> ## 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. # Game Preview: Seattle Storm Season Opener vs. Phoenix Mercury - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/game-preview-seattle-storm-season-opener-vs-phoenix-mercury/ - Published: 2025-05-16T22:08:40.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T05:59:27.000Z - Author: Connor Benintendi - Tags: Storm, Dominique Malonga, Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Ezi Magbegor, Gabby Williams \[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1780"\] ![ Seattle Storm forward Ezi Magbegor drives during a game against the Minnesota Lynx on May 17, 2024. Credit: John McClellan ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/ezi_magbegor_2024a-format-original-1.jpg) Seattle Storm forward Ezi Magbegor drives during a game against the Minnesota Lynx on May 17, 2024\. Credit: John McClellan \[/caption\] Following training camp and final roster cuts, the Seattle Storm are preparing for their road season opener against the Phoenix Mercury at 7 p.m. PDT on Saturday, May 17\. Seattle’s final roster has just 10 active players, with Katie Lou Samuelson on the team but out for the season with an ACL tear. The Storm have just one rookie on the squad in No. 2 overall pick Dominique Malonga after waiving third-round picks Serena Sundell, Madison Conner and Jordan Hobbs. Rookie Mackenzie Holmes, a third-round pick in 2024 who didn’t sign last season due to a knee injury, was also waived despite a stellar preseason performance. Only three of the Storm’s 11 players have less than five years of WNBA experience (Li Yueru, Zia Cooke, and Malonga), making the roster veteran-heavy. That bodes well for this season, but it does create questions about the team’s viability beyond 2025. Seattle finished 25-15 last season and was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The Mercury suffered a similar fate in 2024, ending their season in round one of the postseason. Phoenix squeezed in, however, finishing the regular season with a 19-21 record. Like the Storm, who will be without Jewell Loyd for the first time since 2015, the Mercury are also beginning a new era in Phoenix on Saturday. Diana Taurasi announced her retirement this offseason after 20 seasons with the team. Taurasi led the Mercury to three WNBA championships during that span. Brittney Griner also left in free agency after 11 seasons in Phoenix. As a result, the Mercury were part of a four-team trade that brought in Satou Sabally from the Dallas Wings and Alyssa Thomas from the Connecticut Sun. That pair joins Kahleah Copper, who was third in the league in scoring last season (21.1 points per game). The Mercury’s roster is a near opposite to the Storm, however. Phoenix has five rookies on the team and eight players with under five years of WNBA experience. Sabally, Copper, Thomas, Brown and former Storm guard Sami Whitcomb are the only veterans on the roster. Seattle has experienced depth, giving them a clear upper hand in this contest. The biggest hindrance for the Storm will be whether they can sustain the season with just 10 players. Running with 11 rostered players is hard enough, and Seattle is one injury or illness away from being eligible to sign a hardship contract player. ### **Storm Player to Watch:** F/C Dominique Malonga This one is a no-brainer. In the first game of the season, everyone wants to see what Malonga’s immediate role will be. Will she start? (Unlikely.) Will she play more than 15 minutes? How quickly will she adjust, and what will her impact be? As the No. 2 overall pick, an immediate impact is expected. Especially considering Malonga’s skill set appears WNBA-ready. She will have some tough matchups down low against the Mercury with Thomas, Sabally and Kalani Brown. How Malonga immediately handles those experienced post players will be telling of where she is at development-wise. ### **Mercury Player to Watch:** G/F Kahleah Copper Copper trailed only Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (26.9 points per game) and Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale (22.2 points per game) in scoring average last season. Don’t be surprised to see her matched up with Gabby Williams frequently as Storm head coach Noelle Quinn tries to find a way to slow Copper down. She can shoot from anywhere on the floor, and will likely remain Phoenix’s No. 1 scoring option even with Sabally now in a Mercury uniform. If Copper gets going, she could take over the game quickly. The Storm will need to deny her the ball early and often. ### **Final Score Prediction:** Storm 84, Mercury 75 The Storm’s experienced bench is critical in this game. When the starters come out, Seattle’s subsequent units hold a clear advantage over Phoenix. It’ll also be interesting to see whether Quinn starts Lexie Brown, Erica Wheeler or Alysha Clark. Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins, Gabby Williams and Ezi Magbegor are the locked-in starters. Who fills the fifth spot? Considering Williams and Clark are both wings, Wheeler or Brown seem the most likely options at shooting guard. A real shocker would be Zia Cooke, but she figures to rotate in at point guard when Diggins needs rest. The battles in the post should be exciting in this matchup, especially with Malonga in the lineup for the first time.