Houston Comets’ dispersal draft set for Monday

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Now that the Houston Comets are defunct, the WNBA will hold a dispersal draft on Monday beginning at 10 a.m. PST. The league will hold the 2009 draft lottery the next day at noon.

The Comets won the WNBA’s first four championships, led by -- among others -- ex-USC star Tina Thompson.

The Comets eligible for selection in the dispersal draft include Matee Ajavon, Lucienne Berthieu, Renae Camino, Tamecka Dixon, Roneeka Hodges, Sequoia Holmes, Shannon Johnson, Sancho Lyttle, Polina Tzekova, Erica White and Mistie Williams.

Unrestricted free agents who are not eligible are: Latasha Byears, Mwadi Mabika, Hamchetou Maiga-Ba, Michelle Snow and Tina Thompson. Thompson’s entire career has been with the Comets.

The teams’ order of selection in the dispersal draft will be based on the inverse order of the 2008 regular season finish. As for the draft lottery, the league took the five teams that did not make the 2008 playoffs and released the chances of getting the No. 1 pick.

Team Record Chances (out of 1,000)
1. Atlanta 4-30 420
2. Washington 10-24 261
3. Chicago 12-22 167
4. Minnesota 16-18 76
5. Phoenix 16-18 76

Following is the remaining order for the first round as determined by overall records from 2008:

Team Record
6. Indiana 17-17
7. Sacramento 18-16
8. New York 19-15
9. Los Angeles 20-14
10. Connecticut 21-13
11. Detroit 22-12
12. Seattle 22-12
13. San Antonio 24-10

-- Debbie Goffa