Seattle Storm’s Katie Smith Named WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week
Over the course of the last few years, Seattle Storm have established themselves as one of the elite teams in WNBA. They entered this season as the defending champions and although, they didn’t get going right at the start of the season, but at the end of it, they re-iterated to the entire league, that they will be the team to watch out for, come the playoffs.
The late season resurgence of Storm has mainly been due to their veteran Katie Smith and in recognition of her performances; she was announced on Monday as the WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week for games played from Monday, September 5 through Sunday, September 11. It was Smith’s first weekly honour in this season, becoming Seattle’s third player to receive the honour.
Storm went 2-0 in this stretch and clinched the No. 2 seed in the West, beating the Phoenix Mercury and the slumping Chicago Sky on the way.
For the week, the seven-time WNBA All-Star ranked third in the West in scoring with 21.5 points per game and in three-point field goal percentage. She was eighth in steals with 1.5 steals per game. The two-time WNBA Champion, ended the regular season with an average of 7.5 points per game.
Here is a brief review of Smith’s terrific performance during last week:
September 9 vs. Phoenix Mercury
Smith put in her most impressive effort this past Friday night in an 85-70 home victory over Phoenix Mercury at Key Arena.
Standing at 5 ft 11 in, Katie erupted with a season-high 26 points, including 11 in the third quarter alone, as Seattle converted their 6-point halftime deficit into a 58-56 lead, heading into the fourth frame.
The veteran who is in her first year with the Storm also grabbed three rebounds and stole the ball twice in the victory, which handed Storm the number two seed in the Western Conference. She went 9 for 13 from the field on the night, hitting 5 for 7 from downtown, and 3 for 3 from the free throw line.
September 11 vs. Chicago Sky
On Sunday night, the 37-year-old guard poured in a team-high 17 points in Seattle’s 81-70 win over the Chicago Sky at Key Arena. The player dished out three assists and closed the game on 5 for 8 shooting from filed, including 5 for 7 from down town, and 2 for 2 from the line.
Other Nominees
Other nominees for WNBA Players of the Week were Tina Charles of Connecticut Sun, DeLisha Milton-Jones of Los Angeles Sparks, Diana Taurasi of Phoenix Mercury, Liz Cambage of Tulsa Shock, and Becky Hammon of San Antonio Silver Stars.
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