Tanisha Wright playing key role for Storm

For Michael Jordan, it was Anita Baker's "Giving You the Best that I've Got."

For Storm guard Tanisha Wright, it was Jay-Z's remix of the 1980s hit "Forever Young."

Both seem to be odd choices as locker-room jams for big playoff games because of their leisurely tempos. But Jordan used the rhythm to help him hit the famous bucket over Craig Ehlo to clinch Chicago's first-round playoff series with Cleveland.

Wright played the Jay-Z track before taking the court Friday for Game 2 against Los Angeles. She finished with 15 points and nine assists, and made a pass on the play that finished with Seattle's own "The Shot."

A breakaway layin by forward Camille Little with five seconds remaining gave Seattle a 75-74 win and kept its season alive.

With the best-of-three series tied at one game apiece, the Storm and Sparks play for the right to advance to the Western Conference finals at 2 p.m. today at KeyArena.

"The beat is nice," said Wright, who is a big fan of Jay-Z. "It's about the words, but a lot of it is about the music itself. It's a hot beat that I'm feeling."

Wright, a fifth-year pro, is trying to extend her postseason beyond the first round for the first time in her career. Drafted in 2005, she's been booted from the opening round four straight seasons.

She worked last winter in France to improve her game, returning as a fourth star for the Storm — although hardly anyone outside of Seattle recognizes it. When two-time MVP Lauren Jackson left the lineup in August with two stress fractures in her lower back, Wright shared the offensive responsibilities with All-Stars Sue Bird and Swin Cash, while Little continued to battle for rebounds.

During the postseason, Wright has increased her intensity. Her ability to penetrate has helped Seattle get back into both postseason games. Wright scored 11 of her 15 points in the second half Friday.

"We definitely want to limit her dribble penetration," said Sparks forward Tina Thompson. "I see an improvement in her outside game. She's definitely opening up her range a little bit and that's great. I enjoy her game."

Wright is averaging 14 points and seven assists in the postseason, working well off Cash, who leads the team in scoring (21.0).

"I was a lot more reliable this year than previous years," Wright said. "I can come out here and play through mistakes and still be able to contribute. That's what I'm most excited about."

Storm coach Brian Agler talked Friday with Bird, who missed the final two games of the regular season due to a bulging disk in her neck. She is scoring below her regular-season average at 9.5 points in the postseason.

"Tanisha has had a really good year for us," said Agler, who is stressing the need to penetrate and limit the Sparks' offensive rebounds. "We have to find our way around the rim as much as L.A. does. We can't do it the same way, but we have to find ways to do it."

Despite more pressure being on the Storm to break its jinx, Wright isn't fazed.

"I don't get nervous," she said. "Not this time of the year. This is always the most fun for me — from high school on. Just go out there and show what you've got."

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