Fansided

WNBA Season Preview 2019: Every team’s best case scenario

By Miles Wray

UNCASVILLE, CT - MAY 14: Kia Nurse #5 of the New York Liberty shares a laugh with Teresa Weatherspoon before the game against the Atlanta Dream on May 14, 2019 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
UNCASVILLE, CT - MAY 14: Kia Nurse #5 of the New York Liberty shares a laugh with Teresa Weatherspoon before the game against the Atlanta Dream on May 14, 2019 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 7: Jordan Canada #21 of the Seattle Storm warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Sparks on June 7, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 7: Jordan Canada #21 of the Seattle Storm warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Sparks on June 7, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Seattle Storm: Jordin Canada shoots better than 35 percent on 3-pointers; Sue Bird is limited to about 700 minutes

Well, this is a bit awkward: the Storm dominated the 2018 season, and they could very well dominate the 2020 season as well — but the goals for 2019 are awfully confusing now that they are missing Stewart for the year. Rookie backup point guard Canada personally showed tremendous poise throughout the season, but will definitely need to improve on her 18.2 percent 3-point accuracy if she is going to be the long-term successor to Bird. Canada is already a skilled pickpocket on defense: opening up the offense during the minutes she is in the driver’s seat will answer a lot of long-term questions for Seattle.

As for Bird herself, I certainly won’t play the retirement-guessing-game. You could make a case that 2018 was Bird’s best statistical year, ever, long after her trip to the Hall of Fame is secured. Part of Bird’s success came from being limited to a career-low 824 regular season minutes — that’s 26.6 minutes per game while sitting out three contests. Cutting that number even lower will help ensure that Bird and Stewart will take the floor together once again.