Wyatt Yearout
The Seattle Storm continued to make strides during its preseason training camp, as the team prepares for the upcoming 2018 season.
The preseason opener is less than a week away, with the Storm taking on the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday, May 8 at KeyArena. Tip-off is set for noon PT.
Seattle will then close out the preseason on the road at Phoenix on Saturday, May 12 at 7 p.m. PT.
An Overseas Experience
The Storm welcomed the Chinese National Team to practice on Tuesday. The two teams participated in a number of drills and scrimmages against each other, giving both squads an opportunity to compete as a team and go against a variety of different players.
Both head coach Dan Hughes and rookie Jordin Canada loved having them there and getting the opportunity compete with someone else besides their own teammates and just have fun.
Hughes: “Well we had gone two days and had done a lot of defensive teaching. And just the fact, not only having another team here, but being able to have a day where we went up and down and they could play to some of the things we have in, they just enjoyed it, they had fun, I could look out and see we were having fun, and that was really good for us.”
Canada: “It was great to have China here to experience what it’s like playing against an overseas team and for me to adjust to the pro level. It was awesome, and I think I did some good things.”
A Quick Learner
Although the Storm is just a few days into camp and the season as a whole, Hughes has already seen fifth overall pick Canada progress and learn on a daily basis. Canada herself admits she’s learned a ton in the short time she’s been with the team, and she knows it’s going to be a process adjusting to a new league.
Hughes: “The first two days, Jordin played to her strengths, which are good, but she didn’t really use the structure of what we do as a team. Today was really fun because you could see her bring the structure in. The first two days she was still trying to figure out how do I be me, and do this, and today, I could really see the picture coming into focus a little bit.”
Canada: “It’s a mental game for sure, just trying to make sure you take everything in and learn from each possession and not having to dwell on mistakes. I think that’s the biggest thing, just keep playing, no matter if you make a mistake or not. That’s something I’m trying to adjust to because, in college the last two years, I was so used to not making as many mistakes and then coming here, having to mess up a little bit and just be okay with that and give myself grace, but also continuing to learn from my mistakes.”