By Seth Dahle
Fresh off its first win of the 2018 campaign, the Seattle Storm (1-1) will look to carry that momentum into tomorrow at home against the Chicago Sky. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. PT at KeyArena.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Friday’s contest can be watched on WNBA League Pass and JOEtv. Live stats are also available at StormBasketball.com, and live updates will be provided on Twitter by following @SeattleStorm.
LAST TIME OUT
The Storm avenged its season-opening loss to Phoenix with a dominant 87-71 road win on Wednesday night at Talking Stick Resort Arena.
Jewell Loyd erupted for a season-high 29 points on 9-for-14 shooting, while Alysha Clark added 16 points.
Seattle connected on six triples in the second quarter alone and shot 10-for-14 in the frame. Clark buried one to spark a 15-4 run, helping the Storm close the first half up 46-33.
Phoenix got as close as three (62-59) at the 9:13 mark of the fourth quarter, but Seattle responded with 10 of the next 12 to go up 72-61 and put the Mercury away.
STORM SNIPPETS
- Seattle’s win at Phoenix marked the first winning streak in the desert since 2012. The Storm defeated the Mercury at Talking Stick Resort Arena last season on Aug. 12, 2017, by a final count of 98-89.
- For the second straight game, Seattle outrebounded Phoenix, this time by a 33-23 margin. In the season opener, the Storm owned a 37-28 advantage on the glass.
- The Storm shot a blistering 95.7 percent (22-for-23) from the charity stripe. Seattle has gone 44-for-48 from the line in its first two games.
SCOUTING CHICAGO
The Sky is off to a 2-1 start, having defeated Indiana (82-64) and New York (80-76) before dropping an 81-63 decision to Atlanta on Wednesday.
2017 All-Star Allie Quigley has led the way this season with 18 points per game on a blistering 58.8 shooting percentage, including 50 percent from downtown. Rookie Diamond DeShields scores 11 points per game, while Cheyenne Parker records 7.3 points and a team-high five boards per affair.
Chicago is shooting the ball well this season (44.3 percent) but turns the ball over 14.3 times per game.
On Aug. 20, 2017, the Storm set two franchise records against Chicago on the road – field goals made (41) and assists (34). In that 103-66 triumph, Breanna Stewart scored 19 points, and every player on the Storm roster scored, another franchise first for Seattle.
SERIES HISTORY
In the all-time series, the Storm owns a 15-11 record, including an 8-5 mark at KeyArena.
UP NEXT
Seattle hits the road to take on A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. PT. The game will air live on JOEtv.