Ezi

Magbegor

Wheeler was the Storm’s best shot maker on Thursday night as she made six shots, the most across the entire Storm team. While she also wasn’t the most efficient, she tied Nneka Ogwumike for the most points scored from the Storm of the night. Wheeler was most effective getting downhill since she missed most of the three-pointers she took. Although her most important shot came with 19.3 seconds left in regulation where she hit a 12-foot jumper to give the Storm a one point lead. Skylar Diggins got the ball to Wheeler once again with 4.4 seconds left in regulation while the Storm was down just a point, but Wheeler missed a 15-foot jumper losing the Storm the game. Just like Diggins, Wheeler registered assists to five different teammates which included Ogwumike, Diggins, Gabby Williams, Ezi Magbegor and Dominique Malonga.

Diggins was inefficient from the field only hitting just over 30% of her field goals. She missed six shots at the rim which is usually where she’s most effective. Diggins scored the ball beyond the arc, taking five three-pointers and making three of them. She had a chance to win her team the game with 12.4 seconds left in regulation. She got the ball at the top of the key and drove past Jackie Young and A’ja Wilson. She was met by Jewell Loyd right on the block but decided to pass the ball to Wheeler who had a more hot hand rather than trying to drive the ball to the rim through contact. Diggins also had six assists and found five different teammates in Ezi Magbegor, Nneka Ogwumike, Erica Wheeler, Brittney Sykes and Gabby Williams all for scores.

Malonga was one of the difference-makers for the Storm on both ends of the floor Tuesday night. She became the youngest player to record consecutive double-doubles in the postseason, but she was more impactful in her defense of A’ja Wilson. The Aces star did not score in the 7:06 of Game 2, with Malonga being her primary defender. Seattle took a measured approach to Malonga’s development this season, and she’s looked ready for prime time in her first two playoff games. A similar effort in Game 3 on Thursday would go a long way toward giving the Storm a chance of winning the series. Ezi Magbegor (4/5/3/1/2) may be the starter, but this is a series in which Malonga’s importance is magnified due to her height and athleticism.

The Storm don’t look to Magbegor for consistent offensive production, but she was one of six players to score at least 11 points in Saturday’s victory. She is expected to be impactful on the defensive end, with the 6-foot-4 post recording at least two blocked shots in four straight and five of her last six outings. Magbegor tossed in two steals and six rebounds, five of the offensive variety, on Saturday to help Seattle move to 5-1 in its last six games. If Magbegor, who has reached double figures twice since August 1, can offer a little more value offensively, that would help Seattle as the Storm look to lock down a playoff berth.

Besides Ogwumike, Sykes was the second player that was successful scoring the basketball for Seattle in their blowout loss to the Fever. She had her most productive quarter in the third when she was willing the Storm to try to get back into the game. She put pressure on the rim, getting into the paint and driving past Indiana Fever defenders Lexie Hull, Odyssey Sims and Kelsey Mitchell. But besides her third quarter burst, Sykes struggled to put points on the board. She did have three assists, however, finding Ezi Magbeegor and Nneka Ogwumike in spots where they had the advantage.

Magbegor almost recorded a double-double on Tuesday, though she failed to land her usual scoring efficiency. The veteran center connected on just 28.5 percent of her shots after shooting 1-of-5 from the field in the previous game against Golden State. Skylar Diggins’ absence (personal reasons) may have cost Magbegor some easier looks against the Wings. Diggins’ status for Thursday’s game against Chicago is unknown at this time, but fantasy managers will hope Magbegor can find her way regardless of the all-star point guard’s availability.

Magbegor had a season-high scoring performance against the Mystics, despite the output coming in a loss. In this rough offensive showing for the Storm, which scored only 69 points on 36.2 percent shooting, the sixth-year center was the only starter to shoot above 50 percent from the field. Magbegor has now reached double figures in scoring in four straight games and appears to be in a nice rhythm on the offensive end. She’s been productive in fantasy leagues as of late, and on Wednesday, she could extend her streak of double-digit scoring games to five against the Valkyries.

Magbegor is in one of her best offensive stretches of the season. In tying a season-high in points on Friday, the sixth-year center has now logged three straight games of at least 13 points and is shooting 62.5 percent from the field over that stretch to become the latest reliable scoring option for Seattle. The Storm will face the Mystics on Sunday and Magbegor will have an opportunity to extend her streak of double-digit scoring performances to four.

The Storm went to Magbegor early in the first quarter, where she hit four of her five made field goals. Skylar Diggins made sure to find the cutting Magbegor on the move as the Sun defense was paying most of their attention to Nneka Ogwumike. In addition to Magbegor’s excellent off-ball movement, she flashed her face-up game as a driver. When the Storm were struggling to score in the fourth, Seattle tried to get some production from Magbegor. But she was stuffed by both Tina Charles and Olivia Nelson-Ododa.

Two weeks removed from blocking five shots in a win over the Wings, Magbegor established a new season-high on Tuesday. The six rejections were two shy of her career-high, making up for a quiet night offensively. Also, Magbegor matched her season-high with five assists. Her streak of consecutive double-digit scoring efforts ended at two, but the Storm center is relied on more for her defense due to the established scorers in the team’s rotation. Seattle continues its road trip with a game against the Aces on Friday.