Center of The Storm
Seattle center Lauren Jackson, last year's WNBA MVP, has made herself even more valuable this year, thanks to her improved three-point shooting. At week's end the 6'5" Jackson had made seven of 10 shots from three-point range in the postseason, including a 2-for-2 performance on Sunday while scoring a game-high 23 points as the Storm evened its series with Sacramento, 1--1. In the regular season Jackson's marksmanship from beyond the arc improved from .317 a year ago to .465.
But don't get the idea she won't mix it up down low. Besides leading the league in scoring this season, with 20.5 points per game, Jackson ranked 10th in rebounding (6.7 a game) and third in blocked shots (2.0). "I wanted her to specialize in the low post instead of becoming one of those players who float between [power forward and center] and whose progress eventually comes to a standstill," says Seattle coach Anne Donovan. "Incredibly, she did that and still improved her outside game." --Kelli Anderson
COLOR PHOTO
GREG NELSON (JACKSON)
AUSSIE RULES
Jackson won a second straight scoring title.