Bevilaqua Returns to Seattle
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Former Seattle Storm guard
Tully Bevilaqua may have been on the injured list when she returned to KeyArena with her new Indiana Fever team on June 4, but her presence was still impossible to miss. In two seasons in Seattle, Bevilaqua developed into one of the most beloved players on the Storm, and that feeling was mutual between her and Storm fans, former teammates, Storm employees and pretty much everyone at the Key.
When she sat down briefly before the game to speak to the media, Bevilaqua was wearing one of the replica championship rings the Storm handed out to fans before the May 21 season opener against Los Angeles. Shortly before the game, she got the real thing from Coach Anne Donovan and Chief Operating Officer Karen Bryant at center court, as well as a standing ovation from fans.
"Just seeing that, when the girls got their stuff at the first game, I would have loved to have been here, seen the real hoo-hah of it all," said Bevilaqua.
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Sue Bird and occasionally play alongside her while giving opponents fits with her aggressive defense. It's little surprise then that when Donovan was deciding on Bird's backup during this year's training camp, she used Bevilaqua as a model.
"I’m looking for someone who can come off the bench and change the tempo like Tully," said Donovan.
The Storm has had to move on after Bevilaqua signed as a free agent with the Indiana Fever this off-season. While keeping Bevilaqua was a priority, the Storm couldn't compete with the money and the role offered by the Fever, who envisioned Bevilaqua returning to the starting role she played with the Portland Fire before coming to Seattle.
Despite Indiana selecting guard Tan White with the second pick of the 2005 Draft after signing Bevilaqua, she opened the season as the starter at the point and was a key factor in the Fever's 4-1 start to the season, averaging 6.6 points, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals while making seven of 11 attempts from 3-point range.
"She's gotten off to a great start for us," said Indiana Coach Brian Winters. "She's a very smart player, a tremendous defender. Hopefully she gets back to health for us."
Near the end of the Fever's June 1 game against Sacramento, with the score tied, Bevilaqua was headed to the basket in transition when she was fouled by Monarchs guard Ticha Penicheiro and landed awkwardly with pain in her left knee. Bevilaqua was initially unable to put any weight on the leg, and observers feared the worst.
While Bevilaqua was placed on the injured list before the Fever's game in Seattle, the news on the injury was still positive: Bevilaqua did not tear anything, but merely suffered a bone bruise.
"Obviously, I'm going to miss the next three games and then it will be a day-to-day thing after that," she said. "It will depend on management of swelling, pain, that sort of stuff."
The doctors have their schedule, but Bevilaqua has one of her own.
"Generally, if a doctor tells me one thing, I'll cut that in half," she explained.
The worst part of the injury might have been the timing, keeping Bevilaqua from playing in the Fever's only visit to Seattle this season.
"How ironic," Bevilaqua said. "Of all games! I was like, 'You've got to be kidding me.' But oh, well. These things happen."
Ever the optimist, Bevilaqua was able to find the positive - not playing gave her more time to catch up with her old friends in Seattle. She rebounded for and chatted with 
Lauren Jackson during her good friend's pregame routine, then spent much of the time before the game dispensing hugs throughout the Key.
"I have spent good time with Loz," said Bevilaqua. "Obviously, she was first on the agenda. I don't want to intrude on the girls' preparations. So I'm just giving a 'Hi' here and there."
The Storm and Fever will hook up again in Indiana on Aug. 4. Barring a meeting in the WNBA Finals, there's always 2005. Bevilaqua is expected back for an eighth WNBA season despite openly discussing retirement after the Storm won the championship.
"A few years ago, I told my husband I was going to retire," said Bevilaqua. "He keeps reminding me of that conversation - 'Remember when you were going to retire?'"
But for the time being, Bevilaqua has plenty of basketball left.
