The Seattle Storm ended their preseason on a high, securing an 82-78 victory over the Mercury on Thursday at the Footprint Center in Phoenix.
Evina Westbrook led the charge for Seattle, posting a pivotal and-1 with 10.9 seconds on the clock to put the Storm up 80-72 before blocking a shot at the other end to clinch the win.
The Storm guard notched 15 points and five rebounds, adding to Breanna Stewart’s 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
With 15 points, five rebounds, and a HUGE game-winning play, @evinawestbrook is your Angel Of The Winds Casino Resort Player of the Game!#TakeCover x @aotwcasino pic.twitter.com/W9kDL6Exzm
— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) April 29, 2022
Westbrook was looking to make her presence known ahead of Thursday’s matchup with limited spots available on the Storm roster. The rookie was selected 21st overall by Seattle in the 2022 WNBA Draft.
“It’s definitely a big game for everyone trying to claim your spot,” Westbrook told The Seattle Times ahead of the team’s preseason matchup. “You just got to go out there and play at the end of the day.”
The 23-year-old’s dominant showing puts her in a promising position for the team’s last two roster spots theoretically up for grabs.
Seattle kicks off their regular season at home on May 6 against the Minnesota Lynx at 10 pm ET.