PHOENIX — The Storm re-signed center Cisti Greenwalt on Monday.
Seattle had traded Greenwalt, along with a second-round draft pick, to Chicago for center Ashley Robinson in June. The expansion Sky subsequently cut Greenwalt. But thanks to the WNBA's "hardship" rule, Greenwalt was able to rejoin Seattle to give it valuable post help.
Storm at Phoenix Mercury
6:30 tonight at US Airways Center
TV/Radio: ESPN2/KJR (950 AM)
Records: Storm 13-12; Mercury 11-12.
Bottom line: The Storm concludes its four-game road trip in a game rife with playoff implications. Seattle leads the season series 2-1, but Phoenix is a game behind the Storm for the fourth and final spot in the Western Conference. The Storm won its past two games, while the Mercury returns home after a 2-1 Eastern road swing. ... Jackson has averaged 30 points and 10.7 rebounds in her past three games against the Mercury. ... Taurasi leads the league in scoring.
Injuries: Storm — C Janell Burse (left shoulder), G Shaunzinski Gortman (right ACL) and F Wendy Palmer (left Achilles) are out. Mercury — C Kamila Vodichkova (right knee) is questionable.
Jayda Evans
Because veteran center Janell Burse is out of the rotation due to a left shoulder injury and will not have an MRI until Wednesday, the league allowed the depleted Storm to add an additional player to the roster. Forward Barbara Turner (ankle) is also hampered, but is expected to play.
Greenwalt, who originally joined with the Storm in May, was signed to a seven-day contract. Storm coach Anne Donovan said Greenwalt is inexperienced, but she does know the system and Seattle is desperate as it clings to the fourth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The Storm's opponent tonight, Phoenix, is a game behind Seattle (13-12) in Western Conference standings. But the Mercury (11-12) is also battling injuries and already had a thin front line.
In Greenwalt's last game with the Storm, she played 10 minutes and grabbed six rebounds to help Seattle, minus an injured Lauren Jackson, defeat the Los Angeles Sparks on the road on June 28. Greenwalt was traded and cut the following day.
Jayda Evans: 206-464-2067 or jevans@seattletimes.com
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