Storm
Notebook: Showcase game loses some luster

By Jayda Evans
Seattle Times staff reporter

Allison Feaster scored 16 points in the second half.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tomorrow's nationally televised doubleheader, featuring the Storm and Detroit Shock at 1 p.m. on ABC, has lost a little luster.

The Shock is the WNBA defending champion after going from last place to first in two seasons. But lately, Detroit has been a champion in name alone. The Shock (8-8) is fourth in the Eastern Conference and is 2-5 at home. Coach Bill Laimbeer has expressed concern for his job security and whether his team will make the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Storm has dropped out of first place in the West for the first time since June 15 after losing to the lowly Washington Mystics Wednesday. The Storm (10-6) is one game behind Los Angeles for the conference's top playoff seed.

Player of the game: Sting forward Allison Feaster got 16 of her 19 points in the second half. She was 5 of 10 from the field. Turning points: Charlotte posts Charlotte Smith-Taylor and Tammy Sutton-Brown combined to block two shots and make four free throws in the final 24 seconds. Digits: The Storm lost to the Sting for the first time since July 7, 2001. Next: at Detroit, 1 p.m. tomorrow.

Last summer, the Storm lost 74-61 at Detroit, the first of nine consecutive road loses, as Seattle was overpowered by the Shock's athleticism. With guard Betty Lennox and forward Sheri Sam in the Storm lineup, that shouldn't be a problem tomorrow.

First in wins

The court is trimmed in orange, not its original teal, but Charlotte Coliseum still is a special place for the Storm. Five years ago, the place was decked out in a beach theme with sand behind the baseline, beach balls bouncing in the stands and giveaway Sting towels.

The Storm, after a four-game losing streak to open its inaugural season, clawed its way to its first victory, 67-62.

"I remember we were jumping around like we won a championship," said Simone Edwards, one of two remaining Storm originals.

Former coach Lin Dunn, now an Indiana assistant, was so elated that she swung a towel in the air as she danced to the locker room. But center Kamila Vodichkova, the Storm's inaugural draft pick, can't remember much about the victory.

"I try to forget the bad things," said Vodichkova, who recalls the team's 6-26 finish more.

"Now we're supposed to win because we're one of the top teams," Edwards said. "It's about confidence."

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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