Game 2 tonight in Phoenix! Here’s what they’re saying …

In the Seattle Times, Percy Allen writes about Camille Little’s role in the Storm’s Game 1 success.

Bonner is a three-point threat and at 6 feet 4, she’s tall enough to block shots. But at 137 pounds, the rail-thin Bonner surrenders more than 40 pounds to the 180-pound Little and 187-pound Lauren Jackson.

“I feel like if I have opportunities, I’m going to take advantage of them,” Little said. “Lauren creates so much space on the floor with her being back. People are always watching her and you don’t want to leave her. It opens up the floor for everybody else.”

For the Everett Herald, Aaron Lommers highlights Ashley Robinson’s importance to the Storm this season.

But it was what Robinson did while Jackson was hurt that made the difference.

The Most Improved Player of the Year candidate started 13 games and played a pivotal role in all 21 games Jackson missed. The 6-foot-4 center provided height and a defensive presence inside. With Jackson sidelined, Robinson averaged 4.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game and shot 49.5 percent from the field. She had her best game on the road against Chicago on July 19, scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. It was her first career double-double.

Odeen Domingo has an update on Nakia Sanford’s health in the Arizona Republic.

But the Mercury were again down one starter. Nakia Sanford sat out Game 1 with a sore right knee. Sanford shot around after the Mercury’s film session Friday and will likely be a game-time decision.

“Kia is really our only big body,” Taurasi said. “To miss her was huge for us. She’s been playing real well for us. You look at her numbers (4.2 points and 4.2 rebounds a game) and think she wasn’t important but she was probably the one person we couldn’t miss.”

On PhoenixMercury.com, Ben York looks at what needs to change for the Mercury tonight.

3. Play their game: If we’re honest, nothing about Game 1 felt familiar from the Mercury. They weren’t smiling, didn’t have fun, and didn’t play their game. While there are a million reasons why this happens in professional sports, when a game like that happens, it is imperative that you flush it out of your system and move forward.

There’s an Associated Press story highlighting Diana Taurasi’s effort to bounce back after an off night in Game 1.

“Obviously, I didn’t play as well as I wanted to,” she said. “But I’m more worried about our team. You get 36 and you lose and it doesn’t matter. You get 11 you lose, so it doesn’t really matter how many points you score until we can find a way to beat this team. We’ll see if we can find that answer.”

The first batch of WNBA awards has been handed out. Brian Agler got two votes for Coach of the Year, which he won a year ago, but Cheryl Reeve ran away with the voting after leading Minnesota to 27 wins. Ashley Robinson got three votes to finish fourth for Most Improved Player, which was won by Kia Vaughn of the New York Liberty.

The Sixth Woman Award went to Phoenix’s DeWanna Bonner. PhoenixMercury.com has video of her reaction to winning.

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