Coach: Nancy Lieberman-Cline
Arena: Palace at Auburn Hills
Team colors: Red, yellow, teal, silver and black
Top players: Sandy Brondello, forward (14.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg); Cindy Brown, forward (11.8 ppg, 10.0 rpg); Jennifer Azzi, guard; Korie Hlede, guard (14.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.7 apg)
1998 record: 17-13, finished fourth in East. Did not make playoffs.

Outlook
Detroit has been hampered severely by injuries during the preseason and frequently has been unable to field enough healthy players for a 5-on-5 scrimmage. Jennifer Azzi, the former ABL first-team selection and U.S. Olympic team gold medal winner, was sidelined by a muscle strain in her leg. Cindy Brown, the league's second-leading rebounder (10.0 per game) last season, and former George Washington standout T.J. Abraham also had muscle strains. Draft picks Val Whiting and Dominique Canty nursed sprained ankles. Detroit's three Australian players – Sandy Brondello, Carla Porter and Rachael Sporn – only recently joined the team after finishing their season with the Australian national team. The lack of healthy bodies has forced Coach Nancy Lieberman-Cline to don a practice jersey so that the team could scrimmage. Korie Hlede, who missed the end of last season after tearing the ACL in her right knee, has rehabilitated well from surgery. Hlede and Azzi are expected to form one of the more formidable back courts in the WNBA this season.

Schedule

June
12	at Minnesota	8 
14	at Cleveland	7 
17	Orlando	        7:30 
18	at Washington	7 
20	at New York	4 
22	Charlotte	7:30 
24	Houston	        7:30 
26	Phoenix	        4 
28	New York	7:30 
July
2	Los Angeles	7:30 
4	Sacramento	7:30 
6	at Utah	        9 
10	Washington	1 
12	at Orlando	12:30 
16	at Washington	7 
17	Cleveland	7:30 
21	Utah	        12 
23	at Cleveland	7 
25	Charlotte	5 
27	at Houston	8:30 
28	at Charlotte	7:30 
31	Cleveland	7:30 
August
2       Washington	7:30 
4	Minnesota	7:30 
6	at Sacramento	10 
9	at Los Angeles	10:30 
11	at Phoenix	10 
13	New York	8 
15	at New York	4 
18	at Orlando	7:30 
20	at Charlotte	8 
21      Orlando	        7:30