Liberty Gets Another Shot at Comets

Last year the WNBA finals opener cost the New York Liberty a league title.

This year, in the same place, against the same opponent, the Liberty gets another shot.

New York will play host to the first game of the best-of-three championship series tonight at Madison Square Garden against the three-time champion Houston Comets.

Last year the Liberty lost, 73-60, in Game 1.

Had New York won, it would have clinched the title with Teresa Weatherspoon’s dramatic half-court game-winning shot in Game 2 at Houston.

Madison Square Garden remains no minor advantage for the Liberty. This year New York is riding a 13-game home winning streak into tonight’s opener.

“New York is a vastly improved team from even a month ago,” Houston Coach Van Chancellor said. “I think the Liberty will be very good in handling the pressure. That’s why I didn’t want to play them in the finals.”

Weatherspoon said this year’s Liberty team (24-13) is the most athletic the Comets (31-5) have faced.

“Nobody believed in ourselves and our fans,” she said.

The Comets’ title ascent this year wasn’t routine.

“We’re amazed we are here,” Chancellor said. “How many thought it was going to be both coasts, L.A. and New York, in the finals? This team has the most pride of any team I’ve been involved with.”

WNBA Notes

Houston forward Sheryl Swoopes was the leading vote-getter with 300 points, one point ahead of the Spark center Lisa Leslie, on the 2000 all-WNBA first team selected by 62-member media panel. Rounding out the first team were guards Cynthia Cooper of Houston and Ticha Penicheiro of Sacramento and forward Natalie Williams of Utah. Second-team choices were Yolanda Griffith of Sacramento, Tina Thompson of Houston, Katie Smith of Minnesota, Teresa Weatherspoon of New York, Shannon Johnson of Orlando and Betty Lennox of Minnesota. The latter two tied for the final place on the team.

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WNBA Finals

Houston vs. New York

Best-of-three series:

* Game 1: Tonight, at New York, 5.

* Game 2: Saturday at Houston, 10:30 a.m.

* Game 3: Sunday at Houston, 10:30 a.m., if necessary.

All times Pacific