Veteran-laden Storm open against dramatically revamped Mercury

Nneka Ogwumike is feeling good as she gets set for her second season with the Seattle Storm, who tip off the 2025 WNBA campaign Saturday on the road against the Phoenix Mercury.

The nine-time All-Star said making the move from Los Angeles to Seattle has proven beneficial.

"I really do think that moving to Seattle put a battery in my back," Ogwumike told GQ Magazine. "Being able to do all the things that I love doing, and also get to know myself as an athlete in a different and new way, has been really great."

Ogwumike, one of four returning players from last season, averaged 16.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game as the Storm improved their win total by 14 games, the biggest year-to-year improvement in franchise history. Seattle finished 25-15.

Skylar Diggins, Ezi Magbegor and Gabby Williams also return from last year's squad. Diggins set a franchise record for assists with 257 -- and also became the first guard in league history to rack up at least 50 steals and 35 blocks in a season.

Phoenix (19-21 in 2024) finished seventh in the league, two spots behind Seattle, and looks to clean things up offensively ahead of its opener. The Mercury turned the ball over 20 times in their preseason finale Sunday against Golden State.

What is up in the air for Phoenix heading into the opener is the status of Kahleah Copper. The third-leading scorer in the WNBA last season didn't play against Golden State due to a back injury.

Copper (21.1 ppg) is Phoenix's only returning starter -- now that 11-time All-Star Diana Taurasi has retired and 10-time All-Star Brittney Griner has moved on to Atlanta -- so head coach Nate Tibbetts expects a lot from his star player who was the 2021 WNBA Finals MVP when playing for the Chicago Sky.

"We have a new group, but my whole challenge to her this year is to lead, lead, lead, and it's not just with what you say. It's what you do," Tibbetts told Andscape. "It's all about the little things that make a difference between a good and bad organization."

--Field Level Media