Storm loses Zara to expansion draft

The Chicago Sky selected Italian Francesca Zara from the Storm's unprotected list to be part of its inaugural roster for the 2006 season.

Zara, a 5-foot-10 point guard, averaged 2.6 points and 1.5 assists in 34 games last summer for Seattle. Substituting for Olympian Sue Bird, the rookie Zara started the season awkwardly, transitioning her international game to the WNBA. She was thrown into the starting lineup when Bird broke her nose on June 7, replacing Bird for four games.

Zara averaged 6.3 points, 2 assists a 3.8 turnovers during those games, as the Storm went 2-2. Zara scored a season-high nine points in a 76-61 win over Detroit.

The brief experience made Zara, 28, more dependable by season's end, yet the Storm liked the development of rookie Tanisha Wright, who can play both perimeter positions.

Zara is playing with her Italian team and was not available for comment. Before she returned home in October she spoke about the strong possibility of being drafted by Chicago.

"Nothing is guaranteed," said Zara, who first wanted to play in the WNBA in 2001, but couldn't due to her FIBA playing schedule. "But I want to play in Seattle."

Guard Chelsea Newton, who started for the champion Sacramento Monarchs, headlined the list of players joining Zara in Chicago. Guard Kiesha Brown (Houston) and forward Deanna Jackson (Indiana) were also chosen by Chicago, but are restricted free agents. The Sky has the right to match any deal offered to either when free agency begins Jan. 15.

Chicago, which will play in the Eastern Conference, also picked former Storm forward Stacey Lovelace (Minnesota) and Italian forward Laura Macchi (Los Angeles). Guards Jia Perkins (Charlotte) and Elaine Powell (Detroit), forwards DeTrina White (New York) and Brooke Wyckoff (Connecticut) and centers Ashley Robinson (Phoenix) and Bernadette Ngopyisa (San Antonio) were also selected.

Rounding out the list is guard Stacey Dales-Schuman, who retired from the Washington Mystics last season to become an ESPN basketball analyst.

Chicago also has the sixth pick in each round of the 2006 draft to be held in April.