Candace Parker, Lisa Leslie start new Sparks era Saturday

Somewhere between the mashed carrots and mixed vegetables, Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker began to sense it.

Leslie, the Sparks' three-time league most valuable player, and Parker, the team's highly acclaimed rookie, were in a South Bay grocery store shopping for Mother's Day cards and baby food. And then it happened.

Next thing they knew, they were holding an impromptu autograph session in Aisle 2.

"A lot of the people were, like, 'We're really excited about this season, we're going to be at your home opener,' and things like that," Parker said. "We had fun with it.' "

It was the first time Leslie and Parker ventured into the public eye together on their own. They'll make a different kind of debut this afternoon when the Sparks open the regular season in Phoenix against the defending WNBA champion Mercury.

Many predict the Sparks -- who have won the league title twice in 11 seasons, both times under Coach Michael Cooper -- are the team to beat.

"They're a strong team," said Ann Meyers Drysdale, general manager of the Mercury. "They've got a good mixture of veterans and young players."

It could be argued that Leslie and Parker are the most anticipated court duo in league history. While Leslie is the force of the Sparks, Cooper acknowledged he has been impressed with Parker.

"It kind of blows you away, that someone that young can come in with so much experience, not just skill-wise but knowledge-wise," he said. "It usually takes a rookie a year or two or three to really grasp what this league is about, but she has already gotten it and it's a joy to watch."

Leslie, a 6-foot-5 center, sat out last season after giving birth to her first child.

Parker, a 6-foot-4 forward, may be new but led Tennessee to back-to-back NCAA titles.

Two days after being drafted No. 1 overall, Parker was formally introduced to Leslie.

"We're just very similar people," Leslie said. "She's always open to learn and just ask me questions, whether it's on the court or off the court, financial stuff, business stuff. . . . I've kind of been where she is."

The bond was immediate. So were ticket sales.

In the two weeks after the draft, the Sparks sold seven times the number of season seats that were sold in the same period last year, according to Allison McGowen, the Sparks' chief operating officer.

"Other teams in the league have seen a threefold increase in single-game ticket sales for the games they are playing against the Sparks," she said. "And total new season seats sold so far for the 2008 season is up 10% over total new season seats sold last year."

Leslie's return and Parker's arrival have clearly caught the eye of more than just the league's modest legion of fans -- motorists, for one. The players' faces cover the sides of L.A. city buses with the slogan, "She's here. She's back." And on Wednesday night, Leslie and Parker were introduced at halftime of the Lakers playoff game at Staples Center.

The Sparks didn't stand pat, trading for DeLisha Milton-Jones, the defensive stopper who helped bring the team its titles, and signing free-agent shooting guard Marie Ferdinand-Harris, a three-time All-Star.

Meanwhile, former rookie of the year Temeka Johnson, the Sparks' floor leader, is expected to rebound from a knee injury that limited her to 11 games. And two former Lady Vols, rookie guard Shannon Bobbitt and second-year shooting guard Sidney Spencer, will be pressing for playing time. Tye'sha Fluker, a 6-5 backup center who played at Pasadena Muir High as well as Tennessee, was waived this week, along with third-year guard Sherill Baker and rookie guard Sharnee' Zoll, who was the Sparks' third-round draft pick last month.

To win the title, the Sparks will have to get past some strong teams.