Storm looks to even the score against Valkyries
By Christan Braswell, edited by Charles Hamaker
San Francisco, CA - The upstart Golden State Valkyries (8-7) and the Bay Area community at large have built one of the loudest, most supportive fan bases in the WNBA in its inaugural season. The first expansion team since 2008 has sold out ten consecutive home games, which includes a rematch with the Seattle Storm today.
As Seattle sweeps into the Bay Area for a rematch after a 76-70 loss on June 14th, the messaging is clear. After totaling the fewest rebounds (20) in a game since 2013, the team knows what’s at stake.
“We have a tough game that we have to prepare for. We have a quick turnaround and a weird start time, to be honest, at 5:30 on Sunday. So, we have to get our minds set for that. That environment the Valkyries have curated, those fans have curated. It’s loud in there. They’re right on top of you and they’ve been playing some pretty good basketball. I think it’s just taking one game at a time. You can’t take any team lightly in this league. Everybody plays basketball. For us, no matter who we’re playing, just trying to keep the same standard of Storm basketball.”
Despite trailing by only six at 21-15 at the end of the first quarter of their last meeting, Seattle was outrebounded 12-to-4, which is one of the team’s lowest first-quarter totals all season. A third of Golden State’s rebounds were claimed on the offensive glass, and they used them for seven second-chance points. The new kids on the block were red hot inside the arc, scoring 16 points on 8-for-11 shooting.
The second frame wasn’t much better as the Valkyries went up by as much as 15, leading by 13 at the half. They simply beat the Storm at its own game by outrebounding them 19-to-8, leading the paint points battle 24-to-10.
Seattle had several pushes in the second half in an attempt to get back in the game, but the pressure Golden State generated from a zone-centered attack was too much to overcome.
Here are three ways the Storm can even the score against the Valkyries:
1. Keep The Same Standard of Storm Basketball
Seattle struggled to start games with a certain fervor at the onset of the season, but has changed the tide over the last several weeks. That wasn’t the case in the previous loss to Golden State, which was the Storm’s second loss in nine games. The standard of Storm basketball has several meanings, but the most important aspect is an emphasis on hustle plays that generate opportunities to score in transition. In 2025, that means from outside, too.
2. Three-Point Shooting
The team thrives in quick-strike looks, but shooting 5-for-16 from deep in the loss didn’t help matters. Entering their rematch, Golden State allows the third-most fast-break points (12.9). Playing in the open court and scoring in those situations gives the Storm the ability to get back and set their defense.
3. Move Without the Ball/Limit Giveaways
Storm players didn’t move without the ball enough to maximize angles and windows when facing Golden State’s zone. This played a role in the team’s poor shooting performance from outside. One major area where moving without the ball will aid Seattle’s process is limiting the number of turnovers caused by double teams.
Storm guard Erica Wheeler had six in the previous outing, where three of them were forced in this manner. Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike had five turnovers, and two were from meeting double teams at the rim.
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Check out our previous Seattle Storm articles here.
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