Storm
Back from Russia, Jackson surprises Storm at practice

By Jayda Evans
Seattle Times staff reporter

KEN LAMBERT / THE SEATTLE TIMES Storm forward Lauren Jackson, last season's WNBA MVP and a three-time All-Star, didn't practice with the team yesterday after arriving from Russia late Wednesday.

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Lauren Jackson is obsessed.

The Storm All-Star landed in Seattle from Russia late Wednesday and, in a sleepy stupor, had this thought running through her mind like the scroll at the bottom of a television newscast: "Must get to gym ... must get to gym ... must get to gym."

When the 6-foot-5 forward walked into the training facility with a faded, jet-lagged smile, her teammates and coaches were almost stunned. Then they remembered that she's obsessed.

You don't become the MVP of two leagues any other way.

"I was surprised to see her this early on two, three hours of sleep," Storm forward Adia Barnes said after practice yesterday morning. "It shows the dedication of an MVP. That's awesome."

Jackson, a three-time All-Star who will turn 23 on May 11, left Seattle about eight months ago as the WNBA's youngest MVP after the Storm's 18-16 season. She went home to Australia, joined her team there, and became MVP in the WNBL. Instead of hitting the beach to surf and chill as she normally does before returning for the WNBA season, Jackson accepted a $220,000 contract to play in last week's Russian Super League championship series.

Jackson played against Storm teammate Kamila Vodichkova, but the two weren't permitted to talk. Jackson tried to give Vodichkova, a native of the Czech Republic, a hug and wanted to have dinner, but Vodichkova muttered that they had a big game the next day and couldn't do anything.

"I was like, 'Come on, mate! I'm just asking to go eat,' " Jackson said with a laugh.

When Jackson's team, UMMC-Ekaterinburg, was swept in a best-of-five series, she bolted to Seattle.

"Losing is always hard, and I didn't play much," said Jackson, who was told she'd start but sometimes didn't play until the second half. "I didn't spend enough time with them, and I don't think I'll do that again. I'd definitely go over there a lot earlier. But I think it was more to build a relationship for the future.

	KEN LAMBERT / THE SEATTLE TIMES Lauren Jackson rides an exercise bike yesterday at the Storm's practice facility. The league MVP did not practice with the team.

"I came to see the girls," she said of her Storm teammates. "Every time I come back I say we're going to win the championship, but this time it looks like we have much more of a bench and much more of a solid team."

And when will Jackson start practicing?

"Friday," she said.

See? Obsessed.

"There are no words for Lauren Jackson and her passion for this game," Donovan said. "It's a coach's dream to have somebody like that."

Donovan was planning to let Jackson ease into her fourth season. Jackson said she has had problems with her shins since she was 15 and they flared up a few times during her WNBL season. But Jackson said she's confident in the Storm's medical staff.

Or it could be she doesn't want to help her mother, Maree, unpack all of her boxes. Jackson bought a condominium on Queen Anne but hasn't been there since last summer.

"My mom's got the bad end of the job," she said. "It feels like I never left Seattle. I'm going to take it day by day and help the team win."

Jackson also wants to win another MVP award. She'll once again be challenged by Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa Leslie, who suffered a knee injury in the All-Star Game last summer, causing her to miss 11 games. Leslie finished third in MVP voting, with Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings second.

MVP or not, Jackson would take an WNBA championship.

"It's a really positive feeling right now," said Jackson, who's sporting long blond hair dyed brown underneath. "Everyone is practicing hard and flowing very smoothly."

Wilson cut

Donovan cut guard Lindsey Wilson. Wilson, a former Roosevelt High School standout, was a practice player for the team last season and played in Greece to prepare for her attempt to make a WNBA roster. Fifteen players are left in camp.

Lalum injures ankle

Storm center Andrea Lalum, an ex-Washington Husky, rolled her ankle in Wednesday's evening practice and missed yesterday's morning session. Donovan said Lalum was fine and should be able to practice today.

Break time for Bird

Guards Sue Bird and Betty Lennox and forwards Adia Barnes and Sheri Sam won't practice today. Donovan wants to clear space to evaluate the remainder of the roster. Yesterday she had the team play against men.

Camp discovery

The Storm has its own identity at the training facility it shares with the Sonics. The Storm's wing was formally dedicated with large team logos on the entrance door and hallway leading to the locker room. Above the locker-room door is the team's motto: "Bring It."

Note

• At Phoenix's request, the Storm changed its final exhibition game to May 16 at 6 p.m. at KeyArena. The game was originally scheduled for May 18. Both teams open the regular season on May 20.

Jayda Evans: 206-464-2067 or jevans@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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