Storm-Sparks Preview

By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN
Posted Jun 05 2010 2:43AM

For the second time in league history, the WNBA will take its game outdoors.

The best and worst teams in the Western Conference will meet at the Home Depot Tennis Center on Saturday night when the Seattle Storm visit the Los Angeles Sparks.

The first outdoor game in WNBA history was held at New York's Arthur Ashe Stadium on July 19, 2008, as the Liberty lost to Indiana, 71-55.

The Sparks (1-5) decided to hold this one as part of their campaign to promote health through outdoor exercise. The Storm (6-1) agreed, and their players are excited about playing outside.

"I'm looking forward to it," star forward Lauren Jackson told the Storm's official website. "I think it's exciting for the WNBA. I think it will be a lot of fun."

Jackson claimed she has played with professional players outdoors in Brazil with the Australian national team. She appears to be the only one with such experience.

"It will be a unique experience, one I have never had," Seattle point guard Sue Bird said. "Your guess is as good as mine. I have no idea what to expect. I don't know what the weather is going to be like, don't know what the wind is going to be like."

This is a rematch of the Storm's season opener, an 81-67 home win over Los Angeles on May 16. The Sparks held a one-point lead going into the fourth quarter before falling, and Jackson finished with 23 points and 10 boards for Seattle.

Jackson was also credited with excellent defense against Sparks star Candace Parker, who scored a season-low 10 points.

Los Angeles has had trouble holding late leads throughout this year, and that's a big reason why it's in last place in the West. That problem occurred Friday in a 90-89 loss at Phoenix as the Sparks fell after leading in the final quarter for the fourth time.

Parker scored 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and DeLisha Milton-Jones scored 15 of her 20 points in the first half. Parker is averaging 29.7 points in her last three games.

Seattle has not played since handing Atlanta its first loss, 90-72 on Tuesday. Jackson made five 3-pointers and scored a season-high 32 points.

"Lauren is playing tremendous right now," coach Brian Agler said. "She's playing at a real good speed for herself. You don't see her trying to rush things. Her shot is smooth, she can set, and she's reading it."

Storm beat Sparks 79-75 in WNBA's 2nd outdoor game

Posted Jun 06 2010 2:57AM

CARSON, Calif.(AP) A change of scenery did nothing to alter Sue Bird's shooting.

Bird scored 22 points and the Seattle Storm beat the Los Angeles Sparks 79-75 on Saturday night in the WNBA's second outdoor game.

Bird made four of eight 3-pointers and enjoyed playing under the stars at the tennis stadium of the Home Depot Center.

``It was great, it felt really nice out there,'' Bird said. ``Nothing really affected the game and it was nice to be outside.''

Lauren Jackson had 17 points and nine rebounds, Camille Little scored 16 points and Swin Cash had 12 to help Seattle (7-1) win its third straight.

Candace Parker led the Sparks (1-6) with 24 points and eight rebounds, Tina Thompson had 17 points and Kristi Tolliver added 15.

The Storm took control of the game 3 minutes into the second quarter.

Los Angeles trailed by 16 in the fourth quarter before pulling to 69-66 when Thompson's layup capped an 18-6 run.

``When we made a run, it made me feel good as a coach to know this team is not giving up,'' Sparks coach Jennifer Gillom said. ``They're mentally tough, they're fighting through our problems right now.''

However, Bird made two critical jumpers, including a 3-pointer, to help Seattle hold on.

``They were the daggers for us tonight,'' Gillom said. ``We got a couple of stops that got us right back in the game within two or three points of winning and then she'd come up and hit a huge shot.''

WNBA president Donna Orender and Boston Celtics forward Shelden Williams attended the game.

``I think that every market should do an outdoor game,'' Orender said. ``Basketball's an outdoor game. There's an outdoor culture of people playing outside.''

The Indiana Fever beat the New York Liberty 71-55 on July 19, 2008, at New York City's Arthur Ashe Stadium, site of the U.S. Open, in the league's first outdoor game.

The Storm outrebounded the Sparks 32-27 and had five more assists. Los Angeles was just 2 for 12 on 3-pointers.

After trailing by 17, the Sparks pulled within six points several times in the second quarter.

Parker scored eight of the team's 19 points in the period and had three assists to help cut the Storm's lead to 39-31 at halftime.

The Sparks held an early 6-5 lead when Kristi Tolliver made a jumper to put them ahead. The Storm then answered with a 20-2 run by outrebounding the Sparks and forcing them to commit four turnovers during the stretch.

``It's huge to get off to good starts, especially when you're on another team's court because opposing teams can really feed off of their crowd and use that energy,'' Bird said. ``Thank God we got that lead.''

• Storm: --
• Sparks: --

• Storm: --
• Sparks: --

• Lead Changes: 4
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: Home Depot Center Tennis Stadium, Carson, CA
• Officials: #18 Kurt Walker, #13 Cameron Inouye, #46 Tim Greene
• Attendance: 6026
• Duration: 2:9