Storm (3-11) vs. Phoenix Mercury (7-5)

US Airways Center | Phoenix, Ari.

July 12, 2015 | 3 p.m.

Broadcast: Live Access

 

2015 vs. Phoenix: 0-2

Last meeting: L 94-79 (July 10, 2015)

Leading scorer: Renee Montgomery 14

 

It is the end of a long, tough stretch for the Storm, which has included six of eight away from home and seven cities in 19 days, and it concludes on Sunday when it takes on Phoenix at the US Airways Center.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Crystal Langhorne

With single digit scoring in each of her last three games, Crystal Langhorne is due for a breakout game. That task might be difficult against the imposing front line of Phoenix but Langhorne has averaged 16.8 points per game against the Mercury over the course of her career.

STORMING THE CHARTS

Several Storm players find themselves in the upper tier of the WNBA in some key categories. Crystal Langhorne continues to be efficient and is shooting 55.8 percent from the field, which is fifth best in the league. Sue Bird ranks fourth in assists with 4.9 per game. Ramu Tokashiki and Abby Bishop have combined for 2.2 blocks from the power forward position with Tokashiki ranked 10th (1.14) and Bishop at 13th (1.07). Veteran guard Renee Montgomery has been dangerous from three and has hit 40 percent of her shots, ninth best in the league.

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 seven games. In that period, she is averaging 10.5 points while shooting 54.5 percent from the field and has picked up 1.4 blocks per contest. The 6-foot-3 forward fourth in the league in free throw percentage at 96 percent and is second among all WNBA rookies in blocks per game (1.14) and 10th overall.

JEWELL BACK IN LINEUP

Much like Ramu Tokashiki, rookie Jewell Loyd has also become more comfortable in the WNBA and it is showing. Over her last six games, she is averaging 12.8 points per game and dropped a career-high 21 against Tulsa on June 28. She is shooting 45.4 percent from the field and is 23-for-25 from the stripe during this stretch.

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 1.5 days in between game days this season, whereas the Storm’s opponents have averaged 3.2 days of rest. The same held on Friday as Seattle had one day in between games and Phoenix came in with four days of rest.

‘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 Saturday, the bench has averaged 28.6 points through the first 14 games, which is second best in the league behind only Indiana (29.0). It has also scored a league-best 401 points.

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 12.6 points in her last six games and now sits at 4,942. The next two on the list are Taj McWilliams-Franklin, who finished with 5,013 points, and Tangela Smith with 5,048.

SCOUTING PHOENIX

Phoenix has size and lots of it. Any time the Storm made a push on Friday, the Mercury went back to the post and back to Brittney Griner. She scored 12 and was one of five players in double figures at KeyArena. Leilani Mitchell remained deadly from three and hit all four of her attempts. It’s pick your poison with Phoenix.

KEYS TO THE GAME

Turnovers. The Storm committed 17 turnovers and they resulted in 19 points for Phoenix. The game on Friday changed in the third quarter after a defensive adjustment from the Mercury. Making the quick adjustment is part of the growing process for Seattle and a critical one for its matchup on Sunday.