The Seattle Storm have nailed their problem to a weak bench. The Storm had to go up against the Dallas Wings with the unexpected absence of Skylar Diggins, who pulled out of the game just an hour before tip-off. Their bench was outscored for the tenth straight game as the Wings did not even seem to break sweat.
They would have regretted letting Li Yueru go as she avenged the Storm with eight points and ten rebounds, playing an important part in the Storm losing out 48-34 on the boards. While they can sustain a loss in rebounding, they added to their woes by being extremely inefficient, shooting 30.7% from the field and a dismal 19.0% beyond the arc.
“Because of shots on goal not falling for us, and then us not getting back in transition [defense], they’re going to capitalize on that, and that led to just us fighting from behind the rest of the game,” Storm leader Nneka Ogwumike said.
That weakness on the boards and the inefficiency can prove to be much more costly against their next opponents, the Chicago Sky. Angel Reese and Co. are looking to break past their three-game losing run, which includes two drubbings from the Minnesota Lynx and a slap in the face from the Atlanta Dream. Sky are arguably at their lowest point of the season after recovering from their 0-4 start. The lack of depth has started to show, and even while in inconsistent form, a team like Seattle can punish Sky. Let’s look at the injury status of both teams, along with a match preview and predicted lineups.
Chicago Sky vs Seattle Storm: Injury Report
Seattle Storm
Skylar Diggins: Sidelined due to personal reasons, she sat out the Storm’s contest against the Wings. No timeline has been set for her return, leaving Seattle without its star guard at a critical juncture.
Katie Lou Samuelson: Out for the entire season following a torn ACL.
Chicago Sky
Michaela Onyenwere: Continues to battle a nagging knee injury.
Ariel Atkins: Officially ruled out as the medical staff handles her leg injury with extra caution, considering her history with an ankle setback.
Marquesha Davis: Listed as “out,” but her status is more about roster moves and transactions than any health concern.
Chicago Sky vs Seattle Storm: Predicted Lineups
Chicago Sky
Angel Reese
Kamilla Cardoso
Rachel Banham
Rebecca Allen
Kia Nurse
Seattle Storm
Nneka Ogwumike
Gabby Williams
Ezi Magbegor
Erica Wheeler
Tiffany Mitchell
Chicago Sky vs Seattle Storm: Match Preview And Prediction
For this clash, the focus will be on the boards again. The Chicago Sky is one of the best teams at rebounding with 36.6 per game, while the Seattle Storm is the worst team in the league off the glass. Angel Reese and Co. will push on that Achilles heel till the Storm hopefully breaks. On the same lines, Storm also conceded 36.8 points in the paint while the Sky dominated that area.
Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso will be the primary players to look out for the Storm, considering their frame and ability in the paint. The absence of Skylar Diggins adds to more woes for the Storm as her creativity and shot creation have largely offset the Storm’s weakness at the boards.
With Diggins out, Seattle’s remaining guards must focus more on ball-handling and creating off the dribble, diverting attention and energy from helping on the defensive boards. On the other hand, they will look to stretch their perimeter threat, which the Sky have struggled to defend against. Gabby Williams and Erica Wheeler will be key for the Storm in this aspect, but Diggins’ absence will be felt here as well. The Storm have been an overall better team this season, but how they deal with Diggins’ absence will decide how this game plays out.
Jun 21, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Phoenix Mercury forward Natasha Mack (4) shoots against Chicago Sky guard Hailey Van Lith (2), guard Ariel Atkins (7) and center Elizabeth Williams (1) during the first half at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Seattle will have to go hard and fast using their usual fast breaks to break down the Sky’s defense. The Sky are pretty loose in handling the high pace basketball as they conceded an average of 14.4 fast break points per game, which is the worst in the league, while the Storm score 15.7% of their points via fastbreaks. While Chicago’s strength is grinding in the paint and controlling the boards, their pace-related lapses make them particularly susceptible to Seattle’s fast-paced game. It’s a clash of styles, and the one who controls the tempo will decide the matchup.
The ESPN predictor pegs the Seattle Storm as favorites, giving them a 63.2% chance to take the win. While Seattle’s inconsistent recent form might leave the door open for a Chicago Sky upset, history suggests otherwise. When these teams last met, the Storm claimed a comfortable victory. In the end, unless the Sky can capitalize on the Storm’s vulnerabilities, the odds and past results point to Seattle likely prevailing once again.
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