DOWN WITH PANTS!

The Seattle Storm's 2003 season was a big disappointment. They started out very strong and looked incredible and destined for the playoffs. However injuries to Kamila Vodichkova and Adia Barnes exposed the big hole on their team, depth, and the team struggled the rest of the way finishing out of the playoffs despite having league MVP Lauren Jackson.

The Storm return the main players that got them off to a hot start in 2003. Jackson, Vodichkova and Barnes are joined by two time all-star Sue Bird and crowd favorite Simone Edwards as key returning pieces of the puzzle. They are joined by newcomers Sheri Sam and Betty Lennox who are both former all-stars. Lennox was also rookie-of-the-year in 2000. These players should put the Storm over the top and should guard against a catastrophic downturn if the injuries continue.

If the Storm can stay healthy they are the best team in the league. If they lose one or two minor pieces they are still a very good playoff team. However, if they lose Lauren Jackson, it pretty much will be the same as last year. In the preseason while Jackson nursed an injury the team struggled mightily losing by 39 points to Phoenix. On Sunday, with Jackson in the lineup and healthy she scored 29 and beat Phoenix by 10.

Whatever the outcome of the Storm's season, if you are in Seattle or anywhere near a WNBA team, please come out and see them play. The action is incredibly good and the crowds are always electric even when the crowds are sparse. It is never a lock that the WNBA will return and the only way to make sure it does is to attend games. Hopefully we will be able to see these great players like Jackson and Bird playing professionally in the US for the rest of their careers.