Saturday, May 17, 2008 - Page updated at 10:00 PM
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Seattle Storm beat Chicago Sky 67-61
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ROD MAR / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Seattle's Swin Cash celebrates after scoring and being fouled and knocked to the floor near the end of the third quarter. Cash converted the free throw.
Lauren Jackson scored 14 points and Sue Bird added 13 points and seven assists as the Seattle Storm beat the Chicago Sky 67-61 in the teams' WNBA season opener Saturday night.
The Storm (1-0) overcame cold shooting in the first half and went on a 23-1 scoring run - including 12-0 to end the third quarter - to pull ahead.
The Storm, playing their first game under a new ownership group and new coach Brian Agler, featured a significantly revamped lineup that includes reigning league MVP Jackson and past MVPs Sheryl Swoopes and Yolanda Griffith.
The Storm struggled to find the basket in the first half. Seattle shot just 29.4 percent (10 of 34) during the first 20 minutes and was down 35-29 at halftime.
The third-year Sky, who were looking for their first regular-season victory against the Storm in five tries, extended the lead to 38-29 at the outset of the third quarter as Seattle missed its first seven shots coming out of halftime.
But the Storm hit 13 of their last 18 shots in the third quarter to get back into the game. They tied it at 47-47 on Jackson's turnaround 10-footer from the left of the lane, and went in front for good when Swoopes stole the ball and hit Bird for a fast-break lay-in.
Seattle extended the lead to as many as 17 point during the fourth when Jackson hit a short shot and the ensuing free throw to cap the 23-1 run.
Chicago was led Chasity Melvin, who came off the bench for 13 points. Jia Perkins added 10. Candice Dupree had seven points and a game-high 10 rebounds for the Sky.
Swoopes, formerly of Houston, and Griffith, from Sacramento, signed during the offseason as free agents. Swin Cash, another league All-Star acquired from Detroit in an offseason trade, also had 13 points for Seattle.
Jackson, who had just two points at halftime, pulled down six rebounds.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
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UPDATE - 09:13 PM
Storm signs Le'coe Willingham from champion Mercury | WNBA
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