Notebook | Lauren Jackson hopes to return for Storm's postseason

Storm star Lauren Jackson underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on her right ankle Thursday in Sydney and has told coach Brian Agler to expect her to be back in action soon after she returns to Seattle on Sept. 8 — three games before the end of the regular season.

Doctors at St. Vincent's Hospital removed a detached bone spur and scar tissue from her 2004 ankle reconstruction. Doctors expected the 6-foot-5 forward to be out four to six weeks.

But Jackson told Agler she's a "quick healer" and could return for postseason, if the Storm advances. The team's final regular-season game is Sept. 14 in Los Angeles.

"Obviously she knows herself better than anyone else," Agler said. "But I also know what the doctors are saying, and they have a lot more history. She'll come back, and it'll be great to have her back. She'll rehab here, and we'll just see what happens."

Jackson, the 2007 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and MVP, is the Storm's leading scorer (20.2) and rebounder (7.0).

Lineup change

Agler downplayed the move as a "benching" but still did not start forward Swin Cash against Houston on Thursday. Guard Tanisha Wright was in the starting five with Camille Little, Yolanda Griffith, Sheryl Swoopes and Bird.

Cash was fined by Agler when she took a broadcast position in New York with NBC during the Olympics. When Cash was to leave for New York, Agler told her that she'd be fined and benched when the season resumed.

"It's a variety of things," Agler said of reasons Cash didn't start. "We've talked about Tanisha all year long and referred to her being a starter. Camille, the way she's played here in that starting role before the break and the way she's played in practice, we feel comfortable with her starting.

"Swin is a starter for us and she's going to play quite a bit for us. We're going to work to get her caught up. It'll be game-by-game and it'll all fall into place."

O'Neill to return?

Storm forward Kristen O'Neill's fourth seven-day contract expires today. She is expected to be offered another contract and travel with the team to Connecticut for the start of the three-game road trip.

Note

• Storm center Janell Burse is in Russia preparing to play for Moscow Dynamo, the team Bird once played for. Burse, who suffered shoulder and foot injuries while playing overseas last season, was suspended by the Storm so that the team wouldn't be obligated to pay her full contract while she recovered. Burse spoke with Agler this week, and she is healthy, Agler said.

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

Thursday's Storm box

HOUSTON
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Thompson	27:34	2-10	4-4	1-5	1	1	8
Hodges	24:53	4-8	2-2	0-0	0	1	10
Snow	20:46	2-3	0-2	2-4	1	1	4
Dixon	31:01	3-12	3-4	0-4	1	2	9
Johnson	27:23	0-2	0-0	1-3	3	3	0
Lyttle	23:05	5-10	0-0	4-10	0	1	10
Ajavon	19:58	0-8	6-6	1-1	1	6	6
White	12:37	0-2	2-2	0-1	0	2	2
Mabika	5:22	0-2	0-0	0-0	0	0	0
Williams	5:46	0-0	0-2	0-0	0	1	0
Holmes	1:35	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0
Totals		16-57	17-22	9-28	7	18	49

Percentages: FG .281, FT .773. Three-point goals: 0-11, .000 (Johnson 0-1, Mabika 0-1, Ajavon 0-3, Hodges 0-3, Thompson 0-3). Team rebounds: 11. Team Turnovers: 13 (15 PTS). Blocked shots: 4 (Snow 2, Ajavon, White). Turnovers: 13 (Dixon 3, Thompson 3, Snow 2, White 2, Hodges, Johnson, Lyttle). Steals: 7 (Lyttle 5, Johnson, Thompson). Technical fouls: None.

SEATTLE
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Swoopes	26:45	2-7	0-0	2-6	1	1	4
Little	18:26	3-7	1-2	2-3	0	6	7
Griffith	21:13	3-6	3-4	3-9	1	5	9
Wright	35:12	2-9	1-1	0-5	5	2	5
Bird	37:14	9-15	1-1	0-0	1	0	22
Robinson	10:38	0-2	1-2	1-5	0	4	1
Cash	18:10	1-5	4-5	2-5	2	4	6
Gearlds	17:28	2-6	1-2	0-2	1	3	6
Santos	2:23	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	1	0
Ely	12:31	3-7	0-0	1-6	0	3	6
Totals		25-64	12-17	11-41	11	29	66

Percentages: FG .391, FT .706. Three-point goals: 4-14, .286 (Bird 3-5, Gearlds 1-3, Ely 0-1, Little 0-1, Swoopes 0-4). Team rebounds: 10. Team Turnovers: 14 (10 PTS). Blocked shots: 2 (Cash, Ely). Turnovers: 14 (Bird 3, Little 2, Robinson 2, Wright 2, Cash, Ely, Gearlds, Griffith, Swoopes). Steals: 9 (Swoopes 3, Griffith 2, Cash, Ely, Little, Wright). Technical fouls: None.

Houston	11	13	10	15 — 49
Seattle	18	20	14	14 — 66

Attendance: 8,320 (17,098). Time: 1:57. Officials: Kurt Walker, Shelley Nakasone, Scott Twardoski.