Ex-UConn teammates reunited when Cash rejoins Storm

Swin Cash has seen that pass in Connecticut, Texas, Tennessee and Greece.

But at Storm training camp on Tuesday?

"Did you see me miss that? That was just annoying," said Cash of an intended assist from guard Sue Bird. "I knew she was going to throw it before she even took the dribble from the baseline. I'm the one that was a second too slow. But it [familiarity] is there. You don't lose things like that."

Bird, one of the cornerstones of Seattle's WNBA franchise, arrived Tuesday and with her arrival was a reunion of the Connecticut tandem that went undefeated in 2002 en route to winning the NCAA championship. Since being drafted first (Bird) and second (Cash) overall in the ensuing draft, both have won WNBA titles.

Now in Seattle, newcomer Cash and holdover Bird hope to accomplish the same together here in an All-Star lineup. Bird, 27, is returning after winning her second Russian league championship Saturday.

"I feel very comfortable already on this team," said Bird, who has previously played with all of the veterans except guard Roneeka Hodges. "They're very vocal, which is great. I'm psyched to have some veterans around so the transition can be easy."

Two-time MVP Lauren Jackson arrived late Tuesday night from playing on the same team as Bird in Russia. Storm coach Brian Agler expects Jackson to pass a physical this morning and participate in a late practice this afternoon.

She is the final piece to the Storm's 2008 season.

While Jackson and Bird have arrived late before, this is the tardiest they've been — leaving just three days to practice before Saturday's WNBA regular-season opener against Chicago at KeyArena. And this marks the first time both arrived late to a new system. Former coach Anne Donovan, who led the Storm the past five seasons, resigned in November.

Bird requested the team's playbook to prepare for camp and compared Agler's system to football, describing a series of actions that can be spliced together in various calls.

After evaluating one practice, Agler said he'd like Bird to keep the ball more in transition and shoot when open — a knock on the traditional point guard in the past. But Agler feels Bird is a good on-ball defender, important since he wants defense to be a team characteristic this season.

Bird said it will be hard for teams to double Jackson because of Agler's "equal opportunity" offense.

"We came out [Monday] and walked through [it]," Agler said.

"I've encouraged her to defend, which I've seen her do in Russia, and second, to take a shot when she's open.

"She's so conscious of wanting to make everybody else better, but in terms of a team setting you work to get open shots. We have to take those, and she's going to do that."

Bird is returning after missing five games due to minor knee surgery in 2007, averaging a career-low 10.4 points and 4.9 assists, which was her second-lowest mark.

Kennedy cut

The Storm cut rookie guard Daphanie Kennedy on Tuesday. The roster now stands at 14 players with a maximum 13-player roster — two possible inactives — due Friday afternoon. Agler already stated that under his $722,000 salary cap, he'll have space for only a 12-player roster, with another inactive.

Players likely vying for the final slots are Washington standout Kristen O'Neill, third-round draft pick Kimberly Beck, twins Hodges and Doneeka Lewis, and Brazilian pro Kelly Santos.

Palmer retiring?

Former Storm forward Wendy Palmer is expected to announce her retirement, according to her agent.

Palmer was one of the WNBA's originals, playing for six teams. She averaged 5.2 points and 4.6 rebounds in 39 games with the Storm, coming back to play 34 games last season after playing just five in 2006 because of a torn Achilles tendon.

Palmer, 33, is currently an assistant coach at the University of Kentucky.

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