The WNBA's second season begins tomorrow "but that
hardly matters," according to Nancy Gay of the S.F.
CHRONICLE, who writes that the league's new "jingle," Join
In, "has become both infectious and incredibly maddening."
Gay reports that the WNBA has "come out this spring in full
attack mode, spending freely and signing most of the big-
name college and international stars in an effort to boost
its credibility and box office appeal." Gay puts the
league's marketing budget at $15M (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/10).
In Ft. Lauderdale, Sharon Robb reports that after an
offseason that featured expansion and the scheduling of
more regular-season and postseason games, "the WNBA doesn't
need much hype" (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 6/10). In
Boston, Barbara Huebner writes that during the offseason,
the WNBA signed "virtually all the top talent coming out of
college." Mercury GM/coach Cheryl Miller, on the rise of
talent throughout the league: "It's night and day from last
season." Header above the GLOBE's WNBA preview: "More
Teams, More Games -- And Barbie, Too" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/10).
ANYONE SEEN SHERYL? In Houston, W.H. Stickney reports
that Sheryl Swoopes, "the Comets' so-called franchise
player" and one of the three charter WNBA players, missed
two practice sessions yesterday -- one an "open" workout,
"neither absence excused" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/10).
