SEATTLE — The Seattle Storm will face the expansion Portland Fire in a preseason game Wednesday at Climate Pledge Arena, with tipoff set for 7 p.m. The meeting comes days after Seattle dropped a narrow preseason game to the Golden State Valkyries and one day after the team practiced at home to get used to the building again.
Coach Sonia Raman said the loss over the weekend showed the Storm more about what still needs work, especially on defense and rotations. Seattle is also trying to settle into a new look after the departures of Skylar Diggins, Nneka Ogwumike, Gabby Williams and Erica Wheeler, opening more room for younger players to take on bigger jobs. Raman said the group has plenty of leadership already and that those voices do not have to come only from veterans.
Lexie Brown said the preseason result does not count in the standings, and that the point is to keep the mood steady while the team sorts out roles. Brown said the group is experimenting because the game does not affect the record, and because every player needs a chance to get comfortable and enjoy being a WNBA player. She also said the Storm were glad to get a taste of a packed arena in Golden State first so the rookies are less likely to be nervous when they return to a familiar crowd in Seattle.
The Storm will again be without No. 3 overall pick Awa Fam, who is finishing her professional season in Spain. Ezi Magbegor is expected to miss another five to seven weeks, while Katie Lou Samuelson and Jordan Horston are nearing returns from long-term injuries but are not expected to play yet. The regular season begins May 8 against Golden State, giving Seattle one more preseason night to keep building before the games start to count.
Raman said the last game pointed the staff toward what comes next, and that the next step is tightening the defense into deeper layers, especially the rotations. Brown said she loves playing at Climate Pledge Arena even more than elsewhere and is excited to be back in front of the fans. With one preseason game left before the schedule turns real, the Storm are still sorting out who fits where — and how quickly that new mix can start to look like a team.