From Vin Cherwoo of the AP: Sparks' Thompson last player left from 1st season

Tina Thompson has achieved plenty of success during her career: four WNBA championships, two Olympic gold medals and eight All-Star selections.

With the league opening its 14th season last weekend, the Los Angeles Sparks forward now has a distinction all to herself -- she's the last remaining player from the inaugural 1997 season. And even she was surprised by that.

"I actually didn't even know that I was until about a month or so ago our director of player personnel told me about it," the 35-year-old Thompson said. "I don't know if I really kind of put some meaning to it."