2004 Record 16-18, .471 (5th in East) Points Scored 2092 (13th overall, 6th in East) Points Allowed 2168 (1st overall, 1st in East) Scoring Differential -2.2 (12th overall, 6th in East) Award Winners & Honorees Olympian Dawn Staley All-Star Allison Feaster 2004 Draft Recap Rd. 1 - 3, Nicole Powell Rd. 2 - 18, Kelly Mazzante Rd. 2 - 22, Jenni Benningfield Rd. 3 - 35, Jia Perkins Playoff History Six out of eight years Last Appearance 2003, lost in first round

Defense. The Sting gave up the fewest points in the league in 2004, allowing only 2168 total points. But if defense does win championships, how come the Sting failed to make the playoffs? Yet, they only won two fewer games than they had in their previous three seasons, and had they not lost their last three games, they would have been in the postseason yet again.

Feaster

Over the course of the season, Allison Feaster led the team in scoring with 11.8 points per game, but no other Sting player managed to average in double figures. For her efforts, Feaster was named to the WNBA All-Star team that competed against the U.S. Olympians in Radio City.

Tammy Sutton-Brown was able to bounce back from a disappointing 2003 season and posted a career-high in rebounds (6.2 rpg). However, she has yet to match the 11.6 ppg she averaged as an All-Star in 2002. Meanwhile, Charlotte Smith-Taylor scored a career-high 8.2 ppg and started every game for the Sting.

Offense. Scoring. Points. In order to get back to the playoffs, the Sting need to find a way to score more than 61.5 points per game, which was last among the 13 teams. Just two seasons removed from representing the East in the WNBA Finals, the Sting fell into trouble when they relied too much on their perimeter game. Starting two-guard Andrea Stinson's production diminished from 11.2 ppg in 2003 to only 6.0 ppg in 2004.

Nicole Powell and Kelly Mazzante were highly-touted rookies, but neither really had a chance to show all of their skills while fighting for time in the crowded backcourt. Powell is now gone and Sheri Sam and Tangela Smith have been brought in in what has been a very busy offseason for the Sting.

The Sting were also the league's oldest team in 2004. Dawn Staley still led the show at the point, but she is not getting any younger. Every attempt to develop a backup or eventual successor has proven unsuccessful. Staley is 35, Stinson is is 36 and even Smith-Taylor is 32.

Head Coach Trudi Lacey 2004 Starting Lineup G- Dawn Staley G- Andrea Stinson F- Allison Feaster F- Tammy Sutton-Brown C- Charlotte Smith-Taylor Key 2004 Reserves Tynesha Lewis Olympia Scott Richardson Nicole Powell Kelly Mazzante Key Additions Tangela Smith Helen Darling Sheria Sam Key Losses Olympia Scott Richardson Nicole Powell

Smith

How will all of Trudi Lacey's offseason maneuvering work out? In a short, intense season, the Sting cannot afford an adjustment period. They will have to get that out of their system in the preseason because once the games count for real, it will be another all-out sprint through the summer.

In what could be a Draft rich in point guards, is this the year the Sting finally give Staley some help? Is Darling the answer? Does Andrea Stinson have anything left in her? An eight-year WNBA veteran averaged only 6.0 ppg despite starting all 34 games. Will Mazzante get more of Stinson's minutes? Will she start? And where does Sheri Sam fit in with Feaster firmly entrenched in the small forward position?

Can Charlotte finally put a good offensive and defensive team on the floor at the same time? Last season, the Sting's team defense was the best in the league while the offense scored the fewest points. The team's new look will definitely shake things up, but can Smith flourish in the paint without Yolanda Griffith and DeMya Walker to help relieve the pressure? That is why this section is called "key questions..."