The Seattle Storm is set to face the Washington Mystics at Washington this Saturday at 7:30pm EDT. The Storm enters with a 15-10 record overall and 9-6 in the Western Conference, while the Mystics have an 11-12 overall record and stand 6-5 in the Eastern Conference. Recently, the Storm came off a strong performance where Skyler Diggins scored 21 points in a 95-57 win against the Chicago Sky.
The Mystics hold a 7-4 record in home games and rank third in the Eastern Conference, with Kiki Iliafen leading them in defensive rebounds at 5.6 per game. Seattle is 7-5 in away games and is fourth in the WNBA, averaging 36.7 points per game in the paint, led by Nneka Ogwumike who averages 8.7 rebounds.
Washington is shooting 43.3% from the field this season, just slightly above what Seattle allows opponents to shoot. Seattle averages 7.4 made three-pointers per game, a bit less than the number of threes Washington gives up. This matchup marks their second meeting this season; the Mystics won the first game 74-69 on July 13, with Britney Sykes scoring 19 points, while Jewell Loyd led the Storm with 19 points.
Top performers include Sykes for the Mystics, averaging 17.1 points and 4.5 assists, and Sonia Citron, who has averaged 13.8 points over her last 10 games. For the Storm, Ogwumike averages 17 points and 7.3 rebounds, while Erica Wheeler has averaged 9.9 points in her last 10 games.
Over the last 10 games, the Mystics have a 6-4 record, averaging 79 points, 33.8 rebounds, 18.8 assists, 6.6 steals, 2.8 blocks, and shooting 42.9% from the field. Their opponents average 81.4 points per game. The Storm also hold a 6-4 record in their last 10 games, with an average of 76.9 points, 32.5 rebounds, 19.1 assists, 8.6 steals, 4.8 blocks, and a 41% shooting percentage, while their opponents average 74.8 points.
Injuries to note include Georgia Amoor from the Mystics and Katie Lou Samuelson from the Storm, both out for the season due to ACL and knee injuries respectively.
Fan Take: This game is significant for WNBA fans as it showcases two competitive teams with contrasting styles and strong key players. The matchup could impact playoff positioning and offers exciting talent that highlights the growing competitiveness and skill level in the league, a positive sign for the sport’s continued growth and fan engagement.
