Brunson takes another step

Neither Rebekkah Brunson nor Seimone Augustus will play for the Lynx Wednesday in the team's last game before the WNBA All Star game. Augustus will miss her seventh straight game and eighth overall with left knee bursitis. Brunson hasn't played this season since having right knee surgery May 13.

But it won't be long until both return.

Brunson took another step Tuesday during practice, when she took full part with the first team in non-contact offensive drills. Brunson has yet to go against a defense in practice, but she said she is pain-free and that her knee, right now, feels better than it did last season.She moved very well.

Augustus is doing a lot of aerobic work, her knee is feeling better.

The Lynx are hoping both will return to the lineup a week from today in Minnesota's first game after the break.

If that happens it will be the first time the Lynx have had their entire roster – and starting five – all available on the same day this season.

That means the Lynx have 11 games – about a third of the season – to get back in synch and make a push towards the playoffs.

Nobody is expecting either Seimone or Brunson to be 100 percent the minute they step back on the floor. Especially Brunson, who has yet to play.

But the Lynx have gone 16-6 this season without Brunson and 5-1 in the last six games without Augustus. And remember, the Lynx started out the season without Devereaux Peters and Monica Wright.

That is good enough for second in the Western Conference, a game and a half behind streaking Phoenix. But a completely healthy Lynx roster would presumable be in position to battle with the Mercury for the top spot.