Coach
Lin Dunn does not have an easy two weeks ahead of her. She
has to cut the preseason roster down to 11 spots by May 24th
(she can have 2 players on the Injured List, but only if they
are actually injured. If they aren't, the league will cut
them from the roster). According to the roster sheet passed
out before today's Open Practice gets under way, the Storm
currently have 19 players on the team. After watching 14 of
these players in action (3 are still overseas, LJ is back
but jetlagged into a stupor, and Crystal Givens is injured),
I don't envy her at all.
The
New Faces
Paying
attention to the new faces since I figure I am aware enough
of the returning players (not true as it turns out), here
are some impressions (in alphabetical order):
Adia
Barnes
- A small forward who can play solid defense and is willing
to shoot when she is open. She is quiet, but stuck to anyone
she was guarding like hair extensions on the Diva. She reminded
a few of us of Katy Steding, only more aggressive.
Lucienne
Berthieu
- Today is her graduation at Old Dominion and she is here
playing hard for a spot on the team. I know that whether Sue
Bird should go to her graduation and miss a preseason game
has been hotly debated (most people think she should go).
It is telling that Lucienne chose to stay in Seattle today.
The battle for the center/forward postition is tight and she
may have decided that she couldn't miss any time.She is big
and can hit from outside. She didn't look as sharp as Takeisha
Lewis, but I think she outplayed our other posts.
Sue
Bird
- She has to feel like she has a target on her. Sue may be
one of the 3 players who have a guaranteed spot on the team
(Coach Dunn keeps saying that 3 are already in, but hasn't
said which 3), but she is playing like she has to earn everything.
On the other side, all the other veteran guards are taking
it to her with a vengence. She and Michelle Marciniak are
going at each other with much more than game-speed intensity.
If Sue ends up being the Storm's starting point guard, she
will have to win it - it won't be handed to her.
Crystal
Givens
- Crystal is injured and spent the practice on the far side
talking to LJ and doing some light dribbling drills. She visibly
limped a few times. I don't what the extent of her injury
is, but with as stacked as this team is now, it doesn't look
good for her.
Takeisha
Lewis - If we had to genetically engineer the perfect
post player to compliment Lauren, an intimidating rebounding
machine who could go hard to the basket and hit from the perimeter
too, we would be lucky to come close to Takeisha Lewis. I
want to see Takeisha in our line-up. She impressed me (and
a lot of other people) with her physical play and her sweet
shooting touch. Coach Dunn calls her a "diamond in the
rough" later on during the pancake breakfast, so I'm
pretty sure that Takeisha has an inside line. I will be shocked
if she gets cut.
Danielle
McCulley
- is still not here. Bad news for making the roster with as
deep as this group is. Coach Dunn said that Danielle played
for her on the ABL Portland Power. Memories may be enough
to get you invited to training camp, but I won't bet on a
roster spot.
Elizabeth
Pickney
- Signed only a couple of days ago, this may be the first
time she plays with the rest of the team. Elizabeth looks
a little lost at times and often finds herself in the wrong
position during play run-throughs. I have to think that Coach
is giving her some slack until she gets up to speed, but May
24 will be here soon.
Felicia
Ragland
- Damn. This woman can shoot the ball from just about anyplace
on the floor, off-balance, on the run, under the basket, you
name it. I didn't pay much attention to her defense, but her
offense alone may be enough to get her on the team. I'm not
familiar with her career at Oregon State (she won just about
every Pac-10 honor there is according to the Media Guide),
but she seems like she could be one of those quiet assassins
that reap the benefits of having an aggressive point guard.
She can spot up or cut to the basket and "cha-ching."
Beth
Record
- On the surface, Beth didn't have an outstanding practice
today. Most of us were too busy watching the UCONN/UT matchups
or getting all warm and fuzzy thinking about the possibilities
our new post players present to notice how complete a game
Beth brings. Coach Dunn made a comment about her hitting 99
free throws in a row earlier this week. Solid on defense,
solid on offense - Record is one of those all-around players
that Coach Dunn is always talking about. She may not the marquee
player, but she will make the marquee player look better.
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