Storm Cruise Past Mercury 89-70

Seattle wins their 25th game of the season before the playoffs begin.

(Phoenix, Arizona) - The Storm exploded out of the gate against the Phoenix Mercury as they scored the game’s first 10 points. They led by 24 points in the first period (33-9) and never trailed during the full 40-minute game. Seattle picked up their 25th win of the season in the final game before the WNBA playoffs begin. With a 25-15 record, the Storm finished as the 5th seed this season. That was more than twice as many wins as they had in 2023 when they finished 11-29. It was also six more wins than the 5th-seeded Atlanta Dream had (19-21) in 2023.

The new look Storm with the additions of Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith took some time to fit together but turned out one of the most successful Seattle Storm regular season campaigns in the team’s 25-year history. By overall win totals, the Storm’s 25 wins this season is the third-best in franchise history. Only fewer than the incredible 2018 (26-18) and 2010 (28-6) seasons. The small caveat is that the WNBA now plays a 40-game season whereas it used to play 34 games for the past two decades before those changes. But even if we base it off a winning percentage, the Storm’s .625 win percentage in 2024 would rank 6th-best in franchise history. Only lower than the 2008, 2010, 2018, 2020, and 2021 seasons. The Storm went on to win the WNBA Championship in 2010, 2018, and 2020.

I spoke to the Storm’s Mercedes Russell about winning 25 games this season.

“We're just thankful obviously we're very thankful that Nneka joined us this year to be on our team and then it's like a 360. Last year, we were both at the bottom and now we made ourselves back into the playoff push. So we're just excited. And like you were talking about, our team has so much experience. We have people who have been to the finals, won, lost, Olympians. The roster is just crazy. So just to be back in that position and have the opportunity, we're obviously very thankful, but also excited. We're ready to compete. We played so hard this season just to make it here. And so we're just excited to keep playing after today because... There are several teams where their season ended, and we're still going to have an opportunity, so we're just very excited for sure.” Russell told me.

Despite still being without leading scorer Jewell Loyd or their defensive stalwart Ezi Magbegor, the Storm had six players score in double figures. And a 7th player who finished with nine points (Victoria Vivians). Nneka Ogwumike led the team with 17 points and eight rebounds. Both Mercedes Russell and Skylar Diggins-Smith scored 14 points apiece. For Russell, it was a season-high in points. Gabby Williams scored 10 points and added six assists and five rebounds. For Gabby, it’s her 5th game in a row scoring in double figures and the 7th time in her last eight games.

The Storm won almost every statistical category in this game. They outshot the Mercury 45% (35-78 FG) to 38% (24-63 FG). They were even better from beyond the three-point line where they made 36% (13-36 FG) to the Mercury’s 23% (6-26 FG). They out-rebounded Phoenix 41-33. They had more assists (27-19). They out-paced Phoenix in fast break points 10-3. Seattle also did more damage down low outscoring the Mercury 34-28 inside the paint.

“I thought we started the game off really with a lot of passion, a lot of desire, and that execution was very sharp. That kind of gave us a big cushion to do a lot of things, even subbing early and still finding our rotation for Nneka, Sky, and Gabby to get some minutes. We talked about it before the game. All the reps were going to be meaningful reps for everybody, whether it's staying in rhythm. Cedes playing 20 straight minutes was huge. Tori coming in, knocking some threes down. And I think this was an important part of the process. And keeping those guys under 30 minutes was pretty good as well.” Coach Quinn said after the game.

Phoenix Mercury

The Mercury had just three players score in double figures. As neither Seattle nor Phoenix had anything to play for (both teams’ playoff seeds were locked in before tip-off), Phoenix’s starters all played 26 minutes or less. Brittney Griner led her team with 11 points and eight rebounds. Sophie Cunningham scored 10 points and made two of her team’s six three-pointers. Natasha Mack added 10 points and six rebounds off the bench on 5-7 FG shooting.

Diana Taurasi, in what very likely was her final regular season game in Phoenix, finished with nine points in 18 minutes of action. She did make 3-6 FG from beyond the arc. Taurasi was celebrated throughout and after the game including having Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe sitting courtside with Taurasi’s wife Penny Taylor.

Nneka Ogwumike and Mercedes Russell spoke after the game about playing with or against Taurasi during their careers.

“(Taurasi) Made me a better player. Definitely. It's definitely made me a better player. I've had also the pleasure of being able to play with her in Team USA. So being able to be one of very few to say that they could play with her and against her, I consider it a privilege.” Ogwumike answered.

“Yeah, same. I'm just really thankful. Obviously, one of the best guards in history, one of the best players to ever play in the W. So just really thankful to have that competition. I've obviously never been her teammate but competed for the time that I've been in the league. So just very thankful for what she's done, left her mark, and made the league better.” Russell added.

Game Breakdown

Skylar Diggins-Smith scored a layup to begin the game. Gabby Williams got to the rim for two. Nneka Ogwumike then made back-to-back three-pointers while holding Phoenix scoreless through nearly the first three minutes. The Storm started with a 10-0 run and their hot shooting continued throughout the first period.

Diana Taurasi hit a three-pointer to put Phoenix on the board. Mercedes Russell made a layup. Then Gabby Williams made a three-ball to put Seattle up a dozen at 15-3. Phoenix got the ball in low to Brittney Griner for two. Russell and Kahleah Copper swapped layups. Nneka scored again and then Diggins-Smith connected on a triple.

Seattle extended their lead to 20 points as Sami Whitcomb made a strong drive and reverse layup under the rim. They’d increase their lead to 24 points after back-to-back baskets from Mercedes Russell as Seattle led 33-9. Diana Taurasi made a three to get Phoenix above double-digits. Kiki Herbert Harrigan scored a layup right before the first-period buzzer. The Storm led 35-14 at the end of the first quarter.

Sophie Cunningham scooped in a basket to begin the second period. Diana Taurasi sank a three-ball to cut the Storm’s lead down to 16. Griner split a pair of free throws. Cunningham was fouled and made both of her free throws. The Storm went nearly the first five minutes without scoring a single point.

Gabby Williams ended the Mercury’s 10-0 run (dating back to the end of the first). Griner scored with a turnaround shooter. Nneka was fouled and made both free throws. Cunningham knocked down a three-ball. Skylar Diggins-Smith got to the rim for two.

Griner made two more free throws and then got an uncontested layup. Nneka scored again on a turnaround jumper in the paint. Seattle led 43-31 at the midway point.

Both Nneka and Mercedes scored down in the paint to kick off the third period. Natasha Cloud was fouled and made both free throws. Brittney Griner connected on a short shot. Skylar got to the rim. Russell was fouled and made both of her free throws. Sami Whitcomb buried a triple to put Seattle up 19 at 54-35.

Sophie Cunningham countered on the other end with her own three-ball. Nneka found Joyner Holmes open down low for the layup. Natasha Mack rolled in a shot that whirled around before dropping in. Skylar Diggins-Smith put the Storm up 20 with another three-pointer. at 60-40.

After a Kahleah Copper layup, Skylar scored after getting a deflection steal and scoring in transition. Joyner Holmes missed her initial shot but got her own rebound and made the putback plus was fouled. She made the free throw for the AND1. Mikiah Herbert Harrigan drilled a shot. Amy Atwell drilled a three-ball. But Gabby Williams responded immediately with one of her own. Natasha Mack got a layup to end the third period. The Storm remained on top by 19 points at 68-49.

Victoria Vivians made a three-pointer to start the final frame. Celeste Taylor sank a jumper for Phoenix. Natasha Mack converted a layup. Then Herbert Harrigan added one more. Joyner Holmes scored. MHH was fouled and made both free throws. Whitcomb and Vivians made a couple of threes.

Nika Mühl scored the first basket of her WNBA career as she picked the pocket of Celeste Taylor near midcourt and beat Taylor to the rim where she finished with a layup. The Storm bench erupted jumping for joy in celebration of their rookie. That put Seattle up 21 with a score of 81-60 with less than five minutes to play.

Coach Quinn talked about that moment after the game.

“I'm so proud of her. She works so hard. I know you guys see it and feel it because of who she is, but I'm talking about just the stay-ready games, the three-on-three during days off. The extra film sessions, the shooter, like she's constantly on the court and constantly preparing herself. It took game 40 for her to get her first points, but better later than ever. The team reacted in such a great way. And that's what it's about. She's a young player in this league who is on a team that's competing for a championship. And her mind, she has to be prepared and stay ready. And I think she's done an excellent job of that and taking it all in stride. So I'm happy for her that it came today. In front of her coach. Coach Auriemma was here as well. So that's pretty cool.” Quinn stated.

Over the final minutes, Taylor made some more free throws for Phoenix. Horston found an opening and scored easily. Mack scored again. And Vivians connected on another three-ball. In one of Seattle’s final possessions, they grabbed two offensive rebounds and that eventually resulted in a made three from Joyner. Taylor scored one last time at the rim to close out the game. At the final whistle, Seattle beat Phoenix 89-70.

Final Box Score

Additional Analysis

Playing Against the Zone

After their loss against the Las Vegas Aces, both Skylar and Nneka quickly pointed out that they needed to work on the team’s Zone offense to counter any defensive zones they would see in a rematch against the Las Vegas Aces come playoff time. Fortunately for Seattle, the Phoenix Mercury also like to play zone defense and so it allowed the Storm to immediately get some more work and reps in against those defensive fronts.

The Storm did a much better job at countering the zone while facing Phoenix. They were flashing to the middle or elbows, getting good looks in the corners and the short corner, and they improved their overall three-point shooting making better than 35% of their shots from deep.

Seattle can hang with Las Vegas as long as they’re playing good defense and executing their game plan. As long as they’re able to get good looks or knock down their open threes, they’ll have a chance to upset the defending champions.

The team knows what to expect. They know what they’ll need to work on.

I talked with Nneka Ogwumike about getting to work on their zone offense against Phoenix and asked how they did.

“I think that's something we're going to see in the postseason for sure. I think today was better, albeit we had an eight-point second quarter and that's not something that we want to see. And they were in mostly zone and it was a result of that zone. So being able to just be more confident, less analytical in the zone. I think that sometimes we overanalyze the fact that we're having to run offense against the zone. But it's going to be beneficial for us because we've played the last two games with (zone) defense; people zoning us up. And then we also have video to be able to watch and be better before we hit, our first playoff game on Sunday.” Nneka replied.

Coach Noelle Quinn gave her thoughts on it as well.

“I think we got some meaningful reps and going against that zone is what was so meaningful because we are figuring out how to attack it. And it's obviously been something that we haven't executed well. But when we're able to shoot the three at a high level, but also create some advantages in the zone, I think we are going to find ways to beat it. Part of that is also what we do defensively. So when we're able to get stopped and run, teams aren't able to set up in their zone. And so we have to have some knowledge with that. But just schematically when we're in the half court, I thought that we found where our shots can come from. We found the holes and I thought we did a better job in the third and fourth quarter against it.” Quinn told me.

Mercedes Could Be Key

One of the largest benefits to Ezi Magbegor having to miss time with her head injury is that it’s allowed Mercedes Russell to get significantly more playing time than her normal. Over the past four games, Russell has averaged 26 minutes per game during Ezi’s absence.

This has allowed Russell to get more comfortable out on the court. With more minutes, Russell has been producing more including scoring a season-high on Thursday.

I spoke with Cedes about getting that extra playing time heading into the playoffs.

“I mean, it's huge, not just for myself, but I think for our whole team overall. It just presents more opportunities for a lot of players. And we were able to go deep, obviously, and play everyone on our bench tonight. And missing Jewell and Ezi is huge. So I think everybody really stepped up and played the full 40 minutes. Obviously, that's going to be huge for us in the postseason. Just (with) not really knowing the status of them right now. But our roster, as it is, is pretty strong. And like I said, we're just really excited to still be playing after today.” Russell answered.

I also talked with Coach Quinn about Russell’s increased role.

“The theme (tonight) was meaningful reps. (Russell) played 20 straight minutes in the first half, and the matchup was conducive to her because it's BG. Size-wise, we needed her in that area, as well as (against) Mack. In the previous games, Stokes was the first matchup, but she also had some bump against A’ja as well. Cedes is a champion. She knows how these playoffs look and feel, and we're going to need her at her best. I always talk about her mind for the game, but now it's like her aggressive level has to turn up even more. She has to be a threat on the court. And I think, she's going to be key against our zone attack as well, whether it's her flashing in the middle or being a playmaker. So the meaningful reps translated to a lot of good things for her. The rebounding that she did the other night, being aggressive, and hitting the shots that she missed the other night. I think we're going to rely on her. We're going to need her production if we're going to even have the opportunity to beat the Aces.” Quinn replied.

Coach Quinn said it right there. If the Storm are going to have any chance to defeat the Las Vegas Aces in the playoffs, they’re going to need to get some positive contributions from Mercedes. If A’ja Wilson is getting too many easy looks at the rim, they can try putting Russell on her to see if Mercedes’ size and length will slightly bother the MVP-frontrunner.

Up Next

The Storm (25-15) will face the Las Vegas Aces (27-13) in the first round of the playoffs. It’s a Best of 3 series. The first team to win two games advances and will face the winner of the New York Liberty/Atlanta Dream series in the WNBA Semi-Finals. Las Vegas earns the home-court advantage. Game 1 and Game 2 will take place in Las Vegas. Game 1 is Sunday, September 22nd at 7:00 PM. Game 2 will be on Tuesday, September 24th at 6:30 PM. If Seattle manages to split the two games in Nevada then the deciding Game 3 will be in Seattle on Thursday, September 26th TBD.

Notes:
Photo Credits to Seattle Storm/WNBA Photography
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