Noelle Quinn was thrilled to have Mercedes Russell lastly make her long-awaited season debut Friday, however the Storm coach cautioned the return of their beginning heart received’t remedy the litany of issues plaguing Seattle.
“We are able to’t count on her or anybody else to placed on her Superwoman cape and save us,” Quinn mentioned. “We’ve to do the work. We’ve to play higher. … With that being mentioned, it’s good having her again.
“Cedes has been an enormous a part of what we’ve constructed right here through the years. She’s helped us win two championships. However like I used to be saying, we will’t count on to return in and be dominant proper off the bat. That might be good and I actually hope she will do this, however realistically now we have to present her a while to get again into the swing of issues.”
In her first recreation of the season, Russell performed simply 12 minutes off the bench and completed with extra fouls (three) and turnovers (three) than factors (two) and rebounds (two) throughout a 68-51 loss towards the Dallas Wings on Friday.
Admittedly, it was a tough begin for the fifth-year veteran who missed coaching camp and the earlier eight video games as a result of an undisclosed non-basketball harm that was initially reported by the crew April 17.
Russell declined to present any specifics in regards to the harm aside from to say: “Being a basketball participant, I’ve been by accidents earlier than. It’s about being affected person and taking the time to actually know your physique. Ensuring you come again wholesome and simply being constructive by the entire expertise.”
Russell returned to the courtroom final week and took part in simply two Storm practices earlier than making her debut. Quinn plans to slowly reintegrate her into the sport plan as a reserve behind veteran ahead Jantel Lavender, who began the previous three video games whereas heart Ezi Magbegor is within the WNBA’s well being and security protocols.
Initially, trainers put Russell on a 12 to fifteen minute enjoying restriction, however Quinn hopes to increase her time on the courtroom.
“I used to be wanting on the time restrict and considering can we get seven extra minutes out of her?” Quinn mentioned, smiling. “As we get her conditioning up and her recreation reps up, she’s going to assist tremendously, particularly rebounding. That’s 8 to 12 factors offensively.”
Final 12 months, Russell had a breakout season whereas averaging 7.3 factors and reaching profession highs in rebounding (6.1), field-goal taking pictures proportion (61.7%) and assists (1.6).
After lacking out on free-agent goal Stefanie Dolson, who selected New York over Seattle, the Storm secured the 26-year-old Russell, a restricted free agent, with a three-year deal price $480,000 on Feb. 1.
“I’m the place I’m presupposed to be,” mentioned Russell, a former Tennessee Vols standout who joined the Storm in 2018 as a rookie free agent after being launched by New York, which chosen her within the second spherical of the 2018 WNBA draft. “Being in my fifth 12 months, I believe I made a spot for myself on this league, which is difficult. It’s troublesome. This 12 months, the cuts across the league have been great. We are saying we’re a league of 144, however the actual quantity might be 130 one thing as a result of not many individuals are in a position to roster 12.
“So simply making a spot for myself on this league is essential simply due to that stage of issue of staying within the league and staying on a roster. I’m grateful. And Seattle is an incredible group from high to backside.”
Whereas filling in for Russell, Magbegor, a lanky 6-foot-4 and 176-pound heart, has proven the potential to be a future All-Star who can rating 21 factors, seize 11 rebounds, block seven photographs and accumulate two steals.
Nevertheless, the Storm desperately want Russell, who has the scale (6-6 and 195 kilos) and versatile talent set to match up inside towards high low-post gamers.
“The final couple of weeks we’ve been calling her Mercedes Embiid as a result of she has the potential to actually management a recreation,” mentioned guard Jewell Loyd, who likened Russell to Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid. “She has a point-guard mentality. She understands the sport of basketball so effectively. She has a capability to go and see the ground.
“Her expertise stage is there. She’s gotten higher yearly. She’s versatile. She’s wholesome now and in good condition. She’s working her method again from her harm. She’s one other level guard on the ground with Sue (Fowl).”
Russell gives perspective on Seattle’s shaky 5-4 file forward of Sunday’s large 3 p.m. showdown towards the Connecticut Sky, who’ve the second-best file within the WNBA at 8-3.
“We’ve had video games with and with out Stewie (Breanna Stewart) and video games with and with out Sue,” Russell mentioned. “So, it’s been a curler coaster for us up to now. We haven’t performed one recreation with our full 11-man roster. I don’t even assume we’ve practiced along with our 11-man roster, which is loopy as a result of we’re a month into the season now.
“I believe we’re in a great place truthfully. It’s been regular all through the league. Everyone has received. Everyone has misplaced. No crew has actually separated from the remaining. We simply want time to play with one another.”
Observe
— Perennial WNBA All-Star guard Fowl returned to apply Saturday and is anticipated to begin Sunday. She has missed the previous three video games whereas within the league’s well being and security protocols.
— Magbegor is out of protocols and is cleared to play Sunday.
