Storm vs. Wings Preview: Loyd Aims for Third Straight 30+ as Wings Seek Revenge

On July 2nd, the WNBA regular season continues with the Seattle Storm hosting the Dallas Wings.

The Seattle Storm have had a solid season so far, posting a 12-6 record and sitting in fourth place in the league. This is in part due to their off-season trades, which brought in Ogwumike and Diggins-Smith, providing more support for Loyd. Recently, the Storm have been on a roll, defeating the Wings in their previous match, 97-76 at home, securing a three-game winning streak. Loyd has been exceptional, going to the free throw line 17 times and finishing with 30 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, marking her second consecutive 30-point game. She now has a chance to notch a third straight 30+ performance against the Wings.

The Storm have been balanced on both ends of the court this season, averaging 83.6 points while conceding just 78.3 points, ranking among the league’s best. Lloyd remains the team’s leader with an average of 19.9 points per game, but she is no longer alone, as Ogwumike and Diggins-Smith provide consistent contributions, and Magbegor chips in with 13.5 points per game. This has been key to the team’s improvement and the trades have paid off handsomely.

The Dallas Wings, on the other hand, have struggled, compiling a 4-14 record and sitting in tenth place. They’ve endured a losing streak, suffering an 11-game losing skid before upsetting the Lynx to end the slide. However, they were unable to challenge the Storm in their last meeting, succumbing to a 21-point defeat. Offensively, the Wings rely heavily on Ogunbowale, who scored 24 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists on 6-of-10 shooting from three, while the rest of the team combined to go 0-of-8 from beyond the arc.

The Wings’ underwhelming season can also be attributed to injuries, with Sabally missing time, Howard recently returning, and Sigrid still injured, preventing them from fielding a full-strength squad. Defensively, the Wings have allowed an average of 87.7 points per game, while their offense has largely depended on Ogunbowale’s 23.9 points per game, lacking sufficient support.

This marks the third meeting between the teams this season, with the Storm prevailing in both prior contests. Given the disparity in both talent and current form, the Wings are at a disadvantage. Furthermore, the game takes place at the Storm’s home court, where they hold a 7-1 record and are playing exceptionally well. A Dallas revenge win appears unlikely.

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