Finally Some Storm News

Monday saw the Storm sign their first free agent, but it wasn't the player kind. They signed Heidi VanDerveer as an assistant coach replacing Jenny Boucek who left the team for "personal reasons" at the end of the 2005 season.

Heidi has been head coach for the Minnesota Lynx as the interim head coach (2002) between fired coach Brian Agler (1998-2002) and current coach Suzie McConnell Serio (2003-Present). She also coached the Sacramento Monarchs for a year (1997-1998) between Mary Murphy (1997) and Sonny Allen (1999-2000). She also had a fairly successful run in the college ranks as an assistant for South Carolina and head coach for Eastern Washington University. She served as a graduate assistant (1987 & 1998) for Pat Summit through two NCAA championships.

For those of us itching for FA news for the Storm, I point you to Mr. Pelton's Q&A with coach Donovan from last month. Signing Lauren Jackson is the #1 priority for the Storm in the FA period and LJ probably won't talk WNBA until the WNBL finals are over, and that could be this weekend or next depending on how the Capitals fare this weekend.

The next cog is whether Suzy is available to return on time.

For the veteran piece AD said..."With our superstars, now we have to find the player that wants to be a complementary player. Which is tricky; obviously, you're not going to get a superstar to come in and accept her role unless she's bought into it. We'll be real clear with what we're looking for, and I feel confident we can find a good match." Who are you looking at Anne? Who is this "superstar" you want buying into a backup role? Inquiring fans want to know...NOW!

Her comments on Betty... "That will be a really good thing for her to stick through her full contract." That sounds like AD still has some "maturation" issues with Betty and wants to see her be a professional through a tough time in China. I can find nothing on how Betty is doing.