The great Katie Smith may not be shooting superbly this year, but she certainly lit up the Palace last night: Katie scored 33, on the same night she turned 34, to lead her Shock in a decisive win over Seattle. It still feels weird to call the Shock her team.

Coach Laimbeer: "It's her birthday and on her birthday I'm going to play her 40 minutes and she tried to score 40 points. I didn't want to play her 40 minutes, but tonight it was necessary."

Smith's 33 (on 10-20 shooting) represents her highest score since she moved to Detroit; as you may know, Katie held the record for most points in a single game (46, with the Lynx, vs. L.A., in 2001) until Diana surpassed it in 2006.

The win also meant Swin Cash lost to her former team; Cash's return got eclipsed by Katie's big night. "Just glad to get a win," Smith said.