Charlotte Sting
![]() After a slow start last year, Dawn Staley and the Sting went all the way to the WNBA Championship Series. Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE Photos |
HEAD COACH: Anne Donovan
2001 RESULTS: 18-14
(Fourth place, Eastern Conference; lost 2-0 to Los Angeles in WNBA Championship)
2002 DRAFT PICKS:
PLAYERS ADDED:
PLAYERS LOST:
WHO TO WATCH: As Dawn Staley goes, so go the Sting. Many thought that Staley's knees wouldn't let her play 40 minutes last season, but Staley proved everyone wrong. Her leadership, keen ability as a true coach on the floor, and fierce competitive intensity helped to lift the Sting from 1-10 to an unlikely Eastern Conference championship under new head coach Anne Donovan last season.
The offseason acquisition of Erin Buescher and Maylana Martin in the post should give Charlotte some additional scoring options to complement Tammy Sutton-Brown and Charlotte Smith. Both are smart defensive players who can step out to hit the mid-range shots.
ESPN Analyst, Nancy Lieberman: "Erin Buescher and Maylana Martin, who the Sting acquired in a draft-day trade with Minnesota, are so much Anne Donovan-type players. Donovan is old school � defend, defend, defend, rebound, get tough, make cuts � always defense first. Those two players fit her scheme so this could turn out to be a good trade for the Sting as far as adding toughness to the team."
HOW THEY'LL WIN: It might not be pretty, but the Sting will find a way. The Sting proved that they live and die by the leadership of Staley. They are a team who executes and gets back on defense. With Allison Feaster and Andrea Stinson formidable threats from the outside and an ever-improving Sutton-Brown on the inside, the Sting should continue to utilize their outside shooting and smart play to keep them in the hunt in the East.
WHAT THEY NEED: Lieberman: "Charlotte needs a backup point guard and an experienced post. The strength of this team is experience. The Sting have great scoring on the perimeter between Staley, Stinson and Feaster. Another player to add to that is Charlotte Smith, who has just improved with each year that she�s played. Smith is a defensive stopper, very skilled and smart.
"Center Tammy Sutton-Brown got a wealth of experience playing against Lisa Leslie and DeLisha Milton in the finals last year. Sometimes a player has to live through something like that to see how it will benefit them in the long run."
WHERE THEY'LL FINISH: The Sting should definitely make another playoff run. However, unlike last year, Charlotte will now have a target on their backs. They will have to get through New York, Miami, Cleveland, and now Indiana to defend their Eastern Conference title.
NANCY LIEBERMAN, ESPN ANALYST |
![]() "I like this team. They are well coached. There�s no flash and dash. It�s pretty simplistic � execute and get out on defense." |