Leaf arrested at border on Texas charges

DALLAS — Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf posted a $45,000 bond Wednesday in Washington for drug and burglary charges out of Texas after being arrested by customs agents as he returned to the United States from Canada.

James Farren, the district attorney in Randall County in West Texas, said Leaf was arrested Wednesday by federal customs agents. Legal assistant Jennifer Bonstein said Leaf declined to waive extradition during a hearing Wednesday afternoon in Bellingham, Wash., about 90 miles north of Seattle.

Wendy Jones, chief corrections deputy for the Whatcom County Jail, confirmed that Leaf posted bond Wednesday evening.

Leaf’s attorney in Washington told the court Leaf would post the bond and return to Texas by himself. Leaf also was to come back to court in Whatcom County on July 16, Bonstein said.

Bill Kelly, Leaf’s attorney in Texas, said his client was returning to Texas to turn himself in by a Thursday deadline.

“I assume when he was crossing the border, they picked him up,” Kelly said.

The ex-Washington State University and San Diego Chargers quarterback is charged with burglary to a habitation, a second-degree felony. Leaf also was indicted on seven counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and one count of delivery of a simulated controlled substance.

Leaf coached quarterbacks at West Texas A&M in Canyon, where the indictment was returned in May.

Leaf, who resigned from West Texas A&M after being investigated for drug crimes in November, was working in British Columbia, his attorney said. Kelly, a former head football coach at the college, said Leaf “has been to rehab and successfully completed it.”

Leaf, who coached for three seasons at West Texas A&M, spent four seasons in the NFL after being chosen with the No. 2 pick in the 1998 draft by the Chargers.

In his NFL career, which included stints with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys, Leaf had 14 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. He was better known for outbursts directed at teammates, coaches, fans and reporters.

Mariners pick Ackley at No. 2

The Seattle Mariners chose North Carolina junior center fielder Dustin Ackley with the second-overall pick in the Major League Baseball entry draft on Tuesday.

The Washington Nationals selected San Diego State pitcher Stephen Strasburg with the first pick.

2009 Seattle Storm schedule/roster

ROSTER

NUM	PLAYER	POS	HT	WT	DOB	FROM	YRS
9	Suzy Batkovic-Brown	C	6-4	197	12/17/1980	Australia	1
10	Sue Bird	G	5-9	150	10/16/1980	Connecticut	7
33	Janell Burse	C	6-5	199	05/19/1979	Tulane	7
2	Swin Cash	F	6-1	162	09/22/1979	Connecticut	7
4	Katie Gearlds	G-F	6-1	184	10/26/1984	Purdue	2
15	Lauren Jackson	F-C	6-5	187	05/11/1981	Australia	8
14	Shannon Johnson	G	5-7	152	08/18/1974	South Carolina	10
20	Camille Little	F	6-2	180	01/18/1985	North Carolina	2
43	Ashley Robinson	C	6-4	180	08/12/1982	Tennessee	5
44	Ashley Walker	F-C	6-1		02/24/1987	California	R
30	Tanisha Wright	G	5-11	165	11/29/1983	Penn State	4

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SCHEDULE

Upcoming Games June Opponent Time Sat 06 @ Sacramento 1:00pm Sun 07 vs Sacramento 6:00pm Tue 09 @ Indiana 4:00pm Fri 12 @ Minnesota 5:00pm Sun 14 @ Chicago 3:00pm Fri 19 vs Minnesota 7:00pm Sun 21 @ Phoenix 5:00pm Fri 26 vs Los Angeles 7:00pm Sun 28 @ Los Angeles 6:30pm July Opponent Time Wed 01 @ Phoenix 7:00pm Tue 07 vs San Antonio 12:00pm Thu 09 vs Sacramento 6:00pm Sun 12 vs Chicago 6:00pm Wed 15 vs Detroit 7:00pm Fri 17 @ Sacramento 7:00pm Sun 19 vs Minnesota 5:00pm Wed 22 vs Los Angeles 7:00pm Tue 28 @ San Antonio 5:00pm August Opponent Time Sat 01 vs San Antonio 7:00pm Tue 04 vs Phoenix 7:00pm Thu 06 @ Los Angeles 7:30pm Sat 08 vs New York 7:00pm Thu 13 @ Connecticut 4:00pm Sat 15 @ Atlanta 4:00pm Tue 18 @ Detroit 4:30pm Sat 22 vs Indiana 7:00pm Tue 25 vs Washington 7:00pm Thu 27 vs Connecticut 7:00pm Sat 29 vs Atlanta 7:00pm September Opponent Time Tue 01 @ New York 4:30pm Thu 03 @ Washington 4:00pm Sat 05 @ Minnesota 5:00pm Thu 10 vs Phoenix 7:00pm Sat 12 @ San Antonio 5:00pm

2009 WNBA preview capsules

WESTERN CONFERENCE

SEATTLE STORM

2008: 22-12, 2nd; lost 2-1 to Los Angeles in conference semifinals.

COACH: Brian Agler, 2nd season with team, 70-79 overall.

KEY ADDITIONS: G Shannon Johnson (free agent, Houston); C Suzy Batkovic (free agent).

KEY LOSSES: F Sheryl Swoopes (waived); F Shyra Ely (free agent, Chicago); F Yolanda Griffith (free agent, Indiana).

STRENGTHS: Experience, leadership. The Storm’s key signing in the offseason came when free-agent Lauren Jackson decided to stay in Seattle rather than jump to Phoenix. The two-time MVP averaged 20.2 points and 7.0 rebounds in 21 games before leaving to join the Australian national team for the Olympics. She injured her ankle in Beijing and didn’t return for the final stretch of the season. Sue Bird (14.1 ppg, 5.1 apg) was again solid at the point and picked up her scoring in Jackson’s absence. Seattle also gets forward Janell Burse (8.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg in 2007) back after she missed last season to rest lingering injuries.

WEAKNESS: Depth. Jackson, Burse and Swin Cash (11.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg) are all coming off injuries. The 6-foot-4 Batkovic is back in the league after playing with the Storm in 2005. Ashley Robinson, Camille Little and the rookie Walker provide help up front, but the backcourt depth could be lacking. Tanisha Wright filled in nicely when Swoopes was slowed by injuries down the stretch and will likely start alongside Bird. Johnson is an experienced backup at the point, but after that, it’ll be up to Katie Gearlds and A’Quonesia Franklin to provide valuable minutes.

LOS ANGELES SPARKS

2008: 20-14, 3rd, lost to San Antonio 2-1 in conference finals.

COACH: Michael Cooper, 8th season, 146-69.

KEY ADDITIONS: F Tina Thompson (free agent, Houston); G Noelle Quinn (trade, Minnesota); F-C Vanessa Hayden (trade, Minnesota); G Betty Lennox (free agent, Atlanta); F Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton (draft, No. 13, Purdue); F Kristi Harrower (free agent).

KEY LOSSES: F Christi Thomas (trade, Minnesota); F Sidney Spencer (trade, New York); F Raffaella Masciadri (trade, Minnesota); G Temeka Johnson (trade, Phoenix); F Murriel Page (waived); C Jessica Moore (waived).

STRENGTHS: Frontcourt, experience. Having three Olympians — Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker and DeLisha Milton-Jones — wasn’t enough for the Sparks last season. So, Los Angeles made the biggest moves of the offseason, signing Thompson — another Olympian — to try to help get Leslie another championship in her farewell season. Hayden could also see significant minutes, especially while Parker is recovering after giving birth to a daughter last month. The backcourt was a weakness last year, but the Sparks are vastly improved there, with the additions of Lennox and Quinn.

WEAKNESS: Chemistry. Last year’s struggles exposed the Sparks’ weaknesses despite expectations of greatness. The only questions will center on how quickly the team jells, and whether Parker’s return will disrupt the chemistry they develop in her absence. Cooper believes the delayed start to training camp will be a big bonus for his team because it allowed for three solid weeks with everyone — except for Parker — to get on the same page.

MINNESOTA LYNX

2008: 16-18, tied for 6th.

COACH: Jennifer Gillom, 1st season.

KEY ADDITIONS: G Kelly Miller (trade, Phoenix); F Christi Thomas (trade, Los Angeles); F LaToya Pringle (trade, Phoenix); F Raffaella Masciadri (trade, Los Angeles); G Renee Montgomery (draft, No. 4, Connecticut); C Quanitra Hollingsworth (draft, No. 9, Virginia Commonwealth); F Rashanda McCants (draft, No. 15, North Carolina).

KEY LOSSES: G Lindsey Harding (trade, Washington); C Nicole Ohlde (trade, Phoenix); F-C Vanessa Hayden (trade, Los Angeles); C Kristen Rasmussen (waived); G Noelle Quinn (trade, Los Angeles); G Anna DeForge (waived).

STRENGTH: Backcourt. The Lynx are solid with Seimone Augustus (19.1 ppg), Sixth Woman of the Year award winner Candice Wiggins (15.7 ppg), Miller and the rookie Montgomery. The former UConn star will likely come off the bench in the beginning of the season. DeForge, a seven-year veteran who is a career 38-percent shooter on 3-pointers, had her contract bought out on Friday.

WEAKNESSES: Chemistry, experience. Gillom was promoted to head coach after Don Zierden resigned to join Flip Saunders’ staff with the Washington Wizards just days before the start of the season. The last-minute change could be a distraction to the Lynx, who made a slew of changes and will be one of the youngest teams in the league again. Wiggins, center Nicky Anosike (9.2 ppg, team-highs of 6.8 rpg, 2.2 spg), and Charde Houston (8.9 ppg) are coming off solid rookie campaigns and are the future core of the franchise. Minnesota has only two players — Miller and Thomas — with at least five years of experience.

PHOENIX MERCURY

2008: 16-18, tied for 6th.

COACH: Corey Gaines, 2nd season, 16-18.

KEY ADDITIONS: C Nicole Ohlde (trade, Minnesota); G Temeka Johnson (trade, Los Angeles); F DeWanna Bonner (draft, No. 5, Auburn); G Ketia Swanier (waivers, Connecticut).

KEY LOSSES: G Kelly Miller (trade, Minnesota); F LaToya Pringle (trade, Minnesota); F-C Barbara Farris (trade, Sacramento).

STRENGTH: Offense. Using former coach Paul Westhead’s frenetic offense, the Mercury led the league in scoring (88.5) for the third straight season. Diana Taurasi (24.1 ppg) and Cappie Pondexter (21.2 ppg) were the WNBA’s top two scorers. Phoenix was also tied for second in field-goal shooting, fourth in rebounding, fifth in assists and 12th in turnovers. The 5-foot-3 Johnson was brought in to run the offense this year. After winning the Rookie of the Year award with Washington in 2005, she slipped while enduring injuries the last three years with Los Angeles. The 6-4 Bonner should fit in nicely in the fast-paced offense.

WEAKNESSES: Defense, scoring balance. On the flip side of the offense-first system, Phoenix was last in the league in scoring defense and 13th in steals. The Mercury sorely missed a consistent third scorer in defense of their 2007 championship after Penny Taylor (17.8 ppg in 2007) skipped the season to train with the Australian national team for the Olympics and has not returned this year. The Mercury pursued free-agent Lauren Jackson, but she decided to remain with Seattle. Tangela Smith (11.1 ppg) and Le’Coe Willingham (10.1 ppg) also scored in double figures last season. Ohlde will miss several weeks while recovering from a stress fracture in her left foot.

SACRAMENTO MONARCHS

2008: 18-16, 4th; lost to San Antonio 2-1 in conference semifinals.

COACH: Jenny Boucek, 3rd season, 37-31.

KEY ADDITIONS: F Hamchetou Maiga-Ba (free agent, Houston); C Courtney Paris (draft, No. 7, Oklahoma).

KEY LOSSES: G A’Quonesia Franklin (trade, Phoenix), F Adrian Williams-Strong (free agent).

STRENGTHS: Backcourt, experience. The Monarchs had a surprising run to postseason last year, winning 10 of 13 down the stretch to secure the West’s last playoff spot. Ticha Penicheiro (8.6 ppg, 5.2 apg, 2.0 spg) again anchors a strong backcourt, and Kara Lawson (12.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.1 apg) has emerged as starter at shooting guard. Forward Rebekkah Brunson (10.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg) gave the Monarchs another double-digit scorer. The trio, along with Nicole Powell, DeMya Walker and Maiga-Ba played in consecutive WNBA finals in 2005 and ’06, and Chelsea Newton was on the 2005 championship team. Maiga-Ba is back after spending the last two years with Houston.

WEAKNESSES: Depth. Brunson is coming off knee surgery and Walker has missed most of the last two seasons with an injured knee as well. Powell (13.6 ppg) led the team in scoring, Crystal Kelly (7.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg) filled in nicely for Brunson down the stretch, and Laura Harper (5.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg) also had a solid rookie season. The Monarchs, 11th in rebounding and 12th in field-goal shooting, need more consistent play inside, and Paris — a four-time AP All-American who set nearly 20 NCAA records at Oklahoma — could provide a big boost.

SAN ANTONIO SILVER STARS

2008: 24-10, 1st; lost to Detroit 3-0 in WNBA finals.

COACH: Dan Hughes, 5th season with team, 140-146 overall.

KEY ADDITIONS: C Katie Feenstra Mattera (free agent, Atlanta); G Belinda Snell (free agent); G-F Megan Frazee (draft, No. 14, Liberty).

KEY LOSSES: G Morenike Atunrase (waived); F Sandora Irvin (waived).

STRENGTHS: Backcourt, experience. The Silver Stars are coming off their most successful season since moving from Utah in 2003. All-Star Becky Hammon (17.6 ppg, 4.9 apg), Sophia Young (17.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and Ann Wauters (14.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg) were a formidable trio. San Antonio rolled to the league’s best record, edged Sacramento in OT in Game 3 of the first round and needed a last-second shot from Young to avoid elimination in Game 2 against the Sparks in the conference finals. Hammon and longtime veteran teammate Vickie Johnson, one of the few remaining players from the league’s first season, again anchor the backcourt. Shanna Crossley is back after missing last season with a torn ACL in her left knee, and reserves Helen Darling and Edwidge Lawson-Wade provide valuable minutes.

WEAKNESS: Frontcourt. Wauters is taking the first half of the season off to remain overseas and rest. Ruth Riley will take her place in the starting lineup, and the Silver Stars signed Mattera — who began her career with the team — as a backup. Snell joins the team after sitting out last year following a championship season with Phoenix in 2007.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

ATLANTA DREAM

2008: 4-30, 7th place.

COACH: Marynell Meadors, 2nd season with team, 42-62 overall.

KEY ADDITIONS: C Michelle Snow (free agent, Houston); F Chamique Holdsclaw (trade, Los Angeles); G Nikki Teasley (free agent); F Sancho Lyttle (dispersal draft, Houston; F Angel McCoughtry (draft, No. 1 overall, Louisville); G Coco Miller (free agent, Washington); G Shalee Lehning (draft, No. 25, Kansas State).

KEY LOSSES: G Betty Lennox (waived); C Alison Bales (trade, Phoenix); C Katie Feenstra Mattera (released); G Kristin Haynie (waived); F Ann Strother (waived); G Ivory Latta (waived).

STRENGTH: Veteran experience. After setting the league record with 30 losses in its inaugural season last year, the team was revamped with the additions of four veterans. Holdsclaw, a six-time All-Star with career averages of 17.7 points and 8.3 rebounds, played eight-plus seasons with Washington and Los Angeles before retiring early in the 2007 campaign. Snow (9.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg), entering her eighth season, and Lyttle (8.2 ppg and 6.2 rpg in 2008) were teammates on the Comets the last five seasons. Teasley (8.7 ppg, 5.0 apg) begins her seventh year after sitting out last season after giving birth.

WEAKNESS: Chemistry. Holdsclaw was the once the leading player on the Mystics, and McCoughtry helped lead Louisville to the national championship game this year, but the other newcomers have mostly been complementary players. They will likely need to play leading roles with the second-year team. The Dream likely will need some time to develop cohesive play, but they should see marked improvement.

CHICAGO SKY

2008: 12-22, 5th.

COACH: Steven Key, 2nd season, 12-22.

KEY ADDITIONS: G Kristi Toliver (draft, No. 3, Maryland); G Erin Thorn (free agent, New York); F Shyra Ely (free agent, Seattle); C Chen Nan (free agent).

KEY LOSSES: C Chasity Melvin (free agent, Washington); G Cathy Joens (free agent); G Tye’sha Fluker (free agent).

STRENGTH: Balance. Second-year center Sylvia Fowles, the franchise’s key player, missed 17 games due to the knee injury after being selected No. 2 overall in last year’s draft. Although the Sky were an identical 6-11 with her and without her, they closed the season 4-5 with her in the lineup after the Olympic break. She is again joined in the frontcourt by Candice Dupree, who has averaged 15.5 ppg and 7.0 rpg in her three-year career, and 2007 rookie of the year Armintie Price. In the backcourt, Jia Perkins had a breakout season with career highs of 17.0 ppg and 4.0 rpg. The Sky also got solid play from Dominique Canty (8.1 ppg, team-leading 4.1 apg), and drafted Toliver, a skilled point guard with the scoring ability of a shooting guard.

WEAKNESSES: Chemistry, experience. Chicago was 12th in the league in scoring (72.7 ppg), 13th in free-throw shooting and last in 3-pointers made. Although the Sky appear to have a bright future with Fowles, Dupree, Price and Toliver, they are still a young team that needs time to gain experience and develop chemistry. The team also needs some consistency as Key is the Sky’s first coach to begin a second year at the helm.

CONNECTICUT SUN

2008: 21-13, 2nd; lost to New York 2-1 in conference semifinals.

COACH: Mike Thibault, seventh season, 127-77.

KEY ADDITIONS: C Chante Black (draft, No. 10, Duke); G Kristi Cirone (undrafted free agent, Illinois State); F Lauren Ervin (undrafted free agent, Arkansas); G Kiesha Brown (waivers, Washington).

KEY LOSSES: G Jamie Carey (retirement); F Svetlana Abrosimova (free agent); F Tamika Raymond (sitting out); G Ketia Swanier (waived).

STRENGTH: Backcourt. Thrust into the leading role last year after the departure of stars Katie Douglas and Nykesha Sales, Lindsay Whalen averaged career highs of 14.0 points, 5.4 assists and 5.6 rebounds. She is the key to an offense that finished third in the league in scoring (79.1) and second in assists (17.9). Whalen will likely be joined in the starting backcourt by Erin Phillips, who joined the team down the stretch last year after training with the Australian national team for the Olympics. Second-year player Amber Holt will miss about a month after being injured in a preseason game.

WEAKNESS: Experience. The Sun were successful last season despite another offseason of roster turnovers that left Whalen as the lone starter remaining from a core group that had been together since 2004. Whalen endured an ankle injury down the stretch and Connecticut lost five of seven to close the season and then was ousted by the Liberty in first round of the playoffs. Asjha Jones led the way in scoring (17.0) and rebounding (6.1) in her second season as a starter, and veteran Tamika Whitmore also scored in double figures (12.6).

DETROIT SHOCK

2008: 22-12., 1st; beat San Antonio 3-1 to win WNBA championship.

COACH: Bill Laimbeer, eighth season, 136-90.

KEY ADDITIONS: G Shavonte Zellous (draft, No. 11, Pittsburgh); G Kristin Haynie (free agent, Atlanta); F Barbara Farris (free agent).

KEY LOSSES: C Kelly Schumacher (free agent, Washington); G Sheri Sam (free agent).

STRENGTHS: Experience, chemistry. Coming off their third straight finals appearance, and second title in that span, the Shock return the core of the team largely intact. Deanna Nolan (15.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.4 apg) and Katie Smith (14.7 ppg, 4.0 apg) anchored the backcourt after starting every regular-season game for the third straight year. Detroit, fourth in the league in scoring (78.6), dropped to second in rebounding — behind Los Angeles — after leading the way the previous five seasons. Taj McWilliams-Franklin (10.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg with Detroit) is back for a full season with the Shock after coming over in a trade during the Olympic break to fill the void left by the season-ending injury to Cheryl Ford. Plenette Pierson (11.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg) remains the top reserve.

WEAKNESS: Consistency. Detroit has the balanced talent to contend for the title every year, but is often hampered by a lack of consistent play. The Shock were fifth in the league in turnovers and last in steals. Detroit was fourth in 3-point shooting, but 11th overall in field-goal shooting. Still, the Shock, who led the league in personal fouls, figure to be the top team in the East.

INDIANA FEVER

2008: 17-17, 4th; lost to Detroit 2-1 in conference semifinals.

COACH: Lin Dunn, second season with team, 50-80 overall.

KEY ADDITIONS: F Yolanda Griffith (free agent, Seattle); G Tamecka Dixon (free agent, Houston); G Briann January (draft, No. 6, Arizona State); F Christina Wirth (draft, No. 19, Vanderbilt).

KEY LOSSES: G Tan White (waived); G Allison Feaster (waived); G Sherill Baker (waived); F Doneeka Hodges-Lewis (waived); F Kristen Mann (waived); G LaToya Bond (waived).

STRENGTHS: Backcourt, depth. The Fever are coming off a down season after reaching 21 wins the previous three years. Katie Douglas averaged a team-high 15.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg and 3.2 apg. She will team with Tully Bevilaqua (5.8 ppg, 2.2 apg) and January in the backcourt, though Dunn said the rookie will likely take over as the starter. Dixon is one of the few players who has been in the league from its inception. Tamika Catchings had a slow return from an Achilles’ tendon injury, but still finished second on the team in scoring (13.3) and rebounding (6.3). Griffith provides depth in a frontcourt that includes Tammy Sutton-Brown (11.8 ppg and 6.3 rpg) and Ebony Hoffman (10.4 ppg and 7.8 rpg).

WEAKNESS: Chemistry. Douglas was the offensive leader early on last year while the Fever played the first eight games without Catchings. When she returned, the team had to adjust again. Then, the monthlong break during the Olympics stalled the team’s flow, and toward the end of the season, Douglas injured a knee. Now, with everyone healthy and the additions of the Griffith and Dixon and the rookie January, the Fever’s success will be dictated by how quickly they develop chemistry.

NEW YORK LIBERTY

2008: 19-15, 3rd; lost to Detroit 2-1 in conference finals.

COACH: Pat Coyle, 6th season, 75-79.

KEY ADDITIONS: C Kia Vaughn (draft, No. 8, Rutgers); F Sidney Spencer (trade, Los Angeles).

KEY LOSSES: G Erin Thorn (free agent, Chicago); C Jessica Davenport (waived); F Lisa Willis (waived).

STRENGTH: Chemistry. Although one of the youngest teams in the league, the Liberty return largely intact after improving the last two seasons following a franchise-worst 23 losses in 2006. New York narrowly lost to Detroit in the playoffs for the second straight year, this time in the East finals. Shameka Christon (15.7 ppg) enters her sixth season and is the most experienced player on the roster. Center Janel McCarville, who had career highs of 13.7 points and 5.4 rebounds, and finished third in the league in field-goal shooting (53.5 percent). Cathrine Kraayeveld (9.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg) rounds out the Liberty’s starting frontcourt. Tiffany Jackson (8.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg) and the rookie Vaughn will be counted on to provide key minutes as reserves. Loree Moore and second-year guard Essence Carson anchor a strong backcourt. Leilani Mitchell played well in spurts backing up Moore, and Carson is also expected to get minutes at the point.

WEAKNESS: Rebounding. New York was 12th in the league in team rebounding (32.5), but could improve with the addition of the 6-foot-4 Vaughn and Jackson’s continued development. New York also added Hall of Famer Anne Donovan as an assistant coach to help the frontcourt players. Donovan, who led the U.S. team to a gold medal at Beijing, also won the WNBA title with Seattle in 2004.

WASHINGTON MYSTICS

2008: 10-24, 6th.

COACH: Julie Plank, 1st season.

KEY ADDITIONS: G Lindsey Harding (trade, Minnesota); C Chasity Melvin (free agent, Chicago); F Marissa Coleman (draft, No. 2, Maryland); C Josephine Owino (draft, No. 28, Union, Tenn.); G Matee Ajavon (dispersal draft, Houston).

KEY LOSSES: G Coco Miller (waived); G Crystal Smith (waived); F Andrea Gardner (waived); G Laurie Koehn (waived); F Bernice Mosby (waived).

STRENGTH: Backcourt. The Mystics improved their backcourt by adding Harding and Ajavon, improved up front by bringing Melvin back and drafting Coleman. Washington has two returning players who scored in double figures — Alana Beard (16.1 ppg) and Monique Currie (11.9) — and Harding and Nakia Sanford averaged double digits in 2007 before experiencing drop-offs last year. Harding, the No. 1 overall pick two years ago, will be counted on to bring stability at the point after the Mystics led the league in turnovers last season.

WEAKNESS: Consistency. The Mystics have a new general manager — Angela Taylor — and another new coach with Plank taking over as the franchise’s 11th head coach in 12 seasons. Washington was the league’s only team to average under 70 points per game. The Mystics were also 11th in field-goal shooting (41.5 percent), 12th in steals (7.1) and field-goal shooting defense (44.3 percent) and last in free-throw shooting (66 percent). The Mystics will need time to learn a new system and develop chemistry with the player changes, but should be an improved team.

Heaps commits to Cougars (BYU, that is)

SALT LAKE CITY — A top-rated quarterback prospect says he’s going to BYU.

Jake Heaps held a news conference Thursday to say he will officially sign with the Cougars next February.

Heaps is the reigning Associated Press high school football player of the year in Washington state. He will be a senior this fall at Skyline High School in Sammamish, Wash., a suburb east of Seattle.

Heaps threw for 2,888 yards and 38 touchdowns with only four interceptions last season and is 28-0 as the starter at Skyline.

Heaps, a member of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, chose the Mormon church-owned school over California, Tennessee, LSU and Washington.

New Washington coach Steve Sarkisian, who played at BYU, had pushed hard to keep Heaps at home.

BYU is in the Mountain West Conference.

Danica not distracted by NASCAR talk

FORT WORTH, Texas — Being in a contract year, Danica Patrick knew there would be plenty of speculation about her possible future in NASCAR or any other racing series.

Patrick, fourth in the IndyCar Series standings only 22 points behind Scott Dixon, insisted Thursday that all the talk about the future won’t be a distraction for her over the next 12 races in a season that won’t end for four more months.

“It’s not as though I didn’t know it was coming this year, and it’s been a pretty good year so far,” said Patrick, whose contract with Andretti-Green Racing is up at the end of this season. “I have created a really good group around me. … So I don’t have to worry about it.”

Including a third-place finish at the Indianapolis 500, Patrick has a series-high four top-five finishes through the first five races.

Under the terms of her deal with Andretti-Green, she can now field offers from other teams. But she said her focus is on trying to win races and a season championship.

“I’m not the one making calls, I’m not the one receiving calls. It has nothing to do with me,” Patrick said. “I’m going to hear about it, but it’s really not my concern.”

Responding to questions at Texas Motor Speedway, where the Bombardier Learjet 550k is Saturday night, Patrick did say if she makes a move to NASCAR that her preference would be to drive in the top-level Sprint Cup Series.

“As a driver that drives in the top level of open wheel racing here in the United States, or in North American, you want to jump from one top to another top,” she said. “If that was the direction that ends up coming up and that we choose, I would prefer to do that, but I’m not so naive that I won’t be open to other opportunities and other ideas.”

Would she be ready for that top series?

“I don’t think there’s really a way to ever know if you’re ready until you’ve tried it,” she said. “I will be exploring all type of options for next year and beyond. I don’t know which direction it’s going to go.”

Asked about the possibility of Formula One racing, she says she prefers to remain in the United States.

“I prefer being around my friends and family and having those comforts. I do enjoy being here,” Patrick said. “If a good opportunity comes up here, that’s what I would prefer to do. I definitely enjoy living here, I enjoy this kind of racing, and would be up for any challenge here.”

Griffey not in lineup against Johnson

SEATTLE — Two of the most famous Mariners from their 1990s heyday are missing out on a showdown.

Ken Griffey Jr. was not in Seattle’s lineup Friday night when San Francisco Giants starter Randy Johnson went for career win No. 299 in the opener of a weekend interleague series.

The former teammates have not been on the same field in Seattle since the summer of 1999, days after Safeco Field opened.

Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu called it a tough decision but said he wanted to get sporadically used veteran Mike Sweeney a second consecutive start against a left-handed pitcher. He added he has an entire team to consider beyond the potential theater of a Griffey vs. Johnson matchup.

Wakamatsu said the left-handed Griffey will start the final two games of the series, including on Sunday against left-hander Barry Zito.

Even F1’s Monaco GP feeling financial squeeze

MONACO — Stands are empty, hotel rooms available and tickets unsold.

Formula One’s most glamorous race, the Monaco GP, is feeling the pinch of the global financial crisis.

Formula One’s slim-downed, cost-conscious version arrives in Monaco, one of the world’s wealthiest states, for the 67th time. But the atmosphere is clearly different this year.

Although there will be movie stars and models frolicking aboard two-story yachts as always, the downturn has touched the tax haven many F1 drivers call home.

There were empty seats during Thursday’s first practice day and thousands of the 45,000 tickets were still available on Friday for Sunday’s 78-lap race.

“I was this week in the port and there are clearly less boats than other years,” said Williams driver Nico Rosberg, who has lived most his life in Monaco. “Everyone in Monaco has been affected by the crisis. Probably the majority of the wealthiest here have lost an enormous amount of money.”

Several drivers have already noted a dip from last year, when Monaco Automobile Club president Michel Boeri said the ACM pulled in $140 million combined from its motor sport events, which includes a well-known rally.

Boeri expects profits to dip by 20-22 percent this year, despite the glitz and glamor of the neighboring Cannes Film Festival — where Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Quentin Tarantino have already graced the red carpet.

This year, it’s much easier to navigate the small alleys in the center of the city, behind the main grandstand where people appear to be doing more window shopping.

“With the first race in Spain, we saw a huge difference. People are spending on less expensive items instead of buying a lot of products,” said Genevieve Blouin, a 26-year-old Montreal native who manages Ferrari stands at each of the season’s 17 races. “They’ve cut down.”

Prices, however, haven’t dropped at any of the souvenir booths, with F1 teams setting the price on baseball caps ($42) or team shirts ($90). Nor have they fallen around the famed Casino Corner, an iconic bend in the circuit that provides one of the most glamorous TV shots of the race, as cars wind past a bounty of five-star hotels.

Some of those rooms, like many apartments that are available to rent, sit empty as companies find it difficult to justify hospitality spending.

Classified ads dot the local newspaper with offers of apartments to rent. Rooms at L’Hermitage, a five-star hotel, remain at the standard $11,025 for a four-night stay. A suite costs $23,865.

“There’s nobody. It’s already a terrible year,” said 42-year-old taxi driver Yves, who gave only his first name. “It was much busier last year.”

Perhaps most telling is that no one has yet offered $70,000 for an exclusive bottle of cognac.

A 100-year-old bottle of Remy Martin Louis VIII “Black Pearl” — one of only 358 in the world — has been encased in a glass case at “Le Bar Americain” for eight months now.

The arrival of the F1 race has yet to provide a buyer.

Andretti looks for consistent finishes

INDIANAPOLIS — Marco Andretti wants to start winning.

First, he must consistently finish races.

If the lessons from the last 1 1/2 seasons have taught the 22-year-old American anything, it is this: There’s still a lot to learn.

“I’d call it character-building,” he said. “It’s not how I’d hoped it would go, that’s for sure. I think I have the potential to do a lot better.”

As one of the youngest IndyCar drivers, with an American pedigree and a racing lineage that stretches to the 1960s, he has plenty of potential to become the face of the series — once he adds some wins to that resume.

Clearly, Andretti can drive.

His breakout rookie season in 2006 included a near-win at Indianapolis and a trip to Victory Lane in the second-to-last race of the season at Infineon. At the time, it made him the youngest winner ever of an IndyCar race, a record broken last year by Graham Rahal.

Andretti finished seventh in points twice over the past three years. Last season, he led more laps (415) than anyone except points champion Scott Dixon, two-time Indy winner Helio Castroneves and 2004 series winner Tony Kanaan.

But his overall results have been sub-par.

In his last 37 starts, Andretti has 12 top-five finishes and four more in the top 10. The other 21 results read like a carbon copy of his father’s and grandfather’s troubles at Indianapolis: mechanical failures, crashes, bad pit strategy and getting caught up in other drivers’ mistakes.

His father, Michael, the team co-owner, and teammate, Kanaan, believe a win-or-nothing attitude, common among young drivers, might be to blame.

“Yeah, he wants to win; that’s what it’s all about, winning,” Michael Andretti said. “You have to realize that sometimes it’s a good fifth. Those are the things you’ve got to learn, but he’s so young. Remember he’s just 22, and that’s when I started racing.”

After running poorly in the season-opener at St. Petersburg, Andretti finished sixth at Long Beach and sixth again at Kansas. He qualified eighth, the middle of Row 3, for Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 at 223.114 mph, and is among the favorites Sunday.

When Andretti made his first Indy start as a 19-year-old, many assumed he would be an instant star, thanks to his family’s history of success. His grandfather was the 1978 world champion, and his father won 42 CART races and a points championship.

If he can break through here, where grandpa Mario won in 1969, it could change everything for the youngest Andretti.

“I’ve heard that (40-year anniversary) thing thrown around, for sure,” he said. “And if we’re able to win it this year, I’d still be the youngest winner by eight days.”

The Indy record belongs to Troy Ruttman, the 1952 winner at 22 years, 80 days.

But Andretti aspires to more than that mark.

The signature win — one that has bedeviled his family for decades — would thrust him into the national spotlight and might quiet his critics.

That can’t come soon enough for Andretti.

With 14 months of misery, mistakes and lost momentum behind him, Andretti he feels at ease in the No. 26 car.

He’s figured out he can’t win races on his own, can’t always afford to force it, can’t lose focus.

“He’s definitely matured,” Kanaan said. “He’s really talented. And he does have a lot of pressure to carry because of his name.”

That’s nothing new for Andretti. And he’s counting on using those high expectations to his advantage.

“All I can do is try to really be focused on driving,” he said. “I do think the expectations are higher, and my expectations are already high. I did nothing different, driving wise, my rookie year. If anything I’m just a little more experienced.”

Button looking to stretch lead in Monaco

MONACO — Formula One forgets its off-track financial worries this weekend when it returns to the streets of Monte Carlo, with Jenson Button looking to tighten his grip on the championship with a fifth win of the season in the Monaco GP.

Button has a 14-point lead over Brawn GP teammate Rubens Barrichello in the overall standings, and will try to add to his advantage with a victory in the tiny principality.

The other teams, meanwhile, want to put the brakes Brawn’s surprising dominance over the first five races.

Ferrari showed its car had improved at the Spanish GP, while Red Bull has stayed close to its British rival since the start of the season, with Sebastian Vettel the only other driver to win a race this season. Vettel is third in the standings, 18 points behind Button.

The young German will be boosted by a double-diffuser being fitted to his Red Bull car one race earlier than planned.

“It is important to stop Brawn GP from winning, not just for us but for everyone,” Vettel said Wednesday. “We’d like to turn the whole thing around.”

Brawn is well positioned to take advantage at the season’s slowest circuit, where concentration is key as drivers navigate a twisting harbor-front track for 78 laps. A single lapse in concentration is enough to see a driver’s day end in the wall.

“Here it is a completely different game,” Toro Rosso driver Sebastien Bourdais said. “You can’t be sure of what is going to happen.”

Barrichello will be desperate to pick up his first victory since 2004 in his 17th appearance at F1’s most glamorous track — especially after the Brazilian appeared to question the team orders at Barcelona, where a strategy change may have cost him the victory in favor of Button.

“Experience counts,” said Barrichello, who — like all drivers — will be eyeing a great qualifying session on Saturday since the principality’s narrow streets offer few genuine passing chances.

Rain provided for one of the more dramatic races of recent times last season when Lewis Hamilton clipped a back tire off the wall early on, but recovered to take the win.

The scenes of elation at McLaren that ensued have not been witnessed this year as the defending champion struggles in a car that has been slow, although the 24-year-old Hamilton is hopeful that an upgrade may help.

“I really hope so, because it would be fantastic to have a competitive car and to be fighting at the front again,” he said.

Felipe Massa’s championship hopes are slim after a sixth-place showing in Spain left him 38 points behind Button, but the Ferrari driver said his car’s improved performance meant it could still be a factor.

“Last race we proved a big step forward, we were very competitive during the race. Here it is a very different track compared to the ones we’ve raced to now. … I think it will be different for everyone,” said the Brazilian, who recently announced he is about to become a father. “I really think the Monte Carlo race can be the turning point in our season.”

Ferrari has not triumphed in Monaco since Michael Schumacher won in 2001.

Ferrari received a further setback Wednesday when a French court dismissed its bid to stop Formula One from instituting a budget cap next season.

Ferrari has complained that the cost-saving measure will create a two-tier competition and has threatened to withdraw from the sport.

“The main thing is it’s not over yet,” Massa said. “I just want a better sport for the fans, because we race because of them.”

Brawn team principal Ross Brawn said that there is extra pressure at Monaco due to the hectic atmosphere alongside pit lane, where celebrities such as Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Novak Djokovic are expected to watch the 67th edition of the classic from one of the docked yachts that will fill the marina.

The neighboring Cannes film festival also promises to bring in the stars for Sunday’s race, while practice is held on Thursday since tradition dictates that Friday remains a free day.

“The pit lane and paddock is an intense environment to work in due to the location at the heart of the city and it is therefore more stressful than any other race on the calendar,” Brawn said. “You can make just one mistake in Monaco and your race weekend will be compromised.”

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