Storm Tracker (June 20-26)

WEEKLY LEADERS
POINTS Jackson - 16.7 Lennox - 15.3 Castro - 10.0 Burse - 9.3 Batkovic - 9.0 REBOUNDS Jackson - 11.0 Burse - 5.7 Lennox - 4.7 Castro - 2.7 Batkovic/ Bird - 2.0 ASSISTS Bird - 6.7 Lennox - 3.0 Castro - 2.3
storm.wnba.com PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Simone Edwards 20 minutes, 15 points, 6-6 fgs, 3-3 fts The "Simmy Shimmy" made a big appearance in Minnesota Sunday, when Edwards gave the Storm a big lift off the bench with her surprising scoring. In just 13 minutes of action, Edwards scored double-figures for the first time since August 2003, scoring 11 points on 4-of-4 shooting from the field and 3-of-3 from the line. Edwards also made both shots she attempted at Los Angeles for a perfect week and is now shooting 63.2% from the field this season.

June 20-26 Record for the week: 1-2 Overall Record: 7-6 Standing: tie 2nd, Western Conference

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Kevin Pelton, storm.wnba.com

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June 22, 2005 - Recap | Box | Quotes/Notes | Press Row | Photo Gallery

Connecticut 49 37 86 at Storm 44 51 95

The Storm returned from a week-long break to host the Connecticut Sun at KeyArena on Wednesday, the Sun's first visit to Seattle since losing Game 3 of the WNBA Finals. The first half looked much the same as when the teams met in Connecticut earlier this season, with the Sun scoring virtually at will and piling up 49 points. But the Storm found some potent offense as well and trailed by just five. With the game still tight in the second half, it became Betty Lennox time. The 2004 Finals MVP continued to bedevil the Sun, scoring 23 of her 29 points in the second half to tie a Storm franchise record. Seattle led 84-81 inside the final two minutes when Iziane Castro Marques buried a 3-pointer. Katie Douglas answered with a 3, but Castro Marques scored a midrange jumper and Lennox came up with a steal and layup as the Storm finished a 95-86 win. The 95 points were a Storm franchise record. Lauren Jackson had 23 points and 17 rebounds, Castro Marques scored 15 and Suzy Batkovic scored a career-high 13 points. Taj McWilliams-Franklin led the Sun with 21 points.

June 24, 2005 - Recap | Box | Photo Gallery

Storm 33 32 65 at Los Angeles 38 38 76

The Storm kicked off a four-game road trip Friday night in Los Angeles. Taking advantage of the Sparks decision to front the post, the Storm took an early 13-6 lead, but a 7-0 Los Angeles run quickly erased that. A 9-0 spurt midway through the half gave the Sparks a five-point lead going to the locker room. Seattle would get no closer during the second half, unable to make a significant run to chip into L.A.'s lead until the Sparks led by 17 with a little over four minutes to play. The Storm scored the game's final six points to produce a 76-65 final. Jackson had 21 points on 8-for-11 shooting and five blocks, but Janell Burse (12) was the only other Storm player in double-figures. Sue Bird added a season-high 10 assists. Chamique Holdsclaw led the Sparks, scoring a season-high 27 points and grabbing 10 boards. Fellow forward Tamika Whitmore added 16 and eight to offset Lisa Leslie shooting just 4-for-17 from the field. Led by Holdsclaw and Whitmore, Los Angeles grabbed 19 offensive rebounds.

June 26, 2005 - Recap | Box | Quotes/Notes | Photo Gallery

Storm 29 41 70 at Minnesota 34 39 73

The Storm moved on to Minnesota Sunday for a game that saw neither team sharp early. The Storm's first basket didn't come until the 15:51 mark of the first half, but the Lynx only had four points at the time. Referees didn't help by going to their whistles early and often. The Storm trailed by as many as 11, but went on an 11-4 run to get back in the game with Minnesota All-Star Katie Smith on the bench with three fouls. Smith picked up two fouls quickly in the second half, and the Storm took advantage to take a three-point lead when she returned. Smith quickly erased that with a 3, then hit another. Minnesota led 63-62 with a minute and a half left when Stacey Lovelace hit a key 3-pointer. After a Bird miss, the Storm was forced to start fouling and the Lynx hit enough of their free throws to pick up a 73-70 win. In just 19 minutes, Smith led all scorers with 22 points. The Storm got little offense from its big three, with Jackson shooting 1-for-11 from the field and scoring six points, Bird scoring six of her eight points in the final minute and Lennox shooting 3-for-11. Batkovic led the Storm with 12 points, while Edwards added 11 as the bench outscored Minnesota's reserves 31-12.

Weekly Happenings

Lauren Jackson leads the WNBA with 9.6 rebounds per game. Visit the new Photo Galleries page for more Storm photos. David Sherman/NBAE/Getty

Bird Back in the Lineup
After missing four games and more than two weeks, Bird returned to action for the Storm against the Sun. She's wearing a facemask that protects her broken nose and the right orbital bone she also broke in Connecticut and has said she'll wear it the rest of the season. Though the mask appeared to cause Bird some breathing problems against the Sun, she says it's not too bad.

"I’m just getting used to the mask and getting used to playing again, and kind of getting my wind back, but other than that I feel good," Bird said after the game.

Around the Web

The Seattle Times' Jayda Evans looks at the Storm's Aussie duo of Batkovic and Jackson, recently dubbed "the Great Barrier Reef" by KJR's Dick Fain.

Mark Bergin of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that Lennox was happy to get Bird back beside her.

Wendy Carpenter of The News Tribune has more on Bird's return.

The Week Ahead

Tue, June 28 Houston Comets 5:30 p.m. Toyota Center KJR 950 AM Thu, June 30 San Antonio Silver Stars 5:00 p.m. SBC Center KJR 950 AM Sun, July 3 Sacramento Monarchs 6:00 p.m. KeyArena () FSN and KJR 950 AM

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