Submitted by | StormFanNo1

My ooohh my! What a game!  
 
We ran ahead during the early minutes, and never looked back. We led as much as 20 in the first half, and the game was pretty much over 5 minutes into the second half.
 
Tired? I don't know. Our starters didn't play long enough to get tired. This is probably the first game where our bench logged more minutes than the starters.
 
LJ was hot hot hot today. She was on track for 40 points, except that she got out early in the second half and never had to come back into the game.  
 
8 minutes into the second half, the score was 68-35 and both teams were playing mostly bench. All of a sudden San Antonio takes a time out and puts all her starters back into the game. (I guess they didn't want to break the lowest scoring total in the WNBA, which currently stands at 47). Their starters played against our bench until they got their score above 50. Even that was quite a struggle for them, since our bench was really really playing good. They played till about 4 minutes before the end, when their total reached 51. Our bench meanwhile preserved to 30+ point differential during this time. After their starters left, it was all our bench. When our score reached low 80's, the crowd got into it and started cheering for 90. Amanda, Tully and Alicia carried us to over 90 and broke our previous scoring total of 91. The game ended 93-53.
 
It was nice to see Sun log extensive minutes. She was really hustling for the boards. She picked up a few rebounds and even got a steal, which got a huge applause from the crowd.  
 
My favorite moment of the game came about 10 minutes into the first half, when Adia ran circles around Margo under the rim.  Adia threw in an layup which bounced off the rim. She quickly rotated around Margo, who was right under the rim, and picked up the rebound. Before Margo had a chance to block her, she took another shot. That didn't go in either, but Adia got around Margo and once again managed to get the rebound. She made another quick shot, and before Margo had chance to raise her hand, the ball was in. Watching her and Margo out there was like a mouse playing with a blind elephant.
 
To think that just three years ago it was our team getting blown out by 30-40 points. These are TERRIFIC times to be a Storm fan. I sincerely hope that the rest of the city wakes up and takes notice the great basketball happening atthe Key this summer.

Submitted by | eclair

Nice crowd energy. Where else on earth can you see a middle-aged respectable-looking man in a Sonja Henning jersey?
 
Large Marge who? She still can't move her feet, she still throws a vicious and bony elbow here and there (ask Alisa, who took a wicked bop to the nose under the south hoop) but, for a change, she was totally ineffective. I suspect having a tall post as a coach gives the Storm fresh insight how to work such a player.
 
I also thought the refs did a great job--finally calling the big girl for reaching was a nice change of pace. I wonder if the fact that, at one point in the second, the SStars had 6 to our 1 team foul influenced my perception.  Very easy to enjoy the officiating when the calls are going your way.
 
Poor Semeka. Something about her and getting blown out at the Key. At least she's switched teams. Everytime I think about how much I miss her, I think of games like tonight's--lots of willy-nilly wildness with showy moves, but only rarely able to close the deal.  
 
Alisa gets my vote for National Anthem singer every single time. The Stormies loved it, rushing to hug Alisa after, and many of the SASSes also ran by to give some love to Alisa. Her rendition was non-pretentious, heartfelt, and quick. She also has some pipes. Oh, boy does she have pipes. I bet she learned how to sing in church--she certainly had a Mahalia Jackson vibe going on. Lauren was giggling uncontrollably, having to bury her face in her elbow beginning at about "And the rocket's red glare."  
 
On the diamondvision: "Which of your teammates should be the next contestant on the Bachelorette?" Simone suggested Sun, because she's single and likes everything American--she'd probably really like an American man. Adia said Sue Bird, cuz everybody knows she needs a man. (And did you see Adia bury her face in a towel while Sue gave her the evil eye after that one.) The winner? Just about everybody else said "Adia," mostly because she's girly and pretty.
 
Amanda has got to be one of the coolest peeps on earth. Jumping up and down from the bench, being a teammate. She's amazing. Anybody know what's up with that band-aid she sported on her chin?
 
It's clear that the starters love their back ups. Much waving of towels and huge grins for every well-made (or somewhat wild) play. Whole lot of love going on. Well, except for the time Adia missed her assignment and Kamila (!) gave up a big eye roll as she had to eat the ball. (They eventually scored on that possession, anyway.)  
 
Boy, do the Seattle fans want Sun to do well. Fans were thrilled when she got in and actually played. I think she may have gotten her first board tonight. She seemed more well-oriented. I think having spent so much time watching has given her time to absorb the scheme. She still looks tentative, but less so. I did notice that the Korean fans have dwindled, I'm guessing because of her dearth of playing time. The "Go Go Sun" sign wasn't there.
 
Azzi kept Sue Bird busy, but I think Bird wins this one. It's nice to see her game mature--she picking up some WNBA wiles, and in a couple of years will be eclipsing all of 'em.
 
Doppler seemed to be showing a lot of, well, fur. He flashed grown women, little girls, refs, ushers. Once again, he lost his pants (despite his new, surgically implanted snaps) during the train, and appeared in the late minutes with his pants taped around his big ol' self to keep the pants on. Doppler, a tip? Don't hike the shorts up so high. The snug look is not flattering to your figure.
 
Poor Simone was perpendicular to Marge, trying to push her around. Lauren, and especially Alisa, were much more effective. I just don't think Dydek is going to be a factor against the Storm like she used to be. The girls got her number.
 
I also saw Simone and her mini-me. Waaaay adorable.
 
To the left, to the left, to the right, to the right  
To the front, to the front, to the back, to the back  
Now slide just slide baby slide just slide
Just dip, cotton candy free to go  
Stormfans do the Tootsee Roll.  
(See, I do have eagle eyes. I used my flashlight, stop light, neon light. This stormfan has a little light under the sun.)
 
Not too much game info in the filling. Sorry. Wasn't much to watch. Board, board, board, basket, basket, basket. After awhile it was just, well, redundant.

Submitted by | Coach.Gym.Rat

Doppler needs to wear underwear. Dude, that is so wrong to go commando.

Margo Dydek: All she has to do is grab the ball, turn and shoot. She started to do that early in the game and I thought "oh, ca-rap!" Then she stopped and I thought "Oh, cool!". Hee hee, she got into foul trouble. Welcome to Kamila's world.

Refs: Didn't notice them so everything was hunky dory.

Sandy: At one point, the storm set up a baseline out of bounds play. Almost all of SA was packing the key (not the arena but the actual key... hey, I finally get the name now). Then comes Brondello running across the lane - squeezing by players and jumping over Azzi's feet while ducking underneath Dydek's arms. It was like a scene out of Indiana Jones. Someone should buy her a fedora.

Everyone in seattle is pulling for Sun. I have never heard cheers that loud for a player who hasn't produced as expected. I'm digging the support.

Rita Williams: Good show - I'm starting to warm up.

Where's the starters? I loved how Coach D was able to leave in the bench while they were making mistakes to make THEM work it out without the cavalry coming to the rescue. That is going to do so much for moral and that experience can't be gotten in practice.

Burras: Sing at every game. That was awesome!

Kamila got away with some blocking fouls! Yay!

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