Lauren Jackson News

Here are highlights from an exclusive online chat with Storm coach Brian Agler and CEO Karen Bryant that covered everything from Lauren... Here are highlights from an exclusive online chat with Storm coach Brian Agler and CEO Karen Bryant that covered everything from Lauren Jackson's future with the team to offseason moves.

Oh, so this is what the playoffs look like. Nearly 36,000 fans on their feet, treating every second like it's the biggest moment ever, waving flags, lifting scarves, flailing their arms wildly.

Opals superstar Lauren Jackson believes she's capable of maintaining her massive basketball workload for four more years, and that the sport's next big thing can help take the national team to new heights.

Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings has been named the WNBA's defensive player of the year for the third time.

Unlike past years where franchise relocation, player contracts and ownership sales made the Storm's offseason more uncertain than Pacific Northwest weather, where to practice in 2010 is the only major issue.

They don't have to say anything to each other. Heck, they don't even have to look at each other.

Two-time MVP Lauren Jackson was named to the all-WNBA first team this afternoon, joining Phoenix stars Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter, San Antonio G Becky Hammon and Indiana F Tamika Catchings.

Diana Taurasi was the top vote-getter and was joined by teammate Cappie Pondexter on the all-WNBA first team announced Wednesday.

Once again the Storm made early postseason plans as it was knocked out of the playoffs in the opening round for the fifth straight season.

Sparks @ Storm, 2 p.m. For Michael Jordan, it was Anita Baker's "Giving You the Best that I've Got." For Storm guard Tanisha Wright, it was Jay-Z's remix of the 1980s hit "Forever Young." Both seem to be odd choices as locker-room jams for big playoff games because of their leisurely tempos.

Seattle Storm's Shannon Johnson looks up after being called for a foul against the Los Angeles Sparks in the second quarter of the third and deciding WNBA first round basketball game in Seattle.

Los Angeles' strengths were easy to peg. But their WNBA playoff opponent's? Not so easy.

The Storm has lost in the first round of the WNBA playoffs each of the past four years.

Just before the start of the WNBA playoffs, the Seattle Storm have signed coach Brian Agler to a two-year contract extension.

The Atlanta Dream had a chance to win their first playoff game and put the defending WNBA champions on the ropes.

Storm: Sue Bird, 5-10, 12.8 ppg, 5.8 apg. Sparks: Kristi Harrower, 5-4, 3.1 ppg, 2.2 apg.

Since winning the WNBA title in 2004, the Seattle Storm have failed to get out of the first-round of the playoffs every season since.

It's 6:12 a.m., and I'm already out of breath. A simple assignment - shadow Storm coach and director of player personnel Brian Agler for a day - has turned into a physical fitness test.

The Storm is facing a future without All-Stars Lauren Jackson, Swin Cash and Sue Bird, who all have circumstances that prevent them from playing.

Tanisha Wright of the Storm drives between Cappie Pondexter and Penny Taylor of Phoenix during Thursday's WNBA game at KeyArena.