Television viewing of WNBA games is up 40 percent, according to WNBA president Donna Orender. Orender made a return visit to Seattle after participating in the season-opening festivities, giving a positive state-of-the-league report after one season at the head post.

More people are tuned in to the regular-season games aired on ESPN2, and the same 40 percent increase occurred for the first-round playoff matchups this week. The rating may be directly linked to the fact that in-arena attendance has declined for the second season. The league averaged 8,142 fans after averaging 8,593 last summer. Nine of the league's 13 teams reported a decrease in home attendance; the Storm was one of four to increase its home average.

Seattle averaged 8,868 fans, its best since averaging 8,912 during its inaugural season in 2000. The Storm's increase of 11 percent from the 2004 championship season was best in the WNBA.

Increased television ratings are prompting the league to move its marketing toward spotlighting individual players and team rivalries. In the past, the league has packaged general, league-wide promotions, which likely hindered interest.

Bird wins assist award

Storm guard Sue Bird was recognized as the league's winner of the assist award in a pregame ceremony. Bird, runner-up for the award her previous three seasons, led the WNBA with an average of 5.9. As expected, she gave credit to her teammates.

"As many sweet passes as I've made, I know sometimes I've made some crappy passes and they've caught it and put it in, too," Bird said. "It all balances out."

Jackson's bum back

Storm forward Lauren Jackson may have an MRI on her strained lower back this morning. The Australian said the examination depended on how she feels after playing last night. Jackson injured her back while grabbing a rebound in the regular-season finale. She refuses to miss any playoff games because of the injury, however.

First defense

Before the WNBA championship comes the Western Conference title. Should the Storm win Game 3 tomorrow night, its defense of that championship would begin next Thursday, either at KeyArena (if No. 1 seed Sacramento defeats No. 4 Los Angeles) or at Los Angeles, if the Sparks pull an upset.

Defend this

Jackson was second in the league in rebounding, first in defensive rebounding and fourth in blocks but didn't rate as one of the league's top defenders. The WNBA named its first all-defensive team yesterday, and Indiana forward Tamika Catchings was defensive player of the year. Jackson made the second team.

Former Storm guard Tully Bevilaqua, now with Indiana, was named to the first team along with Sheryl Swoopes (Houston), Yolanda Griffith (Sacramento) and Katie Douglas (Connecticut).