Sami Whitcomb

Slightly unbalanced in their offensive flow during their first home game since mid-July, the Seattle Storm found themselves in need of a big-time sequence to turn its always-supportive crowd into something more deafening. At the second quarter’s eight-minute mark, they found precisely what they needed to elevate the activity up a few notches: active hands from Sami Whitcomb. On an absolute mission on the defensive end, the eight-year veteran telegraphs Brittney Sykes’ cross-court pass, quickly converting the perfectly-timed steal into a breakaway layup on the other end. Whitcomb’s standout defensive play — highlighted by three steals over a five-minute span — would eventually prompt a run and thus, a subsequent Washington Mystics timeout soon thereafter. The 36-year-old packed plenty into a 13-minute appearance, even given the two-point loss on August 26, 2024. Whitcomb’s final box score tally would conclude with 11 points, one rebound, one assist, two trifectas, and three steals.