The Storm won’t know whether it will have All-Star center Lauren Jackson in the lineup for Tuesday’s Kids Day matchup against the New York Liberty (12:00 p.m., 1150 AM KKNW, LiveAccess, 
) until after Jackson is evaluated by a doctor this evening. Jackson suffered a concussion early in Saturday’s 75-62 win at Los Angeles.
“She’s doing fine,” said Storm Head Coach Brian Agler. “She’s improved a lot since Saturday. We’re going to let it play out, but I can just tell you we’ll take the cautious side of things in terms of what our final decision is based on what we hear today from the doctor.”
Jackson, who confirmed that she’s feeling better when she met with the media after practice, said she’s been laying low since the team returned to Seattle. The Storm had Sunday off, and Jackson did not participate in Monday’s session.
The concussion was not diagnosed until after the game. Jackson, who started quickly with 13 first-quarter points, had just seven points on 1-of-8 shooting the rest of the way as symptoms may have started to appear.
“When she came out, I went down and asked her,” Agler said. “She looked me in the eye and said, ‘I’m doing good.’ She probably was at that time. As the game wore on, I think things started to occur that made her uncomfortable. I think that showed in her play a little bit.”
After Jackson left for good late in the game and complained of her condition, she was met in the locker room by two doctors who diagnosed the concussion. Jackson was also evaluated on Sunday prior to tonight’s check-up.
Agler said he’s already considered how the Storm might play Tuesday if Jackson is in fact unavailable.
“We’ve done it so much that you always have to think about that,” he said. “Especially after going through a couple of games without Sue (Bird), you always think if certain things happen, how you’re going to react to that and respond to it and adjust. If that happened, Le’coe (Willingham) would start, but we would have to use Jana (Veselá) a little bit more creatively in terms of maybe who she defends and things like that. We’re looking for ways to get her more playing time.”
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Sad! She got hit pretty hard in that game and several times. I hope she gets well soon. Love to Lauren.
For selfish reasons I want LJ to play- but I also want what is best for her. Not the same when she is not on the floor. Do what is right for you LJ. Get well.
Do whats right to D-Nasty too. Are you listening ms. Orander?
Feel better soon, Lauren. Don’t play tomorrow unless you feel great. Seriously. You deserve to take care of yourself.
Get well soon LJ. Don’t rush to play. Although we love to see you play, your heatlh is more important than anything else.
Lauren should only play if she is 100%. We need her in the long run. We are a great team, they will all come together and do whatever it takes to win!!!! GO STORM!!!
I hope she’s fine and understand why it took her a while to leave the game…I had a concussion and it took about an hour before I was quite loopy and had to go to hospital.
LJ needs to take care of herself. We have to look at bigger picture for playoff. League needs to do something about some of these players that do this stuff. Sad that some players do what they do just because they cannot defend someone.
LJ you are a rock star for not retaliating after that hit.. You would be justified to do so and I’m impressed that you do not. Glad you’re on our team. Feel better and take care of yourself. If you can’t go today, then the team will ride on Birdie’s wings.
No one in the WNBA can guard LJ. That is a fact. But LJ can guard anyone in the WNBA. That is also a fact. Anyone who is unfortunate to be given a task to defend her knows they will be burned and blown away. They don’t have any other options but to hurt LJ to slow her down. They should hurt themselves instead… Take care Lauren.