Final score: Storm 78 – Lynx 68 (W) (2-1)

Attendance | 4318 (Dammit!)

Anthem Xtra Notes | None – the way I like it

Anthem High Note | They were all high notes

Anthem Style | Opera

Fan Noise | Loud, then quiet, then psycho

Signs | A smattering

Fan Psyche | So that's why we drafted her

Halftime | Unicycle

Ahhhh, a satisfying win against a team that was supposed to beat us. Before the game, Gym Rat called it. She said that we were going to win - just a feeling, just a hunch. Well give her a 1-900 # and start calling her Miss Clio Rat because she was right. It wasn't easy, pretty or without flashbacks to last year at times, but the Storm beat the Lynx.

The game started out on the right foot. The Storm built a quick lead just like they did against Portland. But, as I commented to Angie when we were up 15-5 or so, Minnesota is not Portland. They found ways to break down the Storm defense and get way too many easy layups. It seemed like (it may not have actually been this way, but it seemed like) the Lynx were able to score in about half the time the Storm would take to score. Also, the Lynx picked up on whatever cues our players were giving each other because there was a string of plays in which the Lynx very calmly stepped in and stole passes. It was like they had the Storm playbook memorized and were distrupting the Storm's offense time and time again. Through the first half, the Storm stuck with the Lynx and ended the half on a good note by taking back the lead.

The first twelve to fourteen minutes of the second half were a horrible flashback to last year. I'm not sure how this can be really since only four of last year's players were active for this game (Semeka, Sonja, Kamila and Simone). It's hard to understand (I know, you're going to say "Coaching") why the team would suddenly clam up and go back to the pass-pass-pass-bad-shot-plan, or the hold-hold-hold-pass-into-the-post-when-they-are-clearly-double-teamed-plan when they know what works. Pressure. Crisp, quick passing not to just move the ball around but to find and create an open shooter. Driving to the basket to create something - a score or a foul. Playing hard and tough defense to disrupt the other team. Well, at about the 6 minute mark or so, after all of us in the stands were starting to feel the swirly queasiness of "please no, not again," the Storm seemed to remember all these things and quickly pulled back into reach of the Lynx who had built an 11 point lead.

Rebounding, a couple steals, offensive execution and we're back in the game, and then it's the Lynx's turn to start making bad decisions. Who lead the charge? Sue Bird, Kamila Vodickova and Adia Barnes. Adia for playing some inspired defense, ripping down a couple of key rebounds, and then hitting some tough shots. She also executed one of the smartest plays I've seen at the Key for awhile - getting the rebound and instantly calling a timeout with 4 seconds left on the clock after the Lynx miss a potential game winner. Kamila for not giving up on either end even though she was getting battered. Kamila scored a double double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. And Sue Bird. Sue owned the last couple of minutes of the game and the whole overtime. She lead this team through the end of this game and helped will this win to happen. She got a great steal in the overtime, drove hard to the basket on several occasions and made the Lynx pay at the foul line. Because this was a true team effort - all three women share this game's SPoG (Stormfans Player of the Game). This win would not have happened without all three of them contributing like they did at the end of the game. Ladies, this SPoG is for you.

Missing in action again was Felicia Ragland. She was lighting it up during the preseason and has been stone cold since. She and Betty Lennox were going at each other the whole game. A side note to Felicia - we can read your lips on the big screen - you called Betty some very bad words after that last altercation when Lennox put you on the floor. Maybe it's okay if we lose a scorer if she can negate one of the other team's scorer. Lennox only went 4 for 10. I think I'd rather Felicia got going and started scoring 15 a game.

Also no playing time for Takeisha Lewis, and no word why she has been warming the padded chairs so far. If anyone has any information which may lead to explanation on why Miss Takeisha Lewis, last seen playing fairly well during the preseason, has not seen any playing time, Stormfans of King County will pay you a $1000 reward (no we won't). All calls will be confidential.

Sonja started the game more aggresively than we've seen her before. She took some of the open looks and drove to the basket that she has passed on before. She wasn't as successful shutting down Katie Smith as she was with Jackie Stiles, but then Katie is Katie.

About Katie - I swear she should have fouled out about half way through the second half. She was pushing and slamming her way through people and even the whistle happy zebras left her alone. If a rookie tried the same thing - foul. This whole thing about giving the veterans more leeway stinks and should be left in the MNBA.

Notes:

Before the game, Val Ackerman awarded Michelle Marciniak her Community Assist award for her work in the offseason in the Seattle community with the Stormin the Sound program (note to Val - we had two other players doing the same program).

UW Coach June Daugherty as was most of the Husky's basketball team were at the game. The Mendiola sisters came down and high-fived the Storm as they left the court, especially Felicia Ragland who they must be glad is out of the Pac-10.

Lauren, Michelle and Jamie were all in street clothes yet again. One good sign - Lauren's ankle was not hermetically sealed as it has been the last few days. I think we will definitely need her for Thursday's game against the Sting. SasseSue reports that Lauren was very antsy on the bench and kept messing with Michelle and Jamie - she has to be tired of being a spectator.

If it seems like there aren't that many photos of the late second half or overtime - I was too damn busy watching the game and yelling my head off. Sorry.