One of the big stories of the 2007 season was the dramatic rise to the top of the league of Dan Hughes' San Antonio Silver Stars.  Spurred on (sorry, I couldn't resist) by the big draft day trade that yielded MVP candidate Becky Hammon, and some other outstanding personnel moves, the Stars pushed eventual champion Phoenix in the playoffs.  Well, the Stars are back, they are strong, and they are ready for a serious run at the title.

Hammon leads the offense, and while it will be hard for her to duplicate her immense success of 2007 (18.8 ppg, 5.0 apg), there are plenty of other weapons to help diversify and spread the points around.  Sophia Young is, in plain English, a stud.  A dominant presence, her 16.8 ppg and 5.8 rpg were second on the team in both.  And there is no reason to believe she won't continue to get better!  Erin Buescher returns from injury, and when healthy, was yet another double figure scorer, and led the team in rebounding.  Ruth Riley isn't needed to score on this team, just bang, set picks and rebounds, and she is still a very good passer.  Vickie Johnson continues to not age, easing the ball handling burden for Hammon, and playing solid defense, and the backup backcourt of Shanna Crossley and Helen Darling is as solid as any tandem in the league.

The loss of Camille Little via trade to expansion Atlanta. and free agent Marie Ferdinand-Harris will hurt a little bit, but let's face it, we're nit picking here.  Texas A&M draft choice Morenike Atunrase or the injury prone Kendra Wecker will get some looks, and veteran Edwidge Lawson-Wade could help, and Crossley can certainly handle increased minutes.  If, somehow, Hammon can help persuade wayward Center Ann Wauters, acquired for Little, to wander over to the US for the season, San Antonio just may be the team to beat in the west.

Notable Additions: Wauters?  Lawson-Wade, Atunrase

Notable Subtractions: Little, Ferdinand-Harris

Probable Starters:  C  Ruth Riley, F Sophia Young, F  Erin Buescher,  G  Becky Hammon, G  Vickie Johnson

Summary:  Los Angeles, Seattle, and Phoenix are all legitimate candidates for west coast supremacy, but no one should be sleeping on San Antonio.  From top to bottom, this may be the deepest roster in the league, and Hughes has proven to be a strong and confident coach.  If this team can stay injury free, there is no reason to think that they won't be there in the end once again.