By Wyatt Yearout
The Storm will host its first WNBA finals game since 2010, as Seattle takes on the Washington Mystics in Game 1 on Friday. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m./PT at KeyArena.
HOME TEAM: Seattle Storm
VISTING TEAM: Washington Mystics
TIP-OFF: 6 p.m./PT
SERIES COUNT: Series Tied 0-0
HOW TO FOLLOW
Fans can watch the game on ESPNews, with live stats available at StormBasketball.com. Live updates will also be provided on Twitter by following @SeattleStorm.
LAST TIME OUT
Led by floor general Sue Bird, the Seattle Storm rallied from behind in the fourth quarter to defeat the Phoenix Mercury, 94-84, in Game 5 of the WNBA Semifinals.
Bird poured in 14 points (including four three-pointers) in the final period alone for the Storm, finishing the game with 22 points and five assists.
Breanna Stewart posted a team-high 28 points along with seven rebounds, while Alysha Clark added a double-double with 13 points and a playoff career-best 13 rebounds.
SERIES HISTORY
This year’s finals matchup between the Storm and Mystics marks the first-ever postseason meeting between the two teams.
The Storm owns a 22-16 all-time advantage over the Mystics. Washington won the last game against the Storm, 100-77, on Aug. 9 in the nation’s capital. Seattle won the first two matchups of the season, winning 81-77 on May 29 and 97-91 on July 8, both of which were played at KeyArena.
While tonight marks the first-ever meeting between the two teams in postseason play, the Storm has won 14 of the last 15 home regular season games against the Mystics, a hot streak dating back to 2006. Seattle’s only loss during that stretch was an 84-82 overtime setback on May 26, 2016.
SCOUTING WASHINGTON
The Mystics entered the 2018 playoffs as the No. 3 seed after finishing the season 22-12.
Washington defeated the Los Angeles Sparks, 96-64, in a single-elimination matchup to secure a spot in the WNBA Semifinals vs. No. 2 seed Atlanta Dream. The Mystics took down the Dream in Game 5 behind 20 points from Ariel Atkins to secure their first finals berth in franchise history.
The Mystics are led by All-Star forward Elena Delle Donne, who is averaging 21.4 points and 12 rebounds per game in the postseason.
UP NEXT
The Storm will host the Mystics in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals on Sunday. Tip-off is set for 12:30 p.m./PT on ABC.