Camille Little has filled gap in the middle for Storm – Jayda Evans, Seattle Times

Storm coach Brian Agler knew Little was a gem. He helped developed her game while an assistant at San Antonio her rookie season.

“She sort of got lost in the shuffle, basically,” said Agler, who traded Seattle’s 2009 second-round draft pick to Atlanta for Little. “It wasn’t the right fit for her at that time.”

Why Lisa Leslie Picked the Storm to Win it All – Nate Parham, SBN Seattle

Beyond their trio of All-Stars three, part of what has made the Storm so difficult to play beat this season is their depth beyond those three. As Storm coach Brian Agler has noted, both the Storm and their WNBA Finals opponent Atlanta Dream are well aware that beyond the star players are other players to worry about. One player that has sort of flown under the radar for portions of this season is Storm forward Camille Little.

“I think Camille Little has improved her game so much and she just finds a way to get buckets,” said Leslie. “She’s not even on your radar and, boom, there you go: offensive board to Camille Little.”

Things Have ‘Changed a Lot’ Since Regular Season Series with Dream – Nate Parham, SBN Seattle

Although Agler said he considers their head-to-head meetings with the Dream as useful to look at these sort of matchups, he isn’t putting much stock in the outcomes.

“I think both teams have changed a lot since the very first meeting,” said Agler. “The meeting down there was sort of a strange game from the standpoint of they jumped on us quick and I think they got — when we subbed in — I think they got disinterested a little bit and didn’t play as well as they’re capable of playing. And we know they’re a much better team than what we saw down there in Atlanta.”

WNBA Finals matchup analysis: Dream and Storm share strengths, but the Storm has an edge – Q McCall, SwishAppeal.com

So what makes this series interesting is that both teams essentially share the same strength relative to their opponents: offensive rebounding percentage. However, as Agler has alluded to early in the season, what the Dream do so well is force turnovers and get out in transition for easy fast break points off of turnovers. As one observer said, there’s nothing complicated about the Dream’s transition game — it’s a mass of athleticism going right to the rim on the first attempt and crashing the boards for second and even third attempts.

How Brian Agler is Scouting the Dream – Q McCall, SwishAppeal.com

He’ll do something similar as he prepares for the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA Finals, this time using the Dream’s first round opponent as the case study.

“Washington a little bit — Washingon, they’re sort of like us in a lot of way,” said Agler. “So we’ll watch the playoff games.”

Not that the Mystics are at all as dominant as the Storm, but there was a bit of similarity in their regular season performance worth noting.

What are the odds of the Dream sweeping the Storm? – Petrel, SwishAppeal.com

The Massey Ratings webpage claims that home court advantage is 2.76 points.  But is the advantage at Key Arena equal to the one at Philips Arena?  Really? The great thing about the Massey Ratings web page is that it gives an individualized home court advantage for each team.  Seattle’s home court advantage is the best in the WNBA:  it is listed at 6.28 points.  (Connecticut is second with 5.71.)

As for Atlanta?  According to Massey Ratings, Atlanta has the worst home field advantage: one of -0.63.  All in all, Atlanta’s opponents gained one point playing at Philips Arena.  Only Los Angeles at -0.35 and Chicago at -0.30 had negative home field advantages.

Two Ends Meet: How Seattle and Atlanta Got This Far – Clay Kallam, Slamonline.com

The Storm were 22-2 on July 30, and then lost interest in the project. Brian Agler, deservedly Coach of the Year, rested his key players and set things up for the postseason – which worked pretty well, as Seattle swept both Los Angeles and Phoenix en route to the Finals.

In fact, the statistical profile of the Storm for its four-game playoff run is eerily similar to what it was at the end of that 22-2 start. The average margin of victory is almost exactly the same, and so is the excellent defensive field-goal percentage. What really jumps out, though, is rebounding: Seattle gets about seven more rebounds a game than its opponents.

The latest Storm player on Northwest Sports Tonight was post Le’coe Willingham.

Storming ahead: Seattle’s winning team – Anthony B. Robinson, Crosscut

Two weeks ago I ventured off my usual turf here at Crosscut to write about Seattle sports. I focused on the Mariners, Seahawks and football Huskies, arguably the “big three” of Seattle sports. I lamented their lack of leadership. Recent events (Seahawks’ shuffle, Mariners’ prevarications, and Huskies’ inability to win in the fourth quarter) seem only to have confirmed those observations.

But a fair number of readers called attention, quite rightly, to my sins of omission. I had failed to mention other Seattle pro teams, most especially Seattle’s WNBA team, the Storm, which on Sunday (Sept. 5) swept into the WNBA finals with a very impressive come-from-behind win in Phoenix. The Storm is in the midst of a year in which its regular season record (28–6) established a new high for the best single season winning percentage in Seattle pro sports. With an .824 winning percentage, they surpassed the 2005 Seahawks (13–3, .813).

Upstart Dream face favorite Storm – Mechelle Voepel, ESPN.com

“What they’ve done is pretty unbelievable, especially now because the league is so tough,” said veteran guard Ticha Penicheiro, whose Los Angeles Sparks were the first domino to fall for Seattle in the postseason. “It shows what kind of players they have, and their coaching staff has done a tremendous job. It shows the value of keeping your core together.”

The two-player core of Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird dates back to 2002, when top draft pick Bird joined Jackson in her second WNBA season. Tanisha Wright was drafted in 2005. Swin Cash joined the Storm via trade before the 2008 season began, then another deal brought Camille Little during that summer.

Finals Notebook – Mel Greenburg, Wom Hoops Guru

In a pre-game chat with Atlanta Dream coach Marynell Meadors on the sidelines in New York before Sunday night’s WNBA Eastern Conference finals opener in Madison Square Garden with the New York Liberty, the Guru noted to her, “You can be the `Zelig’ if women’s basketball.

“Yeah, I guess I’ve seen it all,” Meadors laughed while turning to tell Dream owner Kathy Betty how far back she and the Guru go in time.

Continuing Storm Week on Northwest Cable News, color analyst Adia Barnes was last night’s guest.

Coverage of the newly set WNBA Finals matchup between the Storm and the Atlanta Dream.

Seattle Storm will face Atlanta Dream in WNBA Finals – Jayda Evans, Seattle Times

The last time Seattle faced an undefeated Atlanta, it was a month into the season. But even then, Storm forward Lauren Jackson sensed her team’s strongest contender for WNBA title would be the Dream.

She was right.

Storm finds out WNBA Finals opponent – Todd Dybas, seattlepi.com

Making a loud statement on Tuesday night, the Atlanta Dream clarified the other half of the WNBA Finals with a 105-93 trouncing of New York.

The Dream swept the three-game series 2-0, setting up Sunday’s opener against the Storm. Game 1 is at noon in KeyArena and will be on ABC.

Athletic Atlanta to test Storm – Mechelle Voepel, ESPN.com

However, the Dream have raced through the playoffs, first sweeping the No. 1 seed, Washington, and now the No. 2, New York. In the four games, Atlanta has averaged 95.5 points.

“They might be the most athletic team in the league,” Seattle coach Brian Agler said of the Dream after watching the conclusion of the East finals. “What makes them so difficult to defend is they have great size around the basket, they’re one of the best rebounding teams.

Dream ride McCoughtry magic to Finals – Mechelle Voepel, ESPN.com

Long before draft day 2009, Atlanta Dream coach and GM Marynell Meadors was sure whom she wanted to pick. When she was asked about it during the college season, she didn’t just come flat out and say the name. But everything she described about the player she wanted made you think, “She has to be talking about Angel McCoughtry, right?”

She was. Meadors didn’t totally tip her hand, but she might as well have. While there was outside speculation that she might go a different direction, Meadors never altered course.

Finals Preview: Seattle Storm vs. Atlanta Dream – Frank Della Femina, WNBA.com

Even though the Dream touts a highly focused, up-tempo offense, there’s nothing that says the Storm isn’t prepared to counter with its well-disciplined defense. That much is evident from the Western Conference Finals, a series in which the Storm played against a similar style in the run-and-gun Mercury.

Destiny Takes Seattle and Atlanta to WNBA Finals – Mel Greenburg, Wom Hoops Guru

Way back in the spring when the calendar flipped into June the Atlanta Dream had become hot news and arrived in Seattle with a 6-0 record to meet the Storm that was 5-1 after a loss to Chicago along the way.

It was a chuckled thought that maybe the matchup might be a preview of the 2010 WNBA best-of-five championship series.

McCoughtry Powers Atlanta’s WNBA Finals Dream Into Reality – Milton Kent, Fanhouse.com

Two and a half weeks ago, the Atlanta Dream was reeling, having dropped six of their final seven games to close the WNBA regular season, looking to all like a prime candidate to get bounced from the first round of the playoffs.

A lineup adjustment here, a few days off there and the Dream suddenly find themselves in the Finals, with a 105-93 win over the New York Liberty in Atlanta Tuesday to complete a sweep of the best-of-three Eastern Conference championship series.

WNBA Finals Set: Who Are You Rooting For? – Q McCall, SwishAppeal.com

It’s hard to imagine that many people thought the fourth-seeded Atlanta Dream would reach the WNBA Finals.

It’s also probably safe to say that nobody expected them to get to the Finals without losing a playoff game.

Storm Head Coach Brian Agler on with NBA TV’s Gametime last night to preview the Finals:

Forward Camille Little joined Paul Silvi on Northwest Sports Tonight:

The Storm had a well-deserved day off yesterday but returns to practice today in preparation for Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. Oh, there was some kind of comeback to win Sunday’s game, and some sort of big shot. Some people wrote articles about it.

Bird’s three-pointer sends Storm to WNBA Finals - Jayda Evans, Seattle Times

PHOENIX — There was doubt.

The Storm players wouldn’t be human if they hadn’t looked up at the scoreboard, seen a 19-point deficit beaming back and wondered: Can we possibly come back again? Is this Western Conference finals game against the defending WNBA champion Phoenix Mercury where the second-half magic fades?

Not a chance.

Fourth quarter becomes Storm guard Sue Bird’s calling card – Jayda Evans, Seattle Times

Watching the play materialize before him, Storm coach Brian Agler remained calm.

“Not surprised,” he said of the shot. Agler was the only member of the Storm organization who wasn’t hoarse after the 91-88 win. Bird’s shot was all teammates could talk about.

Beyond Bird’s Shot: How Did the Storm Come Back to Defeat the Mercury? – Nate Parham, SBN Seattle

In the end, it was Cash — who might have been obscured again by Bird and Taurasi while remaining one of the league’s fiercest competitors — who quietly went about her business of earning the largest chunk of credit for the Storm’s victory.

Why the Storm’s WCF Comeback is the Best Way to Understand Their Season-Long ‘Resilience’ – Q McCall, SwishAppeal.com

After the Seattle Storm’s 19-point comeback to win the Western Conference Finals 91-88, more than one person was left wondering, “Wait – what happened?”

In fact, nobody seemed to have more than a vaguer-than-usual recollection of what happened — in an interview with local television station King 5, forward Swin Cash indicated that she didn’t even know how they managed to cut the lead to two. The Mercury just seemed to be in complete control.

Breaking Down Sue Bird’s Game-Winning Shot (w/Pics) – Seth Pollack, SwishAppeal.com

To quickly recap, the game was tied at 88 with the Storm in possession and about 23 seconds on the clock. Bird had just blocked Temeka Johnson’s shot and rebounded the ball on the other end to keep the game tied.

Yes, Sue Bird got a crucial end of game block and rebound. That doesn’t happen every day. Making a clutch three, however, is very much expected. Here’s how it went down.

Former Huskies had biggest impact – Mechelle Voepel, ESPN.com

Taurasi made spectacular shots look routine, as she’s known for. Cash played with that fierce sense of purpose, as she’s known for. And Bird came through in the clutch, as she’s know for.

Seattle advanced to the WNBA finals with a come-from-way-behind, all-guts 91-88 victory in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals. Another scintillating chapter in post-collegiate UConn Huskies lore? You better believe it was.

Bird saves the Storm a lot of worry – Mechelle Voepel

Sunday afternoon, on what was not a very good shooting day for her, Bird still made the big shot. How big was her 3-pointer with 2.8 seconds left? I’d say it went a long way toward Seattle securing the franchise’s second WNBA title. It was very, very big.

By giving the Storm a 91-88 victory over Phoenix and ending the Western Conference finals series at 2-0, Bird did herself and her teammates a huge favor. No overtime to further drain them. No loss to force a Game 3. No anxious trip back to Seattle. No listening to the Mercury keep insisting – probably successfully – that all the pressure was on the Storm.

WNBA’s female owners open door, but what is next step? – Vicki Michealis, USA Today

Los Angeles and Washington were eliminated in the first round, by Seattle and Atlanta, respectively. Atlanta hosts New York in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals today. Seattle advanced to the WNBA Finals by ousting defending champion Phoenix in the Western Conference finals. If either Seattle or Atlanta were to win the title, it would be the first under female majority ownership in the WNBA, founded in 1996.

“We’re making the statement,” says Dawn Trudeau, 52, chairwoman of the Storm ownership group, “that we’re just as capable of being successful.”

Phoenix Mercury’s season ends with Game 2 loss to Seattle – Jeff Metcalfe, the Arizona Republic

The Mercury, leading 88-76 with 3:21 left after an off balance 3-pointer by Diana Taurasi trying to draw a foul, seemed a lock for their first win in seven tries vs. the Storm. A raucous crowd of 9,010 at US Airways Center sensed the kill and the anticipation of a decisive Game 3 in the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday.

Instead the Storm showed why they are a combined 32-6 in the regular season and playoffs with a 15-0 game-ending run for a 91-88 victory.

King 5 was there as Storm fans greeted the team at Sea-Tac Airport for its return from Phoenix on Sunday night.

Also, Coach Agler was a guest on Northwest Sports Tonight with Paul Silvi yesterday. For more Storm video, check out King5.com.

PHOENIX – Gameday. Tune in to ABC and 1150 AM KKNW at 12 noon to see the Storm take on the Phoenix Mercury in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, and if you’re watching with your laptop handy, pull up our special road Live from Press Row blog. I arrived in town yesterday afternoon, and unsurprisingly it is hot – still triple-digits nearing 11 p.m. Here’s hoping the Storm’s shooting matches the temperatures. Now, your morning reading before the game.

Storm knows Taurasi’s team still dangerous – Jayda Evans, Seattle Times

And if Taurasi goes off?

“When the lights go on and there’s something at stake, (Taurasi) just plays her best and is consistent with it. That’s what makes her so dangerous,” Bird said. “But there are four other people on the floor. If she gets 40 and we still win, what are you going to do? That’s the challenge in our locker room — trying to guard them.”

What Reviewing Game 1 says about Game 2: Both teams were off, can expect better – Q McCall, SwishAppeal.com

The consensus story of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals at KeyArena on Thursday night: no way will the Seattle Storm be able to hold Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi down for a second consecutive game.

And that may be true in a game that the Mercury lost as much as the Storm won: Phoenix allowed far too many free throws and open three pointers to beat a Storm team that is known for being able to play outstanding halfcourt defense.

But while Taurasi’s 2-for-15 Game 1 performance might be the most glaring thing that stands out in the boxscore, there were a few other things for both teams that should be expected to change.

Underestimating Merc would be a mistake - Mechelle Voepel, ESPN.com

It’s a testament to Taurasi that nobody thinks she’s even capable of having another game as subpar as she did in the series opener.

But it’s more than just Taurasi’s historical consistency in output that is notable here. It’s the fact that she pretty much never even acknowledges worry. It’s always sort of like, “Yeah, yeah, it didn’t go our way, but we’ll get it done next time.”

Phoenix Mercury get seventh shot to beat Seattle Storm and keep season alive – Jeff Metcalfe, Arizona Republic

There really are no more lessons for the Mercury to learn.

The Mercury already know every possible way to lose to the Seattle Storm – from a 23-point laugher to a triple-overtime heartbreaker – so Sunday’s game boils down to whether they’ve learned enough to finally pass the test.

If not, the season ends for the WNBA defending champions and a records scramble would begin to see if the Storm would be the first to go 7-0 against an opponent in the league’s 14-year history. [NOTE: The Storm already went 7-0 against Los Angeles by sweeping during the first round.]

WNBA.com goes All Access behind the scenes at Game 1. My favorite part? Swin Cash telling teammates, “You didn’t think it was going to be easy, did you?” That sort of sums up my reaction to the first game of the series.

The Internet and papers are abuzz with news of the Storm’s Game 1 victory in the Western Conference Finals and awards for Lauren Jackson (MVP) and Brian Agler (Coach of the Year).

Lauren Jackson shows why she’s the best player in the WNBA – Jerry Brewer, Seattle Times

Upon request to stick around, the Storm forward lingered a few more minutes before Game 1 of the Western Conference finals and answered questions. She called the award “probably the most special” of her career because it’s a reflection of this wonderful Storm season. Still, the MVP was preoccupied with chasing team excellence.

And that’s a good thing. There’s no better way to celebrate than watching Jackson dominate another game.

Storm finds the range, wins Game 1 – Jayda Evans, Seattle Times

There’s a bug going around this postseason.

It’s called the three-pointer. It may hit for a quarter or for an entire game, but it has been spreading through the Storm roster.

On Thursday, reserve guard Svetlana Abrosimova was the latest to catch it, hitting two in the third quarter to help defeat Phoenix 82-74 before a crowd of 9,686 at KeyArena in Game 1 of the WNBA’s Western Conference Finals.

Jackson powers Storm past Phoenix in Game 1 – Todd Dybas, seattlepi.com

Abrosimova scored 10 points in the first half, second on the team to Jackson’s 17. When the horn told her to enter, the Storm led 9-3 with 5:05 left in the first quarter. Just more than three minutes later the Storm was up 19-5 following the midrange jumper from Abrosimova.

“When you come off the bench you see a little bit of what is going on and as soon as I got in there I was just trying to help the team,” Abrosimova said. “Obviously you feel a lot better when you hit your first shot. You get the emotions and you just … keep rolling.”

Jackson, Storm get defensive in opener – Mike Allende, The News Tribune

Storm makes it a double – Mike Allende, The News Tribune