Storm (3-9) at Indiana Fever (5-6)

Bankers Life Fieldhouse | Indianapolis, Ind.

July 8, 2015 | 9 a.m. PT

Broadcast: Live Access

 

2014 vs. Indiana: 0-2

Last meeting: L 76-67 (July 31, 2014)

Leading scorer: Shekinna Stricklen 20

 

The Storm nearly erased a 14-point fourth quarter deficit against Atlanta on Sunday but came up short and will look to get over the hump when it finishes up its three-game road trip at Indiana on Wednesday.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Jewell Loyd

Jewell Loyd has gotten comfortable at the WNBA level and is attacking the basket at will. She is getting contact at the basket and averaging just short of four free throw attempts per game over her last four games. Loyd is shooting 46.1 percent from the field and seems to only be getting stronger.

ROAD WARRIORS

One year removed from a 2014 schedule that sent the Storm on the road for 10 of the team’s first 13 games, Seattle is back at it, in the midst of a span that will see six of eight games in enemy territory, equating to seven cities (including Seattle) in 19 days. The team has also had very little time to rest as it has averaged 1.7 days in between game days this season, whereas the Storm’s opponents have averaged 3.4 days of rest.

BIRD FLYING HIGH

The Storm has caught fire as Sue Bird has. Over her last six games, the 14-year veteran is averaging 13.2 points and 5.6 assists and is one of only three players averaging 10 points and five assists this season (Skylar Diggins, Courtney Vandersloot).

REMEMBER THE NAME

Ramu Tokashiki seems to have turned a corner in her development and has been an impact player for the Storm over the last five games. In that period, she is averaging 12.6 points while shooting 58 percent from the field and has picked up 1.8 blocks per contest. The 6-foot-3 forward has made all 17 of her free throws and is second among all WNBA rookies in blocks per game (1.25) and ninth overall.

JEWELL SHINING OFF BENCH

Much like Ramu Tokashiki, rookie Jewell Loyd has also become more comfortable in the WNBA and it is showing. Over her last four games, she is averaging 13.3 points per game and dropped a career-high 21 against Tulsa on June 28. She is shooting 46.1 percent from the field and is a perfect 15-for-15 from the stripe during this stretch.

‘THE BENCH MOB’

The bench continues to impress in the early part of the season and has been a difference maker all year. In fact, the bench carried the way on June 28 as it poured out a league-high 54 points, which included a career-high 21 points from both Ramu Tokashiki and Jewell Loyd. Entering Wednesday, the bench has averaged 27.3 points through the first 12 games, which is second best in the league behind only Indiana (28.3).

SUE RUNNING TOWARDS 5K

With her three pointer late in the fourth quarter on June 25, Sue Bird eclipsed Sheryl Swoopes for 13th on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list. She has averaged 13.6 points in her last five games and now sits at 4,928. The next two on the list are Taj McWilliams-Franklin, who finished with 5,013 points, and Tangela Smith with 5,048.

SCOUTING INDIANA

There is no let up with Indiana. The Fever is one of the deeper teams in the league and is the league leader in points off the bench with 28.3 per game. Lynetta Kizer and Maggie Lucas have combined for 15.7 points per game off the pine but the squad is still led by Tamika Catchings, who is averaging 13.8 points this season. Indiana is also the best three-point shooting team in the league at 39 percent.

KEYS TO THE GAME

The Storm are going to have to watch the perimeter. Indiana is a very good three-point shooting team and has five players shooting at least 39 percent from distance. This also means that cleaning up the glass will also be critical as some long rebounds could turn into second chances from three. Seattle will also need to take care of the ball better down the stretch. Two turnovers late on Sunday put the game out of reach.