Storm (2-4) vs. Minnesota Lynx (5-2)

KeyArena | Seattle, Wash.

June 25, 2015 | 7 p.m.

Broadcast: Live Access, Justice

 

2015 vs. Minnesota: 0-1

Last meeting: L 94-70 (June 11, 2015)

Leading scorer: Sue Bird 12

 

With a couple days of rest and some renewed confidence after Sunday’s game against Phoenix, the Storm will be back at KeyArena to take on MInnesota on Thursday.

This could prove to be one of the toughest tests of the season for Seattle as it begins a stretch of three games in four days and four in six days with a back-to-back at San Antonio and Tulsa over the weekend.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Quanitra Hollingsworth

The 6-foot-5 Hollingsworth has come off the bench and added a much needed presence in the paint. She scored six points and grabbed four rebounds in only nine minutes of play against Phoenix and will be needed to match up with the size of Minnesota.

LAST TIME VS. MINNESOTA

The Storm kept the deficit around 10 into the third quarter but then Minnesota put a 12-0 run together to put the game out of reach, taking the contest 94-70. The Lynx had five players in double figures, led by a career-high 15 points from Tricia Liston.

TURN ON THE A/C, BECAUSE ALYSHA IS ON FIRE

Alysha Clark continued her stellar play against Phoenix as she dropped in 11 points to go along with a career-high nine rebounds. After going 4-for-6 from the field on Sunday, she is now shooting 64.3 percent from the field, which is first in the WNBA entering Monday. Clark has also been one of the better decision makers with the ball in her hands. Her 0.67 turnovers per game is third best in the league for players averaging at least 20 minutes.

BIRD IS THE WORD

Sue Bird led a young team into Minnesota last week and scored a season-high 12 points on 3-for-6 shooting with six assists. She then put another solid performance together on Sunday when she scored 11 points and dished out eight assists against Phoenix. The 14-year veteran is averaging 5.2 assists, good for second in the league.

‘THE BENCH MOB’

The bench continues to impress in the early part of the season and has been a difference maker through the first six games. It provided that instant burst in the first quarter on Sunday against Phoenix when it got six from Renee Montgomery and four more from Quintara Hollingsworth. Led by Jewell Loyd’s nine, the bench poured in 24 points on Sunday and has averaged 27.8 points through the first six games

JEWELL FINDING HER RHYTHM

It has taken some time but top overall pick Jewell Loyd has begin to find a comfort zone on the court. After shooting 2-for-20 over her first two games, she has averaged 8.8 points per game off the bench and over her last three games is shooting 43.4 percent.

BIRD FLYING UP THE CHARTS

Sue Bird has been one of the best players in the WNBA since arriving in Seattle in 2002 and she is now climbing her way into the upper ranks of the league’s all-time scoring list. Entering Thursday’s action, Bird has 4,860 career points and is closing in on Sheryl Swoopes for 13th on the list and trails the great by 15 points.

SCOUTING MINNESOTA
The Lynx brings a balanced attack and has four players averaging at least 11 points per game, led by Maya Moore at 16.4 per contest. Rebekkah Brunson has been a terror in the paint and is averaging a near double-double at 11.9 points and 9.3 rebounds. She had 12 points and eight rebounds in the last matchup with Seattle. Minnesota had 46 points from its bench in the first meeting.

KEYS TO THE GAME

The Storm showed a balanced attack on Sunday against Phoenix and had six players with at least seven points and had three in double figures. That balance has proved to be when the Storm is most successful. Balance has also been Minnesota’s strength and the goal for Seattle will be to disrupt that. Minnesota’s 46 bench points in the first matchup was too much to overcome in the first meeting. Slowing the Lynx offense should help Seattle protect the home floor.