On paper, a Seattle Storm team featuring Jewel Loyd, Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins-Smith and Eji Magbegor should be a contender for the championship. WNBA Championship this season.
But the star players they've recruited this offseason haven't translated into consistent play on the court, as the Storm fall to fifth in the WNBA standings with an 18-11 record and have lost three of their four games since the Olympic hiatus.
Seattle lost to Washington 76-74 on Monday after Mystics guard Brittney Sykes sealed the victory with two free throws with one second left in the game.
Sykes was able to draw a foul on Storms guard Skylar Diggins-Smith, who was vocal about her dissatisfaction with the team's overall play after the game.
“I messed up at the end, it was a big foul, and as a veteran, you can't play like that,” she said, “but it sucks that it ended like that.”
Diggins-Smith lamented Seattle's effort, as they allowed the Mystics to score 24 points in the first quarter and looked slow and disjointed defensively from the start.
“In this league, if you're not ready to go out there and play, you're going to lose every night,” Diggins-Smith said. “They were ready to go out there and we weren't, on both sides of the basketball. They deserved to win if we played like that.”
Diggins Smith finished with 10 points, eight assists and four turnovers. Nneka Ogwumike had nine points (4-of-14 field goal shooting), 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals. Jewel Loyd struggled from the field but led the way in scoring with 16 points on 5-of-18 shooting.
Sykes led the Mystics with 20 points and Emily Engstler came off the bench to add 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting.
The loss dropped Seattle to 5-5 in their last 10 games. If the playoffs started today, Seattle would face the two-time defending champions Las Vegas Aces on the road in the first round.
“We have to step it up now and we're not there yet,” Diggins-Smith said. “The way we're playing on both sides of the basketball is unacceptable.”
Skylar Diggins-Smith was pretty furious after the Storm's loss to the Mystics tonight.
“In this league, if you're not ready to play, you're going to lose every night.
“The way we're playing on both sides of the basketball is unacceptable.” pic.twitter.com/9LzVPA0WYl
— Noah Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) August 27, 2024
“We all have to look at ourselves and take responsibility,” said Sami Whitcomb, who added 11 points off the bench.
Storms manager Noel Quinn agreed with his players that the team did not approach the game properly and took responsibility for not being ready for the match.
“We just weren't connected offensively,” Quinn said. “We didn't play this game with the right energy or mindset.”
Coach Diggins-Smith urged his team to do even better going forward.
“We've all got to try harder. In this league, it's only tougher after a break,” Diggins-Smith said. “And that's fine, but if you don't come out of the gate ready to go, you're going to lose.”
