2004 Record 13-21, .382 (6th in West) Points Scored 2177 (11th overall, 6th in West) Points Allowed 2211 (3rd overall, 2nd in West) Scoring Differential -1.0 (8th overall, 6th in West) Award Winners & Honorees Olympians Sheryl Swoopes Tina Thompson Janeth Arcain All-WNBA Tina Thompson, First Team 2004 Draft Recap Rd. 2 - 26, Lindsay Taylor Rd. 3 - 37, Stacy Stephens Playoff History Seven out of eight years Last Appearance 2003, lost in first round

Thompson

Even after eight seasons playing together, star forwards Tina Thompson and Sheryl Swoopes are still at the top of their game. They were relied on to carry the team all by themselves, yet were still outstanding. Both missed some time with injuries, but Thompson's 20.0 ppg was still good enough for second best in the WNBA. Thompson continues to improve all aspects of her game, including shooting 40.7% from 3-point range, and played like an MVP candidate all season.

Swoopes also had a fine season, scoring 14.8 ppg, though her offensive production has diminished the past few seasons. Yet, the starting frontcourt accounted for nearly two-thirds of the Comets scoring. Center Michelle Snowhad another solid season, averaging 8.9 ppg and a team-leading 7.7 rebounds per game, but because of her size and strength, more is still expected out of her.

The Comets missed the playoffs for the first time in team history despite two of the best players in the world suiting up in the frontcourt. Why? Because the Comets lacked the same star power or reliability in the backcourt in 2004. The two primary differences in the Comets team that won four WNBA titles in the first four seasons in league history and the team that only won 13 in 2004 were the lack of a dependable guard and the presence of a third (and fourth) scoring option.

Coach Van Chancellor went with a rotating guard platoon of Sheila Lambert, Kedra Holland-Corn, Felicia Ragland and Dominique Canty. Janeth Arcain took a year off for the Olympics, but will be back in Houston this season. Even though she is 36, she still should have some drive left in her tank.

And as great an honor as it is to play for and win Olympic gold, having three key members of that team (including Chancellor) likely took its toll on the Comets. Fatigue likely set in, as did the key injuries. Thompson missed eight games and played in a career-low 26 games. When she was in the lineup, she could rarely afford to rest and ranked first in the WNBA in minutes per game (36.8).

Head Coach Van Chancellor 2004 Starting Lineup G- Sheila Lambert G- Kedra Holland-Corn F- Sheryl Swoopes F- Tina Thompson C- Michele Snow Key 2004 Reserves Dominique Canty Tiffani Johnson Octavia Blue Key Additions Janeth Arcain Tracy Reid Tari Phillips Key Losses

Phillips

Who will be the Comets' starting point guard? Can Janeth Arcain return to her pre-2003 form or will it be one of last year's players? Will Chancellor have enough depth so that the aging Arcain, Thompson and Swoopes can get some time to rest throughout the season? Without them at times in the lineup last year, the team struggled to put points on the board.

What will be the impact of free agent center Tari Phillips, who signed with Houston after missing almost all of last season with the Liberty with a hand injury? Will she recover well enough to re-gain her former All-Star form? Or will last year's starting center Michell Snow fight off Phillips and keep hold of the starting job? Will Snow be the second player to dunk in a WNBA game? She has already thrown down in Europe this offseason and is itching to assert herself in the WNBA. Stay tuned...