Yeah, yeah -- it's only an exhibition game, most of the stars for both teams will be missing, and the game won't count.
But who cares: there will be two teams in uniform playing basketball in Key Arena. As Storm coach Brian Agler told the media on Friday, this game will not be about winning, but about evaluating players after a week of training camp. It will be a chance for some of these players fighting for roster spots to show what they can do in game situations.
Projected lineups and players to watch after the jump.
Phoenix Mercury
Potential starters:
Ketia Swanier
Tyra Grant
Sequoia Holmes
Candice Dupree
Brooke Smith
Additional players in camp (as relayed to Swish Appeal Saturday morning):
Taylor Lilley
Yuko Oga
Nicole Ohlde
Ashley Paris
Brooke Smith
Nyeshia Stevenson
Ketia Swanier
Lenae Williams
Players to watch/Key battles:
Click here for Seth's camp notes.
Seattle Storm:
Potential Starters (same as Wednesday's scrimmage):
Loree Moore
Alison Lacey
Camille Little
Ashley Walker
Ashley Robinson
Rotation from Wednesday:
Aja Parham
Devanei Hampton
Lindsey Wilson
Laura Kurz
Heather Bowman
Others:
- Swin Cash, Lauren Jackson returned to Seattle this weekend but will not play in today's game.
- Abby Bishop is expected in town today.
- Sue Bird will be in town this week.
- Le'coe Willingham will meet the team in Tulsa.
- Tanisha Wright's return date is uncertain.
Players to watch:
- Lacey & Moore: Agler said that they took turns playing the 1 and 2 during Wednesday's scrimmage.
"When Sue comes here and they gotta play with Sue, they gotta play both," said Agler. "So they're sort of getting in to that mode right now. Lindsey too -- you can put her in that group."
Backup point guard was one of the positions the Storm wanted to address this off-season. Moore has apparently been playing better in practice and Lacey has apparently continued to show that she can play at this level. - Hampton & Robinson: neither player sees it as a "competition" and coach Agler won't identify it as such, but he did say both will play quite a bit. As he's described previously, Hampton could provide a needed scoring presence while Robinson could serve as a defensive presence inside.
- Aja Parham: has apparently been playing well in camp.
Agler said that their offense was ahead of their defense on Wednesday, so defense will be a major consideration for today's game.
Related links about today's players:
Mercury
Tyra Grant Readies for the Draft With the Help of WNBA Legend Yolanda Griffith
Taylor Lilley: Is there a place in the WNBA for an undersized sharpshooter?
Nyeshia Stevenson & WNBA Small Forward Prospects
Candice Dupree and Cappie Pondexter Wanted Trades But For Very Different Reasons
Storm
Alison Lacey ready to learn from the best in Sue Bird
Why Signing Loree Moore Perfectly Completes a Quietly Strong Off-Season for the Storm
Devanei Hampton "impressive" early in Storm camp: "I finally got my chance"
Storm Training Camp Notes: Ashley Robinson & the Art of Offensive Rebounding