After the Seattle Storm lost point guard Sue Bird to a long-term knee injury in May, the team needed another player to rise to the occasion on both sides of the ball.

Jordin Canada has answered the call.

The second-year point guard out of UCLA currently leads the WNBA in total steals (49) and steals per game (2.7), playing a vital role for a Storm team that allows the second fewest points per game (73.4) in the entire league. Seattle turns opponents over a WNBA-best 16.5 times per game, a stat that reveals just how swarming and intimidating the Storm are on defense.

The second-year player has set the tone for her teammates. In Seattle’s 69-66 win over the Las Vegas Aces on July 19, the Storm recorded a franchise-record 18 steals, and Canada led the way with five of her own. That impressive mark isn’t even her best of the season—on June 1 against the Chicago Sky, she registered seven steals.

The guard defends ruthlessly. She has quick feet and agilely reacts to her opposition’s movements, staying right on ball handlers as they struggle to maneuver around the court. When playing off-ball, Canada anticipates passes before they happen and runs into passing lanes to take possession. She uses her hands to swipe balls away—no one on offense should feel safe dribbling with her in the area.

She has also displayed an upgraded offensive game this year, contributing more on that end of the floor as part of her new central role. Canada is averaging a career-high 10.2 points per game, and her mark of 5.1 assists per game ranks ninth in the entire league.

At 5-foot-6, she is adept at finding holes in the defense to set up teammates for open shots, utilizing the same awareness, which helps her rack up steals. She can explode past defenders towards the basket and drive for a layup or kick the ball out for a three-pointer. Her relentless attacking tires out the opposition.

Canada is meeting the high expectations that have followed her since the start of her career. After four stellar seasons at UCLA, she was selected fifth overall in the 2018 WNBA Draft by the Storm, already known for her tenacity on defense and ability to create shots for others.

Then, as a rookie, she contributed immediately, averaging 5.7 points and 3.3 assists in 16.4 minutes per game.  Canada played crucial minutes off the bench for a dominant Storm team that finished the regular season with a 26-8 record and won the WNBA Finals. She was at her best throughout the Playoffs when it mattered most, scoring 6.1 points per game on 47.7% shooting from the floor.

Now, even with Sue Bird sidelined, the Storm are playing intense, passionate basketball, following Canada’s example. At present, they have a 12-9 record, fifth-best in the league, only three games back of the top-seeded Connecticut Sun.

And once the final stretches of the regular season begin, no contending team will want to face Canada and the Storm. The guard won’t back down from anyone.