The Seattle Storm head to the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday with Natisha Hiedeman still carrying the offense and Seattle still searching for its first win in nearly a month. The Storm are 4-12, the Mercury 3-13, and the matchup arrives with both teams trying to stop losing streaks before they grow longer.
Hiedeman has scored 14 or more points in six straight games and is averaging 17.8 points this season. She has cleared 14 in 10 of 16 games, leads Seattle in field goal attempts and 3-point attempts, and gives the Storm a steady scoring base while Dominique Malonga leads the team at 15.8 points per game. Malonga’s role has grown with a 29.9 usage rate, and she just posted a career-best 28 points in her last game, which helps explain why Seattle can keep games close even with a 4-12 record.
That recent competitiveness is the reason this game has drawn attention beyond the standings. Seattle’s offensive rating improved by 10.1 points over its last four games, and the Storm are 3-1 against the spread in that span, while Phoenix’s net rating dropped by 7.6 points over the same stretch. The Mercury, meanwhile, have the 11th-ranked defensive rating and have allowed the third-most points in the league over their last three games at 94 per contest. Those numbers matter because they point to a game that could stay within reach even if Seattle is still trying to find its first win since the skid began.
The injury report adds another layer. Jordan Horston, Ezi Magbegor and Taina Mair are out for Seattle, while Jovana Nogic and Sami Whitcomb are out for Phoenix. Monique Akoa Makani is questionable, and her status could shape how much the Mercury can lean on their available rotation. The betting board reflects that uncertainty, with Seattle around -160 on the moneyline, Phoenix near -140, Malonga listed at 13.5 points, and a same-game parlay built around Hiedeman to score 16.5 points, Malonga to score 13.5 or more, and Seattle to win returning +625. A straight Storm moneyline wager is priced around +230, which shows the market still sees a path for Seattle even with the record disparity.
Zak Hanshew’s read was simple: Hiedeman is getting buckets as the Storm try to play spoiler in Phoenix. Saturday gives Seattle a chance to turn the recent scoring form into an actual result, and whether that happens may depend less on reputation than on who is available when the game tips.
