WILL THE SORCERESSES INVADE WASHINGTON? D.C. LOOKS AT WNBA

          NBA Wizards President Susan O'Malley said Thursday that
     the organization "hopes to have an expansion team in the
     WNBA ... playing at MCI Center next season," according to
     Athelia Knight of the WASHINGTON POST.  O'Malley: "We are
     going to apply for an expansion team."  WNBA President Val
     Ackerman said that Washington is "a leading candidate for
     expansion," and that "they have been very active in making
     their interest known."  Ackerman also said that she "doesn't
     expect to make a decision on expansion" until after the Aug.
     30 championship game (WASHINGTON POST, 7/25).
          SHORT SHELF STAY: "Analysts say that the WNBA's
     successful inaugural season has meant only more business for
     sports retailers around the country, benefiting not only
     from people's interest in the ... sport but also the
     creation of a new kind of consumer," according to Marc
     Graser of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC.  An analyst who follows the
     Sports Authority chain for Chicago-based consulting firm
     William Blair said that "Women who perhaps had never entered
     a sports store are now looking for WNBA team merchandise." 
     A Sears spokesperson said WNBA merchandise in all markets
     "is moving quickly and that orders have doubled since the
     items were first introduced in June."  John Costello, Sears
     Senior Exec VP/Marketing: "We are continually looking for
     ways to connect with our female customer.  Our association
     with the WNBA will enable us to differentiate ourselves from
     our competition" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 7/25).

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