Storm launches comeback in 4th to down Minnesota

A different sound washed over Sue Bird at KeyArena on Saturday.

Standing at the free-throw line with 33.2 seconds remaining in the Storm's matchup with Minnesota, the near sellout crowd began chanting "M-V-P! M-V-P!" In this arena, that chant was reserved for Australian Lauren Jackson and former guard Betty Lennox, who both heard the words during the 2004 WNBA Finals.

Bird, a 5-foot-9 point guard, has never uttered a word about how she could be considered an MVP. But on Saturday, and really since league play has resumed since the Olympic break, it has been hard not to notice Bird.

She scored 21 of her 23 points in the second half to help her team win 96-88 before 9,339 fans. The win was Seattle's record 15th home victory, surpassing the previous mark of 14 set in 2005, and improved the Storm to a franchise-best 21-10 overall.

"We were able to rally and come back," Bird said. "We never give up no matter what."

With one more win Seattle can assure themselves home-court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs — essential since the Storm will most likely still be without Jackson due to minor right ankle surgery and Seattle has only lost to Connecticut at KeyArena.

Bird wasn't around for the darkest days at KeyArena. The seasons when as an expansion franchise in a then 16-team league, Seattle only mustered four and five wins at KeyArena the opening two years. Bird was a brash guard at the University of Connecticut then, leading the Huskies to championships.

When drafted No. 1 overall in 2002, Bird along with Jackson led the Storm to their first playoff berth with a 10-6 record at home. The highlight is still the 2004 title season when Seattle was 13-4 at home, yet as good as Bird was then, she claims to be even better now.

And her play shows it.

Hounded by Lynx guard Lindsey Harding's defense throughout the game, Bird showed her prowess late in the third quarter. The Storm exited the break with more aggressiveness and energy than showed in the opening half, whittling an 11-point Minnesota halftime lead.

Trailing 64-59 following a three-pointer by Lynx guard Seimone Augustus, Bird got the ball to Storm guard Sheryl Swoopes for a three-pointer then drew a foul herself to get to the free-throw line and make those shots. She then scored on a layin off a feed from forward Camille Little and hit a 14-foot jumper to help give the Storm a 68-66 lead at the end of the quarter.

Storm guards Katie Gearlds and Tanisha Wright kept the scoring going in the second half with three-pointers and running layins. By the time the onslaught was over, the Storm had pieced together a 15-0 run to take control.

"She's balling," Wright said of Bird. Wright contributed 17 points with six assists and six rebounds. "This is the best I've ever seen her play."

A scary moment happened with 1:10 remaining in the game when Lynx rookie Candice Wiggins elbowed Swoopes in the forehead. Swoopes crumpled to the court and lay frozen until removed on a stretcher.

Swoopes was taken to an area hospital as a precautionary measure, but had all feeling in her limbs and could identify people in the room when examined at KeyArena, according to a Storm spokesman.

Swoopes finished with seven points and two steals. Little had 16 points while forward Swin Cash added 17 with six rebounds, and Yolanda Griffith finished with 16 points.

"That was huge for us," Storm coach Brian Agler said of the five starters finishing in double figures. "I was really concerned at halftime because I didn't think we had enough juice. But they responded and created some things off their defense."

Jayda Evans: 206-464-2067