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The 2003-04 WNBA offseason was one of the busiest in league history. From franchise lifers finding new homes, to blockbuster trades, to a new crop of rookies and international stars, this winter had it all. Like a game of musical chairs, many players will not end up where they started, and some could even be left without a place to sit thanks to the newcomers and the disbanding of the Cleveland Rockers. Instead of dancing around the issue, WNBA.com recaps some of the biggest moves and how they are expected to play out this season. Let’s start the music... L.A. Woman
The Los Angeles Sparks were just a few bounces
away from winning their third consecutive WNBA title last season. They look to open some new Doors in 2004 thanks to the signing of veteran free agents and former New York players Teresa Weatherspoon
and Tamika Whitmore. Also, Nikki McCray joined a young, but vastly improved
Phoenix Mercury roster. The former All-Star and Olympian will be a great
influence on some of the younger players like Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor. Merlakia Jones was not eligible for selection
in the Dispersal Draft and signed with the Detroit Schock as a free agent. The Charlotte Sting added depth to the roster
by signing Olympia Scott-Richardson and Sophia Witherspoon as free agents.
The Stars at night…
Are big and bright… Deep in the heart of Texas! All-Star point guard Shannon
“Pee Wee” Johnson (right) was traded from the Connecticut Sun to the San Antonio
Silver Stars and will bring excitement to the Alamo Dome. Silver Stars fans just hope
this Pee Wee doesn’t find the basement in San Antonio. San Antonio also signed Vanessa Nygaard and Jessie
Hicks as free agents. Across the state of Texas, the Comets signed
Gordana Grubin and Kedra Holland-Corn.
Born to Run
As the music keeps playing, more players found new places to park their
games in 2004 as a result of offseason trades pulled off by various team Bosses. The Indiana Fever acquired a point guard, Kelly
Miller (right), from Charlotte to lead the rush and shoot the deep ball. Point guard Tamicha Jackson brings her speed
and up-tempo game to the nation’s capitol and the Washington Mystics. Forward Asjha Jones returns to her college home
state of Connecticut with the Sun.
Living in America
International stars such as Lauren Jackson, Mwabi Mabika, Margo Dydek and Penny Taylor have proven that the global players can have great success
in the WNBA. Several other new faces will be entering the WNBA this season.
In signing Agnieska Bibrzycka, a 6-2 forward from
Poland, the San Antonio Silver Stars added the women’s European Player of
the Year for 2003-04. Bibrzycka and Dydek (right) helped lead Lotos VBW Clima Gdynia
to the Euroleague championship game. The Los Angeles Sparks signed Italian star Laura
Macchi, a sharpshooter with the ability to play both guard and forward in
Coach Michael Cooper’s deep lineup. Several international players may choose to stay
overseas and train with their national teams in preparation for this summer’s
Olympics. Among the question marks are Minnesota's Svetlana Abrosimova, Houston's Janeth Arcain and
Seattle's Sandy Brondello.
Go Your Own Way
The city of Cleveland may be home to the Rock ‘n Roll
Hall of Fame (Fleetwood Mac was inducted in 1998), but it is no longer home to the Cleveland Rockers. But the
fans of Clevelands’ loss is the rest of the WNBA’s gain. Thanks to the 2004
WNBA Dispersal Draft, many teams gained a valuable addition to their rosters. Penny Taylor was selected first by the Phoenix
Mercury. Chasity Melvin (right) will be in the frontcourt for
the Washington Mystics this season. The San Antonio Silver Stars added former top
overall pick LaToya Thomas. Complete
2004 Dispersal Draft Recap
The Warrior
Some of the toughest WNBA players suffered serious injuries in 2003 that either
knocked them out of action or severely limited their effectiveness, but like return to glory of rocker Patty Smyth in recent years, they will be back with a vengeance. New York Liberty point guard Becky Hammon (right) played
only 11 games in 2003 before going down with a torn ACL. A healthy Sue Bird returns to the Seattle Storm
lineup after rehabbing a sore knee that bothered her all of last season. Chamique Holdsclaw missed seven games down
the stretch last season, but is one of the best players in the league
when healthy.
Storm center Kamila Vodichkova missed the final
two weeks at the end of last season with a sprained foot, but recovered
to play a full season overseas this winter.
The Sky is the Limit
Why not add some new players to the game? The Year of the Rookie is upon
us. The Class of 2004 is deeper and more talented than any rookie class
in league history, and could play a significant role in re-shaping the WNBA
standings. Hopefully they will have a longer career than the Notorious B.I.G. As expected, Diana Taurasi (right) was chosen first and
is the anointed leader and savior in Phoenix. 2004 Wooden Award Winner Alana Beard will immediately
start for a talented Washington Mystics team. The Charlotte Sting chose Nicole Powell while
Lindsay Whalen joins the Connecticut Sun. 2004 WNBA
Draft Results
Movin' Out
In with the new, so out with the... old? With the addition of the new players to the circle, others have
to go. Some of the WNBA's biggest names have decided to call it a career
and move on... Four-time WNBA champion Cynthia Cooper (right) was unable
to fully recover from last season's shoulder injury and chose to retire. Charter WNBA player Rebecca Lobo played for the
Liberty, the Comets and the Sun in her career, and now joins NBA TV as an
analyst. Former All-Star and San Antonio Silver Stars
guard Jennifer Azzi also announced her retirement in the offseason and will
concentrate full-time on her fitness company.
Leader of the Pack
Of the 13 WNBA teams, four will feature new head coaches in 2004, three of whom
have extensive NBA experience. Former WNBA coach and NBA player Dee Brown (right) takes
the reins for the San Antonio Silver Stars. Ex-Bullets guard Michael Adams hopes to make new
magic with the Washington Mystics. Brian Winters controls the Indiana Fever. Carrie Graf will help the Phoenix Mercury to rise.
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