It's been a rough start for the San Antonio Silver Stars. With big expectations as the season began, the Utah Starzz transplants started off on a high note. With over 15,000 fans at SBC Center, the Silver Stars posted a comeback victory over the Seattle Storm in front of their new hometown crowd.
Fans and analysts thought the team had a chance to compete with the Western Conference elite, but things went quickly downhill.
The Silver Stars dropped five of their next seven contests. They weren't shooting well. They were turning over the ball at a horrendous pace. And on many occasions, the Silver Stars were playing unfocused, undisciplined basketball.
On paper, the team should have been better. They had four of five returning starters, including All-Stars Jennifer Azzi, Marie Ferdinand and Adrienne Goodson. They had 7-foot-2 Margo Dydek who towered over all her opponents. They had one of the deepest benches in the league. But something just wasn't clicking.
"I don't know what it is," said a disappointed Goodson after the June 7 loss to the Detroit Shock. "We just aren't getting it done."
"We have to be aggressive," said head coach Candi Harvey. "Instead, we settle for shots. We aren't passing the ball and finding the open shot."
But all wasn't disappointing for the Silver Stars. Even through the losses, a star was emerging in forward Gwen Jackson.
The rookie from University of Tennessee is averaging 9.2 points and 7.8 rebounds on the season, working her way into the starting lineup. And a lot more of what Jackson brings to the table doesn't show up on the stat sheet.
"Gwen is bringing it every night," praised Harvey. "In wins and in losses, on both ends of the floor, she gives you 100% night in and night out."
On Saturday night, the Silver Stars beat Eastern Conference-leading Charlotte Sting 62-52. In the victory, the team seemed break through in many areas.
Though they did not shoot very well (36.5%) the Silver Stars had a season-low 11 turnovers and tallied 22 second-chance points off 18 offensive rebounds.
Hopefully the win is what the team needs to get their season back on track.
Friday night the Silver Stars will face the Houston Comets at the SBC Center at 7:30 pm. This will be the first of four meetings between the Comets and Silver Stars this season.
Marie Ferdinand has scored in double figures in her past five games, including a season-high 22 points vs. Phoenix on June 5. Gwen Jackson has grabbed 10 or more rebounds in two of her last three games. She tied a Silver Stars/Utah Starzz record by grabbing 10 offensive rebounds vs. Charlotte last Saturday.
