Storm Tracker (June 27-July 3)

WEEKLY LEADERS

POINTS
Jackson - 18.0
Batkovic - 13.3
Castro - 8.5
Lennox- 8.0
Bird/
Burse - 7.3

REBOUNDS
Jackson - 11.7
Batkovic - 5.7
Burse - 5.3
Castro - 4.0
Edwards - 3.0

ASSISTS
Bird - 5.7
Castro - 3.0
Several - 1.3

storm.wnba.com PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Suzy Batkovic
13.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.3 apg, 15-26 fgs, 10-12 fts
The Storm's rookie center continues to adjust to and thrive in the WNBA. Batkovic scored double-figures in all three games last week, scoring a career-high 16 points on 6-for-10 shooting at Houston, just missing a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds at San Antonio and scoring 14 points vs. Sacramento. She saw heavy action down the stretch and showed maturity beyond her 24 years against the Monarchs, scoring two key baskets in the final three minutes as the Storm held on for the win.

June 27-July 3
Record for the week: 1-2
Overall Record: 8-8
Standing: 5th, Western Conference

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Kevin Pelton, storm.wnba.com

June 28, 2005 - Recap | Box

	Storm	29	38	67
	at Houston	35	36	71

The Storm traveled to Houston on Tuesday without forward

Iziane Castro Marques, who was suspended by the WNBA. They played most of the second half without MVP forward

Lauren Jackson, who was unexpectedly benched. Still, the Storm trailed by just two with 17 seconds to play after two Batkovic free throws.

Michelle Snow followed with two free throws, and

Betty Lennox missed for the Storm, sealing Houston's victory. Seattle led with five minutes left in the game, but the Comets additional depth proved just enough down the stretch.

Sheryl Swoopes scored 21 points to lead four Houston players in double-figures and also handed out nine assists, while Snow (11 points, 11 rebounds) recorded a double-double. Batkovic's 16 points led the Storm.

June 30, 2005 - Recap | Box | Quotes/Notes

	Storm	30	39	69
	at San Antonio	28	53	81

The Storm's road trip wrapped up in San Antonio on Thursday. Both teams struggled on offense in the early going, with the Silver Stars going nearly six and a half minutes without a field goal late in the half. The Storm used that drought to take a 30-28 lead to the locker room. Seattle trailed by two with 4:20 to play, but the Silver Stars answered with a 7-0 run as the Storm went over three minutes without a score. The key score was a

Dalma Ivanyi prayer 3-ball with 2:13 to go that pushed the lead to seven. A San Antonio layup at the buzzer produced an 81-69 final that appeared more lopsided than the game really was. All five Silver Stars starters scored double-figures, led by Shannon Johnson's season-high 18 points. Jackson (17 points, 15 rebounds) was the only Storm player in double-figures.

July 3, 2005 - Recap | Box | Quotes/Notes | Press Row | Photo Gallery

	Sacramento	30	37	67
	at Storm	48	26	74

The Storm returned home to take on the Sacramento Monarchs on Sunday. Rested from finally sleeping in their own beds, the Storm got off to a fast start, leading 10-3 and 20-8 in the early going before taking a 48-30 lead to the half. Seattle would need every bit of that advantage after halftime as the Monarchs came charging back. Holding the Storm to 13 points in the first 15 minutes of the second half, Sacramento got within two at 61-59. It was 63-61 when the Storm began its final charge, getting a Jackson layup, two scores from Batkovic and a second Jackson score to make it 71-66 with 1:01 to play before finishing off a 74-67 win. Jackson had a monster effort for Seattle, scoring a season-high 31 points and pulling down 13 rebounds. She scored 14 of the Storm's 26 second-half points.

DeMya Walker paced Sacramento with 14.

Weekly Happenings

Suzy Batkovic earned Storm Tracker Player of the Week honors. Visit the new Photo Galleries page for more Storm photos.
Jeff Reinking/NBAE/Getty

Two Storm All-Star Starters
Near the end of a long road trip, the Storm got great news before Thursday's game when

Sue Bird and Jackson were named starters for the Western Conference All-Star Team. While Bird has been voted a starter for all three All-Star Games played during her career, Jackson was voted in by the fans for the first time. That was in doubt when the final round of balloting updates showed her trailing a pair of Houston forwards. However, Jackson's Australian supporters and Storm fans came through, reportedly filling out 10,000 ballots over the final 36 hours of voting.

"I obviously have to thank all those Seattle fans for stuffing those ballots when they could," said Bird. "I know we only had a couple of home games last month, but they did a great job getting both Lauren and I in there. It's a good testament to how supportive our fans are."

The Storm's duo will be joined in Connecticut by the Storm coaching staff. Anne Donovan and company will coach the West All-Star team.

Castro Marques Suspended
Castro Marques was suspended for Tuesday's game by the WNBA for a play involving Minnesota's Svetlana Abrosimova the previous Sunday. According to the league, Castro Marques delivered a closed-fist shot to Abrosimova's head. Donovan was outspoken in her disagreement.

"[It] did not go down the way the league is saying it happened," Donovan told the Seattle Times. "It's a foul maybe, but an intentional, flagrant foul, definitely not. ... But the league's contention is because the fist was closed and there was contact with the head, that it's an automatic suspension."

Around the Web

The Seattle Times' Jayda Evans has the Storm duo's reaction to

being named All-Star starters.

Mark Bergin of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that Donovan was disappointed in

her team's defensive rebounding.

Wendy Carpenter of The News Tribune considers

the Storm's mindset coming back from a disappointing road trip.

The Week Ahead