Storm (3-7) at Minnesota Lynx (7-2)

Target Center | Minneapolis, Minn.

July 3, 2015 | 5 p.m. PT

Broadcast: Live Access

 

2015 vs. Minnesota: 0-2

Last meeting: L 76-73 (June 25, 2015)

Leading scorer: Jenna O’Hea 17

 

After snapping its five-game skid on Tuesday with a win over Tulsa, the Storm will look to make it two straight as it travels to Minnesota to take on the Lynx on Friday night.

It is the beginning of a three-game road trip, which will also see stops in Atlanta and Indiana, and is the middle of a stretch of five of six on the road.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Ramu Tokashiki

The rookie has come on strong in the last few games and has quickly become one of the more versatile young players in the league. She played critical minutes down the stretch in the win over Tulsa and recorded 12 points and had a block on Tulsa’s final possession to seal the victory. Her development is something to continue watching.

LAST TIME VS. MINNESOTA

It came down to the wire between the Storm and Lynx but Seattle saw its 18-point lead vanish as it dropped the contest 76-73. Jenna O’Hea had a career-high 17 points on 5-for-10 from the field and Sue Bird chipped in with 16 points and five assists. Seimone Augustus led the way for Minnesota with 24 points.

FINDING THEIR GROOVE

The Storm have started to find a rhythm over the last four games and it shows in the numbers. In this four game stretch, Seattle is shooting 46.9 percent from the field, third in the league, and has done a good job taking care of the ball with 12.8 turnovers per game, fourth lowest in the league.

BIRD FLYING HIGH

The Storm has caught fire as Sue Bird has. Over the last seven days, the 14-year veteran is one of only two players in the league averaging at least 15 points (15.7) and five assists with the other being Phoenix’s DeWanna Bonner. Bird is shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 40 percent from three in that stretch.

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 three four games. In that period, she is averaging 15.6 points while shooting 60.5 percent from the field and has picked up 2.3 blocks per contest. The 6-foot-3 forward is leading all WNBA rookies and is eighth overall with 1.3 blocks per game.

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 two games, she is averaging 17 points per game and dropped a career-high 21 against Tulsa on Sunday. She is shooting 52.3 percent from the field and is a perfect 11-for-11 from the stripe.

‘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 Sunday as it poured out a league-high 54 points, which included a career-high 21 points from both Ramu Tokashiki and Jewell Loyd. Entering Thursday, the bench has averaged 27.8 points through the first 10 games, which is second best in the league behind only Indiana (28.6).

SUE PASSES SHERYL

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 15.7 points in her last three games and now sits at 4,907. The next two on the list are Taj McWilliams-Franklin, who finished with 5,013 points, and Tangela Smith with 5,048.

SCOUTING MINNESOTA

The Lynx are sitting on five full days of rest after clobbering Phoenix 71-56. Lindsay Whalen and Maya Moore each scored 21 points and the Lynx held Phoenix to 33 percent shooting from the field. Minnesota is also shooting a league-best 46.2 percent from the field as a team.

KEYS TO THE GAME

Remember what was learned on Tuesday. The Storm had dropped three straight games that came down to the final possession before breaking through against Tulsa at KeyArena. With only four current players on last year’s roster, it has taken some time for the team to gel and find its rhythm. By closing a close game out, they may have now have turned the corner. If Seattle can continue to execute both offensively and defensively down the stretch, it should have similar success on Friday.