All good things must come to an end, and the Storm’s winning streak was no exception. The stories on yesterday’s loss to the Minnesota Lynx and more:
Minnesota ends Storm’s 13-game winning streak – Pat Borzi, special to the Seattle Times
Jackson sprained the thumb midway through in the second quarter and managed only 12 points in the Storm’s 72-71 loss to Minnesota, ending the third-longest winning streak in WNBA history at 13 games.
Coach Brian Agler said X-rays showed nothing broken. It wasn’t clear whether Jackson, who was not in the locker room after the game, will play Tuesday in Tulsa.
“Hopefully, it’s nothing serious,” Bird said.
Why the Storm’s Loss “Could Pay Dividends Bigger Than Any Win Could’ve” - Nate Parham, SB Nation Seattle
When NBA TV commentator Dennis Scott asked about ending the record conversation with the loss — tying for the best start in WNBA history, claiming the best start in Seattle sports history, in the middle of the third-longest winning streak in WNBA history, and still chasing the 1998 Houston Comets for the best start in WNBA history — Sue Bird smiled and said pretty much what the Storm have been telling media for weeks.
“To be honest, I’m so glad in a way that the record stuff’s out of the way,” said Bird in the video above. “I know this loss is actually going to pay bigger dividends than any win could’ve, which is great. Now we can kind of just get back to focusing on the playoffs what we need to do to get home court advantage throughout and on to the next one. We’ve got Tulsa next and that’s what we’re focused on.”
Statistical summary of an upset: The Lynx end the Storm’s 13-game win streak – Q McCall, SwishAppeal.com
Storm statistical MVP: Sue Bird
With Jackson playing through a strained right thumb, Bird picked up the slack with 16 points on 7-14 shooting — including a 2 point percentage of 71.42 — and 10 assists. Again, her passing numbers were outstanding: an assist rate of 38.46% and turnover percentage of 7.69% that resulted in a pure point rating of 12.96.
Up from sick bed, Lynx center ends Seattle’s 13-game streak – Roman Augustoviz, Star Tribune
Nicky Anosike was too sick to start for the Lynx against Seattle, but the 6-3 center was on the floor when it mattered most: the end.
Anosike made a 14-foot baseline jumper with 47 seconds left and the second of two free throws with 5.5 seconds as the Lynx upset Seattle 72-71 on Sunday at Target Center. She finished with seven points and six rebounds in 16-plus minutes.
Storm’s Jana Veselá continues to adjust to the WNBA, America – Jayda Evans, Seattle Times
Off the court was the same clumsy route to comfort. Vesela said she’d spend up to three hours in grocery stores trying to translate names of foods to find familiar flavors. At restaurants she’d just stare at menus.
Teammates had fun introducing her to funnel cakes and watching Vesela get the powder all over her face. Abrosimova, who’s Russian, has been the tour guide, since the pair knew each other from play overseas.
Mailbag: Lauren Jackson’s free throw shooting ridiculous? – Jayda Evans, seattletimes.com Women’s Hoops Blog
Jackson is shooting 91.4 percent from the FT line this season. Yet, it’s not the best in the WNBA or even Jackson’s career-high. San Antonio PG Becky Hammon is closer to perfect from the line at a league-leading 97.1 percent. Jackson, a 6 foot 5 post, has attempted 139 FTs compared to Hammon’s 59 this season, however.
Still, Jackson’s best season shooting the free shots was in 2008 with a 93.4 percent showing (99 of 106). That was before the ankle and back injuries, so it’s impressive how the native Australian is working her way back to pre-injury numbers.
Nationally, the day’s big story was President Barack Obama attending Washington’s win over Tulsa with daughter Sasha. Here’s a photo gallery from WNBA.com.
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