Tight deadlines for the Sunday newspaper kept me from going into great detail in today's column about the Storm's season opener Saturday night. I opted for more of a big-picture approach. So let me highlight a few observations.

-- At times, I thought Yolanda Griffith and Sheryl Swoopes looked like aging legends who might be down to their last seasons, but for the most part, I came away intrigued with how much they have left to offer. On a couple of possessions, Chicago Sky rookie Sylvia Fowles jumped over Griffith for blocked shots, but Griffith still contributed eight points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes. If she can give those kinds of efforts consistently, the Storm will be solid at center.

Although Swoopes does not have blazing end-to-end speed anymore, she is still very quick and disruptive. Like the rest of the team, she played great defense during the 25-9 third quarter run that defined the game. Swoopes wound up with three steals.

-- Swin Cash is a perfect No. 3 option on this team.

-- The talent on the floor really helped Sue Bird showcase all of her talents. She played 32 superb minutes.

-- Lauren Jackson missed 13 of her 19 shots, perhaps the biggest indicator of how good the Storm can be. Jackson does not have to play stellar every night. But it seems that everyone understands that she should get as many touches as she wants. If the starting lineup stays healthy, I figure Jackson will score an efficient 18 or 19 points a game instead of the 23.8 she had to average last season to keep the Storm competitive.

-- And, once again, what a classy gesture by the players to invite the owners to midcourt after the game. It was an incredible moment. Cash said the idea came from Swoopes and Bird. Cash added the owners spoke to the team during the morning shootaround and stressed togetherness would carry this franchise.

Coach Brian Agler was standing in the tunnel as the players and owners huddled up at midcourt. The crowd cheered loudly. It was a fitting show of appreciation for the women who rescued the Storm.

"The city has sort of re-adopted their own citizens," Agler said of the love shown to Force 10 Hoops. "It was great to see that."