LJ Gets 4,000, Storm Gets Win

The Storm locker room was upbeat after tonight's win, and with good reason. Back at home, the Storm played an outstanding three quarters of basketball and coasted to a win on a night that will best be remembered for Lauren Jackson's 4,000th career point.

Talking to Jackson after the game, she again downplayed the importance of the individual accolades but did say she was glad to hit 4,000 in front of the home fans at KeyArena. Jackson has reached 1,000, 3,000 and now 4,000 in Seattle and I'm sure a lot of fans, like me, have seen all three milestones.

If you haven't already, make sure to check out the page we put together honoring Jackson's accomplishment.


Janell Burse talked after the game about her wrist. Beforehand, she had said she would try to get through the game and then reevaluate whether she can play despite three torn ligaments in the wrist. I asked her whether she thought after the game she could play onwards and she still wasn't sure, explaining that at times the pain was not as noticeable but at other times it became severe.

Anne Donovan gave Burse credit for starting the Storm off well at the defensive end with a couple of early blocks, and I have to agree - I might have given Burse short shift by not making a bigger deal of the early swats in Live From Press Row.

Did you know? With tonight's win and L.A.'s loss, the Storm's magic number for clinching a playoff berth is just six. More pertinent, in all likelihood, is the battle for playoff positioning. Phoenix pulled out a close game at Chicago thanks to Diana Taurasi's game-winner, leaving the Storm two games back of the Mercury and Sacramento, tied for second place. The Silver Stars continue to lead the West entering Sunday's game at KeyArena, up three games on the Storm.

Injuries to Tamika Catchings and Cheryl Ford have muddled the Eastern Conference picture a little. While Detroit and Indiana are still comfortably in first and second, respectively, it's not inconceivable that the hot Connecticut Sun could sneak into second in the East if Catchings is out a couple more weeks.