Alexander Shun

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Seattle Storm (1-1) vs Minnesota Lynx (2-0) | 7:00pm

Where to Watch: FS North

Where to Listen: BOB 106.1 FM

Minnesota Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson is finally healthy and she is showing everyone why she is a three-time champion.

Through Minnesota’s first two games, Brunson is averaging 15 points and 14 rebounds and is playing very well defensively, including blocking two shots in her last game, a 78-69 win against the Fever.

Brunson isn’t the only Lynx veteran playing well though.

Lynx guard Lindsay Whalen has been seemingly unstoppable through her first two games, averaging 21.5 points, four rebounds and just over five assists.

For the Storm, their first two games have been all about their defense.

In their opener, they held the Los Angeles Sparks to only 61 points and caused them to shoot a dismal 23-of-67 (34.3 percent) from the field, including just 4-of-22 (18.2 percent) from beyond the arc.

In their last game, they traveled to Tulsa to take on the Shock and, despite getting blown-out 68-45, played stellar defense once again. The Shock could only manage to shoot 23-of-63 (36 percent) from the field, including just 6-of-23 (26 percent) from beyond the arc.

Guard Renee Montgomery has been leading the way for the Storm averaging 14.5 points and three rebounds and four assists off the bench, while two-time WNBA champion and eight-time WNBA All-Star Sue Bird has provided veteran leadership for such a young team

Many around the league expected the Storm to rebuild this season, but the young roster in Seattle has been developing quickly and playing alright thus far. The Storm, particularly their team defense, will provide a great early test for Lynx scorers, while the veteran-laden roster of the Lynx will challenge the young Seattle roster in ways the Storm players have not yet been challenged.

LAST MEETING

When these two teams last met, it was a close game…until halftime that is.

The Lynx only led 34-28 at the half, but then pulled away in the third quarter, outscoring the Storm 30-16 in the period. The Lynx would go on to win the game 77-60.

Lynx forward Maya Moore scored 26 points, including 16 points in the third quarter. Moore added 12 rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block while leading her team to an easy victory. Lynx forward Devereaux Peters had 10 points and 10 rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench.

Guard Camille Little led the Storm, scoring 17 points and grabbing five rebounds, while guard Temeka Johnson came off the bench to score 12 points and dish out four assists in the loss.

KEY MATCHUP: SEIMONE AUGUSTUS VS. JEWELL LOYD

This is the battle of number-one overall picks, Augustus being the number-one pick in the 2006 draft and Loyd in this year’s draft, respectively.

Although both are number-one picks, both players have gotten off to slow starts this season. Augustus is averaging 13.5 points but is shooting only 11-of-36 (30 percent). Loyd is struggling to start her rookie season averaging just over four points and five rebounds per game while shooting a ghastly 2-of-20 (10 percent) from the field which includes a dismal 0-for-6 from beyond the arc.

So with such numbers, how could this possibly be the matchup of the game?

Augustus is a five-time All-Star and two-time champion and is due to explode for a big game any day now. What those poor shooting statistics fail to show are the quality of shots that Augustus has taken, most being open free-throw line jumpers that just haven’t gone down. Such shots are going to fall, it’s simply a matter of when.

For Loyd, there is obviously less evidence to support that her shot will begin to fall as well, however, she was the number-one pick for a reason and, similar to Augustus, has been taking good, open shots. Loyd is also due for a huge game and with her teammates struggling offensively, the door is wide-open for such a game.

PROJECTED STARTERS

Lynx: PG – Whalen, SG – Augustus, SF – Moore, PF- Brunson, C – Dantas

Storm: PG – Bird, SG – Loyd, SF – O’Hea, PF – Bishop, C – Langhorne