Originally published Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at 12:00 AM
Comments (2)
E-mail article
Print view
Share
Storm tries to bounce back from blowout loss in L.A.
Seattle's secret to success on the road is taking its home routine wherever it plays. The road-weary Storm hopes to do that Wednesday night in Phoenix.
Seattle Times staff reporter
Storm @ Phoenix, 7 p.m.
Play as many road games as the Storm has to open the season, and you learn quickly what your team's secret is to winning. For Seattle, it has been routine.
And the keeper of the Storm's rituals? Forward Swin Cash.
She'll usher fans out of her teammates' way during pregame warm-ups. And, if she doesn't spot what she needs, she'll dig in the trainer's bag herself and give it to teammates.
"It was important for us to be really focused," Cash said after a 93-84 WNBA victory in Phoenix last month. "I just wanted to make sure the game was just right for us, and I don't like things to change that much. Just get into a routine and get it done."
When the most road-traveled team so far in the WNBA approaches its road routine like another home game, as it did at US Airways Arena on June 21, the team builds double-digit leads early that it's able to sustain. When it's not the aggressor, like in Chicago or most recently in Los Angeles, it loses.
On Sunday against the Sparks, it was a deflating 27-point defeat that got so far out of hand Storm coach Brian Agler rested his stars.
"We've got players that play year-round," Agler said in defense of playing his reserves in L.A. "If you wear them down too early in the season, you may not have enough in the end. So you try to get a balance."
Still several games from the midway point, the Storm (6-3) has already completed half of the four-game series against four of the five Western Conference opponents. Seattle has a half-game lead on Phoenix (6-4) for the conference lead.
"We've got to control the game," Agler said. "I know we'll bounce back from Sunday. I told the team after the first L.A. game [a win in Seattle], that L.A. has got my attention. We know we're in a playoff race. We're just trying to focus on getting better and play in the postseason."
Jayda Evans: 206-464-2067 or jevans@seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company
general classifieds
Garage & estate salesFurniture & home furnishings
Sporting goods
just listed
Adjustable Bath Shower Bench - $50
An elegant and stately Brickwede orignal corner ca - $499
Antique chair original horsehair stuffed Excellent - $225
More listings
POST A FREE LISTING
shopping
events for Wednesday, Feb. 10
- David Lawrence Moving Sale
- $10 Sale at Kate Quinn Organics
- "Give Love, Get Love" Benefit at Clementine
- Hydrotherapy and Spa Services at Banya 5
editors' picks
More shopping guides- Alaska Air dropping Jones Soda beverages, going back to Coca-Cola
- Man found shot dead in pickup truck in Seattle
- Seattle is first U.S. stop for Picasso exhibit
- Husky Football Blog | Pac-10 expansion to get consideration over next year
- State Senate votes to clear way for tax increases
- Idol Confessions | "American Idol" hopeful from Seattle didn't make it to Hollywood afterall
- Phil Harris, 53, of 'Deadliest Catch,' dies
- Teen is beaten in bus tunnel; Metro to review policies
- Belltown boulevard could be completed by early next year
- Nicole Brodeur | Chrisceda Clemmons' house wasn't the only casualty
- Republicans may be no-shows at health-plan summit
277 - State Senate votes to clear way for tax increases
257 - Pac-10 expansion to get consideration over next year
249 - Lee undergoes foot surgery
233 - Obama: GOP and Dems together can spur job growth
213 - Fort Lewis soldier charged with abusing 4-year-old, holding her head in water
193 - Bus-tunnel attack while guards watched prompts review of Metro security
149 - Rivals names Martin one of Pac-10's best recruiters
143 - Belltown boulevard could be completed by early next year
128 - White House mocks Sarah Palin from podium
98
- Seattle is first U.S. stop for Picasso exhibit
- Belltown boulevard could be completed by early next year
- 747-8 soars smoothly on first outing
- Wine Adviser | Oregon's quality pinots join the bargain ranks
- Alaska Air dropping Jones Soda beverages, going back to Coca-Cola
- Phil Harris, 53, of 'Deadliest Catch,' dies
- How clean are those pre-washed salad greens?
- Snap out of your photo funk: How to make sense of all those piles of images
- Answers to biggest Olympic TV questions
- Brier Dudley's Blog | Google rolls its own Facebook & Twitter with Gmail "Buzz"



