ESPN.com: WNBA - ESPN.com's 2004 season preview

With more talent than ever and one less team, every franchise across the league should be better when season No. 8 opens tonight. Still, Detroit and Los Angeles remain the favorites, and in her preseason predictions, Nancy Lieberman thinks the Sparks will recapture the crown. Mechelle Voepel is ready for tipoff.

S. Stars-Comets | Merc.-Monarchs | Lynx-Storm

Rosters | Taurasi's debut | Cash flowing

WNBA.com: Season preview | Transactions

MORE PREVIEW COVERAGE

Chat wrap: Lindsay Whalen
See what the Sun's new point guard had to say in chat.

Lieberman: Milton-Jones' miracle
Holistic medicine, a trip to Austria and cheese helped mend a torn ACL.

Chat wrap: Rebecca Lobo
Lobo reflected on her days at UConn and New York, and the future of the WNBA.

ESPN Mag: Five-star camp
Hey, Diana and Alana -- to be the best, you have to beat the best.

MVP? East favorite?
SportsNation asks for your picks for the end-of-the-year awards and playoff teams.

SportsNation ListRanker
The season is quickly approaching. How do your power rankings line up?

WNBA.com's season preview
Get the skinny on season No. 8, including analysis of each team and key games.

WNBA.com viewer's guide
Must-see TV? These eight games stand out on this summer's schedule.

Mercury rising: Taurasi No. 1
Three-time NCAA champ Diana Taurasi was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 draft.

PAST CHAMPIONS

2003: Shock value
Ruth Riley, Swin Cash and Deanna Nolan helped the East win its first title since '97.
2002: Sparks repeat
Los Angeles held off New York to win its second straight WNBA crown.
2001: Sparks sweep Sting
Lisa Leslie had 24 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and seven blocks to lead L.A.
2000: Fantastic fourth
Houston rallied to beat New York 79-73 in OT for the Comets' fourth straight title.
1999: A win for Kim
Houston completed an emotional threepeat with a win in decisive Game 3.