Storm Looks For Better Play In Sacramento

After struggling in Phoenix, Lennox and the Storm are hoping for a better outing tonight. Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty

Tonight in Sacramento, the Storm gets a chance to take that bad taste out of its mouth by beating the Monarchs at ARCO Arena to even its preseason record. The Storm will be fighting a lot of history in that effort. Not only has Seattle lost five straight preseason contests, it is 0-9 all-time (including preseason) at ARCO, its worst record at any WNBA venue.

As nice as a victory would be for the Storm, the bigger concern is simply playing well.

"There's a sense of urgency to play some basketball," said Donovan. "I don't think we did the first time out. I hope that translates into a win. We have to make an improvement over our last game. That's the goal."

Playing well would go a long ways towards restoring the Storm's confidence, which must be done quickly with less than a week remaining before next Thursday's season opener against the Minnesota Lynx.

"This is an important game for us in terms of how we feel about ourselves," reiterated Donovan. "I think that our confidence is shaken after last week, and it's made us more determined. I don't think that we're an uneasy crew, I think we're a determined crew right now. Let's see if that pays off (tonight)."

Donovan will also be changing her coaching style slightly. As the regular season draws near, the focus is less on evaluating players and more on preparing the players who will make up the Storm rotation to play when the games count. Donovan has already had plenty of opportunities to see most of the players fighting for roster spots in practice, though she will be watching to see, "can they think with the spotlight on, so to speak."

"The Phoenix game, I was equal opportunity, with a lot of evaluating going on," Donovan explained. It's not about that anymore. My evaluating is going to be done in practice, it's not going to be during a game. I keep talking about chemistry, we've got to have that form, and that's going to be formed in a game.

"You'll see our starters, our top six or seven, play a lot more minutes than anybody else."

That group might not include MVP Lauren Jackson, who is officially listed as questionable for tonight's matchup after missing the preseason opener with a strained groin.

On the other side, the Monarchs, who have lost their two preseason matchups by a combined 27 points, will also be looking for a victory in their final preseason outing. Still working several regulars who returned to camp late into the lineups, Sacramento lost 78-60 to Minnesota on May 5. They fared better in Phoenix on Monday, but still surrendered 82 points to the new-look Mercury.

"They have struggled in the preseason, where they didn't have all their players back until recently," noted Donovan. "They lost to Phoenix, they lost to Minnesota. This is their last exhibition game, so to me that's a team that's motivated to get a win before they start the regular season."

"This is a great test to see where we are," added Donovan, calling the Monarchs the best defensive team in the league, which they were last year on a per-possession basis.

The Storm will also get its first WNBA look at former Washington guard Giuliana Mendiola, bidding to make the Monarchs final roster.