Submitted by | eclair

That's what a team without a worry in the world plays like, carefree yet focused. Lots of smiling, plenty of joy, in short, the team they should have been all month.
 
Someone in another thread posted that the Storm just didn't have time to adjust to the loss of Kamila. That's exactly right. Tonight, for the first time since The Pop Heard Round the Sound, they played like they were accustomed to being on the floor together. Former and present reserves worked like a well-oiled machine--our team passing was a sight to behold.
 
Say it ain't so, Big Lo! The first sniff of Seahawks in the air, and you desert your girls for football? The "Defense" chant wasn't nearly the same, and I really think you could find a higher quality place holder for yourself.  
 
Matchups were awesome!
Simone/Snow: Oy! Never over the course of four seasons have I seen Simone angry at a defender. Perhaps it began with that pointy elbow in the first half (Snow's 2nd foul, maybe?) that pushed her sternum to her spine, but there were some knit Jamaican eyebrows hard set above sputtering lips. Her positioning was immaculate, and she came through like the pro she is. I was immensely proud! With that wing span and great move to the basket, once Snow figures out the fine art of playing low post without fouling--or at least getting caught--she will be a force.
 
(An aside on Snow: 'Sup with those 3XL shorts on that bony lil' body. She looked like she was wearing a pleated skirt!)
 
Brondello/Arcain: OK, Janeth scored in double figures, but it wasn't Sandy's fault. When out angry little elf was in there, Arcain just wasn't getting the looks. It wa SO COOL!
 
Lassiter/Swoopes: I don't think that Sheryl is too happy about those years mentoring Amanda... Sheryl was a decided non-factor. While I get the impression that she's being rested for the playoffs, I was embarrased. Mr eclair had never seen her play, and I went on and on about "the best" this, and "quietly dominant" that. He was wondering what the big deal was, because she hardly got any touches.  
 
Lauren/ Thompson: I don't suspect these two enjoy each other on the court. LJ has the delicious talent, but Tina's got the cagey veteran wiley-assed moves (and those lips!). What a damn show. Wish everybody could have seen it.
 
Play of the night? Massaline's no-look, over-the-head pass to Rita for swish.  It was fly-out of your seat scream time. I mean it! This team was looking like they've been running the floor together forever.  
 
Lots of cool shoes out there. Swoopes resplendent in crimson and silver, Sue wearing some cool new Nikes with bright yellow heel counters, but the winner? Kamila. No, not the big, grey plastic boot, the sassy little sparkling number on the other side.
 
It's all about the repect. Van Chancellor wore a navy suit, pale blue shirt, black belt and shoes, AND NO TIE. No wonder we were compelled to kick some booty tonight.
 
LJ was LJ. 16 points in the second half. Good Lord, what's she going to be when she grows up?
 
Sue Bird was so happy and relaxed--she giggled so furiously after the Massaline to Williams shot that I thought she was going to have to call a time out. When she miffed a FT in the last minutes, though, her countenance darkened. Mr eclair said that she reminds him of our older son--an almost neurotic perfectionist. Ease up on yourself, little sister, life's too short. You too, Craig--and go to bed!
 
There was much furious snickering after LJ's "Weyerhauser Moment" on the Jumbotron. The teammates took the floor chortling while LJ turned several shades of crimson--like Sheryl's shoes! Could those kids be any more adorable? And speaking of adorable, LJ's post-game, "Well, yeah, it's fun to play ball, but I'm not quite sure what all the fuss is about" demeanor was beyond endearing. I swear, I want a daughter like that.
 
And, finally, Jayda Evans said tonight (to another stormfan) that she's not voting LJ for MVP. Katie Smith, she said. MVPs are for playoff teams. I wish I wish I wish the system wasn't so tainted by other pro sports' method of choosing and the WNBA's need for legitimacy in comparison. Call it "Best Player with Most Acheivements," and now you're talking. Seems like the way things are, we're just splitting hairs.

Submitted by | Alice

Last night was the third Storm game I attended ever, and it was also the best!
 
I have never written a game report, so excuse my inexperience.
 
Swoops, I think, decided to save her game for the playoffs. And then toward the end, thought about turning her game on, but alas it was too late.

LJ worked quietly for this game...through double, triple teams but still managed to deliver.  I don't care about playoffs...and no matter what, she is my MVP.

Glad to see the tension between the storm players eased up.

Tina Thompson was on fire- hitting threes here and jumpers there.

LJ and Thompson traded baskets for quite a while during the second half
-I noticed that during warmups, LJ started doing the reverse layups rather than the normal kind.

Simone converted key baskets and is a key player of the game in the Seattle Times.

Sue started off with 5 points, which was unlike her. She also dished out quite a few no-look passes but not all of them converted. I think sometimes her teammates are as surprised as the audience that the ball was for them.

Brondello shot beautifully, making shots that I thought wouldn't go in.

The more I hear LJ talk, the more I like. When the MVP chant was going on during her interview, she was so humble!

Submitted by | Norwester

Great game. Not much I can say that hasn't been said, except that I was pulling for those LJ rebounds that never materialized. Oh, well, I'll take the scoring any day. And I've gotta say, Seattle loves Lauren for her humble, it's no big deal attitude. We can all appreciate a winner, and a player with talent, but when she's all unassuming about it, we love 'er.
 
Anthem? Interesting rendition, but words? Reminds me of a sketch I saw where they were asking a bunch of Canadians and Americans their neighboring country's anthem, and predictably most of the Americans were clueless about O, Canada, and a surprising number of the Canadians even knew the words to the Star Spangled Banner. But, what can you do? Wince, and move on.  
 
It was really nice to see our ladies playing loose.  I was hoping that would be the case, since there's really nothing to lose at this point. The laughing, the intro-antics. Sue's giggles at the Rita-Tonya no-look. When LJ heard the Blink 182 playing at the end of the half-time shoot around, she smiled and started singing along with the words. This was my last game of the season (business trip all next week -- they'd better appreciate my dedication) and it was a great one to end the season on. I'll be cheering from afar Monday.
 
And the crowd was great tonight. You all are awesome.

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