2010 Storm vs. 1998 Houston Comets

A victory Sunday against Tulsa would make the Storm 20-2, tying the 1998 Houston Comets for the best record in the WNBA after 22 games. The Comets finished that season 27-3, the best regular-season record in WNBA history, then won the league title, their second of four straight.

1998 Houston Comets

Coach: Van Chancellor.

The Big Three: Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, Tina Thompson. Cooper was the league's MVP its first two seasons, 1997 and 1998, and Finals MVP as the Comets won the first four WNBA titles, 1997-2000. Swoopes is a three-time league MVP. Thompson, still playing for the Los Angeles Sparks, is a nine-time All-Star.

Regular season: The Comets started 20-1 and finished 27-3, a .900 mark that is best in league history.

Attendance: Averaged 12,602 for home games.

Playoffs: Swept Charlotte 2-0 in the semifinals, then beat Phoenix 2-1 in the finals.

Championships: Won the first four WNBA titles, 1997-2000.

First season: One of the league's eight original teams in 1997.

Last season: The Comets folded after the 2008 season when a new owner could not be found for the team, which had been taken over by the league.

2010 Seattle Storm

Coach: Brian Agler

Big Three: Lauren Jackson, Sue Bird, Swin Cash. Jackson won MVP awards in 2003 and 2007. Bird and Cash won NCAA titles at Connecticut, WNBA titles (Cash with Detroit in 2003 and 2006) and Olympic gold medals. Bird is one of the best point guards in WNBA history. Cash was MVP of the 2009 All-Star Game.

Regular season: The Storm is 19-2 going into its game Sunday vs. Tulsa. The Storm will play 34 regular-season games, and will have to finish at least 31-3 to set the mark for best record in WNBA history. A mark of 30-4 would be a percentage of .882, second-best to the '98 Comets.

Attendance: Averaging 8,169 through first 10 home games.

Playoffs: Storm is guaranteed of making the playoffs for the seventh straight year but hopes for a better result than the past five seasons, which have each ended in first-round losses.

Championships: Won the WNBA title in 2004, beating Minnesota (2-0), Sacramento (2-1) and Connecticut (2-1). Betty Lennox was the Finals MVP.

First season: The Storm's first season was 2000, when it finished 6-26.

Bill Reader