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Tina Charles and Epiphanny Prince lead the Eastern Conference leading New York Liberty into Seattle tonight to face the Storm. The Liberty are 10-5 and are off to their best start since they started the 2001 season 16-5. Tina Charles leads the team in points and rebounds at 16.5 PPG and 9.3 RPG. Prince is 2nd in scoring and assists on the team with 13.2 PPG and 3.0 APG. The duo is trying to take the Liberty to their first post-season birth in 3 years. The Liberty are looking for their 4th win in a row tonight.
Meanwhile, the young Storm team has struggled out of the gate this season. However, they have put back-to-back victories together for the first time all season. And despite their 5-12 overall record, they have played significantly better at home (4-4). The Storm are in a 3 team race at the bottom of the Western Conference for the 4th and final playoff spot. In recent days they've been going back and forth with the San Antonio Silver Stars for the final playoff spot. With half the season left to play, there will be plenty of time for any of these 3 teams at the bottom of the west to take control of the last playoff spot.
The Storm are led by their star guard Sue Bird. She leads the team in both points and assists at 10.1 PPG and 5.4 APG. Crystal Langhorne is 2nd on the team in scoring and 1st in rebounding with 10.0 PPG and 6.1 RPG. Number 1 draft pick Jewell Loyd is currently 3rd in scoring at 9.5 PPG, but she has continued to show flashes of brilliance as she adjusts to the Professional game.
Tonight the Seattle Storm are celebrating Japan Night, as rookie Ramu Tokashiki (4 time Japan League MVP) continues to improve as she adjusts to the WNBA. Ramu has recently replaced Abby Bishop in the starting lineup and has seen positive results with the additional playing time.