ZBlogS

Coach: Frank Layden
1998 record: 8-22, tied for 4th in West. Did not make playoffs.

Outlook
Frank Layden, the former coach of the Utah Jazz, took over the Starzz last July and has set about making the team more well-rounded. During the preseason, he planned trips to the zoo, movies, amusement parks and baseball games. He also created a book club and planned a parents' weekend. It is yet to be seen whether these off-court activities will translate into better on-court chemistry. The Starzz significantly improved through the draft. With their first pick, they chose 1998 ABL most valuable player and Utah native Natalie Williams, who led the league in scoring and rebounding last season. Utah also addressed a pressing need for a point guard by taking Debbie Black in the second round. Black was the ABL defensive player of the year in 1997 and a two-time ABL all-star with the Colorado Xplosion. Elena Baranova won the Gazetta dello Sport award in 1998, given to the top female European player. Former University of Virginia standout Wendy Palmer, who led the team in scoring last season at 13.5 points per game, ranked fifth in the league in double-doubles.

Schedule

 June 12Orlando 9 14at Minnesota8 17at Houston8:30 19Sacramento9 24at Sacramento4 26Minnesota9 28at Los Angeles10:30 30Houston 10 July 2Cleveland9 6Detroit 9 8at Washington7 10at Orlando7:30 12Phoenix 2 16Houston 9 18at New York4 19at Charlotte7:30 21at Detroit12 24at Cleveland7 26Washington9 27at Phoenix10 30at Los Angeles9 31Sacramento9 August 3New York9 5Los Angeles9 7Minnesota9 9Charlotte9 11at Minnesota8 13Phoenix 9 14at Sacramento10 16at Houston8 20at Phoenix10 21Los Angeles9 

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