Erica Wheeler

Wheeler scored in double figures in all three games of the series while being deployed in her usual role off the bench. She wasn't shy from beyond the arc in Games 2 and 3, hitting four of 12 attempts from downtown. Wheeler averaged 12.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steals in 26.7 minutes during Seattle's lone playoff series, which were in line with her regular-season totals. She also started 24 regular-season games before shifting to a bench role after the Storm acquired Brittney Sykes at the trade deadline.

Wheeler did a good job off the bench, but she got into foul trouble, which limited her minutes. The 34-year-old veteran has saved her best for when it matters most, as she is working on a season-high four-game streak with at least 10 points. Wheeler also has a steal in each of her two playoff games.

Wheeler led the Storm in scoring and hit the game-winning jumper with 19 seconds remaining to clinch a playoff berth. Her five three-pointers also tied her season-high mark. The veteran guard appeared in all 44 regular-season games (24 starts) in 2025, averaging 10.3 points, 3.3 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals across 25.6 minutes per game.

Wheeler logged her most playing time since moving to the bench Aug. 10, leading the second unit in scoring. The veteran guard has recorded double-digit points in back-to-back games, marking her third such performance in her last five appearances. During that five-game span, she has averaged 9.6 points and 3.0 assists across 20.8 minutes per game.

The Storm's second unit set the tone and led the way in Friday's victory, with Dominique Malonga, Tiffany Mitchell and Wheeler all finishing in double figures. Wheeler knocked down her most threes in a game since hitting five against the Fever on June 24, and the performance also snapped her five-game streak of scoring in single digits.