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The Seattle Storm clinched their first win of the season Sunday against the Washington Mystics, but did so without All-Star forward Nneka Ogwumike, who was sidelined with an ankle injury. Ogwumike, who sustained the injury in Friday's double-overtime loss to the Minnesota Lynx, has been a key player for the Storm, averaging 22 points and 10 rebounds per game in her first two appearances since joining Seattle in free agency.
Storm coach Noelle Quinn provided an update on Ogwumike’s status postgame, expressing cautious optimism about her return.
“Before the game, we were managing and seeing if she would be ready to go,” Quinn said, per Kevin Pelton of ESPN. “Felt like tomorrow (Monday) would be better with a little more rest. I'm not sure how we're going to update it, but in my mind, we're just going to continue to see if she's improved or not. After this flight and we get to New York, hopefully we'll know a little bit more.”
In Ogwumike's absence, veteran center Mercedes Russell stepped into the starting lineup, contributing eight points and five rebounds. The Storm outperformed the Mystics by 22 points during Russell's 30 minutes on the court, securing an 84-75 victory. All-Star Ezi Magbegor, who moved to power forward to accommodate Russell, delivered her first double-double of the season with 15 points and 14 rebounds. Magbegor credited her teammates for trusting her to step up offensively in Ogwumike's absence.
“I think my teammates have trust in me to make those offensive plays,” Magbegor said. “I definitely needed to step up this game with Nneka out, but not just this game – with Nneka as well.”
The Storm’s All-Star backcourt duo of Skylar Diggins-Smith and Jewell Loyd also played pivotal roles in the comeback. Loyd and Diggins-Smith combined for 14 points in the fourth quarter, outscoring Washington's entire team in that period.
“We really pride ourselves on making sure our defense is kind of motivating our offense,” Loyd said. “We also have some dogs on this team. It definitely starts with Sky (Diggins-Smith). She's our engine for sure. When she intensifies her defensive pressure, that kind of ignites everything around us.”
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As the Storm prepare for their back-to-back game against the Liberty, Quinn highlighted the need for contributions from the rest of the team, especially with Ogwumike's uncertain status.
“Much of our supporting cast, so to speak, is going to be important for the entire season but specifically tomorrow on the back-to-back,” Quinn said. “That group needs to give us good minutes and I know they will.”
Nneka Ogwumike's journey to the Storm
Ogwumike joined the Storm after signing a one-year deal following a whirlwind WNBA free agency tour. The announcement, made on social media in February, surprised many as Ogwumike had spent her entire 12-year career with the Los Angeles Sparks, where she was the No. 1 draft pick in 2012 and the 2016 WNBA MVP. Last season, she averaged 19.1 points and 8.8 rebounds.
Ogwumike’s decision to join the Storm came after considering several teams, including the Phoenix Mercury, Chicago Sky and Atlanta Dream. Public appearances in New York fueled speculation that she might join the Liberty, who reached the WNBA Finals last year. However, sources told ESPN that Ogwumike chose the Storm for the opportunity to contend for a title alongside Skylar Diggins-Smith and Jewell Loyd.
