Tanisha Wright News

Jayda Evans covers college and pro women's basketball. While its her first year on the Washington beat, she has covered the Storm since its inception.

Diana Taurasi scored 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting to lead the Phoenix Mercury past the San Antonio Silver Stars 106-78 Saturday night, evening their Western Conference semifinal series at one game apiece.

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.

The WNBA tips off its 2009 playoffs on Wednesday night. Here are five storylines to watch.

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

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.

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

The past two weeks, every Storm game has become a mystery. Not for the outcome, but for who is playing.

Published: Friday, September 11, 2009 at 9:36 p.m. Last Modified: Friday, September 11, 2009 at 9:36 p.m. Now that they've clinched the Western Conference's final playoff spot, the San Antonio Silver Stars look to take advantage of a home game against the injury-depleted Seattle Storm on Saturday night to end the regular season with momentum.

Diana Taurasi scored five of her 22 points in overtime, and the Phoenix Mercury went on to a 92-84 victory against the injury-depleted Seattle Storm on Thursday night, clinching home-court advantage for the entire WNBA playoffs.

Sue Bird has agreed to a multiyear contract extension to stay with the Seattle Storm, keeping the All-Star guard with the only WNBA team she's played for.

Houston helps Lynx rally past Storm, 76-68 Eds: APNewsNow. Lynx 76, Storm 68. MINNEAPOLIS Charde Houston had 22 points and the Minnesota Lynx rallied to beat the short-handed Seattle Storm 76-68 on Saturday night.

Monique Currie scored 17 points, Matee Ajavon had 16 in her first start of the season and the Washington Mystics beat the Seattle Storm 78-67 on Thursday night.

Even without Lauren Jackson, the Seattle Storm aren't settling for just making the postseason.

Seattle Storm guard Tanisha Wright visits local youth at the Kirkland Boys and Girls Club Aug.

Storm @ Liberty, 4:30 p.m. Think players don't adapt to new roles quickly in the WNBA? Janell Burse offers evidence to the contrary.

Tanisha Wright scored 25 points and Sue Bird added 24 to lead the Seattle Storm to a 91-84 win in double overtime over the Atlanta Dream on Saturday night.

Eds: APNewsNow. Storm 86, Sun 74; CORRECTS to Phx sted LA in 2nd graf. SEATTLE Sue Bird scored 21 points to lead five players in double figures, and the Seattle Storm beat the Connecticut Sun 86-74 Thursday night to earn their sixth consecutive playoff berth.