By Wyatt Yearout
The No. 1 Seattle Storm returns to the Emerald City on Friday after playing its last four games on the road, as the team gets set to take on the New York Liberty. Tip-off at KeyArena is set for 7 p.m./PT. The first 4,000 fans in attendance will receive a 2018 Storm team poster.
HOME TEAM: Seattle Storm (24-8)
AWAY TEAM: New York Liberty (7-25)
TIP-OFF: 7 p.m./PT.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Fans can watch the game on NBA TV, JOEtv, MSG+ or WNBA League Pass, with live stats available at StormBasketball.com. Live updates will also be provided on Twitter by following @SeattleStorm.
RECORDS ON THE HORIZON
Several records are on the verge of being demolished for the Storm in Friday’s game against New York.
With Seattle’s first three-pointer of the game on Friday, the Storm will set a new WNBA record for three’s made in a single season. The Storm is currently tied with Phoenix (2007) with 283 three-pointers so far this season.
MVP frontrunner Breanna Stewart will set a new single-season franchise record for field goals made on her first basket, as she is currently tied with Lauren Jackson (2007) with 258 on the year. She is also just 18 points from joining the 2,000-point club.
Meanwhile, point guard Sue Bird needs only seven assists to break the single-season franchise record for dimes, which currently sits at 221, posted by Bird in 2003.
LAST TIME OUT
Seattle defeated the Minnesota Lynx 81-72 in its last contest on Aug. 12. The victory marked the first win at Minnesota since July 17, 2010, as well as being the 13th road win for the Storm this season, tying the WNBA record.
Natasha Howard posted a team-high 21 points for the Storm against her former team, while Breanna Stewart recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 17 points and a career-high-tying 17 rebounds.
SERIES HISTORY
Seattle is 18-19 all-time against New York, with the Storm winning the first two matchups this year. Seattle defeated New York 77-62 on July 3 and won 96-80 on Aug. 6, both of which took place on the road.
This matchup features the top two scorers in the WNBA since the start of the 2016 season in Stewart and Tina Charles. Stewart and Charles currently both sit with 1,982 points since 2016.
If Seattle wins, it will mark the sixth season series sweep over New York in franchise history. The Storm swept the Liberty in 2010, 2009, 2007 and 2006, winning each series, 2-0. Seattle also won the lone matchup of the 2003 campaign in a game that was played at KeyArena.
SCOUTING NEW YORK
The Liberty is 7-25 on the season, currently sitting 11th in the WNBA standings.
New York fell to the Las Vegas Aces in its last contest, 85-72. Bria Hartley and Kia Nurse each posted 14 points in the losing effort for the Liberty.
Charles leads New York on the year at 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per contest. However, Charles did not dress in the Liberty’s last contest on Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Seattle plays its final game of the regular season on Sunday against the Dallas Wings. Tip-off at KeyArena is set for 4 p.m./PT.