Bird Leads Charge as Seattle Advances

Broken nose and all, Sue Bird is headed back to Connecticut, this time to play for a WNBA championship.

Bird had 10 points and 14 assists a day after having surgery on her nose, and the Seattle Storm advanced to the WNBA finals with an 82-62 victory over the Sacramento Monarchs in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals Tuesday night.

Bird broke her nose in the Storm’s first-round series against Minnesota. She underwent closed reduction surgery Monday morning.

Her 14 assists were a playoff record, breaking the mark of 12 held by three players.

“What else can you say about Sue Bird? I don’t think she’s ever been better,” Seattle Coach Anne Donovan said. “I say that clearly because of how mentally tough she had to be.”

Donovan became the first coach in league history to take two different teams to the finals. She led Charlotte to the finals in 2001.

Sacramento’s defense pressured and pushed Bird, running traps and different defenses at the point guard. She left the game briefly after taking an elbow in the stomach and took an accidental blow to the face from an official.

Still, Bird persevered to help the Storm become the first Western Conference team other than Houston or the Sparks to reach the finals.

“She’s amazing. So inspiring ... I couldn’t imagine playing with any other point guard in the league,” Seattle’s Lauren Jackson said. “She’s awesome.”

Jackson scored 27 points to lead Seattle, which won Games 2 and 3 on its home court after dropping the opener in Sacramento.

Seattle will travel to face Eastern Conference champion Connecticut in Game 1 of the WNBA finals on Friday night. The Storm will host Game 2 and -- if necessary -- Game 3.

Seattle secured the victory with an 18-0 run midway through the second half. Yolanda Griffith led the Monarchs with 13 points.