Last Updated on August 2, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
The Seattle Storm relied on balanced scoring and experienced backcourt leadership during the 2019 season, with Jewell Loyd emerging as the primary offensive option while Natasha Howard provided efficient interior scoring, rebounding, and defensive impact. Jordin Canada directed the offense, and Alysha Clark added efficient complementary scoring. Strong defense and rebounding remained team strengths, although the absence of Breanna Stewart limited the Storm’s overall offensive ceiling.
HeatingUp Impact Index: Regular Season Team Impact Spotlight
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG + BPG) | Impact Index | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natasha Howard | Starter/Star (1.1) | 31.4 | High (1.2) | 18.1 | 8.2 | 2.1 | 3.9 | 85.54 | Howard became Seattle’s primary two-way force with Breanna Stewart sidelined, carrying a much larger offensive workload while still anchoring the defense. Independent coverage consistently pointed to her relentless motor, ability to guard every frontcourt position and expanded shot creation as the foundation of the Storm’s playoff push. (WNBA) | WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2019); All-WNBA First Team (2019); WNBA All-Defensive First Team (2019); WNBA All-Star (2019) |
| Jordin Canada | Starter/Star (1.1) | 28.8 | Medium (1.1) | 9.8 | 2.4 | 5.2 | 2.5 | 48.40 | Canada took over as Seattle’s starting point guard and gave the team a different identity with relentless ball pressure and end-to-end speed. Writers frequently highlighted how her transition play and perimeter defense helped offset the absence of several stars. (WNBA) | WNBA All-Defensive First Team (2019) |
| Jewell Loyd | Starter/Star (1.1) | 25.4 | High (1.2) | 12.3 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 48.84 | Loyd shifted into a higher-usage scoring role, often creating difficult offense late in possessions when defenses crowded Howard. Even through an inconsistent shooting season, independent analysis emphasized her willingness to attack and absorb the toughest perimeter assignments. (WNBA) | WNBA All-Star (2019) |
| Alysha Clark | Starter/Star (1.1) | 28.4 | Medium (1.1) | 9.6 | 4.7 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 44.29 | Clark remained Seattle’s connective piece, spacing the floor while routinely defending the opponent’s best wing. Analysts regularly described her as one of the league’s most valuable complementary players because of her discipline and versatility. (Seattle Storm) | WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2020) |
| Mercedes Russell | Starter/Star (1.1) | 25.6 | Medium (1.1) | 7.5 | 6.1 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 39.45 | Russell quietly stabilized the frontcourt through efficient finishing, offensive rebounding and physical interior defense. Season coverage often praised her screen setting and willingness to handle the less glamorous responsibilities around the basket. | None |
| Sami Whitcomb | Key Contributor (1.05) | 20.4 | Medium (1.1) | 7.2 | 1.7 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 28.42 | Whitcomb supplied instant offense as Seattle’s primary shooting specialist off the bench. Her movement without the ball consistently stretched defenses and gave the Storm much-needed spacing around Howard and Loyd. | None |
| Crystal Langhorne | Key Contributor (1.05) | 17.0 | Low (1.0) | 5.6 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 21.63 | Langhorne embraced a veteran reserve role, providing dependable interior minutes, smart positioning and quality screens. Independent reporting regularly noted her experience as an important stabilizing influence for a reshaped roster. | None |
| Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis | Bench (1.0) | 14.0 | Low (1.0) | 5.5 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 15.40 | Mosqueda-Lewis filled a floor-spacing role, forcing defenders to respect her perimeter shooting whenever she entered. Her value came more from offensive gravity than high-volume production. | None |
| Shavonte Zellous | Bench (1.0) | 13.9 | Low (1.0) | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 15.00 | Zellous brought veteran composure to Seattle’s second unit, handling secondary playmaking duties while helping organize younger lineups. Contemporary coverage frequently referenced her leadership and professionalism. | None |
| Anriel Howard | Bench (1.0) | 6.7 | Low (1.0) | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 6.00 | Limited independent reporting was available because her opportunities were brief. Available coverage described her as an energetic developmental forward whose athleticism offered intriguing long-term upside. | None |
| Courtney Paris | Bench (1.0) | 6.3 | Low (1.0) | 0.5 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 6.00 | Paris was used as experienced frontcourt depth, contributing physical rebounding and dependable interior positioning in short appearances. Independent season-specific discussion of her role was limited. | None |
| Blake Dietrick | Bench (1.0) | 6.2 | Low (1.0) | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 4.40 | Limited contemporary coverage was available. Most reporting centered on her providing emergency backcourt depth and maintaining professionalism despite an inconsistent place in the rotation. | None |
| Team Totals | — | — | — | 82.3 | 37.5 | 20.9 | 14.9 | 363.37 | Seattle reinvented itself around Natasha Howard’s breakout campaign, defensive pressure and veteran depth, remaining one of the WNBA’s toughest defensive teams despite season-ending injuries and roster changes. | None |
HeatingUp Impact Index: Playoff Team Impact Spotlight
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG + BPG) | Impact Index | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordin Canada | Starter/Star (1.1) | 33.0 | High (1.2) | 18.0 | 3.5 | 5.5 | 1.0 | 73.39 | Canada embraced the lead-guard role from the opening tip, relentlessly attacking the paint and pushing Seattle’s pace. Independent postseason analysis emphasized that her ability to pressure defenses off the dribble and create for teammates kept the Storm competitive despite facing a deeper Las Vegas squad. (WNBA) | None |
| Natasha Howard | Starter/Star (1.1) | 29.0 | Medium (1.1) | 11.0 | 9.0 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 66.31 | Howard anchored virtually every defensive possession, switching across positions while protecting the rim and cleaning the glass. Coverage throughout the series consistently described her as Seattle’s emotional leader and most disruptive defender on both ends. (WNBA) | WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2019); All-WNBA First Team (2019); WNBA All-Defensive First Team (2019) |
| Jewell Loyd | Starter/Star (1.1) | 27.5 | High (1.2) | 16.5 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 63.89 | Loyd carried much of Seattle’s perimeter scoring responsibility, mixing aggressive drives with confident three-point shooting. Even when the offense stalled, analysts noted her willingness to create difficult shots rather than simply waiting for opportunities to develop. (WNBA) | WNBA All-Star (2020); WNBA Champion (2020) |
| Mercedes Russell | Starter/Star (1.1) | 32.0 | Medium (1.1) | 11.5 | 8.5 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 55.66 | Russell controlled the paint through efficient finishing, physical screens and disciplined interior defense. Postgame coverage regularly highlighted how her work on the glass gave Seattle valuable extra possessions in a tightly contested series. | WNBA Champion (2020) |
| Alysha Clark | Starter/Star (1.1) | 28.5 | Medium (1.1) | 4.5 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 27.83 | Clark’s offensive numbers were modest, but her defensive versatility remained central to Seattle’s game plan. Independent reporting focused on her willingness to defend multiple positions and make the subtle rotations that rarely appear in the box score. | WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2020); WNBA Champion (2020) |
| Sami Whitcomb | Bench (1.0) | 12.5 | Low (1.0) | 4.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 11.00 | Whitcomb entered with one clear purpose: stretch the floor. Her constant movement around the arc forced defenders to stay attached, creating additional driving lanes even when her touches were limited. (ESPN) | WNBA Champion (2020) |
| Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis | Bench (1.0) | 11.5 | Low (1.0) | 4.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 14.00 | Mosqueda-Lewis supplied valuable spacing in short bursts, and her shooting reputation continued to influence defensive coverages despite limited opportunities. Contemporary postseason discussion of her role remained relatively sparse. | WNBA Champion (2020) |
| Crystal Langhorne | Bench (1.0) | 14.5 | Low (1.0) | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9.00 | Langhorne filled a veteran reserve role built on screening, rebounding position and reliable interior execution. Independent coverage consistently emphasized her experience more than statistical production. | WNBA Champion (2020) |
| Shavonte Zellous | Bench (1.0) | 7.0 | Low (1.0) | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 8.00 | Zellous brought veteran composure to Seattle’s second unit, handling occasional secondary playmaking duties while providing steady perimeter defense. Reporting on her postseason minutes was understandably limited because of her reduced role. | None |
| Courtney Paris | Bench (1.0) | 4.5 | Low (1.0) | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 5.00 | Paris appeared in short frontcourt stretches to provide rebounding and physical interior play. Limited independent postseason coverage was available due to her brief appearances. | None |
| Blake Dietrick | Bench (1.0) | 0.0 | Low (1.0) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.00 | No meaningful on-court postseason sample was available. Independent coverage mentioned her primarily as reserve backcourt depth rather than an active rotation contributor. | None |
| Team Totals | — | — | — | 75.5 | 30.0 | 19.5 | 13.0 | 334.08 | Seattle relied on Jordin Canada’s downhill creation, Natasha Howard’s all-around defense and a veteran supporting cast, but the Storm were eliminated after a hard-fought two-game playoff series. | None |