The Indiana Fever open their 13th season tonight at Bankers Life Fieldhouse against the Atlanta Dream in a rematch of last year's Eastern Conference finals. Here are five things to watch in the WNBA this year:
1. Climbing without movement
Will two teams that changed little in the offseason -- the Fever and defending champion Minnesota Lynx -- make that pay off with trips to the WNBA Finals?
The Fever have retained the core of the team that came within one win of the 2009 championship. The Fever came within one win of the 2011 Finals despite injuries to Tamika Catchings and Briann January.
"It's hard to win a championship. But I think we have enough talent," coach Lin Dunn said. "We don't have the most talent in the league. But I think we have enough talent. We have enough experience. We have enough leadership to do that."
With Catchings shifting to power forward, the question will be whether the Fever can thrive with a lineup featuring three guards -- Katie Douglas, January and either Roneeka Hodges or Erin Phillips.
General managers must think so because they picked Indiana to win the East. GMs overwhelmingly picked the Lynx in the West.
2. Effect of Olympic break
The league will again suspend play for five weeks during the London Olympics. Some teams will be affected more than others.
For instance, neither three-time MVP Lauren Jackson (Australia) of the Seattle Storm nor center Erika deSouza (Brazil) of the Dream is joining her respective team until after the Olympics.
The Fever play 17 games through July 12, then 17 more from Aug. 16-Sept. 23. Catchings (USA) and Phillips (Australia) will be in London.
The Lynx have three U.S. Olympians: Seimone Augustus, Maya Moore and Lindsay Whalen.
3. The Sky is rising
The Chicago Sky have never made the playoffs, but the Fever's regional rival made offseason moves to become a genuine threat. They already had 6-6 Sylvia Fowles, center for Team USA. The Sky added four veterans -- Olympians Swin Cash and Ruth Riley, plus Ticha Penicheiro and Le'coe Willingham -- who have combined for eight WNBA championships. Chicago also has former Fever forward Shay Murphy (9.8 points per game last year).
4. Creating Sparks
No team was more active in the offseason than the Los Angeles Sparks. They hired a new coach in former Dream assistant Carol Ross, acquired Nicky Anosike and former All-Star guard Alana Beard, and landed No. 1 draft pick Nneka Ogwumike. That more than compensates for the loss of 37-year-old Tina Thompson, the WNBA's all-time scoring leader, who signed with Seattle.
If 2008 MVP Candace Parker stays healthy, the Sparks could not only make the playoffs but challenge the Lynx.
Former Fever forward Ebony Hoffman (7.5 points last year) remains with the Sparks.
5. Culture shock
Tulsa (3-31) is coming off the worst record in U.S. pro basketball history.
First-year coach Gary Kloppenburg, a former Fever assistant, revamped the roster but will be without top scorer Tiffany (Jackson) Jones. She is pregnant.
The Shock will build around newly acquired guard Temeka Johnson and 6-8 Liz Cambage, a 20-year-old Australian who begins her second season.
Call Star reporter David Woods at (317) 444-6195.
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