A turbulent season may have concluded for Storm forward Sheryl Swoopes. The three-time league MVP suffered a mild concussion against the Lynx on Saturday and did not travel with the team to Sacramento as a precautionary measure.
Storm coach Brian Agler does not expect Swoopes to return to play until the postseason, missing the final home game against Atlanta on Friday and the Sunday matinee in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Swoopes was discharged from a Seattle hospital on Sunday. She suffered the concussion due to an elbow to her forehead by Lynx guard Candice Wiggins in the fourth quarter. Swoopes played a big supporting role in the win with timely three-pointers and steals. She finished with seven points, two rebounds, and two steals in 14 minutes off the bench in the Storm's 96-88 win.
Swoopes, 37, was pulled from the starting lineup after the Olympic break due to plantar faciitis in her left foot. She had back surgery last October, but wanted to play another season to win a championship in Seattle. She won four titles with Houston.
Since the Storm has already clinched and guards Tanisha Wright and Katie Gearlds are playing well, it's better not to play an unhealthy Swoopes the final three games of the season. As we all know, however, the level of competition increases in the postseason and the Storm will need experienced depth in the backcourt then. Plus Swoopes' three-point shot was just beginning to drop, making both attempts Saturday. She's shooting 22.2 percent (14 of 63) from that range overall.