Instant Takeaways: Seattle Storm Clobber Connecticut Sun in Lone Preseason Contest
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Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike during a game against the Minnesota Lynx on June 9, 2024. Credit: John McClellan [/caption]
Even without rookie No. 2 overall pick Dominique Malonga and starters Gabby Williams and Ezi Magbegor, the Seattle Storm started hot en route to a blowout 79-59 win over the Connecticut Sun on Sunday, May 4 at Climate Pledge Arena.
Seattle now has something to celebrate after losing forward Katie Lou Samuelson to a season-ending ACL tear on Thursday — the third Storm player designated to be sidelined for 2025 with devastating knee injuries (Nika Mühl and Jordan Horston). But the team didn’t miss a beat in their first game action of the new WNBA season.
It was an overwhelmingly positive performance for the Storm with some personnel surprises throughout. Here’s what we learned from Seattle’s first and only preseason game ahead of their season opener on Saturday, May 17.
Early, well-rounded offense leaves Sun in the dust
Four of the Storm’s five starters had at least seven points at halftime. The Storm led by as much as 22 points in the game, growing their lead with each quarter. Nine-time All-Star Nneka Ogwumike, to nobody’s surprise, led the group with 10 points through 20 minutes of play. She finished with a team-high 18 points. Seattle moved the ball well and, as a team, had good shot selection in the first half, especially.
The early 3-point shooting was a welcome sight despite it trailing off in the second half. That was a weakness for the team last season — posting a WNBA-low 28.8 percent team shooting percentage from beyond the arc. Ogwumike converted 4-of-5 3-pointers in the game.
Center Li Yueru may have a much bigger role than originally anticipated, putting together a dominant performance down low alongside Ogwumike. Veteran point guard Skylar Diggins added a healthy nine points, four assists and two steals, but did turn the ball over four times.
Yueru emerges
After Ogwumike, Yueru was the best player on the court. She dominated the paint, displaying a high basketball IQ with her off-ball movement and backing that up with impressive maneuverability on the inside. In just 19 minutes of play, Yueru totaled a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double. She shot an efficient 6-for-8 from the floor and only turned the ball over twice.
Yueru, acquired in an offseason trade with the LA Sparks, is a unique weapon at 6-7. She doesn’t have the lanky height of rookie No. 2 overall pick Dominique Malonga, either. Yueru’s frame is stout, and she has the strength to create on the inside against almost any player she might encounter this season.
With her performance Sunday, Yueru has almost certainly locked in a priority rotational role. Seattle can feel confident not missing a beat when Ezi Magbegor needs rest.
New rookies, third team underwhelm
Mackenzie Holmes, who was drafted last year but missed the season due to a knee injury, was the lone rookie standout for the Storm. Holmes was more than impressive, finishing with nine points (4-of-5 shooting), eight rebounds, and three blocks in 21 minutes on the court. She had four rebounds in just her first two minutes of play, immediately grabbing an offensive rebound once she checked in before getting a block on the other end.
Aside from Holmes, 2025 third-round picks Serena Sundell, Madison Conner and Jordan Hobbs had little impact. The trio combined for one point (0-for-5 shooting), eight rebounds, one assist, two steals and five turnovers. Sundell played by far the most of the three (18 minutes), while Hobbs and Conner combined for just 13 minutes.
Veteran guard Lexie Brown, previously expected to have a big role, played just 13 minutes and missed all four of her shots. She did, however, have a team-high five assists — consistently linking up with Holmes late in the game. Look out for Erica Wheeler (19 minutes) to fill the secondary shooting guard role when the team begins the season.
Defense, rebounding impress
The Storm outrebounded Connecticut 42-28 and had seven more assists. Seattle also held the Sun to just 32.3 percent shooting — well below the Storm’s mark in the game of 48.3 percent. That was a credit to Ogwumike, Yueru, and Holmes down low, not allowing Connecticut anything easy inside and forcing it into tougher mid-range attempts. The Sun shot 5-for-20 from 3-point range (25 percent).
Of course, like Seattle, Connecticut didn’t have all its best players available. But the defensive depth is impressive considering Malonga, Williams and Magbegor never touched the floor. Holmes boosted her stock massively on Sunday as a depth player in the post.
