Originally published September 19, 2009 at 8:18 PM | Page modified September 20, 2009 at 12:03 AM
Comments (0)
E-mail article
Print view
Share
Tanisha Wright playing key role for Storm
Fifth-year guard hoping to make it beyond first round of playoffs for first time.
Seattle Times staff reporter
Sparks @ Storm, 2 p.m. (ESPN2)
![]()
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
general classifieds
Garage & estate salesFurniture & home furnishings
Sporting goods
just listed
EMPI Tens Kit - $400
Nintendo DS lite - $90
Wanted 4 tickets - $50
More listings
POST A FREE LISTING
shopping
events for Wednesday, Feb. 10
- Sweet Tooth Classic at the Tasting Room
- Winter Sale at Tricoter
- Trunk Show and Benefit at Vian Hunter
- "Give Love, Get Love" Benefit at Clementine
editors' picks
- Garden furnishings
- Independent bookstores
- Vintage, consignment and used clothing
- Pioneer Square shopping
- Steve Kelley | My treatment of Bedard has been unfair
- Is Washington's tax exemption on bullion a gold mine?
- 747-8 soars smoothly on first outing
- Alaska Air dropping Jones Soda beverages, going back to Coca-Cola
- Super Bowl ads: Betty White, Bud Light, big laughs
- Man found shot dead in pickup truck in Seattle
- Sex, drug rumors swirl about N.Y. Gov. Paterson
- Seattle is first U.S. stop for Picasso exhibit
- Lewis-McChord soldier charged with abusing 4-year-old over alphabet lesson
- Husky Football Blog | Pac-10 expansion to get consideration over next year
- Republicans may be no-shows at health-plan summit
278 - Pac-10 expansion to get consideration over next year
249 - State Senate votes to clear way for tax increases
244 - Lee undergoes foot surgery
231 - Obama: GOP and Dems together can spur job growth
210 - Fort Lewis soldier charged with abusing 4-year-old, holding her head in water
193 - Rivals names Martin one of Pac-10's best recruiters
143 - Belltown boulevard could be completed by early next year
127 - White House mocks Sarah Palin from podium
91 - Bus-tunnel attack while guards watched prompts review of Metro security
87
- Seattle is first U.S. stop for Picasso exhibit
- 747-8 soars smoothly on first outing
- City, Vulcan push higher South Lake Union height limits
- Commentary: Microsoft's creative destruction
- Snap out of your photo funk: How to make sense of all those piles of images
- Wine Adviser | Oregon's quality pinots join the bargain ranks
- Belltown boulevard could be completed by early next year
- Jerry Large | Learning not to copy China
- All You Can Eat | Portage chef Vuong Loc takes Cremant space in Madrona
- Rigorous college-prep classes skyrocketing in Washington state





