The Watch: Opening Day 2008!

Tune in Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC to see Candace Parker's debut, Lisa Leslie's return and Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter begin the defense of their WNBA title.

Andrew D. Bernstein/Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images

Los Angeles at Phoenix, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC

Exciting story lines, anyone?

The return to the court of a WNBA legend? Check. The WNBA debut of one of the most publicized -- oh, and ridiculously talented -- women's basketball players ever? Check. Championship rings? Check. The stateside return of two of the league's most dynamic players, both of whom won major titles with their teams in Europe this winter? Check. Yes, the national TV game on Opening Day deserves every bit of hype it's getting.

With Lisa Leslie rejoining the Sparks after taking off the 2007 season, the team promises to improve significantly on last year's 10-24 mark. And with the addition of former Tennessee star Candace Parker, the Sparks are the popular pick to take the Western Conference title. But L.A.'s backcourt, led by PG Temeka Johnson and super sophomore Sidney Spencer, will have to step up the tempo to compete with Phoenix's run-and-gun style.

Meanwhile, the defending champions -- with rookie head coach Corey Gaines -- will pick up their rings prior to the game, but they might be better off spending the time practicing. With stars Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter arriving in camp just days before the regular season opener after winning titles in Russia and Turkey, respectively, this winter, it might take a quarter to get back into the swing of things, especially without All-Star forward Penny Taylor. But with Kelly Miller and Tangela Smith still around, it should be just a matter of time before the Merc are on the rise again.

Houston at Detroit, 3:30 p.m. ET

On the surface, this game seems to pit one of the league's top teams against one of the lesser squads. But don't sleep on Houston. Yes, they've lost Sheryl Swoopes and have some youngsters likely to get time in the backcourt, but they still have Tina Thompson. Michelle Snow can still be solid in the paint and rookie guard Matee Ajavon led the WNBA in preseason scoring, so expect her to be thrown immediately into the fire at the two. Likely starting at the point for the Comets will be Shannon "Pee Wee" Johnson, who spent 2007 with... you guessed it... the Detroit Shock.

Detroit is the defending Eastern Conference champ, and they'll be looking to reach that status again in 2008. Look for Katie Smith and Deanna Nolan, despite Tweety's ankle sprain, to get a lot of touches early against the Comets' youthful guards and to put the pressure on defensively. Cheryl Ford tweaked the wrist on her shooting hand, but her knee appears to be healthy and veterans Sheri Sam and LaToya Thomas will both get lots of time at the three in place of the departed Swin Cash. Plenette Pierson and Elaine Powell are also reportedly in the best shape of their lives. Watch out for the Shock.

Atlanta at Connecticut, 4 p.m. ET

The Dream open their regular season account in front of the rabid fans at Mohegan Sun, and lots of questions still remain for Marynell Meadors' expansion squad. The most important? Who's going to score? Betty Lennox seems the likeliest candidate, though Ivory Latta could excel in Atlanta's system if she gets the floor time (and shots) to continue to develop.

Connecticut plays its first game in a long, long time without the services of Nykesha Sales (sitting out the season due to injury), Katie Douglas (traded to Indiana) or Margo Dydek (recently had a baby). But new to the lineup is veteran forward Tamika Whitmore and rookie Amber Holt, both of whom should step in to play major roles from the get-go with All-Star caliber holdovers Asjha Jones and Lindsay Whalen.

Washington at Indiana, 7 p.m. ET, NBA TV

It looks as if the Mystics will be without All-Star guard Alana Beard for the first two games of the regular season� but it looks as if the Fever may be without the services of All-Star forward Tamika Catchings. Call it a wash.

Washington will definitely be without PG Nikki Teasley (pregnancy) and DeLisha Milton-Jones (traded to L.A.), but they are happy to welcome veteran forward (and WNBA.com blogger) Taj McWilliams-Franklin to town. And against a severely weakened Fever front line, despite still featuring Tammy Sutton-Brown, Taj will be asked to get some work done at both ends. This is also the regular season debut for Nikki Blue as the starting point guard.

Indiana struggled mightily in 2007 without Catchings, but they now have Katie Douglas to step in and contribute on both offense and defense. Lin Dunn returns as a head coach to lead the Fever into the 2008 campaign.

San Antonio at Sacramento, 10 p.m. ET, NBA TV

Dan Hughes' bunch looks to repeat its terrific 2007 campaign, tipping 2008 off against perennial Western stalwart Sacramento. The loss of 3-point gunner Shanna Crossley for the season is a definite dent in the Silver Stars' armor, but it just puts more pressure on the shoulders of All-Star and MVP runner-up Becky Hammon. The inside trio of Sophia Young, Ruth Riley and the soon-to-return Ann Wauters should be a formidable one all season long.

Sacramento will be without Yolanda Griffith for the first time since 1998 and will also be without forward DeMya Walker, who was waived Thursday after suffering a second straight season-ending knee injury. This could be the year that Rebekkah Brunson and Nicole Powell lead this team to playoff glory, but they'll have a tough time against San Antonio's front line. Look for veteran guard Kara Lawson to take over more of the scoring load.

Chicago at Seattle, 10 p.m. ET

Seattle is the team most pundits are pointing to as the one that improved most during the offseason, adding Hall of Famers Sheryl Swoopes, Yolanda Griffith and Swin Cash to the lineup. But Chicago has taken a major step up in talent as well, nabbing All-American center Sylvia Fowles with the second pick in the draft. Expect Big Syl to come in and contribute immediately, particularly on the boards and defensively in the paint. And with Fowles joining forces with All-Star Candice Dupree and reigning Rookie of the Year Armintie Price, hopes are high in the Windy City.

With Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird just recently reporting to Storm camp from Russia, there may be some gelling issues with Seattle, like in Phoenix. But Swoopes, Griffith, Cash and Bird have all played together on the U.S. national team, so it shouldn't be a completely foreign experience. Brian Agler steps in as head coach for this remarkable collection of talent, and he'll be under a lot of pressure to win and impress the Storm's new owners.