The Seattle Times: Women's Hoops Blog

TV Alert: With rosters finalized, here's where to watch the Storm and other WNBA teams

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:40:21 PDT

The Storm made its final cut on Thursday to reach the WNBA-mandated 11-player roster. Second-round draft pick Chelsea Poppens (Iowa State) was waived in favor of rookie Cierra Bravard, a 6-foot-4 former Florida State forward. Seattle will play with a 10-player rotation, however, because PG Sue Bird counts as the 11th spot despite being out the 2013 season to rehabilitate from knee surgery.

"It was a hard decision because we think a lot of Chelsea, she had a great training camp," Storm coach and general manager Brian Agler said. "She was the type of player we thought she'd be, but we felt we had several players on our team like her and we needed a little bit more size at the rim at this moment."

Missing three-time MVP Lauren Jackson (hamstring) inside, Agler won't cement his Thursday decision. He'll move veteran Tina Thompson back inside where she's made her name as the game's all-time leader in points scored. Last season Thompson played on the wing and off the bench. The adjustment gives the Storm lineup five guards and five post players. But as the season progresses, Agler and his staff could choose to return former players like Polish C Ewelina Kobryn or make trades.

"There are some intriguing players out there," Agler said. "But we've worked with this group for a period of time and we'll let this develop for a few days or weeks and see how it goes."

Players stated the best thing about this year's training camp is that everyone was present from Day 1. In addition to forming chemistry with five new faces, two of which will be starters in PG Temeka Johnson and wing Noelle Quinn, learning the nuances of Agler's system is more fluid.

"Brian is taking things slow and really teaching," said G Tanisha Wright of training camp, which opened May 5. "In the past, we’ve had so many returning players return, so boom, it (snapped into place). Now we only have a few (returning) players, so we take our time and really let everybody learn and catch on to his system and what needs to be accomplished."

Elsewhere, Washingtonian point guard products Briann January (Indiana), Courtney Vandersloot (Chicago), Leilani Mitchell (New York) and Lindsey Moore (Minnesota) made WNBA regular-season opening rosters along with F Alex Montgomery (New York). F Cathrine Kraayeveld was cut by Atlanta this week.

The WNBA tips-off its 17th season with San Antonio hosting 2012 defending champion Indiana on Friday. The Storm's 14th season tips Sunday at Los Angeles. The game will be carried via the WNBA's website LiveAccess and on NBA-TV at 5:30 pm (PT). Below is the league's full NBA-TV schedule. Be sure to check out The Seattle Times on Friday for a preview of the Storm's 2013 season.

NBA TV Announces 2013 WNBA Regular Season Telecast Schedule

Network to Televise 45 Regular Season WNBA Games

NBA TV will televise 45 games during the 2013 WNBA regular season – the league’s 17^th season – tipping off with the defending WNBA Champion Indiana Fever visiting the San Antonio Silver Stars on Friday, May 24, at 8 p.m. ET.

Schedule highlights include appearances from the Big Three 2013 draft picks, Britney Griner, Elena Delle Donne and Skylar Diggins:

Griner, the first overall draft pick, making her NBA TV debut when the Phoenix Mercury host the Washington Mystics on Friday, June 21, at 10 p.m.

The second overall draft pick, Delle Donne, and the Chicago Sky taking on the Fever on Saturday, June 22, at 7 p.m.

Star rookie Diggins and the Tulsa Shock visiting Griner and the Mercury on Friday, August 9, at 10 p.m.

The WNBA on NBA TV schedule will include appearances from all 12 WNBA teams, along with extensive coverage of the league throughout the season including highlights and post-game interviews with players and coaches following key WNBA matchups.

WNBA on NBA TV 2013 Schedule

(All Times Eastern)

May

Date

Day

Time

Teams

May 24

Friday

8 p.m. ET

Indiana at San Antonio

May 26

Sunday

8:30 p.m.

Seattle at Los Angeles

June

June 21

Friday

8 p.m.

Seattle at San Antonio

June 21

Friday

10 p.m.

Washington at Phoenix

June 22

Saturday

7 p.m.

Chicago at Indiana

June 23

Sunday

7 p.m.

Tulsa at Minnesota

June 30

Sunday

4 p.m.

Tulsa at Washington

July

July 2

Tuesday

10:30 p.m.

Minnesota at Los Angeles

July 4

Thursday

3:30 p.m.

New York at Los Angeles

July 6

Saturday

5 p.m.

San Antonio at Los Angeles

July 6

Saturday

7 p.m.

Connecticut at Indiana

July 24

Wednesday

11:30 a.m.

Chicago at Washington

July 24

Wednesday

7 p.m.

Connecticut at Atlanta

July 25

Thursday

3:30 p.m.

Seattle at Los Angeles

July 31

Wednesday

7 p.m.

New York at Washington

August

August 2

Friday

8 p.m.

San Antonio at Minnesota

August 3

Saturday

7 p.m.

Chicago at Indiana

August 3

Saturday

10 p.m.

Atlanta at Phoenix

August 4

Sunday

4 p.m.

Los Angeles at Washington

August 6

Tuesday

7 p.m.

Los Angeles at Connecticut

August 8

Thursday

7 p.m.

Los Angeles at Indiana

August 9

Friday

10 p.m.

Tulsa at Phoenix

August 10

Saturday

1 p.m.

Los Angeles at New York

August 10

Saturday

7 p.m.

Atlanta at Indiana

August 11

Sunday

4 p.m.

Connecticut at Washington

August 11

Sunday

6 p.m.

Tulsa at Phoenix

August 13

Tuesday

10:30 p.m.

Chicago at Los Angeles

August 14

Wednesday

10 p.m.

Indiana at Phoenix

August 16

Friday

7:30 p.m.

Connecticut at Atlanta

August 16

Friday

11 p.m.

Indiana at Los Angeles

August 17

Saturday

8 p.m.

Phoenix at San Antonio

August 18

Sunday

3 p.m.

Washington at Atlanta

August 20

Tuesday

7 p.m.

Minnesota at Atlanta

August 23

Friday

8 p.m.

San Antonio at Tulsa

August 23

Friday

10 p.m.

Seattle at Phoenix

August 25

Sunday

8:30 p.m.

Tulsa at Los Angeles

August 27

Tuesday

10:30 p.m.

Connecticut at Los Angeles

August 28

Wednesday

7 p.m.

Washington at Atlanta

August 31

Saturday

10 p.m.

Connecticut at Phoenix

September

September 2

Monday

6 p.m.

Los Angeles at Atlanta

September 4

Wednesday

8 p.m.

Los Angeles at Minnesota

September 6

Friday

8 p.m.

Los Angeles at Tulsa

September 7

Saturday

7 p.m.

Connecticut at Indiana

September 12

Thursday

10:30 p.m.

Minnesota at Los Angeles

September 15

Sunday

3 p.m.

Phoenix at Los Angeles

Seattle still rates among best in GM Survey...for fan support and late-game strategy

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:31:07 PDT

Caught up with Storm All-Star C Lauren Jackson (way) early Tuesday morning to get her thoughts about the WNBA season without her and Sue Bird due to injuries. More from t he interview (and a chat with Bird) later, but Jackson did give some insights to what would be a successful season for the Storm considering all of the changes. None of ESPN's prognosticators have Seattle advancing for a WNBA-record 10th playoff appearance and league general managers pretty much feel the same, only giving Seattle a nod for its staple fan support and coach Brian Agler's strategies the final two minutes of a tight game.

"Obviously a successful season is dictated by wins and losses," Jackson said. "But when teams are rebuilding or dealing with injuries, you've just got to get your players better and stronger and ready. You never know what can happen. Stranger things have happened. The girls could come out and win every game, you never know. Chemistry is a really important thing. I've played sport long enough to know you can't really rule anybody out."

Maybe, but here's a release of what the league's GMs think. The full tally can be found on the WNBA's website:

2013 WNBA.COM GM SURVEY TAPS PHOENIX MERCURY TO WIN TITLE

– L.A. Sparks’ Candace Parker Picked to Win MVP Honors –

– Seattle Fans Again Provide Storm Best Home-Court Advantage –

– Minnesota Lynx Selected as Team that’s Most Fun to Watch –

NEW YORK – May 21, 2013 – If the WNBA’s general managers are accurate prognosticators, the Phoenix Mercury will be taking part in a parade in October. The Mercury, with No. 1 overall draft pick Brittney Griner in the fold, collected 33 percent of the votes as the team most likely to win the WNBA Finals presented by Boost Mobile in the 11th annual WNBA.com GM Survey. The defending Western Conference champion Minnesota Lynx, led by a quartet of All-Stars, was voted as the most fun team to watch (25 percent). These results marked a reversal from a year ago when 83 percent of GMs tabbed the Lynx as eventual champions and 55 percent had cited the Mercury as the most entertaining team.

The Sparks’ Candace Parker, the Fever’s Catchings, and the Mercury’s duo of Griner and Diana Taurasi figured prominently in a number of categories. Parker, who led all vote-getters as the choice for MVP (42 percent), also was selected as the player with the greatest hunger to win a championship in 2013 (30 percent). Now in her sixth WNBA season, Parker was the only player to receive votes as the best player at all three frontcourt positions, ranking as the No. 2 power forward (36 percent) and center (17 percent), and as the No. 3 small forward. Catchings, the league’s regular season MVP in 2011, was this year chosen by GMs as the best leader among players (67 percent), the toughest player (64 percent), the top power forward (46 percent), and the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year (42 percent).

An overwhelming favorite to take home the Rookie of the Year honors (75 percent), Griner was voted as the player acquisition that will make the biggest impact (42 percent). She also shared top honors in two categories with a pair of WNBA MVPs, Taurasi (2009) and Catchings (2011). Griner tied for the lead with Taurasi as the player who forces opposing coaches to make the most adjustments (25 percent apiece), and along with Catchings was viewed as the player a team would sign first if starting a franchise today (25 percent each).

In the backcourt, the GMs saw Taurasi as the top shooting guard for the fifth straight year (50 percent), and Minnesota’s Lindsay Whalen was named the best point guard (67 percent). At the forward spots, the versatile Catchings (46 percent) was selected as the No. 1 power forward and shared the top spot among small forwards with Atlanta’s Angel McCoughtry (33 percent apiece). Connecticut’s Tina Charles captured the vote as the top center (67 percent) and also was selected as the league’s best rebounder (50 percent) and the player with the best post moves (58 percent).

Ten players received votes as the league’s most underrated player, with Indiana’s Briann January and Washington’s Ivory Latta sharing the top honor (17 percent each).

The New York Liberty’s Cappie Pondexter was deemed the best at creating her own shot (58 percent) and her crossover dribble was voted as the most effective individual offensive move (55 percent).

The coaching category included a variety of winners. San Antonio’s Dan Hughes was selected as the coach that best develops young players (58 percent) and Indiana’s Lin Dunn was voted as the best manager/motivator (42 percent) and the coach who runs the best defense (33 percent). Minnesota’s Cheryl Reeve was given the nod as the coach who runs the best offense (42 percent) and Washington’s Mike Thibault was considered to be the coach that makes the best in-game adjustments (33 percent).

The Seattle Storm, despite preparing to play the season without injured All-Stars Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird (the player voted by GMs as the best leader in each of the past five surveys), came out on top in a pair of categories for a second straight year. Seattle was once again voted as the team with the best home court advantage (58 percent) and Storm head coach Brian Agler was named the best head coach in the last two minutes of a close game (50 percent).

Additional leaders in the WNBA.com GM survey included:

Tulsa Shock – team that will be most improved (33 percent), edging Washington and Phoenix (25 percent each)

Lindsey Harding signing with Los Angeles – the most surprising move of the offseason (44 percent)

Nicole Powell and Candice Wiggins each joining Tulsa – most underrated move of the offseason (20 percent apiece)

Kara Lawson, Connecticut Sun – active player who would make the best head coach (42 percent)

Toni Young, New York Liberty – most athletic rookie (42 percent)

Tayler Hill, Washington Mystics – “sleeper” rookie most likely to be a success (25 percent)

Stephanie White, Indiana Fever – the best assistant coach (33 percent)

*Please note - GM Responses were tabulated prior to the May 16, 2013 announcement by the Tulsa Shock that Liz Cambage would be returning to the WNBA.*

Live game thread: Tulsa at Seattle in Storm exhibition finale

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:46:06 PDT

A FIRST: The Shock were awarded the first defensive three-second violation at KeyArena. Wright made the FT on the technical foul to put Seattle up 38-32. MacKay checked in with 2:46 on the clock, making her first appearance in the game.

NEW LINEUP: The second half is underway with Quinn, Johnson, and Little starting alongside Sanford and Strick. Seattle is up 32-25 with 7:12 on the clock.

SWAG: In her second year, you can see the confident swagger in Strick, the 2012 No. 2 overall pick. She played a season in Turkey, which helped her play. Knowing her teammates has also helped her look good in the exhibition game. She has three points and six boards in 16 minutes. Little and Hawkins have six points apiece to lead the Seattle scoring. Glory Johnson has game-highs in points (10) and rebounds (10). The Storm is up 28-25 at the break.

NEW LOOK: Thompson nailed a three-pointer, so the WNBA inching the line back this season is no biggie to her. The Shock are 0-for-10 from three-point range, however. The defensive three-seconds rule takes some adjusting as a viewer and with all of the bricks this quarter, it's obviously not generating more offense as the league hoped. Seattle is up 24-21 with 3:29 remaining in the half. Hawkins has six points off the bench to lead the Storm. The Shock's Glory Johnson has six points for her team.

QUICK CATCHUP: Johnson, who's 5-foot-3, did a stutter-step move in the lane to elude the defense and score a layin that got the crowd excited. Strick collected a steal on the other end and Seattle is tied 17-17 with the Shock at the end of the opening quarter. Johnson has always been a pest to deal with while Milli normally takes a minutes to get warmed up, but it's the young-guns injecting fluidity into the Storm offense. Seattle is 5-of-18 from the field while Tulsa is 5-of-16. The Shock lead the rebounding battle 15-12.

HAWK EYE: The rookie is muscling in the buckets to improve Seattle to a 16-9 deficit. Tulsa appears to be settling down after a fiery start. If you're keeping score, Diggins has two turnovers, two fouls and is 0-for-2 from the field. Credit goes to the patent Johnson defense.

BAD TIMING: To put it nicely, the Storm offense needs work. The connects are just a hair off, but the misfire looks bad. Rookie Tianna Hawkins scored Seattle's first field goal of the game under the hoop with 3:57 on the clock. It's 16-5 after the three-point play.

SHORT: The Storm is down 10-2, leaving a lot of buckets short. They're 0-for-8 from the filed. Thompson scored the team's only points off a pair of FTs. Agler substituted in forwards Shekinna Stricklen and Nakia Sanford for Little and Wright.

NICE EDIT: Game Ops debuted it's new highlight video played on Storm Vision before pregame intros and successfully found clips where Bird, Jackson and Katie Smith weren't spotted. I did see a Belinda Snell cameo, but you can't omit everyone in a team sport.

"That was back in the day," said Tulsa rookie Sylar Diggins said when reminded of Notre Dame's trip to KeyArena to play in Seattle University's inaugural Holiday Hoops Classic. The round-robin also featured Gonzaga and Loyola Marymount. A lot has changed for Diggins since that 2010 game from a global recognition to creating a trend with her warrior-like headband.

In the Storm's exhibition game against the Shock, however, Diggins is another obstacle the home team needs to handle in preparing for a tough WNBA season. And not because Seattle is without All-Stars Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson. The league talent is deeper and the Storm needs to "develop an identity A.S.A.P," coach and GM Brian Agler.

Captain G Tanisha Wright is playing her first organized game since Seattle lost Game 3 of its opening round playoff matchup against Minnesota in October. Wright rested the entire offseason due to chronic knee injuries. She said the break helped, but didn't play in her team's opening exhibition game at LA on Sunday to extend the rehabilitation. Wright, who's trying to avoid surgery, participated in about half of each of the team's training camp practices.

"It's to the point now where we're trying to get ready for the season," said Agler, whose team's season-opener is at LA on May 26. "It's harder for Tanisha, since she's basically taken the whole winter off, to continue to work on getting her timing back and get back in the flow of things. The first week of practice you could see she was trying to shake the cobwebs a little bit. But the last week of practice she's starting to feel better and getting her legs underneath her."

Wright will start alongside PG Temeka Johnson with Camille Little, Tina Thompson, and Noelle Quinn in the front court. F Alysha Clark won't play due to a back injury. Storm trainers believe the injury isn't serious at this point.

In addition to seeing the veterans play about 20 minutes together, Agler wants another look at 2013 second-round draft pick Chelsea Poppens, training camp invitees Cierra Bravard and Samantha MacKay and 2012 third-round draft pick Keisha Hampton.

The Shock did not travel Nicole Powell, Scholanda Dorrell (knee), and Tiffany Jackson-Jones. Shock coach Gary Kloppenburg, a former Storm assistant, is likely to make his roster cuts soon after the game.

A normal exhibition-game crowd is filing into The Key. Let's get it going here with your starting lineup.

SHOCK

F Candice Wiggins

F Glory Johnson

C Courtney Paris

G Skylar Diggins

G Amber Holt

STORM

F Noelle Quinn

F Tina Thompson

F Camille Little

G Temeka Johnson

G Tanisha Wright

Tonight's officials are Clarke Stevens, Cameron Inouye, and Cheryl Flores