Storm forward Breanna Stewart, center, loses the ball under pressure from Connecticut Sun defenders Emma Cannon, back left, Brionna Jones (42) and Jasmine Thomas (5) in the second half of a WNBA basketball game Sunday, June 13, 2021, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
Connecticut Sun guard Kaila Charles, left, questions a call as Seattle Storm forward Candice Dupree, center, moves to help Storm guard Kiana Willams off the floor following a foul in the second half of a WNBA basketball game Sunday, June 13, 2021, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
NEW YORK (AP) — There were questions about the defending champion Seattle Storm’s defense coming into the season with stalwarts Alysha Clark and Natasha Howard no longer on the roster.
After a sluggish start the Storm have found some answers and are becoming more cohesive on defense this season.
“We understand that this team isn’t going to look like the teams of the past as far as defensively,” first-year Storm coach Noelle Quinn said. “So, we’re trying to figure out the strength of our players in those defensive schemes. I continue to say this, that with the limited training camp you can’t gain that defensive chemistry, and what we’re seeing is a development of that.”
The Storm were giving up 88 points in their first five games but are allowing just 75 per contest since. The only time they gave up more than 75 points in that stretch was the 105-102 overtime win over Dallas.
“Maybe we don’t have one lock up defender like Alysha Clark, but what we have is a team defense where we’re rotating, we’re on the string and we’re helping one another,” Quinn said. “And I think that’s really what you’re seeing, the culmination of just a team effort, and that’s what our defense has to be this year. It is not going to be one or two players, it’s going to be a legit one through 12 coming in and making sure that we’re working together to stop a great player.”
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