Storm notebook | As season begins, team's TV contract still pending

The Storm's season opener wasn't televised Saturday because the team still hasn't secured a television deal for this season.

The WNBA no longer requires teams to air games on TV, but when the Storm was linked with the Sonics, at least four of its games were broadcast as part of the Sonics' agreement with Fox Sports Northwest.

Storm CEO Karen Bryant said the team was in final negotiations and would be prepared to make an announcement soon.

The Storm was behind on ironing out a contract due to the franchise's sale to Force 10 Hoops LLC. The $10 million purchase was finalized in February, and the new owners had hoped to continue the Storm's agreement with FSN. But the station this year is airing more Mariners games, which garner higher ratings.

As the WNBA continues to grow, its television coverage has increased. And the growing fan base for college women's basketball has begun to cross over to the pros.

Viewership of WNBA games on ESPN2 was up 15 percent last season, and postseason games were aired in a record 203 countries in 32 languages, according to the league.

A majority of the 14 WNBA teams have television contracts. The New York Liberty leads with all 34 of its games on the MSG network.

Storm fans can view some games online through the WNBA's Broadband Season Pass at www.wnba.com.

A sixth All-Star?

The Storm entered the offseason with two All-Stars on its roster in Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird. The total reached five after the team acquired Swin Cash, Sheryl Swoopes, and Yolanda Griffith. And it was almost six — Seattle was in talks to bring in Mystics All-Star DeLisha Milton-Jones.

"[The talks] were pretty serious, but it never got to the level that Sheryl and Yolanda did," Storm coach Brian Agler said. "We couldn't get on the same page with Washington, not that we didn't try."

Milton-Jones, a 6-foot-1 forward, was ultimately traded from Washington to Los Angeles in exchange for veteran Taj McWilliams-Franklin and the Sparks' 2009 first-round draft pick. Milton-Jones, who originally played in Los Angeles from 1999 to 2004, won championships with the Sparks in 2001 and 2002.

Best ever

Defending champion Phoenix and Los Angeles tipped off the league's 12th season on Saturday, and Agler said the game was the "best ever."

Candace Parker, the No. 1 pick in this year's draft, nearly joined NBA legend Oscar Robertson in posting a triple-double in her debut, with 34 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in the Sparks' 99-94 win.

"I think she can play even better, which is scary," said Bird, who has played with Parker on Team USA.

"I'm not saying this is what's happening, but it's easy to get up for one big game. To be able to do that for 34 games is another story."

Saturday's box

CHICAGO
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Dupree	27:24	2-11	3-4	4-10	1	2	7
Canty	23:56	2-5	2-3	1-3	0	2	6
Fowles	15:08	3-9	0-0	1-7	0	6	6
Price	27:05	1-3	5-8	1-4	2	1	7
Perkins	29:56	5-12	2-2	2-5	2	1	12
Sharp	16:04	1-3	0-0	0-2	0	0	2
Melvin	28:36	4-4	7-8	1-4	1	2	15
Wyckoff	14:03	2-4	0-0	0-4	0	3	6
Chaney	5:55	0-1	0-0	0-0	0	1	0
Queenan	5:28	0-0	0-0	0-1	1	0	0
Joens	6:25	0-1	0-0	0-0	0	1	0
Totals		20-53	19-25	10-40	7	19	61

Percentages: FG .377, FT .760. Three-point goals: 2-11, .182 (Wyckoff 2-3, Dupree 0-1, Price 0-1, Joens 0-1, Chaney 0-1, Sharp 0-1, Perkins 0-3). Team rebounds: 7. Team Turnovers: 19 (19 PTS). Blocked shots: 6 (Fowles 4, Dupree, Price). Turnovers: 19 (Canty 4, Price 4, Perkins 3, Fowles 3, Melvin 2, Dupree, Wyckoff, Chaney). Steals: 5 (Chaney 2, Dupree, Perkins, Fowles). Technical fouls: None.

SEATTLE
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Cash	33:39	4-9	5-6	4-8	3	3	13
Jackson	30:40	6-19	1-1	1-6	0	2	14
Griffith	18:47	3-7	2-4	2-7	1	3	8
Swoopes	26:48	3-6	0-0	1-4	2	1	6
Bird	32:27	5-10	2-2	0-1	7	1	13
Robinson	9:56	1-4	0-0	2-3	0	4	2
Wright	16:45	0-6	2-2	1-1	1	2	2
Ely	15:51	3-4	0-0	1-3	0	3	6
Gearlds	10:35	1-6	0-0	0-1	0	0	3
Beck	2:16	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0
Santos	2:16	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0
Totals		26-71	12-15	12-34	14	19	67

Percentages: FG .366, FT .800. Three-point goals: 3-15, .200 (Bird 1-3, Gearlds 1-4, Jackson 1-6, Wright 0-1, Cash 0-1). Team rebounds: 6. Team Turnovers: 10 (15 PTS). Blocked shots: 3 (Jackson, Cash, Griffith). Turnovers: 9 (Jackson 2, Wright 2, Cash 2, Bird, Ely, Gearlds). Steals: 7 (Swoopes 3, Jackson 2, Ely, Griffith). Technical fouls: None.

Chicago	18	17	12	14 — 61
Seattle	16	13	25	13 — 67

Attendance: 12,079 (9,686). Time: 1:52. Officials: Clarke Stevens, Amy Bonner, Penny Davis.