Storm (2-3) vs. Phoenix Mercury (2-2)

KeyArena | Seattle, Wash.

Sunday, June 21 | 6 p.m

Broadcast: NBATV, KONG

 

2014 vs. Phoenix: 0-5

Last meeting: L 78-65 (August 17, 2014)

Leading scorer: Crystal Langhorne 16

 

With four full days off between games, the Storm comes into Sunday well rested as it will play host to the defending WNBA champion Phoenix Mercury on Father’s Day at 6 p.m.

It is the second of three straight games at home for Seattle with the last of the homestand coming on Thursday against Minnesota.

WHO TO WATCH: Alysha Clark

The four-year veteran has been a Jill-of-all-trades and has continued to fill up the stat sheet for Seattle. She is averaging 7.2 points (fourth on the team) and 4.8 rebounds (second) while shooting 68.4 percent from the field.

JEWELL FINDING HER RHYTHM

Top overall pick Jewell Loyd struggled to find her shooting rhythm in the first two games but has since settled down and is starting to find the range. She has made at least three baskets in each of her last three games and is averaging eight points off the bench over that stretch.

TURN ON THE A/C, BECAUSE ALYSHA’S ON FIRE

Alysha Clark has been incredibly efficient shooting the ball early on and it is coming from all over the court. She is shooting a WNBA-best 68.4 percent from the field, 57.1 percent from three (T-3rd), and 75 percent from the line. She has had two games where she has reached double figure scoring, including Sunday when she chipped in 11 points on 4-for-6 from the field.

IT WAS ONLY PRESEASON, RIGHT?

The Storm faced Phoenix twice during the preseason and split the two meetings, winning the one at KeyArena. In that game, Jewell Loyd scored a team-high 15 points and the bench poured in 43, led by Renee Montgomery with 12.

‘THE BENCH MOB’

The bench continues to impress in the early part of the season and has been a difference maker through the first five games. In the Storm’s victory over Los Angeles on Opening Night, the bench scored 40 points and was led by Renee Montgomery with 19. They followed up that performance with 29 more points against Tulsa and 30 against Minnesota. The Storm’s second unit is now averaging 28.6 points per game.

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 Sunday’s action, Bird has 4,849 career points and is 10 points ahead New York’s Swin Cash for 14th on the all-time list. She is also closing in on Sheryl Swoopes for 13th on the list and trails the great by 26 points.

SCOUTING PHOENIX

Still without Brittney Griner, Phoenix has had an up and down season to this point. The Mercury dropped contests at New York and Indiana but then returned home to beat a high-powered Minnesota in a rout. The one thing that has remained consistent so far has been their ability create havoc and limit mistakes. Going into the weekend, the Mercury are second in the league in steals per game (10.0) and commit the fewest turnovers (11.8).

KEYS TO THE GAME

Taking care of the basketball is priority No. 1 in this matchup. The Storm committed 22 turnovers on Tuesday, a season-high, and that could play right into Phoenix’s hands. Moving the basketball and making smart decisions will give the Storm a chance to get the W. Also, limiting the touches of DeWanna Bonner and Candice Dupree. The pair is averaging a combined 35.1 points per game and have filled the void of Brittney Griner very well.