HOUSTON -- It's a done deal for our local WNBA franchise. The Houston Comets will introduce their new face of the franchise at a noon news conference Wednesday at Toyota Center.

Comets owner Hilton Koch, who took over the club earlier this month, confirmed with KPRC sports that Karlene Thompson would replace Van Chancellor as the Comets' new head coach and general manager.

A verbal agreement on terms has been made and the contract will be signed soon in time for her introduction Wednesday.

"Karlene has the confidence and experience for this job. I really feel she has the right relationships with the players," Koch told KPRC Sports this afternoon.

KPRC sports reported the Comets' strong interest in Thompson last Thursday on Local 2 News prior to their scheduled face-to-face meeting over the weekend.

League sources indicated then that after two years as an assistant with the Comets and prior to that with the LA Sparks, where she had spent the previous eight years, that she would be the likely choice to take over for Chancellor.

There's no confirmation yet if Calvin Murphy and Cynthia Cooper will have a role in the newly structured organization.