The Seattle Storm know they have a problem.
To improve a 3-9 record, the Storm must fix their defense, beginning with Saturday night’s home game against the Phoenix Mercury.
No team in the WNBA allows a worse shooting percentage to its opponents — 46.2 percent from the field, 39.1 percent on 3-pointers — than Seattle.
First-shot defense was actually fair in Thursday night’s 80-68 home loss to Indiana, although the Fever strafed the Storm for 10-of-22 3-point shooting. There were other problems, such as 29.7 percent field goal shooting that included a ghastly 11-of-45 effort on 2-pointers, and a 47-29 disadvantage on the glass.
Jewell Loyd scored 19 points but made just 5 of 21 shots, including 2 of 7 from the 3-point line. Loyd is leading the league in scoring at 25.5 ppg, although she’s making only 39.5 percent of her attempts.
Meanwhile, Phoenix (2-9) continued to limp through the first part of the season Wednesday when it was routed at home 99-79 by Las Vegas. The Mercury trailed 87-60 after three quarters in dropping their fourth straight game.
Much like Seattle, Phoenix has struggled on the defensive end. It’s allowed at least 80 points to 10 of its 11 opponents and yielded a league-worst 87.6 per game. The Aces canned 55.4 percent of their shots Wednesday and drew assists on 29 of their 36 made field goals.
The Mercury at least have an excuse. They are playing without their three stars: Brittney Griner is out with a hip injury, Diana Taurasi is shelved by a hamstring problem and Skylar Diggins-Smith is on maternity leave.
Seattle won the teams’ first meeting this year on June 13, 83-69, getting 18 points from Sami Whitcomb.
