Final score: Storm 72 – Lynx 77 (L) (3-4)

Attendance | 6486

Game Photos | Game Photos (Scott Larson)

I unfortunately have to say that this Gameday report was a casualty of our web site meltdown. We discovered that everything was lost the day after this game and went into crisis mode. By the time we got things back to life and I had a chance to get back on track, a few days had gone by and I seem to have blocked out any memories of this game.

Except of course for that woman and her unstoppable ability to hit three pointers. She haunts my nightmares (and I hope she is haunting the Storm players and coaches so they are ready for her next time).

The only other thing I can remember about this game was from the pregame period. The blimp guy was doing his normal thing and the little boy sitting behind us desperately wanted the blimp to drop something so he could catch it. He kept a continual play-by-play going as the blimp got closer, flew overhead and then flew past. Like he always does, the blimp guy would pause, dip and turn as people reached upwards and tried to cheer louder. After watching this for several minutes, the little boy said, "Now he's just taunting people."

Submitted by | eclair

Sue had a lil' hissy over Simone missing the play signal. Seems there's an offensive set represented by the PG's fingers forming Texas "hook 'em horns," and one represented by fingers extended in a C-shape from the wrist ("He was *this* big"). Simone got the two hand signals confused ("The horns were *how* big?) and the result was a turnover. Poor Simone was at the blunt end of a vigorous and vituperative Sue Bird tutorial as they walked off the court.
 
Chondromalacia, shmondromalacia. #10 had lateral motion and vertical inches to spare. She also had the confidence to finish her shots. She's much better, I believe, but I think having Svet and Tamicka on the opposing bench provided a great deal of personal inspiration as well.
 
AD, would you remind your kids to shut the back door? The Key got mighty breezy in the first half. Head-poundingly, frustratingly breezy.  
 
The Lynx shot 63% at the half. 63%!!
 
More pep bands, less canned music, please.
 
 Do you get the feeling that even if Katie Smith were playing with two broken legs, she woulda still been jacking the threes?
 
Next time we play the Lynx, Lassiter ought to start, right on top of Smith. She tugged on Superwoman's cape long enough to slow her down.
 
It's only my (angry and frustrated with the first half of play) impression, but: The Lynx's play goes beyond physical to thuggishness. They do it without the finesse of the sparks, though. A clumsy elbow here, an awkward jersey grab there. It lacked enough art that it was pretty transparent to me, so where were the officials?
 
There was a nice moment under the north basket when LJ got knocked down and was about to refuse the green-jerseyed helping hand up off her bum, when she noticed it was Harrower. She graciously accepted, and offered a wee hug on the way up.
 
Van Gorp and LJ had a word or two during foul shots. LJ was grinning, but I didn't get the sense that it was a friendly exchange.  
 
And speaking of Van Gorp and LJ, they have a similar style. Van Gorp seems a little more cerebral. LJ is clearly the superior player, but if she could develop her mental game, she'd be unstoppable. Van Gorp hung in there last night, though. If she had LJ's ups, she be a force.
 
I never envisioned that the world needed dual-chambered drinking cups, complete with a straw for each chamber. How could I have been so short-sighted?
 
One of Tamicka Williams' relatives was sitting a couple of seats over. She was animated. She was annoying.
 
So many Aussies! At one point there were four of 'em on the floor. And a Czech.

Submitted by | Coach Gym Rat

Back door was open all game long for the Storm but nobody was home. Nothing worse than missing those chippies. No, scrap that. What's worse is when the other team uses the back door and makes their shots. Grrr.

Katie Smith: Not as bulked up as last year (I think) but deadly at 3pt range. Why wasn't 1 or 2 people all over her after she made her 3rd 3 pointer? Letting her make 7 of those suckers is poopy.

Lynx Coach McConnell-Serio knew how to pronounce Kamila's last name. That's pretty spiffy since most Storm fans can't. She yelled at her bench after Kamila scored "Katie is supposed to be guarding Vodichkova!"

Hey fellas: There are a TON more guys at Storm games now and I don't think it's all cuz of Bird and her 'cuteness' factor. That was so last year. The 2 guys next to me were so into the game (for both teams) going 'oh sweet', 'nice pass', 'oh OH!', and my favorite 'yeeaAAAAH' while jumping up and down after LJ muscles it up for 2. Welcome to the game guys!

Halftime: Jump rope... those girls did some crazy stuff. In a word "whoa"!