Becky Hammon (5-6, guard): Hammon was the team’s MVP last season and is one of the elite players in the WNBA. She averaged 18.8 points and 5 assists per game in ’07. She even has her own fan section that calls itself the “Hammonites.”

Sophia Young (6-1, forward): Huge contributor to the team as a rookie last season, Young averaged 16.8 points per game along with 5.8 rebounds.

Ann Wauters (6-4, center): Acquired by the Silver Stars in the offseason, Wauters returns to the league for the first time since leaving in 2001. A former No. 1 draft pick and European Player of the Year, Wauters is sure to be one of the league’s most imposing presences in the paint.

Erin Buescher (6-3, guard): Last season was cut short because of a knee injury, so it will be interesting to see if Buescher can play back to form. Prior to injury, she averaged 11.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

Vickie Johnson (5-9, forward): A WNBA legend, Johnson (born in 1972) became the first player in the league to play 300 games — in 2006. In 2007, she aided the Silver Stars with double-figure scoring in 14 games.

Ruth Riley (6-5, center): A proven winner with both an NCAA and WNBA championships in her history, Riley is a capable scorer, but her best contributions often lie on the defensive side of the ball.

Chuck Blount | 210SA contributor