Here's something we haven't seen lately practically ever: a major boost in resources for women's sports from an American daily newspaper that covers a not-especially-stellar team.

You're probably familiar with Jayda Evans, who covers the Storm along with college women's hoops for the Seattle Times; she also wrote a book about the Storm after they won it all in '04.

While most WNBA beat reporters covered only their team's home games, and while other newspapers were laying off some of the best reporters who cover the sport, the Seattle Times has continued to send Evans to Storm road games, and she's continued to drive readers to the Times's site with away-game reports and an energetic blog.

Now comes word from Q that the Times is going to send her on the road for University of Washington-Seattle women's hoops. (She's covered UW women's sports, and not only basketball, for some time.)

That's cool, especially since (or even though) few observers expect this year's Left Coast Huskies will rock their conference, much less the nation.

Also a possible factor for Times management: the departure of the Sonics (and the absence of the NHL) leaves Seattle's winter sports pages with a bit of a news hole. I'm glad they asked Jayda to fill it.