There's a lot of uncertainty about the future look of the WNBA, what with a four-team expansion and sure Olympic attrition coming up for 2000.
But when the 1999 Utah Starzz broke camp for the last time Sunday morning -- cleaning out their Delta Center lockers and having one last team meeting plus individual meetings with coach Fred Williams about their personal goals, futures and his pending tattoo -- most players were upbeat and optimistic.Maybe it was because All-Star Natalie Williams announced to the crowd the night before that she would definitely be back in a Starzz uniform next summer to see if she can't improve on her No. 2 WNBA ranking in rebounding (9.2 average) and No. 4 finish in scoring (18.0 points).
Maybe it was because the Starzz won as many games in August (seven) as they did in all of their 1997 season. At 7-3, they finished hotter than any WNBA team except regular-season champion Houston, 8-2 in the same period. The 15-17 record doubled the total of wins through the first two seasons put together and tied with five other teams with the same record: Charlotte, Detroit, Orlando, Sacramento and Minnesota. Charlotte and Detroit made the playoffs, tying for second place in the Eastern Conference.
Maybe it was because Fred Williams told them all he wanted them back on the Starzz team.
Nearly all of the Starzz players made some positive statement toward returning to the Utah franchise next year, even though only rookies Dalma Ivanyi and Krystyna Lara still have contracts for next season.
Elena Baranova, the only remaining original Starzz player, had concerns about her playing time, which averaged only 19.7 minutes in '99. But after her meeting with Fred Williams, she talked of returning even if the Russian Olympic team wants her to stay and train for the September 2000 games in Sydney.
Asked if she might be back, she said, "No, it's exactly I will be back. It's my decision. I decide," she said regarding her Russian club and Olympic involvement.
Another Olympian, Margo Dydek of Poland, said she would also like to play in Utah again. With Poland making the Olympics for the first time in 25 years after winning the European Championships held in Poland, she will likely do whatever that coach wants. The same with Lara, another member of the Polish national team.
But Dydek seemed interested in returning if it can be worked out.
Dydek won the league blocked-shots title, was 19th in scoring (12.6), tied for 10th in rebounding (6.4), sixth in free-throw percentage (.857) and ninth in field-goal percentage (.498). Williams was sixth (.519) in the latter category.
ABL veterans Debbie Black and Adrienne Goodson must re-sign with the WNBA. But both, after seemingly wavering on Saturday night, said they will sign again.
As for Utah, "If they want me back, I will be back," said Goodson, who finished the season with 26 consecutive double-figure scoring games and a 14.9 average that was 10th in the league.
"I will continue to play until I can't," said Black, 32, as is Goodson.
Black will sign a WNBA deal. "For sure. I wouldn't not play," she said, adding of her Utah intents, "I'd like to finish what we started," she said.
LaTonya Johnson, who started 18 of 31 games, will re-sign with the league. "I enjoy playing for the Starzz," she said. "I think we're on an upswing. They're great people to work with."
Cindy Brown, 34, obtained with Korie Hlede from Detroit in a July 29 trade for Wendy Palmer and Olympia Scott-Richardson, said she's not ready to retire, as has been suggested. In fact, the 1988 Olympic gold-medalist spoke of a championship. "When I get my ring, I'll have accomplished my goal," she said.
Brown said she needs the off-time to rediscover her confidence that was lost at Detroit, but she said it started coming back as she stepped on the Delta Center floor for the first time on July 31. She recalls coming out the tunnel and seeing fans wearing a different color than she was used to seeing at Detroit. It was a little intimidating for a second, but then she spotted a boy holding a sign with her name on it, and it made her feel welcome. "I never got a chance to meet him," she said.
She specifically asked if she could "give a shout out for the fans. They were super and made us feel at home," said Brown, adding the fans are making the WNBA a success.
Hlede is anxious to re-sign and return to Utah.
Chantel Tremitiere doesn't know her future. Two years ago with Sacramento, she played more than any WNBA player (37.5 minutes a game). In '99, coming back from a training-camp injury, she averaged 9.6 minutes in 23 games, most of the time coming in the last 10 games. "I want to play on a playoff team, and I would love to come back to Utah," she said. "I love the fans and coach Williams."
Though Ivanyi has a contract, she's not sure about her future because she would likely be exposed to the expansion draft, so she says hasn't really thought about it, adding that others have a big say in her future career.