Cash, Storm eager to bounce back

It was somewhat of a tradition growing up.

The daughter of a teenage mother, Storm forward Swin Cash basically grew up at her grandma Dolly's house. The matriarch of the family — mother of 12 children — would sit her granddaughter down beside her to watch sports. And when Cash left for college and then the pros, her grandmother continued the tradition by watching her on television whenever games aired.

That's what made Sunday difficult.

In Game 3 of the postseason, the Storm played its worst matchup of the season on ESPN2. Dolly, who died Sept. 5, still would have been proud of her granddaughter, according to Cash. But the All-Star called the 75-64 loss to Los Angeles an "embarrassment."

The Storm shot 20 percent in the opening half and never led.

On Monday, players began exit interviews with front-office brass and Storm coach Brian Agler, who's also director of player personnel. It's the fifth straight season Seattle has been booted from the first round of the playoffs.

"I haven't processed it all," said guard Tanisha Wright of a 20-win season ending abruptly. "It still stings."

A positive was Cash's return.

She underwent outpatient back surgery in March, needing three cortisone shots in 2008 to even play. The injury limited her to a paltry 2.7 points in 14.7 minutes in the 2008 best-of-three series loss to Los Angeles.

This year against a bigger, improved Sparks lineup, Cash averaged a team-leading 21 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.3 steals. Her performance was especially key as the Storm played without two-time leading scorer Lauren Jackson (19.2). All-Star Sue Bird struggled in Game 1, and Wright collected four fouls by halftime in Game 3.

"I left it all on the court," said Cash, who attended her grandmother's funeral on Sept. 12, missing the Storm's final two regular-season games. "My grandma always watched my games on TV and I've been going through a whole grieving process the whole playoffs. I understood that, but knowing that Lauren's gone and it was [teammate] Shannon Johnson's last year, I really wanted to play as hard as I could for those guys."

Although Cash, who turns 30 today, can't add playoff accolades to her All-Star Game MVP title, her comeback from a rough 2007 season in Detroit and injury-filled first season in Seattle isn't over. She was invited by USA Basketball to try out for the national team that could represent the nation at the 2010 World Championships in Czech Republic.

The Sparks' Tina Thompson and Lisa Leslie and Shock guard Katie Smith already eliminated themselves from contention, so there are spots open. Bird was named to the core squad, yet everyone has to try out in Washington D.C. Sept. 30-Oct. 5.

Cash, a 6-foot-1 wing, was on the 2004 Olympic team but wasn't selected in 2008 because of an injury. Cash's former college coach, Geno Auriemma of Connecticut, replaced Anne Donovan as the Olympic coach. Even though he doesn't select the team, he said he'll be vocal.

"I'm looking forward to it," said Cash of the tryout. "I'm in a good place health-wise and basketball-wise."

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