Storm (4-12) vs. Atlanta Dream (7-8)

KeyArena | Seattle, Wash.

July 18, 2015 | 6 p.m.

Broadcast: ESPN3, Live Access

 

2015 vs. Atlanta: 0-1

Last meeting: L 72-64 (July 5, 2015)

Leading scorer: Jewell Loyd 12

 

Coming off its third win over Los Angeles, the Storm will look to make it two straight when it hosts Atlanta on Saturday at 6 p.m.

For Seattle, it is the middle of a three-game homestand which will conclude on Tuesday against New York.

PLAYER(S) TO WATCH: Ramu Tokashiki and Abby Bishop

The pair has shared the power forward position all season and recently has been incredibly productive on both ends of the court. Since the calendar has turned to July, Bishop and Tokashiki have combined for 13.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. On the season, they have combined for 2.13 blocks per contest.

#BeatLA

Three games, three wins. The Storm has taken each of the first three games against Los Angeles this season and Crystal Langhorne has been a terror against the Sparks. She is averaging 12 points and seven rebounds while shooting 60.1 percent from the field. The Storm faces off with LA one more time this season and if it were to pick up the win, it would be Seattle’s first sweep of the Sparks since 2010.

HOME, SWEET HOME

After playing six of the last eight games away from KeyArena, the friendly confines were a welcomed sight as the Storm began a three-game homestand on Wednesday. It is the first time since a three-game stretch in mid-June that Seattle will play consecutive games at home.

NO REST FOR THE WEARY

Coming off six of eight games on the road in 19 days, the Storm has 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 3.1 days of rest. Saturday will be one of the few times Seattle will have more rest than their opponent, with two days off and Atlanta coming in with one.

JEWELL SHINING AMONG ROOKIES

Rookie Jewell Loyd has also become more comfortable in the WNBA and it is showing. She returned to the starting lineup on July 10 against Phoenix and, over her last eight games, she is averaging 13.3 points per game and scored in double fugures in six of the last eight games, including a career-high 21 against Tulsa on June 28. She is leading all WNBA rookies in scoring with 9.6 points per game and is 29-for-31 from the stripe during this stretch. At 85.7 percent from the line, Loyd is second among rookies with at least 1.5 attempts per game and seventh in the league with at least three attempts.

‘THE BENCH MOB’

The Storm wrapped up one of its toughest stretches of the season with six of eight games on the road, which included seven cities in 19 days. As it has done all season, the bench played a major role. Over the last five games of that stretch, the second unit averaged 29 points and for the season is averaging 28.1 points per contest (second in the league). The Seattle bench is also accounting for 41.2 percent of the team’s total points, which is tops in the WNBA. On June 28, it poured out a league-high 54 points, which included a career-high 21 points from both Ramu Tokashiki and Jewell Loyd.

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 56 percent from the field, which is fourth 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 13th (1.07) and Bishop at 11th (1.13). Veteran guard Renee Montgomery has been dangerous from three and has hit 40 percent of her shots, 10th best in the league.

SUE APPROACHING 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. WIth her nine points in the win over Los Angeles on Wednesday, she now sits at 4,951. The next two on the list are Taj McWilliams-Franklin, who finished with 5,013 points, and Tangela Smith with 5,048.

SCOUTING ATLANTA

The Dream is in the middle of a grueling six-game road trip and is coming off a come-from-behind win over Los Angeles on Thursday. Despite only shooting 5-for-20 from the field, All-Star starter Angel McCoughtry scored 22 points. Aneika Henry came off the bench and chipped in 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting. Atlanta has not won consecutive games since June 26-July 5.

KEYS TO THE GAME

Limit the chaos. Atlanta’s strength has been its rebounding and cashing in on second chance points. The Dream is second in the league in offensive rebounds at 12.1 per game and second in steals (9.4), which has created extra opportunities. Atlanta only shoots 39.5 percent from the field but has taken the fourth most shots in the league. The Storm made a late charge in the first meeting with Atlanta but late turnovers made the difference.