Storm (3-10) vs. Phoenix Mercury (6-5)

KeyArena | Seattle, Wash.

July 10, 2015 | 7 p.m.

Broadcast: Live Access, Justice

 

2015 vs. Phoenix: 0-1

Last meeting: L 84-72 (June 21, 2015)

Leading scorer: Crystal Langhorne 13

 

The Storm return home after a rough road trip and will look to rebound at KeyArena when it meets Brittney Griner and the Phoenix Mercury on Friday.

It is the second home game in a stretch where the Storm play six of eight on the road. This game will also precede the Seattle Pro-Am exhibition, which will include guest coaches Lenny Wilkens, Gary Payton, and Shawn Kemp.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Jewell Loyd

No, this is not a copy and paste. Jewell Loyd continues her maturation and her ability to attack the basket has caused a load of problems for defenders. That aggressiveness earned her a career-high 10 free throws against Indiana on Wednesday and, over the last five games, she has shot 92 percent from the line.

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 58.1 percent from the field, which is second best in the league. Sue Bird ranks third in assists with 5.2 per game. Ramu Tokashiki and Abby Bishop have combined for 2.4 blocks from the power forward position with Tokashiki ranked ninth (1.23) and Bishop at 12th (1.15). Veteran guard Renee Montgomery has been dangerous from three and has hit 37.8 percent of her shots, 11th best in the league.

BIRD FLYING HIGH

Over Sue Bird’s last seven games, the 14-year veteran is averaging 12.1 points and 5.6 assists and is one of only three players averaging 10 points and five assists this season (Skylar Diggins, Courtney Vandersloot).

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 six games. In that period, she is averaging 11.2 points while shooting 54.5 percent from the field and has picked up 1.7 blocks per contest. The 6-foot-3 forward has made all 17 of her free throws and is second among all WNBA rookies in blocks per game (1.23) and ninth overall.

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 five games, she is averaging 13.6 points per game and dropped a career-high 21 against Tulsa on June 28. She is shooting 45.6 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 3.4 days of rest. The same will hold on Friday as Seattle had one day in between games and Phoenix will come 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 Friday, the bench has averaged 27.7 points through the first 13 games, which is second best in the league behind only Indiana (29.1).

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 4,934. The next two on the list are Taj McWilliams-Franklin, who finished with 5,013 points, and Tangela Smith with 5,048.

SCOUTING PHOENIX

Brittney Griner’s return has sparked the Mercury. Since her return, Phoenix is 3-1 and Griner is averaging 17.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, and a league-best 4.3 blocks per contest. Her presence in the paint has made a dramatic difference and this is not to discount the play of DeWanna Bonner. Bonner has kept the Mercury afloat in Griner’s absence and is averaging a team-high 18.4 points. Also, watch out for Leilani Mitchell, who is shooting 49 percent from three-point range.

KEYS TO THE GAME

Limiting turnovers will be the biggest adjustment the Storm will need to make. Seattle committed 23 turnovers in the loss on Wednesday and it led to 24 points. Cleaning this up and hitting open shots will help to keep it close. Hitting the boards and getting to loose balls will also help. Despite the return of Brittney Griner, Phoenix has only averaged 30 rebounds per game during their three-game winning streak, which is seventh in the league.