The Seattle Storm that will host the Portland Fire on Saturday night looking quite different from their matchup a little over two weeks ago. Since their meeting on June 17, when the Fire (8-12) beat the Storm (5-16) 94-89, Seattle has had Ezi Magbegor and Jordan Horston return from injury. Seattle has also seen its young stars continue to develop and begin to mesh better with each other.<\/p>\n
“I mean, Awa [Fam]’s been great, I think, obviously the last few games, she’s been very just comfortable and consistent in her minutes, and I think when she’s on the floor, she’s a big offensive and defensive presence,” Magbegor said after the Storm’s loss to the Phoenix Mercury on July 2. “She did great tonight. I think it’s just been fun to see her growth over the last few games, and you know, she’s not new to this professional life, but just to be able to see her settle into the (WNBA) is really exciting.”<\/p>\n
The Storm and Fire’s first game this season was just Fam’s tenth WNBA game after she missed the beginning of the year while finishing the regular season with Valencia Basket of Spain’s Liga Femenina. Fam scored 18 points in that game, which was her season high at the time.<\/p>\n
Seattle looked like a more mature team against the New York Liberty and Atlanta Dream. The Storm then regressed against the Mercury, who have been their kryptonite this season, as they reintroduced Magbegor and Horston to their lineup. Coach Sonia Raman was pleased with what she saw from Horston in her first game back from a foot injury.<\/p>\n
“With Jordan, she’s able to switch so much, so many of the actions that they run, and they play so many players who can play out in the perimeter, like bigger wings altogether,” Raman said. “So, having Jordan out there to be able to match up against one of them, but then also switch onto bigs, onto other wings, onto small point guards, like she can really guard every position, and that’s just such a luxury to have her back and have her out there.”<\/p>\n
One issue earning the team a few close losses is a struggle to close out games. Including the June 17 loss in Portland, Seattle has failed to outscore its opponent in the final period in five of its last six games. The Storm will look to regroup at home against Portland as they progress through growing pains and close out the first half of the season.<\/p>\n
“Awa’s like 12,” fellow rookie Flau’jae Johnson joked about Fam, who turned 20 on June 17, after Seattle’s win over Atlanta on June 27.<\/p>\n
Notes<\/p>\n