Sami Whitcomb makes WNBA splash, sets record

Sami Whitcomb has put herself on the WNBA map in a big way, following a monster weekend in which she shot 75 per cent from three and tied a long-standing league record. Whitcomb has enjoyed a successful start to the WNBA season, with her Seattle Storm boasting a 4-1 record, but it was an unbelievable scoring barrage in her side’s recent games that made the back-to-back Perth Lynx MVP known throughout the league. Checking in midway through the third quarter against the New York Liberty on Friday evening, Whitcomb exploded for 22 points in just 15 minutes of action to help the Storm to a crucial victory. The WNBL scoring champion connected on six of eight three pointers, tying the WNBA record for most three pointers in a half, and sealed the game for her side with a series of triples and free throws. “I got put in, they left me open and I just tried to knock down some shots,” said Whitcomb, after her incredible display. “You dream of a night like this.” Her efforts drew high praise from teammate and four-time Olympic gold medalist Sue Bird, who lauded the sharp-shooting performance. “After Sami came in, the pace changed,” Bird said. “As a bench player, if you can come in and turn it around, you’ve done your job and she did way more than that. “I’ve never seen that in a game, I’ve never seen that on a floor that I’ve been on and I’ve played with some pretty good people.” Whitcomb’s fine play on Friday evening earned her an earlier call in the Storm’s Sunday game against Indiana, and the 28-year-old delivered again. Draining three triples from four attempts, Whitcomb tallied nine points, three rebounds and three steals, to finish the weekend with 31 points on 75 per cent shooting from deep. “That’s why she’s here,” said Seattle head coach Jenny Boucek. “I haven’t seen another player that can heat up the way she can.” Her incredible scoring performances will not come as a surprise to Perth Lynx fans, after seeing Whitcomb shatter the all-time WNBL scoring and three-point records in 2016/17. With the sharp-shooter having recently signed a two-year deal, and no clash between the WNBL and WNBA seasons, Lynx fans can expect to see plenty of high scoring performances in the near future.