Another OSU Beaver in the Backcourt

Ragland

Swish.

She shoots another.

Splash.

During mini-camp, Ragland has impressed Storm coaches with her jumper, especially her ability to drain the three-pointer. The guard from Oregon State, who was picked by the Storm with the 28th pick in the second round, has earned minutes this season with her solid play in practice.

This summer Storm fans can expect a lineup that features Ragland as the shooting guard, finishing off the feeds from point guard and number one draft pick Sue Bird. Or Ragland will be part of a three-guard offense focused on exploiting more traditional offenses. Whatever the case, Ragland will see time on the floor as a rookie in the WNBA. And Ragland wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I just want to come in here and work hard for the team,” she says. “I want to be part of a team that’s going to be on the rise.”

The Storm can use Ragland’s tenacity, especially on the defensive end. Even though she has torched the nets lately, it is her defense and rebounding that Ragland takes the most pride in.

“Basically,” she says, “my defense is what brought me here.”

And don’t be fooled by her diminutive stature, warns assistant coach Gary Kloppenburg. The five-foot-nine guard can certainly hold her own in the paint.

“She’s kind of wiry and very strong,” he says. “She can get in there and grab rebounds. She’s got a good knowledge of boxing out.”

That knowledge was cultivated just a few hours south of Seattle in Corvallis at OSU. As a Beaver, Ragland led her team in scoring for three straight seasons and was the 2000 Pac-10 player of the year. And she was pleasantly surprised to find herself staying in the Pacific Northwest, following in the footsteps of former OSU guards Gary Payton and Brent Barry.

“I’m excited. I’ve got my fans and supporters close by. I’m happy to be in Seattle. It’s right up the road from where I’m from and where I grew up. My family and friends can come watch me,” says Ragland, who was born in Tulare, Calif.

Seattle is definitely a change of pace for Ragland, who grew up in small town atmospheres. Still, she relishes the challenge of succeeding in a new city and in the WNBA. For now, there are few opportunities to explore the city -- it’s wake, basketball, sleep, repeat. Ragland, however, has no qualms about her schedule.

“Basketball,” she says, “is my life.”