Today’s game
Opponent: New York Liberty
When: 1 p.m.
Where: Prudential Center (Newark, N.J.)
TV: NBA TV (cable)
Radio: KTPK 1090 AM
Scouting Report
The Seattle Storm ride a five-game winning streak into Newark today. And they do so with a familiar face back in the fold.
The Storm signed forward Svetlana Abrosimova, who was a member of their 2010 WNBA championship team, to a contract on Friday. Abrosimova is expected to be in uniform and play in today’s game.
The signing comes just days after the Storm waived forward Victoria Dunlap, who they acquired in an offseason trade with the Washington Mystics in exchange for Ashley Robinson. WNBA rosters are limited to 11 players and one of the Storm’s roster spots is being taken up by forward/center Lauren Jackson, who is skipping the first half of the season in order to train for the Summer Olympics with the Australian national team. When Dunlap had trouble staying healthy, the Storm released her to add a healthy player.
Storm head coach and general manager Brian Agler said he expects Abrosimova to fit in well with the group Seattle has now.
“Svetlana obviously has got experience with our team,” Agler said. “She was part of our championship team in 2010 — played a really big role on that team. She’s an aggressive defensive player. She’s a risk-taker. I don’t think that’s so bad for our team right now. I think she gives us length on the perimeter. She gives us another ball-handler in the pick-and-roll.”
Abrosimova should help a Storm offense that has struggled at times this season. In 2010 she averaged 7.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Her career averages are 9.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
Along with Tina Thompson, Katie Smith and Sue Bird, Abrosimova gives the Storm yet another player who can shoot consistently from 3-point range.
The Liberty come into today’s game with a 4-9 record and, as has been the story for the past two seasons, Cappie Pondexter is their most potent weapon offensively. She averages 18.7 points per game. The Storm likely will use guard Tanisha Wright to defend the Liberty star.
A win for the Storm (6-7) today gets them to .500 for the season after a 1-7 start.
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