Women's Hoops Blog

Jayda Evans covers college and pro women's basketball. While its her first year on the Washington beat, she has covered the Storm since its inception. She'll offer observations, critiques, occasional off-beat tales and answers to select e-mail inquires. Evans also has written a book on the Storm and women's hoops, called "Game On!"

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July 15, 2006 4:25 PM

More injuries

Posted by Jayda Evans

Storm reserve Shaunzinski Gortman was upbeat and walking around after crumbling to the court in pain with an apparent knee injury on Friday. Despite later saying she was fine, Gortman was diagnosed with a torn right ACL today. She will not play against Connecticut on Sunday and her return is uncertain.

On replays, Gortman's knee buckled as she drove to the basket on a fast break in the fourth quarter. She lay on the court in pain before being assisted to the locker by trainers and teammate Janell Burse. Gortman was placed in an ice bath, which she called "painful," but was again walking around the locker room.

"I feel OK right now," she said Friday night. "I just felt something and just fell."

Gortman, with her lanky 5-foot-10 frame, is one of the Storm's better perimeter defenders. She is averaging 2.8 points and 2.4 rebounds in 13.2 minutes.

Less serious is the injury to All-Star Sue Bird, although the Storm is concerned. The team's point guard skipped most of practice today due to a sore left foot sustained in the loss to Indiana on July 9, in which Bird played 33 minutes. Coach Anne Donovan said rest was the best remedy and Bird is expected to start on Sunday.

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