The Seattle Storm return home from a three-game road swing on Friday when they face the Los Angeles Sparks for the first time since June\u2019s Commissioner\u2019s Cup.<\/p>\n
Seattle (16-11) bookended last week\u2019s series of away dates with routs of Chicago and Connecticut. The Storm\u2019s 196 combined points in the wins contrasted with a 58-point showing in their July 26 loss at Washington, Seattle\u2019s lone setback on the trip.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe talked about after the All-Star break \u2026 rebounding and being pursuant of the basketball and how that helps us in the (fast) break,\u201d Storm guard Skylar Diggins said following Monday\u2019s win.<\/p>\n
Seattle was dominated on the glass at Washington, 44-28, but turned it around against Connecticut with a 37-26 edge. Diggins was responsible for 12 of those rebounds, which, along with 11 points and 11 assists, resulted in her first career triple-double.<\/p>\n
For the season, the Storm have struggled with a rebounding disparity of 35.8 rebounds allowed per contest vs. 31.6 secured.<\/p>\n
Despite forward Azura Stevens ranking third in the WNBA with 8.6 boards per game, Los Angeles (11-15) comes into Friday\u2019s contest averaging 33.1 rebounds per outing to rank 11th in the league. Only Seattle and Connecticut average fewer.<\/p>\n
However, thanks to a recent offensive resurgence, Los Angeles has reinvigorated playoff hopes that appeared futile shortly before the All-Star break.<\/p>\n
The Sparks were just 6-14 less than a month ago but ran off five straight wins while scoring at least 92 points in every game. Their winning streak ended the last time out in an 89-74 loss on Tuesday vs. Las Vegas.<\/p>\n
The 74 points scored in Tuesday\u2019s setback marked the Sparks\u2019 fewest since an 82-66 loss at league-leading Minnesota on June 21.<\/p>\n
Despite its winning streak coming to an end, the loss was not without a bright spot. Cameron Brink, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, made her first appearance since sustaining a torn ACL in June 2024.<\/p>\n
Brink, who established herself as a standout interior defender with 2.3 blocks per game for the first month of her injury-shortened rookie season, returned to action and made an impact on the Sparks\u2019 offense with a 3-pointer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was really proud of her. Very impressive to come in and make the impact she did,\u201d said Los Angeles veteran guard Kelsey Plum. \u201cCam\u2019s a competitor, and I love that. I think she\u2019s going to continue to help us a ton.\u201d<\/p>\n
If Brink can continue to contribute offensively, she could free the court more for Plum, whose 20.2 points per game are the third-most in the WNBA.<\/p>\n
\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n
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