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!"

Email| Subscribe|Blog Home

June 9, 2007 10:18 PM

Wright back?

Posted by Jayda Evans

I've read your comments and I'm getting the feeling that Tanisha Wright as a point guard is not a favorite among Storm fans. I'd rather see her at shooting guard and get a real backup PG, too. I wouldn't want to let go of Katie Gearlds just yet and it's not wise to let go of Betty Lennox, especially if you want to win a title. As Detroit's Deanna Nolan showed, you need players that can really step up at playoff time to get the championship. Outside of Lauren Jackson, Lennox is the only one who can do that.

But Wright has done some good things in the past two games. She gave Sue Bird an excellent break in Sacramento, only committing one turnover during an approximate three-minute span between the first and second quarters. And Wright was solid again tonight at the point. Storm coach Anne Donovan even ran Wright again at shooting guard with Bird, which worked well. So maybe people are venting a little too early?

Donovan is still trying to get a grip on all of her talent and how to use the pieces - a good test run for the Olympics if Team USA gets that far (remember Jackson's Australia won the automatic bid. Donovan is Team USA's coach). Donovan went nine players deep in the opening half when the game was being decided, and it flowed well. Later deep reserves Tye'Sha Fluker and Shyra Ely got some minutes.

And that's all the reserves seem to need to develop that chemistry everyone says is missing so far - time in a live game together. A blowout also helps make that happen.

"Our starters aren't always going to be able to play as many minutes as they play," said Wright, who finished with four points and three steals. "The more we can get out in games like this and get experience, it'll be better off for us in the long run. It's definitely important."

Digg | Newsvine