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SEATTLE STORM 2003 Results: The Storm finished 18-16, (.529, T-4th in West). Roster | Stats | 2004 Schedule Head coach: Anne Donovan enters her third season with the team. Purchase Storm tickets now!

2004 Probable Starters: C: Kamila Vodichkova PF: Lauren Jackson SF: Sheri Sam SG: Betty Lennox PG: Sue Bird

2004 Draft Results: Rd. 2: Catrina Frierson D.D.*: Betty Lennox

2003 Leaders: Points Lauren Jackson, 21.2 ppg Rebs. Lauren Jackson, 9.3 rpg Assts. Sue Bird, 6.5 apg Blocks Lauren Jackson, 1.94 bpg Steals Sue Bird, 1.41 spg

They Said It: "We're trying to win a championship this year. We're not trying to win one in ten years or five years." -- Storm point guard Sue Bird

VGM Prospect: Lauren Jackson How does an MVP improve her game? Her numbers shot up from 2002 to 2003, and while you shouldn't expect the same jump this year, you can't go wrong with LJ. WNBA.com Virtual GM

(*-Denotes "Dispersal Draft")

The Seattle Storm, in their first year under coach Anne Donovan, missed a 2003 playoff berth on a tie-breaker with the Minnesota Lynx mainly due to a late-season collapse and five straight losses. Just another year of growing for the core nucleus of the Storm.

That nucleus is, of course, 2003 WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson, and two-time All-WNBA guard Sue Bird. Bird returns after rehabbing a sore knee that bothered her all of last season. Jackson returns after a season in which she set career highs in six categories, not the least of which was field-goal percentage, ranking sixth in the league at 48%, after barely hitting 38% her first two seasons.

Lennox

So what did they add? Try WNBA All-Stars Betty Lennox and Sheri Sam, two players that can provide offensive help and strong all-around play to help take some of the heat off Bird and Jackson. Coach Donovan is looking forward to those new pieces fitting together.

"I want to see us score a bunch more in transition," Donovan told WNBA.com. "I would say that and our defense would be my biggest goals, defense meaning all the way in transition to halfcourt."

The acquisition of Lennox, the 2000 WNBA Rookie of the Year, in the Dispersal Draft proved a wise decision as the former Rocker will assume the shooting guard spot vacated by Sandy Brondello, who is staying in Australia to prepare for the 2004 Olympics. Lennox's last three seasons have not matched her 2000 campaign in terms of scoring, but this will be her first chance to start consistently since that 16.7ppg, breakout year.

Sam

Sam, a five year WNBA veteran who has never averaged less than 11 ppg in a season, brings a strong veteran presence and multi-faceted game to Seattle. She was the Miami Sol's all-time leader in 14 different statistical categories.

"I see myself playing as the X-factor," Sam told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. "I was brought in here for several reasons: to be that perimeter player this team has lacked and also to bring defensive intensity."

Center Kamila Vodichkova missed those key final two weeks at the end of last season with a sprained foot, but recovered to play a full season overseas and returns healthy to contribute in the front-court.

The bench players will compete for playing time, as Simone Edwardsand Janell Burse back up the center spot, and Adia Barnesand Alicia Thompson, who played for Donovan in Indiana, provide support at forward. Backing up Bird and Lennox at guard will be Tully Bevilaqua

The Storm's top draft pick, second round selection Trina Frieson had knee surgery recently and won't be back until at least mid-June.

The Storm have an advantage over last year as most of the players are already familiar with coach Donovan's system, a system that went to the WNBA Finals in 2001 with Charlotte. With the extra veteran help in the starting lineup to work within that system, the Storm have an opportunity to make some noise in the West.