Coach: Orlando Woolridge
1998 record: 12-18, finished third in West. Did not make playoffs.

Outlook
Orlando Woolridge, who took over for Julie Rousseau after the team's 7-13 start last season, went 5-5 to finish the year. He added former Lakers standout Michael Cooper to his staff last month to improve the team's defense after the Sparks gave up an average of 72.3 points per game last season. The two NBA veterans will try to eliminate the team's chemistry problems of last season. The Sparks bolstered their front court by drafting DeLisha Milton, which will give Lisa Leslie more freedom to move out to the perimeter. Leslie led the league in rebounds (10.2 per game), double-doubles (16) and ranked third in scoring (19.6 points per game). Milton, a former ABL standout, helped lead the Portland Power to the Western Conference title in 1998. Penny Toler, who started last season at point guard, is apparently miffed she has lost her spot to rookie Ukari Figgs, a lightning-quick guard who helped lead Purdue to the NCAA championship in March, and reportedly is asking for a trade.

Schedule

June
10	at Los Angeles	10:30 
12	Phoenix	        10 
14	at Phoenix	10 
17	Cleveland	10 
19	at Utah	        8 
22	Minnesota	10 
24	Utah	        4 
26	Los Angeles	10 
29	at Minnesota	8 
July
2	at Washington	8 
4	at Detroit	7:30 
5	at New York	7:30 
8	Houston	        10 
9	at Los Angeles	10:30 
11	at Houston	8 
16	at Cleveland	8 
17	at Orlando	7:30 
19	at Minnesota	8 
22	New York	10 
24	Orlando	        10:30 
27	Minnesota	10 
29	Washington	10 
31	at Utah	        8 
August
2	at Houston	8:30 
4	at Charlotte	7:30 
6	Detroit	        10 
7	Phoenix	        10 
10	Los Angeles	10 
13	Charlotte	10 
14	Utah	        10 
17	at Phoenix	10 
21	Houston	        10