Expectations high again for Storm
But they will need to have fewer injuries
SEATTLE – Sue Bird remembers the good times last year, when the Seattle Storm were winners of a franchise-record seven straight games and arguably the best team in the league.
That was before age began slowing former MVP Sheryl Swoopes, a balky back limited Swin Cash, and most important, Lauren Jackson’s ankle broke down.
“For us last year, I can really confidently say that we were the best team in the league when we had our entire roster and were healthy,” Bird said. “I’m sure a lot of teams could say that. A lot of rosters dealt with injuries. For us, it hit us really hard. Had we stayed healthy, I don’t know, anything could have happened.”
Instead of relishing what could have been a deep playoff run, the Storm were again pondering a fourth straight exit from the first-round of the WNBA playoffs. Despite injuries playing a significant role, it was another example of Seattle failing to meet the lofty expectations shouldered since winning the league crown in 2004.
The belief that Seattle is among the league’s elite is back in 2009, thanks largely to Jackson and her decision to remain in Seattle. The Storm open the season today at Sacramento, then host the Monarchs on Sunday night.
An unrestricted free agent for the first time, Jackson kept her options open until last month when she agreed to a one-year deal to stay in Seattle with the idea that a long-term contract would be talked about during the 2009 season.
“Obviously, it was the best decision I’ve made,” Jackson said after arriving from Australia earlier this week. “I just needed some time to think about it. This is where I want to finish out my career. It was just a matter of making a choice and this is where I wanted to be.”
Before her right ankle injury suffered while playing for Australia at the Olympics – which required surgery following the Olympics – Jackson was averaging was averaging 20.2 points and 7.0 rebounds and was in line for a possible third MVP award.
Instead, as Jackson stayed on the sidelines watching, Seattle was knocked out of the first-round of the playoffs by Los Angeles, leading to another offseason of reassessment.
“We had some specific goals in the offseason we tried to accomplish and I feel good about that,” Seattle coach Brian Agler said. “I feel like we’re deeper. Our main goal is to put ourselves into a position to win a championship.”
Seattle’s offseason makeover also included the departure of Swoopes and former MVP Yolanda Griffith – now with Indiana – giving the Storm less of a marquee lineup, but one that’s better balanced and with more depth.
Janell Burse returns after sitting out last season to rest lingering injuries, and Seattle also welcomes back Australian Suzy Batkovic-Brown, who played with the Storm in 2005. Those two, combined with Jackson, Ashley Robinson, Camille Little and first-round draft pick Ashley Walker, give Seattle one of the deepest front lines in the league.
Cash, who averaged 11.3 points in her first season with Seattle, also appears healthy after back surgery.
Getting Jackson re-signed was Agler’s top priority in the offseason. But also high on his list was shoring up Seattle’s backcourt by bringing back guard Tanisha Wright and adding a solid backup for Bird.
Wright is back after blossoming in 2008. Called upon when Swoopes was unable to go, she averaged a career-best 7.9 points, including nearly 14 per game in the playoffs.
Agler brought in veteran Shannon Johnson to give Bird some help running the team and open up options should Bird’s scoring become more of a need. Last year, Bird averaged 14.1 points per game – the most since her rookie season – and carried the offensive load when Jackson was lost for the season.
“With the type of player I am and with the type of game I have, I’m just going to do whatever it takes to win,” Bird said. “If that means I need to score a lot, cool. If that means I need to set the team up and run, cool.”