2009 in Review: Katie Gearlds
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More Pluses Than Minuses for Gearlds
Kevin Pelton, stormbasketball.com | December 4, 2009
2009 will be remembered by 
Katie Gearlds as an extraordinarily difficult season. Gearlds had never suffered an injury that forced her to miss a game during her entire playing career before tearing the posterior cruciate ligament in her left knee on Aug. 4. The rehabilitation process would sideline Gearlds the remainder of the Storm's season.
"I’ve never missed a game in my life," Gearlds said after the diagnosis. “Since I was four years old, I’ve never missed a game, so it’s been a little frustrating.”
Before the injury, Gearlds played in the Storm's first 20 games. In her three-year WNBA career, she had seen action 87 times in a possible 88 games, missing one during her rookie season because of coach's decision. So sitting and watching was unfamiliar for Gearlds.
As the Storm's designated sharpshooter off the bench, Gearlds was again asked to provide three-pointers and scoring production in her minutes. She responded by shooting a career-best 40.4 percent from beyond the arc, second on the team behind Lauren Jackson. Though Gearlds did not officially qualify for the league leaderboard, her three-point accuracy ranked eighth among WNBA players with at least 50 attempts from beyond the arc.
Gearlds started the season strong, scoring nine points and making three three-pointers during the team's season-opening win at Sacramento. Her highest-scoring outing of the season would came later in June, when Gearlds scored 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc in a blowout win over Minnesota on June 19. She scored eight points at Los Angeles to close out the month on June 28. Her 21-minute stint against the Sparks was tied for her longest of the season.
Gearlds reached double-figures for the second time on July 15 against Detroit, making both of her three-point attempts in scoring 10 points. To close out the month of July, Gearlds made at least one three-pointer in seven consecutive games.
During the first quarter of the Storm's game against Phoenix on Aug. 4, Gearlds' left knee gave out as she was driving to the basket. While Gearlds tried to continue, the injury forced her to check out of the game and examination revealed a tear of her PCL. Gearlds did not have to undergo surgery, but the timetable for her return essentially ended her regular season.
Late in the campaign, Gearlds rejoined the Storm for practice in the hope of being able to play in the playoffs, but her knee did not respond as well as hoped to increased activity and she was unable to play in the team's first-round loss to the Los Angeles Sparks. Gearlds might have been able to return had the Storm advanced.
Gearlds' ability to space the floor was missed during the final month and a half of the season, when the Storm struggled at times on offense. Having since completed a full recovery, she is now entering the last year of her rookie contract and will continue to supply the Storm needed shooting and heady decision-making off the bench.
2009 Highlights:
- Scored a season-high 11 points in the Storm's June 19 win over Minnesota.
- Shot a career-best 40.4 percent from three-point range, eighth among WNBA players with at least 50 attempts.
- Made at least one three-pointer in seven consecutive games during July.
