2021 Seattle Storm season

Last updated

2021 Seattle Storm season
Coach Noelle Quinn (since May 30)
Dan Hughes (before May 30)
Arena Angel of the Winds Arena
Attendance2,607 per game
Results
Record21–11 (.656)
Place3rd (Western)
Playoff finish4th seed; Lost in Second Round to Phoenix Mercury
Team Leaders
Points Breanna Stewart – 20.3 ppg
Rebounds Breanna Stewart – 9.5 rpg
Assists Sue Bird – 5.3 apg

The 2021 Seattle Storm season is the franchise's 22nd season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Due to ongoing renovations at the Climate Pledge Arena, the Storm played their home games at the Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. [1]

Contents

On May 30, 2021, head coach Dan Hughes announced his retirement; the Storm named associate head coach Noelle Quinn as his permanent replacement. [2]

The Storm started the season with a finals rematch against the Las Vegas Aces. They split the series at home, 1–1. The rest of the opening month went smoother for the team, as that would be their only loss in May. Two of their wins game in overtime as well. The strong start continued into June, with the team winning their first two games of the month to extend their winning streak to six games. That streak was snapped on June 6, with a one point loss to Dallas. A five game winning streak followed the loss, but it was broken by the Storm losing their last two games of June to finish the month 7–3. The team won four of their five games in July, with their only loss coming away against Phoenix. They took a 16–5 record into the Olympic break.

The first game back from the Olympic break was the inaugural Commissioner's Cup Final, which the Storm won. The game was a dominating 79-57 victory over the Connecticut Sun. Breanna Stewart was named MVP of the game. However, she would not play in their next two games, which the Storm would both lose. The team turned their streak around with two wins, but they were followed by two losses, to give the Storm a 2–5 record in August. September proved to be a better month as the team won three of their four games to finish the season with a 21–11 record.

Their record earned them the fourth seed in the 2021 WNBA Playoffs, which gave them a bye into the Second Round. The Storm hosted the Phoenix Mercury and lost 80–85 in overtime; Stewart did not play in the game.

Transactions

WNBA draft

RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/Team/Country
111 Aaliyah Wilson Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Texas A&M
218 Kiana Williams Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Stanford
223 N'dea Jones Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Texas A&M
335 Natalie Kucowski Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Lafayette

Trades and roster changes

DateDetails
February 1, 2021Re-Signed G Epiphanny Prince [3]
February 8, 2021F Crystal Langhorne retired [4]
Signed F Candice Dupree [5]
February 10, 2021Acquired the No. 1 pick in the 2021 WNBA draft and two picks in the 2022 WNBA draft from the New York Liberty in exchange for F Natasha Howard via sign-and-trade [6]
Acquired F Mikiah Herbert Harrigan from the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2022 WNBA draft [6]
Acquired F Katie Lou Samuelson and a second-round pick in the 2022 WNBA draft from the Dallas Wings in exchange for the No. 1 pick in the 2021 WNBA draft [6]
Acquired the rights to F Stephanie Talbot from the New York Liberty in exchange for G Sami Whitcomb via sign-and-trade [6]
February 11, 2021Signed F Stephanie Talbot [7] [8]
March 1, 2021Re-Signed G Sue Bird [9]
March 15, 2021F Morgan Tuck retired [10]
April 15, 2021Acquired G Kennedy Burke from the Indiana Fever in exchange for the rights to F Aaliyah Wilson [11]
April 17, 2021Signed G Kiana Williams [8] [12]
May 28, 2021Set F Mikiah Herbert Harrigan as inactive [13] [12]
June 28, 2021Waived G Kiana Williams [14]
July 1, 2021Signed F Cierra Burdick to 7-day contract [15]
July 2, 2021Waived F Candice Dupree [16]
July 5, 2021Signed F N'dea Jones to 7-day contract [17]
July 23, 2021Signed G Kiana Williams to 7-Day Contract [18]
August 18, 2021Signed F Cierra Burdick to a Rest-Of-Season Contract [19]
August 23, 2021Signed F Karlie Samuelson to a Rest-Of-Season Contract [20]

Roster

2021 Seattle Storm roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
G 10 Flag of the United States.svg Bird, Sue 5' 9" (1.75m)150 lb (68kg)1980-10-16 Connecticut 17
F 22 Flag of the United States.svg Burdick, Cierra 6' 2" (1.88m)172 lb (78kg)1993-09-30 Tennessee 4
G 8 Flag of the United States.svg Burke, Kennedy 6' 1" (1.85m)182 lb (83kg)1997-02-14 UCLA 2
G 21 Flag of the United States.svg Canada, Jordin 5' 6" (1.68m)135 lb (61kg)1995-08-11 UCLA 3
G 24 Flag of the United States.svg Loyd, Jewell 5' 10" (1.78m)148 lb (67kg)1993-10-05 Notre Dame 6
C 13 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Magbegor, Ezi 6' 4" (1.93m)176 lb (80kg)1999-08-13 Australia 1
G 11 Flag of Russia.svg Prince, Epiphanny 5' 9" (1.75m)179 lb (81kg)1988-01-11 Rutgers 11
C 2 Flag of the United States.svg Russell, Mercedes 6' 6" (1.98m)195 lb (88kg)1995-07-27 Tennessee 3
F 44 Flag of the United States.svg Samuelson, Karlie 6' 0" (1.83m)160 lb (73kg)1995-05-10 Stanford 2
F 33 Flag of the United States.svg Samuelson, Katie Lou 6' 3" (1.91m)163 lb (74kg)1997-06-13 Connecticut 2
F 30 Flag of the United States.svg Stewart, Breanna 6' 4" (1.93m)170 lb (77kg)1994-08-27 Connecticut 4
F 7 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Talbot, Stephanie 6' 2" (1.88m)192 lb (87kg)1994-06-15 Australia 3
Head coach
Flag of the United States.svg / Flag of Bulgaria.svg Noelle Quinn (UCLA)
Assistant coaches
Flag of the United States.svg Gary Kloppenburg (UC San Diego)
Flag of the United States.svg Ryan Webb (Seattle)
Flag of the United States.svg Perry Huang (Fresno Pacific)
Athletic trainer
Caroline Durocher
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

Game log

Preseason

2021 pre-season game log
May: 2–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1May 8@ Phoenix W 88–71 Ezi Magbegor (17) Ezi Magbegor (7) Jordin Canada (6) Phoenix Suns Arena
1,985		1–0
2May 10 Phoenix W 103–93 K. Williams
Dupree (12)		 Stephanie Talbot (5) Sue Bird (7) Angel of the Winds Arena 2–0
2021 pre-season schedule

Regular season

2021 game log
Total: 21–11 (Home: 11–5; Road: 10–6)
May: 5–1 (Home: 3–1; Road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1May 15 Las Vegas W 97–83 Breanna Stewart (28) Breanna Stewart (13) Sue Bird (8) Angel of the Winds Arena
1,031		1–0
2May 18 Las Vegas L 80–96 Breanna Stewart (26) Ezi Magbegor (13) Sue Bird (5) Angel of the Winds Arena
1,001		1–1
3May 20@ Minnesota W 90–78 Jewell Loyd (23) Breanna Stewart (7) Sue Bird (8) Target Center
1,934		2–1
4May 22@ Dallas W 100–97 (OT) Breanna Stewart (36) Breanna Stewart (11) Jewell Loyd (6) College Park Center
1,491		3–1
5May 25 Connecticut W 87–90 (OT) Sue Bird (21) Breanna Stewart (12) Jewell Loyd (5) Angel of the Winds Arena
1,011		4–1
6May 28 Minnesota W 82–72 Breanna Stewart (15) Breanna Stewart (8) Bird
Loyd
Prince (5)		 Angel of the Winds Arena
1,332		5–1
June : 7–3 (Home: 2–2; Road: 5–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
7June 1 Indiana W 88–73 Breanna Stewart (28) Mercedes Russell (11) Sue Bird (8) Angel of the Winds Arena
1,215		6–1
8June 4 Dallas W 105-102 (OT) Jewell Loyd (25) Russell
Stewart (9)		 Sue Bird (10) Angel of the Winds Arena
1,467		7–1
9June 6 Dallas L 67–68 Jewell Loyd (25) Bird
Stewart (7)		 Sue Bird (5) Angel of the Winds Arena
1,930		7–2
10June 9@ Atlanta W 95–71 Jewell Loyd (18) Breanna Stewart (9) Sue Bird (6) Gateway Center Arena
1,014		8–2
11June 11@ Atlanta W 86–75 Jewell Loyd (20) Breanna Stewart (13) Sue Bird (7) Gateway Center Arena
1,405		9–2
12June 13@ Connecticut W 89–66 Breanna Stewart (22) Breanna Stewart (9) Breanna Stewart (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
2,248		10–2
13June 15@ Indiana W 87–70 Breanna Stewart (20) Breanna Stewart (12) Jordin Canada (6) Indiana Farmers Coliseum
No Fans		11–2
14June 17@ Indiana W 79–69 Breanna Stewart (21) Breanna Stewart (15) Sue Bird (7) Indiana Farmers Coliseum
No Fans		12–2
15June 22 Washington L 83–87 Jewell Loyd (23) Bird
Stewart (8)		 Jewell Loyd (9) Angel of the Winds Arena
2,495		12–3
16June 27@ Las Vegas L 92–95 (OT) Breanna Stewart (35) Russell
Stewart (11)		 Sue Bird (6) Michelob Ultra Arena
3,766		12–4
July : 4–1 (Home: 3–0; Road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
17July 2 Atlanta W 91–88 Sue Bird (15) Mercedes Russell (7) Sue Bird (5) Angel of the Winds Arena
3,011		13–4
18July 4@ Los Angeles W 84–74 Breanna Stewart (21) Ezi Magbegor (9) Jordin Canada (5) Los Angeles Convention Center
716		14–4
19July 7 Los Angeles W 71–62 Breanna Stewart (27) Breanna Stewart (11) Sue Bird (5) Angel of the Winds Arena
2,730		15–4
20July 9@ Phoenix L 77–85 Jewell Loyd (16) Breanna Stewart (13) Sue Bird (5) Phoenix Suns Arena
7,554		15–5
21July 11 Phoenix W 82–75 Epiphanny Prince (15) Mercedes Russell (10) Jewell Loyd (6) Angel of the Winds Arena
5,110		16–5
August : 2–5 (Home: 0–2; Road: 2–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
CC August 12vs. Connecticut W 79–57 Breanna Stewart (17) Mercedes Russell (7) Sue Bird (5) Footprint Center
5,006		N/A
22August 15@ Chicago L 85–87 Jewell Loyd (26) Mercedes Russell (11) Mercedes Russell (7) Wintrust Arena
6,231		16–6
23August 18@ New York L 79–83 Jewell Loyd (35) Stephanie Talbot (5) Jordin Canada (6) Barclays Center
2,103		16–7
24August 20@ New York W 99–83 Jewell Loyd (29) Breanna Stewart (14) Sue Bird (6) Barclays Center
3,889		17–7
25August 22@ Washington W 85–78 Breanna Stewart (20) Breanna Stewart (12) Bird
Talbot (4)		 Entertainment and Sports Arena
3,114		18–7
26August 24@ Minnesota L 70–76 Breanna Stewart (18) Breanna Stewart (16) Sue Bird (7) Target Center
3,634		18–8
27August 27 Chicago L 69–73 Breanna Stewart (18) Breanna Stewart (8) Sue Bird (4) Angel of the Winds Arena
3,650		18–9
28August 29 Chicago L 75–107 Breanna Stewart (19) Breanna Stewart (6) Sue Bird (7) Angel of the Winds Arena
3,750		18–10
September : 3–1 (Home: 3–0; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
29September 2 New York W 85–75 Breanna Stewart (33) Breanna Stewart (8) Breanna Stewart (5) Angel of the Winds Arena
3,592		19–10
30September 7 Washington W 105–71 Jewell Loyd (20) Loyd
Magbegor (6)		 Sue Bird (7) Angel of the Winds Arena
2,390		20–10
31September 12@ Los Angeles L 53–81 Epiphanny Prince (12) Ezi Magbegor (6) Jewell Loyd (3) Staples Center
4,181		20–11
32September 17 Phoenix W 94–85 Jewell Loyd (37) Mercedes Russell (8) Sue Bird (7) Angel of the Winds Arena
6,000		21–11
2021 season schedule

Playoffs

2021 playoff game log
Total: 0–1
Second Round
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1September 26 Phoenix 80–85 (OT) Katie Lou Samuelson (18) Mercedes Russell (12) Bird
Loyd (5)		 Angel of the Winds Arena
5,375		0–1
2021 playoff schedule

Standings

#Team W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1x – Connecticut Sun 266.813–12–315–111–59–1
2x – Las Vegas Aces 248.750211–413–311–56–4
3x – Minnesota Lynx 2210.688410–513–39–77–3
4x – Seattle Storm 2111.65659–611–510–68–2
5x – Phoenix Mercury 1913.59476–97–912–45–5
6x – Chicago Sky 1616.5001010–56–1010–66–4
7x – Dallas Wings 1418.438127–87–97–93–7
8x – New York Liberty 1220.375146–97–95–115–5
9e – Washington Mystics 1220.375147–88–84–124–6
10e – Los Angeles Sparks 1220.375142–138–84–121–9
11e – Atlanta Dream 824.250186–94–124–124–6
12e – Indiana Fever 626.188204–114–122–142–8

Notes

(#) – League Standing
x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings

Playoffs

First round
single elimination
Sept. 23		Second round
single elimination
Sept. 26		Semifinals
Best-of-5
Sept. 28 – Oct. 8		 Finals
Best-of-5
Oct. 10 – 17
2 Las Vegas Aces 2
4 Seattle Storm 805 Phoenix Mercury 3
5 Phoenix Mercury 835 Phoenix Mercury 85OT5 Phoenix Mercury 1
8 New York Liberty 826 Chicago Sky 3
1 Connecticut Sun 1
3 Minnesota Lynx 766 Chicago Sky 3
6 Chicago Sky 816 Chicago Sky 89
7 Dallas Wings 64

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

Statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage TO  Turnovers per game
 PF  Fouls per gameTeam leaderLeague leader

Regular season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Breanna Stewart 282833.443.933.384.79.52.71.21.820.3
Jewell Loyd 313131.042.037.688.94.03.81.50.217.9
Sue Bird 303027.743.141.983.32.65.30.90.110.0
Mercedes Russell 302824.761.70.076.66.11.60.90.47.3
Katie Lou Samuelson 272421.045.635.173.13.51.70.70.37.0
Ezi Magbegor 30315.250.955.684.63.80.80.60.96.7
Epiphanny Prince 29214.343.950.089.71.61.70.70.25.8
Jordin Canada 29318.738.921.484.12.33.00.70.15.8
Stephanie Talbot 30917.948.341.575.02.91.60.50.45.7
Karlie Samuelson 3010.730.012.51000.30.70.00.03.0
Kennedy Burke 2307.744.633.362.50.80.30.30.12.9
Cierra Burdick 705.025.00.050.01.70.40.30.30.4

Awards and honors

RecipientAwardDate awardedRef.
Breanna Stewart Western Conference Player of the Week May 24 [21]
Western Conference Player of the Month - May June 2 [22]
Jewell Loyd Western Conference Player of the Week June 7 [23]
Breanna StewartJune 14 [24]
June 21 [25]
Sue Bird WNBA All-Star Selection June 30 [26]
Jewell Loyd
Breanna Stewart
Breanna Stewart WNBA All-Defensive Second Team September 26 [27]
Jewell Loyd All-WNBA First Team October 15 [28]
Breanna Stewart

References

  1. ↑ "Seattle Storm announce 2021 regular season schedule". Seattle Storm. April 13, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Dan Hughes announces retirement from the WNBA". Seattle Storm. May 30, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Seattle Storm Re-Signs Epiphanny Prince". Seattle Storm. February 1, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Crystal Langhorne retires, joins Storm front office as Director of Community Engagement, Force4Change". Seattle Storm. February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Seattle Storm Signs Seven-Time All-Star Candice Dupree". Seattle Storm. February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Storm acquires Katie Lou Samuelson, Mikiah "Kiki" Herbert Harrigan; Rights to Stephanie Talbot and two 2022 draft picks". Seattle Storm. February 10, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Storm signs Stephanie Talbot, Tamera Young". Seattle Storm. February 11, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  8. 1 2 "SEATTLE SETS ROSTER FOR SATURDAY'S HOME OPENER". Seattle Storm. May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Storm re-signs four-time WNBA Champion Sue Bird". Seattle Storm. March 1, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Morgan Tuck announces retirement". Seattle Storm. March 15, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Seattle Storm acquire Kennedy Burke in draft-day trade". Seattle Storm. April 15, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  12. 1 2 "Transactions". WNBA.com. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Mikiah Herbert Harrigan to miss 2021 season due to pregnancy". Seattle Storm. May 27, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Storm waives Kiana Williams". Seattle Storm. June 28, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Storm signs forward Cierra Burdick to 7-day contract". Seattle Storm. July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Seattle Storm waives Candice Dupree". Seattle Storm. July 2, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Storm signs forward N'dea Jones to 7-day contract". Seattle Storm. July 5, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Storm signs guard Kiana Williams to 7-day contract". Seattle Storm. July 23, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Storm signs forward Cierra Burdick for remainder of season". Seattle Storm. August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Storm adds Karlie Samuelson for remainder of season". Seattle Storm. August 23, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Season 25 – Week 1: Players Of The Week". wnba.com. WNBA. May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Stewart named Kia WNBA Western Conference Player of the Month". Seattle Storm. June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Jonquel Jones and Jewell Loyd Named Week 3 Players Of The Week". wnba.com. WNBA. June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Breanna Stewart and Tina Charles Named Week 4 Players Of The Week". wnba.com. WNBA. June 14, 2021. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Courtney Vandersloot, Breanna Stewart Named Week 5 Players Of Week". wnba.com. WNBA. June 21, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Rosters Set for AT&T WNBA All-Star 2021 on July 14". wnba.com. WNBA. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  27. ↑ Voepel, Mechelle (September 26, 2021). "Minnesota Lynx star Sylvia Fowles named WNBA Defensive Player of Year for 4th time in career". ESPN. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  28. ↑ "The 2021 All-WNBA First & Second Team Announced". wnba.com. WNBA. October 15, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
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