So, instead, I offer video. (If a photo is worth a thousand words, video is surely worth many multiples of that, no?) Click here to see the final play via WNBA.com and leave your take – if you’re coherent enough yet to come up with one – in the comments.
UPDATE: Check out the video put together by our David Albright.
UPDATE: OK, it’s the following morning, and with the help of Q’s account at the excellent new women’s hoops blog Swish Appeal, I think I’m ready to coherently discuss “The Play,” which from henceforth on must be referred to in caps with quotation marks.
I actually was thinking about the possibility of a steal on the inbounds because of the decision to put Ashley Robinson on the ball, for which we can apparently credit Tanisha Wright. It reminded me of the way Trevor Ariza forced a couple of turnovers for the L.A. Lakers during the NBA Playoffs with his pressure on the ball, and Robinson is even taller and longer (relatively).
As it turned out, watching the replay, Robinson did not actually deflect the ball on “The Play,” but her presence certainly rattled inbound passer Noelle Quinn and apparently encouraged the Storm’s defenders to overplay. From my vantage point with the Storm’s radio crew at the top of Section 114, it was tough to see where the ball was on the sidelines. I thought the Storm might get it out of bounds until Wright secured the basketball.
Then Little streaked ahead, but let’s remember this was a very difficult shot, especially given the circumstances. She composed herself with an upfake, and put it in almost with two hands. Then things got chaotic. I think I may have ripped off my headset. I was aware enough to tell Dick Fain (entering the David Locke zone in terms of decibels) that the Sparks had no timeouts, which turned out to be critical. There was still plenty of time on the clock, so the Sparks might have been able to get a good look at the basket.
Then, hang-on time. Lisa Leslie got a pretty decent look off the inbounds, all things considered, but it was way long. Considering the way second chances hurt the Storm all night long, I’m sure I wasn’t the only one thinking about a putback. Instead, time ran out and the Storm will live to play another day.
You’ll want to check out the game thread at StormFans, especially for some great shots of L.A.’s reaction to “The Play.”
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The Storm were phenomenal tonight! I currently live in California (but have been a Storm fan since LJ was drafted when I lived in Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island) and I am thrilled that they won tonight! Sue Bird definitely gets my pick for best Point Guard Clutch-Shooter of the year! Swin Cash or should I say Ms.And1; T-Wright, JB, A-Millie, A-Rob and PeeWee awesome job tonight! Suzy Batkovic-Brown, I’ve been waiting to see her play like that for so long, it’s great to see her play like she did in the Olympics. Congrats on the win and go Seattle! Keep up the good work ladies! Hope you’ll hear be cheering all the way from SoCal!
That was the best game, best finish since Spoon hit that half court shot in game 2 of the finals with 2 seconds left, and Sophia’s buzzer beater in game 2 of last years WCF. What is it about game 2? Must be because it’s a do or die game. The whole Storm team, that played were great, and we 6th fan did ours, so lets do it again Sunday!!
What a great game! I told my friend with 10 secs left they need a Reggie Miller and they got one! Sue’s three and T’s steal were the keys. the refs totaly sucked all night long. no call seemed to go our way! But who cares! we got the win! GO STORM! Sue Bird is the Best!
Even after a night of sleep, I’m still shaking my head. Was that real? I’ve watched and rewatched the ESPN video of those last seconds, but it just does not capture what was going on in that arena. (http://sports.espn.go.com/wnba/recap?gameId=290918014)
The Storm were down 9 at the half. There was quiet confidence in the crowd. We knew our team was going to make adjustments at halftime and the 3rd quarter was going to look different. And it did. The Storm won the 3rd 22-12 giving us a 1-point lead going into the 4th.
The first minute and a half of the 4th brought a Storm 7-0 run that included 2 Storm steals for buckets, an and-1 on a Parker foul, then a block by Suzy that led to a Sue-Suzy assist-basket. Timeout Sparks. It was on that last play that I was cheering so hard, I strained a muscle in my back. No joke. I needed that timeout as much as L.A. did!
Even without the muscle strain, I knew I couldn’t take a 7th overtime this year. The 2009 Storm are the WNBA’s cardiac kids.
The Sparks regain their poise and work their back. As the 4th comes to a close, the teams are trading baskets. With 53 seconds left, the score is tied. Then in what felt like an eye-blink, L.A. scores a basket, gets a turnover and a foul, and bang. Just like that, there are 14.7 seconds left and the Sparks are up by 4.
Agler calls a timeout.
He called it to set a play, but those of us in the arena needed it too. We felt the season slipping away. In the stands, we turned to each other. We didn’t have anything to say; our expressions said it all.
Coming out of that Storm timeout, the clapping in the crowd was of the “We love you no matter what” variety. “Thank you for the season, for all you’ve given us.” “We’re going to miss you, but look forward to welcoming you back next year.” There wasn’t much time left to get in our last goodbyes.
There are 14.7 seconds left. Let’s run the play.
T inbounds to Bird. Bird gets the defense in the air, steps under it to her left, and… sinks the 3!!! The crowd goes nuts! Down by just one now, we are NOT done yet! How many last minute 3s has Sue had this year? We really can’t be surprised by this. Really.
After the basket, with 10.7 on the clock, L.A.calls a timeout. Once again, in the stands, we’re looking at each other, but this time we had words. Lots of words, but not a lot of complete sentences. Words we’ve heard LJ use a lot, but this time used in amazement and wonder, not frustration.
For us season ticket holders, we’ve shared the ups and downs all season with the people who sit around us. They’re part of our Storm family. Take all of those ups and downs and focus them like a laser beam. That’s what the last seconds of what was looking like the last game of the season felt like. Shared with a community of 9,000 in this way was like magnifying that laser beam.
Here we go. L.A. is ready to inbound the ball. Set the defense. The whistle blows. Out of nowhere, Camille flies into the passing lane, harasses the ball-handler, tips the ball to T, who feeds it back to Camille for the lay in. The Storm are up by 1 with 5.0 on the clock. The arena is deafening! Little’s defense has been there all year. I couldn’t have scripted it better. Unbelievable!!!
L.A. timeout. High fives all over the Key! By this point, I’ve been yelling so loudly, my voice is almost gone. (It sounds like I haven’t been training all season for this, doesn’t it? No voice and a strained muscle…)
Let’s finish this baby. L.A. inbounds, Leslie, with A-Rob in her face, puts up a clunker, Milton-Jones grabs the offensive rebound, and the put-back misses. Buzzer sounds! STORM WIN!!! STORM WIN!!!!
Now we truly are speechless. Maybe I’m not the only one who’s lost her voice. With promises to see each other Sunday afternoon, we file out… to recuperate.
Leaving the arena, there were long lines at the ticket windows to get tickets to Sunday’s game. Order your tickets. You’re not going to want to miss it!
Please post the A-Rob/Little Kanye West spoof. It looked hysterical but we couldn’t hear a thing in the arena with all those noisy fans.
No need to worry about that. We’ll have that up soon.
Friday night was Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. I contemplated whether I should observe the holiday in synagogue or at the Key. I chose the Key, and was rewarded with having the opportunity to witness firsthand a true miracle attesting to the relevance of prayer!
Go Storm that was an amazing finish. I have been a Sue Bird and Swin Cash fan from there college days. I have followed Swin even when she was in detroit. It is so great to see Swin come back from injuries and play so well. See you at the key tonight Storm.