Final score: Storm 62 – Monarchs 72 (L) (10-22)

Attendance | 7668

Anthem Xtra Notes | It was acappella. They are all extra notes

Anthem High Note | Unnaturally high

Anthem Style | R&B barbershop

Fan Noise | Appreciative

Signs | Signs o' plenty

Fan Psyche | Resigned but hopeful

Halftime | Final Storm Quest – Someone's going to Jamaica

At some point after the draft, but before the first fan event, Angie asked me for my prediction on how the Storm would do in their second season. For the inaugural season, I had predicted an 8-24 record before the season started, reasoning that as an expansion team entering a highly competitive league the Storm would be hard-pressed to win many games. She accused me then of being a pessimist. We all know how the first season ended.

So my prediction for this year? 12-20. I figured at the time because the team personnel wasn’t changing that much that the addition of a 20-yr-old Australian star would add up to maybe 6 games over the first season’s record.

So here we are at 10-22.

The Storm lose the game, but not by much. They make it exciting and don’t allow the Monarchs to open up another can of whup ass like they did on Saturday. With just under 6 minutes to go, the Storm are only down by a few points. But, every time the Storm get too close or string off too many points, Ticha Penicheiro, Ruthie Bolton-Holifield or Yoland Griffith make a great play that keeps the Storm from tying the game.

All the Storm players that are ambulatory get some playing time, and they make the most of it. Stacey Lovelace, Quacy Barnes, and Simone Edwards all score in double figures, even up against the defense of Yo Yo and Tangela Smith. Jamie comes through once again and scores 14 herself. The Storm actually get more offensive rebounds tonight than defensive (18 off, 14 def). But, as the trend has been, the Storm have a hard time converting Monarchs turnovers into points – 6 points off of 17 turnovers. Add in 54% free throw shooting, and you can see why it is so difficult for the Storm to catch up and take the lead.

After the game, the players toss their shoes and jerseys into the crowd. Lauren, Jamie and Sonja all take turns thanking the fans and pointing out that our continued support, even for a losing team, is what the WNBA is all about.

So I’ve been off by two in my predictions for the first two seasons. What does that mean for the future?

Well, after I told Angie that I thought the Storm would go 12-20 this year and she accused me yet again of being a pessimist, I went on with my predictions.

Season 3 – 16-16 and the first round of the playoffs.

Season 4 – 20-12 and the second round.

Season 5 – 24-8 and our first championship.

So far, I’ve only been two games off each year.

I can live with 22-10 and a championship.

Notes:

Tonight is Fan Appreciation night and the Storm give out lots of stuff, including a trip to the 2002 All-Star Game in Washington, D.C. I will go on the record to say that it should have been us (we are planning on going anyway).

We won courtside seats at the Season Ticket holder event on Sunday and sit in the fourth row next to the tunnel where the Storm Danceteam always comes out. I have to say that we don’t really like being that close to the court. We like being up a bit more so that we can clearly see both ends of the court. So, we return to our beloved section 113 after the half.

During the half, we run into Katrina Hibbert on the concourse. She is in town on her way home to Australia from Louisiana. She says that she is well-rested (maybe too well rested) and that she has mainly been working out in the good LA (as opposed to the evil L.A.). She is going to play for the WNBL Boomers in their upcoming season. We ask her whether she has any WNBA leads yet and she says no. I tell her that when she does get another WNBA team, she can come back here, get a good cheer and then beat us like everyone else. She laughs about that one.

There is a small but vocal contingent of Sacramento fans at the game. At the half, I tell a few that I see on the concourse that next year we’re coming down there to return the favor. They say great, bring it on, they’d welcome us. You know, except for a couple of goobers at a Fire game in Portland, all of the WNBA fans we’ve met have been good people. I love you guys.

Angie says that for all of you who may have shed a tear after the game – you’re okay, she’s okay. Yes, she cried. I was too busy trying get down and get Michelle Edwards’ signature on my cool WNBA basketball cover notebook.

And finally, as this is the last game of our season, we want to give a huge thanks out to the team, the organization, our row mates in 133-18, all the fabulous people we’ve met at the games and through the website, all the people who have vacated rows 17 and 16 in front of us each game because we’re too damn loud, and Bud Light for never naming us the Party Zone.