Ex-Roosevelt star Lindsey Wilson vying to make Storm roster

Greece was fun, but draped in a Storm uniform Sunday afternoon, Lindsey Wilson is where she wants to be.

A heralded star from Roosevelt High School, Wilson has tried unsuccessfully to make a WNBA roster since graduating from Iowa State in 2003. The closest she's been since was as a practice player for former Seattle coach Anne Donovan.

Wilson, a 6-foot guard, originally was drafted by Connecticut in the third round, then waived by the Sun in May 2003. As the years passed, she found it harder to break into the league, playing primarily in Greece to continue her dream.

She will be part of the 10-player rotation in the Storm's exhibition debut against Phoenix at 1 p.m. on Sunday at KeyArena. Seattle stars Swin Cash and Lauren Jackson will attend but not participate in training camp until Tuesday in order to finish their physicals.

"It's been tough the last couple of years even getting in," said Wilson, who's enjoying her mother's cooking again and living with her brother. "It's difficult for older players who haven't been in the league. You go overseas and even if you get a lot more experience, sometimes it's hard to get a look.

"I feel like I'm a better player than I was and yet I got more of an opportunity when I was 22 — until now."

Part of Wilson's difficulty is her position. There are numerous talented guards in the game. And with rosters trimmed to 11, guards have to be the most versatile in order to better their chances of making a team.

Wilson, 29, will be evaluated against fellow Cyclones star Alison Lacey, the Storm's first-round draft pick, and Loree Moore. A five-year vet, Moore was released by New York and signed as a free agent with Seattle in April.

Moore and Lacey are expected to start Sunday along with returnees Camille Little, Ashley Walker, and Ashley Robinson. But everyone will play extended minutes as they're considered for possibly five open roster slots.

"Most teams look at their first-round draft pick that year of being on the squad," said Storm coach Brian Agler, who admitted Wilson was signed before acquiring Moore via free agency, which gave him three candidates for the backup point-guard role. "As years go on, you keep adding those players up, and the longer you've been out, the harder it is to get back in.

"I just know what kind of competitor Lindsey is; I like her toughness. She understands the game. Is that going to be good enough in the end? I don't know. But I think it's worthy of an opportunity."

Jayda Evans: 206-464-2067 or jevans@seattletimes.com