Storm
Notebook: Lynx's Lassiter 'pleased' with her new situation

By Jayda Evans
Seattle Times staff reporter

E-mail this article Print this article Search archive Most e-mailed articles

It looked odd.

Forward Amanda Lassiter played just 56 games for the Storm, but seeing her in a Minnesota Lynx jersey seemed unusual — to everyone except Lassiter.

"I was very pleased," said Lassiter of being traded along with a draft pick to Minnesota in exchange for forward Sheri Sam and center Janell Burse in April.

"I didn't see myself fitting in here," she said. "It's nothing against the team, the fans or the organization. I just felt I needed to be somewhere else."

Lassiter, 24, is playing on her third team in four WNBA seasons. And she said Minnesota could be the final stop. Although Seattle needed a small forward after Adia Barnes tore the anterior-cruciate ligament in her right knee — pushing Lassiter into the starting rotation — she said she felt her game wouldn't develop within Storm coach Anne Donovan's system. But Lassiter repeated that it had nothing to do with coaching.

Last season Lassiter averaged 5.3 points in four games against the Lynx. Her defensive responsibility was always guarding Katie Smith, an Olympian and four-time All-Star. Now she's a starter for the Lynx with freedom to express her game.

"I love it. Katie loves me," Lassiter said. "She loves me more now than before because I'm not guarding her."

Coach Suzie McConnell Serio said the same.

"It's (Amanda's) personality (that fits)," McConnell Serio said. "She doesn't need 10 to 12 shots to be successful. She can take five to six shots and likes being a rebounder and defender."

Back again

It was supposed to be one summer. Former Storm forward Stacey Lovelace-Tolbert was going to take a break from playing year-round for three consecutive years to plan a wedding and rest in 2002. But it ended up being two breaks, adding time for the birth of her daughter, Ryann, in August 2003.

Lovelace-Tolbert, 29, returned to the court in December, however, playing for Calais in France. She averaged 17.6 points and 7.1 rebounds. The Lynx signed her May 7 because of the team's youthful roster and veteran Michele Van Gorp's injury, which has since healed.

"I never thought I would get the opportunity," Lovelace-Tolbert said of returning after a two-season absence. "But I knew if I did get the opportunity I would capitalize on it."

Note

• It looks worse than it is, Storm F Chelle Thompson said. The bulky gray boot she's wearing on her left foot is simply to help her walk easier. Other than that she says the injury is healing smoothly. "I should have it off tomorrow," she said.

Game at a glance

Player of the game: The Storm's Lauren Jackson received her WNBA MVP trophy before the game. Then she gave fans a flashback in case they forgot how she earned it. The Australian forward scored 20 of her 31 points in the second half. She was 11 of 16 from the field and had five rebounds.

Reserve of the game: Former Tennessee star Tasha Butts ignited at the right time, scoring 10 of her 13 points when Minnesota made its push in the second half.

Saw you: Sonics forward Vladimir Radmanovic, wearing a bright-yellow shirt, sat along the baseline near the Storm's bench while owners Howard Schultz and Jack "Mr. Storm" Rodgers were courtside. Sonics legends Slick Watts and John Johnson were also in attendance.

Next: Los Angeles, 7 p.m. tomorrow, KeyArena.

Last night's box

MINNESOTA
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Lassiter	18	0-3	0-0	1-5	0	3	0
TWilliams	33	3-5	0-0	4-7	1	4	6
Ohlde	25	7-10	2-4	5-10	1	6	16
TEdwards	31	6-11	1-2	1-2	7	3	17
Smith	38	7-18	0-0	1-4	6	4	17
Butts	24	4-7	2-3	0-2	1	3	13
Darling	9	0-3	0-0	1-1	3	1	0
Van Gorp	4	1-1	0-0	1-2	0	3	2
Slaughter	4	0-0	2-2	0-0	0	0	2
Love.-Tolbert	14	4-7	4-4	1-2	0	1	12
Totals		32-65	11-15	15-35	19	28	85

Percentages: FG .492, FT .733. Three-point goals: 10-25, .400 (T.Edwards 4-7, Butts 3-6, Smith 3-9, Lassiter 0-1, Darling 0-2). Team rebounds: 4. Team Turnovers: 23 (27 PTS). Blocked shots: 3 (Slaughter, Lassiter, Ohlde). Turnovers: 22 (T.Edwards 9, Smith 3, T.Williams 3, Darling 3, Lassiter 2, Van Gorp, Butts). Steals: 12 (T.Williams 3, T.Edwards 3, Smith 2, Butts 2, Lovelace-Tolbert 2). Technical fouls: None.

SEATTLE
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Jackson	34	11-16	7-8	0-5	1	2	31
Sam	29	3-8	2-2	0-1	3	3	9
Vodichkova	22	2-7	1-2	3-4	4	3	5
Bird	33	5-7	4-6	0-1	4	0	17
Lennox	37	6-16	4-6	5-10	4	4	18
Bevilaqua	10	1-3	1-3	1-1	0	1	3
Burse	16	0-1	3-4	0-3	0	2	3
Barnes	11	0-0	1-2	2-3	0	2	1
SEdwards	8	0-1	1-2	0-0	0	2	1
Totals		28-59	24-35	11-28	16	19	88

Percentages: FG .475, FT .686. Three-point goals: 8-14, .571 (Bird 3-5, Jackson 2-3, Lennox 2-4, Sam 1-1, Bevilaqua 0-1). Team rebounds: 12. Team Turnovers: 20 (15 PTS). Blocked shots: 2 (Jackson 2). Turnovers: 20 (Lennox 7, Bird 4, Bevilaqua 3, Vodichkova 2, Burse 2, Sam 2). Steals: 15 (Lennox 4, Bird 3, Bevilaqua 2, Burse 2, Sam 2, Jackson, Vodichkova). Technical fouls: None.

Minnesota	36	49 — 85
Seattle	39	49 — 88

Attendance: 6,624. Time: 2:09. Officials: Daryl Humphrey, Darla Foutz Stevens, Tom Nunez.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

E-mail this article

Print this article

Search archive

More sports headlines...