10 Copyright (c) 2008 Yahoo!, Inc. All rights reserved. en-us 126 15 http://sports.yahoo.com http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/b/ysp_logo_rss.gif http://sports.yahoo.com/wnba Latest news and information about the WNBA. Before opening the 2008 season, the Phoenix Mercury will receive their championship rings and raise their title banner to the rafters of the US Airways Center. The Los Angeles Sparks, meanwhile, are just one year removed from finishing with the worst record in the WNBA, but have their sights set on a championship run of their own this season. Fri, 16 May 2008 09:58:37 PDT urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,ap:20050301:wnba,article,ap-20080517006.lospho.preview:1 The Atlanta Dream will face a stiff test when they take the court for the first regular-season game in franchise history. The Dream start play on the road Saturday against the Connecticut Sun, who feature a much different look from the team that was ousted in last season's Eastern Conference semifinals. Fri, 16 May 2008 09:10:50 PDT urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,ap:20050301:wnba,article,ap-20080517012.atlcon.preview:1 The Indiana Fever and Washington Mystics both have playoff aspirations this season. Each team, though, will be missing a major component instrumental toward that goal when they meet in the season opener on Saturday night. The Fever will be without six-time All-Star Tamika Catchings and the Mystics will be missing three-time All-Star Alana Beard when they square off at Conseco Fieldhouse. Fri, 16 May 2008 07:52:09 PDT urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,ap:20050301:wnba,article,ap-20080517013.wasind.preview:1 If having the reigning WNBA most valuable player wasn't enough, the Seattle Storm revamped their roster by adding three of the league's biggest names. The new-look Storm hope to rebound from a disappointing 2007 when they host the Chicago Sky in Saturday night's season opener. Last season, Seattle finished fourth in the Western Conference with a 17-17 record and were swept by eventual WNBA... Fri, 16 May 2008 07:30:23 PDT urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,ap:20050301:wnba,article,ap-20080517016.chisea.preview:1 Despite the loss of one the franchise's top players, the Detroit Shock are poised to again remain atop the Eastern Conference in 2008. The Shock begin their quest for a third straight conference championship when they open the season at home against the Houston Comets on Saturday afternoon. Detroit heads into 2008 after coming within one victory from repeating as WNBA champions, but it couldn't... Fri, 16 May 2008 07:01:24 PDT urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,ap:20050301:wnba,article,ap-20080517010.houdet.preview:1 Four years ago, after bringing the WNBA championship trophy to Seattle, Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson appeared on the cusp of a lengthy run atop the league. They were talented, experienced and, most importantly, young enough to create a long-standing championship contender every year in Seattle. Three years, and three first-round playoff exits later, the Storm looks very little like that title team,... Thu, 15 May 2008 15:16:04 PDT urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,ap:20050301:wnba,article,ap-stormrising:1 Yolanda Griffith was the face of the Monarchs franchise for nine seasons, winning an MVP award, a WNBA championship and making six All-Star teams as the leader for Sacramento. When the Monarchs open their season Saturday against San Antonio, the player that was at the center of just about everything Sacramento did both on and off the court is in Seattle. Thu, 15 May 2008 10:49:08 PDT urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,ap:20050301:wnba,article,ap-monarchs-nogriffith:1 The Connecticut Sun has given contract extension to head coach Mike Thibault and his two assistant coaches. The team did not release the terms, but said Wednesday the contracts for Thibault and assistants Scott Hawk and Bernadette Mattox would be extended through 2009, with a team option for the 2010 season. Wed, 14 May 2008 16:10:50 PDT urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,ap:20050301:wnba,article,ap-sun-thibault:1 San Antonio Silver Stars guard Shanna Crossley will miss the WNBA season after tearing a ligament in a preseason game. Crossley, a 39.6 percent career 3-point shooter, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee during Monday's preseason game against Detroit. Crossley, who was set to start her third season in the league and with the Silver Stars, will have surgery May 22, the team said... Wed, 14 May 2008 16:10:50 PDT urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,ap:20050301:wnba,article,ap-silverstars-crossley:1 The Washington Mystics on Wednesday announced that All-Star guard Alana Beard will miss the team's opener against the Indiana Fever Saturday with an undisclosed injury. Wed, 14 May 2008 16:04:01 PDT urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,st:20050301:wnba,article,txmysticsbeard:1 Fri, 16 May 2008 09:58:37 PDT