The Seattle Storm are returning to Everett, and the expectation is more success.
This week’s Seattle Sidelines poll was about the reigning WNBA champions, who are coming back to Angel of the Winds Arena for their next two home games, Friday against the Washington Mystics and next Thursday against the Dallas Wings. These are the fourth and fifth games the Storm will play in Everett this season, and Seattle won each of the first three.
Therefore, we asked readers how they thought the Storm would fare in their final two regular season games at Angel of the Winds. Here’s how you voted:
POLL: The @seattlestorm return to Everett’s @AOTWArena for games Friday and Aug. 8. The Storm won their first three games in Everett. How will they fare in their final two? Full context, including a look at where Seattle and its opponents stand, here: https://t.co/vJsIQcnCqc
— Nick Patterson (@NickHPatterson) July 29, 2019
Add the two together and 70 percent of the responders predicted the Storm would win both games at Angel of the Winds. Twenty-four percent expect a split, while just 6 percent said Seattle would lose both.
There’s reason for optimism. The Storm, who are using Angel of the Winds as their secondary home this season while a new Seattle arena is built — Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on the campus of the University of Washington is the primary temporary home — seem to like playing in Everett, despite the hassle of getting to the games. Not only is Seattle 3-0, all three victories are against teams with .500 records or better.
For the Storm to pull off the sweep, however, they’re going to have to come up with something special. Seattle’s game Friday is against the Washington Mystics in a rematch of last year’s championship series. Washington is 13-6, which gives the Mystics the third-best record in the league, and Washington features the favorite in the league’s MVP race in Elena Della Donne.
That will be a major test for a Seattle team that continues to be without reigning league MVP Breanna Stewart and star point guard Sue Bird because of injuries. However, the Storm are 12-9 and have done far better than anyone expected, given Stewart and Bird have missed the entire season.
If the Storm can win Friday, the second half of the sweep appears to be much less difficult, as Dallas is tied for the league’s worst record at 5-15.
Seattle is led by forward Natasha Howard (18.1 points, 8.3 rebounds per game) and guards Jewell Loyd (14.4 points per game) and Jordin Canada (10.2 points, 5.1 assists per game).
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