Scouting: Chicago Sky at Seattle Storm

Seattle Storm (4-0) at Chicago Sky (0-4) When 7 p.m. Thursday at Allstate Arena TV Comcast CN100 Last time The Storm defeated Washington Tuesday in Seattle (82-76); the Sky lost to Indiana in Indianapolis (69-61). Skinny Chicago isn't hitting the panic button, but it can see it. The bleeding must stop, but the Storm won't be a willing participant in the Sky's cure-all on home court. Storm view: Seattle was one of only three WNBA teams last season that won at least 20 games. The Storm was 20-14 and brings back its core from that team, including three of the best players in the WNBA in 6-foot-5 forward Lauren Jackson (20 ppg) and former U-Conn teammates Swin Cash (18.3 ppg) and Sue Bird (11.8 ppg). A heady point guard, Bird averages a whopping 7.3 assists per game. Bird also plays a lot of minutes (37.8 per game), as does every Seattle starter. Four of five starters play more than 34 minutes per game. Sky view: The Sky will need to push tempo and draw fouls to force the Storm to use its inexperienced bench. The Sky needs to feed the ball inside more to Sylvia Fowles (17.8 ppg), who had only 10 points Sunday with only 4 shots. All-star guard Jia Perkins also needs to find her shooting touch. She averaged 14 points per game last year but this season is average 6.5 points per game and was held scoreless in the Sky's home opener against the Fever. Look for Sky rookie guard Epiphanny Prince to log some more minutes. She has been solid so far, averaging 9.5 points and more than 2 assists and 2 steals per game. Next Sky at Minnesota Lynx, 7 p.m. Saturday (Comcast CN100) - Patricia Babcock McGraw