With arguably three of the top ten WNBA players on the roster it is a given that the Storm’s one and only goal is to be the first pro team to hang a banner in Climate Pledge Arena at season’s end. The return of Sue Bird for at least one more year, successful offseason surgery for Breanna Stewart, and retention of Jewell Loyd have Storm Nation abuzz.
Expectations and high hopes will need to materialize quickly for the Storm who will have a short two-game preseason schedule. The first preseason will be April 23rd at Climate Pledge Arena and the finale will be five days later on Thursday, April 28th in Phoenix against the Mercury. The Storm will then kick off the 2022 season on Friday, May 6th when they host the Minnesota Lynx.
EARLY INJURY BLOW
The Storm suffered some bad news when a team press release announced that center Mercedes Russell had suffered a non-basketball injury and will training camp. Russell started in 28 games for the Storm last year and averaged 7.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Third-year player Ezi Magbegor is the next person up for the Storm. Magbegor started three games in 2021 and saw action in every Storm regular-season game. A fleet-footed center with great defensive instincts, Magbegor averaged 6.6 points, and 3.8 rebounds per game last year the injury to Russell could be a golden opportunity for Magbegor to shine.
RETURN TO FULL STRENGTH
With successful surgery behind her, third-time All- WNBA award winner Breanna Stewart is working her way back to full game shape and is right on schedule to start the preseason with no restrictions.
After missing the 2019 season with an Achilles injury Stewart earned her second All- WNBA first-team selection in 2020 and her third in 2021. The injury bug reared its ugly head in 2021 forcing Stewart to miss the last two games of the regular season and all of the 2021 postseason
STORM 2022 SCHEDULE
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