WNBA Fever: It might be Catchings

Things to keep an eye on as the WNBA kicks off its 11th season Saturday with five games, including the Sacramento Monarchs and

Detroit Shock squaring off in a nationally televised rematch of last year’s WNBA Finals:

TEAM TO WATCH

The Shock is considered by many a strong favorite to repeat, but the Indiana Fever was picked by 27.3% of the league’s general managers to win the championship, the same percentage that favored the Shock.

“I think as a whole we are excited to go into this season and being one of the teams that everybody is talking about,” three-time All-Star Tamika Catchings says of the Fever, which kept the core of its roster intact but improved at center by acquiring veteran Tammy Sutton-Brown and bolstered its reserve strength by adding veteran Sheri Sam and drafting Alison Bales, a 6-foot-7 center from Duke.

The Fever posted a franchise-best 21-13 record last season but was swept in the Eastern Conference semifinals by the Shock.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury, the No. 1 pick in the 2004 draft after helping Connecticut to three NCAA championships, is a former rookie of the year and three-time WNBA All-Star. She averaged a league-record 25.3 points last season, flourishing in Coach Paul Westhead’s high-octane system.

But something’s missing.

“I would’ve expected to play at least one playoff game by now,” she says, “but it hasn’t happened and hopefully this year we can turn the corner.”

With three-time MVP Lisa Leslie of the Sparks sidelined for most, if not all, of the season, 45.5% of the league’s general managers picked Taurasi to win the honor this year, but it won’t happen if the Mercury again misses the playoffs.

COACH TO WATCH

Michael Cooper knew when he returned to the Sparks last month that he would be without Leslie this season, but he didn’t know he’d also start the season without point guard Temeka Johnson.

The Sparks made no announcement in February when the 2005 rookie of the year had arthroscopic surgery on her right knee.

“I actually hurt it last year,” says Johnson, who is not expected to return to practice before next month, “but I took some time off to let my body rest and it was still bothering me, so I got it checked out and it needed a little cleanup job.”

Says Cooper, who maintains championship aspirations: “I think she’ll be there when we need her, but this team isn’t built up on one player.”

FASHION POLICE

WNBA teams will sport newly designed uniforms made from a mesh fabric that works to regulate body temperature.

“Of course, there will always be some complaints about fit because everybody’s body is different,” Catchings says. “For me, I don’t like the top part of the uniforms because my arms are a little more muscular than some people’s are.”

Says Taurasi: “I think they look a lot more professional.”

-- Jerry Crowe