Lately the Storm is like a marquee billboard that keeps experiencing bulb burnouts.

The latest being two-time All-Star game MVP Swin Cash wading through a shooting slump, just as Lauren Jackson has returned.

Cash averaged a team-leading 17 points in 12 games in July, helping Seattle stay afloat in the Western Conference standings. But in her past six games she's averaging 7.5 points on 24-percent shooting.

The Storm is 3-3 in those matchups, winning two with the return of Jackson, who had been out since June 21 with a torn labrum in her left hip.

"You can consider it a slump, offensively I haven't been playing as well or effective as I was the majority of the year," said Cash, who's looking for a turnaround when Seattle (15-12) hosts Tulsa (1-24) on Thursday. "I'm trying to work my way through. I know my team is going to need those things (scoring) from me, but I've got to just keep pushing. There's not much you can do besides that."

The Storm is a half-game behind Phoenix for second place in the conference, a spot that grants home-court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs. Injuries and personal matters have toyed with the Storm's lineup and just as Jackson neared her return and veteran Katie Smith found her shot, Cash lost hers.

Cash, a 10-year veteran, and coach Brian Agler have discussed her offensive production and Agler has thought of running plays for Cash to help reignite her scoring. Cash has watched video and taken more shots at practice, but those always seem to fall.

In games, Cash has missed potentially game-saving layups and air-balled three-pointers she nailed in the past.

"I've been practicing well, that's the funny thing about it," said Cash, who is averaging 7.6 rebounds in her past six games. "You want to address it, but you have to address it within the flow of the game ... I go back and see the games and it's tough. I do a move that I make in my sleep, so it's like, 'What is the problem?' But you can't overthink it.

"I'm somewhat of a perfectionist with things; it can be a gift and a curse. It's a growth I'm going through right now. We all have our little storms and hopefully mine is going to break out here soon."

Particularly with the Storm roster less than 100 percent healthy.

Jackson, who played 25 minutes Tuesday, experienced soreness in her hip Wednesday. The team went through a light workout, but Jackson's status to play is a game-by-game question.

"As much as we don't like to look at the big picture, we have to with her in regards to recovery time," Agler said. "After the first game, it took her two days to get back into the flow ... I see us having to fight for a (playoff) position all the way through (the remainder of the schedule). But I could see a scenario where she doesn't respond and we don't play her. It's just not using her for the moment and forgetting about the future."

Jackson originally suffered her injury at Tulsa, getting tangled with Australian countrywoman Liz Cambage, a 6-8 rookie center. The Shock is on a WNBA-record 19-game losing streak, but three of its past five games have been decided by an average 5.6 points.

"You can throw that record out the window," said Agler of the Shock. "They are playing people very competitively and I'm sure the same thing will happen (Thursday)."