Bird gives Storm big assist in opener

SEATTLE – In some sense you have to believe Sue Bird said “enough of this.”

She burst into the WNBA as the “It Girl” from the University of Connecticut, touting an undefeated championship season and every accolade a college superstar could image. And the winning seemed to continue, advancing the Seattle Storm to the postseason as a rookie in 2002.

But the opponent was Los Angeles, which swept the Storm in the best-of-3 series and hasn’t allowed the youngsters from the Pacific Northwest to advance in the opening round, yet.

Well, Bird isn’t young any more. In Game 1 of a third consecutive Western Conference semifinal against Los Angeles, she used her wits to orchestrate a 79-66 victory over the Sparks.

Bird had nine of her 12 assists by halftime, and added nine points. Swin Cash led Seattle with 20 points, and Lauren Jackson added 17 points and nine rebounds.

Bird began her craftiness early in the opening quarter. With the score tied at 6, Bird shoveled a pass to teammate Tanisha Wright that ignited a 21-5 run to build a 25-11 lead. Los Angeles challenged, but Seattle’s depth retained the advantage.

Reserve forward Jana Vesela entered the game in the second quarter and promptly popped three 3-pointers to keep the lead. She had 11 of Seattle’s 18 points in the quarter.

Los Angeles never got closer than six in the second half and trailed by as many as 13 in the third quarter.

Game 2 of the series is Saturday at Staples Center in L.A.

The Storm is 3-8 all-time against the Sparks in the postseason, losing the past two seasons without two-time MVP Jackson due to injury.

Dream 95, Mystics 90: Angel McCoughtry scored 28 points and Coco Miller scored 21 in her first start of the season to help visiting Atlanta upset top-seeded Washington in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal.