The Seattle Storm, fresh off a thrilling 89-77 victory over the Indiana Fever, are set to face the Dallas Wings in a Western Conference showdown. Jewell Loyd’s impressive 34-point performance led the Storm to their fourth win in five games, and they now sit at 4-5 against Western Conference opponents.
Seattle’s dominance in the paint, led by Nneka Ogwumike’s 12.3 points per game, has been a key factor in their success. The Storm’s 40.9 points in the paint per game rank second in the WNBA. Meanwhile, the Wings have struggled in conference play, holding a 3-6 record and allowing an average of 87.1 points per game.
The Storm’s strong shooting percentage (43.1%) and rebounding prowess (35.2 rebounds per game) will be tested by the Wings’ defense, which allows 45.1% shooting from the field.
Additionally, Seattle’s ability to sink three-pointers (7.0 per game) may be challenged by Dallas’s perimeter defense, which allows 5.7 made three-pointers per game.
As the teams meet for the first time this season, top performers Ezi Magbegor (13.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game for the Storm) and Monique Billings (10.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game for the Wings) will be key players to watch.
The Storm’s recent success and the Wings’ struggles suggest a potentially lopsided matchup, but the Wings’ ability to end their 11-game losing streak with a 94-88 win over the Lynx suggests they may be due for a turnaround.