Aug. 2, 2019
HOW TO WATCH
Friday’s game against the Washington Mystics will be locally televised on JOEtv at 7 p.m. PT and live streamed on WNBA League Pass. Fans can also follow live stats at StormBasketball.com, of on Twitter by following @SeattleStorm.
LAST TIME OUT
Meeting for the second time in five days, the Seattle Storm surrendered the regular-season series in a 79-62 road loss to the Las Vegas Aces.
Starting in place of the injured A’ja Wilson (ankle), Dearica Hamby led all scorers with 24 points and nine rebounds. Liz Cambage contributed 15 points and 13 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season and third vs. the Storm.
Western Conference Player of the Week Natasha Howard tallied 14 points and 10 rebounds, but early foul trouble would limit her to 11 minutes in the first half. After 10 lead changes in the first 20 minutes, the Aces held a one-point advantage heading into the break.
Las Vegas began to pull away from the Storm in the third quarter as Seattle was held to 22 percent (4-18 FG) from the field in the period. The Aces went on a 10-2 stretch in the fourth to take an 18-point lead. After Sami Whitcomb drained a three-pointer with 3:34 to play, the Storm was limited to just three points shooting 31 percent from the field.
SERIES HISTORY
In the first meeting since the 2018 WNBA Finals, the Storm narrowly edged the Mystics for a 74-71 victory on June 14. Jewell Loyd hit a go-ahead jumper with 8.6 seconds left from the top of the key, and Natasha Howard recorded her third season double-double with 19 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.
Drama ensued early on as Kristi Toliver was ejected from the game in the first quarter after picking up her second technical foul. Jordin Canada sustained an apparent knee injury in the second quarter and would not return to the game.
Mercedes Russell, who notched her first career-double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, tallied 13 points and four rebounds in the second half to ignite the Storm’s momentum to help close a 13-point deficit.
Elena Delle Donne finished the game 19 points and eight rebounds.
The Storm has won 14 of its last 15 regular-season home games vs. the Mystics.
SCOUTING WASHINGTON
The Washington Mystics captured their fourth straight win with a 99-93 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday following the All-Star break. Elena Delle Donne scored a season-high 33 points, six rebounds and three blocks, while Kristi Toliver put up 25 points and dished out four assists.
Washington opened with a 10-2 run and didn’t let up in the second quarter, pulling ahead to a 16-point lead with 4:49 remaining in the half. After Toliver scored a driving layup at the 2:49 mark, the Mercury combined for a 9-0 stretch, but still trailed 48-38 heading into the locker room.
Despite allowing 15 Delle Donne points in the third quarter, Phoenix got within one possession of the Mystics with 2:29 left in the game. Leilani Mitchell, who put up a career-high 28 points shooting 10-for-15 from the field, drained a three-pointer with 1:21 in regulation to get within two of Washington.
Toliver knocked down her second three-pointer and Natasha Cloud split a pair at the charity stripe for the final point of the game. Delle Done blocked Mitchell’s floater, and Washington safeguarded Phoenix’ final attempt to secure a 99-93 victory.
Brittany Griner finished with 30 points nine rebounds and five assists, and DeWanna Bonner added 25 points, six assists and five rebounds.
UP NEXT
The Storm heads Los Angeles to face the Sparks for the second time this season on Sunday, Aug. 4 at 2 p.m. PT.