After an offseason of moving back home, and roster moves, the Storm’s season has been anything but ordinary. Seattle’s had few opportunities to show what they’re capable of. If the Storm can learn anything from last year’s WNBA season, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.
The Queen Reclaims Her Crown
After having reinforcement surgery on her left Achilles, Breanna Stewart picked up right where she left off as the best player in the world. Despite being among the first to enter COVID protocols, she leads the league in points at 22.3 per game and in steals at 2.5 per game. She recorded her career-high six steals in a win against New York and is playing at an MVP level.
In the games Stewart has missed, the Storm are 0-2 with a pair of losses to Phoenix. If Stewart improves her 46.2% field goal and 34.4% three-point percentages, she can reclaim her 2018 crown and the Storm can return to their winning ways. Stewart’s increase in production will help the Storm improve, but their biggest obstacle is their health.
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COVID Protocols Halt Seattle’s Reign
The Storm had five players miss 10 games due to COVID protocols, and Mercedes Russell missed eight games with a non-basketball-related injury. Sue Bird, Stephanie Talbot, Stewart, Epiphanny Prince, and Ezi Magbegor are among the players who were victims of COVID protocols as well. Seattle has played four games with a full roster and they look like a contender when they are at full strength.
While Seattle competes for a championship, they should be able to claim the title by developing their young talent. Their young talent and the big three will be vital to bringing a championship to the Emerald City.
Dangerous Defense
The big three of Jewell Loyd, Bird, and Stewart are important for a championship. However, Ezi Magbegor and Gabby Williams have become just as important for the Storm’s success. Magbegor leads the league in blocked shots at three per game starting every game she plays in this season.
Filling in for Russell, Magbegor recorded her career-high seven blocks in a loss to Phoenix and established herself as a thunderous presence for the Storm. She is also the third leading scorer on the team averaging 11.9 points per game so she impacts both sides of the floor. The 22-year-old Australian continues to develop and continues to send the competition down under with her thunderous defense.
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Williams impacts a game by guarding the opponent’s best player, while not impacting the stat sheet. She held Rookie of The Year favorite Rhyne Howard to 11 points, including zero threes in six tries. In that same win against Atlanta, Williams scored four points and her offensive impact was minimal. Williams rounds out the defensive starters by containing the best players in the league and continuing to impact the game.
While Williams mostly leaves the scoring to the other players, her impact is sometimes seen on the thieving side. The 25-year-old from UCONN recorded her career-high six steals in an overtime win against New York showing her impact on the win in the box score and her thunderous defense for the Storm is needed to be a contender.
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As the season progresses, there is a massive storm brewing with thunderous defense and a rainy offense of terror. Opposing teams should take cover.
Hopeful in Seattle
While the championship path in Seattle is partly cloudy, the year is still early. The Storm are 9-5 through 14 games and with their roster intact. As the team plays more games with a full-strength roster they will develop more chemistry along with their game.
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