LOBO BELIEVES TIME IS RIGHT FOR WNBA PLAYERS TO FORM UNION

          During media day for the WNBA Liberty yesterday at the
     Reebok Club in Manhattan, Rebecca Lobo expressed hope that a
     players' union would soon be formed, according to Ackert &
     Garcia of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS.  Lobo: "We don't need it to
     demand million-dollar salaries like the NBA, but we need it
     for the little reasons.  We need it to make sure the lowest
     players are paid a little more than $5,000 a year and guard
     against agents.  Right now we don't have anyone to certify
     agents" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/12).  Lobo added that "many" of
     the players' two-year contracts will expire after this year,
     making the time ripe to unionize.  WNBA President Val
     Ackerman said the unionization process "is a player
     decision.  The whole issue and when is a good time is
     entirely up to the players.  Our approach would be to try to
     be constructive" (AP/DETROIT NEWS, 5/12).  
          TICKET SALES: At media day, the Liberty said they have
     sold more than 5,500 season tickets, with pre-season set to
     start in 19 days on May 31 (N.Y. POST, 5/12).