Sparks-Storm Preview

By KATE HEDLIN
Posted May 15 2010 6:30PM

The Seattle Storm didn't make many changes in the offseason, but with an aging starting lineup, that may end up being to their detriment later in the season.

Lauren Jackson and the Storm begin their season Sunday when they host the Los Angeles Sparks.

Seattle is one of the Western Conference's most consistent teams, recording 20 wins in four of the past six seasons, including the last two. However, in recent years, the team hasn't been able to translate its regular season success into a deep run in the playoffs, losing in the first round in five straight years - the last two to the Sparks.

The Storm feature a trio of All-Stars that is a big reason they've been so successful. Jackson, a two-time MVP, and Sue Bird are back for a ninth consecutive year. Swin Cash returns for a third straight season in Seattle.

All three, though, realize their window to get back to the WNBA finals may be closing after Seattle won the league championship in 2004. They all missed time late last season because of injuries, and Jackson in particular has struggled to stay healthy, missing the playoffs the last two years.

"I think if you look at each of the last five seasons in some ways there were times that we kind of blew it and there were times when you look at injuries or we were unlucky," Bird said. "And in this league each team is so good, so competitive, that you have to have a little bit of luck on your side. You need some luck on your side, just a little bit."

Jackson averaged 19.2 points in 2008-09 but missed the final six games of the regular season and all of the playoffs with a stress fracture in her back. She signed a multiyear deal with the Storm in March, almost ensuring the 29-year-old Australian will end her career in Seattle.

"You can check that off my list of things that have to get done," coach Brian Agler said. "How that affects our team depends on our mental outlook going into this season. It will be interesting what our outlook is."

The Sparks, meanwhile, will try to put a 78-77 season-opening loss to the Mercury on Saturday behind them.

Candace Parker scored 24 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and hit a key basket in the final minute that gave Los Angeles a 75-72 lead. However, Phoenix answered with a basket and Parker missed her next shot, then the Mercury hit four straight free throws for the win.

With many of its players just returning from overseas commitments and a new coach in Jennifer Gillom, Los Angeles may suffer through a slow start.

"The system is new to everybody," guard Ticha Penicheiro said. "Because coach Jen just took over so it's just a matter of time, sometimes it's hard to jell from Day 1."

The Sparks lost both regular season games in Seattle last season, but won one of their two postseason visits en route to a 2-1 win in that conference semifinal series.

Big 4th quarter pushes Seattle past LA, 81-67

By TIM BOOTH
Posted May 16 2010 11:21PM

SEATTLE(AP) A healthy Lauren Jackson scored 17 of her 23 points in the first half, and Seattle's Sue Bird and Tanisha Wright hit key shots in the final minutes to help the Storm pull away for a 81-67 win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday night.

Kicking off the season before a sold out lower bowl at KeyArena, Wright scored 17 points, Bird added 14 and Seattle outscored Los Angeles 22-5 in the final 8 minutes.

Less than 30 hours after tipping off the WNBA season at Phoenix with a one-point loss to the Mercury, the Sparks hung around for three quarters before the rested Storm pulled away. Tina Thompson, the lone player remaining from the inaugural WNBA season of 1997, led Los Angeles with 19 points. Candace Parker was held to two points in the first half and finished with 10.

With Hall of Famer Bill Russell watching from one of the regular seats about 15 rows up, the Storm flustered the Sparks in the fourth quarter, holding Los Angeles scoreless for nearly four minutes while Bird and Wright took control.

Bird's 3-pointer with 7:49 left pulled Seattle even at 62 and another 3-pointer 2 minutes later pushed the advantage to six.

Parker climbed over Ashley Robinson for a follow basket to slowly stem the momentum, but scored seven straight points to turn a close game into a rout.

Swin Cash added 17 points for the Storm, which got all but two points from their starters.

DeLisha Milton-Jones added 13 for Los Angeles but sat for nearly a quarter after picking up her fifth foul midway through the third quarter. With Milton-Jones out, Parker started to get her offense going, scoring four straight points, followed by a 3 from former Seattle guard Betty Lennox and Lennox finding Thompson for a layup. By the time the Sparks' 13-7 spurt was done, they held a 58-57 lead, and the advantage was pushed to three on Parker's basket to open the fourth.

Parker made just 4 of 11 shots, but grabbed 11 rebounds. Seattle outscored Los Angeles 30-18 at the free-throw line.

It was the first time for Storm fans to see Jackson in a Seattle uniform since late August of last season. Jackson missed the final six games of the regular season and all of Seattle's first-round playoff loss to the Sparks with stress fractures in her back.

Instead of playing in Russia as she has in the past, Jackson stayed in Australia during the offseason, playing for Canberra in the Women's National Basketball League.

She looked healthy and refreshed, matching up with Parker for the first time this season. Living at the free throw line, Seattle built a 43-36 halftime advantage despite shooting just 29 percent in the first half. The Storm was 19 of 22 at the line in the first half.

• Sparks: --
• Storm: --

• Sparks: --
• Storm: --

• Lead Changes: 12
• Times Tied: 9

• Arena: Key Arena, Seattle, WA
• Officials: #18 Kurt Walker, #17 Scott Twardoski, #27 Penny Davis
• Attendance: 9686
• Duration: 2:3