Storm gets past San Antonio, 85-82, in overtime.

For a player who claims to never have played overtime games before her pro career, Storm All-Star Sue Bird is certainly making a habit of the extra stanzas.

On a broken play, a lonely Bird standing behind the three-point line across from the Storm bench hurled the shot at the hoop with three remaining in regulation and the Storm down three. The bucket sank and the Storm went on to outscore the visiting San Antonio in overtime to win 85-82.

"It's a lucky shot, I'm glad it went in," said Bird, whose first overtime game ever was the triple overtime win against Los Angeles on July 22. "This was a really gutsy win. We had to dig deep. Overtime games are never easy."

Jackson was designed to take the final basket in regulation with the Storm down 77-74.

"I looked down and my foot was on the line," said Lauren Jackson, who led all scorers with 23 points. "So I took a dribble and I was like, 'I don't have enough time!' So I kicked it [to Bird] and thought, 'Please, God, make it.' "

Silver Stars All-Star Sophia Young tried to counter as she had last week in San Antonio. Only this time she was well covered by Seattle and missed the 10-footer with 0.4 seconds left in regulation.

In overtime, Jackson didn't hesitate in making the opening basket to help the Storm outscore San Antonio 8-5 in the period. Young and teammate Ruth Riley fouled out of the physical game. Seattle was 30 of 37 from the line and San Antonio 19 of 24.

Officiating was a problem for the Silver Stars afterward. All-Star Becky Hammon tried several times to tie the score with three-pointers, yet draped by Jackson, her attempts were nullified and no call was made.

But it wasn't just the final play she was frustrated with.

"It's throughout the whole game," said Hammon, who led her team with 20 points and 10 rebounds. "They went to the free-throw line every trip down the court for the last five minutes and it's a shame because I felt like we got robbed on that game. When you're not allowed to play defense on Lauren, the best player in the world, it's a problem."

The Storm (12-7) remains second in the West while San Antonio (8-10) is clinging to the fourth and final playoff berth. Last season the Silver Stars advanced to the WNBA Finals.

"These games are so emotional it takes some time to get back in normal mode," said Storm coach Brian Agler, whose team's outcome in seven of his past eight games have either been overtime or by five points or less.

Wauters returns

San Antonio re-signed Belgium center Ann Wauters on Friday, meeting her in Seattle on Saturday. Wauters, who starred for the team in the 2008 WNBA Finals, did not return until now because she needed to handle personal business.

Wauters averaged 14.7 points and 7.5 rebounds in 32 games last year. Silver Stars coach Dan Hughes said she will eventually rejoin the starting lineup, but will be limited until acclimated.

"We had such a good season last year and this team really meant a lot to me," Wauters said. "I followed this season, which hasn't been easy. Now, with it all back together, I hope we can do what we did last year."

Storm unveils No. 6

jersey to honor fans

The Storm honored its All-Decade team at halftime, presenting the seven available players with gifts and flowers. The organization also recognized former co-owner Ginger Ackerley, whose name will now represent an annual community service award given by the team.

In a surprise, the Storm unveiled a No. 6 jersey that will hang in the rafters representing the fans. Three players have worn No. 6 in Storm history.

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

Saturday's box

SAN ANTONIO		fg	ft
min		m-a	m-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Snell	17:55	2-3	0-0	1-4	1	3	5
Young	38:03	4-14	5-5	1-6	4	6	13
Riley	28:55	5-7	2-2	1-3	2	6	13
Vjohnson	23:19	1-4	0-0	1-2	3	0	3
Hammon	38:52	8-22	3-5	5-10	2	4	20
Wauters	14:56	2-3	4-6	0-0	0	2	8
Darling	22:36	1-4	0-0	2-4	3	4	2
Frazee	15:38	2-7	3-4	1-2	0	0	8
Perperoglou	5:16	1-2	0-0	0-2	0	1	3
Lawsn-Wade	16:55	2-9	2-2	1-4	1	2	7
Crossley	2:35	0-0	0-0	0-1	0	1	0
Totals		28-75	19-24	13-38	16	29	82

Percentages: FG .373, FT .792. Three-point goals: 7-28, .250 (Perperoglou 1-1, Snell 1-1, Frazee 1-2, V.Johnson 1-2, Riley 1-2, Hammon 1-7, Lawson-Wade 1-8, Darling 0-2, Young 0-3). Team rebounds: 16. Team Turnovers: 13 (20 PTS). Blocked shots: 3 (Perperoglou, Wauters, Young). Turnovers: 12 (V.Johnson 3, Darling 2, Hammon 2, Wauters 2, Young 2, Lawson-Wade). Steals: 4 (Hammon 2, Riley, Young). Technical fouls: None.

SEATTLE		fg	ft
min		m-a	m-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Cash	37:51	4-13	4-4	3-10	1	5	12
Jackson	38:20	6-17	11-14	7-13	2	3	23
Little	27:48	4-8	2-4	2-6	2	4	11
Bird	41:52	5-18	4-4	1-4	5	1	15
Wright	32:45	3-8	2-2	3-5	4	6	8
Burse	13:48	2-4	1-1	0-2	0	1	5
Sjohnson	22:32	2-3	5-6	1-3	1	3	10
Gearlds	10:04	0-2	1-2	0-2	1	1	1
Totals		26-73	30-37	17-45	16	24	85

Percentages: FG .356, FT .811. Three-point goals: 3-11, .273 (Little 1-1, S.Johnson 1-2, Bird 1-5, Gearlds 0-1, Jackson 0-2). Team rebounds: 7. Team Turnovers: 10 (10 PTS). Blocked shots: 2 (Cash, Jackson). Turnovers: 9 (S.Johnson 2, Little 2, Bird, Burse, Cash, Jackson, Wright). Steals: 5 (Bird 3, Jackson, S.Johnson).

San Antonio	12 21 20 24 5 — 82
Seattle	20 19 17 21 8 — 85

Attendance — 8,167 (17,098). Time — 2:27. Officials — Sue Blauch, Tony Dawkins, Kevin Sparrock.