Health of Storm's Burse in question, coach says

An injury might keep center Janell Burse, who has been playing basketball in Prague, from joining the Storm, coach Brian Agler said.

Agler didn't specify Burse's injury and was vague about the timing of her return.

"Her health is in question right now, that's probably the best way to put it," Agler said. He said she has missed her Czech Republic team's past few games.

"We're probably going to make an announcement coming up about her situation this season," Agler said. "We're still in dialogue with her and her agent. That's all I can say on that."

Burse was unavailable for comment Sunday.

Burse, 28, who was re-signed as an unrestricted free agent last month, has suffered injuries the past two seasons. She had surgery on her left wrist in August and missed the last five games of the 2007 season. She also missed seven games of the 2006 season with a partial tear in her left shoulder; she opted not to have surgery. Burse complained to The Seattle Times in May 2007 of "lingering" pain from a broken foot suffered in Prague in winter 2006.

Agler mentioned a fracture in Burse's foot that might not be healed.

"That's sort of been an issue here of late," Agler said. "We're not real clear on what the ending is going to be, but we'll know in the next couple of days."

Burse worked her way into the Storm's starting lineup under former coach Anne Donovan, and she played on the 2004 championship team. The second-round draft pick was acquired via trade from Minnesota in April 2004.

At 6-foot-5 with strong rebounding skills and a developing midrange shot, Burse was expected to compete with veteran Yolanda Griffith for the starting role and add depth inside.

Notes

• Forward Sheryl Swoopes did not participate in contact drills Sunday. She suffered a strained neck against Sacramento on Friday and MRI results were negative.

• Agler was impressed with Brazilian forward Kelly Santos' first full practice on Sunday. At 6-3, she could add to the rotation of post players with returning center Ashley Robinson.

"I thought Kelly gave us a good practice out there," Agler said. "I was sort of impressed. First impressions have been real positive."

• Guard Tanisha Wright is waiting on her last paycheck from the team she played for in Israel and isn't expected in Seattle until Wednesday at the earliest.

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