SEATTLE – Slowly, steadily, the Seattle Storm built a lead through the second half.
Just as steadily, the din inside KeyArena grew to deafening volumes.
On a wondrous night for Seattle pro sports, the Storm claimed the second major team championship in city history with a 74-60 victory over the Connecticut Sun in Game 3 of the 2004 WNBA Finals.
The historic outcome, which gave Seattle a 2-1 triumph in the best-of-three series, came before a sign-hoisting, balloon-waving sellout crowd of 17,072 that stayed on its feet much of the night, including a festive trophy presentation ceremony after the game.
“Seventeen thousand people propelled us on,” said Seattle coach Anne Donovan. “This was just a tremendous atmosphere.”
As the final horn sounded, Storm players rushed onto the court, where they engaged in giddy hugs, handshakes and high-fives – and when 6-foot-5 Lauren Jackson slaps hands with the 6-8 Donovan it is a high-five indeed. After a few moments of pandemonium, the players were given championship T-shirts and caps, and the championship trophy was presented by WNBA president Val Ackerman as confetti drifted down from the rafters.
Later, champagne was sprayed and swigged in the locker room as the players danced to raucous music.
“Some people never, ever get to win something like this, so it feels bloody good,” said Jackson, a native Australian. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
The Storm owed its victory to an overwhelming second-half effort. After leading by one point at intermission, Seattle scored six straight points to open the next half and 12 of the first 16. Then, when the team needed a knockout blow midway through the period, guard Betty Lennox stepped up and provided the punch.
In the space of barely more than a minute, Lennox scored first with an acrobatic fadeaway jump shot from the right wing and was fouled, converting the free throw. Moments later the 5-8 guard shed her defender for a driving layin. Then she tossed in a pair of mid-range jumpers and Seattle had a suddenly cozy 68-52 lead with under five minutes to play.
Lennox finished with 23 points (including 14 in the decisive second half), having led the Storm in scoring in all three games against Connecticut. At the other end, she helped hold Sun guard Katie Douglas, who had 14 and 18 points in the first two games, to just six six points, all free throws. Douglas ended the night 0-for-11 from the field.
Those contributions earned Lennox the Finals MVP award, capping a storybook season for a player that had been with three other teams in her first four WNBA seasons. With the clock winding down and the crowd chanting her name – “Bet-ty, Bet-ty, Bet-ty … ” – Lennox seemed unsure whether to laugh or cry.
“I’ve never been in a situation like that and I’ll cherish that moment for the rest of my life,” she said afterward. “It was just outstanding.”
The fans, in fact, were a big part of this outcome. They were noisy throughout, and many stayed for well over an hour afterward to drink in the thrill of Seattle’s first pro title since the SuperSonics were the 1979 NBA champions.
“It was unreal,” Jackson said. “You couldn’t hear anything (during the game). I could have been calling out a screen and nobody could hear anything. That crowd was unbelievable. Seattle really came out. They were awesome.”
“Our fans pulled us through,” added Seattle’s Sue Bird, who tacked a WNBA title on to the Olympic gold medal she won representing the United States just six weeks ago.
Even the Connecticut players seemed to savor the rowdy atmosphere.
“You have to like it,” said Sun guard Lindsay Whalen. “This kind of enthusiasm is great for our game. As an opposing player, you have to try to block it out. But in general it’s really great for the league.”
The victory made Donovan the first woman to coach a WNBA championship team. Previously, Van Chancellor won four titles, Michael Cooper won two and Bill Laimbeer one.
Afterward, Donovan at first downplayed the achievement, saying the championship was special enough in its own right. When pressed, she admitted, “I’m glad that there’s a woman that’s won a championship. I’m very glad. And there’s no better candidate than me.”
The title came in the fifth Storm season. Seattle was under .500 its first two seasons under former coach Lin Dunn, but made the playoffs for the first time in 2002, Bird’s rookie season and a year after Jackson made her WNBA debut. Donovan was hired last season and Lennox arrived this year, putting the last piece in place for Seattle’s championship run.
“I think we’re starting something here,” Bird said. “We’re on our way to doing great things, starting with our first championship, and hopefully people will come back.”
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