Both teams that have made coaching changes this year have improved dramatically since. Sacramento is 6-1 since replacing McHugh with Whisenant, and San Antonio is 3-1 since replacing Harvey with Dailey.

Sacramento now has a very good shot at the playoffs, but San Antonio's season is likely to end early. The Stars are 5 1/2 games out with 8 games to go. "To be realistic, we're not going to make the playoffs unless some of the teams in the West go on a major losing streak," Marie Ferdinand says. "Right now, we know that, so we're more relaxed ... with nothing to lose."

It will be a disappointing result for the Stars. They had made great progress the last couple years in Utah, only to slip backward during their first year in their new home.

"It has been really rough," said Jennifer Azzi. "I don't think any of us expected this type of season. Sometimes when you are in that mode it kind of starts to spiral a little bit. ... I know we are a talented team if you look player for player. Even our bench is the one of the strongest in the league. For whatever reason, whether it's a chemistry issue, we haven't been able to make it work."

Ferdinand thinks the Natalie Williams trade hurt the team. I wonder what Gwen Jackson thinks about that?