Unlocked: Seattle Storm Game Recaps 1-3 (2021)

You can now read these full subscription articles for free by clicking the links below.

As I continue to grow and build the Storm Chasers Substack I will tweak and make changes (hopefully for the better). Today, I’m introducing one of those changes.

Up to this point, I have tried to mix the paid and free content of my articles. With my highly detailed game recaps going to paid subscribers as well as additional articles that cover the team through the draft, free agency, story pieces, etc. While also, trying to provide some content for people that are signed up just for the free newsletter. This year, that included removing the “Around the W” section from game recap articles and converting it into a weekly article that covers every single game in a more AP style with just the summaries of which teams won and which players performed the best. The other free articles have included taking my game recaps, going back through them, and editing them down to slightly shorter versions with fewer quotes and fewer details while also publishing them on a delay of at least a week.

However, between my actual 9-5, coaching basketball, and covering the Seattle Storm writing 3,000+ word articles sometimes five times in eight days, it has been a lot to handle. And I simply haven’t had the time to go back and republish the Free Edition game recap articles as I had intended to do. Especially, as it takes up more time to go back through, edit and cut things out and publish again as the “Free Edition”.

I have decided to create the UNLOCKED series moving forward. Where I will go back through and unlock the paid articles for free and post them in a summary recap that will provide links to those articles. Substack provides the ability to unlock articles that were previously locked only for paid subscribers. But it doesn’t have an option to then send those articles out to the people who signed up for the free newsletter without the editor manually creating a brand new post. Hence, why previously, I was going back through and creating the “Free Edition” articles.

Even though I have already released the “Free Edition” articles for the first nine games this season, with the Unlocked series I will be starting back at the beginning with Game 1 of the Storm’s 2021 season. The plan is for each Unlocked article to include three game recaps, but depending on the schedule there may be one or two that include a different number of games.

I believe this change will allow me to provide those who have signed up only for the Free newsletters more content while also saving me time. This process should be much more efficient. Free newsletter subscribers will now receive the full game recaps that paid subscribers received but they will still be on a significant time delay (at least a week). My hope is that this will also encourage more people to sign up as paid subscribers as they will get a better idea of what the paid content gets them. All the feedback I’ve received from paid subscribers is that they really appreciate all the detailed coverage I’ve been providing covering the Storm and the WNBA.

For those of you that have been following my Seattle Storm coverage dating back to 2015 at SB Nation (SonicsRising) or during my time at Cascadia Sports Network and have then read my comments on Why I’m Switching Over to Substack, know that I have been putting in a tremendous amount of time and energy to cover the Seattle Storm because of how important it is to me. But nobody should have to work 20+ hours a week for free. To all my paid subscribers out there, I am truly grateful for your support!

And with that, click on the links below to read the full game recaps for Games 1-3 this season!

Defending Champion Seattle Storm get an impressive win over last year's Finals opponent

Las Vegas Aces shine bright in dismantling of Seattle Storm 96-80

Epic 4th quarter pushes the Storm past the Lynx

Editor’s Notes: If you enjoyed these linked articles, paid subscribers will receive the game recap articles with full quarter breakdowns, game summaries, additional analysis, and quotes from players and coaches. And will also receive it in the early morning the day after every game. This article is sent to everyone signed up for the Free newsletter to give readers an idea of what they would receive if they decide to become a Paid Subscriber. Thank you for the support! Photo Credit: Seattle Storm/Neil Enns/WNBA Photography.