Awa Fam's Breakout Game Can't Save Storm in Narrow Loss to Mercury

Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images.

The Seattle Storm lost to the Phoenix Mercury 72-68 on Wednesday night at Climate Pledge Arena, but the most significant development of the evening had nothing to do with the final score for Storm fans.

Awa Fam started her first WNBA game — and looked like everything the Storm hoped she would be when they selected her third overall in April.

The 19-year-old center finished with 18 points on 9-of-17 shooting, six rebounds and two blocks in the most complete performance of her young WNBA career. Her pick-and-roll chemistry with Flau'jae Johnson continues to develop into something worth monitoring — a potential long-term duo that could anchor Seattle's offense for years.

Head coach Sonia Raman wasn't shy about her assessment after the game.

"Really pleased with Awa tonight," Raman said. "She keeps growing every day. It's really remarkable in a short amount of time how much she's been able to process and take in what we're giving her."

Natisha Hiedeman continued to shoulder a heavy offensive load in the absence of Dominique Malonga and Ezi Magbegor, finishing with 15 points on 6-of-17 shooting with four rebounds and four assists. Hiedeman has been asked to do more than her natural role demands while Seattle navigates its injury situation — a reality that is showing in her shooting efficiency.

Johnson's shooting struggles continued. The rookie guard finished with nine points on 3-of-11 from the field with four rebounds, five assists and two steals. Johnson recently became the fastest guard in Storm history to reach 15 blocks and just the second rookie guard in WNBA history to reach that mark in 10 games, joining Elena Delle Donne. But her inability to convert from the perimeter is becoming a pattern that opposing defenses will eventually exploit if it persists.

Jade Melbourne played only 13 minutes and finished with five points.

Seattle was outrebounded 44-34 — a continuation of the rebounding problem that has defined this early stretch of the season. But the more alarming number from Tuesday night wasn't on the glass. The Mercury attempted 27 free throws. The Storm attempted five. A 22-attempt disparity. Raman acknowledged it directly in her postgame remarks.

"Being able to defend better without fouling and kind of even out that free throw discrepancy a little bit — and keep them off the glass," Raman said, outlining the areas she wants to see improvement. "Same thing on the offensive end."

Seattle shot 27 percent from three while Phoenix shot just 14 percent. In a game where neither team shot the ball particularly well, the free throw and rebounding deficits were the difference.

Malonga remained a DNP-coach's decision coming off concussion protocol and Magbegor sat out again with her right foot injury. No specific return date has been announced for either player though both are expected back soon.

The Mercury, for their part, survived more than thrived. Phoenix had a difficult offseason — losing Satou Sabally without adding significant pieces in return — and it showed in moments Tuesday. Their late game ball handling was disorganized and their fourth quarter decision making bordered on reckless, with ill-advised turnovers that nearly handed Seattle the game. The broader issue for Phoenix is structural — their backcourt is composed largely of shooting guards operating as point guards, and when the game tightened in the fourth quarter the lack of a true floor general was exposed.

What kept them alive was center Natasha Mack, who delivered a dominant performance with 16 points on 7-of-7 shooting, 10 rebounds and three blocks.

Seattle falls to 3-8 with the loss. The worst record in the western conference. The record is concerning but the context is significant. This is a team playing without two of its most important frontcourt players while simultaneously integrating two rookies in Johnson and Fam into a starting role. Tuesday night Fam showed that when Malonga and Magbegor return the Storm's frontcourt is going to present serious problems for opposing teams.

When asked about managing expectations with a young roster navigating a difficult stretch Raman was stoic as usual.

"It's one game at a time," she said. "Chop wood, carry water. Pound the rock. Do the things every day. Water the flower. Drip drip drip every single day. With a young team that's really important — you can't get ahead of things."

The rebounding should improve as Malonga and Magbegor return. But the shooting struggles and free throw disparity need to be addressed regardless of roster health. In a tough western conference the 3-8 Storm only have so much time to figure things out if they are looking to land a playoff spot.

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