Final score: Storm 81 – Sparks 67 (W) (1-0)

Submitted by | LaurenRules

Pre-Game Notes
Due to technical difficulties and an urgent need for a pre-game Americano, I didn't get there as early as I wanted to, but still was well in advance of the tipoff. Phew. The arena was PACKED, everyone was way revved and stoked, and the atmosphere was electric. First sight I saw was Clarence, all decked out in yellow and black, complete with a fedora. He is now sitting behind the LA bench – apparently, the PTB made him move. I also caught sight of Jennifer Gillom, who looked extremely formidable, pretty and VERY TALL in a black pantsuit. We exchanged courteous nods.

Too much applause for the LA team! Okay, clap for Betty and the rookies – but CP3? Ugh. It amuses me very much that we continue to play the Empire theme from the Star Wars soundtrack when they are being introduced. It was extremely strange to see Ticha Penicheiro in a Sparks uniform. Kristi Toliver was there, too. Finally, we were done with them and we could get to the good part

The opening montage had a weird song attached to it – one I'd never heard before – and the crowd seemed to have a hard time getting into it. Maybe it was just me. The players were introduced and they came down the stairs. Nice ovations for everyone, but especially nice ones for the starters and A-Rob. I just realized that, wow, A-Rob is our only bench holdout from last year.

The team stretched, huddled got on the floor. Ugh, I know those refs, those were the same idiots that killed us in the playoff last year. Not sure orange-accented yellow is their color, although it looked quite nice on the African-American ref we had in the pre-season. Swin had her game face on, was the picture of intense. Let's get this show on the road.

First Quarter
Lauren won the tip! Yay. Nineteen seconds in, everyone's favorite Aussie scored on a jumper and we all got to sit down. DMJ scored a three-point about a minute later. Boo! Scoreless for a bit, but then Swin cranked it up a notch, scored on a jumper and sent a SWEET assist to LJ, and, just like that we were ahead. Sue sank a three and happy bedlam ensued. Lots of strong defensive play. Le'coe and Svet came in about five minutes in. Is Svet really 6'2”. She doesn't look THAT much taller than Sue.

Mr. Altruistic Ref very kindly kept LA in the game by handing out “fouls” on Le'coe and Svet – I think Le'coe had been in the game about 30 seconds at a time and Svet had been in about a minute. Conveniently enough, they were on Tina Thompson, who sank all of her free throws perfectly. The second foul really did look awful, as she did a face plant, and landed hard on her elbows, but that didn't stop her from hitting all four in a row. Then DMJ and Noelle Quinn both hit three and they were right back on top. 15 -11 LA with 2:52 to go. Sue missed two free throws in a row, When was the last time that happened? Willingham picked up her second foul and A-Rob came in. Our shots weren't falling, but Riley (their new 5'5” point guard, who makes Kimberly Beck look tall) committed an expensive clear path foul – Camille got two shots (which she hit) and we got the ball, but missed the subsequent shot. No one hit any shot.

SEA 13 – 15 LA

Second Quarter
Just about ten seconds in, Tanisha poked the ball away from BL, but we couldn&'t capitalize. Camille picked up two fouls, one right in after the other. LA went on a three-point run, but we went on one right back. LA fell into a little turnover and fouling funk and we were quick to take advantage, with steals and points from Swin. Everyone was playing well at this point, but she was on fire. Lots of made free throws, with fouls on Svet and Le'coe (for us) and DMJ, Saintsbury and CP3 (for them). CP3 is SUCH a whiner. EVERY call that was remotely unflattering to her, she was in the ref&'s face and whining about it.

Beauteous block on a TT shot by Cash, equally beauteous rebound from A-Rob. Everything clicking along nicely, except they were ahead by one point, due, in large part, to some very good (if somewhat unfair) free throw shooting. Lots of scrappy steals and GREAT defense. Sue missed a three, A-Rob rebounded, looked slightly stunned to be wide open and put the ball in. First bench points of the game and loud applause.

DMJ elbowed Lauren in the bridge of the nose, and Lauren bent double, clutching her face, and stupid idiot Guy Ref #2 whistled her for the foul. She had some sharp words for him. That was the beginning of a truly idiotic series of calls – “fouls” on LJ, on A-Rob (with a Best Actress appearance from Tina Thompson), Swin getting hacked and slashed on the way up, but no call, and several questionable possession calls that prompted quite a lot irate booing from the fans. (BOOOOO!!!!)

However, their shots weren't falling and ours were.

SEA 43 – LA 36

Halftime Show
The “Dunking Ushers.” These guys were pretty good and have obviously been practicing, even though they bobbled a bit from time to time. They looked like they were having a lot of fun, getting massive amplitude, doing gainers and flips and (usually) slamming the ball home. They even got Doppler to dunk. Has a WNBA mascot ever dunked before? Anyway, my hat's off to that guy, because that costume has to be uncomfortable enough just on its own, let alone wearing it and dunking.

Third Quarter
LA put together a mini-run, and, just like that, our lead was gone. And we stood. And stood. And stood some more. Agler called a timeout and Lauren scored with an assist from Sue. CP3 turned the ball over and then promptly frustration fouled Camille, who sank one of her shots. CP3 was very upset, arguing every call – in fact, at one point, she was really shrieking at the ref. The scoring was quite even this quarter, but the calls were not – we were whistled for stuff but when our players were clobbered, nothing seemed to happen.

Lauren had an extremely pretty block on Riley, who looked chagrined.
Le'coe's shots weren't falling – also she was a step slow on defense and seemed to get beaten a lot. Hopefully, it was just new-system jitters.

SEA 58 – 57 LA

Fourth Quarter
Slow offensive start from both teams. Parker scored over A-Rob and Camille hit two free throws. Sue hit a three (which the ref at first called as a two – color me unsurprised). Lauren stole the ball and fed it to Swin on a fast break play, but Riley CLOCKED her and she looked to be in obvious pain, only hitting one free throw. However, this seems to unlock the Storm's offense – Tanisha “Nerves of Steel” hit both free throws off of a Toliver foul, Sue landed another three, and they were off and running – jump shots, layups, made free throws, and, suddenly, we were ahead by more than ten points with just under three minutes to go. Svet finally scored (doubling the bench points), and that was a wrap!

Final score: SEA 81 – 67 LA

General Notes

Made free throws and good free throw shooting kept LA in this game.

Without them, it would have been over at halftime.

What a delight to see a healthy Lauren. Her fadeaway and post moves are pure beauty.

Bill Russell and Senator Patty Murray in the house. Nice ovations for both, but Murray also received some scattered booing.

Slightly amusing little skit with someone wearing DMJ's number entering a layup contest, and Doppler swatting it away – with the help of his trusty trampoline.

Shellie Hart needs to dial it down a notch and a half. She's such a sweet person, but the manic-ness gets a bit scary.

Nice round of applause for Bing.

All of the starters looked great, except Camille wasn't as on as she normally is, possibly due to early foul trouble. Lots of hustle and energy.

As mentioned earlier, CP3 whines CONSTANTLY and DMJ is a thug. At least little Riley seems to have some manners - she went to help Swin up when she knocked her over. DMJ continues to be a thug. She's such a great players and I absolutely cannot stand to watch her. I'm glad we don't have any players like that. Oh, and TT whines, too - whines and flops.

Betty a curious non-factor for them tonight. She hit two threes and that was about it. Also, her denfese wasn't much of anything, other than a steal from Tanisha. She was also wearing a pretty large knee brace.

Speaking of Tanisha, she has changed her hair - it's now very short and suits her.

Jenny Boo very soignee in a white (size negative two) suite with a bright pink top. Agler wearing an inexplicable orange tie. Why not Storm green?

The Dance Troupe's moves are more acrobatic this year with lots of flips and aerials.

All of the starters looked great, except Camille wasn't as on as she normally is, possibly due to early foul trouble. Lots of hustle and energy. Nice balanced scoring as well. I loved how both Sue and T turned on the afterburners in the fourth quarter.

Off the bench, props to A-Rob for 1) excellent defense on CP3 and TT 2) not turning the ball over, except a really boneheaded first shot, and 3) some very fine rebounding. She is looking for her shot more. It was also nice to see LJ get to relax a bit while A-Rob was on the floor with her. Svet seems to be fitting in very well. I'm looking forward to seeing Jana and Abby play and to seeing Alison play some more. Le'coe struggled a bit, as mentioned earlier, but, hopefully, that's just adjusting to the new system.

We had five times as many steals they did, and just under half as many turnovers. That's taking care of the ball. Go, Storm!

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