In Charlotte, Mizzou star LaToya Bond says the same things every other rookie says: "I am going out there and working hard to show them I belong... It's a lot more competitive and physical and up-tempo than college was. I need to keep working on being aggressive all the time."

A rookie like Bond has a better shot on a team as bad, in recent years, as Charlotte-- coach Bogues may figure new blood can't hurt. On the other hand, she's rather short.