Originally published Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Notebook | CEO Karen Bryant says adding vets to roster was worth it

The Storm overhauled its roster with aging veterans last offseason, signaling that the signings of Yolanda Griffith (age 38) and Sheryl...

By Jayda Evans

Seattle Times staff reporter

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Candace Parker

Player of the game: Candace Parker, a shoo-in for WNBA rookie of the year, led L.A. with 20 points and four assists.

Turning point: Sparks used a 9-0 run — 4-0 to end the first half and 5-0 to start the second — to turn a 38-35 edge into a 47-35 chokehold, and Seattle got no closer than three after that.

Digits: Sparks bench players outscored Seattle's subs 22-2.

Next: Storm's season over.

The Storm overhauled its roster with aging veterans last offseason, signaling that the signings of Yolanda Griffith (age 38) and Sheryl Swoopes (37) meant the organization was going all out to win a title this year.

With Seattle's season ending in a fourth consecutive first-round playoff exit in Tuesday's 71-64 loss to Los Angeles at KeyArena, Storm fans were left to wonder if those moves were all for nothing.

"It hurts right now, but we're proud of this team," Storm CEO Karen Bryant said. "In the short amount of time that this coaching staff and team has been together, one of the things they absolutely accomplished was they built an identity — a team that's going to be tough and play defense.

"It's a great foundation to build on."

Bryant said Brian Agler, the team's first-year coach and director of player personnel, would be doing a lot of the decision-making in shaping the future of the team.

"It's hard for me to even think about next year," Swoopes said. "I have no plans because I really thought we were going to be playing in the Finals. Physically I feel really good, and if I am playing next year, I will be playing for the Storm."

Notes

• Storm forward Swin Cash was able to play 20 minutes despite dealing with a ruptured disk in her lower back. Cash, who turned 29 on Monday, finished with two points and three turnovers.

• Sparks staff called the WNBA to complain about KeyArena's in-house entertainment in Game 2 on Sunday. It seems the Sparks staff didn't like the "Beat L.A." chant flashing on the jumbo screen during free throws, without sound, which is within league policy. And L.A. coach Michael Cooper was indignant at game operations for using his image in a "look-alike" game, implying he resembles Grover from "Sesame Street."

According to a source, the WNBA contacted the Storm and told them to ease up on the ribbing for Game 3, but game operations continued to use the "Beat L.A." graphic.

Tuesday's box



LOS ANGELES
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts

Parker	38:38	8-13	4-6	0-5	4	3	20
M.-Jones	36:55	1-9	2-2	4-8	1	3	4
Leslie	28:46	6-14	3-5	2-7	1	6	15
Brown	7:39	1-3	0-0	0-0	2	0	2
Bobbitt	23:43	3-6	1-4	2-3	2	5	8
F.-Harris	25:33	4-9	4-4	0-2	3	2	12
Johnson	16:19	2-5	4-4	1-3	3	1	8
Spencer	11:34	1-3	0-0	1-2	0	0	2
Moore	8:39	0-0	0-0	0-1	1	2	0
Page	2:15	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0
Totals		26-62	18-25	10-31	17	22	71

Percentages: FG .419, FT .720. Three-point goals: 1-10, .100 (Bobbitt 1-2, Johnson 0-1, Leslie 0-1, Ferdinand-Harris 0-2, Milton-Jones 0-2, Parker 0-2). Team rebounds: 17. Team Turnovers: 18 (20 PTS). Blocked shots: 4 (Leslie 2, Parker, Spencer). Turnovers: 17 (Leslie 4, Parker 4, Ferdinand-Harris 3, Johnson 3, Milton-Jones, Moore, Spencer). Steals: 6 (Bobbitt 2, Parker 2, Johnson, Leslie). Technical fouls: Milton-Jones, 3:19 third.



SEATTLE
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts

Wright	37:58	8-15	4-5	2-6	2	5	20
Little	38:13	5-13	6-6	1-5	1	2	17
Griffith	27:30	2-3	2-2	3-8	1	5	6
Swoopes	21:12	1-8	1-2	1-1	1	2	3
Bird	38:59	7-16	0-0	0-2	5	3	16
Cash	20:21	1-5	0-0	2-4	1	0	2
Robinson	10:39	0-1	0-0	1-2	0	3	0
Gearlds	5:08	0-2	0-0	0-0	0	2	0
Totals		24-63	13-15	10-28	11	22	64

Percentages: FG .381, FT .867. Three-point goals: 3-13, .231 (Bird 2-6, Little 1-2, Gearlds 0-1, Wright 0-1, Swoopes 0-3). Team rebounds: 8. Team Turnovers: 17 (12 PTS). Blocked shots: 7 (Griffith 3, Cash 2, Robinson 2). Turnovers: 15 (Wright 5, Cash 3, Bird 2, Little 2, Griffith, Robinson, Swoopes). Steals: 7 (Little 2, Bird, Cash, Gearlds, Griffith, Wright). Technical fouls: Robinson, 3:19 third.