> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # 4 Keys to Victory: Storm Look to Snap 6-Game Skid vs. Dream - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/4-keys-to-victory-storm-look-to-snap-6-game-skid-vs-dream/ - Published: 2025-08-15T21:25:37.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T05:36:44.000Z - Author: Connor Benintendi - Tags: Storm, Dominique Malonga, Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins, Gabby Williams, Brittney Sykes, Erica Wheeler, Ezi Magbegor [Embed from Getty Images](http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/2223839204?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) The Seattle Storm [desperately need a win against the Atlanta Dream](https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/home/analysis-whats-wrong-with-the-seattle-storm) when they meet at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, B.C., at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 15\. It will be the second straight meeting between the two teams and fourth of the regular season (Atlanta leads season series 2-1). Seattle (16-17) is on a six-game losing streak — its worst of the season — and is yet to win a game in August. Atlanta (21-11) is trending in the opposite direction, winning each of its last six games, including an 85-75 win over the Storm on Wednesday, Aug. 13\. The Storm are at risk of dropping out of the playoff picture into the ninth seed if they lose and the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Dallas Wings. Let’s take a look at the critical factors the Storm need to snap their recent skid. ### **It can’t all be on Nneka Ogwumike** Ogwumike scored a team-high 29 points in the loss to Atlanta on Wednesday, and Gabby Williams was the Storm’s next highest scorer with just 11 points. The 35-year-old has been the most consistent scorer for Seattle all season, but even she can’t will them into games if the rest of the lineup can’t buy a bucket. We’ve seen what the offensive ceiling is for Brittney Sykes, Skylar Diggins, Erica Wheeler, Dominique Malonga and Williams — they need to be much closer to their best if Seattle hopes to get a win. ### **Continue the inside-out offense** The Storm are middle of the pack in 3-point percentage (33.4 percent) but are ninth in threes made per game (7.4). They aren’t a bad long-range shooting team, but they also aren’t converting enough each game to compete with the top teams in that area. One of the best ways to defend Seattle this season has been to play off defensively to limit its interior offense and close out on its shooters. The Storm don’t have a truly punishing long-range sharpshooter, so they can’t consistently make the defense pay. However, Seattle has been good in the paint over their six-game losing streak (45.3 points per game) and has made six or more threes in five of those games. That’s a recipe for success, and they have to stick with it. It’s keeping them in games even if they haven’t been closing them out late. The Storm are 8-3 this season when converting at least nine threes. All three of those losses have been during the current losing streak. It’s been a winning formula — they just have to make the critical plays down the stretch. ### **Backcourt defense has to step up** Diggins, Sykes and Williams are among the best perimeter defenders in the WNBA. The Storm can’t be giving up a combined 47 points — like they did on Wednesday — to Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray and expect to beat the Dream. That’s why Seattle traded for Sykes. When any one of Diggins, Wheeler, or Williams needed rest, the Storm’s bench was giving up too much on the perimeter. Thus, with Wheeler back on the bench, they could theoretically keep more effective backcourt defenders on the court at any given time. So far, that plan hasn’t come together. It’s now been three straight games of poor perimeter defense and closeout. Atlanta shot 12 for 26 from 3-point range (46.2 percent) in the last meeting, while the Los Angeles Sparks (51.9 percent) and Las Vegas Aces (45.5 percent) also scorched Seattle from beyond the arc. ### **Crash the boards, then crash them again** The Dream has outrebounded the Storm in all three matchups this season, and the last two matchups were landslides. It’s not a surprise, as Seattle is the second-worst rebounding team in the league (31.5 rebounds per game) and Atlanta is the best (36.4), but it has to be a point of emphasis heading into this contest. Malonga, even though she struggled offensively against Atlanta, has to play more than 13 minutes. She’s Seattle’s best rebounder by a country mile, and she will be key to pulling the Dream’s defense inside even if she struggles shooting once again. Ogwumike will also be pivotal in that contest. Seattle needs as many opportunities on offense as it can get, and it needs to shut down second chances for Atlanta.