Liberty-Storm Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Aug 19 2011 2:57PM

An ugly hip injury in late June put the season of Seattle Storm star Lauren Jackson in jeopardy.

Jackson, however, appears on the verge of proving she is a very quick healer in addition to a tremendous all-around talent.

The three-time WNBA MVP could be available as the Storm look to avoid a season high-tying third straight defeat in a matchup with the New York Liberty on Saturday night.

Jackson suffered a torn labrum in her left hip June 21, undergoing surgery nine days later that was expected to keep her out eight to 12 weeks. While not yet at full strength, she has been practicing with the team and created a stir when she dressed in warmups for an 81-79 loss at Phoenix on Tuesday.

Jackson's last hurdle is getting clearance from doctors to return to game action.

"She's moving very well," coach Brian Agler, whose club has dropped four of five, told the Storm's official website. "She's been working at it. She's done more than just rehab the hip. She's really gone back to work in terms of getting in shape and working on her skills. She's shot the ball a lot the last three or four weeks. It's been good."

After scoring 15 points during a season-opening 78-71 win over the Mercury on June 4, Jackson averaged 7.7 points over her next four games - 11.6 less than her career mark.

"I sense Lauren being hungrier now than she was maybe earlier in the year," Agler said. "Sometimes, negative things get your attention. She went through it. Something was taken away from her. Now she's got the opportunity to get it back and I think she wants to take full advantage of it."

Jackson has done just that against the Liberty of late, averaging 20.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in her two most recent matchups.

Seattle (13-12) had taken three straight from New York prior to shooting 30.9 percent from the floor and losing 58-56 to the Liberty on Aug. 9.

Cappie Pondexter put New York (15-11) up for good with 41 seconds left in that game, and she also came up big during an 84-81 overtime victory over Connecticut on Thursday. Her fall away jumper with 24.3 seconds remaining in the extra period was the winning basket.

"I want the ball with the game on the line," said Pondexter, who finished with 27 points. "I'm a scorer and a winner. I'm willing to do whatever is necessary to win. If I have to score, I'll do it. I want to put the team on my shoulders and bring it home."

Pondexter, who ranks near the top of the league with 18.3 points per game, is averaging 27.6 and 49.2 percent shooting over her last three contests.

"What can you say about Cappie?" said coach John Whisenant, who recorded the 100th win of his WNBA coaching career. "She's definitely an MVP candidate. She plays up every game with the game on the line. She practices hard and plays hard."

The Liberty have dropped three straight and four of five on the road. The Storm had taken eight in a row at home before falling 92-63 to Atlanta last Saturday.

Jackson returns to help lead Storm over Liberty

Posted Aug 21 2011 1:25AM

SEATTLE (AP) Lauren Jackson showed in her return from a hip injury what a difference she makes as the Seattle Storm aim for a second consecutive WNBA title.

Jackson scored 20 points in 21 minutes to help the Storm rally for a 63-62 victory over the New York Liberty on Saturday night.

``She got a lot out of her minutes, didn't she?'' Seattle coach Brian Agler said. ``She played well. We're a different team, obviously. You've got to give everybody credit for keeping us competitive without her. But we can be much better with her.''

Katie Smith hit a 3-pointer with 1:13 left to put Seattle (14-12) ahead after New York led 62-57. The victory moved the Storm into third place in the Western Conference, a half-game ahead of San Antonio.

Sue Bird added 14 points and Camille Little 11 for Seattle.

Jackson, a three-time WNBA MVP, returned after missing 20 games. She played the first five games of the season before tearing a labrum in her left hip.

``I don't think I looked forward to playing basketball as much as I did before this game for probably 10 years,'' Jackson said. ``It just felt awesome to be back out there. I'm just happy my hip held up and we won.''

Jackson shot 6 of 10 from the field, including 3 of 5 on 3-pointers. She had seven rebounds.

Plenette Pierson had 15 points for New York (15-12), which remained in third place in the Eastern Conference. Essence Carson and Cappie Pondexter each added 12. Pondexter averaged 27.6 points in her previous three games.

Kia Vaughn missed a 13-footer with 6.9 seconds left that would have given the Liberty a one-point lead. Carson then stole an inbound pass with 3 seconds left but had the ball stripped by Bird as she drove toward the basket and time expired.

New York players and coaches wanted a foul called against Bird.

``The official choked the last play,'' New York coach John Whisenant said. ``They were trying to foul and he choked. There is not a whole lot you can do about that.''

Bird said she stripped the ball cleanly.

``I personally don't feel like I fouled,'' Bird said. ``I was going for the ball. In my mind, I was going to get the ball clean or I was going to foul her. There was no way I was going to let her shoot a layup to win the game.''

Jackson scored the Storm's first 10 points of the fourth quarter to keep the game close. She fouled out with 4 minutes left and New York up 57-55.

``Super, amazing,'' Whisenant said about Jackson. ``No one but a great athlete can do that. I was afraid she wouldn't show the rust because she and Sue and Swin (Cash) and the core group have played several years together and last year winning the championship. But it's still tough to come back and not lose rhythm.''

Jackson said after the injury and surgery she was unsure if she could return this season.

``When they did the surgery and told me it was worse than they thought, it was scary for a moment,'' Jackson said. ``I've been through a roller coaster but I think that's what made me more determined to get back to make sure it was right and that I was shooting better than I was before I left. I worked on things I could control and hopefully that pays off heading into the playoffs and the next few games.''

Pierson and Vaughn had six points apiece in the third quarter to give New York a 49-45 lead. The Liberty outscored Seattle 22-13 in the period.

Leilani Mitchell hit a 3-pointer to give the Liberty their first lead at 39-36 midway through the third quarter. Little responded with five straight points for Seattle before the Liberty scored the final seven points of the period.

Seattle led 17-3 as New York missed nine of its first 10 shots from the field. Jackson scored eight to help the Storm to a 24-13 first-quarter lead. She made two free throws and a 3-pointer on the Storm's first two possessions and later added another 3-pointer.

The Storm led 32-27 at halftime.

The Liberty has lost seven straight at Seattle since a win in 2004.

• Liberty: --
• Storm: --

• Liberty: Carson
• Storm: --

• Lead Changes: 6
• Times Tied: 5

• Arena: Key Arena, Seattle, WA
• Officials: #39 Michael Price, #31 Amy Bonner, #21 Byron Jarrett
• Attendance: 7139
• Duration: 1:51