WEEKLY LEADERS
POINTS Jackson - 22.0 Vodichkova - 18.0 Bird - 7.0 Lennox - 7.0 Sam - 6.0 REBOUNDS Sam - 12.0 Vodichkova - 10.0 Lennox - 6.0 Barnes - 3.0 Burse - 3.0 ASSISTS Bird - 6.0 Sam - 5.0 Lennox - 3.0
storm.wnba.com PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Rocky Widner/NBAE/Getty Kamila Vodichkova 18.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 1.0 bpg, 8-14 fgs, 1-1 threes While Vodichkova had started to play better recently, scoring 10 points at Sacramento, she had yet to put together a complete game until Friday evening. Vodichkova started slow, missing a chip shot on the Storm's first possession and drawing nothing but backboard from the perimeter a few possessions later. She also insisted after the game she wasn't pleased after missing three of her four free-throw attempts. Aside from those minor things, Vodichkova was excellent, hitting eight of 14 shot attempts (including her first three since 2002) to score 18 points and pulling down 10 boards as well for the fourth double-double of her career. If Vodichkova can return consistently to her 2003 form, the Storm is going to be tough to beat.

May 31-Jun. 6
Record for the week: 1-0
Overall Record: 5-2
Standing: 1st, Western Conference

Friday, Jun. 11, 2004

Connecticut 29 34 63 at Storm 34 34 68

Conditions were not ideal for the Connecticut Sun when they took on the Storm at KeyArena on Friday. Connecticut traveled to the arena without starting point guard Lindsay Whalen after the rookie was hospitalized with what was believed to be strep throat. Minutes into the game, the Sun's other starting guard, Katie Douglas, left with a sprained ankle. Later, starting center Taj McWilliams-Franklin also had to leave the court after hurting her finger. Both Douglas and McWilliams-Franklin returned, but the overmatched Sun had to rely on its bench much of the evening, with a pair of rookie guards (undrafted Jen Derevjanik and Candace Futrell, a third-round pick) playing the most minutes of their career. Still, the Sun hung around, getting the lead within four late in the game, before time ran out on a 68-63 Storm victory. Afterwards, Storm Coach Anne Donovan was displeased with her team's effort and focus. It was hard to level such complaints against the team's starting frontcourt of Lauren Jackson and Kamila Vodichkova, which combined for 39 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks. Wings Betty Lennox and Sheri Sam chipped in on the glass, combining for 18 boards (a career-high 12 for Sam) and Sue Bird had six assists. Douglas and Asjha Jones had 13 points apiece for Connecticut, with McWilliams-Franklin adding 10 rebounds.

Weekly Happenings

Jackson had 22 points and five blocks on Friday. Jeff Reinking/NBAE/Getty

Something in Reserve
While the Storm is 5-2, that doesn't mean there isn't still room for improvement. Lately, one of Donovan's biggest concerns has been her bench. "I still feel comfortable going to the bench and getting minutes from them, but in terms of what's being produced on the stat sheet, we're not getting a whole lot, other than Janell," Donovan said.

A deeper look at the statistics reveals that to be the case. The Storm's bench has been outscored 120-80 and out-assisted 29-17, though it has pulled down more rebounds (57 vs. 49). Part of the issue is that the Storm's outstanding starting lineup means Donovan has used her backups less than opposing teams. The Storm's bench has averaged 50.1 minutes per game as compared to 61.6 for opponents. Even on a per-minute basis, however, opponents have scored dramatically more (11.1 points per 40 minutes vs. 9.1) and handed out more assists (2.7 vs. 1.9). But the Storm's rebounding advantage is enlarged by this comparison, going to 2.0 rebounds per 40 minutes (6.5 vs. 4.5). The Storm has also gotten fine defense off its bench from players like Tully Bevilaqua and Adia Barnes.

View From the Top
With the New York Liberty losing twice last week, the Storm, at 5-2, is the only WNBA team with two losses and has the best winning percentage in the WNBA. The Storm could lose its next two games and still be off to the best start in franchise history. At 4-0, the Storm is also one of two teams left undefeated at home (3-0 Los Angeles is the other).

Injury Report