Last Updated on August 7, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
The Seattle Storm paired an efficient offense with a strong interior presence during the 2004 season, led by Lauren Jackson’s dominant scoring, rebounding, and defensive impact. Sue Bird controlled the offense as the primary playmaker, while Betty Lennox and Kamila Vodichkova supplied reliable secondary scoring. Balanced production, efficient shooting, rebounding, and disciplined defense combined to make Seattle one of the league’s most complete teams.
HeatingUp Impact Index: Regular Season Team Impact Spotlight
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG + BPG) | Impact Index | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lauren Jackson | Starter/Star (1.1) | 34.5 | High (1.2) | 20.5 | 6.7 | 1.6 | 3.0 | 83.95 | Seattle’s offense consistently flowed through Jackson as a face-up scoring forward who stretched defenses with her outside shooting while still protecting the rim. Coaches and league observers regularly highlighted how difficult she was to scheme against because she could score from virtually anywhere on the floor, and her MVP campaign established her as the franchise’s unquestioned centerpiece. (WNBA) | WNBA MVP (2004), All-WNBA First Team (2004), WNBA Peak Performer – Scoring (2004), WNBA All-Star (2004) |
| Sue Bird | Starter/Star (1.1) | 33.4 | High (1.2) | 12.9 | 3.1 | 5.4 | 1.6 | 60.19 | Bird controlled Seattle’s tempo with patient decision-making rather than forcing offense. Contemporary coverage emphasized her leadership, elite passing vision and ability to organize teammates, allowing the Storm’s frontcourt stars to operate efficiently while limiting defensive mistakes. (Seattle Times Archive) | All-WNBA First Team (2004), WNBA All-Star (2004) |
| Betty Lennox | Starter/Star (1.1) | 28.8 | Medium (1.1) | 11.2 | 5.0 | 2.5 | 1.2 | 48.84 | Lennox gave Seattle an aggressive downhill scorer on the wing and added transition speed that previous Storm teams lacked. Analysts viewed her arrival as an important secondary creator whose defensive intensity complemented the club’s stars on both ends. (ESPN) | NBA Champion (2004), WNBA Finals MVP (2004) |
| Sheri Sam | Starter/Star (1.1) | 29.9 | Medium (1.1) | 9.1 | 4.1 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 42.11 | Sam quietly filled the versatile forward role Seattle had been missing, spacing the floor, defending multiple positions and handling complementary playmaking duties. Coverage frequently described her as a stabilizing veteran whose versatility balanced the starting lineup. (ESPN) | NBA Champion (2004) |
| Kamila Vodichkova | Starter/Star (1.1) | 25.7 | Medium (1.1) | 8.0 | 4.9 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 38.14 | Vodichkova rarely dominated headlines but remained one of Seattle’s dependable interior anchors. Coaches valued her screening, rebounding and willingness to do the physical work that freed Jackson to attack offensively. (ESPN) | NBA Champion (2004) |
| Janell Burse | Key Contributor (1.05) | 17.7 | Low (1.0) | 4.9 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 22.89 | Burse supplied energetic minutes as a reserve post defender, giving Seattle valuable rim protection and frontcourt depth. Her role centered more on defense and hustle than offensive production, matching expectations when she joined the roster. | NBA Champion (2004) |
| Tully Bevilaqua | Bench (1.0) | 10.5 | Low (1.0) | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 10.40 | Bevilaqua brought defensive energy and reliable ball handling off the bench. Although her offensive role stayed limited, she earned trust by pressuring opposing guards and keeping the offense organized in reserve minutes. (seattlepi.com) | NBA Champion (2004) |
| Adia Barnes | Bench (1.0) | 11.8 | Low (1.0) | 2.0 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 11.20 | Returning from a significant knee injury, Barnes worked primarily as a defensive wing while gradually rebuilding her role. Seattle used her selectively as depth rather than asking her to carry major offensive responsibility. | NBA Champion (2004) |
| Alicia Thompson | Bench (1.0) | 7.9 | Low (1.0) | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 8.00 | Thompson filled short frontcourt stretches with physical defense and rebounding effort. Independent coverage of her season was limited, but available reporting consistently framed her as reserve depth behind Seattle’s veteran rotation. | NBA Champion (2004) |
| Simone Edwards | Bench (1.0) | 11.2 | Low (1.0) | 2.1 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 10.20 | Edwards provided experienced interior depth and physical play around the basket whenever Seattle needed extra size. Limited contemporary reporting focused mainly on her supporting role behind the regular frontcourt rotation. | NBA Champion (2004) |
| Michelle Greco | Bench (1.0) | 5.6 | Low (1.0) | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 7.60 | Greco appeared only briefly and handled limited reserve guard minutes. Contemporary independent coverage of her individual season was scarce, with most discussion centering on Seattle’s established veteran backcourt. | NBA Champion (2004) |
| Trina Frierson | Bench (1.0) | 4.4 | Low (1.0) | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.80 | Frierson was a developmental rookie whose opportunities came primarily in limited reserve appearances. Independent reporting before the season viewed her as a long-term depth option on a veteran roster rather than an immediate rotation fixture. | NBA Champion (2004) |
| Seattle Storm Totals | 79.0 | 35.0 | 16.3 | 13.8 |
HeatingUp Impact Index: Playoff Team Impact Spotlight
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG + BPG) | Impact Index | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lauren Jackson | Starter/Star (1.1) | 35.9 | High (1.2) | 19.6 | 7.5 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 80.15 | Seattle continued to lean on Jackson as the focal point of every half-court possession, but opponents routinely sent extra defenders her way during the playoffs. Even with tighter coverage, she remained the matchup every coach feared because of her rare inside-out scoring range and defensive presence. (Los Angeles Times) | WNBA MVP (2004), All-WNBA First Team (2004), WNBA All-Star (2004), WNBA Champion (2004) |
| Betty Lennox | Starter/Star (1.1) | 31.4 | High (1.2) | 14.6 | 3.6 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 57.55 | Lennox became Seattle’s emotional spark on the perimeter, attacking confidently when defenses collapsed on Jackson. Her fearless shot-making elevated throughout the postseason, culminating in a Finals performance that independent reporters described as the series-changing factor. (Los Angeles Times) | WNBA Finals MVP (2004), WNBA Champion (2004) |
| Sue Bird | Starter/Star (1.1) | 29.1 | High (1.2) | 8.5 | 3.3 | 5.3 | 1.5 | 48.95 | Bird orchestrated Seattle’s offense despite playing through a broken nose, continuing to direct tempo and create quality looks under playoff pressure. Her record-setting 14-assist performance against Sacramento reinforced how much the Storm trusted her decision-making. (Los Angeles Times) | All-WNBA First Team (2004), WNBA All-Star (2004), WNBA Champion (2004) |
| Sheri Sam | Starter/Star (1.1) | 31.0 | Medium (1.1) | 7.4 | 5.5 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 42.11 | Sam’s value extended well beyond her shooting percentage. She defended multiple frontcourt assignments, moved the ball willingly and handled difficult matchup responsibilities that allowed Seattle’s stars to stay aggressive offensively throughout the playoffs. (Los Angeles Times) | WNBA Champion (2004) |
| Kamila Vodichkova | Starter/Star (1.1) | 25.5 | Medium (1.1) | 6.1 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 30.98 | Vodichkova quietly gave Seattle valuable interior stability. In the Finals she and Simone Edwards supplied unexpected frontcourt production, forcing Connecticut to respect Seattle’s secondary post options instead of focusing solely on Jackson. (seattlepi.com) | WNBA Champion (2004) |
| Janell Burse | Key Contributor (1.05) | 13.6 | Low (1.0) | 3.4 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 2.4 | 17.22 | Burse carved out her playoff minutes through defense first, protecting the rim and bringing energy whenever Seattle needed a physical interior presence. Contemporary coverage focused on her hustle rather than offensive production. | WNBA Champion (2004) |
| Alicia Thompson | Bench (1.0) | 10.4 | Low (1.0) | 4.9 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 16.00 | Thompson filled short reserve stretches as a physical forward capable of knocking down an open jumper. Independent playoff coverage mentioning her specifically was limited, reflecting her situational role behind Seattle’s established rotation. | WNBA Champion (2004) |
| Tully Bevilaqua | Bench (1.0) | 13.9 | Low (1.0) | 2.8 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 14.60 | Bevilaqua supplied defensive pressure and steady ball handling off the bench, giving Anne Donovan reliable guard depth whenever Bird rested or dealt with her facial injury during the postseason. | WNBA Champion (2004) |
| Simone Edwards | Bench (1.0) | 7.7 | Low (1.0) | 1.7 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 7.80 | Edwards saw limited minutes, but the veteran center answered when called upon. Her Finals contributions alongside Vodichkova gave Seattle meaningful interior support that exceeded outside expectations. | WNBA Champion (2004) |
| Adia Barnes | Bench (1.0) | 6.5 | Low (1.0) | 1.2 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 8.00 | Barnes filled a specialist role as defensive depth on the wing. Contemporary independent reporting on her postseason was limited, with attention instead centered on Seattle’s veteran core during the championship run. (WNBA) | WNBA Champion (2004) |
| Michelle Greco | Bench (1.0) | 1.5 | Low (1.0) | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.60 | Greco appeared only briefly during the playoffs. Independent coverage of her individual postseason role was scarce, reflecting her position outside Seattle’s regular championship rotation. | WNBA Champion (2004) |
| Seattle Storm Totals | 70.7 | 31.3 | 18.3 | 12.5 |