
	Wednesday, August 15 Updated: August 16, 3:26 AM ET

	Second season begins for WNBA's elite Associated Press
	LOS ANGELES -- The 18-game WNBA-record winning streak was great. And becoming the first team in league history to go undefeated at home was even better. But what the Los Angeles Sparks really want is to win their first WNBA championship. It's been on their minds since getting swept by Houston in the Western Conference finals last year, when they also brought a league-best 28-4 record into the playoffs. "All the preseason and training camp and season, and even the whole 18-game winning streak, all of it is in preparation for the games that are coming now," center Lisa Leslie said. "We realize it is the hardest thing we've ever done, but we are looking forward to the challenge." The Sparks won't have to wait much longer. They open the playoffs Saturday in Houston, which has won the championship in each of the WNBA's four seasons. Game 2 will be Monday at Staples Center, where the Sparks went 16-0 in their first season in the building they share with the two-time NBA champion Lakers. "Now we can start a new streak," said Michael Cooper, last year's WNBA coach of the year. "We are looking at this as an eight- or nine-game run. We can add on to that." Los Angeles won the season series against the Comets 2-1, but the games were close, decided by three, four and 11 points. "We'll play them all hard," guard Ukari Figgs said. "We'll play Houston the same way we've played anybody else -- aggressive." In their most recent meeting last Saturday, the Comets used a zone defense over the first 30 minutes to contain Leslie, who tied her season low with seven points. But the Sparks are no longer a one-player show. Mwadi Mabika had 22 points and Latasha Byears grabbed 17 rebounds to help the Sparks win. The 5-foot-11 Byears and 6-2 Rhonda Mapp were acquired in offseason trades that strengthened the Sparks in the post, where they provide a breather for Leslie. Leslie and Mabika averaged 13 points each against the Comets in the regular season, while Byears averaged 10.7 points and 10.3 rebounds. "We have a lot of weapons and we find a way to win," Leslie said. "Even the nights we don't, we come pretty close." Although the Sparks had their winning streak snapped with a loss at Utah on Monday, they bring greater momentum than Houston into the playoffs. The Comets (19-13) lost seven of their last 11 games, including a 56-38 defeat at Phoenix on Tuesday. Houston scored its fewest points and shot its worst field-goal percentage (23.6) in franchise history. Explosive scorer Tina Thompson has a nagging ankle injury that could be exploited if the Sparks play their usual running game. "She's having a tough time pushing off on her right foot, but she's playing big minutes," Comets coach Van Chancellor said. "We're having to play her big minutes. We don't have a choice." Also, the Comets don't have the injured Sheryl Swoopes or retired Cynthia Cooper, who helped them win four titles in four years as the team's leading scorers. Chancellor said Swoopes has been participating in drills and asking to rejoin the team in the playoffs, but Chancellor said he won't take a roster spot away from someone else. "If we had another month to go, I might dress her Saturday," he said. Thompson averaged 21 points and Janeth Arcain had 15.3 points against Los Angeles in their season series. "I think they are tired and that's going to be one advantage in the way this series is going to go," Chancellor said of his two players. "We don't play until Saturday and I think three days off will be really good for us." Sacramento's Ticha Penicheiro believes the Sparks are a better team than last season. "Lisa Leslie has stepped up her game and become a better leader," Penicheiro said. "They are deeper than they have been in the past. Michael Cooper has assembled some great players and made them into a great team because they are playing so well together." The playoffs, which are best-of-three series in each round, begin Thursday, when Eastern Conference champion Cleveland visits Charlotte. The other Western Conference matchup: Sacramento (20-12) vs. Utah (19-13) The Starzz shocked Los Angeles on the way to their first playoff appearance. Utah is 9-7 at home where they open Friday. "It's going to be a huge momentum builder for us," guard Marie Ferdinand said. Sacramento won the season series 2-1 and features league-leading rebounder Yolanda Griffith. The Monarchs went 14-6 to end the regular season. "It was a matter of chemistry," Griffith said. "When we were 6-6, we knew we were a better team than that. We took care of the mistakes we were making individually and made it better collectively." Both teams made midseason coaching changes. Utah promoted assistant Candi Harvey after Fred Williams quit, while Sacramento assistant Maura McHugh took over when Sonny Allen quit. This series features two of the league's best point guards in Penecheiro and Utah's Jennifer Azzi. Look for the Monarchs to try to win with 3-point shooting to get around 7-2 Utah center Margo Dydek, a potent shotblocker. "We have the best seed (two) in our franchise's history, so we want to go in there and steal the first game on their court," Penicheiro said. "Utah is very talented. We need to be aggressive and attack their post players and get our running game going." The Eastern Conference matchups: Cleveland (22-10) vs. Charlotte (18-14) The Rockers open at Charlotte, which has won seven consecutive at home and captured the season series 2-1. Cleveland lost three straight and four of five to end the regular season. "I think we have underestimated the attitude of these teams we've faced, teams with nothing to lose," rookie Penny Taylor said. "We've got to shut the book on the regular season and open a new one in the playoffs. We finished on top, but just as easily could finish on the bottom in the playoffs. We don't have the same passion that we did, and we know it," she said. The Rockers lack any big-name stars, but they do play great defense, and led the league in opponents' field-goal percentage (37.5). The Rockers, who went 14-2 at home, also set a season record for fewest points per game (55.2). "The battle I fight with this basketball team is getting them to understand the execution it will take at the difficult moments and the persistence it will take," Rockers coach Dan Hughes said. New York (21-11) vs. Miami (20-12) The Sol won the season series 2-1, and will need a win in Friday's opener at home to avoid having to sweep at Madison Square Garden, where the Liberty play well and attract big crowds. The Liberty led the league in field-goal shooting, and have double-figure scorers in Tari Phillips (15.4), Vickie Johnson (11) and Crystal Robinson (10.5). "They're tough to beat down there," Liberty forward Sue Wicks said. "They play a lot like us with the defense and the pressure and Richie (Adubato) and their coach (Ron Rothstein) are very similar. "It's funny because they run a lot of the same schemes. Let's see if they outsmart each other and change something," she said. The Liberty bring a lot of experience, having reached the WNBA finals three of the last four years, while Miami is in its second season in the league. Send this story to a friend \| Most sent stories		ALSO SEE Lieberman-Cline: Sting might surprise WNBA playoff schedule