WEEKLY LEADERS
POINTS Jackson - 22.3 Bird - 13.7 Sam - 12.0 Lennox - 9.7 Vodichkova - 5.0 REBOUNDS Jackson - 7.0 Lennox - 5.0 Barnes - 2.7 Bird - 2.7 Sam/Vodichkova - 2.7 ASSISTS Bird - 7.0 Lennox - 4.0 Sam - 2.0
storm.wnba.com PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Rocky Widner/NBAE/Getty Lauren Jackson 22.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.0 spg, 1.3 bpg, 22-39 fgs, 20-25 fts Jackson closed out the season in style, scoring 20+ points in each of her last three games to hold off a late charge by Houston's Tina Thompson and win her second straight WNBA scoring title (becoming the first repeat winner since Thompson's former teammate Cynthia Cooper, 1997-99). Jackson got to the free-throw line at least seven times in all three games, and came up big in the second half against both Phoenix (14 points) and Los Angeles (16). She outdueled Lisa Leslie in their head-to-head MVP matchup, outscoring Leslie by four points and neutralizing the WNBA's leader on the boards.

Sep. 13-19
Record for the week: 2-1
Overall Record: 20-14
Standing: 2nd, Western Conference

Monday, Sep. 13, 2004

Storm 30 46 76 at Indiana 39 31 70

Having qualified for the playoffs a day earlier when the Sacramento Monarchs lost to the Los Angeles Sparks, the Storm was loose as it traveled to Indianapolis to try to snap a two-game losing streak in the second game of a back-to-back set against the Fever. Still, Indiana dominated the offensive glass and the game in the first half, outrebounding the Storm 18-7 and taking a nine-point lead to the break. The Storm quickly fought back in the second half, cleaning up the issues on the boards and stifling Indiana defensively with guard Kelly Miller sidelined by foul trouble and forward Tamika Catchings bothered by turf toe. The Fever went four and a half minutes without a score midway through the second half, allowing the Storm to take a three-point lead. Getting strong contributions from the bench, Seattle pushed the lead as large as eight points, but Indiana made things interesting, cutting the Storm's lead to 68-66 with a minute left in the game. Betty Lennox missed a jumper that barely beat the shot clock, and Jackson came up with the biggest play of the night, ripping down the rebound, scoring and being fouled (she hit the free throw) to seal the 76-70 win. Jackson finished with 20 points and nine rebounds to lead the Storm. Sue Bird added 17 points (15 after halftime) and seven assists. All five Indiana starters scored double-figures, but the Fever shot just 41.4% from the field.

Wednesday, Sep. 15, 2004

Phoenix 30 28 58 at Storm 27 46 73

For the second time this season, the Storm played a terrible first half against the Phoenix Mercury. Looking to secure home-court advantage with a win, the Storm committed 13 turnovers and shot just 30.8% from the field before halftime. Still, Seattle went into the break down just three after trailing by as many as 13, scoring the last five points before halftime to seize momentum. That momentum carried over, as the home team dominated the second half, needing only three minutes to take the lead for the first time since early in the game. The Storm was up five after a Nikki McCray three with 7:58 left and reeled off a 10-0 run to effectively seal the game. The final was a 73-58 Storm win. Jackson was the dominant player for the Storm, scoring more in each half than any of her teammates scored all game. Lennox, with 10, was the only other player to score double-figures, but the bench combined for 21 points. Diana Taurasi had 20 points for Phoenix, but the Mercury's other two leading scorers (Anna DeForge and Penny Taylor) were held to 13 points combined. McCray scored a season-high 10 off the bench.

Saturday, Sep. 18, 2004

Los Angeles 41 42 83 at Storm 36 44 80

Despite the fact that both teams were already locked into their playoff positions, the Los Angeles Sparks and the Storm played at playoff intensity Saturday night in a physical, well-played game that left fans dreaming of a potential Western Conference Finals matchup. Both teams were tight early, and the Storm got going first, taking an eight-point lead. Los Angeles vaporized the deficit in a hurry, going on a 17-2 run to lead by five at the half despite Sheri Sam's 15 points for the Storm. The Sparks led by as many as 12 in the second half, but the Storm walked them down, getting within two on several occasions. After Bird missed a three that could have put the Storm ahead with two minutes to play, the Sparks pushed the lead to 80-75. Still, the Storm had a chance after L.A. struggled at the free-throw line, down 83-80 with possession and 17 seconds left. Lennox and Sam both missed from the perimeter, however, and the Storm lost for just the third time all season at KeyArena. Jackson's and Leslie's matchup lived up to the hype, with each grabbing eight rebounds and scoring around 20 points, but other players were the key. All five L.A. starters scored at least 12 points and point guard Nikki Teasley had one of the best games of her career, scoring 21 points and adding 11 assists. Sam finished with a season-high 21 points.

Weekly Happenings

Jackson closed her MVP candidacy with a strong week. Jeff Reinking/NBAE/Getty

Home Court for Storm
Having clinched a playoff spot last Sunday when Sacramento lost to Los Angeles, the Storm turned its attention to clinching the second seed in the Western Conference and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The wins over Indiana and Phoenix secured the Storm a deciding Game 3 at KeyArena if necessary.

That Game 3, the Storm found out Sunday, would be against the Minnesota Lynx. A year after the Lynx won a tiebreaker with the Storm for the final playoff spot in the West, they used the elusive superior record against teams who finish the season .500 or better to claim the third seed and push Sacramento fourth. Game 1 will be played Saturday in Minnesota, Games 2 and 3 (if necessary) Monday and Wednesday in Seattle.

Celebrating Season V
All season long, the Storm has been remembering the first five years of Storm basketball, and that process culminated Saturday night. A "V" jersey was raised to the rafters before the game, and Storm originals Kamila Vodichkova and Simone Edwards were honored in video features on Arenavision, along with inaugural Storm Coach Lin Dunn.

Unofficially part of the celebration - a franchise-record crowd of 14,827 as the Storm opened the 200 level of KeyArena for only the third time since the inaugural 2000 season. Even in a loss, the atmosphere in the Key was truly electric.

With last week's two wins, the Storm cruised past the franchise record for wins in a season, finishing with 20. Every year of the Storm's existence, it has upped its win total, the only WNBA team to do each of the last four seasons.

Storm Leaders
Led by Jackson, who led the WNBA with 20.5 points per game, several Storm players finished amongst the WNBA's league leaders. For Jackson's ranks, check out the Lauren Jackson Back-to-Back MVP Watch. Everyone else:

Adia Barnes: