While the Hornets could be packing up and moving to New Orleans when their season is done, the Sting are certain they will remain in Charlotte - for now.

"We're here in Charlotte this summer, that's what we know, and that's the only thing we're really focused on," coach Anne Donovan said. "This is a team that has great leadership with players that want to be here in Charlotte and are hoping we can pull a miracle out and stay here in Charlotte."

Training camps opened around the league Monday, as most teams began preparation for the WNBA's sixth campaign. Four teams will open camp Tuesday, and the regular season kicks off with three games on Memorial Day weekend.

The Sting, one of the inaugural WNBA franchises in 1997, are just hitting their stride. They went to the playoffs in four of their first five seasons, winning the Eastern Conference last year before losing to the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA Finals.

The Sting drew 16,000 to the Charlotte Coliseum for Game 1 of the finals - just shy of doubling what the Hornets had for their playoff games against the Orlando Magic last season.

They've got a loyal following because many of their veteran players have name recognition - Charlotte Smith played at North Carolina, Summer Erb and Andrea Stinson are N.C. State alums and Allison Feaster hails from Chester, S.C., just across the state line.

Now the players hope to build their fan base even more in an effort to keep the team in Charlotte - regardless of what happens with the Hornets, who are awaiting league action on their proposed move to New Orleans.

"If we perform, I think people will show up," Smith said. "I think everybody loves it here. This is home for us. We're one of the inaugural teams and we're really hoping people will come out and support us."

It's the Sting's hope that community enthusiasm can help the team split from the Hornets if the NBA team moves.

WNBA President Val Ackerman set a list of benchmarks the franchise needed to meet to remain in Charlotte if the Hornets leave, which includes more corporate support and increased season-ticket sales.

Sam Russo, Charlotte's executive vice president, addressed the team before their first practice Monday and explained the situation.

"We have an opportunity to be a prototype as the new model of WNBA team," he said. "The Sting could be in Charlotte for a long time regardless of what the Hornets do if we can accomplish some of the goals."

Russo estimated the Sting need about 3,000 season tickets sold, almost double their current total. So he's recruited volunteers in the "Save the Sting" campaign to cold-call residents three nights a week and urge them to get behind the women's basketball team.

Should the efforts fail and the Hornets leave, the Sting have two other options at the end of the season - they could go to New Orleans or another NBA city could snap them up.

Donovan said she doesn't anticipate the issue becoming a distraction.

"I know that we're a veteran team, which really helps," she said. "If we had a young team that was picking up the paper and turning on the news and was easily distracted, that might be one thing.

"So it's my hope that we have another great season, and that the city really gets behind us from the beginning to the end. If all those things fall into place, this is a great place for us to be."