Monday, July 2, 2007

Storm Looking to Add a Player

With WNBA player contracts becoming guaranteed for the season on Wednesday, today is what the league terms its "midseason cutdown." As part of that, the Storm waived center Tye'sha Fluker after last night's win over the Liberty.

Storm Head Coach Anne Donovan confirmed after today's practice that the Storm is looking to use that roster spot to sign a player, likely a guard. Nagging injuries that have bothered Sue Bird (sore left knee) and Betty Lennox (right Achilles tendinitis) make depth in the backcourt potentially a bigger need right now, especially since the Storm's backup guards have not been as productive as reserve posts Wendy Palmer and Ashley Robinson.

"Our guard play is something that we're looking at," said Donovan. "Obviously, that's why we let a post player go."

Donovan expects to sign another player, most likely to a seven-day contract, within the next week. Though Donovan was not asked about experience, salary-cap considerations will likely limit the Storm's options to non-veteran players, those with three or fewer years of experience.

- Lauren Jackson talked after practice about being named Western Conference Player of the Week for the second time this season.

"I feel pretty good about it," she said. "I think I'm playing a little bit better. I think there was other very deserving players - I think Penny (Taylor) definitely deserved it also. It's an honor to get it."

Wanted to call out something from the press release. Did you realize that, with Cheryl Ford falling below the number of games needed to qualify for the league leaders, Jackson now leads the WNBA in points, rebounds AND blocks per game? Wow.

- Jackson sat out the last part of practice, just to rest, while Palmer did not practice for precautionary reasons after experiencing some bursitis (swelling) in her right elbow.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Well no wonder Anne didn't put her in at all last night. Kind of sad really...

Anonymous said...

Please tell me we still have the rights to FRANCESCA ZARA! I would think by now the visa stuff could be figured out and we can get her over here. I'd love to see her play on this team again! I think she would be the perfect fit!

I can't believe we missed on SHERILL BAKER. She could have put us in the championship finals for sure!

I hope we are aggresive with replacing TYE...I hope we do our homework!

Anonymous said...

sorry..i forgot to mention that PENNY TAYLOR not only deserves player of the week, but she really needs to be on the ALL-STAR team! Penny is the most underrated player in the league by FAR! i LOVE YOU LJ...and I would never take away from your MVP season, but you couldn't be more right about PENNY...she deserved it!

Anonymous said...

Aw, sad to hear the injuries that are sort-of hindering Betty and Sue. I guess they need another guard, but who's out there right now? Shoot, if they were still looking to add another forward-center (now and for the future to help out LJ), then I'm still rooting for Brooke Smith. Honestly, I'm still appalled by teams like the Lynx and the Sun who have waived her. There is so much potential I see in her game, and I'm looking at the list of all the players who were waived since the beginning of the season and I'm thinking she's one of the best of the bunch. Brooke, your talent and performances at Stanford did not go unnoticed by me! Once Palmer retires, and Storm look to add another post player, I really hope Anne looks to Smith. Anyhow, we're looking for a guard. Hmmm, yeah tough, I'd say the only guard that I would have picked is Sherill Baker, but she's taken now. Sigh. what to do.

kp said...

Sherill Baker is a nice reserve, no doubt, but keep in mind the Liberty got a former No. 5 pick (Lisa Willis) in exchange for her. It's not like they gave her away.

The Storm doesn't have that kind of trade value to offer.