JEWELL LOYD NAMED WNBA WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd was named Western Conference Player of the Week for week three of the WNBA season the league announced Monday. In three games this week, Loyd averaged 22.7 points, 4.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game as the Storm went 2-1 in three games.

Loyd poured in season-highs of 25 points in each game against Dallas this week including hitting a game-winning buzzer-beater in overtime to beat the Wings 105-102 on Friday. She added a season-best seven assists and connected on 8-of-11 from the field (72.7%) including 4-of-6 from three-point range. Her field goal percentage was the best by a guard with at least 11 attempts in a game this season and fifth-best overall. Loyd also had 18 points and five assists in the Storm’s win over Indiana to open the week.

Loyd, who is just 87 points from becoming the third player to score 3,000 career points with the Storm, is the only WNBA player to rank in the Top 10 in points (20.7 – 6th), assists (4.8 – 9th), and steals (1.6 – 9th). All three of those are career-best averages. In addition, she is also shooting a career-best 46.7% from the field and 42.9% from three-point range.

The two 20+ point performances give her 53 in her career and fifth this season. Since the start of 2018, Seattle is 27-4 when Jewell scores at least 20 points including 4-1 this season. Over her last 20 games dating back to last season, Loyd is averaging 19.9 points per game and has scored at least 19 points in 14 of those games.

The honor is the first career weekly honor for Loyd and the second for the Storm this season after Breanna Stewart earned Player of the Week honors in the first week of the season.