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.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 at 12:30 pm and is filed under 2010 Playoffs, in the media. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.