Erica

Wheeler

Wheeler was the Storm’s best shot maker on Thursday night as she made six shots, the most across the entire Storm team. While she also wasn’t the most efficient, she tied Nneka Ogwumike for the most points scored from the Storm of the night. Wheeler was most effective getting downhill since she missed most of the three-pointers she took. Although her most important shot came with 19.3 seconds left in regulation where she hit a 12-foot jumper to give the Storm a one point lead. Skylar Diggins got the ball to Wheeler once again with 4.4 seconds left in regulation while the Storm was down just a point, but Wheeler missed a 15-foot jumper losing the Storm the game. Just like Diggins, Wheeler registered assists to five different teammates which included Ogwumike, Diggins, Gabby Williams, Ezi Magbegor and Dominique Malonga.

Diggins was inefficient from the field only hitting just over 30% of her field goals. She missed six shots at the rim which is usually where she’s most effective. Diggins scored the ball beyond the arc, taking five three-pointers and making three of them. She had a chance to win her team the game with 12.4 seconds left in regulation. She got the ball at the top of the key and drove past Jackie Young and A’ja Wilson. She was met by Jewell Loyd right on the block but decided to pass the ball to Wheeler who had a more hot hand rather than trying to drive the ball to the rim through contact. Diggins also had six assists and found five different teammates in Ezi Magbegor, Nneka Ogwumike, Erica Wheeler, Brittney Sykes and Gabby Williams all for scores.

Wheeler has reached double figures in four of her last five games, and she was huge down the stretch on Tuesday. With the Storm needing a win to clinch a playoff berth, Wheeler shot 4-of-6 from the field in the fourth quarter, including three three-pointers. Her jumper with 16.2 seconds remaining gave Seattle a 74-73 lead that would eventually become the final score, as Golden State missed two shots that would have given it the lead. The Storm will be seeded seventh or eighth, depending on the result of Thursday’s game between the Valkyries and Lynx. A Golden State win would lock Seattle into the eighth seed.

Wheeler did her most damage offensively for the Storm in the second quarter when she scored seven of her total 12 points. She took advantage of the Liberty’s switch heavy defense where New York miscommunicated on a bunch of possessions which led to her open looks. With just over four minutes remaining in regulation, Wheeler hit a deep 27-foot three pointer over the outstretched arms of Leonie Fiebich to get the Storm within four points. But with under a minute left, Wheeler tried to sell a foul call while guarding Breanna Stewart which later got overturned by a Liberty challenge. The Storm were in the bonus and as a result Stewart shot two more free throws.

Mitchell had her most productive game offensively since July 13 when the Storm took on the Mystics where she also shot 71.4 % from the field on 5-of-7 shooting. Her field goals on Friday night were created in transition, on slashes to the basket and on mid-range pullups. Mitchell’s points in addition to the 22 from Dominque Malonga and 17 from Erica Wheeler allowed the Storm to outscore their opponent 62-60 just via the team’s bench points alone. This was the first time something like this has happened in WNBA history.

Wheeler was incredibly efficient in her 20 minutes coming off the bench. Two thirds of Wheeler’s made field goals came off three-pointers either in transition or on kick outs. This was Wheeler’s most efficient game from three since July 24. She also had four assists coming off the bench where she found Nneka Ogwumike on the block, Tiffany Mitchell slashing to the basket and Dominque Malonga running the floor in transition and slipping a screen.

The Storm were hoping that Sykes’s addition to the roster would provide a spark, but that has not been the case. Seattle has lost six straight, the last three with Sykes on the roster. After scoring 27 points against the Sparks on Sunday, Sykes’s production dropped significantly against the Dream, as she shot 2-of-10 from the field. Sykes did play 33 minutes on Wednesday, and the playing time makes were a player worth holding onto. However, Erica Wheeler’s playing time has taken a significant hit, as she played 15 minutes against Atlanta. Wheeler finished with six points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals and two three-pointers. Fantasy managers who can find an alternative to Wheeler on the waiver wire should not hesitate to switch.

Ahead of her second game with the Storm after being traded from the Mystics, Sykes has been listed as one of Seattle’s five starters for Sunday’s contest. The newly acquired guard will replace Erica Wheeler, who had become a full-time starter for Seattle earlier in the season. Sykes played well in her debut with the Storm on Friday, tallying 14 points and six assists in 29 minutes against the Aces. Her insertion into the starting unit will provide the Storm with a combination of scoring, playmaking, and on-ball defense, as they look to end a four-game losing streak.

Wheeler led all starers in scoring, and led the entire team in shot attempts. She scored on a mix of drives and pull-up shots, including one three-pointer. She made sure to find her new teammate Brittney Sykes on a pair of shots including a transition three-pointer and cutting layup. Wheeler registered three steals, getting her hands in the drives of both A’ja Wilson and Jewell Loyd. This is her third game in a row forcing multiple steals which ties her longest streak since 2017 when she was playing for the Fever.

While the Mystics have been the subject of multiple rumors ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline, few, if any, included Sykes. The veteran guard, who made her first All-Star Game appearance last month, is headed to the Pacific Northwest in a significant move for Seattle. Sykes has averaged 15.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.8 three-pointers per game this season, and her addition gives Seattle a much-needed boost on both ends of the floor. Her arrival may result in Erica Wheeler returning to the bench, which would boost Seattle’s reserves, and rookie Dominique Malonga should continue to play more minutes. Sykes being traded will likely result in more opportunities for Mystics guards Jade Melbourne and Lucy Olsen for the rest of the season.