The Seattle Storm's last two journeys away from the cozy confines of KeyArena haven't been all that pleasant.
The Storm (8-7) went 1-5 over two thee-game road trips, with their only win coming against the 3-11 Washington Mystics. Although there is plenty of time left in the season before the playoffs, 2011 WNBA All-Star MVP Swin Cash is ready for a change of fortunes on the road and sounds confident that they'll get the job done.
"We've always played well at home," said Cash after their 73-55 home win over the San Antonio Silver Stars this past Thursday, just before heading to San Antonio for the WNBA All-Star Game. "For us we need to go on the road and figure out how to win games. That's what we'll do."
The Storm are 2-6 on the road this season with their only wins coming against the Washington Mystics (3-11) and the Tulsa Shock (1-14).
But getting that road turnaround started against the Phoenix Mercury (10-5) tonight at U.S. Airways Arena won't exactly be easy.
Phoenix Mercury Fall Short To Minnesota, 106-98, Drop Out Of First Place - SB Nation Arizona
...the Mercury must feel good about the way the 2011 season has turned out. After opening the season with a disastrous three game losing streak, Phoenix righted the ship in fantastic fashion, rattling off wins in ten of their next twelve games to head into the midseason break with the second-best first-half record in the franchise's history.
While All-Star guard Diana Taurasi is the established face of the Mercury, it's fellow All-Star Penny Taylor who has arguably been their best player this season.
Taylor has been phenomenal this season in all respects, averaging 16.3 points, 5.7 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game. She's the type of player that has the ability to impact games positively in multiple ways and makes stopping Taurasi and forward Candice Dupree that much more difficult. With Taylor's outstanding passing ability, she's able to facilitate the offense from the wing or in the open court to Dupree, who has been averaging 14.5 points per game and is one of the best power forwards in the league in transition (and should have been an All-Star as well).
The Storm are led by All-Stars Cash and Sue Bird, of course, but have also been getting much improved play from both Ashley Robinson and Tanisha Wright in recent games. Wright's scoring aggression in particular has been important to the team in allowing Bird to play as a more efficient distributor.
The game will be televised on NBA TV, streamed online at WNBA LiveAccess and broadcast on the radio at KPTK 1090.
For more on the Mercury, Storm and the WNBA, visit SB Nation's women's basketball site Swish Appeal.