The Storm's Deadly 26% Three-Point Shooting and Nobody in Seattle Is Ready For It

Ugh. Storm fans, are we seeing what I'm seeing? Because that was a tough one out in Toronto on Saturday, with our squad falling to the Tempo 93-72. We dropped to 3-6 on the season, and honestly, the same old story is starting to unfold right before our eyes. Natisha Hiedeman fought hard with 18 points, and Jordan Horston added a season-high 15, but it just wasn't enough to overcome some glaring issues.

That Three-Point Line Is Haunting Us

You know I bleed green and blue, and I watch every single game, so this stat is screaming at me: we shot a dismal 7 of 27 from beyond the arc. That's a brutal 26%, folks! And here's the kicker, the stat that tells you everything you need to know about our season so far: when we hit 38% or better from three, we're 3-0. But when we shoot 37% or worse? We're a heartbreaking 0-6. You don't need a math degree to see the problem there. The Tempo, meanwhile, were nailing everything, setting a WNBA record by making their first 31 free throws, eventually finishing 31 of 33 for 94%. Can you believe that? Our team only even *attempted* eight free throws, making seven of them. We gotta get to the line more, and we absolutely HAVE to find our rhythm from long range. It's the difference between wins and losses, plain and simple.

Turnovers and a Familiar Face Hurt Hard

The game felt within reach for a moment, didn't it? Katie Lou Samuelson hit a short turnaround jumper that tied it up at 51-all with about 3:50 left in the third quarter. We were right there, battling! But then, boom, turnovers on our next three possessions. You cannot do that against a good team on the road. The Tempo seized that moment, sparking a brutal 19-5 run over the next three-plus minutes, and that was pretty much the ballgame. And yeah, it stings a little extra when a former Storm player like Brittney Sykes drops 15 points on us, doesn't it? She was part of a strong Tempo attack where Marina Mabrey led the way with 18 points, rookie Kiki Rice added 17, with 13 of those in the second half, plus a season-high four steals. Rookie Laura Juskaite poured in 14 points, including a career-high four 3-pointers, and Maria Conde chipped in 13 points, her second consecutive game in double figures. We also continue to miss Dominique Malonga, who sat out her sixth straight game under concussion protocol. Her presence would make a difference. This is the second time the Tempo have gotten the better of us this season, having also beaten us 86-73 back on May 13. We need to flip the script. Our Storm head to Dallas on Monday. This isn't just another game, it's a chance to get back to .500 on the road and finally start building some momentum. Let's see if we can find that shooting touch and protect the rock. Go Storm!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.