Coach: Marynell Meadors
Arena: Charlotte Coliseum
Team colors: Teal, purple and orange
Top players: Rhonda Mapp, center/forward (10.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg); Vicky Bullett, center (13.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg); Andrea Stinson, guard (15.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.5 apg); Dawn Staley, guard; Tracy Reid, forward (13.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg)
1998 record: 18-12, finished second in the East but lost to Houston in semifinals

Outlook
The Sting is one of only three teams – Houston and Phoenix are the others – to make the playoffs in each of the WNBA's first two seasons. However, both times Charlotte was swept by Houston, the eventual champion. The Sting pulled off a coup by drafting former University of Virginia and U.S. Olympic point guard Dawn Staley, a talented and flashy floor leader. However, there is some concern Staley might not be as durable after her recent knee surgery. Two-time all-WNBA pick Andrea Stinson, who was seventh in the league in scoring (15.0 points per game) last season, reported to camp in much better shape after losing nearly 30 pounds during the offseason. That should improve her quickness. The front court, led by former Maryland standout Vicky Bullett and 1998 WNBA rookie of the year Tracy Reid, gets a boost with the addition of former ABL standout Charlotte Smith. Also an explosive perimeter player, Smith has the ability to create tough matchup problems for many other teams.

Schedule

June
10	at Washington	7 
12	New York	7:30 
19	Los Angeles	7:30 
22	at Detroit	7:30 
24	Phoenix	        7:30 
25	at Cleveland	7 
27	at New York	4 
30	Washington	7:30 
July
3	at Orlando      7:30 
7	Cleveland       7:30 
9	Orlando	        7:30 
10	at Cleveland	7 
12	at Washington	7 
16	at Orlando	7:30 
17	Washington	7:30 
19	Utah	        7:30 
21	Minnesota	7:30 
23	Houston	        7:30 
25	at Detroit	5 
26	at New York	7:30 
28	Detroit	        7:30 
30	New York        7:30 
31	at Minnesota	8 
August
2	Cleveland	7:30 
4	Sacramento	7:30 
6	at Houston	8:30 
7	Orlando	        7:30 
9	at Utah	        9 
13	at Sacramento	10 
15	at Phoenix	10 
16	at Los Angeles	10:30 
20	Detroit	        8