Storm’s Cash fits in

A rejuvenated Swin Cash is thriving with the veteran-laden Seattle Storm.

After winning two championships in Detroit, her relationship with coach Bill Laimbeer deteriorated and she was dealt to Seattle in February. In eight games with the Storm, the two-time All-Star is second on the team in scoring (14.3 per game) and third in rebounding (5.9).

“Swin’s playing as well as I’ve seen her play in a very long time,” said Storm guard Sue Bird, who teamed with Cash to win two national championships at the University of Connecticut. “I think she’s healthy for the first time in a while, I think she’s really comfortable with the role on this team, and she’s just playing.”

Seattle, which already had Bird and reigning MVP Lauren Jackson, also signed Sheryl Swoopes away from Houston and Yolanda Griffith from Sacramento to form a starting lineup that combines for nine WNBA championships.

“Just a good situation,” Cash said. “I have a lot of great players surrounding me, a lot of veteran leadership. Any given night anyone has an opportunity to go off on offense.”

Cash averaged 12.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists in six seasons with Detroit, but just 9.5 points and 5.2 rebounds the last three years. She tore her right anterior cruciate ligament late in the 2004 season and played through a back injury last year.

Win still just a dream

Although they finished Saturday still looking for their first win, the expansion Atlanta Dream have come a long way since a season-opening 33-point loss at Connecticut.

“The wins have to come and we just need to keep working on it,” coach Marynell Meadors said. “I have a bunch of believers in that locker room. They are going to come back because I see us getting better than we have.”

Atlanta’s next two losses were by a combined 30 points, but the last two have been by single digits – six at Washington and four against undefeated Minnesota.

“We are trying to make something special happen and we will continue to grow,” veteran forward Betty Lennox said after the 85-81 loss to the Lynx. “The positives that we can take out of this game is that we won three quarters and need to continue to build off of that and get more confidence. We are capable of doing a lot more, and we need to get over the hump.”