BY TODD DYBAS / SEATTLESPORTSONLINE.COM

After bringing in a trio of known veterans, Swin Cash, Yolanda Griffith and Sheryl Swoopes, the Storm is left to wonder which of them will be around in 2009.

Cash was the first acquired in the group. She dealt with a lower back injury for much of the season, and was limited in the final month to coming off the bench. Cash will return to broadcasting duties in the offseason, and make a decision about how best to heal her back.

Griffith, the anchor of the league's best defense, was banged up throughout, as much a result of her determined, bruising style of play as her advanced WNBA age of 38. Whether Griffith will return next season is up in the air.

Same goes for Swoopes. After a magical Game 2, she struggled in Game 3, going just 1-for-8. When she was signed, the Storm, which does not release details about contracts, stated it was a multi-year deal. But Swoopes isn't sure what will happen next year.

"I don't know, and that's being honest," Swoopes said. "Right now it's just hard for me to think about next year, to be perfectly honest with you. I have no plans right now because I really thought we were going to be playing in the finals.

"For me, my goal was to be playing for a championship this year. I think a lot of times people say that and don't really mean it, but I honestly felt like with me coming in here, and Swin and Yo and Lauren and Sue, everybody else here, I really feel like we had enough. Physically I feel really good right now. If I am playing next year, I will definitely be playing for the Storm."

The moves were dramatic, providing name recognition for even laissez-faire fans of the WNBA. Coach Brian Agler thinks Griffith and Swoopes will be back.

"I know Sheryl and Yolanda feel like they have another year or two ahead of them," Agler said. "It's tough right now to gauge that, because of how they're feeling emotionally at this minute, and physically because it's been a long season."

Parker non-plussed

After entering the league to dramatic expectations, Los Angeles' Candace Parker took a large step Tuesday in fulfilling those.

After struggling the first two games, Los Angeles coach Michael Cooper slid Parker to the wing in transition as opposed to making her the first post player down the floor or the trailer. The open space allowed her to maximize the versatility she brings to the floor.

"This was a situation where she had to figure out how to score," Cooper said. "It took her two games to get it done, but you saw what she was able to do."

Parker's boyfriend, Sacramento King Shelden Williams, was the recipient off a hug, kiss and sarcasm at the end of the game. Asked Monday after practice about playing in KeyArena, Parker joked she thought the fans were chanting, "Go L.A.!" This was misinterpreted in some circles, prompting Parker, with a mischievous look, to ask Williams, "We're they chanting 'Go L.A.' or 'Beat L.A.?'

Foul shots: Ashley Robinson became tangled up with Los Angeles forward DeLisha Milton-Jones in the third quarter. Robinson shoved Milton-Jones, and both players were called for technical fouls. ... Seahawks Rob Sims and Brandon Mebane were in attendance. ... The crowd of 7,805 was the smallest KeyArena crowd since the Storm hosted the Minnesota Lynx way back on July 5. The Storm actually had higher attendance for the regular-season finale against Atlanta, the league's worst team, than it did for either playoff game. A 2 p.m. Sunday start and 6 p.m. Tuesday night start likely did not help attendance.

Todd Dybas is the editor of Seattlesportsonline.com. Contact him at tdybas@seattlesportsonline.com