla Boyd -- Detroit
Annie LeFleur/ Annie Burgess -- Washington
Cass Bauer/Cass Bauer-Bilodeau -- Charlotte
Taj McWilliams/ Taj McWilliams-Franklin -- Orlando
Michelle Griffiths/ Michelle Brogan -- Phoenix
Vedrana Grgin/ Vedrana Grgin Fonseca -- Los Angeles
Astou Ndiaye/ Astou Ndiaye-Diatta -- Detroit
Tiffany Wait/ Tiffany McCain -- Orlando

Late arrivals
Cleveland is just one of many teams with veteran players still working their way to training camp because of international commitments.

The Rockers are currently without Ann Wauters, Rushia Brown and Mery Andrade. All are expected by week's end. Houston is working without projected starter Janeth Arcain as well.

Orlando is still without All-Stars Shannon Johnson (Spain) and Taj McWilliams-Frankling (Italy) and will be in camp by Friday. Andrea Congreaves is back in England temporarily after reporting to training camp.

Phoenix center Maria Stepanova is scheduled to arrive from Russia on Sunday. Utah's Margo Dydek reported early this week, as did Miami's Marlies Askamp (Germany) and Elena Baranova (Italy). Baranova, whose knee injury caused her to miss all of last season, is reportedly still playing with a slight limp.

Medical report