Tag: Jewell Lloyd

Photo Courtesy of Susan Lesch

2019 WNBA Playoffs: Los Angeles Sparks vs Seattle Storm Preview

The second round of the WNBA Playoffs start today with a single elimination game between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Seattle Storm. The Sparks earned the third seed giving them a first round bye while the sixth seeded Storm had to defeat the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday. The Storm were in control the whole game against the Lynx winning 84-74. But today’s matchup flips the script for the Storm who come into this game as the underdog.

Not only is Seattle the lower seed, but they lost the regular season series to L.A. (3-1) and their most recent matchup, just ten days ago, saw L.A. win 102-68. In that game, Candace Parker had 20 points accompanied with nine rebounds for the Sparks alongside her teammate, Nneka Ogwumike who had a double-double with 14 points and ten rebounds. The Sparks have won three straight games and are tied with the Connecticut Sun for the best home record in the WNBA with a record of 15-2.

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The Storm will have their hands full when they walk into the Spark’s home court later today, but they are hoping their players can step up like they did last game against the Lynx. Seattle’s leading scorer, Natasha Howard, was limited to just two points on Wednesday and would typically be cause for concern, however they had other players shooting lights out on the court. Jordin Canada had a career-high 26 points. She has the task of filling the role of Sue Bird, who is out with injury, and Canada will need another career-best night to help the Storm advance. Jewell Lloyd also carried some of the offensive load putting up 22 points.

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The lone win for the Storm over the Sparks had Parker and N. Ogwumike combined for only 12 points while Howard and Lloyd combined for 43 points. Shutting down Parker and N. Ogwumike would be the easy answer to saying how the Storm could pull out the win today, but denying two former MVPs twice in a season seems a bit out of reach.

The game cannot be talked about purely with offense. The Storm have this year’s Defensive Player of the Year in Howard and the Sparks have the 2017 and 2018 Defensive Player of the Year in Alana Beard. Who may very well find themselves guarding one another throughout the game, but also called upon to take on the other offensive powers on the opposing teams.

Regardless of who is guarding who be ready for an aggressive back and forth game. The Sparks have the advantage in this game to advance to the next round, but if the Storm can recreate their June 21 game against the Sparks they may just come away with the upset.

You can match this game today at 3 pm ET on ESPN 2.

Photo Courtesy of Lorie Shaull

2019 WNBA Playoffs: Minnesota Lynx vs Seattle Storm Preview

The second WNBA Postseason matchup showcases the Minnesota Lynx and the Seattle Storm. This is a single elimination game, meaning win or go home tonight.

On paper this will be a tight game. Seattle is the sixth seed and Minnesota is the seventh seed, both have 18-16 overall records with 7-10 road records and 11-6 home records. For tonight’s contest the Storm will be hosting the Lynx with the Storm winning both of their home games against the Lynx this season and a 3-1 overall series lead.

These two teams are the most recent WNBA Champions, Minnesota in 2017 and Seattle in 2018. However, both of these teams are missing key pieces from their championship wins. The Lynx are without Maya Moore, who decided to sit out the 2019 WNBA season and Lindsay Whalen who has retired from professional basketball. On the other side, the Storm are without Breanna Stewart, 2018 MVP, and Sue Bird, both due to injury. But these teams have dealt with that all year and will not use missing players as an excuse in the postseason.

Instead they will be relying on their other top players to carry each team into the second round. Minnesota still has veteran leader, Sylvia Fowles, who has 13.6 points per game with 8.9 rebounds per game. The Lynx has also seen heavy contribution from Odyssey Sims who is averaging 14.5 points per game along with 5.4 assists per game. But perhaps the most intriguing player to watch for Minnesota is possible Rookie of the Year, Napheesa Collier, who has stepped up this year notching 13.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.

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For Seattle, they have All-Star and recently announced Defensive Player of the Year, Natasha Howard, who will be busy all game guarding Fowles. She also produces on the offensive side of the ball with 18.1 points per game. A player who has stepped up this season has been Jewell Lloyd. She gives the Storm an average of 12.3 points per game.

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The Storm do come into the game with the slight edge over the Lynx given their head-to-head record and the home court advantage. But the WNBA makes the first round interesting and throws away series records for a single elimination game.

You can watch this game at 10 pm ET on ESPN 2 which immediately follows the Phoenix Mercury vs Chicago Sky game.