Game: Seattle Storm (5-7) at Washington Mystics (2-8) When: 4 p.m. Tuesday Where: Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. Meeting: Second (Storm 72-55 Win) TV: ESPN2
The Storm’s next test: seeing whether the defensive revival can carry into its latest four-game road trip.
Seattle has gone cross-country to take on the Washington Mystics for the second time in three days Tuesday night at the Verizon Center in hopes of extending its four-game winning streak. Anchored by a balanced scoring attack, the Storm has three players averaging in double figures. Ann Wauters is averaging 10 points and 6.2 rebounds per game after scoring a team-high 14 points Sunday.
The six-foot four-inch Belgian center said her club’s offense starts at the defensive end.
“If we’re active like that (on defense) it always helps us get going in our offense and be aggressive,” she said. “I think our offense we executed pretty well.”
Storm head coach Brian Agler may have found a recipe for success while experimenting with a variety of different lineups in Seattle’s blowout win over the Mystics. The Storm looked especially formidable in the front court when Wauters and power forward Ewelina Kobryn were on the floor at the same time. The tandem helped Seattle on the glass after the Mystics controlled the rebounding advantage for most of the game.
“I think as the season goes, our staff will definitely try different lineups,” Wauters said. “We played with a bigger lineup and that can help us. It’s always good to have that option.”
Seattle Stats/Notes:
- Seattle waived injury-riddled reserve Victoria Dunlap Tuesday morning. The move makes room for the Storm to pick up a healthy player while they wait to possibly re-sign Dunlap after she recovers from her second concussion of the season.
- Storm shooting guard Katie Smith became the 38th WNBA player with 1,250 career rebounds.
- The Storm shot a season-best 56.3 percent from the field Sunday.
- Seattle didn’t allow a fast-break point for the second consecutive game, leading the Mystics 10-0 in transition points.
- Seattle held its previous three opponents to their worst shooting percentages of the season.
- Agler again may be forced to go with a bigger lineup. The Storm had a WNBA season-low two offensive rebounds Sunday.
Washington Stats/Notes:
- Mystics’ leading-scorer Crystal Langhorne had 20-plus points for the fourth time this season Sunday.
- Washington shot a season-worst 34.9 percent from the field and scored a season-low 55 points.
- The Mystics grabbed a season-best 13 offensive rebounds.
- With a 2-8 record, the Mystics, losers of three in a row, are last in the Eastern Conference.
- Washington’s Monique Curry didn’t score for the first time this season. She averages 9.8 points per game.
Coaches: Brian Agler is in his fifth season with Seattle. Trudi Lacey is coaching her first season with the Mystics.
Coming Up: After three days off, the Storm play at New York at 1 p.m. Saturday in a game televised by NBA TV.
SEATTLE STORM 2012 SCHEDULE/RESULTS
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Score | Rec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/18/12 | vs. Los Angeles | L | 66-72 | 0-1 |
| 5/22/12 | at Los Angeles | L | 74-61 | 0-2 |
| 5/27/12 | at Minnesota | L | 84-71 | 0-3 |
| 6/1/12 | vs. Tulsa | W | 76-58 | 1-3 |
| 6/3/12 | at Los Angeles | L | 65-67 | 1-4 |
| 6/6/12 | at Minnesota | L | 55-79 | 1-5 |
| 6/9/12 | at San Antonio | L | 67-80 | 1-6 |
| 6/13/12 | at Chicago | L | 58-74 | 1-7 |
| 6/15/12 | at Tulsa | W | 86-73 | 2-7 |
| 6/17/12 | vs. Minnesota | W | 65-62 | 3-7 |
| 6/22/12 | vs. San Antonio | W | 82-76 | 4-7 |
| 6/24/12 | vs. Washington | W | 72-55 | 5-7 |
| 6/26/12 | at Washington | — | — | — |
| 6/30/12 | at New York | — | — | — |
| 7/1/12 | at Connecticut | — | — | — |
| 7/7/12 | at Los Angeles | — | — | — |
| 7/8/12 | vs. Phoenix | — | — | — |
| 7/11/12 | vs. Atlanta | — | — | — |
| 7/13/12 | at Phoenix | — | — | — |
| 8/16/12 | vs. Phoenix | — | — | — |
| 8/18/12 | vs. Los Angeles | — | — | — |
| 8/21/12 | vs. Minnesota | — | — | — |
| 8/23/12 | vs. Indiana | — | — | — |
| 8/26/12 | vs. New York | — | — | — |
| 8/30/12 | vs. Phoenix | — | — | — |
| 9/6/12 | vs. Tulsa | — | — | — |
| 9/8/12 | at Tulsa | — | — | — |
| 9/11/12 | at Atlanta | — | — | — |
| 9/12/12 | at Indiana | — | — | — |
| 9/14/12 | at San Antonio | — | — | — |
| 9/16/12 | vs. Connecticut | — | — | — |
| 9/18/12 | vs. Chicago | — | — | — |
| 9/21/12 | vs. San Antonio | — | — | — |
| 9/23/12 | at Phoenix | — | — | — |