Media Day is Here

Eight months after the Storm lost to the Phoenix Mercury in the first round of last year's WNBA Playoffs, it's time to get going again. This afternoon's media day will kick off our coverage of Storm training camp. Look for a full-on multimedia assault from storm.wnba.com starting not long after media day wraps up at 4:00 p.m.

I know everybody's anxious to hear more on Ashley Robinson's status, so we'll update that as soon as we see her in camp or don't. (UPDATE: It's official. Robinson will be back with the Storm.)

While we wait for that, let's quickly head overseas.

In Russia, Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson had to work harder in Game 2 but Spartak downed a pesky Kursk Dynamo squad 80-74 to sweep their quarterfinal playoff series and advance to a matchup with either Vologda-Chevakata or BC Moscow in the semifinals. Bird, who has picked up her scoring lately, led Spartak with 15 points and handed out five assists. Jackson added 12 boards. The other series is going to a decisive Game 3 on Tuesday before Superleague action continues with the semifinals.

Katie Gearlds' Athinaikos squad dropped its finale to Paghiakos 79-67 yesterday despite 12 points from Gearlds, but I don't think anything was on the line in that game. Athinaikos had no ability to move up into second place and still won a three-way tie for third in the league at 17-9. There is no playoff play in the Greek League, so Gearlds is headed back to Seattle and should be practicing with the team later this week.

Lastly, let's go to China for more action in the Good Luck Beijing Tournament. On Sunday, the U.S. beat Cuba 92-60. Swin Cash was one of five U.S. players in double-figures in that game, scoring 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting and adding five rebounds. Sylvia Fowles paced the USA with 25 points and 18 rebounds (look out, WNBA!).

Early this morning our time, the U.S. got its second straight win by a 92-56 margin over South Korea. Cash, who started her third straight game, had a balanced line of six points, four boards, four assists and two blocks. One-time Storm forward Jung Sun-Min scored 13 points for Korea.