EXTENDED TIME: This wonderful crew is trying to figure out the timeout situation, causing more of a delay than usual. Sparks up 34-21 with 3:19 remaining in half. Wonder what string of commercials ESPN2 is playing.

ROLE REVERSAL: L.A. now is getting tagged with fouls, drawing out this opening quarter. Thompson picked up her third to equalize the fact that Wright had three. Bird is also being aggressive and Seattle is down 20-13 at the end of the first. The Storm is shooting a paltry 17.6 percent, but the Sparks are that much better and have been limited to just two second-chance points.

SINKING SHIP: Seattle is going down quick. Quinn just hit a three-pointer off a steal and assist by Thompson and the LA advantage is 14-5 with 3:52 remaining in the opening quarter. The Storm doesn't have any options and officiating is awful. In the games I've watched, Gulbeyan has always had it in for Wright and Brooks isn't one of the WNBA's best. You still have to play through that. We'll see if Seattle can find a way to do so.

SPOTTED: Sonics legend Lenny Wilkens is seated courtside by Storm CEO Karen Bryant. Former Storm assistant coach Jenny Boucek, who was fired earlier this season by Sacramento, also is in attendance. "I never knew how liberating it was to cheer for your friends," she said. WNBA legend Sherly Swoopes is also here, recieving another standing ovation from the Key when introduced.

WRIGHT GONE: Well, Seattle's X-Factor is on the bench with three fouls. The fans don't appreciate the call on Wright and replays supported their complaints. Seattle down 8-5 with 5:22 remaining.

ONE-DIMENSIONAL?: Cash made the Storm's first bucket with 6:22 remaining in the opening quarter. Seattle is down 5-2, playing great defense. But the team is 1-of-8 from the field. LA 1-of-4. To help get something going, Agler put in Suzy Batkovic-Brown or, as one fan creatively put it, Downtown Aussie Brown.

MVP RETURN?: Storm PF Lauren Jackson said she's thinking about returning if Seattle can get past the opening round. She's out with two stress fractures in her lower back. She's not concerned about people going after the injury, saying it doesn't hurt then. "It's mainly running and jumping," Jackson said of when it hurts. It takes three months for stress fractures to typically heal and she's almost been out a month.

IT'S HOT: Forgot to mention Clarence Lennox made a return to KeyArena to support his sister Betty, a former Storm star. But big bro is still tied to his Seattle allegiance. While he wore gold for Game 2, he and his wife decided to wear fuchsia today. It's spectacular. Clarence Lennox took it a step further, too, donning the hot pink suit with a powder pink fedora, polka dot pink dress shirt and tie and powder pink leather shoes. I hope ESP2 gets a shot.

ADD ANOTHER: The official stat crew gave Wright another assist today, missing the call in the wild finish on Friday. Wright collected a steal tipped by Little and threw it down court to Little for the winning bucket. Now Wright has a double-double for Game 2, finishing with 15 points, a career-high 10 assists and six rebounds.

Found it funny that in an interview on Saturday, Los Angeles coach Michael Cooper said Seattle just rides its fans to victory. Hmm, isn't that part of the game Mr. Showtime?

Press row thought it was more mind games, which Cooper is notorious for, can't wait to see how it plays out on the college level when he takes over for USC. But he's not planning on that being anytime soon. It's Game 3 of the opening round series against the Storm and the Sparks are planning to boot the home team out of the postseason for the second consecutive year.

On the line are the impending retirements of Cooper (to coach USC), WNBA original Lisa Leslie, and Storm PG Shannon Johnson. LA native Tina Thompson said she'll wait until well after the season to think about any plans. She has a three-year contract, but isn't obligated to play.

Cooper altered his lineup, starting UCLA star Noelle Quinn in place of Australian Olympian Kristi Harrower. At 6-foot, the addition of Quinn gives LA a massive lineup that Seattle had its most trouble defending on Friday in Game 2's miraculous win.

But the Storm is getting great play from Australian Olympian Suzy Batkovic-Brown and Swin Cash while G Tanisha Wright's aggressive nature in driving the paint has paced the team. Storm coach Brian Agler isn't altering his starting look, however. C Janell Burse will get the nod and hopefully she can stay out of foul trouble to pull the Storm over.

As well known, Seattle has lost four consecutive first-round series and is trying not to make it a fifth. In the WNBA overall, the home team is actually 27-10. So Coop, you may have to deal with it this afternoon at the Key.

Here are your starting lineups:

SPARKS
F Tina Thompson
F Candace Parker
C Lisa Leslie
G Noelle Quinn
G DeLisha Milton-Jones

STORM
F Swin Cash
F Camille Little
C Janell Burse
G Sue Bird
G Tanisha Wright

Tonight's officials are Denise Brooks, Kurt Walker, and Roy Gulbeyan

View Original Post at seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/womenshoopsblog/index.html

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