FRANCHISE NOTES

          WOMEN'S HOOPS: ABL CEO Gary Cavalli said the league
     plans to announce the addition of one expansion team by
     March 1.  The "leading contenders" are Tampa and Nashville
     (HARTFORD COURANT, 2/10)....76ers President Pat Croce said
     his club is interested in seeking a WNBA expansion team for
     the '99 season (PHILA. INQUIRER, 2/10)....WNBA Mercury
     VP/Ops Seth Sulka said that despite ticket increases, he
     anticipates almost 50% more season-ticket holders this year. 
     The team sold 4,500 season tickets last season, with 4,300
     new deposits on record.  Sulka: "We feel we have a good
     chance at 8,000 to 9,000 as a fan base" (AZ REPUBLIC, 2/10).
          MLB: Former Yankees GM Bob Watson will be receiving a
     $500,000 severance check.  According to sources, the deal
     included the stipulation Watson "would leave quietly and
     without any disparaging remarks" about Yankees Owner George
     Steinbrenner (Jerome Holtzman, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/8).