SEATTLE (AP) Lauren Jackson matched her career-high with 27 points as the Seattle Storm clinched their first-ever playoff berth with a 74-57 victory Sunday night over the Utah Starzz.

The Storm won just 16 combined games in their first two years in the WNBA.

"We thought we could make the playoffs this year and that was our goal," coach Lin Dunn said.

The Storm (17-14), the fourth-seeded team in the Western Conference, will play either Los Angeles or Houston in the first round of the playoffs.

Houston won the league's first four titles, before Los Angeles captured the championship last year.

"We want to play Houston," said Amanda Lassiter, who scored a season-high 14 points. "We had some close games with them this year."

Seattle was 2-1 against Los Angeles this season and 0-3 against Houston.

"We want to prove to Houston we are a good team and we can beat them," added Lassiter, acquired from Houston earlier in the season.

Adia Barnes and Kamila Vodichkova each added 11 points. Sue Bird was held scoreless, just two nights after setting a franchise record with 33 points, but dished out eight assists.

"She doesn't need to score," Jackson said of the this year's No. 1 overall draft pick. "Just do all the other stuff, and she does that."

Jennifer Azzi and Marie Ferdinand led the Starzz (19-12) with 10 points each. Natalie Williams added nine points for Utah, which will be the second seed in the West playoffs.

The Starzz have lost four of five.

"We're struggling right now," coach Candi Harvey said. "We ran into a very hungry basketball team that is playing playoff-caliber ball right now."

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