The Seattle Storm enter Tuesday’s visit to the Chicago Sky with a half-game lead on Los Angeles for the eighth and final WNBA playoff spot.
While Seattle (17-18) would prefer better breathing room with nine games remaining, the team’s struggles down the stretch have accumulated. The Storm have lost seven of eight, with six defeats coming by two possessions or fewer. That includes Sunday’s 85-82 home loss to Phoenix.
“It might just be the discipline and the focus that’s required for us to make the smaller plays consistently over the course of the game. … Those small things, in my opinion, are really the difference maker,” Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike said. “Not just flipping these single-digit losses into wins, but perhaps creating a cushion so that it’s not just a one- or two-possession loss.”
Ogwumike (24 points) and Skylar Diggins (14) paced four Seattle players in double figures. Erica Wheeler drilled a trey with 2:20 left to give the Storm their first lead of the game, but they couldn’t sustain momentum, getting outscored 22-18 in the final quarter.
Eighteen points in 10 minutes would have felt like a windfall to Chicago on Friday. The Sky managed only 19 points in the second half of their 90-59 home loss to Golden State after trailing the visiting Valkyries 42-40 at the break.
Chicago (8-25) has lost four straight and 12 of 13.
The Sky are optimistic that forward Angel Reese (back) could return soon. Reese, who is averaging 14.2 points and 12.6 rebounds in 23 games, missed her seventh straight contest Friday. Chicago coach Tyler Marsh said Sunday that Reese may be cleared for contact Monday.
Leading scorer Ariel Atkins, back recently from a calf injury, is rounding into health, too, leading the team with six rebounds against Golden State. Rachel Banham (15 points) and Kamilla Cardoso (14) sparked the attack, but the Sky still matched a league record with their fourth loss of at least 30 points this season.
“With 11 games left, we don’t want it to be a game where people are just looking to play Chicago,” Marsh said. “We want to know there’s going to be a fight each night.”
Seattle routed host Chicago 95-57 on July 24. Diggins led all scorers with 21 points.
The Storm are set to host the Sky on Aug. 30 to conclude the season series.
–Field Level Media
