WNBA Guide Part Two: Seattle Storm, Phoenix Mercury, Chicago Sky

Seattle Storm, 4x WNBA Champs

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Sue Bird

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Odds are you probably know who Sue Bird is. 4x champ with the Seattle Storm and a legend all around. It’s kind of crazy to think that she was drafted the year I was born, but that’s just how it goes sometimes. Bird is one of the handful of players that are retiring after this season, and it’s going to be interesting to see the direction that Seattle takes once their star point guard is no longer in the picture. Even in her 20th year, Bird is still making it look easy. Not only can she get you a bucket, but her assists and playmaking have been a marker of her career:

Jewell Loyd

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Loyd may be the future of this franchise in a post-Bird world, if you want her to! The 2015 first overall draft pick has been looking to prove herself for several years. Looking at her stats, she’s really just improved with every season that she’s played. If you want to see the kind of scorer she is and why she could potentially become the face of this franchise, look no further than this film collected by Evin Gualberto:

Breanna Stewart

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Breanna Stewart, or “Stewie,” has the argument for being the best player in the world at times. She’s been a significant factor in the Storm’s two most recent titles in 2018 and in 2020, winning Finals MVP both times. She is a strong defensive presence as well as an incredibly talented 3-level scorer. She did sign on for another year this season and I’m sure Storm fans will be hoping that they can hold on to her going forward. She just scored a season-high 28 points a couple of weeks ago, with tough buckets like this one:

Phoenix Mercury, 3x WNBA Champs

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Diana Taurasi

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Many call her the GOAT, so it would be remiss to not include her. Taurasi is an important part of the Mercury franchise, being their number one draft pick and winning three championships in Phoenix. If there’s a record list, she’s on it. Legend says she may never retire.

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Diamond DeShields

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If you’re going to watch anything today, let it be this.

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DeShields is the epitome of perseverance. She won a championship with the Chicago Sky last season and her presence is felt on both ends of the floor. She’s excellent at getting to the basket and her footwork is just incredible to watch. If you want to get an idea of the force she can be, here are her highlights from one of her best games last season:

Skylar Diggins-Smith

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In their win against the Sparks which broke a seven-game losing streak early in the season, SDS had her best game of the year, recording 29 points and just scoring from everywhere. When Diggins-Smith is able to score in high volume, this Mercury team can be competitive, as we talked about in the second episode of In the Zone (link please)

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(honorable mentions: Brittney Griner, Kia Nurse, Brianna Turner)

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Chicago Sky, Defending Champs

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Candace Parker

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The real GOAT. Just kidding…but not really. Candace Parker is the epitome of women’s basketball. One of the best two-way players to ever play the game and just about the smartest basketball analyst you’ll ever watch, she is, without a doubt, the face of the WNBA, and it is sad to think about her retirement following this season. These are just SOME of her accolades:

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• 2× WNBA champion (2016, 2021)
• WNBA Finals MVP (2016)
• 2× WNBA MVP (2008, 2013)
• 6× WNBA All-Star (2011, 2013, 2014, 2017–2018, 2021)
• WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2020)
• WNBA All-Star Game MVP (2013)
• WNBA Rookie of the Year (2008)
• WNBA All-Rookie Team (2008)
• 6× All-WNBA First Team (2008, 2012–2014, 2017, 2020)

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(Yes, you read that right- she won MVP and ROY in the same year)

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Kahleah Copper

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2021 Finals MVP Kahleah Copper has quickly developed into one of Chicago’s best players. The second the ball is in her hands, she knows what she needs to do to get it to the basket. I mean, come on:

Courtney Vandersloot

Courtney Vandersloot is one-half of the Vandersloots (see: gal pals), and the biggest thing you should know about her game is her court vision. She will always find a way to pass the ball. Having a shooter that is such a large threat of offense because of her playmaking ability is such a key asset for this Sky team, and many argued that she should have been the one to win FMVP over Kahleah Copper. This is exactly what I am talking about:

(honorable mentions: Dana Evans, Allie Quigley, Rebekah Gardner, Emma Meesseman)

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Get used to the Chicago defense this season.

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Look out for more guides as the season rolls along. Follow The Parleh to catch more WNBA content each week!

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