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BOB'S CORNER: Seattle-based US correspondent BOB CRAVEN could not have been happier to see the G.O.A.T. - Lauren Jackson - back "at home" for a big WNBA fixture in which her contemporary Sue Bird and LJ's playing clone Breanna Stewart both starred and featured prominently.

THE legends were in a packed house for a runaway Seattle Storm win Wednesday night against the Minnesota Lynx. 

Three of the greatest players in Storm and WNBA history shared the floor for the first and last time.  

Lauren Jackson, the Hall of Famer from Albury, NSW, did not play, of course, but she was in attendance courtside to watch Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart leading the Storm to a runaway victory over the Lynx. 

Stewart, the league’s leading scorer and the leader in the clubhouse to win this year’s WNBA MVP award, led the way with 33 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while Bird added 13 points and six assists.

After the game, Jackson embraced both Storm stars, and before the game she paid homage to good friend Bird and acknowledged the greatness of Stewart. 

Jackson on Bird:  “I don’t think there will ever be anyone like her…..her legacy is enormous.” 

Jackson on Stewart:  “…she’s evolved into the best player in the world.  What she can do inside and outside, there’s no one better than her.  She’s great.” 

This was Jackson’s first Storm game in person since her retirement ceremony in 2016.

The night started with pre-game ceremonies honouring Bird, Storm guard Briann January, and Lynx star post player, Sylvia Fowles, who are all retiring after the season. 

January grew up nearby (relatively speaking) in Spokane, Washington.  After this season ends, she has already signed on to be an assistant coach at her alma mater at Arizona State U.

Steph Talbot suffered an ankle injury in the game and did not return.  The second-place Storm’s next game is against the Western Conference-leading Las Vegas Aces.

Talbot is listed as a “game-time decision” as to whether she’ll be able to play in that crucial game.

SADLY for fans of Ezi Magbegor, it didn’t take too long for the writing to appear on the wall.

It looks like, now that Tina Charles has regained most if not all of her game fitness and has become fairly familiar with the Seattle Storm’s offensive and defensive schemes, that significant playing time for Magbegor will be more limited.

In last Sunday’s Storm 82-72 win over the Atlanta Dream, Charles was high scorer for the game, and both she and Breanna Stewart had double-doubles. 

Charles had 27 points, 15 rebounds and four blocked shots in almost 33 minutes, while Stewart added 23 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals.  Magbegor logged 19 minutes and scored four points with two rebounds and a block.