Women S Nba

The injury this week to Tennessee women's basketball star Candace Parker should have no effect on her status heading into next week's WNBA draft, according to some of the league's coaches, including Michael Cooper of the Sparks, who hold the No. 1 pick. Parker, a redshirt junior for the Lady Vols and the NCAA player of the year last season, dislocated her left shoulder twice Tuesday night in a 53-45 victory over Texas A&M in the Oklahoma City Regional final of the NCAA tournament.

The WNBA has borrowed a corner of the NBA playoffs stage in a bid to win new fans -- men, to be exact. In a TV marketing campaign launched during Thursday's NBA telecasts, the WNBA shows three of its top players acting the role of what might be called a typical male sports fan. "Sorry, you couldn't pay me to watch women's basketball," Sparks rookie Candace Parker says into the camera in one commercial. "Nothing exciting ever happens. Look at the WNBA. The league has stayed the same for 10 years.

WNBA general managers, in a survey conducted by the league, predict the Sparks not only will win the WNBA title but the top two player awards will also belong to the Sparks. Five of the 12 general managers participating in the survey picked the Sparks to win their third league championship, while the Seattle Storm and defending champion Phoenix Mercury tied for second with two votes each.

Sidney Crosby is the NHL's best hope for retaining loyal fans and attracting casual fans who still wonder what offside means. He reached the Stanley Cup finals in only his third NHL season, one season faster than the great Wayne Gretzky. Crosby is a photogenic, humble kid who is accustomed to attention -- he was singled out in Canada as a phenom while still in grade school -- and he has proved to be a capable leader.

The WNBA suspended five Sparks players, including Candace Parker and Lisa Leslie, and five Detroit Shock players and assistant coach Rick Mahorn Thursday for their involvement in an on-court fight in Tuesday's game. As a result, the Sparks were without four starters, including Olympians Parker, Leslie and DeLisha Milton-Jones for their game against the Connecticut Sun on Thursday night at Mohegan Sun Arena. The Sparks lost, 87-61, to the Sun.

Two and possibly three prospects with Southern California ties could be selected in the WNBA draft today before it's the Sparks' turn to pick. Guards Noelle Quinn of UCLA, Shay Murphy of USC and Lyndsey Medders of Iowa State, who played at Torrance Bishop Montgomery, North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake and Oak Park high schools, all could be off the board before the Sparks are on the clock.

The No. 1 picks in the WNBA drafts, and the Sparks' top pick (with overall selection): * acquired Nikki Teasley, the No. 5 pick, in a draft-day trade *--* Year No. 1 pick Sparks' first pick Overall 1997 Tina Thompson, Houston Jamila Wideman No. 3 1998 Margo Dydek, Utah Allison Feaster No. 5 1999 Chamique Holdsclaw, Washington DeLisha Milton No. 4 2000 Ann Wauters, Cleveland Nicole Kubik No. 15 2001 Lauren Jackson, Seattle Camille Cooper No. 16 2002 Sue Bird, Seattle Rosalind Ross * No.

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.

Between them, the Sparks and the Detroit Shock have four WNBA championships, and one goal: to win another title. They go against each other tonight at Staples Center. The Sparks are 5-3 and still settling in after the retirement last week of forward Chamique Holdsclaw. They had a three-game winning streak ended Saturday in an 83-58 loss to the Minnesota Lynx. Life after Holdsclaw could get harder still against the Shock (7-1).

\o7I\f7\o7F THE \f7WNBA had a soundtrack, it would be the high-pitched chatter of predominantly female crowds, punctuated by occasional squeals. The chorus would be the upbeat songs that try so hard to create a festive atmosphere during Sparks games at Staples Center but often echo amid the dark suites and empty seats that testify to the difference between surviving and thriving. Midway through its 11th season, the WNBA will pause today for its All-Star game at Washington's Verizon Center.