SEATTLE — This is where Katie Smith wanted to be.
Smith, a 12-year WNBA veteran, had had her eye on Seattle as a spot where she potentially could finish her career.
As it turned out, the Storm had their eyes on Smith, too
Seattle acquired the veteran guard in late April from th
e Washington Mystics in a three-team trade involving the Indiana Fever.
“We, like a lot of teams, have always coveted Katie, as wanting to have her to be a part of our team,” Storm coach Brian Agler said. “I have some strong history with her in terms of her playing for me and I know what she
brings to a team, which is all positive.”
Smith has played for Agler as well as for Storm assistant coach Nancy Darsch, which made the move to Seattle a comfortable fit.
“I was excited. It was something that I had actually wanted and kind of knew was in the works, but I was excited that it finally got done,” Smith said. “I was appreciative of Washington for making it happen and they got some pieces that they wanted and obviously Seattle got what they wanted. I was really excited to be reunited with a lot of familiar faces, not only the coaching staff, but players.”
Smith’s credentials speak for themselves: She is a seven-time all-star, two-time WNBA champion and the third-leading scorer in league history with 5,760 career points. Just behind Smith on that list is her new teammate, reigning WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson, who begins the season with 5,757 points.
Smith played for Agler in her days in the American Basketball League and also in her first stop as a WNBA player with the Minnesota Lynx. She played for Darsch while attending Ohio State University.
In 2006, Smith won her first WNBA championship as a member of the Detroit Shock — one of her teammates was current Storm forward Swin Cash. Smith also played with point guard Sue Bird and Cash with USA Basketball.
“I think obviously Katie is a good addition to the team,” Cash said. “She has veteran experience that we actually lost in Svetlana (Abrosimova) and also Jana Vesela, so I think her contribution to the team will help us out this year in our quest to win a championship.”
Said Bird; “I think it was a great acquisition for us. Katie is a player that is a proven winner. She is tough, she is versatile, she can score … obviously.”
Between her days in the ABL and the WNBA, Smith is the all-time leading scorer in women’s professional basketball history, scoring better than 7,000 points. In her 12 seasons in the WNBA, Smith has averaged 15.2 points per game, with her career high of 23.1 coming in 2001 with Minnesota under Agler. She averaged 9.5 with Washington in 2010.
One of the players Smith will be teamed with for the first time is Jackson, the Storm’s center.
“It’s fun to finally be on her side. Having everybody worried about her, hopefully we will make her life a little easier,” Smith said.
Time is catching up to Smith, today is her 37th birthday and she has battled tendinitis in her left Achilles’ tendon throughout training camp. She didn’t play in either of the Storm’s two preseason games.
“At this point in my career it was more of ‘Where do I want to finish?'” Smith said. “But honestly it was the coaches and it was the players. At this point it is the familiarity of them knowing you and you knowing them. They understand what they are getting and they understand how to use you. There is none of that ‘What can you offer?’ or ‘What are you about?’ because at this point you get what you get and you work with it. So that did play a role (in coming to Seattle) and it was the biggest role.”
So is this the last stop for Smith?
“I hope so; I would like it to be. I mean one, two years maybe … my career is almost done,” Smith said. “I think it’s a great place, with these players and coaches and the organization. That would be the perfect way to end my career and finish up here.”
Smith doesn’t know yet if she will return for the 2012 season. She isn’t thinking that far ahead. “I just want to get through this year,” she said.
While familiarity may have played the biggest role in Smith’s decision to play in Seattle, the chance to win didn’t hurt. The Storm won the 2010 WNBA championship and according to a survey of the league’s general managers on WNBA.com, they are the favorites again this season.
“I wanted to go to a team that can compete, but them winning (the championship) wasn’t the factor,” Smith said. “You know, you want to go somewhere where you know every night you lace ’em up you can win.”
With the Storm’s three key pieces — Bird, Jackson and Cash — returning from last season’s title run, many wonder what Smith’s role will be.
“A little bit of this, a little bit of that,” Smith said. “I mean, it’s not like you are going to come in at this minute and you are going to play for this many minutes. It’s just like, I know I am going to play, and I know I am going to be used and the rest will fall into place.”
Agler agrees, saying that Smith’s versatility will help the Storm in their quest to repeat.
“Well she has the ability to play three different positions offensively and she can defend four different spots,” Agler said. “This gives us great quality depth, which you have to have.”
Abrosimova and Vesela will not be with the Storm this season because of obligations to their national teams, but the addition of Smith should help fill the void.
“What Svettee and Jana brought to our team was going to be tough to replace,” Bird said. “She (Katie) can probably play every position on the court. She brings toughness and veteran leadership. We had all of that with Svettee and Jana, and now you kind of have it all in one with Katie.”
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