Storm | Forward acquired in trade fills spot left by Jackson's absence

PHOENIX — With arms folded across his chest, Phoenix coach Corey Gaines looked like a pouting child as he stated, "It's hard to play without your Australian."

Penny Taylor has missed 26 games this season for the defending WNBA champion Mercury, while Seattle's leading scorer, Lauren Jackson, has missed the past five Storm games to train with the Australian national team for the Beijing Olympics.

While the Mercury (12-14) is at the bottom of the Western Conference, the Storm (16-9) is faring better than some critics predicted. The team returns home to play its final game before the Olympic break tonight against Sacramento.

A huge reason for the Storm's success is the addition of Camille Little.

"Camille has been huge for us," Storm guard Sheryl Swoopes said. "It's one of the best pickups in the league. She brings energy every time, from the start of the game to the end, and stays focused."

Watching Little, an undersized power forward at 6-foot-2, spring from the paint for rebounds or barrel along the baseline for layins, it's a wonder why expansion Atlanta ever let her go.

But according to Dream coach and general manager Marynell Meadors, when she glanced over the then-winless Atlanta roster, she had too many post players of the same height. Meadors said she could get diversity in size by trading Little.

Following the June 22 trade to Seattle for a second-round draft pick, Meadors acquired Alison Bales (6-7) from Indiana for Kristen Mann. Atlanta also acquired free agent Kasha Terry (6-3).

"We were trying to find players with more experience than [Little] had," said Meadors, whose team is 3-23. "Camille played hard and is a good talker [in the locker room], plus I knew she was coached well in college [at North Carolina]. But now we have taller players."

The trade made sense for Seattle because Little played her 2007 rookie season in San Antonio under Storm coach Brian Agler, then a Silver Stars assistant. He saw potential that he's cultivating this summer in Seattle.

Jumping ahead of Shyra Ely and Ashley Robinson to replace Jackson in the starting lineup, Little has averaged 13.3 points and 8.3 rebounds in four starts.

"She really has a great post mind and is very active and aggressive," said Storm assistant coach Nancy Darsch, who helps develop the interior players.

Little also has a personality that meshed quickly with the team — "Camille keeps things very light and the players immediately liked her," Darsch said. And if you make a comment, be prepared for a direct response.

"I like those shoes," a team spokesman said of her black Nikes in Phoenix.

"I do, too; that's why I bought them," Little quipped with a smile.

"She's a real cool person, and it's Atlanta's loss and our gain," Storm center Yolanda Griffith said. "We were missing rebounding, which cost us some games, and she's a young post that can help do that for us."

Griffith and forward Swin Cash are teammates who have helped Little adjust. She said she goes to either of them first with a question regarding plays or simply finding her way around Seattle.

And even though Little will fall back into the shadows when Jackson returns in August, Little is appreciative of her time filling in for the two-time WNBA MVP.

"I went from the bottom to the top," she said of leaving the Dream. "And I'm just trying to take advantage of this opportunity. My teammates make it easy for me. It's been a good experience."

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