New-era Storm show out early, can’t play full effort in preseason loss to Mercury
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – A new age of Seattle Storm basketball is underway, showing reasons for both hope and worry in their first preseason game ahead of the 2023 season. The young Storm team started out with a lineup of veterans, and that group shot out with an immediate 11-0 run and grew a lead that reached 17 at one point. It looked like Seattle was going to be able to use their group of “misfits” to come together and truly play as a team to get victories, but things started to fall apart in the third quarter when the team simply couldn’t get stops on the Mercury. The Storm rookies attempted to mount a comeback in the dying moments of the fourth quarter, but failed to prevent Phoenix from furthering their lead.
Storm guard Jewell Loyd and Mercury guard Diana Taurasi had fun with each other in the game, two veterans that know each other very well (Photos by Mathew Bermudez)
Heating up in the first half
The beginning of this game very much looked like the type of Storm basketball that we’ve become accustomed to in recent memory, as who else but Jewell Loyd buried a three-pointer to open the scoring and begin a Seattle run. Veteran Yvonne Turner, starting the night as the Storm point guard, buried a three-pointer to follow up Loyd. Kia Nurse joined in to make it a trifecta of triples to begin this game and it felt like we were watching the big three of Bird-Stewart-Loyd with different faces. Nurse added two free throws before Phoenix was finally able to break through and end the run, as legend Diana Taurasi buried a three. The run had featured critical perimeter play on both ends, with the Mercury missing three of their four shots from beyond the arc.
While Phoenix did close the gap to two by the team the first fifteen minutes had ended, the injection of some Storm youth onto the court helped Seattle build a strong lead that had hopes running high. Jordan Horston, the ninth overall selection in this past year's draft, brought a spark of offensive versatility and defensive range. Rookie point guard Jade Melbourne, drafted in 2021 but played another year professionally before joining the team this year, was able to hang with the veterans even if she got roughed up a bit. It was encouraging to see the Storm get impact minutes from these rookie guards in their first ever game against real competition, as those two very likely could be a huge part of the future of this franchise.
The Seattle Storm got key contributions from rookies and veterans alike throughout the game (Photos by Mathew Bermudez)
Dulcy’s determination helps to drag the Storm back in it
Rookie forward and second round selection Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, out of USF, had several “doubts” surrounding her after Seattle selected her. She was viewed as too small to be a center in the WNBA, the Storm already have Ezi Magbegor and Mercedes on the roster in addition to signing Theresa Plaisance this offseason, plus Fankam Mendjiadeu was a late bloomer in college. A double-double machine at University, Dulcy nearly delivered that kind of performance tonight and was the best performer on the Storm roster. The biggest performer in the second half of the game, Fankam Mendjiadeu drove the comeback attempt as she had numerous fouls drawn in the paint and helped grab key rebounds to keep possessions alive.
Seattle Storm center Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu nearly had a double-double in the loss (Photos by Mathew Bermudez)
Growing pains show up in first contest as a group
As everyone expected, this Storm team did have some injuries hold them back in this game, and the rough stretch that they faced ended up playing a big factor into why they lost this game. Out of the halftime break, the Mercury (with their starters now resting) were able to blow by the Seattle defenders on the court and force the Storm into bad shots throughout the third quarter. Seattle went on to miss their first three field goals of that quarter, and couldn’t stop Phoenix inside the paint or outside on the perimeter. The Mercury were playing good basketball, and clamped down the Storm as if the first half never happened. Seattle was only able to knock down four field goals in those fifteen minutes, all within three-point range. Although Ezi Magbegor did get a one-point lead back during the Phoenix surge, the Mercury regained the advantage and never looked back.
The younger Storm players, whether they be rookies or older players that aren’t technically “veterans” yet, battled ferociously to try and make a comeback complete. The two primary catalysts in this effort were Jade Melbourne and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, and if seeing those two fight in clutch situations to get this Seattle team into a positive result, that’s something I am looking forward to seeing for years to come. Fankam Mendjiadeu drew contact in the paint and battled hard for rebounds, doing her best to get cut into the Mercury advantage. Melbourne ran the offense, taking on hard contact as well and showing great fight for a player that is entering her first year in the WNBA. While Seattle couldn’t pull off the comeback effort, there were certainly bright spots in this loss.
The Storm huddle up during the game (Photo by Mathew Bermudez)
Quick notes
Attendance for tonight’s game was 5,119 inside of Climate Pledge Arena
Storm rookie Jordan Horston, ninth overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft, sank back-to-back baskets in the second quarter to start a 17-2 Seattle scoring run. The Tennessee graduate ended the game with five points, three rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block.
Seattle’s three returners tallied 20 points, with eight each from Jewell Loyd and Magbegor and four from Mercedes Russell on a combined 8-for-17 shooting. They also teamed up for 10 rebounds.
Seattle took exceptional care of the basketball, committing just nine turnovers, and had none in the second quarter.
What’s next?
Before their opening night battle against the reigning WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces, a team that somehow got better this offseason, Seattle will play one more exhibition game. The Storm will head down to California for a closed scrimmage in Los Angeles against the Sparks on May 14th. Head coach Noelle Quinn said that Seattle still has a ton to figure out when it comes to the roster and the necessary decisions needed to be made to trim down before the regular season deadline, and the remainder of training camp and this scrimmage should help the coaching staff and front office figure out who wears a Storm jersey this year.