The Storm dropped a tough one to the Atlanta Dream, falling 89-78, and yeah, that score stings. While our Emerald City squad takes that punch, the rest of the WNBA is still a total rollercoaster, especially with injuries shaping matchups even before they tip off. Take this weekend's national TV game between the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx, which feels like it's lost a little of its sparkle because so many key players are sitting out.
Liberty's Shorthanded Scramble Is Real
Our Storm faced their own challenges, but the Liberty are really trying to piece things together. Just over a week ago, they beat the Lynx, but they are far from whole right now. Satou Sabally is still sidelined, missing her second straight game after previously being out for their last contest against Minnesota due to concussion protocol. Sabally, even playing limited minutes before this latest absence, had really started to find her rhythm, shaking off early shooting struggles to bring a much-needed scoring punch and size for New York, whether as a starter or off the bench. In her last eight games, she played 17 or more minutes, and the Liberty actually had a neutral or better scoring margin when she was on the court. It was easy to see her becoming a huge part of them becoming the contender everyone expects. But for now, that's on hold. Leonie Fiebich is also missing her second straight game with a foot injury, essential for their defense and shooting, and Pauline Astier is questionable with an ankle injury, impacting their initiation and scoring. Even Rebecca Allen is questionable with a nose injury. That's a lot for one team to handle!Lynx Get Miles Back, But Phee's Still Out
On the flip side, the Minnesota Lynx are getting a boost with Olivia Miles expected back in the lineup. Miles, who leads the Lynx in usage at 25 percent, missed their previous two games with a calf strain that popped up in their loss to the Liberty. Getting her back will definitely raise their floor, and it's a welcome sight for Minnesota fans. However, Napheesa Collier, or "Phee" as they call her, is still out. She's been practicing for over a week, but remains on the injury report. Phee has the potential to raise the Lynx's ceiling, especially if she gets back to her MVP-candidate form. But honestly, I'm a little skeptical about how seamless that reintegration will be. Since 2023, her first full season after maternity leave, Collier's usage percentage has been around 26 percent or higher. That's a huge chunk of possessions ending with her. With Miles at 25 percent usage, Courtney Williams at 24 percent, and Natasha Howard at 23.5 percent, it's going to be interesting to see how they balance all that firepower when Collier eventually returns. It's clear that every game in the WNBA this early in the season is a battle, not just on the court, but with health too. For our Storm, even a tough loss like the 89-78 one to Atlanta shows just how competitive this league is. You gotta bring it every single night.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.