Storm look to keep rolling with game at Sky

Field Level Media|published: Mon 27th May, 16:42 2024

Aug 5, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd (24) dribbles against the Phoenix Mercury during the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Storm have heated up following a rough start.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Sky need to take advantage of an extended stretch of home games.

The Storm eye a third consecutive victory when they visit Chicago on Tuesday night.

Seattle (3-3) lost three of its first four games but has since taken advantage of a favorable two-game stretch by beating Indiana and Washington -- teams that are a combined 1-12. After squeaking by the Fever 85-83, the Storm rolled to a 101-69 home rout over the Mystics on Saturday.

Nneka Ogwumike (21.3 points per game) continued her hot start with 19 points, while Jewell Loyd (19.5 ppg) scored 18 for Seattle, which shot 61.7 percent, including 12 of 22 from 3-point range. It was a breakout performance for the Storm, who averaged 79 points in their first five contests.

"We're getting there," Seattle coach Noelle Quinn said. "We're not there yet. (Saturday was) a sign of what's to come if we continue down this path."

The Storm have lost two of their first three on the road, and head to Chicago, where the Sky's bid for a three-game overall winning streak was halted by Saturday's 86-82 loss to undefeated Connecticut.

It was the start of seven games in eight at home for Chicago (2-2), which led 50-42 at halftime but allowed the Sun to score 27 third-quarter points and was outscored 27-4 in second-chance points.

"We didn't execute well at all," first-year Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon said. "It looked like we got mixed up on some things we were trying to do. We have to be sharper with all the details."

Sky leading scorer Marina Mabry (19.3 ppg) had 23 points while rookie Angel Reese (12.3 ppg) added 13. Reese also bounced back from being grabbed in the neck by Sun star Alyssa Thomas via a hard foul in the third quarter.

Thomas was ejected, and Reese learned what she already knew -- that life in the WNBA won't be easy.

"They're not supposed to be nice to me or lay down because I'm Angel Reese or because I'm a rookie," she said.

--Field Level Media

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