Age: 30, born May 5, 1974 in Lafayette, La.

College: Vanderbilt, 1996.

Hometown: San Jose, Calif.

Acquired: By trade this spring with C Janell Burse for F Amanda Lassiter and a 2004 draft pick.

Game time: Seattle hasn't seen a small forward fill a stat book the way Sam will. She was adequate offensively in the exhibition games, averaging 6.7 points, but she also averaged 3.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.0 steals. Sam also is capable of moving to shooting guard. In her sixth season, Sam will be the Storm's X-factor. Her best season was in 2002 in Miami when she averaged 14.5 points and 4.8 rebounds, and was an All-Star.

Musically inclined: Whether it's rap or a little Bob Marley, Sam bobs her head to music to get psyched up for games. "It gets me in the mood," she said. Sam also is a big fan of musicals, choosing "Grease 2" as her all-time favorite. Michelle Pfeiffer's "Cool Rider" solo is her favorite track.