WNBA Notebook | Swin Cash determined to block out back pain

Sitting in a broadcast studio in New York, forward Swin Cash spotted her pick for who would use the Olympic momentum to play well in the WNBA's closing games.

"I'm hoping Kelly Santos," Cash said after returning from calling the non-Team USA games for NBC. "I told her I'm going to be on her whether I'm on the floor or on the bench because I watched her for almost two weeks and saw what she could do."

The impact of missing power forward Lauren Jackson, the leading scorer (20.2) and rebounder (7.0), has nearly been nil because of the play of the Storm's other post players. And if center Yolanda Griffith or Camille Little happen to get into foul trouble, which occurred in the first two games after the leaguewide break, there's Ashley Robinson, Shyra Ely and now Santos for coach Brian Agler to lean on.

Santos has a knack for drawing fouls to get to the free-throw line and finding her way to rebounds despite averaging just 3.6 minutes over the past five games.

"Our players have confidence in getting the ball down on the block to her," Agler said. "She can score down there, and it's been good. She's waited for this opportunity and taken advantage of it."

Santos, a Brazilian Olympian, got a confidence boost in Beijing. She was a last-minute addition to her country's team due to injury and played her best game against Jackson, when Brazil lost to the Australians.

Santos led her inexperienced squad with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

"I knew that I would have to play hard inside the key because L.J. would take advantage of her power," Santos said through translator Camila Bozza. "But we don't have an experienced team and started the game playing bad."

Big return

The Storm departs Monday for a game in Sacramento. When the team returns, Jackson should be waiting for them — although not in uniform.

Jackson had minor ankle surgery Aug. 28 in Australia and is returning Wednesday for the final stages of rehabilitation. She is expected to miss the regular season but possibly play in the WNBA Finals if the Storm were to advance.

Block party

With 2:55 remaining in the second quarter, Storm center Ashley Robinson recorded her 100th career-block against Minnesota guard Charde Houston.

MINNESOTA
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Augustus	37:18	12-22	0-0	1-5	0	1	26
Ohlde	21:04	2-3	0-2	0-0	0	2	4
Anosike	30:36	1-6	3-3	3-7	4	3	5
DeForge	25:23	7-10	0-0	0-2	2	5	17
Harding	32:38	5-9	1-3	0-5	10	6	11
Hayden	13:19	2-4	2-2	2-5	0	2	6
Wiggins	24:11	6-12	4-6	2-2	2	4	16
Rasmussen	3:54	0-1	0-0	0-0	0	0	0
Houston	11:19	0-3	0-0	1-3	2	2	0
Moore	0:19	1-1	0-0	0-0	0	1	3
Totals		36-71	10-16	9-29	20	26	88

Percentages: FG .507, FT .625. Three-point goals: 6-11, .545 (DeForge 3-4, Augustus 2-2, Moore 1-1, Harding 0-1, Rasmussen 0-1, Wiggins 0-2). Team rebounds: 8. Team Turnovers: 16 (20 PTS). Blocked shots: 2 (Anosike, Houston). Turnovers: 16 (Wiggins 4, Harding 3, Anosike 2, Augustus 2, DeForge 2, Houston 2, Ohlde). Steals: 10 (Wiggins 3, Harding 2, Ohlde 2, Augustus, DeForge, Hayden). Technical fouls: None.

SEATTLE
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Cash	32:01	5-11	7-11	0-6	3	3	17
Little	27:37	4-9	8-10	1-5	3	3	16
Griffith	29:36	5-5	1-2	1-4	2	3	11
Wright	35:16	6-11	5-6	2-6	6	3	17
Bird	37:50	6-12	11-12	0-0	4	3	23
Swoopes	14:29	2-4	1-2	2-2	1	1	7
Gearlds	6:45	2-3	0-0	0-1	0	0	5
Robinson	14:11	0-1	0-0	2-5	0	2	0
Santos	1:56	0-1	0-0	0-0	0	0	0
Ely	0:19	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0
Totals		30-57	33-43	8-29	19	18	96

Percentages: FG .526, FT .767. Three-point goals: 3-8, .375 (Swoopes 2-2, Gearlds 1-2, Little 0-1, Wright 0-1, Bird 0-2). Team rebounds: 12. Team Turnovers: 12 (11 PTS). Blocked shots: 4 (Cash, Little, Robinson, Santos). Turnovers: 12 (Bird 3, Swoopes 3, Wright 3, Cash, Griffith, Little). Steals: 10 (Griffith 2, Swoopes 2, Bird, Cash, Gearlds, Little, Robinson, Wright). Technical fouls: None.

Minnesota	24	22	20	22 — 88
Seattle	18	17	33	28 — 96

Attendance: 9,339 (17,098). Time: 2:06. Officials: Sue Blauch, Roy Gulbeyan, Penny Davis.