WNBA: Rebounding struggles overshadow Williams’ return to Seattle Storm

For a lot of the 2024 WNBA common season, the story of the Seattle Storm has been about establishing chemistry as they attempt to bounce again from an 11-29 document and return to competition. An all-in free company interval that introduced stars Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith to Seattle all however assured the Storm would make the playoffs in 2024, although it was understood that they’d want time to get used to enjoying with one another, in addition to with 2023’s main scorer, Jewell Loyd, if the Storm have been actually going to be a championship-caliber group.

Seattle seemed to be headed in the proper course earlier than the mid-July Olympic break—not an ideal group by any means, however at 17-8, one which had been spectacular nonetheless—however has stumbled since then. The Storm have misplaced 5 of seven video games since WNBA play resumed in August, slipping to fifth place within the league standings as a number of regarding tendencies have emerged.

Picture by Scott Eklund/NBAE through Getty Pictures

Maybe probably the most obvious of these tendencies is how badly the Storm have been getting outrebounded. Since getting back from the Olympic break, Seattle has rebounded simply 66.2 p.c of accessible defensive rebounds and 44.4 p.c of accessible complete rebounds, each worst within the WNBA throughout that span. The Storm hit a low level on the boards in a loss to the New York Liberty final Friday, once they have been massively outrebounded 45-17.

“You simply can’t win video games giving up that many offensive rebounds and that many factors off offensive rebounds,” Storm head coach Noelle Quinn lamented after the sport. “Defensively, we’re flying round, we’re pressuring, we’re contesting, however now we have to complete performs with rebounds, interval.”

Quinn went on to explain the quantity of second-chance factors her group has been permitting as “backbreaking,” and it’s arduous to disagree. Seattle has been a reasonably stout defensive group thus far, posting a defensive ranking of 96.3 factors allowed per 100 possessions (fourth within the WNBA), however has allowed a median of 12 second-chance factors and 40 factors within the paint per recreation for the reason that break. It’s led to Storm opponents scoring over 90 factors 3 times prior to now two week—one thing that occurred solely twice in the complete first half of the season.

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It’s put a damper on the return of ahead Gabby Williams, who signed a rest-of-season contract with the Storm on Aug. 20. Williams had missed the primary half of the WNBA season whereas coaching with the French nationwide group (with whom she received a silver medal on the Paris Olympics), however selected to return to Seattle after a formidable worldwide exhibiting.

Theoretically, Williams improves the Storm’s depth whereas giving the group added playmaking from the ahead place. In 2023, she averaged career-highs in scoring (8.4) and assists (3.8), and he or she was named to the WNBA’s All-Protection Staff the season prior. Williams’ presence permits Quinn to maneuver Jordan Horston to the bench and, along with the second-year wing, provides Seattle a full 40 minutes of protection and athleticism on the perimeter.

That hasn’t helped the Storm’s struggles on the boards, although, and with simply two weeks remaining within the common season, time is working out for Seattle to seek out its second wind. Failing to take action may very well be the distinction between a championship run and a first-round playoff exit.