Charlotte Sting
Coach: T.R. Dunn (first season).
1999 record: 15-17, tied for second in East; lost to New York 2-1 in East finals.
Key returners:
Andrea Stinson, G, 13.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg
Dawn Staley, G, 11.5 ppg, 5.5 apg
Rhonda Mapp, C, 9.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg
Charlotte Smith, F, 5.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg
Say hello to:
Summer Erb, C, 15.8 ppg, 8.4 rpg (North Carolina State)
Shalonda Enis, F, 7.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg (Washington Mystics)
Tiffany Travis, G-F, 16.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg (Florida)
Say goodbye to:
Vicky Bullett, F, 11.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg
Stephanie McCarty, G-F, 5.3 ppg, 1.7 apg

Outlook: The only other team besides Houston that has made the playoffs all three seasons, Charlotte hopes this is the year it can finally get past the WNBA semifinals. But optimism is low at the outset with Dawn Staley recovering from knee surgery and Shalonda Enis (Achilles' sprain) and Summer Erb (broken left foot) expected to miss the opening of the season. Staley and Andrea Stinson make up one of the best backcourts in the league, but are on their own as very little help is available off the bench. Once Erb and Enis return they will provided much-needed help for Rhonda Mapp, who has not come through in clutch games. The Sting's lack of consistency in the paint has led to their playoff exits and opposing guards have penetrated into the lane with ease at times in big spots.

Cleveland Rockers
Coach: Dan Hughes (first season, 10-10).
1999 record: 7-25, sixth in East.
Key returners:
Eva Nemcova, F, 11.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg
Merlakia Jones, G, 10.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg
Chasity Melvin, C, 8.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg
Michelle Edwards, G-F, 7.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg
Suzie McConnell-Serio, G, 6.0 ppg, 4.2 apg
Say hello to:
Ann Wauters, C, 13.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg (USV Orchies)
Helen Darling, G, 10.5 ppg, 7.8 apg (Penn State)
Monique Morehouse, C, 3.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg (N.E., ABL, 1997)
Say goodbye to:
Alisa Burras, F, 7.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg
Janice Braxton, F, 5.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg
Vanessa Nygaard, F, 0.8 ppg, 0.8 rpg

Outlook: Cleveland went from Eastern Conference champs in 1998 to the league's worst team last year, and recognized the need for youth, drafting 19-year old Ann Wauters with the top overall pick. Wauters played professionally last season in France and is the most reliable option at center even though the Rockers also have Chasity Melvin and drafted Monique Morehouse. Eva Nemcova must also step up in the paint and display the type of game that made her first-team All WNBA in 1997 and second-team two years ago. Suzie McConnell-Serio will provide leadership at point guard, but is not getting any younger at 33 and the injury bug kept her out of 14 games last season. She also will be tutoring fellow Penn State alum Helen Darling, who will see plenty of minutes this season. Coach Dan Hughes helped guide a fading Charlotte team to within one win of the Finals last year, but has a more task with his new club.

Detroit Shock
Coach: Nancy Lieberman-Cline (third season, 32-30).
1999 record: 15-17, tied for second in East; lost to Charlotte in East semifinals.
Key returners:
Wendy Palmer, F, 9.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg
Dominique Canty, G-F, 9.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg
Val Whiting, F, 6.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg
Astou Ndiaye, F-C, 5.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg
Claudia Maria das Neves, G, 2.5 ppg, 1.0 rpg
Say hello to:
Edwina Brown, G-F, 21.2 ppg, 8.4 rpg (Texas)
Tamicha Jackson, G, 15.6 ppg, 3.4 apg (Louisiana Tech)
Madinah Slaise, G, 21.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg (Cincinnati)
Chavonne Hammond, G-F, 10.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg (Vanderbilt)
Say goodbye to:
Jennifer Azzi, G, 10.8 ppg, 3.8 apg
Sandy Brondello, G, 13.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg

Outlook: General manager/coach Nancy Lieberman-Cline turned what could have been a disatrous season into a positive one with a trade just before the draft, sending disgruntled point guard Jennifer Azzi to Utah for two first-round picks that turned into Edwina Brown and Tamicha Jackson. Both were heralded players in college, but could suffer their share of growing pains like any other rookie. However, Brown and Jackson are the most reliable guards on the roster as Sandy Brondello, the team's leading scorer from last season, was left unprotected in the expansion draft. Even though Lieberman-Cline likes guard-oriented teams, Wendy Palmer, Val Whiting and Dominique Canty must score consistently up front to take pressure off the backcourt players. Optimism is high for the Shock, but the young guns must come through for a return trip to the postseason.

Indiana Fever
Coach: Anne Donovan (first season).
1999 record: None (expansion team).
Say hello to:
Stephanie McCarty, G-F, 5.3 ppg, 1.7 apg (Charlotte Sting)
Gordana Grubin, G, 8.9 ppg, 2.8 apg (Los Angeles Sparks)
Kara Wolters, C, 1.6 ppg, 1.2 rpg (Houston Comets)
Monica Maxwell, F, 1.7 ppg, 1.1 rpg (Washington Mystics)
Alicia Thompson, F, 1.6 ppg, 1.3 rpg (New York, 1998)
Chantel Tremitiere, G, 1.1 ppg, 1.1 apg (Utah Starzz)
Usha Gilmore, G, 7.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg (Rutgers)
Rita Williams, G, 3.4 ppg, 1.2 rpg (Washington Mystics)
Nyree Roberts, C, 1.4 ppg, 1.0 rpg (Washington Mystics)

Outlook: Indiana native and Purdue alum Stephanie McCarty was acquired as the centerpiece and feature attraction for the Fever in their expansion season. The only problem is that she averaged less than 20 minutes per game last season for the Charlotte Sting and was ineffective over that stretch. Whether she will produce under pressure as a pro in a basketball-crazy state has yet to be determined. The selection of Gordana Grubin with the top pick in the expansion draft gives Indiana a player who shot 43 percent from 3-point range last season and worked her way into Los Angeles Sparks' starting lineup. The Fever are depleted in the frontcourt as centers Nyree Roberts and Kara Wolters have seen little playing time in the league. Anne Donovan, the interim coach with Nell Fortner guiding the Olympic team, has plenty of question marks and not much talent in what should be a long maiden season.

Miami Sol
Coach: Ron Rothstein (first season).
1999 record: None (expansion team).
Say hello to:
Marlies Askamp, C, 9.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg (Phoenix Mercury)
Jameka Jones, G, 15.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg (NC-Charlotte)
Milena Flores, G, 11.9 ppg, 6.0 apg (Stanford)
Debbie Black, G, 5.1 ppg, 5.0 apg (Utah Starzz)
Katrina Colleton, G, 2.7 ppg, 1.7 apg (Los Angeles, 1998)
Sharon Manning, F-C, 4.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg (Charlotte Sting)
Yolanda Moore, F-C, 1.1 ppg, 0.6 rpg (Orlando Miracle)
Umeki Webb, G, 5.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg (Phoenix, 1998)

Outlook: Was Marlies Askamp worth trading three first-round picks? Miami thought so and acquired the versatile center for a heavy pricetag to begin its expansion season. But she may have to carry this depleted team alone, especially since center Elena Baranova -- one the WNBA's original 16 players -- suffered a knee injury while playing overseas and is lost for the season. The Sol should have kept some of their picks, something that figures to hurt the team as the season progresses. They did use their two picks wisely, however, by selecting Jameka Jones and Milena Flores, both of whom could become immediate impact players in the backcourt. After that, the talent pool is small and the remaining players were either unproductive last year or rode the bench.

New York Liberty
Coach: Richie Adubato (second season, 18-14).
1999 record: 18-14, first in East; lost to Houston 2-1 in WNBA finals.
Key returners:
Vickie Johnson, F, 13.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg
Crystal Robinson, G, 11.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg
Kym Hampton, C, 9.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg
Tamika Whitmore, F, 7.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg
Teresa Weatherspoon, G, 7.2 ppg, 6.4 apg
Say hello to:
Olga Firsova, C, 9.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg (Kansas State)
Desiree Francis, F, 13.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg (Iowa State)
Jessica Bibby, (Australia, no WNBA experience)
Say goodbye to:
Sophia Witherspoon, G, 8.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg
Coquese Washington, G, 0.6 ppg, 0.4 rpg

Outlook: New York finished one win shy of the title for the second time in three seasons and will go with the same cast as it hopes to unseat Houston. The Liberty possess many weapons as Vickie Johnson owns one of the deadliest shots for a small forward and Tamika Whitmore enjoyed a solid rookie campaign. Whitmore will see extended playing time as injured forward Rebecca Lobo, who played one minute last season, is not expected back until July while nursing a second ACL tear. New York got a break when Kym Hampton announced she would not retire, but one has to wonder how much she has left in the tank at age 37. The 6-8 Olga Firsova is a strong defensive presence -- something the Liberty pride themselves on -- but her offensive game is a major question mark. Teresa Weatherspoon, 34, and Crystal Robinson make up one of the league's best backcourts and are not afraid to drive into the lane regularly. It was Weatherspoon's 50-foot bank shot that forced a decisive Game 3 in last year's WNBA Finals, but it is her excellent court awareness and enthusiasm that Liberty fans have come to expect. Experience and a loaded roster should propel New York into the postseason.

Orlando Miracle
Coach: Carolyn Peck (second season, 15-17).
1999 record: 15-17, tied for second in East.
Key returners:
Shannon Johnson, G, 14.0 ppg, 4.4 apg
Nykesha Sales, G, 13.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg
Taj McWilliams, C, 13.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg
Sheri Sam, G-F, 11.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg
Say hello to:
Cintia Dos Santos, F-C, 2.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg (Brazil, 1999)
Jannon Roland, F, 5.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg (New England, ABL, 1999)
Shawnetta Stewart, G, 14.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg (Rutgers)
Say goodbye to:
Tari Phillips, F, 4.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg
Andrea Congreaves F-C, 6.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg

Outlook: Orlando shocked everyone in its maiden season last year as the Miracle almost made the playoffs, just missing out on a tiebreaker. Orlando needed height up front and with the fourth pick took 6-4 Cintia Dos Santos, who becomes the team's tallest player in franchise history. Taj McWilliams is a factor every time she steps onto the court and Jannon Roland should be one of the team's first players off the bench. Shannon Johnson was Orlando's leading scorer at point guard last year and was named second-team All-WNBA. Nykesha Sales is showing no ill effects from her torn Achilles' tendon two years ago and fellow Big East product Shawnetta Stewart also will a huge role at guard. Despite a five-game winning streak late last season that almost vaulted Orlando into the playoffs, the Miracle must show the ability to put away teams if they hope to secure a postseason bid this year.

Washington Mystics
Coach: Nancy Darsch (second season, 47-43 overall).
1999 record: 12-20 (fifth in East).
Key returners:
Nikki McCray, G, 17.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg
Chamique Holdsclaw, F, 16.9 ppg, 7.9 rpg
Murriel Page, F, 8.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg
Andrea Nagy, G, 5.1 ppg, 4.6 apg
Say hello to:
Tausha Mills, C, 2.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg (Chicago, ABL, 1999)
Vicky Bullett, F, 11.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg (Charlotte Sting)
Tonya Washington, G-F, 18.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg (Florida)
Say goodbye to:
Shalonda Enis, F, 7.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg
Rita Williams, G, 3.4 ppg, 1.2 rpg

Outlook: At 6-3 and more than 200 pounds, Tausha Mills is a presense the Mystics have been desperately searching for in the frontcourt. The No. 2 overall pick will muscle her way in the paint and score at will for a team that has been pushed around the last two seasons, going a combined 15-47. Nikki McCray and Chamique Holdsclaw are still the backbones of the franchise and a renewed enthusiasm under coach Nancy Darsch helped Washington improve by nine victories last year. Obtaining Vicky Bullett in a trade with Charlotte also will help the frontcourt. Lots of work still needs to be done and if the frontcourt clicks as a cohesive unit, Washington could steal a a playoff berth in the East.