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As the 2004 WNBA season kicks into gear, some teams feature new lineups and coaches while others are looking to continue building on some of the successes of last season. Perhaps no one knows the keys to a team's success than the players themselves. First up, some of the top players in the Eastern Conference break down their teams' overall strengths and weaknesses as well as share their thoughts on what is needed for a successful season.
 Stacey Dales-Schuman Washington Mystics |
Strengths: I think our
strengths are our cohesiveness and our chemistry. This team gets along extremely well.
Within the organization, players have become friends both on and off the court.
We also like to get up and run, utilizing our speed and quickness. Players like Chamique Holdsclaw
help this team with their versatility. We have hard workers on this team, especially Murriel
Page. I think this season, we have a chance
to be really good because we will be very balanced. Weaknesses: I don�t think we finished some games last year. I think we need to do a better job down the stretch with that. We need to have more people step up and score, but I see it happening with some of the new players we brought in and our overall balance. |
 Becky Hammon New York Liberty |
Strengths: I think the
Liberty are always strong defensively, bringing that defensive mindset and the right players to the court. We have gotten things done by working together, having
a strong work ethic and really playing on the same page. That is
how we have been successful in the past and I don�t see us getting away
from that even with some more athletic players. Everyone has been in Richie�s system for awhile now, I�m going
on six years, so the core group knows what is needed and everyone else can pick it
up really quickly. Weaknesses: In some past games, we have had difficulty scoring. We have lacked consistent scoring at times so this year we need to step up and fill our roles. |
 Tamika Catchings Indiana Fever |
Strengths: One of our
main strengths, and we showd this especially before the All-Star break last season, is that we play
well together. We had a quick team even with different lineups. We made the playoffs
two years ago and we should have made it last year, but unfortunately we
did not. Skillwise, with the players that we have, we are probably one
of the top teams. It is just a matter now of putting everything together and fitting the pieces together down the stretch and for the playoffs. Weaknesses: We have to get better defensively. We went through spurts where we did well and were able to keep the ball out of people�s hands, but there were a lot of times where we couldn�t do that. I think that is important for us because since we�re not a very tall team, we have to be a defensive-minded team. It will be interesting coming in this year because we have a brand new coach and some new players and draft picks coming in. I am really excited about Deanna Jackson, who we picked up in the dispersal draft, and another big player like Ebony Hoffman, who can free me up from having to be in the paint allthe time. With the additions and the changes that have been made, we have definitely improved defensively and we will definitely have to work over these next few months to come together on offense as well. |
 Andrea Stinson Charlotte Sting |
Strengths: Our strength
has been our perimeter play for the past few years. We know how to handle
different situations well because we are a veteran team. Dawn Staley, Allison Feaster and
myself try and keep everyone going, and even if something isn�t going right, we are the ones who try step up and keep things rolling. Weaknesses: We have not made it past the first round in the playoffs recently, and we are hungry to do that. Every team has its weaknesses, and they show up sooner or later in this game. We always have a period where we may lose a few games, but that�s like every team. That is something we are going to have to control. We want to play better on the road and not get into any bad stretches. |
 Nykesha Sales Connecticut Sun |
Strengths: Last year, our strength
was our running game. We got up and down the court very well. We had scorers
and always score a lot of points. Our veterans have been in the league
since the beginning. Our core has been together for six years. We will bring that same upbeat attitude to our games this year. |
 Cheryl Ford Detroit Shock |
Strengths: Our biggest
strength was our hard work and dedication. Everyone worked so hard and tried
to make each other better in practice, and it showed in games and then in the playoffs. Weaknesses: As a team, I am not sure we really need to change anything. We will continue to work hard and remain balanced. For me, my personal goals � Coach Laimbeer and I have discussed - I want to improve my game in going to the left. |