Storm | Burse is back, set to shoulder a bigger load

The Storm is slowly taking shape up front, but not in the backcourt.

Returning center Janell Burse arrived at training camp Tuesday, becoming the sixth post player at practice.

But Storm coach Anne Donovan is using male practice players to help run her offense as rookie Katie Gearlds is the only healthy point guard in camp. Tanisha Wright, out with a pulled left groin, is not expected to practice until later this week at the earliest.

"I'm definitely not looking to push her," said Donovan, who will likely decide Friday whether to take Wright on the upcoming two-game exhibition trip, with games on Saturday and Tuesday. "I want to be sure. I'd rather not play her. If it's remotely close, we won't play her and we'll figure it out. It's only exhibition."

On the flip side, seeing Burse run the floor was comforting. She joins forward Iziane Castro Marques as the only starters in camp, with the others having playing commitments overseas. Shooting guard Betty Lennox is expected this weekend, while All-Stars Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson aren't expected until after May 10.

"This is different because every time I go through a couple of rotations, someone is like, 'Oh, I got you,' " said Burse of the logjam inside to get on the court for drills. "I'm not used to that. It's good right now, but when we get closer to the season, it's going to be like, 'Oh, no. I need to run through this again.' It's fun right now, but it is different."

Donovan reduced the rotation slightly following practice, however, cutting forward Brooke Queenan, a 6-foot-2 Boston College alum, after two days in camp.

Yet the attention was on Burse. A 6-5, six-year veteran, Burse played overseas in Prague, Czech Republic. She strengthened the muscles around her left shoulder, which caused her to miss seven games in 2006, and is coming off a broken foot that happened overseas. Both give her "lingering" pain, she says, but added she feels healthy.

Burse, who completed play April 23 and traveled home to Louisiana for three days before arriving in Seattle, said she worked on her shooting range and defense in Prague. In the WNBA last summer, she averaged career bests of 11.1 points and 6.6 rebounds while averaging 27.3 minutes.

"I tried to do little things to make a big overall difference in my game," Burse said. "And I rehabbed a ton in the offseason, so the couple of times that [the shoulder] did shift, I only missed maybe five days. It wasn't nearly as long as when I was here because it was already so strong."

Burse kept in contact with teammates via instant messaging, but she was a little clueless about Gearlds, the team's first-round draft pick. That's unlike Bird, who Donovan said sent an excited text on draft day, eager to play with the former Purdue star.

It only took Burse a few seconds, though, to realize what an asset the versatile 6-1 guard could be this summer.

"She didn't miss a shot, I was like, 'Wow!' " said Burse of Gearlds. "Every time she shot it, I don't remember her ever missing. She really is a good shooter."

Donovan almost would say the same about Burse.

"Janell looks great. It doesn't look like she has jetlag at all," Donovan said. "We have a lot of bodies, which is a good thing, but I wish we could say the same about the perimeter."

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