Wow, this game was unbelievable. The Storm played pretty well in the first half other than their poor rebounding and poor showing in the paint. They were super efficient with their 3-point shooting which should have been a warning sign because that kind of hot shooting often dries up. They needed a stronger post presence which means they needed Dom in the game at the end. After she picked up her 5th foul, Dom never got back in the game. That is a big coaching mistake. We needed her in there for the last 5 minutes or at least the last 3 minutes.
As long as she didn't foul out, I think we would have been looking at a different game. I don't think that LA could have stolen this game with Dom on the floor. This was our most important and crucial game left for the future of this team - for our position in the 2026 WNBA Draft. We most likely screwed ourselves out of a lottery pick in a rich Draft next year with this loss. I am thoroughly disgusted with their performance in the 4th quarter in a must-win game for us. It was for LA, too, and they obviously wanted it more than we did.
Exactly right about the hot 3-point shooting. It's not bad to take 3s, but to think you're going to continue to shoot nearly 60% is a big mistake. So as you said, they needed to do a better job inside the paint. More cuts to the rim, more getting the ball into the low post with Nneka, Ezi, or Dom. And speaking of Dom, it made zero sense to leave her in the game after she picked up her 4th foul in the 3rd period. That's a basic coaching rule to pull that player out so that they can work with two fouls in the 4th quarter. Then it was a double mistake by not playing Malonga at all in the 4th quarter. Even if she fouled out, she probably would have scored another 4-6 points first. There's no reason why they couldn't have put Mack or Tiffany Mitchell in for even just 2 minutes late in the 3rd quarter, to get Dom out before she picked up her 5th foul. The team just doesn't execute offense like it should. There was also a major lack of focus, with people losing their defensive assignments. And also times where they just threw the ball out of bounds because someone wasn't paying attention. Incredibly disappointing and unprepared for what was the most important game of the season.
Ouch. That complete collapse in the second half damaged their playoff and lottery pick odds. They looked lost and gassed in the 4th quarter. They looked listless which was surprising since the Sparks were the team that played Sunday night in LA. Crushed in the paint and on the boards and umpteen drives down the lane by Hamby and Jackson with no adjustments by the Storm. They seem to be a collection of good players but not a good team. Bad coaching or a poor mix of talent?
Just a gut punch loss to LA to a seemingly fragile Storm team. They have two games and a lot of scoreboard watching to see if they make it now. And even if they make it through, the waiting teams do not make a long playoff run likely
Wow, this game was unbelievable. The Storm played pretty well in the first half other than their poor rebounding and poor showing in the paint. They were super efficient with their 3-point shooting which should have been a warning sign because that kind of hot shooting often dries up. They needed a stronger post presence which means they needed Dom in the game at the end. After she picked up her 5th foul, Dom never got back in the game. That is a big coaching mistake. We needed her in there for the last 5 minutes or at least the last 3 minutes.
As long as she didn't foul out, I think we would have been looking at a different game. I don't think that LA could have stolen this game with Dom on the floor. This was our most important and crucial game left for the future of this team - for our position in the 2026 WNBA Draft. We most likely screwed ourselves out of a lottery pick in a rich Draft next year with this loss. I am thoroughly disgusted with their performance in the 4th quarter in a must-win game for us. It was for LA, too, and they obviously wanted it more than we did.
Exactly right about the hot 3-point shooting. It's not bad to take 3s, but to think you're going to continue to shoot nearly 60% is a big mistake. So as you said, they needed to do a better job inside the paint. More cuts to the rim, more getting the ball into the low post with Nneka, Ezi, or Dom. And speaking of Dom, it made zero sense to leave her in the game after she picked up her 4th foul in the 3rd period. That's a basic coaching rule to pull that player out so that they can work with two fouls in the 4th quarter. Then it was a double mistake by not playing Malonga at all in the 4th quarter. Even if she fouled out, she probably would have scored another 4-6 points first. There's no reason why they couldn't have put Mack or Tiffany Mitchell in for even just 2 minutes late in the 3rd quarter, to get Dom out before she picked up her 5th foul. The team just doesn't execute offense like it should. There was also a major lack of focus, with people losing their defensive assignments. And also times where they just threw the ball out of bounds because someone wasn't paying attention. Incredibly disappointing and unprepared for what was the most important game of the season.
Ouch. That complete collapse in the second half damaged their playoff and lottery pick odds. They looked lost and gassed in the 4th quarter. They looked listless which was surprising since the Sparks were the team that played Sunday night in LA. Crushed in the paint and on the boards and umpteen drives down the lane by Hamby and Jackson with no adjustments by the Storm. They seem to be a collection of good players but not a good team. Bad coaching or a poor mix of talent?
Just a gut punch loss to LA to a seemingly fragile Storm team. They have two games and a lot of scoreboard watching to see if they make it now. And even if they make it through, the waiting teams do not make a long playoff run likely
The postgame presser was an absolute embarrassment. If Diggins is one of the veteran leaders, it’s no wonder this team is in trouble.