Western Conference preview and predictions

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Capsules by Associated Press. Predicted order of finish and bottom line by Seattle Times staff reporter Jayda Evans.

1) L.A. Sparks

Last season: 24-10, 1st, lost 2-1 to Detroit in finals.

Coach: Michael Cooper, 5th season, 105-25.

Key additions: G Teresa Weatherspoon (free agent, New York); F Tamika Whitmore (free agent, New York); F-C Christi Thomas (draft, No. 12, Georgia); G Doneeka Hodges (draft, No. 25, LSU); F Monique Coker (free agent); F Laura Macchi (free agent); G Raffaella Masciadri (free agent).

Strength: Depth. Weatherspoon and Whitmore add to a team that fell one win short of a third straight championship.

Weakness: Injuries. All five starters missed games last season, including 11 by Lisa Leslie. DeLisha Milton-Jones returned in the final exhibition game after recovering from a torn ACL in her right knee.

Bottom line: Addition of Whitmore will have fans thinking about another championship.

2) San Antonio Silver Stars

Last season: 12-22, 6th.

Coach: Dee Brown, 1st season with team, 16-16 overall.

Key additions: G-F Agnieszka Bibrzycka (free agent); C Mandisa Stevenson (free agent); G Toccara Williams (draft, No. 34, Texas A&M); C-F Jessie Hicks (free agent); G Shannon Johnson (trade, Connecticut); LaToya Thomas (dispersal draft, Cleveland).

Strength: Frontcourt. The 7-foot-2 Margo Dydek led the league in blocks for sixth straight season, averaging 2.9, and was ninth in rebounding with 7.4. Gwen Jackson had 6.2 rebounds, and Thomas had 10.8 points and 5.1 rebounds for Cleveland.

Weakness: Shooting. San Antonio was a league-worst 38.3 percent from the field.

Bottom line: Team is recharged under new coach Dee Brown, a former NBA player.

3) Sacramento Monarchs

Last season: 19-15, 3rd, lost 2-1 to Los Angeles in conference finals.

Coach: John Whisenant, 2nd season, 11-4.

Key additions: F Rebekkah Brunson (draft, No. 10, Georgetown), G Giuliana Mendiola (free agent).

Strength: Defense. The Monarchs improved from overall defensive ranking of 13th in 2002 to best last year. Sacramento increased its steals and defensive turnovers, and lowered opponents' shooting percentages.

Weakness: Offense. Sacramento was 12th overall, shooting just 40.9 percent — including 31.7 percent on three-pointers. Ticha Penicheiro shot 30.2 percent, the third-lowest among players with at least 400 minutes.

Bottom line: Aging team, but missing the Finals by a bucket will inspire anybody.

4) Seattle Storm

Last season: 18-16, tied for 4th.

Coach: Anne Donovan, 2nd season with team, 63-67 overall.

Key additions: C Janell Burse (trade, Minnesota); F-G Sheri Sam (trade, Minnesota); F Trina Frierson (draft, No. 19, Louisiana Tech); G Michelle Greco (free agent); G Betty Lennox (dispersal draft, Cleveland).

Strength: Offense. Seattle led league in offensive efficiency, and was third in scoring, averaging 70.2 points. Lauren Jackson will try to follow up an MVP season.

Weakness: Consistency. The Storm missed the playoffs despite ranking second in league in scoring differential. Seattle lost five straight down the stretch, including three to non-playoff teams.

Bottom line: With more passing options, Sue Bird could finally dethrone Ticha Penicheiro as the league's assist leader.

5) Houston Comets

Last season: 20-14, 2nd, lost 2-1 to Sacramento in first round.

Coach: Van Chancellor, 8th season, 161-59.

Key additions: G Kedra Holland-Corn (trade, Detroit); G Felicia Ragland (free agent); G Gordana Grubin (free agent); C Pollyanna Johns Kimbrough (dispersal draft, Cleveland); F-C Lucienne Berthau (dispersal draft, Cleveland); F Vanessa Nygaard (free agent); G Sheila Lambert (free agent).

Strength: Defense. Houston allowed fewest points in the league last season at 63.0.

Weakness: Rebounding. The Comets were 10th in rebounding (30.3 per game), and 13th in offensive rebounding percentage (27.3).

Bottom line: Coach Van Chancellor already has plans to win Olympic gold then return to win his fifth WNBA championship, but he'll miss it by a hair.

6) Phoenix Mercury

Last season: 8-26, 7th.

Coach: Carrie Graf, 1st season.

Key additions: G Diana Taurasi (draft, No. 1, Connecticut); F Penny Taylor (dispersal draft, Cleveland); F Shereka Wright (post-draft trade, Detroit, No. 13, Purdue); C Ashley Robinson (draft, No. 14, Tennessee); C Lindsay Taylor (post-draft trade, Houston, No. 26, Santa Barbara); G Nikki McCray (free agent, Indiana).

Strength: Backcourt. Taurasi's passing and playmaking skills instantly improve the team. She'll combine with McCray and Anna DeForge, who showed improvement in her second season.

Weakness: Inexperience. Coming off a disastrous season, the Mercury are in a rebuilding mode. Including Taurasi, Phoenix has four rookies.

Bottom line: Australian Penny Taylor could battle Jackson for MVP.

7) Minnesota Lynx

Last season: 18-16, tied for 4th, lost 2-1 to Los Angeles in first round.

Coach: Suzie McConnell Serio, 2nd season, 18-16.

Key additions: F Nicole Ohlde (draft, No. 6, Kansas State); C Vanessa Hayden (draft, No. 7, Florida); F Tasha Butts (draft, No. 20, Tennessee); G Amber Jacobs (draft, No. 33, Boston College); F Amanda Lassiter (trade, Seattle); F Gwen Slaughter (free agent).

Strength: Backcourt. Katie Smith averaged 18.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 45.7 percent shooting. Teresa Edwards, 39, led the Lynx with 4.4 assists per game.

Weakness: Roster changes. The team will look to find the right mix on the court after trading All-Star Sam and leading shot-blocker Janell Burse to the Storm.

Bottom line: Will be scorned by Seattle trade ... until Ohlde and Hayden mature.