Tiffany

Mitchell

Mitchell had her most productive game offensively since July 13 when the Storm took on the Mystics where she also shot 71.4 % from the field on 5-of-7 shooting. Her field goals on Friday night were created in transition, on slashes to the basket and on mid-range pullups. Mitchell’s points in addition to the 22 from Dominque Malonga and 17 from Erica Wheeler allowed the Storm to outscore their opponent 62-60 just via the team’s bench points alone. This was the first time something like this has happened in WNBA history.

Wheeler was incredibly efficient in her 20 minutes coming off the bench. Two thirds of Wheeler’s made field goals came off three-pointers either in transition or on kick outs. This was Wheeler’s most efficient game from three since July 24. She also had four assists coming off the bench where she found Nneka Ogwumike on the block, Tiffany Mitchell slashing to the basket and Dominque Malonga running the floor in transition and slipping a screen.

Mitchell injured her right leg on a layup attempt in the first minute of the fourth quarter. While she required some assistance walking to the locker room, Storm coach Noelle Quinn said after the game that Mitchell was “doing okay.” Hopefully, the injury will not sideline the guard for additional time, as Seattle was already light on numbers. New addition Brittney Sykes should join the Storm soon, but the team still has little margin for error regarding injuries.

Mitchell will replace Skylar Diggins (personal) in the Storm’s starting lineup on Tuesday. Mitchell, a veteran guard, began the season with the Aces before being waived in late June and eventually signed on July 10 by Seattle. She has logged three games thus far with the Storm, having posted a season-high 12 points in just her second game with the team. In a starting role, she’ll look to build off of that recent high-scoring performance and help deliver the Storm a second straight victory.

Due to personal reasons, Diggins will miss a game for the first time this season. The All-Star guard’s absence leaves a massive hole in the Storm’s starting lineup, as Diggins provides consistent points and assist production when available. Erica Wheeler will likely spend more time on the ball, while Tiffany Mitchell is a potential replacement in the starting lineup.

Waived by the Aces on June 30, Mitchell has found a new home. She’s headed to Seattle, as the Storm are in dire need of improved bench production. The veteran guard appeared in 16 games for the Aces, averaging 3.7 points and 1.8 rebounds in 13.1 minutes. Seattle is ranked 12th in bench scoring, with the team’s reserves contributing 15.7 points per game.

The Aces needed to waive two players to complete their trade with Dallas for forward NaLyssa Smith. Mitchell and post Elizabeth Kitley were the two, with the former most recently playing 21 minutes off the bench in Sunday’s win over the Mercury. She had not exceeded 10 minutes in Las Vegas’ four games prior. The ninth overall pick of the Fever in the 2016 draft, Mitchell appeared in 16 games in her first season with the Aces, averaging 3.7 points and 1.8 rebounds in 13.1 minutes. Once she clears waivers, the veteran guard can sign with any team.

Young scored 60 percent of her total points in the fourth quarter which included two field goals at the rim coming off a cut and then a drive in addition to two trips to the foul line. Young, like A’ja Wilson, willed herself to the line and took advantage of how the Mercury’s defense was playing the Aces. Young also had the second-most assists on her team, finding three different teammates including Jewell Loyd, Aaliyah Nye and Tiffany Mitchell wide open from beyond the arc.

Back in the lineup after missing two games due to the league’s concussion protocols, Wilson made up for lost time with a robust stat line. All that was missing was a three-pointer, but with a career average of 0.3 triples per game, fantasy managers and WNBA fans understand that this is not part of Wilson’s repertoire. The seven turnovers committed against the Storm may have been a sign of A’ja being somewhat rusty in her first game back, but that isn’t a scoring category in standard ESPN leagues. Tiffany Mitchell, who started on Sunday against the Mercury, only played 10 minutes on Friday and was scoreless on two shot attempts.

After missing two games due to the league’s concussion protocols, Wilson is back in the Aces starting lineup. Tiffany Mitchell will return to the bench, with Wilson joining Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd, Jackie Young and Kiah Stokes in the starting five.