Look familiar? A sea of red shirts fill Houston's Compaq Center. The lights dim, trophies are brought in and a championship banner is raised. Yes, it must be the start of another WNBA season. But this time, something is different. A lot is different. Cynthia Cooper is in street clothes. After the game, she's off to coach her new team, the Phoenix Mercury. Sheryl Swoopes hobbles on the court, supported by red crutches, decorated with silver stars. An ACL injury has ended her season before it even began. And, the biggest change: for the first time in their five-year history, the Houston Comets lose on opening day.

I wasn't surprised by the Los Angeles Sparks' 66-63 win. I'm picking them to win the WNBA championship this season. It was just weird to see the Houston Comets without the star-power it had just eight months ago. Forward Tina Thompson, once the junior member of Houston's "Big Three," is now the Lone Star of this Texas powerhouse. She was one of two Comets to score in double figures, knocking down a game-high 23 points. Thompson showed she's the team's new rock early on by consoling an emotional Swoopes during the pre-game ring ceremony -- another tradition for the only champion the league has ever known.

Maybe in the WNBA's fifth year, it's time for this league to see a changing of the guard. There are 15 other teams longing for the chance to do what the Comets did Monday afternoon. Before a sellout crowd of 16,285, the Comets once again heard the accolades of league president Val Ackerman, who said Houston has made "her-story" by simply being the best. The Comets, who have some of the best fans in the league, showed their appreciation by allowing season-ticket holders to carry the franchise's four championship trophies onto center court and present players, coaches and staff members with their rings. Even as experts like myself count Houston out of the running for a return to the Finals, fans showed their faith by sporting signs like, "We Will Survive the Drive for Five." And even as the Comets let an eight-point lead evaporate midway through the second half, Houston fans still cheered each players' effort, showing the class that comes with being a winner. And once Thompson's last-second jumper missed the bucket, fans stood to applaud their defeated team.

Following the game, Houston coach Van Chancellor summed the game -- and possibly the season. "We're a young team and we played with everything we had," Chancellor said. "I think we'll be fine. Eventually." Whether the Comets are able to defend their title or not, there's got to be some comfort in knowing Houston will always be synonymous with winning. Her-story, for now, has spoken.

Monica Lewis covers the WNBA for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail her at monica.lewis@espnmag.com, or click the "reply" button at the top.