Storm (3-12) vs. Los Angeles Sparks (2-10)

KeyArena | Seattle, Wash.

July 15, 2015 | 12 p.m.

Broadcast: Live Access, Justice

 

2015 vs. Los Angeles: 2-0

Last meeting: W 60-54 (June 14, 2015)

Leading scorer: Abby Bishop 18

 

The Storm are finally back for an extended stay and will open a three-game homestand on Wednesday afternoon against the Los Angeles Sparks.

It is already the third meeting of the season between the teams with Seattle having taken the first two. Abby Bishop dropped a career-high 18 points to lead the Storm to the 60-54 victory at Staples Center.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis

The rookie forward has come alive in the last two games and has recorded a career-high in points in back-to-back games. Mosqueda-Lewis is averaging 8.5 points off the bench over the last two contests and is shooting 71.4 percent from the field, including going 3-for-4 from three.

HOME, SWEET HOME

After playing six of the last eight games away from KeyArena, the friendly confines will be a welcomed sight as the Storm begin 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 3.2 days of rest. The same held on Wednesday as Seattle had two days in between games and Los Angeles comes in with three days of rest.

‘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 in that stretch. Over the last five games, the second unit has averaged 29 points and for the season is averaging 28.9 points per contest (second in the league). The Seattle bench is also accounting for 42.3 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.

JEWELL BACK IN LINEUP

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 seven games, she is averaging 13.3 points per game and dropped a career-high 21 against Tulsa on June 28. She is shooting 45 percent from the field and is 25-for-27 from the stripe during this stretch.

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. 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 LOS ANGELES

Get ready for a heavy dose of Nneka Ogwumike. Since returning from a minor ankle injury, she is averaging 18.5 points and a league-best 11.5 rebounds. Kristi Toliver has also been a consistent threat this season and is averaging 20.5 points, good for third in the league, while shooting 45.9 percent from three. Despite the individual performances, the team has continued to struggle. After winning their first two games of the season just before the July 4 holiday, the Sparks have dropped three straight.

KEYS TO THE GAME

Find a rhythm early. The Storm has found itself playing catch-up early on in games recently and it has made life a bit difficult. The bench unit is averaging 28.9 points per game and is starting to show an even greater confidence of late. But it will be up to the starters to get the team off to a good start. The Sparks do not use their bench much and average a league-low 12 points.