Mystics Full of Surprises
The WNBA season is only three weeks old, but in a 32-game schedule it’s never too early to spot surprises and disappointments.
Right now the biggest surprise is the 4-1 Washington Mystics. The team had been crawling up the victory ladder--12-20 in 1999, 14-18 in 2000--but regressed last year to 10-22.
New Coach Marianne Stanley junked the confusing half-court system that Tom Maher had installed last season and told her team to run and gun. Washington, not a very big team to begin with, has taken flight.
Another key: Talented but mercurial star Chamique Holdsclaw has matured (especially with her former Tennessee coach, Pat Summitt, watching as a Mystic consultant). Holdsclaw is more willing to share the ball with her teammates, and they are more willing to see their budding superstar shine.
In addition, Stacey Dales-Schuman, the third pick in the draft, is a solid second scorer at 15.2 points a game.
Although Dales-Schuman did not work out as a point guard (17 turnovers against 12 assists), she is flourishing as a wing player running the lanes, and she is an effective passer from the perimeter.
Other early surprises include 4-2 Indiana--Tamika Catchings appears to be as good as advertised--and 3-1 Phoenix, which will keep improving the more fiery Coach Cynthia Cooper calms down.
The disappointments? Sacramento and Miami.
Last season these teams each won 20 games and made the playoffs. Today Miami is 1-5 and Sacramento 0-4.
Injuries have played a part in their troubles. But the winless Monarchs, with a veteran nucleus, should not look this shabby even without All-Star center Yolanda Griffith and key reserve Edna Campbell.
Scoring has been spotty at best for Sacramento. In 2001 the Monarchs were a respectable 42.4% from the field. That figure has dipped to 38% in 2002, with no player averaging more than 12 points.
With the East having more parity among its eight teams, the Sol can recover from injuries and still rise from the cellar to battle for a playoff spot.
TV Deal
The WNBA has entered a six-year agreement with ABC and ESPN to televise regular-season and playoff games, beginning in 2003.
ABC will broadcast regular-season and playoff games on Saturday afternoons. Under the current contract, NBC shows 10 regular-season games, plus as many five as postseason games.
ESPN and ESPN2, which have shown games since the league began in 1997, extended the current agreement six years. In addition to regular-season and playoff games, ESPN will continue to broadcast the WNBA All-Star Game and WNBA draft. ESPN2 will also develop a half-hour show preceding each telecast.
NBC’s three WNBA telecasts have averaged a 1.2 national rating, down 8% from a year ago.
The WNBA recently signed a two-year contract with the Oxygen cable channel, calling for 11 regular-season telecasts this season and an unspecified number next season.
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Staff Writer Larry Stewart contributed to this report.