Why the WNBA Matters Op-Ed
By: Donna Orender, WNBA President

So here we sit after the Finals, with one team -- San Antonio -- coming up short after bringing the excitement of a championship round to their city for the first time, while another team -- Detroit -- cements its legacy as a dynasty by winning their third title in six years. We were squeezed in with the baseball playoffs and football season, competing for the eyes of sports fans, but it is worth noting that just over a decade ago, the choice to tune in to the WNBA didn't exist at all, and that is something worth recognizing.

If the WNBA does expand, maybe it should look to going to divisions to make the postseason less predictable. The one positive is that a true MVP was named in G Katie Smith. I'm glad she gave a shout out to Storm coach Brian Agler for her defense, hounding the skill in her while playing for the defunct Columbus Quest of the ABL. Candace Parker was no MVP. She was impressive, but if you're voting for "dominance," it was Diana Taurasi who led the league in scoring. There hopefully will be plenty of seasons where Parker shows her MVP status and it'll put this winning to shame. But, hey, it's all about marketing anyway. And she's definitely the MVP of that.

Those in Seattle woke to dark, rainy skies and the harsh reality that pro hoops are truly over in the city. To make matters worse, the Seahawks and Huskies lost in football. Except for as an Arizona grad, I'm happy abut the UW defeat (Go Cats!).

It made writing this final blog hard. I'll be back in November to cover the Husky women and whatever else is thrown my way, but nothing -- aside from another NBA team -- can replace the Sonics. It's weird to read about exhibition openers and trades and it all have nothing to do with Seattle. But that's our reality.

The Storm has talked about getting a backup PG and Tully Bevilaqua has talked about returning to Seattle. Yes, she's available to sign when free agency opens in December. The Storm should be able to keep its training facility for one more season and the KeyArena deal should be worked out. They'll be stories that keep me busy during the offseason. Meanwhile the players are scattered across the globe playing and I'll offer an update or two, especially with Lauren Jackson planning to debut in Spartak Moscow's opener on Oct. 16.

So, to wrap up some unfinished business: A reader wanted final grades, only to really know if PG Sue Bird finally got an "A." The answer is "Yes." I'd give G Tanisha Wright a "B-" since she had some costly errors down the stretch and Sheryl Swoopes and Shyra Ely "Cs" since they didn't produce as needed. Everyone else played their role and deserved an "A."

If there are any other questions you'd like answered, I'll be around this week. (Please note that comments on this blog will erase by November because we're switching formats.) Then it's off for vacation and back to a world without the NBA. I get chills thinking about it.

2008 ALL-WNBA FIRST AND SECOND TEAMS ANNOUNCED

Through WNBA Cares, the WNBA is deeply committed to creating programs that improve the quality of life for all people, with a special emphasis on programs that promote a healthy lifestyle and positive body image, increase breast and women's health awareness, support youth and family development, and focus on education. For more information on the WNBA, log on to www.wnba.com.

The MVP will be awarded before Game 2 of the WNBA Finals matchup between Detroit and San Antonio in Texas. It could be hard for Parker to accept the awards in the same arena where her impressive season ended, but I'm sure she'll get over it. She plans to have surgery on her once dislocated shoulder then play overseas during the offseason.

In a June interview, Parker said she was going to try to get married this offseason, but it was too much to plan with her year-round basketball schedule. That could happen next offseason.

It's been a wild year for Parker. Even though she fell short of the league-hyped "triple crown," unable to contend for a WNBA title to go with Olympic gold and an NCAA championship, she still breathed more life into the WNBA and has plenty excited about what's to come.

It was announced today that her jersey is the top seller for this season, surpassing all previous rookies. It was interesting to see that despite the Storm ranking fifth among team sales, none of their players ranked among the top 10 individually.

Anyway, we're getting close to tip-off for Game 1 on ESPN2. Did some early checking and there shouldn't be any conflicts today. Plus baseballs playoffs were all on TBS.

So, here are a couple of stories to prep you on the game.

It's understandable that the Chicago White Sox needs to win its matchup today against the Detroit Tigers in order to advance to the playoffs. And that baseball garners more ratings than the WNBA. But can we get an update? Can we even get a score on the crawl at the bottom of the screen? I'm all for keeping with the action, but not without telling the viewers that tuned in to watch the main programming set for that time slot what is going on.

The announcers kept saying, "For those who just joined us." Gee, why are we joining you? Could it be to see the flipping basketball game? Once Chicago hit for a grand slam to take a 7-2 lead, ESPN2 could have switched to the WNBA Game 3 elimination game, but no. And no mention of an alternative, not even on the league's Web site.

And you wonder why you don't have fans. Pathetic. Plus, it's another reason to worry about the sports conglomerate buying the rights to the WNBA. With this kind of treatment of a pivotal Eastern Conference championship game, it's very easy to view that as a $30 million payoff to shut the league off.

The station is already doing just that.

UPDATE: The switch was finally made (after showing fireworks, of course), sending viewers to Game 3 with 3:37 remaining in the third quarter. Detroit led 51-40. It would have been nice to see the Liberty's dramatic comeback since I know they were down by about 20, but that's OK. The Sox get to live another day. Right.

San Antonio was once the Utah Starzz. With all the turmoil in Houston, another charter franchise, it was great to see the Sliver Stars' new home embracing the team on national television. The crowd was full and glittery, complete with Eva Langoria-Parker, who lost herself again in basketball (she's married to Spurs' star Tony Parker). So cool to see. And the game had plenty of highlight moves from a sick crossover by Sparks rookie Candace Parker to Silver Stars G Becky Hammon's game-leading 35-points.

The pivotal plays, after F Sophia Young's buzzer beater on Saturday, were DeLisha "D-Nasty" Milton-Jones' elbow that was called for a foul late in the game and Hammon's, (dare we say brush-off?) shake of G Temeka Johnson for a three-pointer and her free throws down the stretch.

At the end Hammon, again, gave thanks to God and it was interesting to think how in August she was hated for signing a million dollar deal to represent Russia in the Olympics. Today, she's loved and closing in on her first WNBA championship, reaching the Finals three times with New York.

And how fitting would it be for the Liberty to advance against Detroit when they play their Game 3 on Monday? Well, I've still got Detroit winning it all. But let’s remember before the season even started, I pegged San Antonio to win the Western Conference championship.

When I interviewed Jackson upon return from surgery, she was as mellow as I've ever seen her. Losing the gold medal game to Team USA on a numb right ankle crushed her. So much so that she said she hadn't even let it all sink in. Since she's the type of player to zone in on one team in pursuit of championships she knows she can win, it's understandable that she needs a break. Seriously, how many of us could travel from country to country and experience everything from family deaths to championships and injuries and just keep going? I know I'd need longer than two weeks here and there.

That's why Jackson, 27, was partly happy about her break for arthroscopic surgery. She was in Sydney with family and friends and technology kept her close to everything back in her second home, Seattle.

"The Internet is a wonderful thing," she said.

ESPN broadcaster Linda Cohn told me that "you should never Google yourself," but apparently Jackson never heard that advice. She said she did get bored one day and when an old friend brought over dinner, the two decided to start Google-ing away. This popped up, which I know most of you've seen:

There's also this response:

Well, aside from knowing NBA star Yao Ming is married because Jackson played with his wife, the Aussie couldn't believe her eyes. And you know me; I had to ask about it when I caught her alone before Game 1 of the playoff series against Los Angeles.

"You can find some really hilarious stuff on the Internet," Jackson said. "When we came across this Yao Ming thing it was like, 'Oh...My...God! When I tell you we were in hysterics...because anybody who knows me knows that would be the last thing on my mind. A 7 foot 8 Chinese man? That's just not my thing.

"I really respect him as a player. And people who know me know I can be wild and over-the-top. I'm affectionate and that night I guess I was affectionate with the wrong person. I guess the Chinese people don't do that stuff very often, so the cultural [differences] was a big thing. But I don't care. You have to laugh about things or you'll be crying, which I would probably have been doing anyway [because of the loss and surgery]. I made the most of my last night at the Olympics and had a great time."

And just so you're clear, that so-called adoring look has nothing to do with love, according to Jackson.

"There's one photo where I'm looking at him - not in awe - it was, 'Agh, I'm so tired and a little bit drunk,'" Jackson said. "It's not a loving look at all. None of us slept for 24 hours. It was a long month that came to a disappointing end."

Of course Jackson had to do a little searching for the video. When you plug just her name into Google's search engine, her Sports Illustrated bathing suit spread is the first image that pops up. Then there's a link to those now famous nude photos done prior to the Athens Olympics for an Australian photo magazine.

"That's pretty funny, too," Jackson said. "Instead of being known for my basketball skills, all of these nudie shots are always the first thing you see. But the Yao Ming thing was pretty hilarious. I showed my Mom and my whole family and it was just hilarious. It crosses those cultural boarders and we [Aussies] do things differently. I'm lucky other stuff hasn't been searched out and posted."

Jackson is headed back to Australia next week to complete some work for sponsors and visit with family again. She expects to be in Russia for the Spartak opener on Oct. 16, plenty of time to find more stuff on the Web.

I haven't pitched it to my editors, yet, aside from them reading this post, because I'd like to know from you first if you'd even read. So, would you? (Tennessee fans don't need to respond)

Storm vet Janell Burse (shoulder, foot) is questionable to return to the WNBA at all, according to talks earlier this season, currently preparing to play in Russia.

Jackson did buy property in Seattle this year and has said Phoenix would "probably" be the only other WNBA city she'd play for. But the Storm can't core the 6 foot 5 Australian because it used that designation on G Sue Bird and Burse last year. Burse's designation dissolved when the Storm suspended her upon not returning in April. Bird's sticks for the upcoming season and under the new collective-bargaining agreement, only one player can be "cored" by a team.

The Aussie, Seattle's leading scorer (20.2) and rebounder (7.0), said recently that having surgery allowed her to spend some needed time at home to reflect about her career. But the draining year-round play may have her thinking about taking some time off during the summer. Jackson still plans to leave next week for play in Russia with Bird. And as for playing in the 2012 Games in London, Jackson said so much has happened that she can't think that far ahead.

She did not have her "final" session with Seattle media today. I'll have more information if she still talks on Thursday. Jackson, who was drafted by Seattle No. 1 overall in 2001, could make a verbal commitment to the team to return, but free agency doesn't open until Dec. 15.

When asked if her close friend would be back, Bird only said, "hope so, I hope so," with a soft smile.

I don't remember that, honestly I love the old-school touch of no sound at all because I thought the game was supposed to be in the entertainment, not contortionists being flipped like pancakes and p.a.-led cheers -- but that's just me.

Today was an odd day. The consensus, obviously, is that had Jackson been healthy, the Storm would have won the championship. Aside from lining up a videogame breakdown of that scenario, though, we'll never know. But the team was playful, though calm, in exit interviews with the media. Well, aside from Storm F Swin Cash telling us (again) that we did a poor job covering C Yolanda Griffith, the leader of the pack.

"Stuff needs to stop being a popularity contest," Cash said of, I'm guessing, the all-Defensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards. "Be about the game and people that get it done. As her teammate, I want to give her the credit for being the focal point and anchor of our defense this year."

I did vote for [enter boos here] Lisa Leslie as DPOY, but the all-Defensive team is up to the coaches. So, Cash's wrath should be directed at them.

While more tears were shed, the funniest moment of the season that still had players laughing today actually happened during the postseason. Do you have time for a story? Well, sit back like G Sue Bird and read this one as told to me by Kelly Santos [the main character] and Bird [surprise blabbermouth]:

So, the Storm left early for Los Angeles last week, wanting to get into the playoff mindset. Since the team already practiced in Seattle, the players were free to do as they pleased upon landing in the city. Santos connected with her Brazilian friends, catching the Latina Festival, hanging out, having a good time.

When she was done hanging, she checked into the Manhattan Beach hotel where the Storm normally stays. She approached the desk with a bright smile, said she needed her key and when asked if she needed another, she replied "Yes," because F Kristen O'Neill usually stays with her.

"No, you have your own room, but it does have two beds," the clerk replies.

"I think to [myself], I must thank the coach [Brian Agler] for sure," Santos told media today. "I was in room 404 and I sleep very well, watch some movies and I woke up at 9 a.m. I got my nails done -- nobody knows that -- and I told the girl, 'Can you do my nails quick because at 12:30, we leave for practice.'"

Completely manicured and rested, Santos returns to the Manhattan Beach hotel and looks for the equipment manager to get her clothes for practice. Danielle Yellam says she's in room 407.

"She knocks on room 407 and Danielle is not there," Bird told the media. "Kelly goes back to her room and calls Danielle and says, 'Danielle, I'm trying to get my clothes. Where are you?' Danielle's like, 'I'm in my room!' Danielle waits in her room and doesn't hear anything and Kelly calls again."

"D, you're not in the room, I'm right outside the door," Santos told the media of what she said on the cell phone.

"Kelly, the door is open and you're not here," Yellam said in the doorway of room 407.

Yellam clicks the problem and asks, "What hotel are you at?"

"I was at the Marriott," Santos said. The Storm stayed at the Ritz-Carlton in Marina del Rey. Santos checks her travel sheet and realizes her snafu.

In a panic, Santos rushed down to the front desk, told them she needed a taxi because in 17 minutes the team bus was leaving for practice. The woman, wondering how that happened, told Santos no problem and that she didn't have to pay -- "your team will pay for you." With no time to ask what team, Santos called Agler, professing how "sorry" she was. Agler, in his normal calm way said, "No, it's OK, it'll be fine."

She arrived on time at the Ritz-Carlton, but Santos' teammates only knew she was at the wrong hotel that morning. Until Bird turned investigative reporter.

"Everybody kept asking me things, asking me, asking me and I tried not to say anything about where I slept," Santos told the media.

"Yeah, cause we're like, 'Kristen, why didn't you help her?'" Bird told the media. "And Kristen said, 'No, she stayed with her friend.'"

Bird quickly turned to Santos and teases, "Oh, Kelly, you stayed with your friend?"

"No, I stayed at the Marriott," Santos said of her sheepish reply. "And they all laughed. I have to write a book."

When I asked what team was actually staying at the Marriott to cause the mix-up, Bird gave a quizzical look.

"Somebody at the Marriott needs to get fired," she said.

Los Angeles got a little testy during Game 2. Seems the public relations staff didn't like the "Beat LA" chant flashing on the KeyArena jumbo screen during timeouts (without sound, of course) and coach Michael Cooper was indignant at game operations using his image in a "Look-a-Like" game implying he looks like Grover from "Sesame Street."

The game, played during a timeout, was flop anyway, but it's interesting that L.A. took so much time worrying about what the in-house entertainment crew was doing. All legal, by the way. When I ask Cooper about the whole "Beat L.A.!" chant, he gave the predictable response, "I've heard that since 1980," said the former star Lakers defender that gave the organization its "Showtime" tag. "In every gym that I've ever been to I've heard that, so no, it doesn't bother me."

Cooper will hear more of the same tonight. But his team's increased defensive pressure could quiet the intensity. Hhe just wants the Sparks to make shots, but they'll also hone in on G Sue Bird, who has averaged 21.5 points in the series.

G Tanisha Wright will have to handle the ball a little more as Storm coach Brian Agler goes to her at point guard and Bird at the shooting guard position to free up the MVP candidate. Another key to the game is going to be the continued defense Storm vet Yolanda Griffith plays on Lisa Leslie. It seems impossible that the three-time MVP would be completely shut out offensively in the playoffs, but...

Sparks rookie Candace Parker's family is watching the Detroit-Indiana game behind me and none can believe along with majority in the arena that Detroit was once up 47-17 in the opening half. The Fever now trail 62-43. My guess is Seattle would rather have that outcome than see LA win on their home court like New York did in Connecticut on Monday. But I heard Sun fans have switched to Storm green, welcome from KeyArena!

Here are tonight's starters

STORM

F Tanisha Wright

F Camille Little

C Yolanda Griffith

G Sheryl Swoopes

G Sue Bird

SPARKS

F Candace Parker

F DeLisha Milton-Jones

C Lisa Leslie

G Keisha Brown

G Shannon Bobbitt

Tonight's officials are June Courteau, Roy Gulbeyan, and Tom Mauer

Some of the hyperbole spouted by the trio, you expect. Leslie refuses to acknowledge losses or faults by her or her team. That's understandable, why would any player say their team is going to lose or come close to psyching themselves out by stating things haven't worked out in similar situations in the past? But Cooper's now infamous "shoe/basketball God" theory for why Storm star Lauren Jackson will play is just ludicrous.

And now the rookie has slipped under the same confused cloud. When asked today about the KeyArena crowd and whether it took some getting used to, Parker quickly replied, "I thought they were saying 'Go LA!'"

Really? And do they teach their student-athletes to read at Tennessee? Because even if the sound was muffled in the midst of playing, I read "Beat LA!" on the signs from across the KeyArena court. Then again, I do wear glasses, so...

It was just light-hearted humor at the practice sessions. Both teams went through simple walk-throughs to prepare for the decisive Game 3 on Tuesday at KeyArena, Seattle also played five-on-five against the male practice players with reserves Katie Gearlds, Kelly Santos, Kristen O'Neill, Kimberly Beck, and Shyra Ely because those players haven't had much run in the past two playoff games. Storm coach Brian Agler expects to use everyone to get out of the opening round.

Agler also said C Yolanda Griffith (knees/body) and Swin Cash (back) are day-to-day because of injury. He suspects Griffith to play, however. Cooper said his team is completely healthy, "because we don't have a bunch of old players."

SIDENOTE: Happy birthday Cash! She's 29 today.

CHARGE IT: Yo took yet another hard hit from Leslie, drawing a charge. The play helped Seattle get three free throws at the other end, one off a Leslie technical foul. Leslie screamed at the refs about a foul called on Parker and had to be held back by the rookie as the vet let loose her rage. After a Bird signature pull-up jumper, the Storm leads 62-50 with 39.2 seconds remaining in the game. But it still feels like there's plenty of time for LA.

SPARKS FIGHTING HARD: Bird was just called for a turnover, stepping out-of-bounds, and the missed baskets coupled with mental errors have allowed LA to wiggle back into the game. A three-pointer by Bobbitt, her second bucket of the game, cut the Storm's double-digit lead to 55-48 with 2:45 remaining in the game. Griffith was called for a fifth foul earlier (bad call), which is going to limit her effectiveness. Parker and Leslie are starting the play together to generate things for teammates.

STARTERS BACK: The Storm returned their starters to the game, but LA has started to make its push. Before the free throw, the Sparks are on a 10-2 run to pull within 52-39. Seattle isn't getting the same calls and LA has picked up some pressure on its defense. There's 5:55 remaining in the game.

END OF THIRD: The reserves held and the Storm is up 50-29 going into the final quarter. This has to be a record low in playoff points for the Sparks. I'm checking on it.

BLOCK THAT: CP3 got a nice block on Bird, but the rookie couldn't keep control of the ball with Bird bodying her after the play. The ball dribbled out-of-bounds and eventually A-Rob grabbed a rebound to convert it into a basket for the Storm. Seattle has an odd lineup of A-Rob, Bird, Katie Gearlds, Little, and Wright on the court. They're making plays and need to at least hold until Agler can put the starters back in for the fourth, but it's not pretty out there. Seattle leads 45-29 with 1:17 remaining in the third.

KEY ON THEIR FEET: No lead is safe in this series, but the KeyArena crowd is partying like the game is won. Seattle appears in control, keeping Parker out of the game and the perimeter from being a factor, but for some reason it feels like the Sparks have a big run ready to burst. There's 3:00 remaining in the third quarter.

GIRFFITH HAS TO SIT: Yo was just called for her fourth foul, putting Brazilian Kelly Santos in the game. Santos wants more minutes and can play after a great showing in the Olympics for her country, here's her chance to carry the Storm for a while because Seattle will need Yo back in the game in the fourth. Also causing trouble to the Storm being able to hang inside is the fact that Little has three fouls. Santos was just scored on by Leslie, though, putting A-Rob (one foul) in the game with Little. That produced a Leslie turnover and Wright bucket. Seattle's up 38-21.

HALFTIME: Wright is much improved this season, but I'd love to know what was going through her head during the last play of the half. She forced a shot after fumbling with the ball and missed an opportunity for the Storm to get another bucket going into the break. Aside from that play, the Storm has played better defense on the perimeter and continues to keep Parker and Leslie out of the game offensively. Parker is 1 of 4 from the field for two points, but she did block two shots. Leslie has one point, missing all five of her attempts. Bird and Swoopes have combined for 17 points and no assists while Wright has five rebounds and three assists to mask her 1 for 6 shooting. Yo is doing a good job on Leslie, again, forcing the Olympian into four turnovers. Seattle leads 26-15.

BIRD BREATHER: Bird admitted to being tired during Game 1 because of the break Agler gave the starters at the end of the regular season. She said she was fine during the second half, but she's getting an extended break now as rookie Kimberly Beck steps in. The Storm had a shot clock violation, but still lead 23-14 with 3:30 remaining.

CP3: The rookie is starting to do other things to help her Sparks. Parker collected a steal and drove it down court to dish it off to Milton-Jones for a bucket. LA is still down 18-12, but the play moved Agler to call a timeout. As predicted, both teams are settling into the game and it's really entertaining. Leslie has two fouls, so she'll be playing a little more timid and Agler is rotating players in and out to get the best combo on both ends. There's 7:40 remaining in the half.

ODD COVERS: Agler's lineup has produced some weird defensive covers for the Storm. Wright is on CP3 at one point Bird was covering the rookie forward. The defensive pressure is working though, L.A. is frustrated at the calls and not getting their offense off like they did Friday. Yo and Swoopes are really ready to play, Yo just taking a charge and Swoopes grabbing a rebound for a turnaround putback to put Seattle up 16-7 at the end of the first quarter. LA shot 15.4 percent from the field (2 of 13).

EARLY TIME: The chants have started and Griffith has already forced Leslie into a foul and turnover to help the Storm go up 4-0 with 8:01 remaining in the opening quarter. The start made Cooper call time. LA just needs to settle into the crowd, which is definitely wild.

SPECIAL REQUEST: So, there are a slew of things that happen to me backstage and the most popular line is, "You should blog about that." Like when Strom radio broadcaster Adia Barnes almost ruined my white shirt by pinging a tomato at me during pre-game dinner or when Sparks center Lisa Leslie elbowed me after a "frosty," according to Kevin Pelton, pre-game interview session. But I don't because I feel this blog should be about the WNBA and not me. But my stupidity on one thing is too much to let slide. Especially for creators Carla Christofferson and Kathy Goodman, the Sparks owners. Story goes like this, I love the free pens the Sparks gave media at the beginning of the season. As a writer, it has the perfect circumference and a grip strip at the bottom. The ink is black, my preferred color for notes and it fits in the rings of my notebook. But there's this silver thing on one side that I could not figure out the point of -- since June. Seriously, every day I've played with this thing not knowing what in the world it was. Well, on Friday, when I raved about the pen to Goodman and Christofferson, they pointed out this great feature, a pull-out schedule. "What?!" Goodman just walked away laughing. "You didn't know?" she said upon returning more gathered. "No, all this time and no, I had no clue," I responded. And I've played with it daily. Just never thought to pull the thing. So, that's it. The Sparks even pulled one over me. Hopefully that's the only one!

TEXT CITY: OK, so I finally asked Parker's fiance Sheldon Williams, a Sacramento Kings post, what in the world he's texting during games. Scratch that, as soon as he gets in the arena. "We text about the game," he said. "I'm texting her things I see." But no, Parker isn't checking for texts during the game. She reads the list of insights after the game and does the same for her future hubby during his game. So, if she's able to make adjustments to go off offensively today, thank Williams and Cooper, of course. I'm just happy Williams is not texting friends, bored by watching the WNBA as was rumored from some media in L.A.

Storm F Lauren Jackson doesn't believe in God, but she did try to practice on Saturday. As expected from anyone who knows the Australian, watching her team go down by 19 points in Game 1 of the first-round series against Los Angeles nearly killed her. She promptly tried to run and do cut moves on an adjacent court while the Storm practiced and she was able to do some things, but pulled up sore this morning, preventing her from playing.

Jackson, the Storm's leading scorer (20.2) and rebounder (7.0), had arthroscopic right ankle surgery on Aug. 28 and was told she'd be out three to four weeks. It's been about 3 1/2-weeks and Saturday's session was the first time she tried movement on the court.

"She tried to accelerate her rehab a little bit," Storm coach Brian Agler said. "She got out on the court a little bit and it's part of the process she's going through. She's not going and I didn't anticipate her going. It doesn't mean as a competitor that she didn't want to. It doesn't mean that at all and if there's any way possible she could be out there to benefit us, she certainly would.

"Her trying to push it, push, it, push it is definitely coming from her. She has a great love for this franchise and it was real hard for her to sit there and watch that the other night knowing that, if at all possible, she could help us. But it's just not time."

Sparks coach Michael Cooper still isn't living in reality as far as Jackson is concerned.

"I have a daughter," he said. "Usually women when they're hurt, it's hard for them to wear two pairs of the same shoes. And she had two pairs of the same shoes on."

Alrighty then. But Jackson is not active for tonight along with F Kristen O'Neill and that cannot be changed.

Agler did alter his starting lineup for Game 2, placing F Sherly Swoopes among the starters in place of C Ashley Robinson. A-Rob will still see considerable minutes, according to Agler, but he moved to start Swoopes because she's appearing like she's ready to go. Game 1 was Soopes first game since Sept. 6 when she suffered a concussion against Minnesota.

Swoopes played 25 minutes in Game 1 and although was 2 for 7 from the field, missing all four of her three-pointers, she played solid defense and had five rebounds with two steals and two turnovers.

The Seahawks have already kicked-off across town, but the KeyArena lower bowl is already starting to fill with fans. The organization handed out two-sided placards that read "Beat L.A." and "There's no place like home!" The Storm finished the regular season at a franchise-best 16-1 at the Key. Electricity is low right now, but I suspect that to change as the afternoon progress.

Well, here's the starting lineups:

STORM
F Tanisha Wright
F Camille Little
C Yolanda Griffith
G Sheryl Swoopes
G Sue Bird

SPARKS
F Candace Parker
F DeLisha Milton-Jones
C Lisa Leslie
G Keisha Brown
G Shannon Bobbitt

Tonight's officials are Daryl Humphrey, Michael Price, and Shelley Nakasone.