Women's Hoops Blog

Inane commentary on a game that deserves far better


Tuesday, May 23, 2006

There is a full docket of games tonight in the WNBA, with nearly every team playing. In the season debut for ESPN2's Tuesday night coverage of the league, fans will get a chance to watch Connecticut @ Minnesota and Houston @ Seattle.

In Minnesota, it is the return of Lindsay Whalen. But for perhaps the first time, the local media's focus is not on that but rather the debut of Seimone Augustus and her young Lynx team. Whalen is expected to play about 20 minutes for the Sun tonight.

Going up against an improved Sun bench and the solid play of Nykesha Sales will be a challenge for the Lynx. While pleased that his team won their first game by 17 points, Sun coach Mike Thibault wants his team to cut down on the careless turnovers tonight.

In Seattle, it's a rematch of last season's playoff series won by the Comets. The Storm will be honoring Simone Edwards, the last of the original Storm who retired last week when informed she would not make the team this year.

The team is also celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the league tonight. The game will feature four of the seven original remaining members of the league, including Wendy Palmer.

"It's a dream come true just to be here," said Palmer after she recorded a double-double (18 points, 12 rebounds) in her first game in a Storm uniform. " Lisa (Leslie) and I actually congratulated each other on 10 years. To look around and see the players that have been there all 10 years, it's touching. We've all been a part of this for such a long time."

While Palmer only has a 109-191 record as a player, she is glad she is still playing and with the Storm this season. "I just fit like a piece in a puzzle," she said of her place on the Storm roster. "There's just a different vibe here."

The Storm and Sue Bird are motivated to avenge the playoff loss from last season. But the Comets are hoping this trip to Seattle will turn things around for them after their disappointing loss on Sunday to San Antonio.