Storm party continues with parade Friday night

ATLANTA — The Storm is planning a victory parade Friday to celebrate the city's third pro sports championship.

The route will begin at the base of the Space Needle at 7 p.m. and travel to KeyArena. The Storm is asking fans to start lining up toward KeyArena's West Plaza entrance to welcome the team and head into the arena for the celebration, which will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Those interested in attending can visit any Top Pot Doughnut location and receive an exclusive pass to reserved parade viewing outside KeyArena, near the Team Store, while supplies last. It's one ticket per person.

The team arrives at SeaTac Airport on Friday at 1:20 p.m. Fans should follow signs to the South Ground Transportation Lot.

See ya

The celebratory mood will be short for Storm players.

The world championships begin Sept. 23 in the Czech Republic, meaning many will join their national teams immediately. The tournament is a qualifier for the 2012 London Olympic Games and Australia is the defending champion.

Six Storm players are expected to compete, including Czech native Jana Vesela, a WNBA rookie. Point guard Sue Bird said she's leaving Sunday to join Team USA and Australian star Lauren Jackson hopes to join her national team in the Czech Republic. The Opals are training in Spain.

"I just want to hang out with each other, get back to Seattle and be a part of the community," Jackson said. "Spend the next couple of days together. I'm so sad that it's over. It has been the best ride."

Real bangers

Atlanta has the reputation for being big and strong inside — and pound-for-pound, they were against the Storm. But Seattle found a way to win the battle in the half-court game. The Storm front line was outrebounded 34-31 Thursday but outscored the Dream 19-1 on second-chance shot opportunities and 34-26 in the paint.

The ticket

Storm reserve Le'coe Willingham might be the winning ticket to a WNBA championship. She won with Phoenix last year and with Seattle on Thursday, clinching the title in her home state.

It was the first title for seven members of the Storm roster.

"This feels wonderful!" said Camille Little, whose two free throws with six seconds remaining ensured Atlanta could only tie the score. All-Star Angel McCoughtry and Dream guard Coco Miller missed three-pointers in the final seconds, however.

Trendsetters

The Storm is the first to go undefeated through the postseason since the Finals format changed to a best-of-five in 2006. Houston and Los Angeles went undefeated in winning titles before that.

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