Holdsclaw Debut Is 83-73 Loss

Chamique Holdsclaw had never lost the first game of a season. Then again, she’d never played against Dawn Staley.

Staley, the former Virginia star who spent two seasons in the ABL, upstaged Holdsclaw’s highly anticipated WNBA debut Thursday night with a dazzling 23 points--including 15 in the second half--as the Charlotte Sting beat the Washington Mystics, 83-73, at Washington in the season opener.

“I think Holdsclaw is a very good player,” Charlotte Coach Marynell Meadors said. “But every time she scored, Staley scored one right on top of her.”

Neither Holdsclaw’s 18 points and six rebounds nor the announced sellout crowd of 20,674 could mask the obvious: Even though they are better with the two-time player of the year from Tennessee, the Mystics still have a ways to go to catch the league’s best teams.

“We’re young, and it definitely was a learning experience,” said Holdsclaw, who made seven of 14 shots. “We’re going to have to change things around. I know it’s the first game, but I guess I’m a sore loser. I love to win.”

Houston 77, Orlando 63--The two-time defending WNBA champion Comets spoiled the debut of the expansion Miracle in front of 15,422 at Orlando, with two-time WNBA player of the year Cynthia Cooper hobbling to 24 points, seven rebounds and seven assists before a crowd of 15,422.

Tina Thompson had 22 points and 12 rebounds and Sheryl Swoopes had 18 points, eight during a 19-2 second-half run that enabled the Comets to pull away.

Taj McWilliams led Orlando, one of two expansion teams this season, with 15 points. Nykesha Sales and Shannon Johnson added 13 apiece.

Cooper suffered a sprained right ankle in practice Wednesday and limped through warmups and most of the game. Nevertheless, she made seven of 10 shots and played all but three minutes of the game, including the entire second half.

New York 87, Cleveland 60--Vickie Johnson scored 17 points to lead the Liberty over the Rockers before 12,411 at New York.

The Liberty won without leading rebounder Rebecca Lobo, who suffered a twisted left knee in the opening minute of the game and did not return. She did not return to the game and underwent an MRI to determine the extent of her injury.